Principal’s Update 12.10.15

Fans of google and those of better formatting, access the update here LINK

 

Silver Creek Community,

 

        As first semester draws to a close we have much to be proud about based upon our students’ accomplishments from first semester.  The rollout and use of iPads has resulted in terrific success and anticipated challenges.  Our teaching staff remains committed to instructional improvement and our students are engaging in curriculum while at school and in the community.         

        I want to encourage our parents to check-in with your child about the use of their iPad.  We need look no further than the scandal that has rocked Canon City High School and their community, when it comes to teens’ inappropriate use of technology.  As parents, we need to have honest dialogue with our kids about the ramifications of poor choices when using social media, and balance that with the incredible power of good you can harness when using social media to positively impact others.  As a reminder, “Pause before you post”.  For more information on starting the conversation about technology with your teen check out this article and the accompanying stories it is linked to:  http://www.forbes.com/sites/daniellecitron/2015/08/19/parents-teens-and-technology-starting-the-conversation/

        By not starting the conversation with our teen about their online behaviors, we risk losing out on a large part of their life.  While your experience may be much different, you can imagine the excitement and trepidation I experience when my third grade daughter introduces me to the most current YouTube blogger on cosmetology or my oldest demonstrates how to jailbreak a passcode on a Samsung smartphone.  While our generation may have died of dysentery on the “Oregon Trail”, it doesn’t mean that we cannot engage in the new technologies and digital modalities that our kids are learning and living in.  Over the break, encourage your teen to read in our newly added online magazine service from SCHS at: bit.ly/SCHSmags .  If your student is a junior they could be practicing for the ACT online with SHMOOP.  Above all have them use the technology productively outside of gaming and social media, even if that means showing you how to create a movie trailer that captures your family escapades this Winter Break.

        In trying to improve our students’ technological experience, in 2016-2017 we will be adding new technology courses.  We plan to continue offering Introduction to Computer Applications and add the following courses:  Website Development, Introduction to Computer Science, Application Development, and Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles.  These courses will be open to grades 9-12.  Computer Science languages such as CSS, XCode, HTML 5, Java, and others will be used in these courses; check out the online handbook for further details.  Which, by the way, will be introduced as in IBook in the near future.  We will also continue to offer all of the other great curriculum you have come to know Silver Creek by.

 

Now for the Semester 1 Academic, Artistic and Athletic Accolades

 

Advanced Placement Scholars:

88 Students

 

National Merit Semi-Finalist:

Morgan Hess

 

Commendations:

Zoe Benedict

Courtney Dobbins

Maiya Jazwierska

Sage Madden

 

Boettcher Scholar Semi-Finalists:

Keira Hook

Sage Madden

Courtney Dobbins

 

“We the People” Regional Champion

 

37 Leadership Academy Capstone Projects

Checkout the new website here:  www.silvercreekleadership.academy

 

Best of Boulder Public High School Longmont/Niwot

 

ARTS

Band:

– Marched in the Veterans Day Parade

– Holiday concert December 10th at Silver Creek  

– Longmont Lighted parade December 12th  

– Added a new club which is a New Orleans style second line jam band  

 

St. Vrain Honor Band

Katherine Fox

Andrew Heydt

Michael Potter

Jake Markland

Chris Slama

Kenzie Peila

Zoe Benedict
Robert Hardwick

Demetra Stamus

Kendell Lee

 

Orchestra:

– Over 100 students in orchestra at Silver Creek, and we have added a third orchestra class that includes a chamber music component.

– The Silver Creek Fiddle Group has been invited to perform at the Longmont Public Library and Twin Peaks Charter Academy in the spring.

