Gov. Jared Polis helped with a second-grade lesson on quantum technology that included jelly beans, Oreos and Legos during a Monday visit to the Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools for World Quantum Day.
Polis and Elevate Quantum also used the visit to announce the release of the Blueprint for Advancing K–12 Quantum Information Technology, which outlines steps lawmakers, educators and school district leaders can take to expand access to quantum education. Elevate Quantum is made up of businesses, universities, economic development/capital groups, labor/workforce organizations, state and local government entities and K-12 groups.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – High school students working out of the St. Vrain Innovation Center built, coded and coordinated a light show with 300 drones above the Broadmoor Lake for some of the brightest space minds across the world.
“To see high school students be able to take hundreds of drones and actually make it look professional, this was kind of like an olympic opening ceremony,” said the CEO of a Colorado Springs-based company, Auria Space, Damian DiPippa.
Longs Peak Middle School hosted a special signing ceremony to celebrate more than 40 eighth grade students who had been accepted into high school focus programs. Modeled after high school athletic signing events, this all-school assembly took place on Wednesday, April 2 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., recognizing students’ hard work and dedication in preparing for advanced academic pathways.
Longs Peak students were accepted into specialized programs at three area high schools, including the Medical & Bioscience Academy (MBSA), TrojanTECH, and High School of Business at Longmont High School; FalconTECH at Skyline High School; and the Leadership Academy at Silver Creek High School.
The event featured performances by the school’s mariachi and percussion groups, as well as cheerleaders. Principals from each high school were in attendance to welcome their incoming students. During the ceremony, each student’s name was called, and they signed a commitment letter with their high school program, symbolizing their next step in academic achievement. The event concluded with a celebration activity, closing remarks, and a group photo. Parents were also in attendance to share in the milestone moment.
“This is the largest group of students we’ve had accepted into high school focus programs,” said Karin Blough, Principal of Longs Peak Middle School. “Our school has developed programs that align with advanced coursework at the high school level and prepare students for their next step. This event highlighted the importance of hard work, inspired younger students, and built excitement for the opportunities that await in high school.”
St. Vrain Valley Schools will host its annual art show at the Boulder County Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall. Community members are invited to view student art from all grade levels and schools across the district from April 15-20.
The event is free and open to the public:
Public Viewing Hours: Tuesday, April 15 through Saturday, April 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, April 20: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Artists’ Night Open House: Thursday, April 17 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Please join us in celebrating our students’ talent, hard work, and dedication. Different mediums will be featured including ceramics, digital art/photography, drawing, jewelry making, metalwork, mixed media, painting, and printmaking.
For the second consecutive year, St. Vrain Valley Schools has received the Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) from the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International for its fiscal year 2024–2025 budget. This award recognizes the district’s commitment to clear, transparent, and high-quality budget presentation.
The Meritorious Budget Award acknowledges St. Vrain’s dedication to crafting budget documents that clearly communicate financial information to all stakeholders. A panel of school financial professionals reviewed the district’s submission to ensure compliance with ASBO International’s MBA Criteria Checklist and other requirements.
Jim Rowan, CAE, SFO, the Executive Director of ASBO International, emphasized the importance of transparent budgeting: “Presenting a budget that is both accessible and accurate is crucial for school districts to clearly communicate and build trust with their communities.”
This achievement reflects the outstanding efforts of St. Vrain’s finance team, who worked diligently to align the budget document with ASBO International’s rigorous criteria. “I want to congratulate our outstanding budget team for earning the ASBO MBA Award for the second year in a row,” said Tony Whiteley, Chief Financial Officer of St. Vrain Valley Schools. “Their dedication, expertise, and excellence continue to set a high standard in K-12 budgeting, and represent a commitment to transparency and accountability to our students and community.”
Boulder County students shared their perspectives on AI in education during a virtual summit Friday organized by the Colorado Education Initiative and the Colorado Department of Education to mark National AI Literacy Day.
The summit included panel discussions and learning sessions focused on AI in K-12 education. For the discussions led by students, three Niwot High students and a student from Boulder’s Fairview High shared their perspectives. St. Vrain Valley Learning Systems Strategist Jason Kelsall also spoke on a panel on “Navigating AI in Schools: Policy, Plagiarism and Best Practices.”
This year’s edition of ST.VRAINNOVATION magazine hit mailboxes last month and included augmented reality experiences to bring the incredible stories of our students, teachers, and staff to life. Check out the digital version of the magazine at: http://magazine.svvsd.org.
