It’s freezing cold outside.  You’re finally recovering from holiday planning and bills.  Super viruses are rampant and your kids have been out sick for a week at a time.  We parents have been sick for a week at a time.  You just can’t catch a break because now you are tasked with focusing your attention on the summer.  Besides your annual trip to Cape Cod, or to Disney World, or home to Iowa, you have 12 more weeks to plan for so that your children can be occupied and entertained this summer.  Who’s got time for that?

ScoopToo is here to help…a little.  Our annual Denver Summer Camp List has been in the works for a couple of years now.  Every year, we hope to make it more comprehensive with your help.  Talk to us. Tell us what you did last summer and this summer.  Help your fellow parents with feedback on camps that your kids loved.  We will continue to aggregate the information and deliver it right to you.  This year, we have a downloadable list for your convenience.  Enjoy and good luck!

Download a PDF here: Denver Summer Camps 2012

DENVER SUMMER CAMPS 2012

List Compiled by:

For those with TWINKLE TOES:

• Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
• Cherry Creek Dance
• Dance Conservatory of Denver

For the ANIMAL LOVER:

• Denver Zoo
• The Wildlife Experience
• Butterfly Pavilion
• Normandy Farms and Stables

For the OUTDOOR ADVENTURER:

• Avid4Adventure
• Altogether Outdoors Summer Camps
• Bluff Lake Nature Center

For those with GLOBAL SIGHTS:

• Denver Montclair International School
• BIENVENIDOS Spanish Denver

For the SPORTS ENTHUSIAST:

Gymnastics:

• University of Denver 

Golf :

• The First Tee of Denver

Fencing:

• Denver Fencing Center

Basketball:

• Denver Nuggets

Tennis:

• Denver Park and Rec Tennis Camps

Soccer:

• Little Kickers
• Skyline Soccer
• YMCA of Denver
• University of Denver

Lacrosse:

• Gamebreaker Lacrosse Camp 
• Denver Lacrosse Club

Multi-sport:

• Stapleton All Sports
• University of Denver Youth Camps
• Jewish Community Center
• Bladium
• Dream Big Sports Camps
• YMCA of Denver

For the next PICASSO:

• Art Students League of Denver
• The Art Garage
• Mizel Museum
• Artful Journey

For the next OCSAR WINNER:

• Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids
• Catchpenny Theatre
• Denver Center for the Performing Arts
• KidsTheatreWEST

For the SCIENTIST:

• Denver Museum of Nature & Science

For the future ENGINEER:

• Lego Camp
• Science Matters

For the TECH INSPIRED:

• Open World Learning
• Internal Drive

For the PIONEER:

• Four Mile Historic Park

For those with PATENTS PENDING:

• Camp Invention (you will find several locations around Denver that host this camp)

For the NATURALIST:

• Nature Rangers
• Denver Botanic Gardens

For the CREATIVE:

• Denver Children’s Museum
• All About the Arts

For the FOODIE:

• Sticky Fingers Cooking

For the ROCKER:

• Camp Jam

For the DAY CAMPER (various programs):

• Dream Big Day Camp
• JCC day camps
• Colorado Academy
• Montessori School of Denver
• Stanley British Primary
• South Suburban Parks & Rec
• Girl Scouts of Colorado
• Paddington Station
• Denver Parks & Recreation

For the OVERNIGHTER:

• Sanborn Western Camps
• Geneva Glen
• Camp Chief Ouray

PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU HAVE A CAMP TO ADD OR MAKE A COMMENT IF YOU’VE HAD A GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH ONE OF THESE CAMPS.  LET US KNOW IF ONE OF THE LINKS IS BROKEN SO THAT WE CAN UPDATE IT.  THANK YOU!

The impending first round of school choice is fast approaching. If you are feeling a bit stressed about the new enrollment process or have questions now is the time to seek some clarity. Be sure to attend one of the two information sessions being offered by Get Smart Schools to get the answers you need before completing the choice application–deadline is January 31, 2012. Please read the information below…

Click here to read a recent article from the Denver Post regarding the new choice process. It should answer some of your questions especially ones relating to your neighborhood school.

The new enrollment program for DPS seems to be the talk of the town. I am curious to see how this new system will roll out. Parents are looking forward to an easier and streamlined application. While there are many changes that happen year to year regarding schools within a district, it’ll be reassuring to know that there will be consistency (ONE application) when enrolling your child in a Denver Public School. SchoolChoice guides and forms should be available this week. A special thanks to Sandra Konta, Application Processing Representative at DPS, for sending us this informative update detailing the enrollment process. 

Enrolling Your Child In a DPS School:  DPS SchoolChoice

Any student planning to attend a new school in the 2012-13 school year, including those entering ECE, elementary, middle or high school for the first time, should complete a DPS SchoolChoice form.  The SchoolChoice form is the one-and-only school application that needs to be completed for all DPS traditional boundary schools, magnet schools and programs*, and charter schools*.

