JCOS-Jefferson County Open School

There is an opportunity coming up on Tuesday, July 16 at the Colorado Tap House to support our students headed to Japan this fall! The Colorado Tap House is located at 14982 West 69th Ave in Arvada. The fundraiser starts at 8:30 AM with breakfast and runs throughout the day on July 16. Show this post to your server to ensure that 25% of your purchase is donated to the Japan Trip Group. Thank you for your support!

Looking forward to seeing friends and family today for the many Celebrations of Learning from elementary music and Science Museums, our Foundation Program's Big DIGS presentations, and the Walkabout's Night of Exhibitions! Festivities start as early as 3:45 and we have a Chili Cook-Off starting at 4pm, and the Night of Exhibitions begins at 5:30 in the Theater. We hope to see you there!

2024 JCOS Night of Exhibitions SAVE THE DATE!

Career Opportunity at the Open School!

The Open School has an opening for a Foundations (7th/8th grade) advisor and science teacher. If you or someone you know is interested, please review the posting details on the Jeffco Public Schools jobs board: https://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/careers. Search for Job ID 27366.

The Open School has offered a unique and progressive education experience for families in Jefferson County and the Denver metro area since its inception during the 1970’s. Our middle school is a dynamic, fun community where students continue their journey of growth in personal, social, and intellectual domains. If you have questions, please contact Brandon Parker, AP at 303-982-7045.

Hey Friends! The Open School's Hub & Spoke Bike shop would like to let everyone know that the Colorado e-bike rebate program will open for applications at 9:00am this Wednesday, August 16, and remain open until 1:00 PM MT on Monday, August 21. This rebate program was originally piloted for Denver residents only, but is now available to all Colorado residents who qualify. A link to the online application portal will be on the E-Bike Rebate Program webpage when applications open on Wednesday, but you can check the page now to find out if you might qualify. Happy trails! https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001QJhuXhbaysd23zTRgXjQO96Q4vkCK663eAaDf9MD_6UZEM4unIBYdtQZpj5zlWCOnJbkSOSDqyCpX-dkXv3XqtnbhjIP-cfoWsX9XD-VlOVmNFue2CzR8yOXQoVgCJbSN7HmELGRFYIu1N8jltQkmhSlSCk3x-W1dKS1n6F157oEJ8cClexFVw==&c=EiTEW4REvBz02odIGSjd4Ezy0xADO67okL8ASBOFCdfVrIhAK3FUOw==&ch=DzX72iP1bi3uWuTuGx0aFr0hZcxff8ju1FCicQtx4hMUg1CkwvoViQ==

The following is a letter I sent to the Open School community yesterday afternoon. This letter denotes a significant life transition for me and I thought it appropriate to share the message here. I love this community - making this transition simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying. I am excited for the next evolution of the Open School and my own life. As an old Open School mentor used to say, “Hooray for the world!”

Dear Open School Community,

In the spring of 2010 I sat nervously across the table from a committee of parents, students, staff, and district representatives. My seat was affectionately referred to as the “hot seat,” and the group gathered in front of me was a hiring committee, tasked with selecting the next principal of the Jefferson County Open School. I don’t remember much from that interview, but I do remember the elation I felt when I was offered and accepted the position.

My journey to that hot seat was a long one. My official relationship with the Open School had already spanned a decade as I was originally hired to be a secondary teacher and Advisor at the beginning of the 2000-2001 school year. My years as an Advisor were perhaps the most rewarding of my career, as this is where the magic of the Open School truly happens. The deeply meaningful relationships and creative energy that is derived from co-creation of learning is simultaneously the hardest and most rewarding work an educator can do. As my career progressed, the duties of instructional coach were added to my role as teacher and Advisor and, in 2008, I transitioned to administration, serving as the Assistant Principal.

In addition to being my life’s work, my time at the Open School has been more than a career, it has been my community, where I have experienced the greatest sense of belonging in my lifetime. The Open School helped raise my own kids, both who are alumni and who have been shaped by the consistent caring and compassion of all their Advisors and by the deeply meaningful ways they were able to pursue their passions and create meaning in their lives.