Superintendent’s Update
Dear St. Vrain Valley Community,
Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we celebrate another extraordinary season of student achievement and excellence throughout our district. I am deeply grateful for the dedication, creativity, and commitment demonstrated by our students, teachers, staff, and community members that continue to propel St. Vrain Valley Schools to unprecedented levels of success.
This spring has been marked by exceptional accomplishments in academics, athletics, and visual and performing arts, showcasing the vibrancy and strength of our educational community. The past few weeks have been filled with incredible achievements that highlight the competitive advantage our students receive through their education in St. Vrain. Our students continue to excel on the global stage, with our drone performance team being selected to showcase their talents at the 40th annual Space Symposium in Colorado Springs – the largest aerospace conference in the world. This opportunity not only demonstrates the exceptional skills of our students but also reinforces St. Vrain’s position as a leader in innovative STEM education.
In robotics, we witnessed unprecedented success at this year’s State VEX Robotics competition, where St. Vrain teams dominated the field. At each state tournament, SVVSD teams emerged as tournament champions, with 21 of our teams qualifying to attend the WORLD competition – representing an impressive 21 of the 36 total teams from Colorado advancing to this prestigious event. Tournament champions included the Robotic Rowlets from Blue Mountain Elementary, Velocity from Altona Middle School, New News from Trail Ridge Middle School, Collision from Silver Creek High School, and Echo from Longmont High School. These achievements reflect the depth and quality of our STEM programming from elementary through high school.
Our students also continue to shine in academic competitions, with strong performances at the state mock trial tournament, including our Career Elevation and Technology Center (CETC) team being recognized with a professionalism award. Additionally, numerous students qualified for state competitions in Science Olympiad, MathCounts, and more, further demonstrating the academic rigor and excellence fostered throughout our district. In the healthcare pathway, our CETC future health professionals achieved state championships in multiple categories including EMT, Sports Medicine, Anatomage, and Health Career Photography. These accomplishments showcase the strength of our career-connected learning opportunities that prepare students for success in high-demand fields.
Our commitment to academic rigor continues to yield exceptional results. We have seen a significant increase in students taking concurrent enrollment college classes and Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) courses, giving our students a head start on their postsecondary education while saving families millions in future tuition costs. This spring, we are also looking forward to administering approximately 5,500 Advanced Placement (AP) exams, where students have the opportunity to earn valuable college credit through demonstrating mastery of college-level material. Additionally, we continue to see strong upward trends in our state and local assessments, further validating the effectiveness of our instructional practices and the hard work of our students and teachers. These outcomes reinforce St. Vrain’s position as a district with high academic standards and exceptional opportunities for all students.
The arts continue to flourish across St. Vrain, with spring musicals and productions delighting audiences at many schools. I was particularly proud to see the Niwot Orchestra take third place at a national competition in New York City. These artistic achievements complement our students’ academic and technical skills, creating well-rounded graduates prepared for future success. St. Vrain’s commitment to music education has earned national distinction as one of the top 15%, with the NAMM Foundation honoring the district with the Best Communities for Music Education award for four consecutive years.
As spring sports are in full swing and winter sports results are in, our student-athletes continue to demonstrate exceptional sportsmanship, teamwork, and competitive excellence across all athletic programs, including a strong final four showing by the Mead Girls Basketball team, state wrestling qualifiers from all nine programs, and state champions across multiple sports. Their dedication both on the field and in the classroom exemplifies the strong character and work ethic we value in St. Vrain.
I am also excited to share that we have broken ground on the new PK-8 school in Mead that was approved in the 2024 bond. We look forward to sharing more information with the community about this outstanding new facility and celebrating the groundbreaking on May 12. Please look for more information in the coming weeks. This new school represents our continued commitment to providing exceptional learning environments for our community.
Another celebration regarding our operations and fiscal strength in St. Vrain is that our Financial Services Budget Team has earned the prestigious Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) from the Association for School Business Officials (ASBO) for the second year in a row. This outstanding team dedicated to fiscal strength and transparency has won national awards in financial reporting and budgeting for the past 20 years.
Additionally, on April 11, we will celebrate each school’s Teacher of the Year at our annual Celebration of Excellence hosted by the St. Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation. This event provides an opportunity to recognize the extraordinary educators who inspire our students every day and whose expertise drives the continued advancement of our district.
These celebrations are just a sampling of the many achievements occurring daily across our schools. The exceptional accomplishments of our students, teachers, and staff continue to demonstrate the strong competitive advantage that a St. Vrain Valley Schools education provides. I am deeply grateful for our community’s unwavering support and partnership in advancing excellence across our system.
