NMSHS Panther Post

Nederland Middle-Senior HS Community,

When I was 16, I can remember going to the DMV for the first time and having to take and pass a written drivers test. In preparation, I went to Drivers-Ed (you can now take a class online), and I studied the little paper booklet with the different rules of the road. The task is something we and our kids will have to do during their young life. As adults, we may have taken other important tests, the Bar Exam or CPA exam, a Journeyman’s Electrician License exam, a General Contractors Certification exam to build homes, teacher preparation and subject level certification exams. Virtually everybody who works in a larger organization, needs to take required on-line training and tests each year. Test taking and testing on a computer is a life skill. Test taking with high stakes is something many of us have had to endure. While every person will not be required to do so, many have done so, and many will continue to have to do so.

An important part of learning is done through assessment (it allows people to know if we actually know what we should know). In education we call that assessment for learning. Students are often challenged during their different courses in school to learn material, study material and then show what they are learning on a test or quiz. Often at Nederland Middle-Senior High School, students who have not yet shown mastery of the material the first time are given additional opportunities to re-learn and retest to improve their performance and grades. We know that there are students who have test anxiety and some get very stressed by assessments. We try to mitigate the stress by providing quality preparation, and creating environments and conditions for students who need the additional support.

During the school year, students are given different assessments in addition to course tests and quizzes, they are referred to as interim assessments to monitor what they have learned throughout the school year. These tests provide data to show where students are meeting the standards and where they have room to grow and improve. We typically assess students in math and language arts in the early fall, at the end of the semester and near the end of the school year. Our school goals are driven by these assessments. We are always wanting to have our students improve their learning, and our performance is proven or not, based on the results of the interim assessments. Teacher unit tests and projects also help our instructors to determine if students are learning what they were taught.

The state tests given to our students in the spring provide teachers with data to show that their students learned what they needed to be ready for the next set of learning in the next grade. Our school’s state rating is determined by the level of participation our students have in CMAS/PSAT/SAT and the performance of our students on the assessments. The last three years we have improved our grade level performance in math and ELA. Unfortunately, last year only 60% of our middle school students participated in CMAS (44 out of 109 students stayed home during our state testing days), the goal is at least 95% participation.

Our teachers work with integrity and purpose to teach their curriculum, which ideally prepares students for the CMAS and PSAT/SAT assessments they take in the spring. The results are a way to compare our school to other schools in the state and the country. The results are also a way for parents and the community to have some sense of the quality of schools that students are attending. In Nederland we take pride in our schools and the performance of our teachers and students. As I see it, end of year testing is a way to prepare our students for a life skill and a way to show everyone the quality of work our students and teachers do at Nederland Middle-Senior High School. We hope to see everyone of our students in April when we take the CMAS and PSAT/SAT.

Have a great weekend,

Gavan

he/him/his

Thank you to everyone who came out on Wednesday night for Senior Night to recognize and support our graduating seniors involved in winter sports. Thank you to the following seniors for being involved in this winter sports season:

• Girls’ Basketball - Payton Kutscher, Autumn Pattridge, Lauren Schrader & Kendall Zotti

• Boys’ Basketball - Robert Akerley, Colton Burlingame, Cedar Shupe & Jesse Siegal Gane

• Alpine - Keahi Pelkum Donahue, Cedar Shupe & Grayson Shurr

• Nordic - Lukey Mahorski-Bodley

Next week, Middle School Alpine competes in the Slalom & GS Championships at Ski Cooper! Good luck to all these athletes as they wrap up their season. High School Alpine wraps up their season the following week, and High School Nordic wraps up their season the following week.

Spring sports are getting started shortly. Sign up today! Completed registrations and payments through RevTrak are due before the first day of practice. High School Students register at this link, and Middle School students register at this link. If you have questions regarding registration, please contact Janet Turnburke. Spring sports offerings are listed below:

• High School Track & Field with Coaches Gavin Coombs & Kathy Butler - practice starts 2/24, with completed registration and payment due 2/23

• High School Girls’ Soccer with Coach Alberto Gonzalez - practice starts 2/24, with completed registration and payment due 2/23

• Middle School Girls’ Soccer with Coach Valentine Gane - practice starts 3/10, with completed registration and payment due 3/9

• Middle School Boys’ Soccer with Coach Mike Reichert - practice starts 3/12, with completed registration and payment due 3/11

Scholarships: The Shelby Allen Scholarship is now open to Seniors from Nederland High or Gilpin High, and who have participated in Women's Athletics. The application site is below and contains the details to apply, including recommenders, essay and documentation requirements. Please notice that applicants will need to supply two persons who will submit a recommendation for you, through the Shelby Allen link. See this site for details and be sure to send the names of your recommenders to the scholarship well before the application deadline of April 4, 2025

Our local scholarship list contains opportunities that are advertised to Nederland High students. The list is updated as we receive them. See the list here. These are also shared with eligible grade levels, through the Nederland High google classroom.

