St. Vrain Valley Schools – Home to Regional, State and National Champions

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Across St. Vrain Valley Schools, we have seen record number of state championships, national award winners, all-state finalists and so much more. Students across St. Vrain are demonstrating excellence in leadership, advancing their academic skills, and showcasing the world-class sportsmanship that is systemic across our schools. These important activities not only foster engaged school communities, but also strengthen our students by increasing academic performance, enhancing graduation rates, and provide foundational learning of essential life skills such as communication, drive, teamwork and commitment.

Here is just a sampling of the success we’ve seen in St. Vrain this year:

Have a headline to add to this list? Please send it to [email protected].

Students Exchange Knowledge and Culture

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Students around the world are taking pieces of Colorado home with them and leaving a bit of their own culture behind in high schools throughout St. Vrain Valley Schools.

During the past five years, about 180 students from across the globe have participated in the foreign exchange student program that brings international students to district high schools to learn about American culture and share information about their home countries with local students.

“It allows students who have maybe never left the U.S. before to see how things are done in other countries and really opens their minds to what else is out there,” said Debbie Odom, who supports foreign students.

Italian exchange student Matilde Monni, 17, has been attending Longmont High School as a junior since August.

“I was bored of always the same routine. I wanted to live something different,” Matilde said about why she chose to study abroad. “Then there was my wish to become independent and responsible, I really wanted to consider myself an adult.”

Learning from each other

Some of the cultural differences are glaring, she said, like the cost of college and the healthcare system, which she said is “messier than what I expected.” Matilde said she is impressed by the “great sense of patriotism” she has experienced in America.

“Students learn tremendously from foreign exchange students, said Rick Olsen, principal of Longmont High. “When our students become acquainted or befriend an exchange student, they then become curious. They begin to learn about the exchange student’s culture, where they are from geographically, the region they are from, what their school is like, what they do for fun, and basically what it is like to grow up in their country.”

And Matilde is educating local students about Italy through presentations to schools and discussions with her classmates. She gave several presentations to her U.S. Government class on Italian parliament, recent elections, rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered citizens and higher education.

“I think it is important for American students to learn about other countries to see how big and varied this world is,” Matilde said. “Then I think that knowing about different cultures, as well as traveling, keeps you humble and opens your mind, fundamental things to be a good world citizen.”

Matilde hopes Colorado students will learn that Italy has the most United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) sites in the world, and that Alfredo sauce is an American invention.

“It is not Italian,” she said. “I’m sorry.” Matilde is living with a host family of five, including a 5-year-old girl, a 3-year-old boy, and a nearly 1-year-old boy whom she adores. The family takes her on outdoor adventures and taught her how to ski, which Matilde said has been her favorite experience in Colorado so far.

Academics and Activities

St. Vrain is proud to host foreign exchange students at many of our high schools. Students who are placed in our high schools are exposed to the same experiences as our traditional students. They enroll in the same rigorous courses, participate in athletics and co-curricular activities, and they join pep rallies, dances and other school events.

Olsen explained that it is an extremely valuable experience because exchange students and our students are learning from each other about the different regions in the world, the different types of government sand how different countries educate their students.

School counseling offices work with the students on their first few days to ensure that they are placed in the correct level of classes, they are typically assigned a classmate who helps them navigate the building and most attend the new student orientation at the beginning of the year. One of the most notable differences is the many opportunities that St. Vrain offers to all of our students through co-curricular activities and athletics. Many foreign students cannot believe the sense of school pride and community that is built through these experiences.

Students typically arrive in August and spend the academic year with us. When they are here, they just become one of our students and they have access to the same opportunities as all of our other students.

Challenges and Rewards

The language barrier and busy schedules of American students have been the biggest hurdle to making friends in Colorado for Jens Oliver Popa, who came from Germany to study at Mead High School.

In Germany, Jens spends most weekends with friends and around backyard campfires, he said. Jens talked about his weekends and time with friends during presentations to St. Vrain students about Germany and how American students are often busy playing sports or attending school-sponsored activities, which makes it challenging to find free time to hang out.

Jens showed his American classmates photos of his village, like the church, bakery, and grocery store, and talked about culture and education through his personal experiences with friends.

German schools do not typically offer athletics, and “I can’t remember that I ever went to a school event in Germany, without being forced,” Jens said.

“It’s in my eyes important for my classmates to learn more about our country as well as other foreign countries, because they need to know that things are different in cultural and very traditional aspects outside of the United States,” Jens said.

Jens still enjoys his free time in Colorado, which is mostly spent mountain biking with his host family.

