2017 Five Star Journal Winter Issue

Winter 2017 Vol. 17 | No. 2
www.adams12.org
CHOICE
OPEN FOR
2018-2019
Page 14
State
showcases
Riverdale
Elementary
Page 6
Meet Youth
Tech Leader
of the Year
Page 10
Cover: STEM Lab beam signing
CPR course
saves a life
Page 16
HOW TO KNOW WHEN INCLEMENT WEATHER WILL IMPACT SCHOOLS | PAGE 8

News Journal
Vol. 17 | No. 2 | Winter 2017
Connecting you
to your Five Star Schools
News Journal
Official Sponsor of
the Five Star Journal
Communications Services
1500 E. 128th Ave.
Thornton, CO 80241
(720) 972-4156
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.

IN THIS ISSUE
4 Superintendent Message
6 Elementary School Feature:
Learning from Each Other
10 Middle School Feature:
Developing Future Leaders
12 Five Star Snapshots
14 District Feature: 2018-2019 Choice Process
16 High School Feature:
Community Involvement
19 Parent Pointers
20 District Calendar
21 Five Star | Five Facts
22 In the News
24 In the News: 2016 Bond
Five Star Journal, Winter 2017 | 3

SUPERINTENDENT MESSAGE
ELEVATE brings out the best in what it means to be a
part of the Five Star community
Many of you have either participated in or heard about ELEVATE. It’s a year-long process we’re
undertaking to identify what’s the very best about Adams 12 Five Star Schools, and how we
can amplify that and elevate how our district and schools serve students over the next five
years. The end result of this process will be a five-year plan that sets the course for achieving
the hopes and dreams of our students, parents, staff and community members.
A part of the ELEVATE process is listening to and learning from people’s stories about a time
when the Five Star District and our schools “did right” by a student. From these stories, we
asked participants ranging from parents, students and staff to pull out some of the strengths
of the district. Through this process, many strengths are coming to light and I want to highlight
two of them.
Care and support for the well-being (academic, social, emotional and physical) of each
child through authentic relationships with staff.
We’ve engaged staff in ELEVATE at every one of our schools and we’ve heard stories from our
parents and community members at four community-wide conversations. Over and over, the
strength of care and support for the well-being of each child comes up.
Here are a few examples of what that looks like in action:
1. A teacher who sat side-by-side with a student who was having a panic attack, calming her,
reassuring her and helping her build confidence.
2. A fifth-grade student who had numerous teachers and service providers work together to
show personalized attention in speech and language support.
3. An inspiring story about an at-risk student from a broken home who received the individual
care and support from teachers, propelling the student to graduate high school and
continue on as a nursing student in college.
Staff across the district and our schools working collaboratively for the success of all students.
One of the Five Star District’s core commitments is “collective responsibility”. What unites each
and every one of us is that collective commitment to support the success of all our students.
4 | Superintendent Message

By Chris Gdowski, Superintendent
Follow on twitter
@SuptGdowski
This strength has come up multiple times in conversations with students, parents and staff:
1. Teams of teachers working collaboratively across schools to ensure an elementary student
transitioning to middle school received the appropriate support through the student’s
Individualized Education Program (IEP).
2. Cross-functional teams of office staff, para educators, teachers and school administration
working together to make sure students’ individual needs are met.
3. Teachers from various grade levels rallied around a family with four students, one of whom
was experiencing complications in the hospital. They ensured the family had groceries,
clean laundry and the support needed until the family was back on its feet.
The entire Early Childhood Education staff
providing feedback on our new five-year
strategic plan.
Parents and community members participate
in the ELEVATE process at one of the four
community nights.
Sesión de ELEVATE para la comunidad en español
The past few months of listening and learning from these stories has been inspiring,
motivating and maybe most importantly, humbling. Webster’s dictionary defines “humility”
as freedom from pride or arrogance. That is what these stories exemplify for me. Collectively,
as a school community, we all work together to see our students succeed and thrive without
concern for who gets credit. We also know not to let up with each success story, but to use that
as motivation to multiply that success story two, three, five times over.
That is what excites me about ELEVATE. It’s bringing our community together to build
upon our strengths and set the stage for even greater success in the future. I encourage
you to stay engaged in the process as we move into 2018. You can learn more at
www.adams12.org/ELEVATE. •
Five Star Journal, Winter 2017 | 5

