The St. Vrain Valley School District is inviting students, families and community members to help shape the identity of its newest PK-8 school, scheduled to open in Mead in fall 2026.
Community members are encouraged to submit their ideas for the school’s name, mascot and colors through an online survey available at stvra.in/meadpk8. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 17. These top options will be presented on Oct. 8 to the Board of Education, which will make the final decision.
Individuals passionate about education who desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students are invited to attend the St. Vrain Valley Schools Support Staff Job Fair.
Event Details:
Date: Monday, October 13
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Main Street School, 820 Main St. Longmont
St. Vrain has a variety of opportunities available in the following departments and roles in all areas of the district including Erie, Firestone, Frederick, Hygiene, Longmont, Lyons, Mead, and Niwot:
At the Support Staff Job Fair, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with St. Vrain leaders to discuss current job openings, learn more about St. Vrain Valley Schools, and receive assistance with submitting online applications. The district provides competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits packages including health insurance and retirement benefits to full-time employees and many part-time employees.
To assist with planning purposes of the job fair, please fill out the registration form.
Visit the Department of Human Resources webpage to learn more about working in St. Vrain Valley Schools. Those who cannot attend the job fair, but are interested in working in St. Vrain are encouraged to contact St. Vrain’s Human Resources Team at humanresources@svvsd.org or 303-682-7386.
Across St. Vrain Valley Schools, the upcoming open houses offer families a chance to step inside classrooms, meet dedicated teachers, and discover the unique opportunities available in each school. From advanced academic pathways and innovative STEM programs to arts, athletics, and career-focused courses, these events provide parents and students an inside look at the possibilities that can shape their educational journey.
Below are upcoming open house dates across the district. Families can also visit the Guide to School Options websites linked below for detailed highlights, program offerings, and additional resources for each school. For questions regarding open houses, programming, or to schedule a school tour, please contact the schools directly.
Families who believe they may qualify for free or reduced-price meals are encouraged to complete an application, if they have not already done so. While all St. Vrain Valley students receive one free breakfast and one free lunch daily through Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All program for the 2025-2026 school year, completing the application can provide additional benefits to both families and schools.
Families who qualify receive valuable savings such as waived or reduced school fees, discounts on college entrance exams and applications, the opportunity to qualify for preschool and Community Schools’ scholarships, reduced rates for internet and utilities, and access to the Summer-EBT program. When more households apply, St. Vrain schools receive increased federal funding that supports classrooms, after-school programs, preschool opportunities, technology, and additional snacks and meals outside regular school hours. Free or reduced-price meal applications are continuously accepted and processed throughout the school year and families are invited to apply or reapply at any time. They can be completed online, or paper copies are available at Nutrition Services, 2929 Clover Basin Dr., Longmont, CO 80503. The application is completely confidential and not shared with any other agency or organization. To learn more, visit the Nutrition Services webpage.
St. Vrain’s Fine Arts department is hosting its annual musical instrument collection drive. Members of the community are invited to donate gently used instruments to St. Vrain Valley Schools’ music program and receive a donation receipt from the St. Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation.
There are two drop-off dates at the Lincoln School building on 619 Bowen St. in Longmont.
Donated instruments are housed in the classroom for students to use during class or available for them to rent long-term. Additional instruments allow families to try out an instrument without making a purchase. More unique donations enhance the district’s music programming by introducing new styles of instruments into the classroom.
After the drive, the Office of Fine Arts ensures all donations are cleaned, tuned, and repaired. Instruments are distributed to schools by a raffle system, which is held on a teacher professional development day.
At this time, St. Vrain Valley Schools is not in need of upright pianos or keyboards. Please contact St. Vrain’s Fine Arts Coordinator, Janay Bird, for details at bird_janay@svvsd.org or 303-702-7916.
In response to recent national events and heightened concerns about school safety and public safety, we have been asked to share resources regarding how parents can help keep our students and community safe. One important program that has been brought to our attention is Be Smart, which focuses on secure firearm storage.
Be Smart is a framework that parents, caretakers, and community leaders can follow to help keep their communities safe. The program provides a structured approach using the acronym SMART:
While our district’s primary focus remains on educational excellence and student support within our schools, we recognize that family safety extends beyond school hours and school grounds. The Be Smart program represents one resource that some families may find helpful as they navigate personal safety decisions in their homes and communities.
For families interested in learning more about secure storage practices and community safety resources, the Be Smart program offers additional materials and guidance at besmartforkids.org.
As always, our district remains focused on our core educational mission while supporting our families in accessing community resources that may be helpful to them.