Despite the challenges, including being homesick, Matilde and Jens said they have enjoyed their experience and would recommend it to other students who are interested in other cultures.

If you are interested in becoming a host family please contact your local high school or contact our list of board approved organizations that can place students in our high schools. Board Policy: JFABB-E

St. Vrain Schools Honored with State Awards

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This year six schools within St. Vrain received awards by the state for their academic achievements during the 2016-17 school year. These awards recognize the work ethic of our students, strength of academic commitment from parents, impact of high-quality teachers and districtwide support that schools receive.

The Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award is given to schools that demonstrate exceptional student growth during the course of one academic school year. The Colorado Department of Education created a school performance framework that is used to evaluate all schools throughout Colorado. The schools that “exceed” expectations on the indicator related to longitudinal academic growth and “meet or exceed” expectations on the indicator related to academic growth gaps are recognized for their achievements.

Congratulations to the following schools who earned a Colorado Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award.

  • Black Rock Elementary
  • Erie Elementary School
  • Mead Middle School

The next award that Colorado gives to schools throughout the state are the John Irwin Awards. These are given to schools that demonstrate exceptional academic achievement over longer periods of time. These schools receive an Exceeds Expectations rating on the Academic Achievement indicator of the School Performance Frameworks reflecting exceptional performance in Math, English Language Arts and Science.

This year, we would like to congratulate the following schools for earning a John Irwin Schools of Excellence Award.

  • Altona Middle School
  • Black Rock Elementary
  • Blue Mountain Elementary
  • Lyons Elementary School

Black Rock’s administration team highlights what they do to increase growth and academic achievement.

Academic growth is one measurement that teachers and administration focus on. It is something that teachers begin to watch and measure in preschool. During conferences, teachers highlight each child’s abilities at the beginning of the year and how much they have grown. Patterns in growth tell teachers if student learning is on track and if growth is where it should be.

Black Rock Elementary uses a flex group strategy for both reading and math which allows teachers to focus on student’s instructional needs, customize learning strategies for different levels and provide additional resources to students who need extra support in certain subjects.

“Through flex grouping, we can vary the size of the classes, the focus, the pace and we can differentiate instructional strategies,” said Cathy O’Donnell, Principal at Black Rock.

Principal O’Donnell also shared that their teachers spend a lot of time collaborating and communicating with each other about how each class is tackling the different standards. These conversations makes grade level teams stronger and it provides teachers an opportunity to learn from and share with one another over the course of a year. These discussions also happen vertically between grade levels as teachers partner to analyze past trends and to determine what works for their students.

Another tool that teachers use to measure growth is formal and informal assessments.

“Our fourth and fifth grade teachers in particular pay close attention to how students are performing on their iReady Assessment and informal assessments. By using this data, teachers can teach students new concepts and re-teach skills as needed, explained O’Donnell. “These teams are very focused on our students and their ability demonstrate mastery on the standards.”

Colorado’s Department of Education sets long and short-term educational goals for all of the schools in Colorado to measure academic achievement. Through these goals, they are able to measure if a specific school had exceeded their level of academic achievement.

“At Black Rock, we have a schoolwide approach to academic achievement, regardless of whether you teach Kindergarten, Music or Computer Lab,” says O’Donnell. “We look at the trends and adjust as needed throughout all of our grades.

Assistant Principal DeAnn Dykes continued to explain that “Although the third, fourth and fifth grade levels are where the testing takes place, the entire staff is invested in academic achievement and together we look at the data.”

Strong schools are built through partnerships between students, parents, teachers and administration. We are proud to recognize all of our schools for their achievements and growth.

St. Vrain students learn and grow with school gardens

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One day before the spring equinox, a substitute teacher and 25 sixth-graders from Longmont’s Flagstaff Academy file out to the school’s garden area for their bi-weekly class with school garden teacher Allison Cole.

“Let’s form a circle around the sundial,” she says. Students jostle for positions on a concrete pad where Cole holds a globe. On the ground, students had previously marked the progression of the sun’s shadow during the winter solstice. Cole asks a student to put his finger on the top of the sundial so that others can mark where its shadow falls on this day. Students note the differences between the winter, spring and summer sun and how that relates to the globe and seasons.

