Niwot Elementary School fifth-grader Cooper Edwards recently won the Boulder Valley Regional Spelling Bee and is one of two students from Colorado who will be competing at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC, in May. 

After experiencing an early exit at Niwot’s spelling bee in 2023, Cooper returned this year with a renewed determination to succeed. His hard work and perseverance paid off, as he won first place at the regional competition by correctly spelling the word “crocus,” a delicate flowering plant. For Cooper, the most enjoyable part of the regional bee was the thrill of the competition as it neared its conclusion. “Toward the end, it was getting more fun for me. I wanted to keep going and spelling more words.” 

To prepare for the national spelling bee, Cooper plans to utilize a variety of strategies. “I will probably repeat a bunch of the quizzes on the Scripps app, Word Club, remember the same words from the regional bee, and practice the list of words that Scripps is coming out with soon.”

Cooper is looking forward to his trip to Washington, DC, and is proud to represent Niwot in the competition. “Not everybody gets to do this. I’m really excited, and I just want to go and have fun.”

Audrey Lenger, Niwot Gifted and Talented Teacher, praised Cooper for his sportsmanship, supportive nature towards classmates, and achievements. “We’re not only proud of Cooper’s academic accomplishments, but we’re also proud of his humanity. He’s just a good human being, and he’s hardworking and responsible,” shared Lenger. “It’s unusual for a fifth-grader to progress from the regional to the national competition. You have to be poised, confident, and possess the ability to calm yourself and not let distractions get to you.”

Cooper is the first elementary student from Niwot to qualify for a national spelling bee. According to Lenger, “We’ve had two former students who went to nationals as middle school students at Sunset, but Cooper is the first elementary student to go.” Additionally, Cooper’s older sister, Paige, a seventh-grader at Sunset Middle School and a former Niwot student, won Sunset’s spelling bee this year and represented the school at the regional level alongside Cooper.

Since its inception in 2017, the Innovation Fair at Longmont Estates Elementary has evolved into a cornerstone of creativity, exploration, and collaboration for students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

Initially centered around engineering design projects, the fair has expanded its scope in response to students’ interests and aspirations. In 2019, it broadened to include Genius Hour projects, science experiments, and design thinking projects, providing students with a variety of avenues to pursue their interests.

“This year, we’ve observed a significant trend with students showing a preference for Genius Hour projects. These projects are student-driven research projects conducted at school, where students are allocated one hour a week of class time to complete them. This preference is particularly noticeable for projects focusing on topics related to the natural world, especially animals,” remarked Jessicca Shaffer, STEM Coordinator at Longmont Estates. “This trend underscores students’ curiosity and eagerness to delve deeper into subjects that capture their attention.”

Fifth-grader Taytum Bushlack immersed herself in the captivating world of coral reefs for her Genius Hour project. “I selected this topic due to my passion for coral reefs,” she explained. “I was conscious of their endangered status and their vital role in ocean life.” Through her research, Taytum explored different types of coral, both soft and hard varieties, and gained an understanding of their crucial role in marine ecosystems. “I discovered the diverse types of coral, some of which are located on or near the shore. My research highlighted the significance of coral reef structures in safeguarding fish and coastlines.”

Students in grades three through five who participate in the fair have the option to work independently on projects or collaborate in partnerships or small groups. This effort enhances learning and promotes cross-disciplinary connections that help create teamwork and peer collaboration.

In addition to the technical aspects of STEM, involvement in the Innovation Fair develops a range of essential skills crucial for academic and personal growth. From refining communication skills during project interviews to nurturing problem-solving abilities and time management, students emerge from the experience equipped with invaluable skills.

“Each year, the Innovation Fair at Longmont Estates continues to inspire and empower students,” shared Shaffer. “It is truly inspiring to witness their passion and dedication to exploring new frontiers in STEM. As we continue to adapt and expand the fair, we remain dedicated to cultivating a culture of innovation and collaboration that empowers our students to thrive in an ever-changing world.”

The St. Vrain Storytellers group engages students within St. Vrain Valley Schools through the power of oral storytelling. With a team of 37 volunteers, they bring stories to life in 133 classrooms across 19 schools, serving students from preschool through fifth grade, including Timberline PK-8.

“We aspire to enhance literacy and build intergenerational communities through storytelling,” shares Laura Meyers, President of St. Vrain Storytellers. “Our storytellers share diverse narratives that ignite students’ imaginations and foster empathy.” Through carefully curated stories, St. Vrain Storytellers cultivate a love for literature and language, sparking the imaginations of young minds.

During monthly visits lasting typically between 20 and 30 minutes, storytellers create opportunities for connection and learning. The integration of storytelling into students’ educational experiences offers benefits such as enhanced comprehension and improved communication skills. Additionally, storytelling hones technical skills like visualization, cognitive engagement, critical thinking, and story sequencing.

