Español | русский | 中文
SUBJECT: Week In Review - February 26 - March 1, 2024
March 1, 2024
Happy Friday!
Safety and Security
Funding from the recent Mill Levy Override (MLO) is enabling us to further increase safety and security in our schools via additional personnel such as School Resource Officers and Campus Security Specialists. Hiring is in the works for these positions and many Campus Security Specialists are already in place at elementary schools. The rest will be in place for the start of the 2024-2025 school year. We want to express our sincere gratitude to our law enforcement partners, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Castle Rock Police Department, Lone Tree Police Department, and Parker Police Department, for their support of additional School Resource Officers (SROs). In addition, the Douglas County Commissioners recently voted 3-0 to contribute additional funds to maximize the SROs we are able to hire with the passage of 5A. We are so grateful for our community’s dedication to the safety of our schools, students, and staff.
Redstone Elementary Northeast Elementary Pine Lane Elementary
DCSD Job Fair
The hiring season for school districts for the 2024-2025 school year officially launches soon. Last Friday we held a job fair at our Legacy Campus for teachers and licensed special education service providers. The event was a great success! Many of our staff including principals and assistant principals were on hand to interview candidates. A special thanks to our Legacy Campus event staff, Communications Department and Human Resources team for helping make this event a huge success!
Have a fantastic weekend!
Erin Kane
Superintendent
Douglas County School District
GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND DCSD
Ponderosa High helps grant a wish for a big hockey fan
Ponderosa High School helped grant a wish for a hockey fan who's suffering from congenital heart disease. Check out the story from FOX-31 News.
STEM Student on NBC Nightly News
Witnessing the devastation left behind by tornadoes, a sixth-grader at STEM School Highlands Ranch created an early tornado detection system and showcased his idea in the Paradigm Challenge. The challenge invites students from around the world to use kindness, creativity, and collaboration to help solve real-life problems. DCSD’s Anirudh Rao won the grand prize and was featured on NBC Nightly News.
Northridge Elementary Hosts Annual STEM Fair
Northridge Elementary School recently hosted its annual STEM Fair. The event showcased outstanding projects from classrooms and homes, with enthusiastic volunteers and plenty of smiles as visitors participated in scientific and engineering activities. Students in all grade levels completed projects following the scientific method or the engineering design method and shared their projects, results, and discoveries on display boards exhibited around the school. During the STEM Fair, families were able to participate in activities exploring scientific topics like magnets, centripetal force, and electrical circuits along with engineering design activities like mechanics of flight and structural design of buildings. Visitors had fun trying out the school's VR goggles, the Osmos used in Think Tank, and induction bots from the summer program Camp Invention. The Star Lab (an inflatable planetarium) which is used all week during the school day was also available for families to experience. Throughout the night students had a great time showing off their projects and exploring scientific and engineering activities with their families.
ThunderRidge students receive first ever cornhole college scholarships
After turning a hobby into a scholarship, two Colorado teens are taking a toss at collegiate cornhole. Jaxson Remmick and Gavin Hamann never thought they'd be making cornhole history. See the full CBS4 Denver news story.
State Wrestling Championships - Correction
Last week we included a list of wrestlers who placed at the 5A Boys and Girls Wrestling State Championships. Unfortunately, we listed Zaret Silva Lopez as being a Douglas County High School student. Zaret attends Castle View High School. Our apologies for this error!
Share Your School’s Good News!
We will continue to send these celebratory emails out each week. If we missed a celebration or you have good news to share, please submit it here.
RESOURCES AND TIPS FOR PARENTS
Mental Health Resources
Parent Test: Your Child’s Mental Health - Pediatric Symptom Checker
This questionnaire from Mental Health America can be used to see if your child is having emotional, attentional, or behavioral difficulties. These results are not meant to be a diagnosis. Please talk with a doctor or therapist to get a diagnosis and/or access therapy or medications.
Literacy Resources
Earn Volunteer Credit - Teen Library Connections
Teens who want to make a difference in their library and their community are invited to apply to be members of Douglas County Libraries Teen Library Connections (TLC). Earn volunteer credit, make a difference, have fun! Stop by a meeting or talk to a youth librarian to sign up.
Health and Wellness Resources
Recorded Webinar: Parent University: Substance Use Prevention Pilot Program for Middle Schools
Learn about the DCSD Middle School Substance Use Prevention pilot program created by Nursing Services within the Health, Wellness, and Prevention Department. Dr. Kelli Smith, DCSD’s Director of Health, Wellness, and Prevention, along with DCSD Prevention Nurses Shannon Johnson and Erika Raschkes discuss this timely topic. Parent University is brought to you by the Douglas County School District and Sky Ridge Medical Center. Watch the recorded webinar.
EVENTS
Learn About the ASCENT Program (Free College Tuition After 12th Grade)
Thursday, March 7 | 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
DCSD Legacy Campus, Lone Tree
The ASCENT Program (Accelerating Students through Concurrent Enrollment) offers students the opportunity to attend college, tuition free. Attend this session, or connect with your high school counselor to learn more! There are eligibility requirements and application timelines to meet in order to participate. Click here to RSVP.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Serve on a DCSD Board Committee
The DCSD District Accountability Committee (DAC), Fiscal Oversight Committee (FOC), Long Range Planning Committee, and Mill Bond Oversight Committee (MBOC) are seeking candidates to fill vacant member positions. Visit their webpages to learn more and to apply.
2024 Douglas County Outstanding Youth Award Nominations
The Outstanding Youth Award recognizes teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 who have overcome personal adversity and created positive change in their lives. The Youth Awards focus on teenagers who have triumphed over great odds and serve as inspirations and role models. If you know young people who would be good candidates for the Youth Awards, please help us identify them by completing the nomination form, link is below. Award winners receive a cash gift! Nomination forms are due by: March 29, 2024.