Highlands Elementary Opens Its Doors as St. Vrain Valley’s Newest School

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The first day of school is always an exciting time for students, families, teachers and staff. When it is the first day for an entire new school, this excitement is magnified throughout the entire community. Earlier this week, Highlands Elementary, St. Vrain Valley School District’s newest school, opened its doors to welcome students. 

“It was just buzzing with excitement and energy,” said Principal Ryan Ball. “Every student, every parent, every teacher, and every member of our office staff – it was everyone’s first day, and everyone was thrilled to be starting a new school.”

Located in the Erie Highlands Subdivision neighborhood, the state of the art facility is the final school built with funds from St. Vrain Valley School’s bond measure approved by voters in 2016. The 70,000 square foot facility features classrooms grouped into pods, complete with large garage doors and extension areas for flexibility. The school also has a central media tech and library space, a STEM lab, an open auditorium and cafeteria commons area, an outdoor classroom, and a Significant Support Needs classroom and preschool. 

Highlands Elementary promotes a culture of wonder, creativity, and innovation for all students. The first day of school saw students already embodying this, as they collaborated, worked on design challenges, incorporated movement exercises, and explored their new space. 

Partnership with community is also a key part of Highlands’ mission, and community input has been crucial throughout the school’s design and opening. The building was designed with a Design Advisory Group including St. Vrain Valley Schools staff, HCM Architects, Build Strong, Oakwood Homes, and the Erie Highlands Homeowners Association. Community input were also critical in selecting the name, mascot and school colors.

Learn more about Highlands Elementary, and join us in welcoming them to St. Vrain Valley Schools community.

Celebrate local conservation at the northern redbelly dace fish release event

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Saturday, August 28, from 10 a.m. to noon will be a celebration of over two years of conservation efforts by multiple organizations with the release of the Colorado native, endangered northern redbelly dace, into Webster Pond at Pella Crossing. The event will include St. Vrain Valley Schools Future-Ready Innovation Lab and hands-on activity stations for children. Members of the public are encouraged to park at Hygiene Elementary School and Westview Middle School. A free shuttle service to Pella Crossing will be provided by St. Vrain Valley Schools’ transportation department. 

Boulder County Parks & Open Space, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Denver Zoo, the Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools, Lyons Middle Senior High School, Ocean First Institute, and graduate students with University of Colorado Boulder have engaged in a nationally recognized partnership project to implement the reintroduction of the species to the St. Vrain River and educate students about the scientific process and importance of the successful restoration of this threatened species. 

“The Northern Redbelly Dace is a State Endangered fish species, and is extremely rare in wetlands along the Front Range, where it is native in Colorado,” said Boyd Wright, Aquatic Conservation Biologist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “This unique project supports CPW’s goal of replicating populations of the species in suitable habitat within its native range, but perhaps more importantly, engages the local community in the conservation of a little-known fish species. It’s a rare and exciting project for a rare fish, and it wouldn’t be possible without this outstanding partnership.”

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Native Aquatic Restoration Facility in Alamosa provided the fish to start the project. Students at Lyons Middle Senior and the Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools have raised the fish housed at the Innovation Center. The goal of the project is for the dace to be released into Webster Pond ahead of final reintroduction into the St. Vrain River. Post-reintroduction, students will continue to study the success of the project by monitoring the fish by utilizing underwater robotics, applying artificial intelligence, and conducting tests on the water quality through various means such as eDNA testing.

“I have enjoyed watching these little fish grow up and love using our sensors to learn more about what the dace need to thrive in their environment,” said Innovation Center sophomore Taryn McDermid who joined the project because it combined her passions for the outdoors and robotics. “This project is really important to me because of how important these fish are to the environment and our community.”

The upcoming release is a reflection of the resiliency of both the endangered species and the partners who have persevered despite setbacks from the coronavirus crisis. The northern redbelly dace are extremely sensitive and challenging to raise and the initial release to Webster Pond was delayed from its scheduled summer 2020 release. A previous batch of northern redbelly dace was successfully released in a different location in fall 2020. Initially a man-made pond, Webster Pond was significantly altered by the 2013 floods and Boulder County Parks & Open Space transitioned the ecosystem to an emerging wetland, an ideal environment for the reintroduction of rare and endangered fish species. 

