2016 Winter Five Star Journal

Winter 2016 Vol. 16 | No. 2 

www.adams12.org 

COVER: 

Santa’s Little 

Hackers 

P 12 

Legacy Runner 

Defeats Odds 

P 20 

Prepare for 

Winter Weather 

P 5 

Student Strikes a 

Deal on Shark Tank 

P 6 

QUIZ: What to do 

During a School 

Emergency? 

P 25 

2017-2018 CHOICE SCHOOLS AVAILABLE | PAGE 2

News Journal 

Vol. 16 | No. 2 | Winter 2016 

Connecting you 

to your Five Star Schools 

News Journal 

Communications Services 

1500 E. 128th Ave. 

Thornton, CO 80241 

(720) 972-4005 

www.adams12.org 

Board of Education 

Kathy Plomer 

Laura Mitchell 

Norm Jennings 

Brian Batz 

Jamey Lockley 

Adams 12 Five Star Schools is a caring, inclusive, and 

engaging district which exists so the students it serves 

can attain the knowledge and skills necessary to 

pursue the future of their choosing and are equipped 

to navigate and thrive in our rapidly changing world.

FEATURES 

2 Choice Process 

5 School Closures 

6 Student Entrepreneur 

8 Nutrition Services Education 

10 Nutrition Services Survey Results 

11 Honoring Classified Employees 

12 Holiday Happenings 

16 Academic Growth Results 

19 Attendance Matters 

20 Legacy Runner 

22 Safety & Security 

28 Mountain Range Anniversary 

31 Vision Screening 

34 Bond Approved 

IN EVERY ISSUE 

1 Board message 

15 Parent Pointers 

18 Legislative Update 

19 District Calendar 

26 Five Star Notes

Helping Five Star 

kids grow strong. 

We want our kids to grow up to be healthy, 

smart and strong. That’s why Nutrition 

Services serves only rBSt hormone free milk. 

www.adams12.org

BOARD MESSAGE 

By Kathy Plomer, President 

Adams 12 Five Star Schools 

Board of Education 

Thank you to the community for passing 3D! 

It is not hard to describe my emotions as I watched the 3D election returns on Nov. 8 — a 

mixture of joy, pride, excitement and a little relief. The campaign to pass the bond was a 

major undertaking on the part of many who came together for a common cause — the 

importance of our students and schools. Thanks to our Superintendent, district leadership, 

teachers (through DTEA), classified staff (through CSEA), and our parent and community 

volunteers who worked tirelessly to get the word out and ultimately pass the bond. 

Now comes the best part—making the plans on paper come to life in our schools to 

improve the learning environment for kids and get our buildings back into top working 

order. Oversight of this process will be done by our Long Range Planning Advisory 

Committee and progress of various projects will be posted on the district website at 

www.adams12.org/bond. There will be various points for public input on projects so please 

be on the lookout for those opportunities and check the website regularly to monitor 

project progress. 

Thank you to all who voted in the election and for the support we received from our community 

for this bond. The Board of Education looks forward to working in partnership with 

you to make our schools the best they can be. • 

Five Star Journal | page 1

Choice Process 

District outlines 

deadlines for 

2017-2018 Choice 

process 

Submit application by Jan. 31 deadline 

for priority consideration 

Last year, Adams 12 Five Star Schools received 

more than 4,000 Choice applications for the 

2016-2017 school year. In accordance with 

the state’s open enrollment law, the district’s 

Choice program allows for students to apply 

to attend schools outside of their attendance 

area boundary. 

Both in-district and out-of-district students 

can apply for Choice. Out-of-district Choice requests 

are considered after in-district applications. 

Acceptance to a Choice school is based 

upon several criteria: availability of space, sufficient 

teaching staff, appropriate programs 

and the necessary facilities for special needs 

students. 

The Choice application and list of open 

schools are available online at www.adams- 

12.org/choice. For families without computer 

access, a computer kiosk is available at all 

schools and at the Educational Support Center 

located at 1500 E. 128th Avenue in Thornton. 

The deadline for priority consideration is 

Jan. 31, 2017 and is not first-come, first-served. 

Parents and students submitting an application 

for priority consideration will be notified 

of the results of their application no later than 

the third week of February. If the number of 

requests exceeds the spaces available in a given 

school, the district will hold a lottery. 

The second deadline to submit a Choice 

application for the 2017-2018 school year 

is March 31, 2017. As with the first round, if 

the number of requests exceeds the spaces 

available for priority consideration in a given 

school, the district will hold a lottery. Notification 

of approval or denial will be made no 

later than the third week of April. 

In addition to the two deadlines above, in 

some years a third round of Choice may be 

held in August and September if space is 

available. Schools open to the third round 

of Choice will be posted online at www.adams12.org/choice 

by July 31. While the first 

and second rounds of Choice are lottery 

based, applications in the third round of 

Choice are processed on a first-come, firstserved 

basis. 

While not a guarantee, when possible, priority 

will be given to sibling applications so that 

families will attend the same school. Families 

with children already attending schools that 

are not open to Choice are eligible to submit 

page 2 | Winter 2016

Choice Process 

an application for their existing student to remain 

at the school or for younger siblings to 

attend the school with their older siblings. 

The duration of a Choice placement is valid 

for all grades served by the school. For example, 

if a student attends a Choice elementary 

school, the approval is valid to the end of 

fifth grade, as long as there are no significant 

changes in that school’s enrollment or facilities. 

When a student transitions from elementary 

to middle school or from middle to high 

school, they must reapply for Choice. If they 

don’t, the student’s placement automatically 

reverts to their boundary school. 

Those who are approved for Choice are responsible 

for their own transportation. 

Extended-day Kindergarten 

For traditional schools, extended-day, tuition-based 

kindergarten does not go through 

the Choice program. Parents of extended-day, 

tuition-based kindergarteners at traditional 

schools should note that enrollment in that 

program does not automatically mean the 

student will go to the same school for first 

grade. The student must apply through the 

Choice program for first grade placement 

if he/she wants to go to a school other than 

his/her boundary school. Also note that the 

school the child attended for kindergarten 

may not necessarily be open for Choice. 

For magnet schools, extended-day, tuition-based 

kindergarten does go through the 

Choice program. 

Parents of extended-day, tuition-based kindergarteners 

for magnet schools do not need 

to reapply for Choice as their Choice approval 

remains in effect through the highest grade 

served at their magnet school. 

Secondary Programs 

In-district students are not required to apply 

for Choice to attend secondary programs like 

Horizon SOAR, Legacy 2000, Mountain Range 

High School of Business, Northglenn High 

STEM and EC@ N-STEM Programs, and Thornton 

High International Baccalaureate (IB). Application 

and acceptance to those programs 

goes through the individual school. Out-ofdistrict 

students wishing to attend high school 

programs that are not schoolwide must apply 

for both Choice and with the program. If the 

school is not open to Choice then the program 

is closed to out-of-district students. If the student 

is not selected in the Choice lottery, they 

are waitlisted for the school and program. 

