Lance Thorne, kitchen manager at Longmont Estates Elementary School, has been named the 2026 Colorado School Nutrition Association Manager of the Year.
Lance Thorne, Kitchen Manager at Longmont Estates Elementary School.
Presented by the Colorado School Nutrition Association, the award recognizes outstanding school nutrition professionals across the state for their leadership, dedication, and commitment to supporting students through healthy, high-quality meals.
Thorne was selected for his leadership and the positive culture he has built within the school cafeteria environment. Through creativity, strong relationships with students and staff, and a commitment to inclusivity, he has helped create a welcoming space where students feel valued and excited to participate each day.
In addition to his work supporting students, Thorne is recognized for mentoring team members and encouraging professional growth among colleagues. His leadership has strengthened collaboration within his school community and across the broader school nutrition profession.
Thorne will be recognized during the Colorado School Nutrition Association Summer Conference in June.
Earlier this year, my daughter’s teacher recognized characteristics of dyslexia. We had also been concerned about her performance on reading assessments so she began receiving extra support to strengthen her foundational skills.
We are encouraged by the instruction she’s receiving at school and want to build on it at home. Learning to read with dyslexia takes extra effort, and we hope to support her in ways that feel positive and encouraging. She doesn’t always want guidance from her parents, so we’re looking for strategies that help her progress without creating extra tension at home.
What are some ways we can help her at home that are both positive and sustainable?
– Between a Book and a Hard Place in Erie
Dear Between a Book and a Hard Place,
First, thank you for your questions and for partnering with your child’s support team. We care about your experience and have resources to support you in taking your next step. Here are a few ideas to get you started as you learn more about the unique needs of your student.
Connect with her teacher: To better understand how the characteristics of dyslexia may be affecting your student’s learning, connect with their teacher. The teacher can share helpful information about dyslexia, discuss your student’s current performance, and work with you to identify meaningful instructional goals and areas of progress. They can also explain the strategies currently being used in the classroom and suggest brief, manageable ways (5-10 minutes) to practice previously taught skills at home.
Dyslexia looks different at various stages of development because its observable features shift as academic demands increase. Collaborating with your student and the school support team is a great way to discuss barriers to learning and the accommodations your student is already utilizing.
Access a community of support: Understanding how learning difficulties impact both you and your student is an important part of this process, and you’ve already begun that work by reaching out to us.Remember that you are not alone and learning how to best support your student also means making sure you have support as well. Connecting with other parents facing similar challenges through parent engagement opportunities can help build that community of support. These opportunities within St. Vrain Valley Schools can be found on the Dyslexia Task Force page.
Take the long view and keep joy in mind: When working on homework, manage complex tasks one step at a time, and communicate difficulties with your student’s teacher. It’s okay to stop and take breaks.
Be mindful that reading difficulties, including dyslexia, are not your fault. It’s encouraging to know that the strategies that help children with dyslexia are excellent practices for supporting all readers. You do not need to have special knowledge or skills to be supportive.
When things feel too difficult, keep in mind that your goal is to model a love of learning and do your best to build your student’s confidence when learning takes extra time.
Approach homework with the goal of collaboration and to unleash thinking: You can try sitting beside her during assignments, reading instructions aloud, and allowing her to dictate her responses while you write them down. These small adjustments can reduce frustration and help her stay focused on the task itself. For reading-heavy assignments, audiobooks can be a valuable support, allowing her to engage with the content and ideas without being slowed down by decoding challenges. Thoughtful accommodations like these give her the opportunity to demonstrate her understanding and strengths, rather than having her learning limited by the mechanics of reading and writing.
Celebrate and manage effort: Children who struggle with reading often work twice as hard to achieve the same results as their peers. Acknowledge that work ethic explicitly: “I saw how you kept trying even when that word was tricky.” Every small success deserves recognition, such as decoding a difficult word, self-correcting an error, or simply staying engaged with a challenging text. As previously mentioned, take a break when students show that they are maxed out.
Find her strengths and support them: Does she love building, drawing, storytelling, or working with her hands? Double down on those activities. Success in one area fuels resilience in challenging ones. Let her use those strengths to show understanding – drawing the main character or problem in a story, for example, rather than always writing about it. Keep in mind that hobbies are a way that we all manage stress and difficulties.
Keep reading for pleasure alive by reading together as often as possible. If bedtime stories have started to feel more like a source of stress than enjoyment, it may be helpful to pause and try a different approach. Being open to “ear reading” through audiobooks can give her more choice and a greater sense of agency, especially when you select high-interest books that align with her interests. Audiobooks allow her to focus on understanding the story, building more advanced vocabulary, and experiencing the pleasure of being immersed in a book – without the added challenge of decoding print. The larger goal is to support her growth as a reader while preserving her confidence, curiosity, and identity as a reader as her skills continue to develop.
Reading difficulties – whether related to dyslexia or another cause – do not define a child’s intelligence, creativity, or potential for future success. Many striving readers grow into confident, capable readers with the right support and time. Try to approach your child with gentle curiosity about where they are in their journey and how they’re learning to navigate it. You may be surprised by the insight, resilience, and perspective they share, and your encouragement can make all the difference as they continue to grow.
Silver Creek orchestra students joined Spinphony, an electric string quartet, on stage for a collaborative performance that offered students a firsthand look at the energy and expectations of professional musicianship. Known for blending classical strings with rock, pop, and cinematic music, Spinphony has performed internationally while pairing electric string performances with dynamic stage production. The concert also featured guest performers from Altona Middle School, creating an experience that challenged students beyond the scope of a traditional school ensemble.
Silver Creek Orchestra students perform alongside Spinphony (photos courtesy of Katie Topham).