 

Colorado All-State Orchestra:

Gretchen Devereux

Jesse Fischer

Michael Potter

Owen Rooney

Nelson Walker

Western States Honor Orchestra:

Jesse Fischer

Owen Rooney

 

St. Vrain Honor Orchestra:

Geneva Notario

Gretchen Devereux

Hannah Cremmins

Owen Rooney

Megan Long

Myra Tran

Kailla Sam

Jordan Holloway

Haley Myler

Emma Lilly

Emma Finders

Zoe Benedict

Tim Ewing

Drama:

Waiting in The Wings Performed Fall 2015

Madrigal Performance Winter 2015

 

Colorado All-State Choralists:

Mixed

Hailey Ewing

Joydyn Monin

Ian Christoffersen

Women’s

Olivia Morton

Laura Dixon

Miriam Kyzer

Nina Mast

Mariah Powell

Hannah Terrell

Emma Finders

Carrie Millard

 

Athletics

Football

3-7 Overall record; 4th in Northern Conference

Boys Golf

Conference Champions; Regional Champions (8th year in a row); 2nd place finish at State Championships

Jackson Solem-  STATE CHAMPION  4A

*ACADEMIC TEAM ALL-STATE – GPA 3.66  (qualifying GPA for teams- 3.5)

Softball

16-7-1 Overall record; 2nd place in Northern Conference; State Quarterfinalist

*ACADEMIC TEAM ALL-STATE -GPA 3.58

Volleyball

14-15 overall record; 3rd place in Northern Conference; Regional Champions;

State Qualifiers

*ACADEMIC TEAM ALL-STATE- GPA 3.68

Boys Tennis

9-2 overall record; 3rd place finish at Regionals

*ACADEMIC TEAM ALL-STATE- GPA 3.8

Boys Soccer

7-9 overall record; 4th place in Northern Conference; State qualifiers

Cross Country

Boys- 5th place finish at Conference Championships; 3rd place finish at

           Regionals; Qualified for State Championships as a team

           *ACADEMIC TEAM ALL-STATE-  GPA 4.0

Girls- 5th place finish at Conference Championships; 3rd place finish at

          Regionals; Qualified for State Championships as a team

          *ACADEMIC TEAM ALL-STATE- GPA 4.08

 

Gymnastics

 

Congratulations to our gymnastics participants Marissa Koski, Violet Ruiz Diez, Ally Smith who contributed to a team state championship for the St. Vrain Team.

 

All-Conference Athletes:

Cross Country:

Brock Dykema – 1st Team All-Conference; All-Region; State Qualifier

Mikayla Gaffney- 1st Team All-Conference; Northern Conference Champion;

Mikayla Gaffney- Northern Conference Female Runner of the Year

Football:

Anthony Kasper- 1st Team All-Conference;

Nick Hartman- 1st Team All-Conference

Kenny Jones- 1st Team All-Conference

Kellan Roth- 1st Team All-Conference

Anthony Allman- 1st Team All-Conference

Jeremy Bartley- (Honorable Mention)

Cade Call- (Honorable Mention)

Lukas Bush- (Honorable Mention)

Anthony Kasper-  Northern Conference Offensive Player of the Year

Volleyball:

McKenna Webster- 1st Team All-Conference

Tori Schindler- 2nd Team All-Conference

Taylor Merriman- (Honorable Mention)

Tennis:

Jacob Stringer- 2nd Team All-Conference (#2 Singles)

Jake Nielson / Jake Furman- 2nd Team All-Conference (#1 Doubles)

Jared Nielson / Sean Davidson – 2nd Team All-Conference (#3 Doubles)

Justin Thompson / Michael Van Vuuren- 2nd Team All-Conference (#4 Doubles)

Softball:

Sheyann Ludwig – 1st Team All-Conference; All-Region

Dana Dwyer- 1st Team All-Conference

Rebecca Dunn- 1st Team All-Conference

Kayla Harper- 1st Team All-Conference

Boys Soccer:

Sean Peskin- 1st Team  All-Conference; 2nd Team All-State        

Josh Ehr- 1st Team  All-Conference         

Austin Coder- 1st Team  All-Conference  

Aldo Rico (Honorable Mention)  

Golf:

Jackson Solem- 1st Team All-Conference; All-Region;

Jake Gannon- 1st Team All-Conference

Jackson Solem-  Northern Conference Player of the Year

Ryan Williams- Northern Conference Coach of the Year

 

Happy Holidays,

Erick Finnestead

Principal, Silver Creek High School

Silver Creek High School