To learn more about Choice and find answers 

to frequently asked questions, visit the district 

website at www.adams12.org/choice. The 

Five Star District Admissions Office determines 

the acceptance of Choice requests and can be 

contacted via email at choice@adams12.org 

or by phone at (720) 972-4055. • 

For the list of schools and 

grades open for Choice, visit 

www.adams12.org/choice 


Be the first to know. 

Receive priority alerts 

on your cell phone. 

Text “YES” to 68453 * 

With this free service * * , you will 

receive text messages notifying you 

of safety alerts or other important 

information impacting the Adams 

12 Five Star Schools system. 

You can opt-out from alerts at any 

time. Reply with HELP if you need 

assistance. 

Your privacy is important. Your information will not be sold or provided to third parties. *Your cell phone 

number must be up-to-date in your Infinite Campus profile. **Message and/or data rates may apply.

School Closures 

When schools are closed for inclement weather, this is how it will be communicated on www.adams12.org. 

Find out about school closures due to 

inclement weather 

In the event of inclement weather, Adams 12 

Five Star Schools uses a variety of resources 

to determine if conditions exist that warrant 

school closures. If conditions exist that pose a 

threat to student and staff safety, the district 

will make every effort to announce a decision 

to close schools by 5:30 a.m. 

School closures will be communicated in 

several different ways, including: 

• District’s website at www.adams12.org 

• Email and text message to 

parents/guardians 

In order to receive text messages, 

opt-in today by texting “YES” to 68453 

• District’s hotline (720) 972-4000, 

then press 7 

• Social media: 

Facebook: /adams12fivestarschools 

Twitter: @adams12 

• Local media outlets 

To minimize schedule disruptions, the Five 

Star District will not call for a delayed start. 

Schools will either be open or closed during 

inclement weather. When schools are closed 

all scheduled activities in the school building 

are canceled and sporting events and practices 

are postponed. 

If schools are open but a parent feels, based 

on personal circumstances, that conditions 

pose a safety concern for their child getting to 

or from school they can call the school for an 

excused absence. • 

Click “More Information” on the alert for additional details on the 

extent of the closure. 


Student Entrepreneur 

Out of 40,000 companies that auditioned for ABC’s Shark Tank, Jack’s Stands & Marketplaces was selected as 1 of 125 to make it on air. 

STEM Magnet Lab student’s lemonade stand gains 

national attention 

Student strikes a deal on ABC’s Shark Tank 

At 8 years old, Jack Bonneau wanted what most boys his age wanted — LEGOs. The LEGO Star 

Wars Death Star to be exact. His father said he could have it, but costing $400, he’d have to 

pay for it himself. How could a fourth-grader make that kind of money? And so began Jack’s 

Stands & Marketplaces in the summer of 2014. 

Now three years in business, Jack’s Stands & Marketplaces has added additional locations, 

expanded its products, multiplied its clientele and established a national presence, appearing 

on the Today Show, the New York Times and ABC’s Shark Tank. 

In his first summer, Jack started a lemonade stand at a local farmers market. He made $900 

in profit after covering all of his expenses, and bought himself the LEGO Star Wars Death 

Star. What started out as a way to buy himself a toy, quickly turned him into a budding 

young entrepreneur. 


The very next summer, Jack wanted to 

share what he learned with other kids. He 

started working with Young Americans 

Bank, met other young entrepreneurs and 

started selling their products in his Marketplace. 

Creating www.JackStands.com, Jack 

invited other kids to operate his stand and 

learn about sales, counting change, profits 

and losses, and how to run your own business, 

all while making money and having 

fun! To date, hundreds of kids have operated 

Jack’s Stands & Marketplaces and learned 

valuable lessons about business. 

Now in his third year, Jack is not slowing 

down. Recently appearing on ABC’s Shark 

Tank, Jack walked away with a $50,000 deal 

from Chris Sacca, a venture investor. He 

plans to take the money and expand Jack’s 

Stands & Marketplaces to downtown Detroit 

and New Orleans, in addition to his current 

Student Entrepreneur 

Fellow kids in Colorado operate Jack’s Stands & Marketplaces to learn 

valuable lessons about business. 

Colorado locations. Jack doesn’t know what 

the future holds, but he wants to expand 

his Marketplaces and help as many kids and 

young entrepreneurs for as long as he can. 

This holiday season kids can sign up at 

www.JacksStands.com to operate a Jack’s 

Stands and/or a Jack’s Marketplaces at either 

Flatiron Crossings, Southwest Plaza or Park 

Meadows Malls. 

Jack helps a friend close the business for the day by finalizing sales, and 

tracking profits and losses. 

Jack had valuable advice for his fellow entrepreneurs, 

“I want to let them know that if 

they want to start a business, just try it. Make 

sure you find your passion and make sure it’s 

fun, because if it’s not fun there is really no 

use in doing it.” • 


Nutrition Services Education 

Adams 12 Nutrition Services recognizes 

this need and plans to give our traditional 

cafeterias a makeover. After overwhelming 

parent support, the district will incorporate 

a Go, Slow, Whoa nutrition education system 

at lunches in the new year. This system is the 

first of many steps towards increasing awareness 

of healthy food choices and improving 

the overall dining experience for the Five Star 

community. 

What is Go, Slow, Whoa? 

Nutrition education 

system launches 

in cafeterias 

Lunch program increases awareness 

of healthy food choices starting in the 

new year 

Concern for childhood obesity has increased 

over the past 30 years with rates in children 

more than doubling and rates in adolescents 

more than quadrupling (Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention). With rates on the 

rise, there is an increased need for nutrition 

education in various settings including 

schools. 

Go, Slow, Whoa (GSW) is a national program 

designed to help students and parents make 

healthier food choices. Students are taught 

to make these choices by identifying foods 

as belonging to one of three categories: Go 

foods, Slow foods and Whoa foods. 

Go foods are good to eat anytime. They are 

nutrient dense, higher in fiber, low in saturated 

fat and dietary cholesterol. Examples include 

fruits, vegetables, lean meats, nuts and 

whole grains. 

Slow foods should be eaten sometimes. 

These foods are generally higher calorie, higher 

in fat and contain added sugars. Kids are 

encouraged to eat these foods less frequently. 

Pancakes, bagels, dark meat chicken and turkey 

sausage are examples of Slow foods 

Whoa foods should only be eaten once in 

a while or as special treats. They are typically 

higher in saturated fat and dietary cholesterol 

and, in some cases, high in sugar. Examples include 

most fried foods, fatty meats, soda and 

snack foods. 