During my tenure as principal, the Open School community has successfully navigated challenges and celebrated milestones.The most significant challenge came immediately after accepting the position, as we were forced to integrate a new state accountability system that realistically threatened to close the doors of the Open School. Our response transformed the school from “Turnaround” status to “Performance” status on state accountability measures and ensured the viability of the Open School for the foreseeable future.

Parents, students, and staff all contributed to solving the accountability challenge without compromising the philosophical integrity of the Open School. To this day, no student is anonymous, because Advising remains the core of our program. Students gradually assume responsibility for their learning as they plan, set goals, execute, and evaluate experiences while they navigate the self-directed learning process. Students continue to experience the world as their classroom through educational travel locally, domestically, and internationally. And, without ever being issued a letter grade, students continue to honestly self-assess through written evaluations culminating in a narrative transcript.

As a community, we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Open School with the Progressive Education Conference (in the midst of a pandemic) with hundreds of attendees from across the country and world. Also in honor of the 50th Anniversary, we commissioned an amazing mural that now adorns our building.

Another milestone we have celebrated is the completion of Phase 2 of construction, which brings to conclusion our 27 million dollar project. A testament to the vibrance and vitality of the Open School community, the completion of this project is an acknowledgement of the gem that the Open School embodies among Jefferson County Public Schools.

The Open School continues to be moored to the belief that human beings are innately curious and want to learn. The Open School is committed to removing barriers that inhibit student ownership of their learning while simultaneously attending to the needs of the whole child. By giving equal weight to personal, social, and intellectual development, and to the unique potential of every student, our greatest accomplishment during my 23 years at the Open School is our uncompromising commitment to keeping students at the center of the learning.

Upon accepting the position as principal, I believed that my success would best be measured by our collective ability to say, “look at what we have accomplished.” The Open School exists as a model of what is possible in public education because the vision embodied in this grand experiment in education lives within all those who choose to participate. It is the relationships and our commitment to create the world that ought to be that is the secret sauce that makes this place magical.

As has always been true, there continues to be much work to do as we aspire to realize this idealistic vision for educating young people. It is my faith in the goodness of this community and our commitment to the mission and goals of this place that gives me confidence and joy in knowing that the Open School community will continue to hang on to our kids' hearts as they discover their own unique potential.

Proceeding, are some thoughts that I felt compelled to write before announcing to my beloved community that I have made the bittersweet decision to retire, effective at the end of the 22-23 school year. I have no other explanation than one knows when it is time. It is time for the Open School to chart a new path that is committed to the wisdom of our founders whose shoulders we stand upon, while simultaneously providing for the next generation an authentic voice in creating the next evolution of the Open School.

Our district partners, Todd Engles (Outgoing Community Superintendent) and Mike Freeman (Incoming Community Superintendent), will be providing guidance to the community as we develop our leadership transition plan. We are dedicated to ensuring that the Open School continues to thrive with leadership that is deeply committed to the philosophy and values that this community holds dear Please know that a transition of this nature is one in which the community needs to be engaged in order to ensure your voices are heard in the process of determining who will be the next leader of the Open School.

Sincerely,

Scott Bain

Walkabout Families: Maybe you have heard about our relationship with the Kalapa Learning Community in Colombia, South America. An inspiration in education, Kalapa has modeled much of their program after the Open School, visiting and researching our holistic, self-directed approach to education. It’s possible your student has been inspired by classmates who have traveled to Colombia, and maybe they made some friends in our exchange students from Kalapa who were with us last fall. Well, we have 2-3 students from Kalapa who are planning to join us again next fall and we need to identify some host families! The 16 y.o. students will visit from the start of the year (arriving around the 12th of August), join for Wilderness Trip, and be engaged in classes and the community for six weeks. They are completely bilingual Spanish/ English, so there will not be a language barrier. There is no commitment that your student then go to Colombia at another time (though a @3 week opportunity will exist). If you think your family might be interested, please get in touch with Al or Mark, or reach out to your student's Advisor. We are trying to get host families identified before summer! https://www.kalapa.com.co/

Kalapa, Comunidad de Aprendizaje Educación holística que le apuesta a construir juntos una vida consciente y con sentido .

