The Vanguard Voice
Volume 17, Issue 6
www.cmca12.com
In this Issue:
3rd Grade Cow Eye Dissection……………...…..3
National Merit Finalists Announced……..….…..3
3rd Grade TCAP Pep Rally………………….…..4
Student’s Art Displayed at Museum………….....4
2012 Congressional Art Competition…………...5
Spring Benefit Bash Invitation………………….6
Silent Auction Items Preview…………………...7
Contribute to the Lend a Hand
Campaign and Your Contribution
Will be Doubled!
by Janet Dinnen
Vanguard Boys Basketball…………………..….8
Girls Basketball Going to State……………..…..9
Beauty and the Beast Performance………..…...10
Support our PTO…………………………...…..11
Dates to Remember:
March 7 Board Meeting
March 16 Quarter 3 Ends
March 16-18 Vanguard’s Performance of
Beauty and the Beast
March 22 Report Cards
March 23 Day of Excellence (NO
SCHOOL)
March 26-April 2 Spring Break (NO
SCHOOL)
April 3 Students Return
April 4 Board Meeting
April 26
We are just over two months in to the
Lend a Hand Campaign, and over
$14,000 has been raised, making us
closer to achieving our goal of
$100,000. Karl and Jennifer Wolff,
along with a few families who chose to
remain anonymous, have come
together to create a public match of
$8,000. If our community reaches
$24,000, they will donate $8,000! So
far, 70 families have shown their
support of CMCA by donating to the
Lend a Hand Campaign. We need
more families to donate to achieve our
participation goal.
One large part of the Lend a Hand
Campaign is the Spring Benefit Bash,
our silent auction. This year's silent
auction is truly becoming a team effort
from our community, families, students, and staff. Our
community and families continue to come together to procure
some excellent auction items. This past month, K-5
homerooms took some time to create functional pottery pieces
for this year's silent auction, and students in grades 6-12 will
be starting to gather items for the highly anticipated themed
baskets this week. Our staff has also been taking an active
role in the silent auction. We are excited to have Mr. Wilson as
the musical talent for this year's soiree, and teachers are
donating creative auction items from artwork created by Mr.
Custer and a lasagna dinner from Mrs. Donovan.
1
From the Executive Director
Dear CMCA Friends and Families,
Too often the purpose of education is taken for granted in our society. A lot of
time is spent considering how to improve education, but very little thinking is
done about why we send kids to school for thirteen years of their lives before,
hopefully, sending them off to at least four years of college. If the average
person is asked why we do this, he will likely say something about preparing
students for the workplace or for college so they can get a “good” job.
At CMCA we recognize that these are natural by-products of an excellent education, and to be sure,
we work very hard to help our students gain admission to the college of their choice. However, we
view education as much more than a means to an end, but as a very important end in itself, and our
view of an excellent education tends to be quite a bit different from most K-12 programs in our
country today. We believe that education ought to center on developing the complete person so he
may know and strive to live the good life. This understanding of education was articulated 2500
years ago and has been passed through the ages, but has recently been displaced by the current
utilitarian view. The irony is that approaching education following the tradition of the ancients, as we
do, achieves the best of both visions. The classical approach not only does a much better job of
developing a complete person who is able to think rationally and act virtuously in a complex world,
but these very skills enable a person to gain admittance to and succeed in college, in whatever
career they choose, and in life.
I’m proud of the work our school does in developing our students from the time they enter
kindergarten until graduation, and often long beyond that. We continually tout our students’
academic successes, as we should. There are so many awards and accolades that only the most
outstanding are mentioned in this newsletter. In addition to these quantifiable successes, are the
anecdotes of personal growth in character and academics that fill our teachers’ hearts with joy and
pride and let us know that we are making progress in our efforts.
Over the course of this year, I’ve been able to report the tremendous successes that our students
have achieved including our boys’ and girls’ cross country teams’ success at the state meet, our all
state choir selectee, and several state level gold and silver medal winners in art. Over the last
several weeks, we’ve seen additional athletic and scholastic success. Our high school Matchwits
team won 2A Regionals last week, and our girls’ basketball team won their Regional tournament this
past weekend. The basketball team goes on to the State tournament this weekend, and the
Matchwits team goes to the State Knowledge Bowl next month.
Excellence is our standard at CMCA and The Vanguard School. Through the work of our teachers,
our students achieve excellence in character and academics, and they embrace it as their standard in
all areas both in and outside of school. This drive ultimately becomes part of who they are in all that
they do. By urging students toward excellence in thought and in deed, we educate the whole person
and, in so doing, achieve our mission.