How will this work in Five Star Schools? 

Through a partnership with LiveWell Colorado, 

the district will launch the program at 

all elementary and K-8 cafeterias in January 

2017. Moving forward, online menu items will 

include GSW information in the meal descrip- 


Nutrition Services Education 

tion. For more information about the new program, including nutrition criteria and education 

resources for the home, visit www.adams12.org/go-slow-whoa. 

Parents can review GSW choices with their children at home and students will be exposed to 

these choices in the cafeteria. On the lunch line, all menu entrée items and ala carte snack items 

will be identified as Go, Slow, or Whoa through a symbol system. 

“Go” foods are identified by a green apple icon. 

A minimum of three “Go” foods will be offered daily on the lunch menu and in the 

ala carte snack program. 

“Slow” foods are identified by a yellow cheese icon. 

These items will be offered in addition to the “Go” foods on the school menu. 

“Whoa” foods are identified by a red cake icon. 

“Whoa” foods are offered less frequently than any other food on the school menu. 

GO 

FOODS 

Eat anytime 

SLOW 

FOODS 

Eat sometimes 

WHOA 

FOODS 

Once in awhile 

The goal of this program is to see students, parents and staff making healthier choices for 

themselves and their families. Support from the community and an increased consumption of 

healthier items will allow Adams 12 Nutrition Services to continue to improve menu and snack 

offerings that are more nutrient dense and contribute positively to growing bodies and minds.• 


Nutrition Services Survey Results 

School lunches take new shape thanks to your 

support and feedback 

More than 500 respondents provide input on school nutrition 

It’s that time of year when we reflect and 

share what we are grateful for in our lives. Adams 

12 Nutrition Services is thankful for the 

feedback you provided on the October survey. 

Your voice provided valuable insight on 

how to improve the district’s nutrition programming, 

such as: 

• Increasing nutrition education in the lunch 

lines 

• Revamping the ala carte program to include 

lower cost, healthier items 

• Evaluating the quality, taste and overall 

health of menu items 

• Initiating a discussion about the allotted 

time to eat 

The district’s Nutrition Services team will 

work hard to make your voice come to life. 

In the meantime, visit the community connections 

webpage at www.adams12.org/nutrition/community-connections 

to view the 

survey results and learn more about how Nutrition 

Services plans to improve the nutrition 

experience for the Five Star community. • 


Honoring the more than 1,800 classified employees 

who support student success 

Schools nominated employees to be highlighted during Classified Employee Week 

Adams 12 Five Star Schools has celebrated 

the dedication and hard work of classified 

employees across the district for more than 

30 years. This year, the Five Star District recognized 

the important contributions of the 

more than 1,800 classified employees districtwide 

during Classified Employee Week, 

October 17-21. 

Classified employees play crucial roles in 

our schools and communities. From transporting 

and feeding students to teaching 

them important skills and ensuring that 

schools are operating smoothly, classified 

employees are integral in providing a comfortable 

and safe learning environment for 

all Five Star students. Each role a classified 

employee fills requires a unique skillset, 

but they have one underlying similarity — 

their work directly supports the success of 

all Five Star students and schools. Classified 

employees make a difference in the lives of 

students, staff and parents daily. 

Honoring Classified Employees 

During Classified Employee Week, Adams 

12 Five Star Schools recognized and 

acknowledged the hard work of each and 

every classified employee. Throughout the 

week staff members were selected by their 

schools for their tireless work in support of 

the needs of the entire Five Star community 

and highlighted on the district website and 

social media channels. • 

Selected employees were highlighted on the district’s social media channels. 


Holiday Happenings 

STEM student from Northglenn High School puts his engineering skills to work as he converts toys for individuals with disabilities. 

Five Star community adapts toys 

for kids with disabilities 

Santa’s Little Hackers set out to make the holidays accessible for all 

Generosity of the Five Star community is never more evident than during the holiday season. 

As the New Year approaches, students, staff and parents from across the district participate in 

numerous opportunities to support those in need. Individual schools have their own events 

such as hosting food or coat drives, assembling holiday baskets for fellow schools or honoring 

veterans; but there was one event that allowed the entire community to come together — 

Santa’s Little Hackers workshop. 

On Dec. 3, more than 300 students, staff, parents and community members from across the 

district gathered at the Adams 12 Five Star Schools Educational Support Center to be a part of 

the third annual Santa’s Little Hackers workshop. 

Maximum Modifications (MaxMods), a local nonprofit organization dedicated to providing 

modifications for individuals living with disabilities by adapting the world to make it more accessible 

to them, hosts a seasonal toy drive called Santa’s Little Hackers. The goal of the event 

is simple — adapt toys and make them accessible to individuals with disabilities so they can 

play independently. 


The founders of MaxMods, Deana and 

Steve Watson, created the event after realizing 

how expensive adapted toys were when 

purchased online or from large retail stores. 

“On average, a $15 toy converted to be 

more accessible for students with special 

needs, is being sold for $50 to 80,” said Deana 

Watson, MaxMods president. “By using a 

$2 part, and a little know-how, the same toys 

can be converted for a fraction of the price.” 

An adapted toy is a toy that has been altered 

for use by individuals living with disabilities. 

Toys are rarely designed with the 

needs of those with different abilities in 

mind. By making simple modifications to the 

electronics of toys, they can be enjoyed by 

children and adults with limited fine motor 

skills and physical abilities. 

“To activate the toy, switches can be installed 

on the side of wheelchairs. Some kids 

can even control the toy by blinking their 

eyes,” said Mary Billmaier, Five Star Schools 

homebound teacher. “It’s amazing.” 

Completely funded through donations and 

operated by volunteers, this holiday workshop 

provides modified toys for kids to activate 

and control without using their hands. 

“If we have the donations and the funds, we 

will make the toys,” Watson said. 

In the first year, MaxMods converted more 

than 160 toys and last year, that number more 

than tripled with 500 toys converted for students 

with accessible needs. This year, Santa’s 

Little Hackers are not slowing down, with 


over 1,000 requests for toy modifications 

across the globe. Among the volunteers to 

help achieve the lofty goal are STEM (Science 

Technology Engineering & Math) students 

from Northglenn High School. For the second 

year, these students put their engineering 

skills to work as they helped convert toys. 

More than 300 volunteers from the Five Star community spent the day 

converting, packaging and sorting toys to be shipped worldwide for 

children with disabilities. 

The toys adapted during Santa’s Little Hackers 

workshop are sent to families worldwide. 

In 2015, toys were modified and distributed 

to over eight different countries across North 

America, Europe and Australia. 

“We want to make Christmas accessible for 

everyone,” Watson said. 