Silver Creek orchestra teacher Katarina Pliego said performing alongside professional musicians gave students the opportunity to experience music-making at a much higher level while seeing the discipline and artistry required in a professional setting. She emphasized that experiences like the collaboration with Spinphony can have a lasting impact on young musicians by helping them see music as something dynamic and full of possibility. “Many students left the performance feeling more motivated and connected to their own musical goals,” Pliego said.
Sophomore violinist Nat Alegria Chavez was similarly inspired by the experience and said performing with Spinphony prompted her to reflect on her own future as a musician. “These women have been musicians for a long time, and it made me wonder, ‘If I stick with my instrument, what will I be able to achieve?’” she said.
The collaboration also challenged students in unexpected ways. While some initially believed the music would be simple, students quickly recognized the increased demands of performing with a professional ensemble, from adapting to a fast-paced rehearsal process to delivering a polished performance after only one rehearsal together. “They had to be 100% ready from the first note,” said Pliego. “Through it all, students supported each other and soaked up the excitement of the moment.”
For senior cellist Jared Dettlebach, the performance reflected the resilience and dedication of the Silver Creek music program. Dettlebach noted that Silver Creek’s orchestra program has continued to grow and succeed despite evolving through several program changes over the years. “It’s the soul of the people who go to this high school that really puts us a notch above,” Dettlebach said. “It comes from the passion of the students and teachers who come together and create this kind of music.”
As the only high school orchestra selected to perform alongside Spinphony, students shared that the experience challenged them to think differently about collaboration, musicianship, and performance while showcasing the strength of the Silver Creek music community.
Meet just a few of our approximately 2,400 outstanding graduates who will walk across a stage this week to receive their St. Vrain Valley Schools diploma. Congratulations to all students in the Class of 2026!
Erie High School
Sebastian Delgado Martinez Electrical Engineering, Colorado State University
What makes your high school unique? Erie High School is unique since it is an academy of engineering. The engineering pathway that the school offers allows students to delve into a rigorous coursework which presents experiences that very few schools in the state have.
Juliet Slater Business, West Texas A&M
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success? Erie High School has lots of opportunities to take high-level AP classes as well as FRCC classes and dual credit enrollment at CU Denver. This has prepared me for the workload in college and exposed me to college expectations so that I know what is expected of me at the next level. This also gives me the chance to complete some of my college credits while still in high school which can save money.
Andy Torres International Affairs, University of Denver
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain? Representing St. Vrain at the annual CASB (Colorado Association of School Boards) conference was a surreal experience. In my junior year, I attended a three day field trip to Colorado Springs. I got the chance to learn about leadership and advocacy while also getting to meet educational leaders from across the state.
Jiali Grier Political Science, Front Range Community College
Why should a student choose to enroll in St. Vrain Valley Schools? This district has fantastic involvement across the board, whether it’s in the arts, academics, or other after-school activities. In the events I’ve attended, there’s consistently a high level of student participation and, more importantly, a real student interest for the work being done.
Frederick High School
Zacharia Martinez Garfio Biochemistry, University of Northern Colorado
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success? I have taken a lot of science classes that give me insight into paths I want to take in the future. For example, the P-TECH program has prepared me to work in lab settings. Also, I’ve gained experience working in corporate pharmaceuticals. The P-TECH program has been nothing but helpful in preparing me for my future.
Alexis Walker Neuroscience, The University of Michigan
What advice would you give to students entering high school next year? One piece of advice I would give is to get involved. There are so many different things you can do at Frederick and in St. Vrain from classes and programs to athletics, music, theater, and clubs. It is so important to get involved and make memories with friends. The most important part of high school is having fun and the best way to do that is to find something you enjoy doing and do it with people you enjoy being with.
Joel Chambers Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
What makes your high school unique? During my time at Frederick I have witnessed some of the best demonstrations of humanity, primarily through advances in inclusion of students in the SSN (Significant Support Needs) program. Frederick is the first school in the district and one of the first in the state to provide a Unified Theatre program, beyond theatre we Frederick offers unified programs in basketball and bowling. In my experience as a school community, the treatment of all students is far and beyond what I’ve seen at other schools. While there are a million reasons why Frederick is unique, this is just an example of one.
Lyla Kuhn Animal Science, Colorado State University
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain? My favorite memory is my senior year of softball getting to go to state with girls I had played with since I was little. This is a memory I will hold with me for the rest of my life because even though nobody thought we were going to have an outstanding team, our friendship and dedication took us farther than any other season of my high school career.
LaunchED Virtual Academy
Corben Meyer Emergency Medical Technician
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success? By attending LaunchEd I was able to go to classes at the Career Elevation and Technology Center. Through these classes I have been able to get medical certifications that will help me to get a job after graduation working as an EMT.
Ahtzary Torres Soto Business, Front Range Community College
What makes your high school unique? What sets St. Vrain Valley Schools apart is how much they invest on their students. They help families by giving students college credits by taking college classes while still in high school. Even if college isn’t your path, they help you explore so that you will be ready in the workforce or college.
Emily Stewart Health Sciences, Front Range Community College
What advice would you give to students entering high school next year? My advice to students entering high school is to try everything. No matter which St. Vrain school you attend, there are endless opportunities designed to help you succeed. I made the mistake of avoiding advanced classes, career fairs, and extracurricular activities because I didn’t know what I wanted to do after high school. I later realized those experiences were incredibly valuable and ultimately helped me discover my passions.
Longmont High School
Mason Hendricks Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success? At Longmont, we have both business and medical focus programs, and during my time here I have explored both. I am an active member of FBLA, which is part of the business program, and it has helped me improve my interview skills while also showing me that business is not the path I want to pursue. I have become more involved in the Medical and Bioscience Academy, which has led me to want to follow the pre-med track and hopefully become an orthopedic surgeon.