Teachers and administrators from across the state observe classroom instruction at Riverdale Elementary.
Learning from Each Other
Riverdale Elementary shines in
“Bright Spot” visit
Teachers and administrators from across the
state visited Riverdale Elementary on Oct. 18
to learn more about the successful teaching
practices that launched the school from a
priority improvement rating in 2014, to being
rated as a performance school – the highest
rating given to schools by the state – for the
past two years.
Executive Director of Schools Kari Cocozzella
discusses “Bright Spot” visit with fellow colleagues
from across Colorado.
The Colorado Department of Education selects a limited number of schools throughout the
year to participate in what is called a “Bright Spot” visit to help inform neighboring schools and
districts on the strategies and methods used to increase student achievement and educator
effectiveness. Riverdale was chosen in light of its impressive student growth over the last three
years. Educators from multiple districts across the state traveled to the Thornton elementary
school to observe classroom instruction and hear from school administrators on their progressive
approach to instructional planning, professional development and student motivation.
Throughout the day, attendees could be seen standing in the back of classrooms observing
teachers, or in hallways asking questions about building school culture or how they could
better utilize student data. By the end of the visit, Principal Kristin Golden and Assistant Principal
Deborah Voelker answered questions and highlighted the primary reasons for the school’s
recent success.
6 | Elementary School Feature

Much of Riverdale’s accomplishments can
be attributed to the school community’s
commitment to three primary improvement
strategies: utilizing student data, teacher
observations and feedback, and building
a culture of student achievement. These
strategies were supported by a number of
staff trainings and weekly collaborative work
sessions lead by the school’s administrative
team.
Executive Director of Schools Kari Cocozzella
took the opportunity to praise the leadership
team at Riverdale. “They are willing to do the
work,” she said. “They are in the trainings,
learning right alongside their teachers.”
Since 2015, the Riverdale staff has
participated in one-hour, school-wide
collaborative planning sessions each week.
Although planning time is not unique to any
of the schools in the Five Star District,
providing a time for teachers to work
shoulder-to-shoulder with their colleagues in
different grade levels has been a welcomed
addition at Riverdale. Over the last year,
digital learning teachers used this time to
help incorporate technology into the
classroom. Additionally, teachers serving
special populations such as gifted and
talented, special education and English
language learners, utilized the collaborative
sessions to work with their fellow teachers
to build more robust learning goals for the
students they serve.
Maintaining a school culture that is
conducive for student achievement is not
as easy as it sounds. In fact, Riverdale has
adopted a scoring rubric, purchased resources
and devoted professional development to
ensure the school culture remains positive
for all students. By conducting classroom
walkthroughs and providing the individual
feedback to teachers, the staff continues
to develop monthly goals to improve the
learning environment for students. The
feedback data is open to all teachers and the
top performers are acknowledged by their
colleagues.
According to Principal Golden, healthy
competition within the school from both
teachers and students was a motivating
factor over the last three years but more than
Principal Lori Bailey from Stukey Elementary and
Riverdale Elementary Principal Kristin Golden collaborate.
anything else, she attributed the school’s
successes to the staff’s work ethic.
“Overall, our staff is willing to do whatever it
takes to build the best learning environment
possible,” Golden said.
By sharing ideas, building a culture of
student achievement and embracing
friendly competition, it’s clear why the
Colorado Department of Education chose to
highlight the work taking place at Riverdale
Elementary. •
Five Star Journal, Winter 2017 | 7