The organization collects donations yearround 

in preparation for the holiday season, 

and getting involved is easy to do. By visiting 

www.santaslittlehackers.com, visitors can 

sign-up to volunteer at future events, make 

a donation, provide toys or get information 

on how to help spread the word for the next 

holiday season. • 



Holiday Happenings across the Five Star District 

Arapahoe Ridge Elementary 

• Holiday Giving Tree 

Centennial Elementary 

• Canned food drive to support 

the local food bank 

Centennial PTO 

• Holiday Secret Shop 

Century Middle 

• Wreaths Across America 

• Canned food drive 

Legacy High 

• Canned food drive 

McElwain Elementary 

• Food drive 

Meridian Elementary 

• Holiday baskets for Federal Heights 

Elementary and STEM Lab students 

Prairie Hills Elementary 

• Community food drive, boot & coat drive 

Riverdale Elementary 

• Community food drive 

Rocky Top Middle 

• Book drive, can food drive, 

Thanksgiving baskets, Christmas gifts 

STEM Magnet Lab 

• Food drive 

• Winter Garden Sing-a-Long 

and Garden lighting ceremony 

Tarver Elementary 

• Community food drive 

• Operation Christmas Cards 

for troops overseas 

Vantage Point High 

& Crossroads Middle 

• Thanksgiving baskets 

For more information or to learn how to get involved with any of the Holiday Happenings 

across the district, please contact Chris Brecht. • 

page 14 | Winter 2016 

Totes for Hope is a district program that helps 

feed Five Star students by providing donated, 

nutritional food every Friday during the school 

year. Kids receive food for the weekend and 

during school holidays when they do not have 

the benefit of free or reduced-price school meals 

and may otherwise go without a meal. All food is 

donated, packed by volunteers and delivered by 

our warehouse staff to schools. Since the beginning 

of the school year, Totes for Hope has had 

over 25 volunteers fulfill 375 volunteer hours 

packing and delivering more than 4,500 bags of 

food for our kids. •

PARENT POINTERS 

Make reading fun 

Learn useful tips to encourage your 

child to read 

Teachers across the Five Star District are 

finding helpful ways to motivate students 

to read for fun. Encouraging children to read 

during their spare time can increase comprehension 

and overall achievement across 

multiple subject areas. 

As we approach the new year, these useful 

tips from the Adams 12 Literacy Team can 

help reinforce reading as a priority in your 

household for 2017: 

Read and write 

• Read aloud every day. 

Make sure your child sees you reading and writing, 

whether it’s reading the morning newspaper 

or making a shopping list. 

• Encourage your child to learn 

new words. 

Introduce your child to new words every day. Talk 

about what these words mean and how they are 

used. 

• Make time for reading. 

Set aside a quiet time each day for reading, and 

remember to include “reading time” when planning 

daily activities. 

• Write. 

Encourage him/her to write letters or postcards 

to friends and relatives, keep a journal, make a 

scrapbook or write stories and poems. 

Visit the library 

• Help your child get a library card. 

• Visit the library frequently and look for 

reading programs. 

• Help your child select books at the 

right level. 

If your child is reading smoothly and understands 

what they are reading, the book is at 

an appropriate level. 

Create great reading habits 

• Keep it fun. 

Don’t set rules about reading for a certain amount 

of time or reading a minimum number of pages, 

and don’t make reading a punishment — keep 

it fun so that it’s something your child wants to 

keep doing! 

• Talk about what your child is reading. 

Ask your child to tell you about what they are 

reading. Libraries may also offer book discussion 

groups for children or online book chats 

with authors. 

• Listen to audio books. 

If you will be spending a lot of time in the car or 

at home, rent books on tape or CD from the library, 

and listen to them together. This is also a 

great way to encourage language development, 

or encourage children with learning disabilities 

to enjoy stories. 

Talking with your child about the stories they 

are reading or listening to in audio books, and 

encouraging them to learn new words, are 

just a few ways to help make reading more 

enjoyable. For more helpful tips, read Helping 

Your Child Become a Reader, a parent booklet 

co-created by the Child Research and Study 

Center & Reading Department at the University 

of Albany and the Department of Literacy at 

the State University at Cortland. • 


Academic Growth 

Schools with strong 

academic growth 

paving the way 

Leaders look to learn from early success 

for future improvement across district 

The Colorado Department of Education recently 

released performance ratings for 

schools and districts which revealed strong 

academic gains for Adams 12 Five Star 

Schools. For the first time since the state began 

giving school and district accountability 

ratings in 2010, the Five Star District has 

been accredited as a “Performance” rated 

district. In addition, a record seven schools in 

the Five Star District moved out of the “priority 

improvement” rating, the second lowest 

of the four state ratings. A total of 15 schools 

moved into a higher performance category 

as a result of their academic gains. 

The recent success of the Five Star District 

is a result of a long-term improvement plan, 

particularly for struggling schools. The district 

has worked alongside school leaders 

and teachers to create improvement plans 

that are now being considered for other 

schools across the district. 

According to Tracy Dorland, Chief Academic 

Officer, the Five Star District is working to 

emulate this success in other schools. 

“We are not only tracking the strategies 

that these schools implemented but we 

have identified the strategies that provide 

the greatest levers toward improving performance 

quickly,” Dorland said. “The work 

in our district moving forward is to use these 

schools as a template, or a model, for the 

necessary practices in schools focusing on 

growth.” 

A major component of a school improvement 

plan is using data to improve teacher 

feedback and observation. Several schools 

participated in the state’s Turnaround Network, 

which helps develop specific plans for 

each school that are closely monitored every 

month with the district and state. Using 

classroom coaches and a data team, teachers 

are learning what is effective and what needs 

improvement at a faster rate. 


Academic Growth 

Another contribution to success is the 

implementation of new curriculum and resources 

for the benefit of teachers and students. 

New reading and writing resources 

for teachers, a new training resource for 

first-year teachers, and improved curriculum 

aligned to the Colorado Academic Standards 

have all played a role in student achievement 

growth. 

In addition, improving principal leadership 

training helps sustain the growth from 

feedback and observation. Utilizing a national 

training program, principals learn how to 

maximize effectiveness while building capacity 

and leadership opportunities for teachers. 

However, just because schools moved out 

of the “priority improvement” rating using 

a customized improvement plan, does not 

mean the work concludes. Schools will continue 

to partner with the district to find ways 

to improve educator effectiveness and student 

achievement. To replicate success seen 

in priority improvement schools this year, 

additional principals from across the district 

will receiving training in the proven growth 

tactics. 

While the district recently celebrated the 

success of struggling schools demonstrating 

improvement, school leaders emphasize the 

work has just begun. 

“We are not settled with this success; we 

are just getting started,” Dorland said. • 

“I am most proud of 

how we worked 

together as district 

and school leaders 

to develop a plan 

for success that put 

educators as the 

decision makers. 