St. Vrain Valley Schools’ Department of Athletics, Activities, & Fine Arts invites the community to enjoy performances from high school bands across the district. This year’s Band Night event is October 8, at 6:00 p.m. The event will be held at Everly Montgomery Field at Longmont High School.
The showcase features nine high school bands:
St. Vrain Valley Schools’ Student Performance Drone Team will conclude the evening with a show celebrating music across our schools. Spectators are encouraged to make their way to the soccer field or south walkway for the best viewing locations. The drone show will begin approximately 10 minutes after the last band performance.
Admission is open to all. Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for students, and free entry for children aged 6 and under, and eighth-grade students with a valid student ID.
In the first few weeks of the school year, students at Erie Elementary are rolling up their sleeves and diving into hands-on learning. Inside the school’s gardening class, students explore science, nature, and art through activities designed to spark curiosity and creativity. On a recent morning, students were observed illustrating flowers in their classroom before heading outside to work together in the school’s garden beds.
Guided by their teacher, Mrs. Mangione, the class eagerly worked to clear four garden beds by sharing tools and preparing the soil for next year’s crops. The work was more than just maintenance, it was an opportunity for students to practice responsibility, teamwork, and patience. “Blending science, art, and nature in the gardening class allows students to learn through multiple modalities and engage on different levels, making the experience more meaningful,” said Mrs. Mangione, a K-5 Autism teacher.
A special feature of the gardening program is the inclusion of older Cub Club students, who co-teach and support lessons alongside their younger classmates. These student mentors gain leadership experience while serving as role models, helping create an inclusive environment where all students feel supported. According to Mrs. Mangione, “This mentorship builds compassion and strengthens connections across grade levels.”
From planting seeds to observing birds at the feeder, the gardening class blends academic learning with hands-on experiences that reflect St. Vrain Valley Schools’ high educational standards and expectations. Each activity fosters social-emotional growth, flexibility, and care for the natural world. By using a reverse inclusion model, the classroom creates a welcoming, unified environment allowing all students to develop skills that extend far beyond the garden.
At just 16 years old, Erie High School student Jacob Trujillo has reached a remarkable milestone by passing the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exam, a professional achievement that typically takes college students 18 to 24 months to complete. Trujillo dedicated his summer to an intensive three-month block of coursework, and by the second day of his junior year, he had already earned the advanced certification along with one elective credit. His accomplishment not only reflects exceptional skill and determination, but also sets him apart as one of the youngest to achieve this level of success as most who take the exam have already started college.
Rather than being intimidated by the challenge, Trujillo turned preparation into a personal passion. Over the past summer, he dedicated three to four hours a day to studying with videos, labs, and quizzes, filling a notebook by hand to master the material. “Even flashcards became a game for me – I reviewed almost 200 a day,” he said. “It was a huge undertaking, but I quickly learned to stop doubting myself.”
Trujillo is the first St. Vrain Valley Schools student to earn the CCNA, an achievement made possible through Opportunity CLIMB, a program funded in part by Colorado’s Opportunity Now Grant. The initiative rewards competency rather than time spent in the classroom, while also covering exam costs and providing mentorship, resume workshops, and networking support. “It’s both technical and professional development – you learn how to get a job, not just how to pass a test,” Trujillo said.
According to Jorge Cisneros, an Opportunity CLIMB facilitator, “Jacob showed what’s possible when passion drives learning.” Trujillo’s achievement embodies the purpose of the Opportunity CLIMB program and highlights a central pillar of the St. Vrain Advantage – ensuring every student has the chance to excel. Opportunity CLIMB program coordinator Eryn Mercer-Niehues emphasized that St. Vrain’s innovative approach continues to create new pathways for student success. “Programs like Opportunity CLIMB open doors for students to reach levels they may never have imagined possible,” she said.
Looking ahead, Trujillo plans to attend Front Range Community College to continue a certification-driven pathway into technology, while expanding into security certifications. His accomplishment not only reflects his own dedication but also underscores how the right blend of mentorship and opportunity can accelerate student success. As more learners follow in his footsteps, Trujillo’s story serves as a reminder of the transformative impact of investing in students’ passions and future careers.
Longmont’s Sunset Middle School is inviting students, alumni and community members to a 50th anniversary celebration on Friday.
The event will include a program at 5 p.m. in the school gym to highlight historical displays and alumni keepsakes. Alongside the anniversary program, the school will host a fall festival fundraiser from 4 to 6 p.m., with carnival-style games, music from 1975, face painting, balloon animals and food trucks.