Thank you to all who came by to the JCOS annual Spring Fling art show at Mint & Serif!
Art will be available to go visit throughout the entire month of May! So if you missed the event, feel free to stop in to check out the art and grab a drink from a JCOS family owned coffee shop!
Mint & Serif- 7310 W Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO 80214
Open Monday-Saturday 7AM-3PM

Our online auction is LIVE through 5/31/23 at 7PM- auctria.events/JCOSSpringFling
There are over 130 art pieces from students, staff, advisings, alumni, parents, and grandparents!
We have raised over $1,500 as of today!
All funds raised from this event will go directly back to staff/faculty for the 23-24 school year!
Please support JCOS PTSO!

Thank you to everyone who came to the JCOS annual Spring Fling art show! Art will be on display at Mint & Serif through the month of May, so if you missed the event feel free to stop in and grab a drink from a JCOS family owned coffee shop.

The online auction is LIVE through 5/31/23 at 7PM: https://bit.ly/3HSsrf2

There are over 130 art pieces from students, staff, advisings, alumni, parents, and grandparents! We've raised over $1,500 as of today!
All funds raised from this event will go directly to classroom projects/trips/supplies for the 23-24 school year. Thank you for supporting JCOS!

Mint & Serif
7310 W Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO 80214
Open Monday-Saturday 7AM-3PM

This Thursday, April 13th, is our annual Secondary Learning Showcase, starting with the Foundation program's Big Digs, from 3:30-5, and the Walkabout program's Night of Exhibitions! Our Food-not-Guns class will be providing food and refreshments.

Starting at 5:30, we will meet in the new theater to have a construction and new theater dedication, followed by a presentation about post-graduate options and paths, capped by an amazing student dance performance that is the result of a Creativity Passage.

The rest of the evening is designed to showcase our Passage process, granting students the opportunity to present their conclusions to a real-world audience and receive valuable feedback from you.The evening also serves to inform others about the unique approach the Open School takes in addressing the needs of public secondary education. (IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SITTING ON A PRESENTATION PANEL, PLEASE LET US KNOW)

We hope to see you there to celebrate the amazing work our secondary students produce here at the Open School!

Last year, the PTSO supported the start of a school-based bike shop here at the Open School. Since then, the program has grown, providing students with transferable life skills and so much more. This slideshow is a thank you to our PTSO, other partners, and to our community for supporting the great work we do to help students learn and grow. If you see the garage door open, please come by and check out what we're up to, YAY BIKES! Oh- and feel free to follow the shop on IG:

Hub & Spoke PTSO Thanks Check out this Presentation designed by Al Head.

Seeking artists/talents for the 3rd annual JCOS Spring Fling First Friday Event 5/5 with Mint & Serif and 40 west Arts District.

-Live Artists/Painters
-Live music artists
-Face painters/Henna
-Craft Tables for kids
-Performances (stilts, jugglers, unicycles)
-We also have space for virtual art display with projectors.

We will be accepting donations for art pieces starting in March. All funds raised at the art auction will go directly to JCOS students and staff.

More details to be announced soon. If you have interest in participating in the event please email:
[email protected]

For Every $50 raised during Kids Heart Challenge, get a bonus MYSTERY GIFT!* Download the Kids Heart Challenge App or go to www.heart.org/khc and REGISTER TODAY! (*up to 20 Mystery Gifts)
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¡Por cada $ 50 recaudados durante el Kids Heart Challenge, obtén un REGALO MISTERIO adicional!* Descargue la aplicación Kids Heart Challenge o visite www.heart.org/khc y ¡REGÍSTRESE HOY! (*hasta 20 obsequios misteriosos)

Kids Heart Challenge is Coming! January 9 - February 3

Begin Finn’s Mission and learn live-saving skills like Hands-Only CPR! Our Goal is to raise life-saving funds and for all students to learn and raise awareness. Download the Kids Heart Challenge App or go to www.heart.org/khc and REGISTER TODAY!
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¡Comience la misión de Finn y aprenda habilidades para salvar vidas como RCP solo con las manos! Nuestro objetivo es recaudar fondos para salvar vidas y que todos los estudiantes aprendan y creen conciencia. Descargue la aplicación Kids Heart Challenge o visite www.heart.org/khc y ¡REGÍSTRESE HOY!

