Denver Montessori Junior-High School / DPS

Collaborative School Committee (CSC) Meeting Agenda & Minutes

January 22, 2025 4-5:30 at DMHS

Agenda:

August 25,2025 6-7:15 at DMHS

Agenda:

April 22, 2024 5:00 to 6:00 pm at DMHS 

Agenda:

  1. Minutes Review and Approval (to be completed via email) approved

February 26, 2024 5:30 to 6:15 pm at DMHS 

Agenda:

Parent questions and concerns, compliments

January 30, 2024 5:30 to 6:15 pm at DMHS 

AGENDA: 

January 8, 2024 5:00 to 6:15 pm at DMHS 

Agenda: 

  1. Dakota introduce the structure/introductions
    1. welcome
  2. Acknowledgments (5 minutes)
    1. Ob- getting a lot of tours, and trips are coming up!
    2. Kiahna – Clubs are going good
    3. Sheldon – Senior experience class started off good today, good staff party
  3. Community Liaison Report (Obdulia, 5 minutes)
    1. Graduation is on May 25th as of now and are going to tour the tivoli on Wednesday for the venue
    2. Prom is April 18th, don’t have a venue yet, probably at City Park weather permitting – York St yards
    3. Trip in May – Rome and New Orleans are the options, need a minimum of 20 students
  4. Principal’s report
    1. Staff retreat outcomes
    2. Budget update and upcoming dates
    3. Marketing
  5. WORK TIME get a volunteer from each feeder school?
    1. CTD
    2. Sandoval
    3. Denison
    4. Lincoln
    5. Garden Place
  6. next meeting TBD Feb 5, 2024 at 5 pm
  7. New Business (10 minutes)
    1. should we have students as voting members?
    2. are we going to have 2nd language in the high school?
      1. 2 years of 2nd language to apply to college
        1. seal of biliteracy is lost without a teacher
      2. Sheldon-can we have funding? how popular would it be?
      3. Denver online could be an option? 
      4. bring it up at BUDGET time
      5. MAKE A SURVEY FOR STUDENTS/Volunteer Requirement?
        1. https://forms.gle/EVcLmVJ7hyPFEC7g7 

Letter to potential CSC members.

Dear  XXXXXX,

Your child’s education is important to you.  Would you like to work with other parents, staff and Sheldon to help guide the work of the school. The CSC is a collaborative school committee that works to approve the budget and discuss suggestions and problems that arise in the running of a school. Please join us this year to give your voice. The commitment is only 1 hour per month. If you have any questions, email Dakota, Chair or Obdulia, staff member. We would really like to have representatives from your child’s elementary school. 

Sincerely,

Dakota Prosch  

November 13, 2023 / 5:00 to 6:15 pm at DMHS

Agenda: 

  1. Dakota introduce the structure/introductions
    1. get a volunteer from each feeder school
      1. CTD
      2. Sandoval
      3. Denison
      4. Lincoln
      5. Garden Place
  2. Acknowledgments (5 minutes)
    1. Fall Festival nice turn out and it was nice
    2. Haunted House 
  3. Community Liaison Report (Obdulia, 5 minutes)
    1. Middle school dance
    2. Trip HS 10th-12th international 
    3. Coffeehouse Dec. 1 5 pm (music is “dope”)
  4. Principal’s Report (Sheldon, 35 minutes)
    1. online presence Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School
      1. @ctd_denver Instagram
    2. What are you grateful for?
    3. 4 Staff from both CTD/DMHS to travel to a Site Visit IVA
    4. Seniors and Sheldon shopped for Homecoming decor
    5. Sped teacher starting January and 2 sped paras
      1. “lab approach” with an interventionist (Danielle) supporting Seniors
      2. using a pullout model for 1 on 1 help to complete work
    6. 10th-12th graders taking CE courses on Mon and Wed so they don’t miss work at DMHS
    7. Malia is the new counselor – meeting with 11th graders to prepare for credits
      1. Planning a Jr/Sr night for credits
      2. Working on accessing scholarships/ASCENT/DSF
    8. Senior capstone project and time for planning Senior Week, college prep, career, resumes, applications for college
    9. Grade level gathering-each is determining a community project
    10. More marketing to retain and attract 9th graders
    11. Fully staffed 2024!!
    12. Innovation Plan was approved by DPS
    13. DMHS/CTD still on Tiered Support – additional financial support and accountability
  5. New Business (10 minutes)
    1. Self defense classes-Ann W
      1. dealing with aggressive strangers
      2. when? Krav Maga Colorado
    2. Comprehensive Health (Jose starts Nov. 27)-Dakota P
      1. (https://amaze.org/)
      2. 6th grade comprehensive health
      3.  DPS Middle School Comprehensive Health Scope and Sequence
      4. 2023-2024 High School Comprehensive Health Curriculum Map
    3. Talent development opportunities & internships?
      1. starting with seniors and working our way down