“After beginning this project at the start of the pandemic, we have worked tirelessly to create an environment for these fish to not only survive, but thrive at our school,” said Lyons senior Cassidy Batts. “The fish lost their environment just like we did in the 2013 flood. We faced COVID obstacles while raising them, but persevered because the conservation of this native species matters. We are so excited to finally release the fish into Webster pond after releasing some last year in a Lyons pond. We are honored to be a part of this impactful conservation effort and hope to see these fish succeed in their natural habitat with the support of all the partnerships.”

The successful culture of this species will expand and create opportunities for students to understand species conservation, and engage in hands-on research and community outreach conveying why conservation of this indicator species and its continued resilience is important to Boulder County and ultimately, to Colorado.

“The dace is a symbol of hope, showing us that all, regardless of size, are important to a functioning and healthy environment. From students to professionals or from small minnow to an entire ecosystem, we all have a part to play in building resilience in our community,” said Executive Director of Ocean First Institute Dr. Mikki McComb-Kobza.

SVVSD welcomes students for first day of school

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Longmont High School’s largest freshman class, with close to 360 students, spent their first day of school Tuesday with about 100 upperclassmen cheering them on and helping them navigate the school’s labyrinthine layout.

The mentorship program kicks off by giving the incoming freshmen a day to explore the school before the rest of the students show up. The older students “clapped in” the incoming freshmen, led games, gave tours and offered advice.

“They get a nice welcoming feeling and a good general look at the high school,” said junior Noah Johnson, one of the mentors. “If they need a support system, we try to be that person. Just knowing a few students from orientation can make the first day more comfortable.”

Read the full story in the Times-Call

Fresh Colorado Peaches from the Western Slope to our Cafeterias Thursday!

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Visit our school meal menu and you will see a ‘fresh fruit variety’ being served each day to our students. Our staff work hard to make sure they are delivered at the peak of ripeness so students can enjoy them as a nutritious summer time treat on their plates.

Staff member with pallet full of fresh, Colorado peaches
Nutrition Services & Warehouse Team Member, Alex Maldonado, loads a pallet of Colorado Peaches that will be offered in our cafeterias during the first week of school.

SVVSD opening new elementary school in Erie

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Highlands Elementary students won’t be limited to class visits to the school’s STEM lab when they want to get creative and need extra space.

Each grade level “pod” in the new Erie school includes classroom extension areas to provide flexible learning spaces. Garage doors for each classroom allow teachers to maintain a line of sight as students work outside their rooms, as well as the option to open up and collaborate with other classrooms.

“There are so many opportunities for kids everywhere,” said Principal Ryan Ball, who previously led Longmont’s Eagle Crest Elementary for 16 years. “Wonder is an important word for our staff. We want students to research and create and explore ideas. This facility lends itself to doing that.”

Read the full story in the Times-Call

Family Benefits to Submitting a Meal Application Family Income Form

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Dear Parents and Guardians,

St. Vrain Valley Schools takes great pride in providing all students with nutritious meals throughout the day to support their learning and well-being. There will be no cost to families for school meals during the 2021-2022 school year.

Families are encouraged to submit a Meal Application Family Income Form as it supports our students, families, teachers, and schools with additional funding. Whether your child chooses to enjoy school lunches or bring their own meal from home, filling out the form is a quick, easy process and offers many benefits to our families and schools.

Please see the list of benefits to families and schools below. Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting our students, teachers, schools, and district. If you have any questions about the meal application process please contact Sandra Melara at 303-702-7793 or [email protected].

Family Benefits to Submitting a Meal Application Family Income Form:

  • School program fees are waived.
  • After-school program fees are waived.
  • Preschool programs fees are waived.
  • SAT and ACT tests and college application fees are reduced.
  • Access to community food banks services are available.
  • Discounts on utilities and internet service are available.
  • Discounts for participation in community groups like sports or YMCA programs are available.

School Benefits to Submitting a Meal Application Family Income Form:

  • Schools receive more federal dollars in their budgets to support students.
  • Schools receive additional dollars in grants targeting school programs.
  • Title I Schools receive additional funding dollars for classroom support.
  • District Technology Services receives additional e-rate funding dollars for classroom support.
  • St. Vrain Valley Schools qualifies to receive more money per student from the state and federal government, which they can pass on to school classrooms.
  • Middle schools with high return rates may also help their feeder elementary schools qualify for free afterschool snacks, dinners, and on-site summer meals.
  • Schools may become eligible for money to fund after-school programs.
  • Schools may become eligible for money to fund preschool programs.