Matilda Garcia Stevenson Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
What’s a favorite memory from your time in St. Vrain? Although I have so many good memories throughout my time in St. Vrain, my favorite must be the time I went on a field trip to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in 4th grade. We got to visit all of the exhibits and then get a behind the scenes tour. Part of the tour was getting to dissect a sheep heart! No one else in my group wanted to touch it, so I got to dissect the whole thing myself and that is what triggered my interest in the medical field! Now, eight years later, I am attending Colorado School of Mines to study Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering with an interest in becoming a pediatric physician assistant or a biomedical engineer!
Ethan Atherton Aerospace Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
What advice would you give to students entering high school next year? Some advice that I would give to students entering high school next year is to be as active as you can in your school’s community. My favorite parts of high school came from sports and clubs and being part of what our school has to offer. When I look at my friend group every single one of them has come from either playing football or basketball. I think doing extracurricular activities in high school is really important to taking full advantage of the high school experience.
Luna Ready Early Childhood Education, Colorado State University
What makes your high school unique? I believe that the culture at Longmont High School is very unique. There are so many different kinds of people and connections between everyone that it feels like the whole school is involved in creating an atmosphere of community that I love. Getting to be a part of three sports teams and a variety of clubs and classes has opened up so many windows into the connections I have been able to make at Longmont not only with students, but also with teachers and coaches. I have always felt that the culture of Longmont High School, welcoming and forming bonds has always been very special.
Lyons Middle Senior High School
Scott Pierce Business Finance, University of Montana
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain? St. Vrain Valley Schools has great programs to learn from as well as a tight knit community that you can rely on. These schools have amazing support from both the teachers and students. St. Vrain Valley Schools have given me amazing opportunities and a very positive experience.
Anna Johann Biomedical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success? Our school’s Science and Leadership program has significantly developed my leadership skills. Every Late Start, we get to lead kids through different activities. Not only do we help these kids grow, we learn how to navigate leadership. Along with many other skills, I’ve learned how to pivot when something’s not working, and engage younger kids. This program also teaches kids at a young age to care for the environment around them.
Michael Newell Exploratory Studies, Colorado State University
What makes your high school unique? Lyons Middle Senior is a very tight knit community where all students can find inclusion. What makes Lyons so unique is how close you get with everyone around you. There are not many schools where students can not only say they know everyone in their grade, but know them well and build relationships with your fellow students. Since I started school here in 6th grade I could not have had a better experience building friendships with fellow students.
Audrey McNeil Communication Studies, Texas Christian University
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain? One of my favorite memories is cheering during football season. I have so many amazing memories of cheering on the sidelines, listening to the national anthem, performing during half time, and going to the fifth quarter after the game. Another favorite memory is leadership class. I took this class my sophomore year and it truly helped me grow in my confidence so much. I remember specifically one time I had a job interview for a lifeguard position for the city of Longmont after school and the teacher had the class ask me mock questions to prepare. I felt so cared for and loved and having that feeling especially not knowing anyone a year before was so special to me.
Mead High School
Patricio Dobinsky Gonzalez Aviation/Aerospace, Metro State University
What makes your high school unique? My high school is very unique because it offers a big range of classes, and programs that spark your interest, with countless more opportunities that allow us to explore those interests. For example students can take classes in the Energy Academy, take AP classes, and also earn college credit right here on campus.
Hana Hylenski Business Management, Montana State University
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success? Mead High School offers a variety of programs and leadership opportunities, but the ones that have made the greatest impact on me are the Energy Academy and Future Business Leaders of America or FBLA. I am one of seven students graduating this May with an Energy Capstone, and the program has provided incredible real world experiences. Through the Energy Academy, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with industry professionals, collaborate with peers, and gain insight into how energy systems function in the real world. These experiences have helped me build both technical knowledge and professional confidence. As vice president of my school’s FBLA chapter, I developed strong leadership skills and built meaningful relationships within my school community. FBLA taught me not only business concepts, but also about teamwork, communication, and personal growth. These programs have played a major role in shaping my future goals and I’m excited to continue pursuing my interest in business management at Montana State University.
Taylor Kloss Sociology, University of Colorado at Boulder and Army ROTC
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain? One of my favorite memories from St. Vrain is earning a medal for running the most miles in 100 Mile Club at Prairie Ridge, breaking the school record of 300+ miles as a 5th grader.
Johanna Williams Nursing, Adams State University
Why should students choose to enroll in St. Vrain Valley Schools? St. Vrain Valley schools have such a wide variety of extra opportunities for students to further their education. In addition to AP classes, there is also the Career Elevation and Technology Center (CETC) in Longmont. In specific classes you have the opportunity to earn college credit at a very discounted rate. There are also classes that you don’t necessarily earn college credit for, but you earn experience in trade like professions. St. Vrain is such a great school district due to these extra opportunities.
New Meridian High School
Noah Chavez Diesel Technician
What makes your high school unique? New Meridian High School pushes you to do more than just pass your classes and earn your credits. The staff helps students explore postsecondary options and access career pathways.
Makenna “MJ” Guinn LePenske Automotive Mechanics
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain? My favorite memory from going to school in St. Vrain would be getting to New Meridian and just having such good relationships with my teachers. I’ll always remember and appreciate my Principal, Ms. Niccoli, for always caring about how I was doing and helping me when I was struggling, no matter the circumstances. It was great connecting with Ms. Nolan, our Student Engagement Specialist, as she helped me through the subjects I’ve always struggled with and was just a great staff member to talk to about things. I especially enjoyed being in Mr. Halsey’s classes. He challenged me to really try, and was just a positive person to see. He always created a great learning environment for all his students and cared for everyone in his classes. I could confidently say that I have very good memories of my teachers at New Meridian.