How to know when inclement
weather will impact school
When inclement weather arrives, the Five Star District closely monitors weather
reports and road conditions, and makes a decision regarding school operations
using the following three options:
• OPEN: All schools will operate on a normal schedule.
• 2-HOUR DELAYED START: New this year, a 2-hour delayed start may be
announced if temporary adverse weather conditions exist during morning rush
hour. In the event of an announced 2-hour delayed start, families will add two
hours to the start of the school day. Example: if school normally starts at 8 a.m.,
it will start at 10 a.m. More information: www.adams12.org/delayedstart.
• CLOSED: All schools are closed and all scheduled activities in the school
building are canceled.
The district makes every effort to announce a decision by 5:30 a.m.
ANY IMPACT TO SCHOOL DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
WILL BE COMMUNICATED IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:
District’s
website at
www.adams12.org
District’s
hotline
(720) 972-4000,
then press 7
Social media
adams12fivestarschools
@adams12
Local media
outlets
Email & text
message
to parents/guardians
Must sign up
Parents will only receive alerts if schools are closed or operating on a 2-hour delay.
If schools are open and operating on a normal schedule, there will not be an alert.

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From left to right, Denver Broncos player Casey Kreiter, Jackie Pacheco, University of Denver Daniel’s College
of Business Dean Brent Chrite and Colorado Technology Association President and CEO Andrea Young.
Developing Future Leaders
STEM Launch student named Youth Tech Leader of the Year
Photo credit: Cody Sowa
Jackie Pacheco used to wonder how some of her favorite app-based games worked. Now,
she can code her own. And, she’s passionate about sharing her love of coding with others.
The STEM Launch seventh-grader has been instrumental in getting the school’s Family
MakerSpace – a place where family members can learn about technology with their children
– off the ground. She introduces families to the MakerSpace, offers instructional support in
Spanish and English, and built a parallel circuit board that lights up a piece of art.
“Everyone looked really happy to be learning,” Jackie recalled. The MakerSpace is important,
teachers say, so that family members understand technology and the career opportunities
that lay ahead for their students.
Her teachers describe Jackie as a rising star. It’s her leadership and drive that led the Colorado
Technology Association (CTA) to recognize her as its Youth Tech Leader of the Year in November.
“As a young Latina girl empowering others to pursue an education in tech, Jackie is an
inspiration,” said Kelly Underell, executive director of the Colorado Technology Association’s
Colorado Technology Foundation.
CTA honors a student leader as part of its annual APEX Awards because they’re focused on
growing the next generation of tech leaders and want to celebrate those who are writing
that next chapter – and inspiring others.
10 | Middle School Feature

The award was announced live – and it was
a big surprise to Jackie. “I was really nervous
and I was really excited,” she recalled.
In addition to helping her peers and their
families learn about technology, Jackie and
some of her classmates told Lieutenant
Governor Donna Lynne why tech education
is important to them at the “Crack the Code”
event at the capitol.
“She gave us a lot of advice,” Jackie said of
meeting the lieutenant governor.
Jackie’s favorite subject is math, and teachers
say she is in her element in the computer
science classroom. It was her mother who
encouraged her to attend STEM Launch
because she saw how Jackie excelled at math.
“I think that the educational system based
on science, technology, engineering and
mathematics will lead the way to Jackie’s
future,” Nohemy Pacheco said.
She joked that she wants to keep her
daughter busy, but says that a STEMfocused
education is important to her
because “technology is the future.”
Digital engineering teacher Deb Harding
says that Jackie’s willingness to teach others is
encouraging more Latina girls at her school to
give coding a try.
“Jackie is a natural leader and she shows
the ability to work with any age or ability
level,” Harding said. “She takes initiative to
learn for herself and teach others.”
“Her peers really listen to her,” added STEM
Coordinator Kate Klaver. And that, Klaver
hopes, will have a long-term impact on
the tech industry. “(Jackie) knows that it’s
important for her to be a leader and for her
to continue on this pathway… She wants
to grow that number of minority women in
these jobs,” she said.
As she looks to the future, Jackie says she
wants to either continue her focus in tech
and coding or go after a law degree – she’s
still deciding. But, STEM is an important part
of her future.
“I really want to stay in a STEM school so
they can help me achieve those kinds of
dreams,” she said. •
“Jackie is a natural
leader and she shows
the ability to work with
any age or ability level.
She takes initiative to
learn for herself and
teach others.”
- Deb Harding
Digital Engineering Teacher
Five Star Journal, Winter 2017 | 11