“At Timberline PK-8, storytelling visits have become a cornerstone of creative expression and communication,” explains Audrey Seybold, Principal at Timberline. “Our students are exposed to diverse narratives that promote empathy and cultural understanding. It’s inspiring to see how storytelling fosters both academic and social-emotional growth among our students.”

Meyers emphasizes that oral storytelling fosters a love of stories by students and generates excitement as they anticipate the storytellers’ arrival. Second-grader Fernanda Rascon agrees, “I look forward to when the storytellers come to our class because they tell us stories about places like the Amazon Rainforest, and I learn a lot of new things.”

Centennial Elementary School’s commitment to “Innovation with Heart” is transforming the way students engage with their community, fostering empathy, and nurturing impactful change-makers. Through initiatives like Centennial Cares and the Innovation Lab, students are encouraged to tackle real-world problems with compassion and creativity.

“Innovation with Heart is about more than just finding solutions; it’s about understanding the people behind the problems,” explained Sarah Larson, Centennial Cares and Innovation Lab Teacher at Centennial Elementary. “We want students to recognize the power they hold to make a positive difference in the lives of others.”

Students at Centennial Elementary utilize the five stages of the Design-Thinking process: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. This approach allows them to deeply understand community needs by empathizing with those impacted by diverse issues. “Empathy is fundamental in the Design-Thinking process,” stated Larson. “It involves truly understanding the needs and experiences of others, essential for creating effective solutions.”

In a previous Centennial Cares class discussion, students engaged in a brainstorming session to address various school-related issues that they had either experienced or observed. After carefully considering the ideas that were shared, Mrs. Larson selected seven issues that resonated with class. Topics included keeping the school clean, bus behavior, recess time rules, hallway noise levels, bullying prevention, respect towards peers and school property, and adhering to school expectations. By focusing on these specific issues, students broke out into groups to work on the topics they were passionate about.

A group of students worked on solutions, such as creating a video script demonstrating ways to contribute to a clean environment and designing awareness-raising posters. Fourth-grader Alexis emphasized her role in the initiative by stating, “It’s important to support our school custodian by picking up our own trash.”

Another group of students decided to come up with ways on how to improve overall behavior norms within the school. They have created boxes that can be strategically placed throughout the building to incentivize positive behavior. Sophie explained, “Students demonstrate their willingness to follow school rules by selecting a piece of paper from the box and signing it which shows they are committed to making our school better.”

Through these collaborative efforts, Centennial Elementary students are contributing to a more positive and supportive school environment. “Innovation with Heart supports student achievement and academic growth by giving students opportunities to utilize their academic skills in a way that differs from the typical grade level classroom,” said Larson. “Through activities like peer interviewing and problem-solving, students hone essential skills such as communication, collaboration, and critical thinking, contributing to their overall academic success and personal growth.”

At a recent assembly for third through fifth graders, Niwot Elementary School hosted New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Kazu Kibuishi. Known for his Amulet graphic novels and iconic cover designs for the 15th anniversary release of the Harry Potter series, Kibuishi’s literary contributions are widely recognized around the world, with over 7 million copies of his books in print and translations into 21 languages.

“The Amulet series is so wonderful because it introduces amazing characters and explores themes of wonder, friendship, and discovery while encouraging resilience and overcoming fear of the unknown,” shared Kelly Blackford, Library Media Tech at Niwot. “I think Kazu’s life history and career journey really send a powerful message of perseverance and courage that I hope will inspire our students to pursue their own dreams.” 

The author’s visit provided a unique opportunity for students to interact with Kibuishi and learn about literature, writing, and graphic novels. He shared his inspiring journey as an author and illustrator and emphasized the importance of following your passions, staying dedicated to goals, facing adversity, and learning from mistakes. 

During the assembly, Kibuishi wowed students with a live demonstration of his illustration process in Photoshop. The excitement peaked when he sketched several popular characters from his books. Kibuishi also took time to interact with his young readers by answering questions and sharing anecdotes about his literary adventures. 

One of the highlights of the event was the unveiling of Kibuishi’s latest installment, “Amulet Book 9: Waverider.” Following the presentation, everyone in attendance eagerly lined up to have their personal copy signed by the author. Reece Nielsen, a third-grader and avid reader of the Amulet series, appreciates Kabuishi’s books because of their high level of suspense and the strategic cliffhangers in the storyline. Nielsen enjoyed the assembly and shared, “I really liked watching him draw the pictures. It was very interesting.”

Blackford collaborated with Boulder Bookstore to coordinate the author’s visit. Her decision to invite Kibuishi to present at Niwot was driven by her own children’s love for the Amulet series.“As a parent and educator, I was excited to see the kids expand their reading horizons into more complex, nuanced stories, but still with amazing messages for kids of all ages. I feel like opening one of the Amulet books is like opening an experience, and I shared my passion for these books with our students in the library.”

Niwot staff was thrilled to see the enthusiasm for reading generated by Kibuishi’s visit. The response to the event was so positive, that Blackford hopes to make it an annual tradition for the broader Niwot and St. Vrain communities.