Tyler Audas
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success? They taught me independence and gave me control over my own learning. Having that responsibility now has made me feel prepared to handle the real world. Because I’ve learned how to manage myself and my goals here, I know I’m ready to take on whatever comes next after graduation.
Giselle Moreno Nursing, Front Range Community College
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success? My school’s focus programs have prepared me for post-secondary success by allowing me to complete my high school credits while simultaneously taking college courses. The second semester of my senior year has been filled with college courses. This has opened a path for me to begin prerequisites for a nursing program a semester early and also obtain my national certification in phlebotomy.
Niwot High School
Henry Noblin Business Finance, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
What advice would you give to students entering high school next year? My biggest advice for students entering high school is to take risks and try new things early. Get involved in sports, clubs, classes, or anything that interests you, because the earlier you put yourself out there, the faster you figure out what you enjoy. That makes it easier to focus your time and eagerly on things that matter most to you and will set you up for greater success in high school and beyond.
AanijahHenry Sociology, Clark Atlanta University
What makes your high school unique? People have been so supportive and l’ve met amazing faculty members who have helped me navigate learning with my 504 plan, and within the school community as a whole, the clubs are very passionate about what they do!
Nikhil Nijhawan Sports and Exercise Science, University of Nottingham
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success? Specifically for me I want to study Sports and Exercise science which discusses essentially all the sciences like biology, chemistry, psychology, and anatomy. So, having been able to take all those classes has really helped me get a base understanding of topics talked about in that major but also helped prove to me that Sport and Exercise Science is a major I’m truly interested in.
Julia Klein Hospitality Management, University of South Carolina
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain? My favorite memory from my time at St. Vrain was being a Link Crew leader. Link Crew is a volunteer based opportunity that welcomes incoming students into Niwot. Being able to make new students feel welcome and comfortable at their new high school was so rewarding for me. Getting to show them around, answer questions, and put a smile on their face made me realize more of how great of a school I was a part of.
Silver Creek High School
Max Vanderschaaf Mechanical Engineering, Princeton University
What advice would you give to students entering high school next year? Be adventurous—find what you love and then go all-in on it. Whether that’s math, music, a sport, making friends, or something entirely new, learning how to push yourself is vastly important for your high-school development. It is way easier to feel more emotionally connected and fulfilled by the things around you when you put your entire heart into them. And remember, it’s always okay to take a step back and take a breath! You’re going to get lost once, twice, or many times. Progress takes time; your heart is a muscle and it will grow slowly. You can do this, and don’t forget to bring your peers with you as you succeed!
Natelise Frea Neuroscience, Emory University
What makes your high school unique? The Silver Creek Leadership Academy is a unique opportunity that allows students to build skills beyond the common boundaries of academics. Being a part of this program’s classes and volunteer projects over my four years in high school has taught me how to not only lead my peers in positively impacting others, but also how to take action to create change in myself and the communities I am a part of.
Ronan Avila Cybersecurity, Purdue University
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success? Silver Creek’s focus programs, like SCLA and RaptorTECH, are amazing and ensure you have a community of like-minded or known people. I was in RaptorTECH, and while there were some bumps in the road to graduation, the smaller community made it easy to excel and go beyond the regular limits of high school classes and work. As a result of our hard work, we received interviews from local cybersecurity companies and had the opportunity to have a cybersecurity internship! In addition, we even had several workshops on scholarships, resume building, post-graduation planning, and other topics that most wouldn’t learn until college.
Willa Moeller Undeclared, Smith College
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain? My favorite memory from my time at St. Vrain is planning and leading the RaptorTECH winter celebration event last year. I got to work with some of my closest friends to pull together a successful large-scale event from start to finish.The experience was a lot of fun throughout and very rewarding.
Skyline High School
Josue Ruiz Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University
What makes your high school unique? Skyline is unique because of the atmosphere of acceptance and the students are encouraged to try new things. I enjoyed being in P-Tech and I like attending the VPA concerts. Sports are well promoted and work hard to get students engaged.
Kylie Paul Psychology, Colorado State University
How have your school’s focus programs prepared you for postsecondary success? Opportunities through AP and the innovative classes I have taken have helped me to focus on my education on what I plan to do with my career and my future.
Ash Berkowitz International Affairs, University of Denver
Why should a student choose to enroll in St. Vrain Valley Schools? I would say we have very passionate educators in St. Vrain. In my opinion there is a very strong community of people who focus on student success.
Nayeli Lara Fernandez Human Biology, University of Colorado – Denver
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain? My favorite memory is watching the drone shows. This showcases student talent and how much they have been able to grow and learn in their time in St. Vrain. My absolute favorite was the homecoming drone show from my senior year.
St. Vrain Virtual High School
Vittoria Pugina Violin Performance, Eastman School of Music
What advice would you give to students entering high school next year? While high school may initially seem intimidating, use it as an opportunity to challenge yourself beyond what you thought possible. My experience in high school has taught me that I am capable of a lot more than I give myself credit for—this also includes knowing when to pace myself versus push forward. Balancing a hefty academic course load provides valuable life lessons into managing your priorities, knowing when to take breaks, and also finding excitement in learning. Many students, such as myself, realize what they truly enjoy learning about during high school, and allowing all doors to be open during that time is crucial. I advise all students to not dismiss any opportunity, and try to see learning as an important part of becoming an educated, well-rounded human being.
Aidan Gamache Paramedicine
Why should a student choose to enroll in St. Vrain Valley Schools? St. Vrain is a school district that is built around the student. In almost every level of education within the district, students are offered some sort of club or elective that may pertain to the subject they are most interested in, or their potential career path. Students are offered resources to help them succeed and achieve their goals. A majority of the district staff are welcoming, friendly, and inclusive, and the district holds them all to a high standard. If one school does not meet the needs of child, there’s always another within the district that can offer more which allows families to have options available.