A collection of photos of events happening
around the district.
12 | Five Star Snapshots

Left page top Westlake Read-a-thon / Left page bottom The Taste of Adams 12 Five Star Schools /
Right page top left Marine surprises nephew at Stukey Elementary /
Right page center Hour of Code night / Right page bottom left Northglenn High Sources of Strength /
Right page right Beam signing and raising at STEM Lab
Tag us in your images on social media using #FiveStarProud for a chance to be featured.
Five Star Journal, Winter 2017 | 13

2018-2019 Choice process
Submit application by January 31 for priority consideration
Last year, Adams 12 Five Star Schools received
more than 4,000 Choice applications for the
2017-2018 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 for the 2018-19 school year are
available online at www.adams12.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, 2018 and is not first-come, first-served.
If the number of requests exceeds the spaces
available in a given school, the district will hold
a lottery. 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.
The second deadline to submit a Choice
application for the 2018-2019 school year
is March 30, 2018. 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 Aug. 1. While the first and second
14 | 2018-2019 Choice Process

ound of Choice is lottery based, applications in the third round of Choice are processed on a
first-come, first-served basis.
While not a guarantee, when possible, priority will be given to sibling applications so that
families attend the same school. Families with children already attending schools that are not
open to Choice are eligible to submit 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.
Students that are approved for Choice are responsible for their own transportation. •
Extended-day kindergarten
For neighborhood schools, extended-day,
tuition-based kindergarten does not go
through the Choice Program. Parents of
extended-day, tuition-based kindergarteners
at neighborhood 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, tuitionbased
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-of-district 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-ofdistrict
students. If the student is not selected
in the Choice lottery, they are waitlisted for
the school and program.
Learn more and
find FAQs online!
The Five Star District Planning and Admissions Department determines the acceptance of Choice requests and can
be contacted via email at choice@adams12.org or by phone at (720) 972-4055.
Five Star Journal, Winter 2017 | 15

EMT students practice CPR.
Community Involvement
Woman provides life-saving CPR hours after recertification at Bollman Tech
Tiffany Jacobs never imagined she’d need to use her CPR training – let alone hours after being
recertified. It was Sept. 30, and after her class taught at Bollman Technical Education Center,
the Lakewood massage therapist and her 15-year-old son drove past what she thought was
a car accident.
As they walked over to see if they could help alert the police, she realized it wasn’t an accident,
but a medical emergency. A man was lying outside his car and he wasn’t breathing. A woman
was performing CPR but almost on cue, Jacobs recalled, she wasn’t doing it correctly.
Jacobs said she knew what to do and jumped in. With the help of a 911 operator, she continued
giving CPR until paramedics arrived. They took over and loaded the man into an ambulance.
She would learn later that day that he had survived.
“Talk about right day, right situation, right training,” Jacobs said.
Bollman has offered an EMT (emergency medical technician) program for five years, and has
offered CPR recertification training courses to cover some of the program costs. The CPR class
is about half the cost of others offered elsewhere, said instructor Tom Lombardo, and they offer
it three times per year.
“A lot of people need it for their jobs,” Lombardo said. “All of it goes back into our (EMT)
program.”
16 | High School Feature