Important Back to School Information

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Dear St. Vrain Valley Schools Families,

We are very excited to welcome our 33,000 students back to full in-person learning next week as we begin the 2021-2022 school year. I want to express my sincere gratitude for your continued patience and support as we have worked closely with our local and state health agencies on finalizing safety protocols for this year. I have also appreciated the numerous questions, comments, and feedback we have received from our community over the past several weeks. Parent, teacher, staff, and student perspectives continue to be valuable, alongside the direction of our public health experts. Our main priority is to ensure that students can learn in a safe and engaging school environment that minimizes significant disruptions such as quarantines and school closures. To this end, please carefully review the important information in this letter to best prepare your student for success this school year. 

As was the case last year, the evolving nature of this health crisis will require us to remain flexible as we plan for the start of the school year and beyond. The Governor’s Office or our health agency partners could issue new guidance at any time that may require us to alter our plans.

Full In-Person Learning

This year, students will return to school for in-person learning with a full, five-day school week. Click here to access the academic calendar for 2021-2022. Families who prefer to continue with virtual learning still have the option to enroll in our LaunchED Virtual Academy which serves students in grades K-12. 

2021-2022 Health and Safety Measures

St. Vrain Valley Schools will continue to implement a multilayered approach to ensuring safer school environments during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes high-quality air ventilation in all buildings, social distancing as much as possible, increased hand washing and sanitizing stations, and heightened cleaning protocols. 

Additionally, we were just notified that Boulder County Public Health has mandated that all students in grades PK-12 wear a mask while inside of our school buildings, regardless of vaccination status. While I have received significant and conflicting opinions from our community regarding whether masks should be required, we must adhere to this order from our local health department. Toward this end, one important element of this order is that masking all students and staff while indoors will result in a significant decrease in classroom quarantines, which will serve to minimize disruptions to our students’ in-person learning. The health department has also indicated that higher risk activities, such as athletics and music programs, could still be subject to regular quarantine protocols.

Although we have a very high vaccination rate for our teachers and staff, they will also be required to wear a mask while indoors in our school buildings, regardless of vaccination status. This is to prevent any unnecessary quarantining of our teachers and staff for routine COVID-19 exposure.

Students and staff will not be required to wear masks outdoors. Accordingly, we will be strongly encouraging our teachers and staff to provide several outdoor learning experiences and breaks for recess, lunch, and physical activity, etc., throughout the day.

St. Vrain Valley Schools will allow for families to apply for a mask exemption if their student has any medical reasons that would make wearing a mask difficult or harmful to the student. Students who have a mask exemption may experience increased quarantines if they are exposed to COVID-19 at school. Please click here to download and complete the mask exemption form, which must be turned in to your school principal.

COVID-19 Case Tracking and Communications

This year, we will be notifying families regarding cases of COVID-19 in your school if your student is directly impacted. For families interested in tracking the case data related to their school, St. Vrain Valley Schools will continue to maintain a COVID-19 case dashboard on our website beginning August 17. Confirmed cases of COVID-19 will be updated on weekday mornings and quarantine information will be updated weekly on Friday mornings when school is in session.

Quarantining Protocols

St. Vrain Valley Schools continues to be required to follow the safety guidelines and quarantining protocols developed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), and our local county health agencies. Our county public health department has assigned an epidemiologist and public health liaison to direct the quarantining process in St. Vrain Valley Schools. To support this and increase the district’s capacity for thorough and targeted case investigations, the district has assigned 18 registered nurses and 55 health clerks to assist in ensuring adherence to all quarantining protocols and safety guidelines.

This year, we have been assured by our local county health departments that we will experience significantly reduced student and staff quarantines as a result of their mask mandate. This will consistently support uninterrupted in-person learning for our students. Specifically, for any routine classroom exposure, students will not need to quarantine if they are masked while indoors at school. Each confirmed case of COVID-19 will be individually investigated and families will receive more detailed information regarding potential exposure if your student has been directly impacted. In the event a student is required to quarantine, they will be able to log in to their class(es) and observe synchronously from home or complete other teacher-directed assignments (synchronous learning will only be available for rostered classroom students who have been quarantined). 

