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SUBJECT: Week In Review - November 27 - December 1, 2023
December 1, 2023
Welcome to December! The first half of this school year is flying by!
Welcome Board Members
First, I want to congratulate and welcome our school district’s newly elected (and re-elected) board members. Susan Meek, Brad Geiger and Valerie Thompson officially took the oath of office during last night’s special board meeting. Please join me in welcoming Directors Geiger and Thompson to the Board, and congratulating Director Meek on her re-election.
Lone Tree Bridge Program
Yesterday, students from the Lone Tree Bridge program stopped by our administration building in Castle Rock to sell amazing, handmade gifts as part of their holiday fundraiser. Sales were so good that they had to postpone their next stop to our West Support Center as they sold out of much of their merchandise! Way to go Bridge students!
Kindergarten Registration is Now Open
This week marked the start of Kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school year. Learn more and enroll online at www.dcsdk12.org/kindergarten.
Legacy Campus Showcase Night
It’s also time for our current 10th and 11th graders to be thinking about courses they wish to take next school year. The DCSD Legacy Campus is hosting a Showcase Night next Wednesday, December 6. There is a required registration session for students who will be juniors or seniors who are interested in enrolling in courses at the Legacy Campus for next year. That session goes from 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Then the Legacy Campus is offering a unique opportunity to see the campus and hear directly from students about their experiences. That event takes place from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. It all happens at the DCSD Legacy Campus which is located at 10035 S. Peoria Street in Lone Tree. No RSVP is needed – join us and see how amazing this campus is and learn about the incredible classes it offers to DCSD students to help further prepare them for life after high school. Also, be sure to check out this great overview video to learn more about the Legacy Campus.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Erin Kane
Superintendent
Douglas County School District
GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND DCSD
DCSD Students Selected as Special Olympics Youth Ambassador Class of 2023
Two students from the Douglas County School District, Talan Villarta (Ponderosa HS) and Chloe Johnson (Douglas County HS) were chosen as the Special Olympics North American U.S. Youth Ambassador Class of 2023. Talan and Chloe participated in a week-long event in Washington DC over fall break. You may remember Talan and Chloe from a video they were featured in by the Special Olympics last spring. These two students are just phenomenal leaders!
DCSD Students Shine in the Fourth-Annual Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented Conference
This year’s Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented (CAGT) Conference featured an art competition with 143 entries, showcasing the remarkable talents of K-12 gifted students who excel in visual arts. After a rigorous selection process, 38 pieces were chosen for exhibition. Their imaginative artworks brought the conference's theme, "Imagine, Believe, Grow," to life.
Congratulations to these award-winning DCSD artists!
CAGT's Youth Impact Award Winner
CAGT's Art Contest Winners
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Jordan Henry, Castle Rock Middle School, 1st place Middle School Division
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Gavin Shaklee, Castle Rock Middle School, 3rd place Middle School Division
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Sofia Lyon, ThunderRidge High School, 2nd place High School Division
DCHS’s FFA Students Showcase their Animals on Barnyard Day
Douglas County High School’s (DCHS) Barnyard Day is an annual tradition hosted by the DCHS Future Farmers Association (FFA) chapter. FFA students showcase their dogs, horses, miniature horses, goats, chickens, and rabbits. The event is designed to give students the opportunity to learn more about the care and handling of these animals. For more than 25 years, the DCHS Agriculture and FFA program has provided students with unique opportunities to be postsecondary workforce-ready. Students develop leadership skills, engage with peers, and serve their community.
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 Resource
Four Science-Backed Tips for Parents on Kids’ Social Media Use
Check out this short video from the American Psychological Association on kids and social media use.
Literacy
The Importance of Literacy in Early Child Development
Check out the recording of the November Parent University webinar where DCSD's Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment discusses why literacy is so important in Early Child Development. Hear about developmental stages of early literacy, along with strategies for supporting oral language and early literacy. Watch the recorded webinar. >>
Health and Wellness
The holidays are a joyous time filled with family bonding, delicious food and memories that last a lifetime. However, the busyness of this special time can also make it hard to focus on staying healthy. Stress, colds and extra sugar can all threaten to make this season memorable for the wrong reasons. In this article, our partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado explain some of the best ways families can help their kids stay active, eat a balanced diet and avoid getting sick. Read more. >>
EVENTS
2023 Computer Science Expo
Hosted by Mountain Vista HS Engineering and Computer Science Department, Coding Club, and Cybersecurity Club
Tuesday, December 5 | 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Mountain Vista High School, Room U213 and U214
10585 Mountain Vista Ridge, Highlands Ranch
DCSD Legacy Campus Showcase Night
Required Registration Information Session
Wednesday, December 6 | 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Students who will be juniors or seniors in the 2024-2025 school year and are interested in applying to attend courses at the Legacy Campus during the 2024-2025 school year should attend this registration information session.
Legacy Campus Showcase Night
Wednesday, December 6 | 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Want to learn more about the DCSD Legacy Campus and its course offerings? This is your chance to hear directly from current students. See student-led demonstrations of what they are learning in the following pathways: Advanced Robotics, Architecture, Aviation, Building Controls Technology, Culinary Arts, Certified Nurse Aide, EMT/EMS, Future Educator, and Secure Network Technologies.
No RSVP needed for these events. Learn more at www.legacycampus.org or call 303-387-7800
Venture Academy of Entrepreneurship and Leadership (VALE) Information Nights
Tuesday, December 12 | 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
VALE, 15653 Brookstone Drive Parker
Step inside and discover the gifts of Douglas County School District’s newest high school. www.vale.dcsdk12.org.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Zero Fare for Youth
Did you know that youth ages 19 and under are eligible to ride the RTD bus and light rail at no cost? This is a great opportunity for teens and young adults who need additional options to get to work, special events and more. This is a pilot program that runs through August 31, 2024. Learn more. >>
Douglas County Gifted Advisory Council Seeks Members
The Douglas County Gifted Education Advisory Council (DCGEAC) is seeking members with a variety of backgrounds and expertise. If you are a parent/guardian of a student identified for gifted services OR a high school student who has been identified as gifted, please consider joining us DCGEAC by completing the DCGEAC Self Nomination Form. DCGEAC meets quarterly throughout the year.
Please see additional information on the flIer:
Douglas County Gifted Education Advisory Council
Join the DCSD Family
DCSD is hiring for a variety of positions, including bus drivers, transportation assistants, educational assistants, BASE workers, kitchen assistants, building engineers, security dispatchers, grounds and maintenance and so much more. Learn more and apply today at www.dcsdk12.org/careers.