Sincerely,
Colin T. Mullaney
Executive Director
2
Third Grade Cow Eye Dissection
by Teacher Ruth Donovan
Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy third grade students
concluded their science lessons about vision and optics by
dissecting cow eyes. Assisted by family members, the 110
students examined parts of the eye including the cornea, iris,
lens, vitreous humor, retina and optic nerve. The young
scientists also learned that cows have four eye muscles for
looking up, down and side to side whereas humans have six eye
muscles and can roll their eyes. In addition, the students
learned about the shiny, blue-green tapetum part of the eye
which animals have, but humans do not, which allows them to
see in the dark.
Mrs.
Donovan’s
third grade
student
Alexis Garcia
examines a
cow’s eye
during the
February 29th
dissection
lab.
Mrs.
Donovan’s
third grade
student Tori
Bevan shows
off a cow’s
eye during the
February 29th
dissection lab.
CMCA third
grade science
teacher Mrs.
Donovan
shows the
optic nerve of
an eye to Mrs.
Engebretson’s
students Karen
Colin-Alegria
and Nicholas
Stasiuk.
National Merit Finalists Announced
by College Counselor Jill Custer
The Vanguard School is pleased to announce that two seniors, Daniel Doherty and Aaron
Schreck, have been chosen as Finalists in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship
Competition.
To become a National Merit Finalist, students must have taken the PSAT/NMSQT their junior
year and achieved high scores to enable them to compete in the Scholarship competition.
These students must have a record of very high academic performance in college preparatory
work, submitted SAT scores that confirm their PSAT/NMSQT performance, and be fully
endorsed and recommended by a high school official. To complete the scholarship application,
each student had to write an essay and give additional information about their extra curricular
activities, leadership positions, and honors or awards received. A school official must also
provide a written recommendation and characterization of the student. The total file of
information collected about the student is used in the selection process.
About 15,000 Finalists nationwide have been chosen, and all Finalists will be considered for
one of 8,300 National Merit Scholarships, worth a total of more than $34 million.
Congratulations Daniel and Aaron!
3
Third Grade’s TCAP Pep Rally
by Teacher Dana Lundy
CMCA's 116 third grade students were encouraged to
"show what they know" on Monday, February 27th, during a
25 minute pep rally in the multi-purpose room of the
Wahsatch Building. We will rock the TCAP they cheered.
The 3rd grade TCAP pep rally was a rockin’ good time for
all in attendance. Guest emcee, Dana Lundy, led the
students in cheers, narrated a poem called Twas the Night
Before TCAPs featuring acting by CMCA third grade
teacher Clair Cornella, and judged a relay race among the
third grade homeroom teachers and aides. To round out
the festivities, Mr. Ward Barr inspired the students with a
speech featuring his Tebow pose and encouraged the
students to Rock it on their reading TCAP test.
Student’s Work Displayed at Museum Exhibit
by Teacher Greg Custer
Kelsey Gloss, a senior at The Vanguard School, received the honor of having her drawing
selected from the Colorado Scholastics Art Competition to be exhibited at the Denver Art
Museum. This is the second year in a row that her work has been chosen for this exhibit. Kelsey
will take part in a luncheon at the museum on March 17 th. The exhibit will be on display from
March 13th through April 5th. Kelsey’s self-portrait was featured on the invitation below!
4
2012 Congressional Art Competition
by Teacher Greg Custer
The Vanguard School’s art students recently took part in the 30 th annual Congressional Art
Competition. This is a regional contest with 25 of the Pikes Peak region high schools
participating. Each school is allowed 5 total entries that are divided up among 7 categories.
I am proud to announce that my art students took home three first place finishes from the
contest. Listed below are the artists that are very deserving of their accomplishments.
Congratulations!
Left— 1st place drawing by
Junior, Whitney Shuck
Bottom Left— 1st place painting
by Senior, Karissa GonzalezOthon
Bottom Right— 1st place print by
Senior, Kelsey Gloss
A print of Whitney’s elephant drawing will be
auctioned off at the 2nd Annual Spring Benefit Bash!
5
Spring Benefit Bash
Join us as we
celebrate and support
excellence in education!
Attend our 2nd annual silent auction & social gathering
to benefit CMCA & The Vanguard School at the
Briarhurst Manor Estate
Thursday, April 26th, 6:00-9:30pm
$20 per ticket
Tickets sold at the front office
Ticket price includes entrance for one to the
silent auction, gourmet hors d'oeuvres, and a night
filled with excellent entertainment!
Free babysitting
is available at
The Vanguard
School Gym
when you register
in advance!
Go to www.cmca12.com/SBB to purchase tickets, preview
auction items, and to register for free babysitting!