APEX Homeschool Program
Mattea McQueen Finance, University of Colorado Boulder
How has your school’s focus program(s) prepared you for postsecondary success? Being a part of APEX has allowed me to explore multiple career options throughout high school. Through the Innovation Center, I learned my passion to pursue a career in business specifically in finance. This combined with my leadership as Treasurer in both the National Honor Society and Student Council at Apex has shaped me into someone who has a specific vision in the career I am committed to pursuing. By serving different communities while also growing my understanding of certain aspects of finance, it has developed my desire to educate kids and teens on the importance of financial literacy through budgeting, long-term investment, and passive income.
Ezra Keller Forestry, Colorado State University
What makes your high school unique? APEX is incredibly unique and is structured in a very thoughtful and deliberate way in order to set up students for success. APEX offers high level classes that are part time in person and part time at home, allowing students the freedom and flexibility to create a schedule that works for them. APEX’s small class sizes result in an excellent teacher/student ratio and provides its students with every opportunity to reach their goals.
Solana Rodriguez Secondary English Education, University of Colorado Boulder
Why should a student choose to enroll in St. Vrain Valley Schools? St. Vrain Valley Schools is such a unique district, focusing on intentional academic design and accessibility, which is something that I am personally passionate about as an aspiring educator. Because of their intentional and individual student support, St. Vrain Valley Schools allows students to prepare for their futures, fosters their success, and nurtures a learning community that allows students to truly dream.
Elliana Sievers Gap-year and studying at Capernwray Hall in England and then attending a four year university to pursue education
What’s a favorite memory from your time at St. Vrain? I have made countless memories during my time at St. Vrain but some of my favorites are while participating in theater. Musical Theater has fostered some of my fondest memories and has been a substantial part of my time at St. Vrain. I remember doing my first musical at my school in fifth grade and being so nervous to try out for it. It was much more work than I was expecting and I honestly didn’t think I could get through the year; I decided to try and make it through the performances and I’m extremely glad I did! After I performed the first show on stage I was hooked and I’ve been a part of the APEX theater program ever since.
On March 7, St. Vrain Valley School hosted the first-ever Future-Ready Festival. The festival brought our community together to experience the innovation, creativity, and opportunity happening across St. Vrain Valley Schools.
Letter from the Superintendent
Dear St. Vrain Valley Community,
As we move through what has been a truly exceptional year for our district, I find myself filled with profound gratitude for our students, our educators, and a community that shows up so consistently for public education. I want to share some of the remarkable things that have happened across our schools in recent months, because these celebrations belong to all of us.
Perhaps nothing captures the heart of what we do better than what we saw from the Class of 2025. Their on-time graduation rate reached 96.8%, the highest in the Denver Metro Area, and our Hispanic graduation rate rose to 92.9%, among the highest in the state. These numbers represent real students who walked across that stage with a St. Vrain diploma, supported every step of the way by educators who refused to give up on them. I am especially proud of our Grad Tracker system, an internally developed, real-time tool that gives our high school principals and counselors daily visibility into each student’s progress toward graduation. St. Vrain was recently named a national District of Distinction for this work, and it is recognition that is deeply deserved.
The academic achievements across our system have been extraordinary. For the first time in district history, all eight of our comprehensive high schools were named to the AP Honor Roll. Our students earned 1,147 AP Scholar recognitions, with 78 of those students achieving the AP Capstone Diploma. And in our youngest classrooms, the growth has been equally inspiring. This past spring, 93% of our four-year-olds were meeting or exceeding widely held expectations in literacy, a gain of 40 percentage points from fall data. Watching what is happening in our preschool classrooms is one of the most encouraging things I have seen in my career.
Our students have been making their mark well beyond our classrooms as well. Our drone performance team traveled to Florida to perform at the Future of Education Technology Conference, and will perform at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs on April 13. Three St. Vrain students were selected as national finalists for the NASA HUNCH competition and presented their innovations to engineers at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Five of our students were named Daniels Scholarship finalists. Additionally, Westview Middle School was named one of only four schools in Colorado to earn the 2026 Colorado Trailblazer School to Watch designation, a well-earned honor for a school community doing incredibly thoughtful work. And our Future Ready Festival brought more than 2,000 members of our community to Silver Creek High School for an afternoon that showed just how much our schools have to offer every family.
This is what we call the St. Vrain Advantage, and this level of success does not happen by accident. It happens because of the people in our classrooms every day, and because of families and community members who believe in and invest in our schools.
Thank you for all that you do to advance our students and schools.
With gratitude,
Jackie Kapushion, Ed.D.
Superintendent, St. Vrain Valley Schools
Featured Stories
St. Vrain Valley Celebrates First-ever Future Ready Festival
Over two thousand community members attended St. Vrain Valley Schools’ first Future-Ready Festival. The event featured Advantage Zones, student showcases, and hands-on activities, all highlighting the depth and range of experiences that define the St. Vrain Advantage.
St. Vrain’s Unframed Art Show live at the Boulder County Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall from April 14-19
St. Vrain Valley Schools invites the community to experience the creativity and talent of students across the district at the annual district art show, held at the Boulder County Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall.
Little Voices, Big Music – An Interactive Musical Experience for Young Learners, April 6
St. Vrain Valley Schools invites you to Little Voices, Big Music, a free, interactive musical experience designed for young children and their caregivers, open to all St. Vrain families.
St. Vrain Valley Schools to Host Advanced Placement Summer Institute, July 6-9
St. Vrain Valley Schools will host the College Board-certified Advanced Placement Summer Institute (APSI) July 6-9 at Frederick High School. The program is open to all educators, including those outside of St. Vrain Valley Schools, and is designed to support both new and experienced AP teachers.