September 11, 2023 / 5:00 to 6:15 pm at DMHS 

Agenda: 

  1. Dakota introduce the structure/introductions (Voting) Committee Members
    1. Kiahna, Virginia, Obdulia, 
  2. Acknowledgments (5 minutes)
    1. Daily Gatherings with whole school or middle/high school specific meetings, and grade level gatherings,COMING SOON Club gatherings
    2. 20+ 6th graders!!
    3. SPF (School performance framework) From red to green on State/District Levels [20% and Math 15% improvements]
    4. Thank to wonderful staff-lots of new staff
    5. Recognize the students who are welcoming new students
    6. The identity of a phoenix rising from ashes
  3. Community Liaison Report (Sheldon, 5 minutes)
    1. Mexican Independence Day on the 14th
      1. cafeteria can make food related
      2. parents can send in food to share
    2. Harvest Fest on Oct. 6th reimagined-student council
    3. Middle School student council
    4. Cultural Leadership Team is looking at whole year’s events
      1. Halloween & Dia de los Muertos
    5. Parent Fundraising for flexible seating-classrooms Donor’s Choose
  4. Principal’s Report (Sheldon, 35 minutes)
    1. Obdulia’s mother passed-feel free to send flowers or notes
    2. Innovation vote 9/19-19
    3. Day of belonging 9/15 games between middle and high school
    4. Are HS being told to leave campus during off period? They can stay on campus to work, but need a good place to work. 
    5. New Staff-every new staff member has teaching experience
    6. Building upgrades for the space that was left behind from Denver Online
    7. Technology upgrades-every classroom has a SmartBoard
    8. New website –Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School
    9. 9th grade in the high school and 6th grade in the middle school
  5. Collaboration or Q&A/discussion-Potential Agenda Items-New Business (10 minutes)
    1. High school and Middle School is staffed (empty Sped position there is a part-time sped teacher working with kids but not doing paperwork, need some more paraprofessionals)
    2. Sex ed or human development course?
      1. tie it in with PE, Ryan is new, Dakota will email 
    3. Talent development opportunities & internships?
      1. How do kids go about getting support from the school?
      2. Kiahna wants to help-since she used to run it. Sheldon wants to talk to kids.
        1. Prodigy, Radiator, Cherry Bean, Center for Conflict Resolution, etc
    4. Lockers?
      1. trying to figure it out. in discussion
      2. Middle schoolers will get lockers this year
    5. Dealing with conflict of Concurrent enrollment and DMHS scheduling for high school
      1. locked in and will try to problem-solve during this year
      2. try to prevent for next year as much as possible
      3. Academic counselor?
  6. We will record and share CSC meetings afterward
  7. Recruitment of new parents
    1. Dakota will text parents from back to school 
    2. we will add this video and minutes to the invite and the website/facebook
  8. Reminder of Next Meeting 5 pm Monday, Oct. 9 

Mission Statement

Individual Challenge. Global Citizenship.

Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School (DMHS) will combine Montessori best practices with current research on adolescent brain development to provide a learning environment that promotes high achievement for each student while also supporting them socially and emotionally. Graduates, regardless of ethnicity or income status, will be prepared for college or a career as well as demonstrate ingenuity, adaptability, creativity, initiative and excellent communication and problem solving skills.

May 8, 2023 / 5:30 to 6:30 pm at DMHS and Virtual

Committee Members

Staff: Sheldon Reynolds (Principal) / Obdulia Calder (ELA) / Anders Benson / Virginia Delgado

Parents: Ann Widmer (outgoing Chair [non-voting]) / Lynn Roberts (secretary) / Veronica Robins / Dakota Prosch / Barb Wood / Cassandra Rocha / Yolanda Ramirez / Deb Matyjevich

Community: Kiahna Calder

In attendance 

Kristine, Deb M, Christine, Dakota, Antoinette, Obdulia(staff), Ann, Anders (staff), Barb, Sheldon, Yolanda, Lynn, Veronica, Virginia (staff), Lily (sped)

Mission Statement

Individual Challenge. Global Citizenship.

Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School (DMHS) will combine Montessori best practices with current research on adolescent brain development to provide a learning environment that promotes high achievement for each student while also supporting them socially and emotionally. Graduates, regardless of ethnicity or income status, will be prepared for college or a career as well as demonstrate ingenuity, adaptability, creativity, initiative and excellent communication and problem solving skills.

Agenda & Minutes

Celebrations (5 minutes)seniors did it!, PR trip, 

Introductions by Committee Members (5 min)

Minutes Review and Approval (to be completed via email) approved

CSC Role and Positions (Link to CSC Bylaws (v.2021)) (Ann, 20 minutes)

Community Liaison Report (Obdulia, 5 minutes)

Principal’s Report (Sheldon, 35 minutes)

New Business (10 minutes)

Topics for Next Meeting / Date, Time (5 minutes)

Denver Montessori High School / Denver Public Schools

CSC / ELA PAC Meeting Agenda / Minutes

March 13, 2023 / 5:30 to 6:30 pm at DMHS and Virtual

Committee Members

Staff: Sheldon Reynolds (Principal) / Obdulia Calder (ELA) / Anders Benson / Virginia Delgado

Parents: Ann Widmer (outgoing Chair [non-voting]) / Lynn Roberts (secretary) / Veronica Robins / Dakota Prosch / Barb Wood / Cassandra Rocha / Yolanda Ramirez / Deb Matyjevich

Community: Kiahna Calder

In attendance 

in person: Sheldon, Obdulia, Yolanda, Dakota, Ann, Lynn, Barb, online: Deb, Cassandra, Kristine, Cajsa, Julia, 

Mission Statement

Individual Challenge. Global Citizenship.

Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School (DMHS) will combine Montessori best practices with current research on adolescent brain development to provide a learning environment that promotes high achievement for each student while also supporting them socially and emotionally. Graduates, regardless of ethnicity or income status, will be prepared for college or a career as well as demonstrate ingenuity, adaptability, creativity, initiative and excellent communication and problem solving skills.

Agenda & Minutes

Celebrations (5 minutes)

Introductions by Committee Members (5 min)

Minutes Review and Approval (to be completed via email)

CSC Role and Positions (Link to CSC Bylaws (v.2021)) (Ann, 10 minutes)

Community Liaison Report (Obdulia, 5 minutes)

Principal’s Report (Sheldon, 30 minutes)

Topics for Next Meeting / Date, Time

Denver Montessori High School / Denver Public Schools

CSC Closed Budget Meeting Agenda / Minutes

February 09, 2023, Virtual

Present: Lynn, Yolanda, Barb, Sheldon, Anders, Veronica, Virginia, Obdulia, Keahna, Deb

Priorities:

1. Staffing model to support grade level appropriate standard-based content

2. SPED, GT, MLE support or intervention

3. Elective offerings that are relevant and of interest

Estimated Staff FTE cost (minus 80K operational cost)

● New positions: Dean of Culture, Intervention/Specialist, Music of CTE

● Newly adopted position: Agriculture and Technology (formerly Farm class)

● Central based funding: Learn 2 Lead II

2.5 million in staff salary costs

Reduction in Building:

● Middle School Math Para

● Drama-Theater Teacher: need to have elective offerings that spread across MS and HS levels

● Would still have drama options but this wouldn’t be a full time position

Sheldon working on a 5 year funding path from the district, needs to talk with two other departments

Options to consider, due to funding, one must be a new elective:

● Intervention/specialist: will we focus in having literacy or mathematics

● New elective we offer: music, some other art, CTE (career technical education) focused on financials, entrepreneurship and micro-economy

● Additional Position:

● additional elective

● an additional intervention/specialist role

● easier to find and hire than SPED, but can serve SPED, 504s and GT kids

● additional SPED role

● difficult to find and hire, currently short on SPED teachers across the district

Committee in agreement that we need intervention/specialists at this point, so in addition to 1 new elective we discussed two options:

1) hiring 2 intervention/specialists

2) hiring 1 intervention/specialist and an additional SPED role

Majority agreed with hiring 2 specialists (math and literacy) plus adding a music elective (option 1 above). Two individuals would like to go with hiring 1 specialist and an additional SPED role plus a music elective (option 2 above). Pros and cons of each option discussed. While consensus was not reached at 100%, Sheldon will take stock of the opinions presented at this meeting as he makes his final decisions.