Briarhurst Manor Conservatory/West Building 404 Manitou Avenue Manitou Springs, CO 80829
6
www.cmca12.com/SBB
Preview Auction Items
Thanks to the support of our wonderful families, friends, and local community, we
have some truly amazing auction items this year! Here’s a preview of some of our
favorite items. A complete list of auction items is available at www.cmca12.com/
SBB and is updated regularly. A program with starting bids will be available on the
website as the silent auction nears. Enjoy browsing through these items and
developing your bid strategy! If you would still like to donate to the Spring Benefit
Bash, please contact Janet Dinnen ([email protected]).
Student Creations
pottery projects
completed by each
homeroom K-5
Sky Sox
4 Box seats for a
regular season game
Chicago! Chicago!
3 days/2 nights at the Hyatt Regency Chicago,
tickets for 2 to the Chicago Chocolate Tour,
tickets for 2 to the Shedd Aquarium, &
a pizza dinner at Lou Malnati’s
Take a Walk on the Wild Side
at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
and the Denver Zoo
Trampoline Party
Trampoline World
Gymnastics party for 15
New Orleans Getaway
4 days/3 nights at The Maison Dupuy Hotel
Round trip airfare for two
New Orleans City Tour
Dinner at the Hard Rock Café
Dinner jazz cruise
3-hour cooking class
Pastel painting of Garden of the Gods
by teacher and local artist, Greg Custer
Steak Dinners for Two in Denver
at Del Frisco’s and Shanahan’s
7
YoYogurt Party
YoYogurt birthday
party for ten
Vanguard Boys Basketball
by Coach Wetters
The Vanguard
School’s Boys
Basketball team
concluded the best
season in school
history in February.
The Varsity team
ended with an 8-13
record, and the
junior varsity
finished with a 10-8
record. The program has come a
long way and has gained a lot of
respect in the Black Forest
League. We were able to win 4
league games this season and
qualify for the district playoffs for
the 1st time in school history. There
is not a senior on the roster, so the
future looks even brighter for the
Coursers.
The boys worked extremely hard to
accomplish goals that they set last
spring when last season ended.
They put in countless hours
practicing and preparing while also
maintaining high standards in the
classroom. Our players are the
best student-athletes in the entire
city, and they should be
commended for their commitment
to excellence and representing the
Vanguard School so well.
The players include Tim Force,
Robert Stephens, Joe Donelson,
Tyler Williams, Zach Doom,
Thomas Hetherington, Trenton
Tulloss, Khaleb Adams, David
Flack, Sheriff Agboola, Larry Gill,
Ben Anderson, Aaron Taase, Matt
Duarte, Tre Spence, Ian Rice, Alex
Kimzey, Noah Taase, and Andrew
Lee.
8
Girls Basketball Going to State!
by Athletic Director Dina Fuqua
The Vanguard Girls Basketball Team reached a milestone
this past weekend. They are going to the Colorado State
Basketball tournament for the first time in school
history. Even though The Vanguard School is still in its
infancy for HS (graduating only 2 classes to date), the girls
basketball team has managed to accomplish an amazing
feat in a short amount of time. This year is only our 4th
season of Varsity competition since the high school began
6 years ago. The Vanguard girls finished the regular
season with at record of 16-3, losing only 1 league game
the entire season to ECA. This qualified them for the District Tournament held at Fountain Middle School
on Feb. 24th and 25th. They beat Byers and Peyton early in the District tournament and finished 2nd at
Districts, losing only to ECA in the finals. Finishing 2nd at Districts qualified the team for Regionals at
Standley Lake High School in Westminster, Colorado. The girls traveled to Westminster this past
weekend, March 2nd and 3rd, and played Hayden High School in the first round. The tough competition
of the Black Forest League prepared the girls for Regionals because they beat Hayden handily 62-33 in
the first round. The finals of Region 7 were held on Saturday, March 3, and pitted our Vanguard girls
against Sedgewick County High School. Once again our Lady Coursers dominated Sedgewick County
and easily beat them 62-37. Our girls are now Regional Champs! We started with 32 teams in the
District Tournament and narrowed it down to 16 for the Regional tournament. We are now part of the
Elite Eight in the state of Colorado after winning our region! The girls will travel to the Pueblo Event
Center this coming week to participate in the State tournament.
The girls have worked incredibly hard the last couple of years to get to this place. They have managed to
balance a difficult and challenging curriculum, sports, friends, other extra-curricular activities, families and
countless other clubs and social activities. These girls have not gotten there without some incredible
coaches at the helm. Coach Frank Haist came to Vanguard last season in November right as the season
was beginning. He has taken this young and inexperienced team to a force to be reckoned with and
straight to the State tournament in only his 2nd year coaching at Vanguard. Coach Larry Blondin and
Coach Pete Gvazdauskas have aided Coach Haist as his Assistants to help get the girls to where they
are now. All the coaches have worked tirelessly and sacrificed much of their family time to help these
girls accomplish their goal to get to the State tournament.
