There have been 28 school shootings that have resulted in injury or death in 2021, 21 of those since August, according to Education Week, an education news publication. Statista.com, however, states there have been 170 shootings affiliated with K-12 schools throughout the year, not all necessarily resulting in injury or death. 

These are scary numbers for parents who send their students to public school. In the St. Vrain Valley Schools District, it is important for the administrative staff to look at all sides of the issue of safety. 

“I want every child and every adult to be safe, welcomed and protected in our schools so we send them home safe-and-sound everyday,” Superintendent Don Haddad said.

Lyons Middle/Senior High students got their first chance Monday to practice in the school’s new auditorium as they prepare for holiday concerts.

Kasey Knapp, a senior who first performed on the school’s original stage in the cafeteria in fifth grade, said her initial reaction to the new space was “wow.” She’s in the school’s band, choir and drama programs and will play the lead in the spring musical.

“I just got in there and jumped up and down,” she said. “I’ve been hearing about it since sixth grade. It’s way better than I ever imagined it would be. Performing on that stage, especially my senior year performances, is going to be so much fun.”

Principal Andrea Smith said school leaders wanted an auditorium that met not just the student’s needs, but also those of the community. The new building will be the town’s only large auditorium space.

In an arena in the Westview Middle School gym, 12-year-old Michael Ballard deftly controlled a robot to pick up purple rings and balance a seesaw. Michael battled not only the clock, but an opposing team in the obstacle course.

The setup was part of the first districtwide VEX robotics competition of the school year Saturday in Longmont. The kickoff involved robotics teams from middle schools across the St. Vrain Valley School District.

When asked about his favorite part Saturday, Michael said: “Definitely competing and fixing the robot when it gets damaged.”

St. Vrain Valley automotive students will have a new training certificate option as the district’s Career Elevation and Technology Center becomes a pilot site for a Toyota training program.

Toyota, which offers both high school and college training programs, is piloting a community college level program at three high schools nationwide, including Longmont’s Career Elevation and Technology Center.

“It’s giving students the opportunity to have that technical training,” said automotive teacher Brian Smallwood. “They can start working at a higher pay level. We’ve really been trying to grow the opportunities for students.”

Eco-Cycle’s Green Star Program began in spring 2005, empowering students to take ownership of their school environment to reduce waste, increase composting and recycling and consider individual impact on the environment.

Although the program is in several schools across the district, the program is solidly in place throughout the Silver Creek Feeder Schools — Eagle Crest Elementary, Blue Mountain Elementary, Longmont Estates Elementary and Altona Middle School. More than a dozen St. Vrain Valley School District, or SVVSD, schools participate in the Green Star program, including Hygiene, Lyons, Columbine, Red Hawk, Central and Niwot elementary schools, Coal Ridge Middle School, Lyons Middle Senior High School and Niwot High School.

“This is absolutely not mandatory for our district, but it’s a great incentive for our kids,” said Kelly Kinsman, environmental, health and safety manager for SVVSD. 

Agile has a few definitions these days. The Oxford English Dictionary describes it as the ability to move quickly. In software development or project management, agile refers to dividing tasks into shorter phases of work and assessment. Now St. Vrain Valley School District is bringing AGILE into education to allow students flexible access to coursework between schools.

“One of the things we recognized coming out of the pandemic and coming back to education in person is that we learned a lot of lessons that could benefit kids throughout the district,” said Michelle Bourgeois, SVVSD chief technology officer.

SVVSD’s AGILE program, nearing the initial pilot phase, stands for Advanced Global Interactive Learning Environments. Students around the district would be able to sign up for coursework at any of SVVSD’s schools. A student in Frederick would be able to take a language course only offered in Lyons, for example.