Hinkley High School

January 21, 2009

Dear Parents and students:

Welcome back from Winter Break.  Overall we had a successful first semester, and we are well on our way to becoming a “World Class” school.  If you have not visited our website at www.hinkley.auroraK12.org/, please be sure to view the podcast that is posted, where students and administrators describe what “world class” means to them. Our School Improvement Plan is also posted on our website.  It is important for all parents to review this document and to know what our goals and strategies are for this year.

Celebrations for first semester include:

• Over 1,800 elementary and middle school students enjoyed the amazing performance of “Beauty and the Beast” by our Performing Arts Department.   We put on two daytime matinees for these students in our efforts to reach out to the community.  Kudos to all of the students and staff who participated in producing six performances that were all a smashing success.
• Our vocal and instrumental music performances during first semester were top rate.  Two students, Kala Wilburn and Hannah Judson, were chosen out of approximately 3,000 applicants, to be members of the Colorado All State Choir.
• Our sports programs have been going strong.  The Hinkley Wrestling team is 10-2 in dual matches this season.  It is the best dual record the T-Bird wrestlers have had in 25 years.  The team also placed 3^rd in the Bennett Invitational Tournament and 6^th in the Evergreen Invitational Tournament.  A huge congratulations goes out to Coach Andy Ventura and his wrestlers!
• We received $25,000 in funds for technology from the District supported Do-IT grant, and 55 juniors in our IB Diploma program received Net books to check out and use for their assignments.
• The Morgridge Foundation generously donated six additional Promethean Boards to our school.  Hinkley is one of the top users of this type of technology with 48 classrooms equipped with Promethean Boards.  Teachers also receive ongoing professional development concerning the use of this technology in the classroom.
  • Our math Interim Assessment results demonstrate an increase of the      percent of students getting answers right on the Winter Interim Assessment results as compared to the Fall Interim Assessment results. 
  • Thank you for taking time to fill out nominations for our first “T-Birds Staff of the Month.”  Please join us in congratulating the following staff members who were selected to receive this important recognition:
  • Mary Morrow, science teacher
  • Marilyn Achten, science teacher
  • Jed Hinkley, science teacher
  • Teresa Steele, IB coordinator
  • Kerrie Schultz, math teacher
  • Shannon Solomon, cafeteria supervisor
  • Faith Kelley, educational assistant
  • Taicha Myers, foreign language teacher
  • Cari Corley, math teacher

Communications :

• CSAP testing is around the corner.  Testing will take place during the first two weeks of March.  Please do not plan any routine medical or other types of appointments during these weeks which would cause your child to miss class time.  CSAP is a great opportunity for your teenager to practice their standardized test taking skills, and this practice helps them to be better prepared for the ACT which they will take as a junior.  ACT is a high stakes test because the results on this test are a major factor that colleges take into consideration when looking at students during the admission process.  Counselors at Hinkley HS will also be using individual student’s CSAP results as a part of a body of evidence when placing students into classes for the following year. Therefore, it is important that students’ test scores reflect their best efforts.
• On January 26^th we will host our incoming 8^th grade parent night from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  It is important for all parents of incoming 8^th grade students to attend this informational night. Dinner will be served in the East cafeteria from 5:00 to 5:45 with the opening session starting in the auditorium at 6:00 pm.
• On February 3^rd from 3:30 to 7:00 we will be hosting “Parent Teacher Conferences.”  Please come and support your teenager’s progress towards becoming “college ready.”
• On March 27th , we will host our first “Taste of IB” night starting at 5:00 pm. This will be a great opportunity for us to celebrate the accomplishments of our International Baccalaureate students and to enjoy foods from around the world.
• Parents please partner with us in keeping our students safe.  It is important that parents pick up their teenagers from school within thirty minutes after school and after any extra-curricular activity.  Supervision will not be available after this time.
• During days of cold temperatures, students will be allowed in the building starting at 8:00 am on Wednesdays, and they may use the library or West Commons at this time.  After school or extracurricular events, if your child will need to wait outside longer than about 10-15 minutes or have a medical reason to not be out in the cold, then they will need to notify a campus monitor. Campus monitors will then allow students to wait inside the main front entrance foyer area.  Please remember that we do expect students to be picked up by 4:00 each day.

It is a privilege to have your students here at Hinkley, and we look forward to the opportunities that we will have second semester to partner together with you to raise student achievement.

Sincerely,

Jinger Haberer, Principal of Hinkley High School