Come and support the Costa Rica trip class on Friday December 2nd at Coldstone (5545 Wadsworth Bypass Arvada CO 80002) from 4:30 pm - 11:30 pm. Order online at www.coldstonecreamery.com and make sure to mention the Costa Rica JCOS fundraiser in the comment section. OR order in person at the store and mention the Costa Rica JCOS fundraiser.

We are excited to announce we have so far raised $14,583 towards student travel and exploration!
Today is the last day to donate to our annual Pumpkin Zombie Dash Fundraiser.
You can donate at the link here: https://form.jotform.com/222426211612139
You may also Venmo us at JCOS-PTSO

Thank you for your support!

Pumpkin Zombie Dash Form Please click the link to complete this form.

We're looking for three amazing individuals to join us as paraprofessionals! This is a 6 hour per day job that comes with benefits. Our paras spend time building relationships with kids through academic interventions and lunch/recess supervision. To review the job description and apply for this job, enter job code 18805 (for elementary) and 18649 (for secondary) at the Jeffco Jobs Board: https://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/employment/jobs

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The Open School is seeking an assistant preschool teacher!

To apply for this position, access the Jeffco Jobs Board at: https://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/employment/jobs

Enter the job code 18413.

See below for more information. and call Melyssa at 303-982-1788 with questions.

This is a benefitted position. Salary starts at $15.79/hour. Please note that the hourly rate may vary based on education and prior early childhood work experience. See the posting on the job board for more specific salary and benefit information.

RESPONSIBILITIES
SUMMARY: Under the direction of the Teacher-Early Childhood (Licensed), the Early Childhood Instructional Partner assists with the delivery of an appropriate instructional program. Perform classroom duties which may include preparing instructional materials, assisting with instruction and assessment, collaborating in the care and discipline for preschool students, along with other duties such as keeping the classroom clean and well- organized.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.

Work collaboratively with teacher, special education staff, instructional coach, principal and all other school employees and volunteers.

Perceive feedback received to be constructive and supportive; use feedback to improve practice.

Communicate with team members, students and parents, as appropriate.

Participate in continuous improvement; cooperate in implementation of school-wide and department-wide goals.

Share in classroom responsibilities such as preparing instructional materials. Assist with instruction, and assessment. Collaborate in the care and discipline for preschool students

Ensure classroom is well organized and meets Health Department and CDHS guidelines for health and safety. Participate in professional learning as required.

Maintain updated requirements of Early Childhood Teacher as defined by the Colorado Department of Human Services Other duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION: High School diploma and Early Childhood Teacher qualifications through Colorado Department of Human Services.

EXPERIENCE: Experience in early childhood setting preferred.

QUALIFICATIONS: Must have current CPR and First Aid, or complete within 60 days of hire date. Must complete required CDHS paperwork and TRAILS report before first day of employment - fee charged. Physical examination required by CDHS to be completed within first 30 days of employment.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Physical Requirements: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle and feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel or crouch. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the JCOS Art Auction- We raised $2,529 through all of the art donations!
All funding raised will be used to fund advisor requests and student supplies next year.
Please pick up your art from Mint & Serif by Friday 5/27!

Please check out the JCOS art auction items from our Spring Fling! The auction closes on 5/22 !
All money raised will go toward funding teacher support requests this fall.
Link to the auction: https://bit.ly/JCOSspringfling

Thank you to everyone who came out last night for the JCOS Spring Fling!
If you missed the event; don’t worry! JCOS art is available all month to see at Mint & Serif and ALL ITS OWN.
Over 200 pieces are available on our online auction.
Auction will end on 5/22 and art will need to be picked up from Mint & Seif the week of 5/23-5/27.
Happy bidding and thanks for supporting Open School!

