Category Archives: CO-OP

Co-op Update — Final One

A few final links and notes:
3) Conference Google Meet Link    Conferences will be about 12-15 minutes long.  I’m using ONE Google Meet room for all conferences.  So I ask for your help in showing up on time for the conference.  Please make every effort not to be early or late.
4) CHOICE Closure Padlet — Right now, 8th grade goodbyes are here.  The CHOICE Slideshow and other items will be posted over the next few weeks.  There are a lot of CHOICE traditions that (unfortunately) have been moved online, and this site is the virtual home.
There will be an announcement in NEXT Monday’s CHOICE Weekly (5/18) with info about the final week of school, picking up portfolios, cleaning out lockers, etc.  I can’t wait to connect with all of you during conferences.
Thank you for sharing your students with me and for such an amazing year in co-op.  I adore your kids.
Best, -JF

Co-op Update — End of Year Conferences

I miss you all tremendously, but I’m excited to connect for student-led End of Year Conferences during the week of May 11th.   Obviously the format is going to be different this year, so I thank you for your patience through this process.
A few notes:
1) Please sign-up for conferences at this link.  I tried to schedule a variety of times to meet different schedule needs.

2) Here is the format for conferences.  This link contains the “to-do” list that students need to have ready for the conference.
3) Here is the Google Meet link for conferences.
4) Conferences will be about 12-15 minutes long.  I’m using ONE Google Meet room for all conferences.  So I ask for your help in showing up on time for the conference.  Please make every effort not to be early or late.
5) Students — if you need any help preparing for your conference, please reach out to me.  I’m happy to hop on Google Meets to connect.
Thank you for all your hard work in advance!
Best, -JF

Co-op Update — April…?

In an effort to streamline communications, I may not be sending out weekly updates for Co-op going forward.  I will try and communicate as decisions are made and we learn more.  In the meantime, here is what you should know:
1) Co-op will continue to meet every every Monday at 11am.  It’s the same Co-op Google Meet link every week.
2) I am almost always available to connect about anything.  Super easy to hop on a quick google meet to connect as needed with students.  Just email me.
3) I really miss you all!
4) No decisions have been finalized yet as far as portfolios, end-of-year conferences, 8th grade continuation, etc.  BVSD has to make their call about return in May (unlikely) and then we can develop our plan.  I will let you know either through a direct email or a special edition of the CHOICE Weekly as soon as we have finalized our plan going forward.
5) Community Service should still be happening!  — Home Service Learning Ideas.  All students should be doing AT LEAST one hour of community service each week (even if they have met their allotment for 2019-2020 already).   I’ll be asking students about this during our “check-in” during co-op on Monday.
Thank you for all your support.  Please reach out if I can be of any assistance.
Best, -JF

Co-op Update — Week of 3/30

I miss you all!  I hope you are staying well during these crazy times.  A few updates:
  1. Here is our co-op Co-op Google Meet link   We will be meeting on Mondays from 11:00-11:20am.  We’ll just be checking-in… will be very low-key.  I will also put a copy of this link on Google Classroom just in case you lose this email.
  2. Portfolios — we recognize that many of your physical portfolios are at school.  For now, no worries.  Portfolios are on pause for at least a few weeks.
  3. Your NEW homework in Co-op is to conduct AT LEAST one hour of Community Service each week.  This is really open as to what this could look like — and can simply be helping your family with extra chores.  I brainstormed a quick list of ideas here —Home Service Learning Ideas.   The document is open-edit — so If you have additional ideas, just add them to the document.
  4. If you are having username/password issues, connect with Cheyne Keith — bradford.keith@bvsd.org .
If you have NOT used Google Meet before, you may wish to connect with a peer and give it a try before classes start.  It’s really simple to access through the “9-dot” menu in the top right area of any Google Screen.
Can’t wait to virtually see you all next Monday!
Best, -Josh
Ps.  Even though we only meet for 20 minutes of “in-person” co-op time — if you all need anything or if I can help in anyway, please connect with me.  I’d love to hear from you!
Pps.  If you misplaced the new CHOICE Home Learning Schedule, here it is…
Screen Shot 2020-03-26 at 9.36.23 AM.png

