Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) 690 W. Castle Pines Parkway Castle Rock, CO 80108 303-387-5700 Grades K-5 Calendar: Track www1.dcsdk12.org/elementary/tte/index.htm

Looking Forward, Looking Back

A four-track calendar means that even though most the schools in CPN are just now gearing up for the new year, all students at Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) started school in July. The year-round schedule at TTE (and the majority of Douglas County Elementary Schools) is the result of overcrowding and a lack of funds to build new schools.

Math Champs

Math might not be the first thing students think of when they are looking for a good time, but Timber Trail’s Gifted and Talented Program made an impressive showing in last year’s “Math Olympiad.” Students pushed their math skills to the limit, and had some fun along the way.

“Math Olympiad was fun, yet very hard. I liked the challenge and learning from my mistakes,” said graduating fifth grader Logan Draper. Draper and several of his fellow students received an award for scoring in the top 50 percent of all participants.

A new crop of math champs is looking forward to the five monthly contests (conducted nationwide) that comprise the Math Olympiad.

Hola, i-Pods!

Timber Trail students will soon be learning a second language using some high-tech techniques, as TTE begins its participation in the World Language Program.

“Students in second through fifth grades will receive Spanish instruction two times a week for 45 minutes each time,” said TTE Principal, Michelle Radke.

Spanish teacher Jeanette Proctor joins the Timber Trail teaching staff this year and will use a classroom set of i-Pods as a teaching tool in her classroom; students will practice language skills while tuning in to specially-designed podcasts.

“This program is funded through the last bond/budget override,” said Radke. “We are hoping that by introducing Spanish in the elementary grades, students’ comprehension and fluency will be at a much higher level when they reach high school.”

Giving the Gift of Education

Fundraising for TTE will begin with the new year, including gift card sales to several popular grocery stores, restaurants and retail outlets.

“Gift cards can be purchased on Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. or via order forms which can be found on the website,” said Timber Trail Educational Alliance President, Jill Buck.

The school will also be repeating its “Learning Tree” fundraiser, which offers families the opportuinity to by a “leaf” on the tree to support the school. Funds raised this year will be used for technology upgrades at the school.