I could not be more 

excited to continue 

on this path of success 

for the sake of our 

students and look 

forward to many more 

celebrations to come.” 

- Tracy Dorland 

Chief Academic Officer 


LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 

Split Legislature 

remains after election 

Governor’s budget request falls short of 

fully-funding K-12 education 

The Colorado General Assembly will convene on 

Jan. 11, 2017 with a new set of members and a 

split Legislature. The Republicans continue to 

maintain control of the Senate on a narrow 18- 

17 margin. The House Democrats will resume 

the majority and picked up three seats in the 

process. They now hold the House by a 37-28 

margin. 

The House and Senate Democratic and Republican 

caucuses met on Nov. 10 to vote in their 

new leadership. Representative Crisanta Duran 

(D-Denver) was elected by the House Democratic 

Caucus to lead as the next Speaker of the 

House and Senator Kevin Grantham (R-Canon 

City) was elected by the Senate Republican Caucus 

to serve as President of the Senate. 

The respective caucuses will develop their legislative 

agendas over the coming weeks and at 

that time, we will know more about any future 

legislative initiatives on the education front. 

Legislators have bill deadlines to meet in December 

and will need to determine their own 

priorities for bills they want to run. The newly-appointed 

leadership will make committee 

assignments over the next few weeks and there 

will be changes to both the House and Senate 

Education committees. 

On Nov. 1, Governor Hickenlooper released 

his budget request for fiscal year 2017-18. This 

is an extremely challenging and unusual budget 

year. The economy in Colorado is experiencing a 

slowdown in General Fund tax revenue growth 

and the September forecasts reflected lower expectations 

for the future. 

The Governor had a $500 million funding gap 

to address in the request. As a result, the impact 

to K-12 education statewide is as follows: 

• The Negative Factor will increase by $45.4 

million and is estimated to total $876.1 million. 

While funding for K-12 education would 

increase, this budget request only partially 

funds inflation and enrollment growth; and 

that’s the reason for the increase in the Negative 

Factor. 

• It would require an additional $52.17 per student 

or $45.4 million to keep the Negative Factor 

flat. 

• The request increases per pupil funding by 

$182.02 for a total of $7,606.68 (an increase of 

2.45 percent). 

• The State Education Fund is expected to have 

a modest reserve of $104.6 million due to recent 

transfers to reduce the Negative Factor 

and support K-12 education. 

• Under the proposal total program funding will 

increase to $6.614 billion statewide. 

There are two budget forecasts forthcoming 

that will influence the final budget that the Joint 

Budget Committee (JBC) will deliver to the Legislature 

in March 2017. The Governor’s Office has 

warned that if the next forecast is weak, additional 

budgetary cuts will need to be taken. The 

first forecast will be Dec. 20, 2016. The second 

forecast will be delivered on March 20, 2017 and 

will be the forecast that the JBC balances to. • 


Upcoming district 

calendar dates 

Spreading the word on 

the effect of absences 

Too often, parents, students and sometimes 

teachers don’t realize how quickly absences, 

even parent-excused absences, add up 

to academic trouble. Chronic absenteeism 

is not just students who are skipping school, 

but students who miss school often for various 

reasons such as vacation or doctor appointments. 

Research shows that missing 

as little as 2-3 days per month can translate 

into third-graders unable to master reading, 

sixth-graders failing courses and ultimately, 

teens dropping out of high school. 

To raise awareness of how excused and unexcused 

absences affect student achievement, 

the Five Star District’s Student Engagement 

Initiatives and the Office of Intervention Services 

are focusing on the capacity of schools 

to address attendance issues. Through implementing 

a social media campaign, forming attendance 

teams at schools and training educators 

on how to work with chronic absentee 

students, the district hopes to encourage students 

and families to make attending school 

a priority. 

For more information, visit www.adams- 

12.org/attendance. • 

DEC 

16 

JAN 

3 

In-common 

JAN 

16 

FEB 

17 

FEB 

20 

Teacher Duty Day : 

no school for all students 

DEC 

19 - 

JAN 

2 

Winter Break 

Release day : 


Martin Luther King Day : 

all schools closed 

In-service Day : 


Presidents’ Day : 

all schools closed 

MARCH 

27 - 

Spring Break 

MARCH 

31 

Calendar dates may not apply to 

district charter schools. Please 

check each school’s calendar for 

school-specific information. 

Visit www.adams12.org/events 

for more information. 


Legacy Runner 

Legacy’s cross-country runner, Hannah Bachus, keeps up with the pack at a race earlier this fall. Photo credit: Legacy Teacher, Zachary Jones 

Running her race 

Legacy cross-country athlete makes strides, challenges perceptions 

Running in explosive short bursts or long distances takes training and drive. It’s no easy feat. 

Now, imagine taking on that challenge without being able to see where you’re going. That’s the 

reality for Hannah Bachus, a sophomore and rising star on Legacy High School’s cross-country 

and track teams. 

Bachus, 16, has just logged her first season and her coaches are optimistic that her attitude 

and her speed—running under seven-minute miles—put her on track to contend for a varsity 

role next fall. 

Athletics have been a constant for Bachus, who was born legally blind. She has danced since 

she was three and was a member of Legacy’s swim team before she decided she wanted to 

run track and cross-country. 

“I always liked the idea of it,” she said. “It’s amazing. It’s by far my favorite sport now.” 

From her parents and her coaches to Bachus herself, there were some nerves over her first 

few meets. She worried she may trip or get lost on the course. Though she has some vision, 

she wouldn’t be able to see changes in terrain or small landmarks pointing out directions. 

So she and her coaches worked to find solutions. The Colorado High School Activities As- 


sociation allowed coaches and teammates to 

call directions to her. She walked the courses 

with her coach to get a sense for the route 

and terrain. 

Head Coach DJ Hummel admits he ran most 

of that first race from the sidelines to make 

sure Bachus didn’t have any issues. As she 

took off, it became clear to everyone that her 

speed and competitive attitude ensured she 

would stay with the group and navigate her 

way through the course listening to them. 

Hummel said she doesn’t question if she 

can do something—she just goes out and 

does it. 

“It’s just part of her personality,” he said. 

“She’s confident but on the other side she 

can be confident because the other kids accept 

her and they’re ready to help her.” 

While on the track team, she decided to be 

part of a relay. It’s been tough, Bachus said, 

but she is committed to continuing and finding 

the leg for the race—and mastering a 

handoff that she can’t see. 

“I adapt pretty quickly,” she said. 

She’s become an important part of the 

team, Hummel said. For Bachus, the friendships 

she’s made and encouragement from 

her teammates has been important. 

“You run individually but in so many ways 

it’s the most amazing team, community feeling,” 

she said. 