Boulder Tec application is open. The priority dates are January 23 - February 20th. Ms. Jill encourages anyone interested to apply EARLY, spots will fill up quickly. To apply visit the Boulder Tec website. Use your IC student username (without the @bvsd.org) and IC password. tec.bvsd.org

Seal of Climate Literacy. Do you have a passion for the environment, weather, sustainability, energy or social change relating to our climate? If so you may be a perfect candidate for the Seal of Climate Literacy. This credit appears on your high school transcript and earns you an additional honor at your graduation. A celebration event is held at the district, for students who are achieving the Seal.

Right now, students need to fill out the Seal of Climate Literacy @BVSD Interest Form link below to get started; which notifies BVSD and gets you connected to the program. You can begin to build your portfolio of your climate experiences, and there are 2 video workshops being held, which can help you along your way. The dates are:

• Optional Video Meeting/Help Session #5: Thursday, February 13. 6:00 – 7:00pm Link access.

• Optional Video Meeting/Help Session #6: Tuesday, February 20. 6:00 - 7:00pm Link access.

Internship Opportunity: The Renée Crown Wellness Institute is a research office at CU Boulder. The Institute is offering an internship for BVSD students aged 14-18 to get involved in critical Title IX evaluation work. This is pronounced as “Title Nine”. Title IX relates to the federal law that prohibits gender based discrimination and harassment in public education. Interns will collaborate with researchers to refine focus group questions related to Title IX experiences within Boulder Valley Schools and help develop ways to share findings with the BVSD community. Participants will receive a $200 stipend payment. Find the application QR code and information on their flyer.

College Scholarships! See the local scholarship list for the latest scholarships advertised to us for our students, including: Nederland Lyons Club, Boulder Community Hospital Foundation, and Elevations Credit Union of Boulder.

Is your student participating in the college credit option in Mr. Geels’ Precalculus or Calculus AB course? Are finances a constraint in choosing the credit option? If so BVSD is encouraging families to apply for assistance with that fee. See the tuition assistance application here.

Boulder JCC is providing an exhibition The Bias Inside Us, which is an exhibit visiting the Boulder JCC from the Smithsonian Institute from February 22, 2025 - March 23, 2025. The exhibit explores the science of internal bias and its effect on our daily lives. There is no fee to visit this exhibit. The Boulder JCC is located at 6007 Oreg Avenue Boulder, (303) 998-1900

Bias Inside Us.pdf

Need a Boulder-based summer camp or child care for a week or more? Check out BVSD’s Summer Camp option on their site. Options are available for full day or half day, aimed at ages 5 -16.

New Teens Inc Nederland program for opening for 7th-9th graders. See this flyer for QR code and information. This program is designed to foster confidence, belonging, and leadership among 7th-9th graders. Through carefully structured activities spanning 22 days over a six month period, participants engage in outdoor recreation and skill-building that challenges them to take healthy risks, learn from peers, and develop problem-solving skills. Youth will receive gift cards for participation.

• Orientation weekend (overnight in cabins) - March 8th-9th OR March 15th-16th

• Service day with City of Denver Parks and Recreation (day trip) - April 12th OR April 13th

• Rock climbing day (day trip) - May 17th OR May 18th

• Wilderness First Aid course (day trip - no overnights) - June 4th-6th (both cohorts together)

• 5 day front country camping trip, possible activities include rafting, climbing, hiking (maybe mtn biking) - activities will depend on youth interest and input (overnight in tents) - June 9th-13th OR June 23rd-27th

• 8 day front country and backcountry camping trip, possible activities include backpacking, paddle boarding - activities will depend on youth interest and input (overnight in tents) - July 7th-14th OR July 21st-28th

• Closing weekend and celebration at Lincoln Hills - youth will create a collaborative capstone presentation about experience/learning and share with families at celebration (overnight in cabins) - August 2nd-3rd OR August 9th-10th

Please submit an application only if you are confident you want to participate in the program and can attend 80% of the in-person events.

2025 Spring College Fair in Denver is on Sunday, March 09.

1:00 - 4:00pm. See details, including a list of participating colleges, here.

Visit with admissions representatives and find out about the latest majors, campus life, scholarships and more.

Seniors: BVSD hosts drop in FAFSA help, see BVSD FAFSA help page, or connect with Ms. Jill for assistance.

Feeling stress? Need information? See the 2024-2025 BVSD Mental Health Referral Provider List for a list of local psychologists and clinics serving in a variety of specializations, including educational consult services, family consultations, eating issues, substance use and others.

Please sign up now on the Help-At-Schools event:

https://bvsd.helpatschools.com/schools/45/events/12917

We are treating our staff and the students to a Valentine’s Day Ice Cream Sundae Treat! What a fun way to show our love for our staff and students!

The Panther Parents PTA will be supplying ice cream, bowls, spoons, and volunteers. We are asking for families to help supply toppings and for a few volunteers to help at the event.

Thank you for your help – we are excited to treat our staff and students!

~The Panther Parents PTA