*Please note that some magnet programs and charter schools require extra enrollment steps.  Please contact individual schools for details.

Step 1: Research

• Learn about DPS resources and programs: Consider your child’s strengths, challenges, and the kind of learning environment in which he/she is most successful. Then review the SchoolChoice Guide to create a list of schools that might be a good match for your child.

• Understand the DPS rating and ranking system: DPS uses the School Performance Framework (SPF) to evaluate how well Denver schools support student achievement. The rating is developed based on criteria that include academic growth, academic proficiency (status), student engagement, re-enrollment rates and parent satisfaction. Based on these criteria, all schools in the district are ranked on a 100-point scale and classified in five categories.  School-specific SPF ratings can be found in the SchoolChoice Guide.
• Research schools: Research schools by reviewing the SchoolChoice Guide, conduct online research at http://schoolchoice.dpsk12.org, and/or attend any of the upcoming events:

Far Northeast Denver Regional School Expo – December 3^rd; 10:00 AM – noon; Evie Dennis Campus

Southeast Denver Regional School Expo – December 3^rd; 10:00 AM – noon; Merrill Middle School

Southwest Denver Regional School Expo – December 3^rd; 9:00 – 11:00 AM; Lincoln High School

Near Northeast Denver Regional School Expo – December 6^th; 6:00 – 8:00 PM; Bruce Randolph Middle/High School

Northwest Denver Regional School Expo – December 10^th; 9:00 – 11:00 AM; North High School

• Visit schools that interest you: If possible, we strongly recommend that you visit the schools that interest you and your child. You may contact the school directly to meet the principal, take a tour, find out about an open house, or set up a classroom visit.

Step 2:  Prioritize

• After you’ve researched schools, resources and programs, prioritize your child’s top five schools in your order of preference.

Step 3:  Complete

• After identifying your child’s top five school preferences, determine if any of those schools require additional enrollment steps. Contact a school directly to learn what, if any, additional enrollment steps are required.  Information on which schools have additional enrollment steps can be found in the SchoolChoice Guide.
• List your child’s school preferences in order on the SchoolChoice form. It is important to list a total of five schools in the exact order of preference. Every effort will be made to assign your child into his/her highest preference school.  Please note that only listing one choice will not increase your chances of getting assigned to that school, and that your child is guaranteed a seat at his/her boundary school.
• Be sure to complete all the fields on the SchoolChoice form, fill in all five of your child’s top choices, and sign and date the form. SchoolChoice forms will be available on or before December 1, 2011 at any DPS school or online at http://schoolchoice.dpsk12.org.

Step 4:  Submit

• Submit your SchoolChoice form at any DPS school or bring your form to 900 Grant Street no later than 5:00 PM on January 31, 2012. Make sure to ask the school staff person who receives your form to make a time-stamped copy for you.  All SchoolChoice forms received by this date will be given full consideration for school assignments in the 2012/13 school year.  There is no benefit to submitting the SchoolChoice form earlier rather than later.

During the month of February, the DPS Office of Choice and Enrollment Services will work to collect and process all SchoolChoice forms in an attempt to get each student into his/her most highly preferred school.  SchoolChoice applicants will be notified in writing of their 2012/13 school assignment on or around March 1, 2012.

DPS Office of Choice and Enrollment Services 

(720) 423-3493 

schoolchoice@dpsk12.org

Thursday night’s DPS Early Education Scoop pulled in about 150 parents who wanted answers to the mystifying process of applying to ECE programs and elementary schools in Denver.  Several representatives from DPS were on hand to answer the most pressing questions.  A common thread was the confusing choice process and priority of getting in to a non-neighborhood school.  Unfortunately, several questions could not be answered because decisions have not yet been made as to which schools would house what programs (ECE-3, ECE-4, Advanced K, HGT, Center for Early Education schools, etc.).  Decisions have to be made on a year-by-year basis which can be frustrating for parents that are new to the process.  And, theoretically, every year brings a new set of parents who need answers.

After the audience Q&A session, participants visited the various tables which included representatives from Kaleidoscope Corner, Valdez Elementary, HGT and Advanced K programs, and Montessori programs. We had a big crowd stop by the ScoopToo.com table and it seems like most questions asked could be answered. It validated the reason why we started this blog in the first place.  Parents want to make the right decisions for their children and the myriad of options in Denver can be confusing.

We hope that ScoopToo.com can provide some hand-holding during this process and can be used as a supplemental resource for everyone out there who needs some additional clarity and a non-data-driven viewpoint.

If you or anyone you know missed the event last night, please be sure to register for one of the next two events.

Register
Early Education
School List

2010 DPS EARLY ED. SCOOP EVENTS!

For new parents, enrolling in preschool and kindergarten in Denver Public Schools can be confusing. At the Early Education Scoop, Enrollment Experts – including the moms behind ScoopToo – will be on hand to answer your questions! The event starts with a helpful overview from DPS Director of Early Education. Parents can then visit with Enrollment Experts who are well-versed in hot topics like tuition, transportation, the School of Choice process, special-needs programming, Advanced Kindergarten, English Language Acquisition and dual-language programming, Montessori programs and before- and after-school care.