Lombardo and Jacobs had been colleagues
at St. Joseph’s Hospital previously – it’s how
she learned about the class – but he was
shocked when he heard her story.
Every minute CPR is
delayed from being
administered, a person’s
chance of survival drops
by 10 percent.
Jacobs said she was humbled to be able to
help someone. When she met Jim, he told
her he had celebrated his birthday the day
before, but now he’ll also celebrate Sept. 30
as his rebirth day.
Bollman will offer its next CPR recertification
class in early 2018, Lombardo said, adding
that all community members are invited.
“It’s a training that absolutely anyone and
everyone should receive,” Lombardo said. He
hopes Jacobs’ story will inspire others to be
trained in CPR.
“She is living proof that your actions can
make a difference,” he said. •
“I’ve been in (emergency medical services)
for 25 years and I’ve never heard of that,” he
said, adding that every minute CPR is delayed
from being administered, a person’s chance
of survival drops by 10 percent.
“That’s what we as healthcare responders
do, and so it was great to see someone who
wasn’t a paramedic was able to jump in,”
Lombardo said.
Jacobs was reunited with the man, Jim
Kiekhaefer, during an interview with Fox31.
Kiekhaefer is a retired Lakewood police
commander – and his son reached out to
Jacobs.
“I’m glad I can have that story to help other
people,” Jacobs said, adding that she’s
ensuring her entire team is trained in CPR –
and encourages others to do the same. “I’ve
always thought it’s good to know CPR. I’d
much rather know it and not need it than
not know it and need it.”
Get certified in CPR! Basic Life Support for the
Healthcare Provider. ANYONE can do it! Pay half
the price here, than most places offered, and all
the proceeds go to help getting our instructors
to HOSA International Leadership Conference,
where our students compete in CPR skills.
Saturday, January 13, 2018
8 AM - 11 AM
Bollman Technical Education Center
9451 Washington St, Thornton, CO 80229
To register contact Tom Lombardo, EMT Instructor
at (303) 359-0432.
Like Bollman Tech on Facebook for future trainings.
Five Star Journal, Winter 2017 | 17

SAFETY & SECURITY: Types of Action
LockOUT
LockDOWN
Evacuate
Shelter
Building is locked and students are
brought inside as a precautionary
measure based on activity in the area.
Examples:
• Law enforcement activity such as
serving warrants in a nearby location
• Report of dangerous wildlife in area
Building is put on lockDOWN due to
danger inside or very near the building.
All students and staff are in lockDOWN –
Locks, Lights, Out of Sight.
Examples:
• Threat inside the school
• Emergency or dangerous situation
very near the building
Students and staff are moved to a new
or safe location due to a situation in or
near the school building.
Examples:
• Gas leak in the school
• Unsafe situation near school
affecting release times
Students and staff are instructed to
take safe shelter due to a situation in
or near the school.
Examples:
• Tornado, earthquake or other
natural events
ACTION: Monitoring
ACTION: Active with district and
emergency responders
ACTION: Active with district and
emergency responders
ACTION: Active with district personnel
and emergency responders as needed
How will you know?
• Email to parents
Further communication as needed
if the situation impacts daily operations.
Please remain at home until receiving
further communication.
How will you know?
• Phone call (auto dial) to parents
• Text to parents (if opted-in)
• Email to parents
Updated communication as situation
progresses and as needed.
Please remain at home until receiving
further communication.
How will you know?
• Phone call (auto dial) to parents
• Text to parents (if opted-in)
• Email to parents
Updated communication as situation
progresses and as needed.
Please remain at home until receiving
further communication.
How will you know?
• Email to parents
Further communication as needed
if the situation impacts daily operations
Please remain at home until receiving
further communication.
Reunification
As a result of any of the above scenarios, students may need to be reunified with parents
through a controlled release at the school or a reunification at a new location.
We want to reunite students with parents as soon as possible during an emergency
situation. We will work with police and fire agencies to determine when it is safe
to reunite students and parents. These situations often take time and planning to
ensure you and your child are reunited safely.
Here are some tips for your role in a reunification:
STAY
STAY
BE
1 HOME 2 INFORMED 3 READY
Watch a video on your role during a reunification
at www.adams12.org/safety
Visit www.adams12.org/safety to learn more about district safety protocols,
update your contact information and sign-up for text message alerts.
Congratulations to Mountain Range High School’s very own Heather Schenck for being honored
as one of the “50 Music Educators who Make a Difference” by School Band and Orchestra
Magazine! We are so proud you represent the State of Colorado!