REad the full story in the boulder weekly

Education Foundation honors outstanding SVVSD teachers

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Each spring, the Education Foundation for the St. Vrain Valley hosts the Tribute to Teachers, which honors and recognizes the excellence of our teachers. Students, parents, colleagues and community members are invited to nominate teachers, and three from each school are selected to attend the event as finalists. During the event, one teacher from each school receives an Encore Award and a $100 gift card. Additionally, several teachers are honored as Spotlight educators and one as Teacher of the Year for their outstanding efforts on behalf of their schools and students. The evening includes dinner and awards, and this year features a performance by local favorites FACE Vocal Band.

Last year’s nominated teachers stood out as being passionate about teaching and impacting the futures of those they teach; for meeting with students outside the normal classroom day to make sure those who are struggling get the extra help they need; for teaching and respecting their students, parents, and colleagues; and for creating safe spaces where students can learn and grow as students and individuals. Charlie Garcia, the 2017 Teacher of the Year, was recognized for 40 years of nurturing every child and investing himself in their success.

The Education Foundation for St. Vrain Valley provides resources and educational opportunities to enhance student success and teacher excellence within the St. Vrain Valley School District. Their programs supplement the traditional education experience in ways that maximize the effectiveness of teachers and result in enhanced student achievement in an increasingly complex and competitive worldwide environment.

Encore Award nominations may be submitted online through April 6, 2018 at 5:00 p.m.

St. Vrain Valley School District names two schools opening in fall

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The St. Vrain Valley school board recently voted on names and mascots for the district’s two new schools opening in the fall.

Erie’s 900-student PK-8 school, which is going up next to Erie High School on County Road 5, was named Soaring Heights PK-8 and will have an eagle as its mascot.

The 525-student elementary school being built in Frederick’s Wyndham Hill neighborhood was named Grand View Elementary and will have a bison as its mascot.

READ THE FULL STORY IN THE LONGMONT TIMES-CALL

Silver Creek High School Creates Leaders For The Future

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My three teenagers are straight-A students, which means they can tell you all about Julius Caesar, how to find the area of a polygon, and the symbolism in To Kill A Mockingbird. But how strong is their emotional intelligence? How effective is their communication when they’re not using Snapchat? Can they lead others? Do they have grit? 

In a world where more and more work is being automated (yes, the robots really are coming), counter-intuitively, soft-skills matter more than ever before. And specifically, leadership skills are the most in demand. One high school in Longmont, Colorado, demonstrates that teaching traditional academics and real-world interpersonal skills don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

READ THE FULL STORY AT FORBES.COM

Niwot High girls’ cybersecurity teams excel at national challenge

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There’s an old saying that “To catch a thief, you have to think like one.” For five intense days, two teams of Niwot High School (NHS) girls rewired their thought processes to compete in a computer security challenge to thwart cybercrime.

Stepping into the virtual shoes of hackers, the teams out-performed their competitors admirably. The Coding Cougars team, made up of Julia Curd (sophomore), Davita Bird (sophomore), Michelle Tran (senior) and Aileen Ma (senior) finished first in the state and ninth in the nation. Team Niwot, comprised of Valorie Myhre (sophomore), Subi Bhatt (freshman), Kay Altshuler (sophomore) and Esther Xu (sophomore) finished seventh in the state.There were 93 teams competing from Colorado.

READ THE FULL STORY IN THE LEFT HAND COURIER

Young Ameritowne on the Road Summer Camp

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For the third summer in a row, the Young Americans Center for Financial Education, a Denver-based pioneering nonprofit, will lead its award-winning, week-long Young Ameritowne on the Road Summer Camp, for students entering third through sixth grade, at Sunset Middle School. 

The traveling camp is a recent innovation, bringing the camp, which covers financial literacy, local government and workplace readiness, from the Denver center to offsite locations. Students will attend one of two tracks, Junior Money Matters for incoming third and fourth graders, June 18-22, and Young Ameritowne Camp for incoming fifth and sixth graders, June 25-29.

“Last year’s camp went wonderfully,” Susan Zimmerman, district coordinator for Community Schools, said. “Feedback from parents and students was amazing! Students learned a lot and had a blast. Every day they were sharing what they had learned with their families.” 

Up to 50 students will be admitted to each track by application this year. 

“It’s possible that it could be over-enrolled this year. Even with 50 spots, it absolutely could still fill up,” Zimmerman said. 

Applications, which are due April 10, can be obtained from school principals and front offices. Young applicants will need to explain why they want to attend, what they like about working in a group, and share something about themselves more generally. 

Of particular importance is how students plan to apply what they learn. For instance, a number of students from last year’s camp opened their own savings accounts, Zimmerman said. 

This year’s tuition is $50 and it covers the cost of one camp. Families who need assistance with the fee should contact Susan Zimmerman. 