In partnership with Stapp Toyota, we are proud to recognize the next Stapp Inspires Educator Highlight: The Thunder Valley K-8 School Second Grade Team. This collaborative and supportive team sets high expectations for themselves and their students. Watch now.
From designing spaceflight solutions for NASA to competing on the world stage in robotics, students in the Erie High School Academy of Engineering & Aerospace spent the 2025-2026 school year turning classroom learning into nationally recognized accomplishments.
Across engineering, aerospace, robotics, cybersecurity, and senior capstone experiences, students tackled real-world challenges that pushed them to think critically, collaborate, problem-solve, and innovate. Their work earned recognition from organizations including NASA, the American Rocketry Challenge, and the VEX Robotics World Championships.
One of the year’s defining highlights came through the program’s involvement with NASA HUNCH and NASA HERC. Senior Design students developed projects centered on future space exploration, including biodegradable medicine packaging for Artemis missions, a VR microgravity simulation, and a nanocrop laboratory concept.
Erie High’s HUNCH Team with astronaut Adam Fuhrman as he tests the gravity simulator project inside the Johnson Space Center.
By the end of the year, every student in the Senior Design program received recognition from NASA for their work. The VR Microgravity Simulation team earned an invitation to present at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, with their presentation airing on NASA TV. The Biomedical Packaging team was named a national semi-finalist, while the Nanocrops team received honorable mention recognition.
Students also traveled to Huntsville, Alabama, to compete in NASA’s Human Exploration Rover Challenge, where Erie’s human-powered rover team earned both the Pit Crew Award and the Industry STEM Engagement Award for their teamwork, perseverance, and industry collaboration.
The program’s VEX Robotics teams delivered another historic season. Erie robotics teams earned 15 awards throughout the year, including honors at the State Championship, Signature Events, and the World Championships.
Two Erie teams advanced to the VEX Robotics World Championships in St. Louis, continuing an impressive legacy for the program. This year’s senior-led team qualified for the World Championships for the fourth consecutive year of their high school careers, a remarkable accomplishment that reflects the sustained excellence of the program. Team 3743C Intellectual Idiots also won the Innovate Award on the world stage, marking the first time an Erie High team has earned an award at the VEX World Championships.
Erie High’s VEX team 3743C with one of their many awards this season at a signature event.
“This success is a direct testament to our students’ dedication and hard work to engineering and robotics. Beyond the trophies and recognition our engineering students earned, all of these accolades reflect something more important: our students’ ability to synthesize knowledge from across the curriculum—Math, ELA, Social Studies, and Science—and apply it to the complex, real-world engineering challenges.”
Chris Schmitz, Engineering teacher
The aerospace program also reached new heights through the American Rocketry Challenge. Out of more than 1,100 teams nationwide, Erie’s team Human Velocity qualified for the National Finals as one of the top 100 teams in the country.
Students Emily Taylor, Sophie Page, Kieran Toohey, and Audrey Powers represented Erie High at the national competition in Virginia and participated in “Rockets on the Hill” in Washington, D.C., where they met with members of Congress to advocate for STEM education and aerospace programs.
Beyond competitions, the Academy continued building opportunities for students through afterschool organizations like the Erie Engineering Student Association (EESA) and SWENext. Students hosted engineering outreach events, connected with professionals from aerospace and engineering industries, mentored younger students, and organized the second Erie Engineering Expo for middle and high school students interested in STEM pathways.
The program also continued emphasizing industry credentials and future-ready preparation. This year, 31 students earned their Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate certification, while additional students completed robotics and pre-engineering industry certification testing.
For the program’s graduating seniors, the year represented more than awards and recognition. It marked the culmination of years spent learning how to lead teams, navigate challenges, and persist through difficult engineering problems.
“I am incredibly proud and honored to see how the seniors have grown over the past several years. Even when these students reached a point or challenge where others would have given up, they persevered and kept pushing until their project worked. They learned new knowledge and skills on their own, they tried creative and interesting solutions, and they never called it quits.”
Katie Spendlow, Engineering teacher
This spring, the Erie Academy of Engineering & Aerospace will graduate 22 seniors earning official engineering diplomas, with every graduate pursuing engineering or computer science at four-year universities across the country. This is the St. Vrain Advantage.
We are preparing our students for their future by giving them a strong competitive advantage and cultivating a drive for learning and continued growth.
See where our 4.0+ graduates are attending college in the fall.