PARENT POINTERS
‘Tis the season of giving
Promoting volunteerism at home
The word “volunteering” might not make sense to a young child, but even children as young as
three can learn the value of helping others. Now is the time to start or enhance a family tradition
of serving others; not only during the holiday season but also year round.
HOW VOLUNTEERISM BENEFITS CHILDREN
• Volunteering helps teach social responsibility
and kids develop empathy and compassion.
• Kids who volunteer develop self-confidence
and positive self-esteem.
• Teen volunteers are less likely to be involved
in “at-risk” behaviors and more likely to make
healthy life choices.
• Volunteering allows kids to gain and master
new skills for future use.
• Kids who volunteer are more likely to benefit
from and remain engaged in community
activities.
• Kids see first-hand how they can improve
the community in which they live.
Volunteering in itself provides a number of physical and mental health benefits for kids, but
volunteering as a family offers additional benefits. It teaches children the importance of helping
others, teamwork and generosity, and builds stronger connections between family members
and your community.
VOLUNTEERING AS A FAMILY
- Be a giving role model. Set an example. Show
your child the importance of volunteering
and share this special time together.
- Make it fun. Volunteering doesn’t need to
be a chore. Find something that interests
your child or family and that matches your
family dynamics.
- Volunteering doesn’t have to take a lot
of time. Start small by trying a one-time or
short-term activity.
- Make it part of the family schedule. Families
are busy. The trick is to build volunteering
into your schedule so that it becomes a
priority.
Look for opportunities through your school or community to find ways to volunteer nearby.
Sources: www.unitedway.org and www.pbs.org/parents
Five Star Journal, Winter 2017 | 19

DISTRICT CALENDAR
Upcoming District Calendar Dates
DEC
22
Teacher Duty Day:
no school all students
-
DEC
25 JAN
5
Winter Break
JAN
8
In-common
Release Day:
no school all students
JAN
15
Martin Luther King Day:
all schools closed
FEB
14
Elementary Work Day:
no school grades K-5
FEB
15
In-common Release Day:
no school grades K-8
FEB
16
In-Service Day:
no school all students
FEB
19
Presidents’ Day:
all schools closed
MARCH
26 -
Spring Break
MARCH
30
Calendar dates may not apply to district charter schools. Please check each school’s calendar for school-specific
information. Visit www.adams12.org/calendars for more information.
March 10, 2018 | 6-10 pm
Marriott Westminster
7000 Church Ranch Blvd
Westminster, CO 80021
BENEFITING THE
Get your tickets now!

FIVE STAR | FIVE FACTS
Sustainability Team
District takes steps to “go green”
The energy & sustainability team manages utility use and promotes social, economic
and environmental sustainability for the district. The team is currently working on a
strategy to achieve a district goal of zero-waste and zero-net-energy. Here’s a look at
our progress.
25,502,000
GALLONS OF WATER SAVED
during 2017 watering season
1 of 5
school districts in the nation to earn the
SCHOOL DISTRICT SUSTAINABILITY
SCHOLARSHIP THROUGH THE USGBC
CENTER FOR GREEN SCHOOLS
ONLY SCHOOL DISTRICT
IN THE NATION
to have completed the
Collaborative for High
Performing Schools
Operations Report Card
for the entire district
29
SCHOOL-BASED
GREEN TEAMS
around the district
DISTRICT UTILITIES COSTS HAVE NOT FLUCTUATED
MORE THAN 4% OVER THE LAST 8 YEARS
even with an 11% increase in energy rates, a 24 % increase in water rates
and a nearly 30% increase in waste rates over that same period
Five Star Journal, Winter 2017 | 21

