SCHS Newsletter

We encourage all families to talk about how to prepare students for testing and how developing test-taking skills can benefit students into adulthood.

Student benefits of testing:

1. Mastery requirements for graduation (SAT)
2. Trade licensure preparation
3. College entrance and other real-life testing needs
4. Opportunities to explore scholarship and college entrance requirements

As a school, the results of these exams are reported to our community through our school performance framework (similar to a school’s report card).

As a staff, Sand Creek uses these results to ensure students are enrolled in proper courses. Staff also use these data to identify focus skills for daily instruction. Without this data, it is more challenging for teachers to meet the individual needs of all students.

Students--to prepare for testing, do the following:

• Get plenty of sleep the night before testing
• Bring a snack and water to testing sessions
• Leave your personal electronic devices at home, in your locker, or in your car--none are permitted in the testing rooms
• Arrive to school early for your assigned test sessions
• Bring your student ID
• Stay at home when you are not assigned to test

More important information:

• Students that ride the bus will remain in the commons when they are not in a test session
• Breakfast and lunch will be served both test days, lunch will be served from 10:45am to 11:30am
• Students who attend and take tests will receive a gift incentive, including free food from nearby restaurants, games at Main Event, or entrance into SkyZone
• Students unable to attend on scheduled testing days will test during school in make-up sessions

Contact Ms. Stewart, School Assessment Coordinator, with further support needs at anna.stewart@d49.org

Seniors:

9 May: Senior walk, I Committed assembly, prom at Pinery on the Hill

12-13 May: Senior final exams

14 May: Senior checkout

23 May: Graduation at Broadmoor World Arena, 5:00 pm

Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors:

21-22 May: Final exams with regular bell schedules

23 May: Remediation and graduation preparation (staff break at 10:30 am)

27 May: All semester grades posted and shared in PowerSchool

All ninth graders had an opportunity to visit a workplace in March and April to learn about opportunities for their futures. Ninth graders, we we proud of how you represented our school in the community and how you dream of greatness for your futures! You are doing phenomenal work now that will make the world better!

These opportunities for ninth graders were made possible by a grant (On-Ramp for Post Secondary Opportunities) for ninth grade students in advisory. The organization who awarded this grant would like to learn more about ninth grade experiences in advisory and work based learning opportunities. A small group interview will be conducted on 23 April at 1:30 pm at SCHS.

Ninth grade families, if you are open to having your student participate in this interview, you can sign up through the button link below!

If you would like to know what students will be asked in this interview, here is a copy of the interview questions.

Performing Arts

• At the CSHAA Colorado Springs Large Group Vocal Contest, Mixed Choir earned an Excellent rating on their performance and a Fair on sight reading, and Madrigals (Chamber) earned an Excellent rating on both their performance and their sight reading! We are proud of your growth and efforts!
• Stinger Jazz Band performed at the Pikes Peak Jazz Band Festival in March and earned Straight Superiors!
• Chamber Orchestra has earned a spot, for the third time in a row, at the State ASTA (CASTA) Festival at MSU in April! There were a total of 104 orchestras that performed and only 40 groups were selected to attend in the State. While at CASTA, the Chamber Orchestra earned straight superior ratings!
• Sand Creek Winter Percussion earned an 81.675 in the Rocky Mountain Percussion Association competition, which gave them both the "Most Improved" out of all of the RMPA circuit groups (33 groups total) with total of 18.525 points increased in just under two months and placed 3rd place out of 9 in the Scholastic Regional A division. What a great way to end the Winter Percussion season!

AVID classes started Financial Literacy Month with volunteers from ENT Federal Credit Union. Students traveled through interactive stations learning to budget based on their values and hypothetical careers. They made choices based on their monthly salary, family and credit score. At the end, students compared how much they were able to save or changes they would make in their money management strategies in the future.

To kick this off, some SCHS students competed in the Florence High School Rock Band Competition the first weekend of April. They practiced on their own and showed their best at the competition, earning second place!

Congratulate Scott, Devries, Jacob, Moore, Warren Granados, and Marcel Conlin when you see them!

Email Amy Sanchez-Martinez at amy.sanchezmartinez@d49.org if you would like to showcase a student or staff member for their excellence outside of school.