December 8, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Palmer Elementary
995 Grape St.

January 6, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Valdez Elementary
2525 W. 29th Ave.

Be sure to register for next week’s Early Education Scoop. Read details below.

Gloria Neal from CBS 4 News in Denver interviewed Kerri last night on the 6:00 news.  The segment aired at about 6:50 PM.

Gloria Neal: Solutions for a Dysfunctional School System

The piece was done as a follow up to Davis Guggenheim’s visit to Denver yesterday where he spoke about his Documentary film, Waiting for “Superman”.  ScoopToo was at a special screening yesterday for the film and Guggenheim came to speak to the crowd of politicians, educators and press regarding the state of education in America and on a local level here in Colorado.  Davis Guggenheim believes that one of the single most important steps America is taking in the face of failing education is right here in Colorado – Senate Bill 191 – that puts the issue of tenure back on the table and focuses more on effective and performance-based teaching.  The premise is that tenure is a privilege and not a right.

Click on the link below to see the follow up blog article from Gloria Neal:

http://cbs4denver.com/news/waiting.for.superman.2.1961494.html

Get Educated at the Preschool and Kindergarten EARLY EDUCATION SCOOP Events This Fall!  There are also Middle School and High School Events as well.  See the DPS Announcement here.

REGISTER TO ATTEND <- click here

For new parents, enrolling in preschool and kindergarten in Denver Public Schools can be confusing. At the Early Education Scoop, Enrollment Experts – including the moms behind ScoopToo.com – will be on hand to answer your questions! The event starts with a helpful overview from DPS Director of Early Education. Parents can then visit with Enrollment Experts who are well-versed in hot topics like tuition, transportation, the School of Choice process, special-needs programming, Advanced Kindergarten, English Language Acquisition and dual-language programming, Montessori programs and before- and after-school care.

Child care will be provided, but you must RSVP one week prior to the event if you plan to bring the kids.

Early Education Scoop Opportunities to Attend

November 8, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Center for Early Education
3245 E. Exposition Ave.

December 8, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Palmer Elementary
995 Grape St.

January 6, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Valdez Elementary
2525 W. 29th Ave.

We’ve shouted it from the rooftops already but felt we should post it to the blog as well.   ScoopToo.com and the reason for our existence was mentioned in the feature article written by the fabulous Luc Hatlestad, Senior Editor for 5280 Magazine.  The article entitled Primary Colors discusses the growing demand for quality education in the U.S. and for us here in Denver.

Here is how Luc begins his article and we couldn’t agree more:

Improving the way we educate our children has become an epic, and seemingly eternal, struggle throughout the country. In Colorado, however, it looks as if administrators, educators, and elected officials are actually making progress. Schools here are embracing technology and using it to create innovative ways to evaluate students, teachers, and schools. Politicians from both parties are spearheading state and national legislation to support the cause. And parents are more involved than ever in their kids’ education. • Even with the myriad efforts at improvement, there’s still plenty of work to be done, so this year we’ve turned our lens on where it all begins: elementary education. We’ve used some of this emerging technology to evaluate the area’s top public schools, and we’ve used good old-fashioned reporting to determine Denver’s best private options. We’ve explained how the new tools work, and how the new laws might begin to make a difference. And we’ve highlighted the efforts of two moms who’ve begun doing due diligence on schools on behalf of parents everywhere. As September dawns, school is once again in session, and we’ve got a head start on the impending deluge of homework. Have a read.

To see a PDF of this click here and go to page 8 (pg. 77 in the magazine) or go to 5280.com for the entire article.  You’ll also get a peek at the the ladies behind the scoop.

Our blog’s purpose is to help parents navigate the Kindergarten and elementary school phase of their children’s education. In Colorado, we are given the opportunity of “choice” in our search. This program gives parents many options when it comes to choosing a school for their child outside of their neighborhood school. The process can become overwhelming with the myriad of choices including faith-based schools, private schools, charter schools, and magnet schools – each with varying programs and curriculum.  The entire process can be very mind-boggling.

We created ScoopToo.com as a result of this daunting search and discovery process endured not long ago while researching the right school for our children. After charts, graphs, phone calls, tours, interviews, testing, researching, seeking advice from friends,  it became a huge commitment and sacrifice of time. We felt strongly about helping other parents in this arena and that a collective resource for information on related topics would help abundantly.  So, therein lies the inspiration for ScoopToo.com.

Our blog consists of school profiles, parent interviews, national and local education related articles, a Two Cents series, events, posts on educational topics we’ve researched, etc.  Please grab a cup of coffee or glass of wine, kick back, and start reading.

It is our belief that the more educated you are with this process, the more empowered you will feel about making informed decisions about your child’s education. We’d love for you to spread the word about ScoopToo.com to your family, friends, and colleagues and wish you the best of luck in your journey.