COLORADO SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT 11

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jul 27, 2003

1115 N. El Paso St.

Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Communications and Community Relations - 520-2005

Superintendent: Norm Ridder

On the Web - www.cssd11.k12.co.us

BOUNDARIES: The area's largest school district encompasses the core of Colorado Springs. Maps of school boundaries are on the district's Web site, or call 520-2942 for information.

THIS SCHOOL YEAR: School District 11 is on a "Quest to be the Best" for our children. We have revised the current strategic plan to ensure all goals and measures are aligned throughout the district. Each department, school and classroom will have specific goals and measures aligned to the strategic plan. The goal is to have systemwide implementation by 2005. The District 11 strategic plan is about continuous improvement. All individuals in the system are dedicated to self-improvement. Students and staff explore hidden talents, build on successes and continually reassess their learning potential. For a copy of District 11's strategic plan, go to the www.cssd11.k12.co.us or call Judy McIntire, 520-2005.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: Aug. 19

APPROVED SCHOOL HOLIDAYS:

Sept. 1 - Labor Day

Sept. 2-5 - Assessment days. K-8 students excused early, some students go back for testing in the afternoon.

Sept. 19 - Staff training day, no students

Oct. 13 - Columbus Day/staff training, no students

Oct. 23-24 - Parent/teacher conferences, no students

Nov. 10 - Veterans Day

Nov. 26-28 - Thanksgiving break

Dec. 22-Jan. 2 - Winter break

Jan. 5 - Teacher work/staff training day, no students

Jan. 19 - Martin Luther King Jr. holiday

Feb. 2 - Staff training, no students

Feb. 16 - Presidents Day

March 22-26 - Spring break

April 8 - Assessment day, K-8 students dismissed early

April 9 - Assessment day/conferences/training, no students

April 9 - Kindergarten registration for 2004-05

April 29-30 - Assessment day/conferences/training, no students

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: May 21

APPROVED CLASS SIZE: Call the individual school.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE SPEAKERS: Non-native English speakers are encouraged to visit their neighborhood schools for help. Each site can call on translators for assistance. Some information on D-11's Web site is in Spanish. Spanish message line is 520-2012. Contact the nearest school or call the English As a Second Language program, 520- 2417.

CHOICE PROCESS: Colorado law allows students to attend any school they choose through a permit process. The application window for next year for D-11 students who want to attend a school other than their neighborhood school is Nov. 1-Feb. 1. New families have one month to apply for a choice permit. Permit applications should be picked up at the school the student wants to attend. There is no charge for the permit. Transportation is not provided for choice students. For information about permits, call 520-2035. D-11 students wishing to transfer to another district should check with the other district for permit procedures.

TRANSPORTATION POLICY: Check with your school, call D-11's Transportation Department, 520-2940, or visit Web site www.cssd11.k12.co.us/transportation.

SPECIAL-NEEDS STUDENTS: Parents of students with emotional, mental or physical special needs may call Ron Hage, executive director of special education, 520-2148, for information about services.

BREAKFAST/LUNCH PROGRAM: Lunch prices are $1.75 per meal for elementary school students and $1.90 for middle and high school students. White milk is 45 cents and chocolate milk is 50 cents. Breakfast, if offered, including milk, is 90 cents for elementary school students and $1 for middle and high school students. Families who meet certain income guidelines may qualify for free or reduced- price lunches. Applications are available at each school, or call food services, 520-2924, for information. Many schools offer breakfast. Call the individual school for times.

DAY CARE: Before- and after-school day care is available at these elementary schools: Audubon, Bates, Bristol, Carver, Chipeta, Columbia, Fremont, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Lincoln, Longfellow, Madison, Midland, Penrose, Queen Palmer, Rudy, Scott, Stratton, Taylor, Trailblazer and Wilson.

HEAD START: The federal Head Start program is available at Adams, Audubon, Bristol, Carver, Edison, Longfellow, Midland, Pike and Queen Palmer. Call schools for times, providers and costs.

KINDERGARTEN: Tuition-free morning or afternoon kindergarten is available at all D-11 elementary schools. Full-day kindergarten is offered at many District 11 schools. Some full-day kindergarten programs are tuition-based, some are funded by Title I and some are funded by the Colorado Preschool Project. Tuition-based programs are offered at Chipeta, Madison, Martinez, Penrose, Rudy, Scott, Steele, Stratton, Taylor and Trailblazer elementary schools for the 2003-04 school year. To enroll in the program, contact one of these schools to determine if space is available. The program is fee-based and requires a deposit of $140 at the time of registration. It requires eight monthly payments of $265 and a final payment of $55. Please call 520-2163 for further information.