Seeing how she has taken to the sport has 

been moving for her parents. 

“It was like watching a flower open,” said 

Legacy Runner 

father Patrick Flaherty. “The kids, the relationships, 

the comradery.” 

Mother Michelle Flaherty agreed. 

“She’s got courage. I’m amazed at what she 

does and that fearlessness,” she said. 

Her parents say her drive and positive attitude 

make a difference to her success in both 

sports and school. 

“She always rises to the challenge,” Patrick 

Flaherty said. “Her positivity is so infectious 

… She does self-advocate, she has a really 

positive attitude and the district has really 

amazing people.” 

Bachus said she’s inspired by her teammates 

and felt a boost after seeing a blind 

student running with a guide at a meet. Because 

she has some vision, Bachus can run 

without a guide. 

“I always thought it was a challenge for me 

to run but to see that and to see that she runs 

and she needs a guide but she still does it really 

well was cool,” she said. 

What she may not have realized is that she 

is inspiring others. She has a pretty simple 

approach: “fake it ‘til you make it, man.” 

No surprise, she already has more goals she 

wants to accomplish: cut her 5K race time to 

under 21 minutes and letter in both running 

and her academics. 

Assistant Coach Lauren Hummel says she 

has the drive and the talent to do it: “If I had 

to predict next year with Hannah, I wouldn’t 

be surprised if she’s on varsity for every race.” 

• 


Safety & Security 

Since September 2015 our dedicated emergency preparedness team has safely reunified 5,500 students with their families. 

Adams 12 Five Star Schools leads in school safety 

District’s approach is currently used in more than 20,000 schools in North America 

If there’s an emergency at your child’s 

school, would you know what to do? It’s 

a question few want to discuss, let alone 

have to answer. But a team at Adams 12 

Five Star Schools has spent more than 15 

years thinking about those what-ifs and 

preparing students and their families for 

any scenario. 

In fact, the approach Five Star Schools 

takes to preparing and responding to an 

emergency or school safety issue has become 

an international model spread by the 

I Love You Guys Foundation—started by 

John-Michael Keyes after his daughter Emily 

was killed by a gunman at Platte Canyon 

High School in Bailey in 2006. 

In the aftermath, Keyes began looking at 

school safety to understand how students 

and parents could better be prepared for 

these kinds of incidents. His sister, a police 

officer, suggested he learn more about the 

process at Five Star Schools. 

What he saw was a plain language approach 

to preparing students—and a system 

in place to reunite family members 

with students after a situation. It was what 

he used to develop two tools—the standard 



response protocol and the standard reunification 

method—that are now used in more 

than 20,000 schools in North America. 

“They were truly instrumental in the formation 

of the standard response model,” said 

Keyes, whose organization provides those 

materials to public schools at no cost. 

Though the reunification process has been 

in place in the district for awhile, a dedicated 

emergency preparedness team that includes 

more than 30 staff, started two years ago. Led 

by Jeff Genger, the Emergency Preparedness 

team manages reunification and responds to 

all district emergencies including lockdowns, 

lockouts and evacuations. 

Here’s how Adams 12 Five Star Schools responds 

during an emergency or safety issue 

at a school. 

• School resource officers and school staff 

often know of the issue first and inform 

the Emergency Preparedness team. 

• Emergency Preparedness team arrives to 

manage the situation and keep children 

safe through safety protocols and processes. 

In addition to their immediate team, 

they are able to mobilize outside agencies 

depending on the situation. 

• When necessary, a reunification plan is put 

in place, by providing a safe location for 

students until their parents can pick them 

up. Parents must present a photo ID to be 

reunited with their child. 

Since September 2015, 5,500 Five Star students 

have been reunited with their families. 

It seems simple, but something many schools 

are just beginning to implement, Keyes says. 

The reason he believes, in part, is that many 

don’t want to acknowledge that such an issue 

could happen. 

“Believe me it’s empowering. It isn’t scary,” 

he said. “We talk about other dangerous 

things. We give our kids strategies. We can’t 

let the elephant in the room deny our kids 

strategies.” 

It makes sense for Five Star Schools because 

they view reunification as a form of 

safety and security, Genger said. 

“Students are the responsibility of Adams 

12 safety and security from the minute they 

step on school grounds until the minute they 

leave, this includes normal school hours, 

and all before and after school programs or 

events,” he said. 

For his part, Keyes said they will continue 

to update and evolve their tools as a starting 

point to a conversation about safety with 

schools and districts around the world—and 

he said he is fortunate to have a district that 

is innovating in this space right in his own 

backyard. 

What Five Star Schools has done has created 

a foundation so that others don’t have 

to start from scratch, Keyes said: “We would 

not be here today if it were not for the pioneering 

work that Adams 12 has done.” • 



Parent tips for school emergencies 

Stay informed – 

School district personnel will provide information as soon as possible. 

Keep your contact information up-to-date by talking with your 

school’s front office. 

Stay home – 

By arriving at the school during an emergency you may be endangering 

yourself or your child. Parents are advised to stay home and 

await further instruction. 

Be ready – 

If you need to meet your child at the school or a new location, you’ll 

be informed of when and where in a timely manner. Please bring a 

photo ID and be patient in the process. 

Hold off on calling or texting your student - 

During a crisis, parents should NOT call or text a student’s cell phone 

unless you’ve heard from them first or been informed it’s safe to 

contact. You may be placing your child at risk during a lockdown or 

lockout. 

Make a plan - 

Talk to your children about school safety. Review as a family how 

you will communicate, where you will go and safety steps during 

an emergency. 

For more parent tips, including how to talk with your child after a crisis, visit 

www.adams12.org/safety. • 


POP 

QUIZ 


Try to guess the answers to some important safety and security 

questions. Hint: visit www.adams12.org/safety for a little help! 

1. What emergency protocol uses the 

phrase, “Locks, Lights, Out of Sight”? 

A. Lockout 

B. Reunification 

C. Lockdown 

D. Evacuation 

2. In the event of a school closure for 

inclement weather or any condition 

that poses a threat to student and staff 

safety, the district will make information 

available by communicating via what 

channel(s)? 

A. District website (www.adams12.org) 

B. Social media (Facebook and Twitter) 

C. Email and text message to parents 

D. All of the above 

3. If there is an emergency at your child’s 

school, district personnel will provide 

information as soon as possible through 

a number of communication channels 

including an auto-dialer, text message 

and emails. How can you ensure you 

receive all messages in an emergency 

situation? 

A. Put contact information in your child’s 

cell phone 

B. Keep contact information current in 

Infinite Campus 

C. Call the school during the emergency 

situation 

D. Rely on the media to provide accurate 

information 

4. In case a reunification is needed, 

parents/guardians will be informed 

of when and where to pick up their 

children. The reunification process 

protects both the safety of students 

and provides for an accountable 

exchange of custody from the school 

to a recognized parent or guardian. 