Auctria

We are getting really excited!
Drop in from 6-10pm- 7310 W Colfax Ave.
Don’t forget your drum for the drum circle!
We will have:
-vendors
-live music
-karaoke
-food truck
-alcoholic/non alcoholic drinks available
-henna & face painting
-massage and reiki
-and plenty of art available for auction!
-20% of proceeds from food and drink from Mint & Serif and 100% of art sales will go directly back to JCOS to support students and faculty

Please support the Spring Fling event on 5/6! Proceeds will help refill the JCOS PTSO coffers so we can continue to support teacher and student funding requests next year (and it will be a really fun time!).

This year, your PTSO donations helped pay for:

• New choice time materials for kindergarteners
• Outdoor first aid training for Advisors to keep our kids safe
• Sports and games equipment for exercise and fun
• Field trips
• School dances for community-focused fun and bonding
• Continuing ed conference fees for the ELC Team to stay up to date on teaching our kids literacy
• Library materials..and more!

We are getting a ton of art for the upcoming JCOS art show for First Friday 5/6 at Mint & Serif
We will be showcasing all art mediums from advising projects, alumni, teachers, parents, and students!
Most items will be available for bid with our online auction system.
It’s not too late to drop off art before the show; we will accept art through next Tuesday.

Alumni, staff, parents, students, JCOS community members!
We are seeking donations for ALL art mediums for the upcoming JCOS art show at Mint & Serif with 40 West Arts District!
We want to display the wide variety of art that JCOS has to offer.
All art will be auctioned off to raise money for students and staff.
Submissions will be accepted at JCOS & Mint and Serif through 4/29.

Not an artist? That’s okay! Stop by on 5/6 and show support to JCOS artists and 20% of food and drink will be donated back to JCOS.

Questions? Send a DM or email us at: [email protected]

Make sure to come join us for Neil Simon's Rumors! Cast and crew have working their tails off and the word on the street is that this one will leave you rolling on the floor! Shows start Wednesday and run every night through Saturday. Join us! https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/jeffco-open/rumors-by-neil-simon-93589/

Jeffco Open Presents: Rumors by Neil Simon Tickets are available now! Dates: Mar 16 - Mar 19 2022

The Open School Hub and Spoke wants to sincerely thank JCOS PTSO and our Leadership Team for believing in this program and helping us get up and running. We started with nothing and now have four carts of tools, stands, and just about everything we need to fully service nearly any bike (students were in involved in every step along the way!).

And, just in time! Thanks also to everyone who has dropped off bikes for repair as well as donations. We will be getting these bikes up and running and offering the donated bikes to families in our community in need.

This week's Into The Great Wide Open! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bKOJdan8P-GWjFPIAdeTOQWTDz7-g08i/view

itgwO_030422.pdf

Here's last week's Into The Great Wide Open! https://drive.google.com/file/d/14rITVKZQPa259u8n1-kMvRMf-9zjZZsq/view

itgwO_021122.pdf

The Open School Hub and Spoke wants to fix your bikes!
Hello! We are proud to announce that the Open School has successfully launched a bike shop and is ready to accept bikes for repair! Our crew of students is very excited to work on your bikes, and have put a lot of effort into getting this bike shop together. As part of our learning process and in service to our community, we will initially be offering services for free (though we do accept donations, there is no requirement by any means). Also, if you have bikes or parts lying around collecting dust, we would love to take them off your hands. We will fix them up and donate them to families in need. Please reach out to Al, Per or Turner to make arrangements and we hope to fix your bike!

Al Head: [email protected]
Per Wigand: [email protected]
Turner Peters: [email protected]

This is it, folks! Join us for all of the fun and support Open School Theater by coming to the fall production of High School Musical! Opening night is Thursday, with additional shows on Friday and Saturday. https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/jeffco-open/disney-high-school-musical-on-stage-86766/?fbclid=IwAR01swNGDgcCb8ItWtI7rId8WUPe1tQ8jVXuIcmx_AJaOOkHwk7W95YnBSw

Jeffco Open Presents: Disney High School Musical On Stage Tickets are available now! Dates: Dec 16 - Dec 18 2021