Congratulations to all the girls, Bailey Haist, Cassandra Sulski, Peri Rose Sykes, Caitlin Bower, Angel
McNulty, Kayla Cantrell, Lydia Blondin, Breland Bullard, Sarah Hughes, Jordyn Arcuri, Alyx Callahan,
Bailey Milroy and Ashley Ames for a job well done this year. Good luck at State this week!
9
Beauty and the Beast
10
Support our PTO
It's time for the students to "Lend a Hand" by participating in Penny Wars! Kids, collect your pennies and other change to help
your grade win the Penny War! Pennies will add to your class total; all other coins subtract from your total, so you can build up
your class with pennies and use your nickels, dimes and quarters to sabotage your opponents! The Penny War will go from
March 12th-15th, and the winners will be announced at assembly March 16th. All proceeds will be donated to the Lend a Hand
campaign on behalf of the CMCA/Vanguard students.
SCRIP - We are very excited to announce that beginning May 1, the SCRIP program will be dedicated toward staff salaries.
We now have $25 and $100 gift cards for Walmart and Target IN STOCK at the Wahsatch campus office. The next SCRIP
order will be March 9. Contact Brooke Bolton at (910) 273-8486 or [email protected].
The 2nd Annual Lend-a-Hand Spring Benefit Bash/Silent Auction is under full swing. We have started the classroom art
projects for K-5 grade and the gift baskets for 6-12 grade, so please participate in the success of this event by helping with
either of these activities that will produce amazing gifts for parents to bid on. Please visit the Spring Benefit Bash website at
www.cmca12.com/SBB or contact the PTO for details on the upcoming fundraising event. You can purchase tickets on the
website ($20/person), preview donations, sign up for babysitting, and more! Also, The Silent Auction Committee is asking
for donations of wine for the Spring Benefit Bash. Please consider donating a bottle or two for this fundraiser. Donations are
tax deductible. Contact Brooke Bolton for more information. [email protected] or (910) 273-8486.
STAFF APPRECIATION: The March theme will be Staying Warm. Parents, please join us as we provide large baskets of
coffees, teas, hot cocoas and creamers to the teachers' lounge of each building . Bring your items to the offices starting
Monday, March 5. For more information, contact Jamie at [email protected],
EAT AND GREET: This month’s popular Eat and Greet will be at Extreme Pizza—date has not been set yet, but keep your
eyes out for updates in the PTO e-blast, announcements, and carpool boards!
BOXTOPS and COKE REWARDS: Please continue to collect and save these. Contact Brooke Bolton ([email protected]) or
Trudy Hackenberg ([email protected]) for more information.
UNIFORM RESALE/SPIRIT WEAR SALE: Look for PTO members selling a wide variety of Spirit Wear at the schools. Contact
Bobbi Jones: 579-9347, [email protected] (Spirit wear), or Brooke Bolton at (910) 273-8486 or [email protected]
(uniform resale). Our next Uniform Resale is April 13.
MOTHER-SON EVENT: A fun evening is planned for all mothers and sons (K-12) at a Sky Sox baseball game on Saturday,
May 19, 2012, at 6:05 pm. The Sky Sox will be playing the New Orleans Zephyrs. Tickets will go on sale in April. For more
information, contact Michelle Williams at [email protected]
THE GAZETTE FUNDRAISER: Through the month of March you may pay only $1 for a 7-day/week, 1-year subscription to
The Gazette. The Gazette will pay CMCA $10 for each person sigIning up for this offer. Simply go to www.gazette.com/
reading, choose Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy as your school and pay $1 with a credit card.
ORIGINAL ARTWORKS: Volunteers are needed to help assemble the art packets—if you have spare time and would like to
help with this special project, please contact Alea Simmons at 719-306-7047.
Thank you all for your continued support of the school. As families of CMCA and Vanguard, we are all members of the PTO!
The next PTO meeting is Tuesday, March 13, from 3:30-4:30 pm in the "Box" at the Corona Campus. Childcare will be
provided.
PTO website: www.CMCA12.com/Parents/PTO
Facebook: Like “Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy PTO”
Email: [email protected]
President
Vice-President
Lori Huthoefer
Trudy Hackenberg
[email protected] [email protected]
Class Volunteer Coordinator
Sylvia Eccles
[email protected]
Secretary
Taylor Fry-Van DeMarr
[email protected]
11
Treasurer
Brooke Bolton
[email protected]
Booster Club
Lisa Villanueva and Terri Cain
[email protected]
Spring Benefit Bash 2012
Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy
1605 S. Corona Ave
Colorado Springs, CO 80905
12