APEX Homeschool Program Marielle Brooks Zoe Ellsaesser Cass Everdeen Barrett Jones Ezra Keller Marni Martin Mattea McQueen Serene Roth Elliana Sievers Camille Snyder Bella Waldroup
Erie High School Reagyn Allen Madeline Alvarado Bryn Anderson Alivia Aragon Kelsey Ayars Liliane Azevedo Wyatt Ball Gianna Barela Michaela Blakie Maddox Burnett Alyssa Bush Lily Caranci Ryan Carmichael Sean Cary Tegan Cerveny Aayusha Chhetri Riley Collins Sebastian Delgado Martinez Isabel Deppen Dominic Donchez Isabel Dress Braya Durstock Kiley Edwards Braylon Englehart Benjamin Erekson Brooklyn Ferrari Reece Ficklin Isabella Foster Catcher Gearhart Makena Gordon Jiali Grier Laurel Hagan Melawit Haile Isabelle Hanks Zachary Harner Tobey Jaeger Georgiana Jones Brooke Jordan Madeline Keller Hennessy Kerns Griffin Kohl Eli Krause Jackson Lew Lugo Martinez Eleanor Mahaffey Maia Mares Charlotte Martin Jackson Mattingley Emma McAnear Kayden McKinsey Abigail Mier Shyler Miller Josephine Mohr Perry Neumann Claire Nguyen Santiago Nunez Reid O’Brien Julieta Ochoa Ofelia Palacios Emily Park Mackenzie Paul John Pellom Cody Penman Rachel Rademacher Cole Reseigh Avery Rexroth Elaina Riester Liam Ross Sadie Sambirsky Zachary Sanner Sylvia Sauceda Vincent Schaefer Haley Schaefer Cade Schindler Trajan Schmitz James Schoeneshoefer Claire Schultz Christian Seiler Jayden Shipman Claire Simmons Juliet Slater Lawson Smith Nathan Standish Greta Starbuck Lilian Swanigan Beatrix Tempel Carson Tillman Lucy Todd Andrew Torres Riley Valania William Vielehr Emalee Walker Elijah Walters Emily Whiteley Nolan Willard Jane Wilson Blake Wolver
Frederick High School Helena Ahuja Hailey Barkley Lucia Bernal Myla Boehnke Isabella Bosica Logan Brisendine Dominic Bundy Mariellena Carbajal Addisyn Cast Joel Chambers Avery Corliss Nora Dukart Jessica Ellinger Isabel Enriquez Erik Esqueda-LeRoi Axton Fifield Julian Finch Elayna Fisher Peyton Frame Mercedes Gutierrez Connor Hartsuiker Izzy Horne Bailey Hott Sadie Hurtado Jenna Johnston Kaylee Knebel Lyla Kuhn Gabriella Mabbitt Shiela Mae Chan Lila Marsolek Jaelynn Martinez Jicell Martinez Mendoza Zacheria Martinez Garfio Allison McCormick Wyatt Morris Avery Morton Addisyn Murray Rachel Noyes Caleb Olson Hailey Pollard Kylie Quattlebaum Connor Ragan Hailey Rice Aerik Ross Edward Ryley Stephanie Schmidt Natalie Sias London Smith Brenna Stark Addison Strojinc Elaina Thorpe Anna Valentine Alexis Walker Kendall Willis
LaunchED Virtual Academy Annie Grassmick
Longmont High School Ethan Atherton Boden Becker Ivy Campbell Benjamin Champe Eleana Courtney Sova Coyle Evelyn Davis Lela Dworak Lucas Flannery Maria Flores Gonzalez Matilda Garcia Stevenson Emily Gill Erik Hakanson Max Haseeb Evan Helmstetter Mason Hendricks Jonathan Howard Dylin Hunt Chace Johnston Jack Keith Ronja King Madelyn Lahey Brayden Landers Addison Lee Nevaeh Lerit Camilla Lindenstein Adalee Mathias Rowan Motheral Amelia Mullis Logan O’Brien Jackson Parker Dominik Perez Allie Piggott Hailey Pulido Colis Naomi Railsback Luna Ready Bernard Reinold Quoia Salva Claire Sanchez Robert Sekich Gethsemane Shelden Abigail Sindelir Sydney Snapp Joselyn Soto Ramirez Alix Stanger Annalise Von Hatten Hannah Wheaton Brian Wiggins Jade Williams Heath Wintergerst
Lyons Middle Senior High Maxwell Boccolucci William Dumbauld Logan Duncan Lauren Hunter Anna Johann Audrey McNeil Alexander Parker Scott Pierce Antonia Rauker Jack White
Mead High School Elizabeth Bennet Addison Blick Brooke Boatman Alana Costello Lynzee Crouse Riley Darner Alexia Deba Brielle Deba Ellee Dietzman Karissa Erickson Rose Marie Evans Jameson Franks Ryleigh Gillette Anita Goff Elena Gomez Alexa Hardy Ayden Hauck Booth Hayes Jackson Howard Hana Hylenski Lilly Kaplan Rylee Klatt Shayla Lewis Morgan McDonald Gunnar McMillan Simon Metivier Ava Mierau Kaylee Morley Emily Morris Breckan Palko Lucas Potts Beckett Reiff Ryan Sauvageau Hailey Schliep Brooke Schliep Addison Schuck Cheyenne Seib Kaytlynn Shearing Talia Stone Emmy Tecu Jaylene White Taylor Wiescamp Madelyn Wright Roger (Max) Young
Niwot High School Alexandra Adams Ashley Ahrens Sophie Alizadeh Cyrena Allen Everett Anton Anna Archibold Elise Arends Gweneth Ashack Tessa Ashkenase Duncan Atherton Joe Barkley Sky Bauer Avalon Beltran Bella Berger Dylan Blackwell Isabelle Boettger Phoenix Borten Sage Bromberg Hannah Burdette Mariana Caraveo Marley Carney Reding Josephine Caron Olivia Cesar Cipriani Caden Cline Brenna Crall Siena Curlander Samuel Danile Tristan Daty Nicholas Dodds Phoebe Donovan Cormac Easter Emi Els Lauren Fedorczyk Rylie Fletemeyer Yasmin Freger Jose Fuentes Valdez Aanshi Gandhakwala Shiva Garuda Daniel Gawrych Justin Ge Ryan Guglielmi Oskar Hansen Zhuming Haratsaris Danica Hardies Mya Haux Natalie Heinze Heather Humphrey Ryder Keeton Qeiran Keller Charles Kirtland Ash Kissinger Julia Klein Sienna Knight Sahasra Kolli Claude Leonard Katherine Liddell Nora Lindseth Kevin Lino Alexander Lomanov Robin Loupee Margaret Luttrell Wesley Manzanares Gabriel Marshall Hannes Maute Olivia Moreland Colin Mundt Lindsey Nelson Nikhil Nijhawan Henry Noblin Victor Oshmyan Bree Otto Nadia Pai Milo Peterson Anthony Petty Dinh Pham Jacob Phouminh Samuel Popma Anna Prok Alayna Quinn Marissa Reback Isabella Renk Lila Repsher Clara Rhea Nina Richards Addison Ritzenhein Hunter Robbie Caleb Roby Preslee Rowell Jordan Rutkowski Alexander Rutt Naman Saluja Avienda Schatz-Devine Brynn Schlarb Ori Schreurs William Schrock Ava Schroll Lillian Seiler Jackson Sessa Miles Shaw Stella Shear Makena Shetter Adam Shoning Maya Siess Jordan Simon Kingston Staton Lila Storch Tenzin Takza Anna Thomas Angela Tran Adelaide Trecoske Houghton Anna Trenum Brooke Vancil Eloise VanSelus Wyatt Volf Logan Waldron Audrey Warriner Ethan Waterman Sophia Wheeler Caleb Williams Elliot Wisecup Natadon Yockunavut Zoey Zabel Ella Zechman Joella Zorgdrager