What do you need to bring with you to 

be properly reunified with your child? 

A. Money 

B. Chap stick 

C. Parent/Guardian Photo ID 

D. Insurance card 

5. The entire Five Star community can 

anonymously report information about 

anything that is a concern to 

school or community safety. These can 

be reported to a trusted adult or through 

what free communication service? 

A. Safe2Tell Colorado 

B. Stranger Danger USA 

C. Calling your neighbor 

D. Alerting the media 

The Five Star District’s Safety and Security 

teams work to keep children safe in every 

classroom, every day. In addition to their roles 

in emergency preparedness, school safety 

protocols, school closures and district security, 

they provide numerous resources for parents 

to prepare for school emergencies.• 

Turn to page 35 for the answers! 


FIVE STAR NOTES 

Share your news 

Help Adams 12 Five Star Schools spread the word about the great things happening across 

the district. With nearly 40,000 students across five cities in 57 schools, we need you help in sharing 

the exciting events, initiatives and success stories happening at your child’s school. 

Is your child’s class participating in a unique program or initiative? Is 

your child’s teacher receiving an award? The district wants to hear these 

good news stories to best promote our Five Star schools and student 

success with the entire community. For more information and to submit 

your good news story, visit www.adams12.org/share-your-news. • 

Look for this image 

on the website 

New District Accountability Committee informs the district and community 

on matters related to public education 

The District Accountability Committee (DAC) comprised of parents, school and district staff, and 

community members met for the second time this year on November 1, 2016. The purpose of 

the DAC is to educate parents and the district’s community on the matters related to public education. 

Sub-committee groups are selected based on committee member interests and report 

to the larger DAC group after reviewing charter school applications, the district’s accountability 

structures and spending priorities. The nearly 20 members of the committee applied to support 

the district in this work. 

Future District Accountability Committee meetings will be held in January and April 2017. 

Parents and community members interested in joining future District Accountability Committees 

are encouraged to visit www.adams12.org/dac. • 

Five Star 5K 

For Wellness 

May 6, 2017 

Adams County Regional Park 

Registration opens January 1, 2017 

http://tinyurl.com/fivestar5k 

All funds raised go towards enhancing wellness programs 

in district schools and to further improve the health of 

our students, staff and community. 


FIVE STAR NOTES 

District establishes committee to plan for and implement new 

graduation guidelines 

The Adams 12 Five Star Schools Graduation Guidelines Committee is tasked with analyzing the benefits 

and challenges of multiple graduation guidelines options for the Class of 2021. This includes multiple 

variations of credits and competencies needed to graduate from one of the five comprehensive 

high schools in the district. The committee includes school staff, content coordinators, counselors, 

students, military representatives, community members and district leadership. 

Through meetings, the committee gains knowledge on graduation guidelines in neighbor school 

districts, growing careers throughout Colorado, college requirements and student interests. Requested 

statistics and related information is collected and presented to the committee. Once consensus 

is reached on the new graduation guidelines, the committee will present its recommendation to the 

district’s Board of Education. Learn more about the new graduation guidelines starting with the Class 

of 2021 set by the State Board of Education. • 

On Oct. 21, Nobel Peace Prize recipient 

Malala Yousafzai surprised Mariah, a 

sixth-grader battling Leukemia, at Century 

Middle School. While she was sick, Mariah 

read Malala’s book multiple times, and felt 

a connection with her story of hospitalization 

and recovery. The connection deepened 

as she underwent her own treatment 

and found similarities between her life and 

Malala’s story. Last year, when Mariah was 

sick, she hoped to Skype with Malala and 

talk about their recoveries. But after Mariah’s 

parents reached out and told her story, 

Malala had different plans. A few days before 

Mariah finished treatment, she met her 

hero in person at her school. • 

Mariah has since finished treatment and can officially say “I beat Leukemia!” 


Mountain Range Anniversary 

Mountain Range High School marks 10 years 

Students celebrate by raising money for community organization 

This fall, Mountain Range High School celebrated 

10 years of producing successful students 

and serving the community. 

Built to meet growth in student enrollment, 

the school opened its doors in the inaugural 

year of 2006 with 900 students in just the 

freshman and sophomore classes. During the 

first three years, holding enrollment at forecasted 

numbers was a challenge when families 

attempted to enroll at Mountain Range 

because other high schools in the Five Star 

District were overcapacity. 

Mountain Range continues to be highly 

sought after by Five Star families as their 

high school of choice. 

“Over the years we’ve added specialized 

programming” said Julie Enger, Mountain 

Range principal. “And, we’ll continue to add 

programming that prepares students for success.” 

Each year, more than 200 students apply to 

choice into Mountain Range because of the 

school’s specialized programming, but only 

25 percent are accepted due to the lack of 

space. 

“This year, we are very excited to have been 

selected into the nationally recognized High 

School of Business program, fulfilling an initial 

cornerstone vision of the school,” Enger 

said. 

Mountain Range is also home to a premier 

Career and Technical Education program that 

is recognized with the largest DECA chapter 

in the state. DECA prepares emerging leaders 

and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, 

finance, hospitality and management in high 


Mountain Range Anniversary 

schools and colleges around the globe. Additionally, 

Mountain Range offers a high-performing 

Mandarin Chinese language program. 

Over 10 years, the specialized programming 

has been added but what has remained 

consistent for a decade is a commitment to 

developing civic-minded leaders. 

“Year-after-year we are recognized for our 

philanthropy as our students engage in projects 

that make a difference for others and the 

community,” Enger said. 

A great example of this philanthropy is how 

the DECA students chose to celebrate the 

school’s 10-year anniversary. 

Students and teachers came together and 

set a goal to raise $10,000 for the Butterfly 

Program, a community organization that 

provides comprehensive pediatric palliative 

care serving children and families diagnosed 

Teachers got a pie in the face at Homecoming when students raised 

more money through their Pie in the Eye fundraiser. 

with life-limiting illnesses. Through their Pie 

in the Eye fundraiser, students battled teachers 

to see who could raise more money and 

the losing teams got a pie in the face at the 

homecoming assembly. 

The students and staff surpassed their goal 

and presented a check for more than $13,000 

to support children in pediatric hospice. 

“As the founding principal of Mountain 

Range, I’ve been honored to work with a staff 

over the past 10 years that works tirelessly 

with our students on developing the grit 

and perseverance necessary to face any new 

challenges that arise,” Enger said. • 

Mountain Range students presented a check to the representatives 

from the Butterfly Program. 


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Vision Screening 

Registered Nurse, Nancy Flanigan, completes vision screening of a Kindergartener at Glacier Peak Elementary. 