Co-op Update — 3/20

I miss you all!  We are planning for home learning commencing March 30th.  This will be an adventure for all of us!
Co-op will meet once a week every Monday starting on March 30th from 11am-11:20am through Google Meets.  I will post a link prior to our first meeting in Google Classroom.
There will be a CHOICE Weekly coming out in the next 24 hours with full details on the home learning schedule.  Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or just to say hello.
Happy (almost) Spring Break!
Best, -JF

Co-op Update — March

Lots happening in co-op these days, but not a ton of “news” to report.  We’ve been participating in the “No Place for Hate” school program, continuing with our read-aloud, playing games, and just connecting about upcoming events (Athletic Day, etc.). A few notes:
  1. Contributions to CHOICE reflection should be complete and in portfolio by Tuesday, March 17th.
  2. Athletic Day is March 20th.  Students are either going to Eldora or to the Apex Rec Center.  Students who are planning to ski and do not already have an Eldora lift pass need to bring in $50 to Mr. Trasky for a lift pass.  Otherwise, there are no fees.  Students should pack a sack lunch for the day.
  3. Spring trip will be announced Wednesday!  Drum roll….
  4. CMAS will take place 3/30, 3/31, and 4/2 for LA/Math in the mornings.  CMAS Science (8th grade) will take place during the week of April 13th during 8th grade Seminar.  I’m sure the school will be disseminating more details as they come available.
  5. Students shared 2nd trimester rubrics for Math/LA last week.  If you haven’t gotten those, ask your student.  These rubrics should also be printed out and inserted into physical portfolios or links made sharable and added to digital portfolios.
  6. Coin wars.  Student council is doing another round of “coin wars” to help fund a school for girls in Pakistan.  Students can bring in spare change through March 6th.
  7. We are currently slated for a special “Voyagers” Field Trip at the Boulder Planetarium on March 19th.  Students will need a sack lunch and should plan on wearing their best 70s or 80s garb for that performance.
Stay tuned to the CHOICE Weekly for further updates.
Thank you for all your support!   -JF

Co-op Update — Weeks of 2/18 and 2/24

Hi Co-op,
Here’s what’s happening in co-op over the next several weeks:
1) With special events and other activities, our portfolio workdays are few and far between this time of year.  I will review the end of the year reflections with students sometime in the next few days.  None of these are due anytime soon, but something to keep in mind.
2) Our next athletic day is Friday, March 20th.  Look for information about that in the next few weeks.  Students will have the option to go skiing at Eldora (fee TBA if they don’t already have lift  passes) or go to the APEX recreation center (free).
3) Third trimester LA/Math classes start on Tuesday.  (Crazy to think we are 2/3rds of the way through the school year.). Second Trimester math and LA rubrics will <likely> go home around February 25th.  We are hoping to have honor roll recipients finalized in early March.  We’ll let award recipients know via email.  The honor roll breakfast will take place on Friday, March 13th before school.
Thank you for all your continued support!  -JF

Co-op Update — Weeks of 2/3 and 2/10

Fantastic to see everyone for conferences. Here’s what’s happening going forward in co-op:
1) The end of the trimester is February 13th.  Students will be completing second trimester rubrics in their math and LA classes.  (This is a great time to make sure that any missing assignments from these classes are complete.)
2) Students should be working towards completing any portfolio tasks assigned from their conference.  (I would love to sign off on any personal sections that remain unsigned.)
3) Our next two weeks in council we’ll be exploring “words that hurt, words that heal” in trying to better understand the impact of language in our community.  We’ll also be recognizing random acts of kindness as we get closer to Valentine’s Day.
4) No school 2/14 and 2/17.
Thank you so much for your support.  -JF