IN THE NEWS
ELEVATE: Building on Five Star Success
Adams 12 Five Star Schools has initiated a year-long process called “ELEVATE” to develop a
community-led five-year strategic plan by August 2018.
This fall, building on recent academic and districtwide success, the district invited students,
teachers, parents and community members to participate in an engagement process that
discovers stories and strengths, and hopes and dreams for the future of the district. By the
end of the fall semester, every school building will have participated in the ELEVATE process
in conjunction with over 200 parents and community members.
In the spring, staff and community will be invited to participate in a “Summit” event where
data and feedback from the fall sessions will be used to design the collective vision for the
district and develop a resource plan to achieve that vision. Read more >
Five Star Schools selected as a 2017 School District
Scholarship Recipient by the Center for Green Schools
Adams 12 Five Star Schools has been chosen by The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green
Building Council (USGBC) as one of only five districts nationally and the only district in the
state of Colorado to receive a School District Scholarship for the coming year. The Five Star
District is a leader in the movement to make our school buildings more sustainable, and to
educate our children to embrace the principles and practices so important to sustainability.
Read more >
Five Education Foundation awards over $100,000 in grants
This fall the Five Star Education Foundation awarded over $45,000 to teachers throughout
the district and more than $60,000 to Bollman Technical Education Center (BTEC). The funds
will be used for a wide variety of projects such as MakerSpaces, library make-overs and social
emotional learning curriculum.
At BTEC, the funds will be used so students can earn auto and diesel industry required
certifications, provide electrical wiring simulation boards and new hybrid vehicles so
students can gain real world experience in the auto and construction industries. Read more >
22 | In the News

Graduation Requirements for Class of 2021
and beyond approved
After extensive research, collaboration and community engagement, the Graduation
Guidelines Committee presented three graduation requirement options to the Adams 12
Five Star Schools Board of Education (BOE) on May 3, 2017. Each of the options consisted of
23 required course credits as well as the added college and career readiness demonstrations
which are new for the graduating class of 2021 and beyond. Feedback from parents,
students and staff collected over the course of 15 engagement sessions was also presented
to the BOE for its consideration. Read more about the approved Graduation Requirements
for the Class of 2021 and beyond.
Grading Practices Committee established
In the district’s constant effort to improve the ways in which it serves students and families,
the Learning Services team engaged over 2,000 district stakeholders to collect input regarding
the implementation and practice of Standards Based and Standards Referenced Grading
throughout the district. As a result of that work, a Grading Practices Committee was created
to help evaluate stakeholder feedback, identify ways our current grading practices may
be improved and what additional support is needed for educators, students and parents.
Read more >
Governor’s budget proposal calls for adding back some
funding for schools previously cut
The second regular session of the 71st Colorado General Assembly will convene on Jan. 10, 2018.
Legislators have already started working on bills they’d like to introduce. The 2018 legislative
session will fall on an election year and that will likely complicate the politics of the session.
Read more >
These are excerpts of stories — visit www.adams12.org to read these stories in
their entirety and others highlighting student, school and community success.
Five Star Journal, Winter 2017 | 23

IN THE NEWS: 2016 BOND
Attendance boundaries announced for new
Thunder Vista P-8
Elementary and middle school attendance boundaries have been announced for our new
school, Thunder Vista P-8. Scheduled to open in fall 2018, the new school is being built in
the Anthem community of Broomfield. New boundaries designate the attendance areas for
students who will attend the new school and also include smaller boundary changes to existing
school boundaries in the northwest portion of the district. The boundary decisions followed a
nearly year-long community engagement process. The district’s community-led Long Range
Planning Advisory Committee developed the boundaries and presented the final recommendations
to the superintendent in November 2017. View the adopted boundaries.
Busy 2018 planned for Five Star Schools Bond Program
Summer 2018 will be a busy time across Adams 12 Five Star Schools as nearly a dozen 2016 Bond
Program projects will be underway or completed. This includes the completion of construction
on a new district P-8 school and substantial expansions, renovations and improvements to
existing district schools. Follow our bond progress online.
Interested in receiving monthly bond project updates
delivered right to your email? Sign up today!
SHARE YOUR NEWS
Help Adams 12 Five Star Schools spread the word about the great things happening across
the district. With nearly 39,000 students across five cities in 54 schools, we need your help
in sharing the exciting events, initiatives and success stories happening at your child’s
school. Submit your good news story: www.adams12.org/share-your-news.
24 | In the News

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