Early detection of vision issues puts students 

on the path for academic success 

District’s new vision screening tools provide students and families with early 

intervention 

How can students succeed academically if 

they cannot see classroom information that is 

presented visually? Now imagine preschoolers 

and kindergartners who don’t know how 

or what they are supposed to be seeing. 

“In kindergarten, students don’t realize 

that they can’t see,” said Michelle Demerest, 

kindergarten teacher. “When they put 

on their new glasses for the very first time a 

whole new world opens before them. They 

can see the words in the big book or on the 

whiteboard. Pictures and words are no lon- 

ger fuzzy! School begins to make sense!” 

With a generous $5,000 grant from the Five 

Star Education Foundation, for the first time 

this fall, Adams 12 Five Star Schools provided 

vision screenings utilizing a Plusoptix vision 

screener for all Child Find children, preschool, 

kindergarten and special needs students. 

Child Find is a legal requirement for schools 

to screen and evaluate children ages 0-5 with 

suspected developmental delays. This new 

screener better detects and provides early 

awareness of vision problems not identified 



by the previous standard (chart method) 

school vision screenings. 

The Five Star District provides vision 

screenings for nearly 22,000 students a year. 

District nurses saw significant gaps in the vision 

screenings and identified the need for 

improvement. After ample research, it became 

apparent that Five Star Schools was 

one of the only districts in the area still using 

the standard chart method. 

ities and answered questions like never before 

with a newfound confidence. Watching a 

new world open up for this student brought 

tears to our eyes as teachers.” 

Previous vision screenings took students 

out of class for more than 30 minutes at a 

time and they had to be tested three times 

before the student was referred to an eye 

Like the district’s registered nurses, the Five 

Star Education Foundation recognized the 

advantages of purchasing a better screening 

tool and committed to provide funding. The 

School Medicaid office supplied the remaining 

funds necessary to make the purchase a 

reality. 

In only the first few months of use, the 

screener is already making huge strides in 

early intervention and noticeable advancements 

in student learning. 

Sally Hull, an early childhood teacher aide, 

recalls a four-year-old preschooler from 

Coronado Hills Elementary last year who 

was not engaged during class and seemed 

very shy. After being identified as having vision 

concerns through the Plusoptix vision 

screener, the student received new glasses. 

“He immediately noticed patterns on the 

carpet that he never knew were there before 

because he couldn’t see them,” Hull said. “He 

paid attention, participated in group activ- 

The new Plusoptix vision screener produces a full report of the child’s 

vision in three seconds. 

doctor. Even then, the screening only tested 

for acuity - can they see the board - and 

didn’t provide a full report on why the child 

should see the doctor. 

Parents at our Title I schools often didn’t 

see the value and didn’t take the child for a 

full comprehensive exam because of a number 

of barriers. Now, the Plusoptix vision 

screener detects so much more and provides 

a full report in less than 10 minutes. Students 

no longer miss extensive class time and, if 

referred to an eye doctor, parents are given a 

full report on why. 



In addition to the early awareness and intervention, 

the district provides support to 

families who don’t have the funds to purchase 

glasses or see an eye doctor. Funds are 

provided through the School Medicaid office 

and VSP Vision Care vouchers are available to 

purchase glasses through the National Association 

of School Nurses. 

The benefits of the new Plusoptix vision 

screener can be seen by not only the district’s 

registered nurses, but also by parents, teachers 

and students. A quick and easy screening 

provides early detection and intervention at 

a young age to correct vision problems before 

they affect learning, reading and writing. 

During the course of the 2015-2016 school 

year, 1,130 preschoolers were screened using 

a Plusoptix vision screener by KidSight 

Colorado, a grant-funded program that supported 

the Adams 12 Health Services mass 

screening program. Of those preschoolers, 

137 were referred for vision concerns and 

more than half of those referred, received 

new glasses. 

“It’s amazing how much you learn in the 

three-second screening, knowing that it will 

affect learning for the rest of their life,” said 

Nancy Flanigan, registered nurse. “We look 

forward to continuing the program, identifying 

more children sooner and making a lasting 

impression on their education.” • 

“When they put on 

their new glasses 

for the very first time 

a whole new world 

opens before them. 

They can see the 

words in the big book 

or on the whiteboard. 

Pictures and words 

are no longer fuzzy! 

School begins to 

make sense!” 

- Michelle Demerest 

Kindergarten Teacher 


Bond Passed 

Bond Issue 3D passed thanks to overwhelming 

support from the Five Star Community 

Projects ensure Five Star students continue to learn in a safe, comfortable and 

dry environment 

On Nov. 8, the Five Star community voted and 

passed Issue 3D allowing Adams 12 Five Star 

Schools to implement the $350 million bond 

which invests in every student, every school 

and every community. The five-year bond 

program addresses aging school buildings 

and overcrowding, expands career and technical 

opportunities for students, enhances 

safety and security, and upgrades technology 

at all schools. 

Now that the bond has passed, what comes 

next? With a $350 million bond over five years, 

there will be a lot of moving parts districtwide 

and with that, many ways for the community 

to follow along. 

The Long Range Planning Advisory Committee 

(LRPAC), comprised of parents and community 

members, will provide oversight in 

how the bond plan is implemented. Additionally, 

the LRPAC advises Superintendent Chris 

Gdowski on short-range facility issues and the 

development of long-range facility plans that 

support student success through the implementation 

of the most cost-effective solutions 

to the district’s capital needs. The committee 

is intended to provide a high level of accountability, 

engagement and communication between 

district leadership and the citizens of 

Adams 12 Five Star Schools. 

In early 2017, a preliminary project timeline 

will be made available online for the full fiveyear 

bond program. In addition to the timeline, 

criteria for how the timeline was created 

will be available. Throughout the year, parents, 

staff and community members can optin 

to receive regular updates to their email. 


Bond Passed 

Ground breakings on two major projects are scheduled for the spring of 2017. These projects 

address two of the biggest needs of the district - overcrowding and aging buildings. 

• Five Star Schools will break ground on the new PreK-8 school in the Anthem neighborhood 

of Broomfield to relieve overcrowding at numerous schools. The new school is scheduled 

to open for classes in fall 2018. A formal community engagement process to inform the 

development of boundaries for the new school will take place later in 2017. 

• STEM Magnet Lab in Northglenn will undergo major reconstruction to address the highest 

rate of deferred maintenance in the Five Star District. 

To follow the progress of school and districtwide projects, and to stay up-to-date on everything 

bond, continue to visit www.adams12.org/bond. • 

Students and staff across the district say thank you to the Five Star community. With the 

passing of the bond, the district can continue the work of helping children succeed in every 

classroom, every day. 

Answers: 

1) C 2) D 3) B 4) C 5) A

2016 Winter Five Star Journal

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