Thank you, Don Haddad, Ed.D. Superintendent @SVVSDSupt
Featured Stories
Advancing Excellence
Time: Our Most Precious Educational Resource
Time remains an extremely precious resource—and in education, it is a critical foundation upon which we build the future. Read More in StVrainnovation Magazine
Elementary students undergo significant transformation in 180 days, developing crucial skills for future success. Read More in StVrainnovation Magazine
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STEM Innovation
STEMPowered
St. Vrain Valley Schools empower students with cutting-edge programs in aerospace, energy, and quantum tech, shaping future innovators. Read More in StVrainnovation Magazine
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a Strong competitive advantage
Pomp, Circumstance, and Purpose
With the highest graduation rate in the Denver Metro Area, St. Vrain is advancing the future for all students. Read More in StVrainnovation Magazine
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Future Excellence
From Classrooms to Careers: The P-TECH Advantage
St. Vrain Valley Schools’ P-TECH programs empower students to earn an Associate degree while in high school, gaining real-world skills. Read More in StVrainnovation Magazine
Join us at the Boulder County Fairgrounds for our annual Districtwide Art Show, showcasing thousands of pieces of art from students across every school in St. Vrain.
Public Viewing Hours: Tuesday, April 15 through Saturday, April 19 – 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, April 20: 9:00 am to 2:00 p.m. Artists’ Night Open House: Thursday, April 17: 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
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Filling Fast
Summer Camp Registration is Open
St. Vrain Valley Schools offers robust summer programming options to keep students engaged in their academic learning. Click here for more information.
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Registration Opens Soon
Community Schools Registration
As we prepare for the opening of Community Schools K-5 registration for the 2025-2026 school year, we want to share some updates to our registration process that will ensure a more seamless experience for families. Click here for more information.
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ComMunity Connection
Now Hiring: Join the #StVrainStorm
You will be joining a highly effective and supportive team of professionals who are having a significant impact in the lives of students and families within our community. Click here for open positions.
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Stapp Inspires Educator Highlight
In partnership with Stapp Toyota, we are proud to recognize the next Stapp Inspires Educator Highlight: The Westview Music Team. This collaborative and supportive team sets high expectations for themselves and their students. Watch now.
Join us on Monday, May 12 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. at Mead High School
Be part of shaping our community’s educational future. Join us for an informative evening about the exciting new PK-8 school coming to Mead. This meeting is your opportunity to:
Review proposed school boundary changes
Learn about construction and enrollment timelines
Learn more about the school naming and mascot selection process
Ask questions and provide valuable community feedback
Representatives will be available from multiple departments including:
District and school administration
Transportation
Preschool programs
Special education
Community schools
Operations, planning, and construction
Thank You for Your Continued Support
The new PK-8 school in Mead represents another significant step forward for our growing community and would not be possible without the community’s ongoing commitment to educational excellence. Through the support of the 2024 bond, St. Vrain Valley Schools will continue to provide outstanding learning environments where our students can thrive. The community’s investment today builds the foundation for tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, and citizens. We are deeply grateful for everyone’s partnership in creating exceptional educational opportunities that are giving all students a strong competitive advantage for the future. Click here to learn more about the 2024 Bond.
Join St. Vrain’s Department of Early Childhood Education for a fun-filled Family Resource Fair designed for young children and their families! Enjoy hands-on activities, explore local programs, tour St. Vrain’s Innovation Mobile Lab, and connect with community resources dedicated to supporting families.
Event Details:
Free and open to the public
Thursday, April 10 from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Timberline PK-8, 233 E Mountain View Ave., Longmont
Enjoy fun giveaways and take-home activities. Don’t miss this community event celebrating Week of the Young Child, a special time to recognize the importance of early learning and family connections.
As part of St. Vrain’s celebration of Week of the Young Child, the Early Childhood Education Department is pleased to offer developmental screenings available at no cost for families with children aged 2 to 5 years. During the event, parents will meet with early childhood education staff and children will engage in fun activities while completing a developmental screening tool designed for use by early educators and health care professionals. Developmental screenings play an important role in identifying early intervention needs, ensuring that the necessary support is provided for optimal early growth and development. The Early Childhood Education team will answer questions and connect families with additional resources.
Event Details:
Date: April 4, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Early Childhood Education Office: 820 Main St, Longmont, CO 80501 (Entrance is off of 9th Ave.)