Junior Money Matters covers basic banking and financial skills such as savings goals and spending plans. The older kids will go more in-depth with economics, such as supply and demand, will manage their own checking accounts, work to make a business successful, and handle money. 

All students will learn what it takes to have a job, and how to run a town government.The camps culminate in a day-long role-play complete with props and scenery. Some students will run for office and serve in town government – if elected, while others will work as managers and employees of various businesses.

Moving to the Rhythm

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Suddenly the door bursts open, your child runs inside and excitement fills the house. They move full speed towards the table as they throw down their backpack. Their hands cannot open the zipper fast enough. With confidence your child pulls out their recorder and songs stream into every room that can only be described as music to their ears. Although it may take many years for them to develop the skills to play in a world famous symphony, your child just discovered the love of music.

St. Vrain Valley Schools prides itself on designing an academic experience for our students that encompasses a wide-range of subjects. This begins in full-day kindergarten where students rotate through a series of specials including music, art and physical education in addition to their traditional coursework in math, reading, science, social studies and writing. This month, St. Vrain celebrates Music in Our Schools Month by highlighting music programs throughout the district.

Our first story focuses on when our students are introduced to music in elementary school. Kindergarteners not only spend time learning their A, B, C’s, they are also introduced to singing the first notes of Do, Re, Mi. Throughout their years in elementary school, students continue to learn how to sing different notes, play instruments, study the history of music and learn the science behind how sound is made. By the time St. Vrain students are in fourth and fifth grade they can continue to grow by joining their school’s choir.

Strong academic foundations are the underlying rhythms throughout all of our classes. Skills they learn during music class not only transfer to middle and high school, but also across subject areas including fractions in Math, and words in Reading and Writing.

“Music is a series of equations written in music language, said Cathy Keller, a Music Teacher at Prairie Ridge Elementary. “When reading rhythms or melodies, it breaks it down even more into syllables. And the way certain rhythms fall on a beat help students identify the number of syllables within that beat which supports students developing reading skills when they are learning new words and breaking them down into syllables.”

Reading music is similar to reading a novel, you read both left to right. “Reading the notes on the staff makes me think of words, which helps me read in class. Reading rhythms help me break down words that I don’t know,” said Nate, a student at Prairie Ridge Elementary. “Playing and learning guitar has also helped me in music class and I really know the notes on the staff.”

Researchers continue to study the impacts that music has on learners academically, but also the social impact that music has on students. While learning music leads to increased memory, it also gives students the opportunity to enhance their sense of community, improve their confidence and develop public speaking skills.

“I used to be really shy in front of my class, and then I joined choir and I felt like talking was pretty much the same thing as singing, except singing has a beat and music,” said Ellie, a fourth grader at Eagle Crest Elementary School. “Talking is just a different way of singing and I feel confident in singing, so why can’t I be confident is talking.”

Learning music builds confidence and it also gives students another opportunity to be successful and add to their creativity. “Music gives kids the chance to explore another side of their personality, said Jennifer Ordway, a Music Teacher at Eagle Crest Elementary School. “When I have a student that I know is struggling in the classroom, I get to see a completely different side of them. For them, music is an outlet where they can shine and students need to feel that sense of success where they can find it.”

An important part of music class is giving our students the time to try something new, and then finding ways to share it with their parents and other students. Technology not only allows students to reflect on what and how others are singing, students can record themselves and reflect on areas where they can get better. All of our elementary schools have classroom sets of iPads that gives our students the opportunity to record and share their progress with their parents through an app.

“Through a classroom set of iPads my kids can upload a picture of music they composed, a video of them playing the xylophones, singing or playing the piano,” said Amanda Brignola, a Music Teacher at Sanborn Elementary. “Once they add it to their digital portfolio, we can then watch it together and reflect on their progress, or parents can watch and see what their child is learning. We can track where we are, and where we were at the beginning of the year.”

“We play the xylophone, sing, have concerts and you can sign up for choir, said Cornia, a second grade student from Sanborn Elementary School. “I really like singing winter songs from all around the world and learning to sing and hold my notes longer will help me because I want to be in choir in middle or high school.

Performances are a large part of our elementary music programs and the skills students learn transfer to middle and high school. All of our elementary schools have grade level concerts that parents and the community members can attend. There are also individual school choir concerts, feederwide concerts that include elementary, middle and high school students, and some elementary schools select to put on musical. Through these performances students build confidence and they learn how to work as a team.

From concerts to classroom instruction to singing to reading, the parallels between music and strong academics shine in St. Vrain.

St. Vrain Valley Schools