Silver Creek High School Katherine Aaron Nola Abraham Isabel Ammerman Ronan Avila Benjamin Barnett Ady Baron Tucker Beasley Violet Brinkerhoff Susan Campie Sawyer Chandler Cameron Churchich Evan Coons Jadeyn Cottrell Ryan Courtney Miller Darrah Dagny Dash Erin Davis Renesa Dawadi Jared Dettlebach Lara Dostal Rachel Dowlin McCall Duce Hayden Duckworth Autumn Dunlap Benjamin Elston Delaney Flores Natalise Frea Nolan Gaccetta Clare Gaddis Quinn Ghosh Shana Goodwin Blake Gorr Eli Graber Koral Grace Guttridge Savanna Heasley Jasper Helgans Ryan Holden Bibi Humphrey Bennet Jensen Hannah Jocelyn Owen Kennedy Byoungheon(Brian) Kim Matthew Koehler Nathan Lee Peyton Martin Ireland Miramontes Kadin Mitchell Willa Moeller Ella Munsat Martin Pavlik Finnegan Pendergast Ulric Pierce Nicholas Quintana Grayden Rasmussen Phoebe Richmond Matthew Schliesman Luke Schmeeckle Josephine Schwartz Sofia Scott Cole Sheppard Aditya Sivakumar Basil Solovyev Josephine Starks Mylie Stevens Landen Stinson Eilidh Sutherland Rowen Tiner Daniel Tong Anna Trochman Maxwell Vanderschaaf Sienna Weber Ellen Wilson Elsa Wirkkanen Cooper Zaruby Noah Zweers
Skyline High School Samantha Aguirre Jimenez Blake Baker Ashley Berkowitz Knox Brooks Samuel Brown Angel Chavez Amelia Christy Ira Driscoll-Wingfield Jorgen Eamon Danniel Gaviria Lima Megan Heuer Sebastian Honc Madelynn Johnson Diego Kheng Nayeli Lara Fernandez D’Andre Lara Logan Mault Zoe Olivas Muskaan Pal Kylie Paul Clairessa Ruhnke Josue Ruiz Brayden Strock Cecilia Wilson
Former students, retired educators, current staff, and families gathered at Prairie Ridge Elementary on Friday, May 1 to celebrate the school’s 25th anniversary. The evening brought together the Prairie Ridge community to reconnect, share memories, and reflect on the relationships and traditions that have shaped the school over the past two decades.
Attendees reconnect at Prairie Ridge Elementary’s 25th Anniversary Celebration.
Throughout the celebration, attendees revisited Prairie Ridge history through yearbooks, a commemorative video, and the opening of a time capsule sealed in 2000. Former coworkers, teachers, and students reconnected while current students participated in STEM activities and posed for photos with the school mascot. Community members who played a role in the original opening of Prairie Ridge, including former landowners and school leaders, were also recognized for their contributions to the school and surrounding community.
An attendee takes a commemorative photo during Prairie Ridge Elementary’s 25th Anniversary Celebration.
The anniversary celebration served as a reminder of the lasting impact Prairie Ridge has had on generations of students, staff, and families. By bringing together past and present members of the school community, the event highlighted the enduring connections and shared memories that continue to define Prairie Ridge 25 years after opening its doors.
A Prairie Ridge Elementary student poses with the school’s mascot.
St. Vrain Valley Schools is proud to celebrate the many accomplishments of our Class of 2026 and invites the entire community to join the celebrations virtually through the livestreams of our graduation ceremonies. Interpretation services will also be available at each graduation ceremony.
Spanish Interpretation Services Available at Graduation
Live Spanish interpretation will be provided by the district’s Translation and Interpretation Services team during many of the St. Vrain graduation ceremonies. This service allows families and community members to experience the celebration in Spanish using their cellphones. A link will be provided at the ceremony, and guests may listen in real time using their own headphones or wireless earbuds.
An Eagle Crest student presents his coding project to family.
The sounds of excited students explaining code, testing robots and guiding parents through virtual worlds filled the halls of Eagle Crest Elementary on Thursday, May 7 during the school’s annual “Eagles Can Code” event. Families and friends gathered alongside teachers to experience firsthand how students have been using technology and creative problem-solving throughout the school year. As parents visited their students’ classrooms, they explored coding applications on iPads that allowed students to customize projects, control robots, and more.
An Eagle Crest student shows a family member what she’s coded in class.
Students from the Innovation Center also offered their support by leading hands-on robotics and virtual reality activities in the gym. Using low-code programming methods, Eagle Crest students directed how robots moved and interacted, while VR headsets transported participants into immersive digital environments. The evening celebrated a year of learning and highlighted how students across all grade levels advanced beyond foundational instruction to pursue passion-driven projects. Families also had the opportunity to experience firsthand the creativity, innovation, and technical skills students developed throughout the year.
An Innovation Center student hands an Eagle Crest student a robot.