Additional School-Year Logistical Information

Please visit our COVID-19 website for additional information related to the start of the school year, including:

Additional Academic Support

Our schools will continue to provide opportunities beyond the school day for students to further their learning and academic advancement. New for the 2021-2022 school year, we will be launching the Achievement Acceleration Academy (AAA), an after-school program focused on providing additional in-person instructional support and enrichment in language arts, math, and STEM for our elementary students. Additionally middle and high schools will continue to provide after-school opportunities for tutoring or other academic support. Please look for specific information from your school principal in the coming weeks.

Again, thank you for your continued partnership as we navigate the complexities of this global pandemic. Despite all of the challenges last year, it proved to be a successful and productive year, due in large part to our outstanding teachers, staff, students, and parents. I look forward to all of the incredible opportunities that await our students this coming year. If you have any questions, please check with your specific school principal, and you can also provide questions and feedback through our website’s Coronavirus Question/Feedback Form.

Sincerely,

Don Haddad, Ed.D.
Superintendent

CU Researchers Show St. Vrain Teachers How to Use Leading-Edge Technology to Help Students

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Six teachers from St. Vrain Valley School District returned to the classroom this week, once again becoming students themselves in order to learn leading-edge technology from University of Colorado Boulder education researchers.

The three-day course, which ran Monday through Wednesday at the district’s Innovation Center, marks the start of SVVSD’s participation in the $20 million iSAT project funded by the National Science Foundation and based locally at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Institute of Cognitive Science. iSAT stands for Institute for Student-AI Teaming, where “AI” refers to artificial intelligence and “teaming” refers to collaborative small group interactive learning.

CU Boulder is one of nine universities around the nation participating in the five-year project, which launched in 2020. Denver Public Schools is also participating in affiliation with CU Boulder. Colorado State University is another coalition university.

Read the full story in the Longmont Leader

Niwot High School seniors share computer programming know-how with younger students

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Twelve-year-old Alan Bustos admits he was a bit surprised to find himself at Coding Camp, which started Monday at St. Vrain Valley School District’s Innovation Center.

“I was unexpectedly put into the camp. I didn’t know I was coming,” Alan said. “It was my mom, I think.”

Bustos and his fellow fifth through eighth grade campers learned Scratch — a kids’ computer programming language developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Unlike adult programming languages — which require typing lines of code — Scratch offers a colorful drag-and-drop interface, according to the camp creators and instructors, Niwot High School seniors Hannah Piersol and Caitlyn Fong, both 17.

Read the full story in the Longmont Leader

St. Vrain Valley Schools’ Curriculum Does Not Include Critical Race Theory

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St. Vrain Valley Schools has received many questions regarding the national conversation around Critical Race Theory. The St. Vrain Valley School District adheres to Colorado State Academic Standards. These Standards do not include the topics of Critical Race Theory, and the district curriculum does not include Critical Race Theory. Additionally, our Board of Education and Superintendent are not contemplating adopting or teaching Critical Race Theory in the future.

A priority for the district is to continue to provide training and professional development for our teachers and staff to ensure the district is complying with federal and state statutes regarding nondiscrimination (HB21-1108). Additionally, these trainings also ensure that our teachers and staff are equipped with the necessary tools to know and adhere to board policy, state statute (HB19-1192, SB21-067, and HB21-1108), federal statute, and to support the success of all students.

Process for Expressing Curricular Concerns

Any parent/guardian or patron may bring forth a specific complaint regarding the use of any teaching method, activities, or presentations pursuant to Board Policy KEF “Public Concerns/Complaints about Teaching Methods, Activities or Presentations”. The Board has further adopted Policy IMB “Teaching about Controversial Issues and Use of Controversial Materials.”

St. Vrain is committed to complying with all anti-discrimination laws as set forth by the federal and state governments, and monitored by the U.S. Departments of Education’s Office of Civil Rights and the Colorado Department of Education. Colorado and St. Vrain Valley Schools specifically prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, and ancestry.

If you have any questions related to state or federal statutes, you are always encouraged to reach out to your local and/or state legislators.

St. Vrain Valley Schools