2019 Spring Five Star Journal

Spring 2019 Vol. 18 | No. 3
www.adams12.org
COVER: UNIFIED
BASKETBALL
See more photos
in Five Star Snapshots
PAGE 12
Thornton
Elementary is
a bright spot in
our community
PAGE 8
New branding efforts in
process for the district
CTE program
PAGE 14
See how we’re
celebrating our
district strengths
PAGE 19
Cover photo by: Mountain Range High School
SEE SCHOOL WINNERS IN THE FAMILY-SCHOOL RELATIONSHIP SURVEY | PAGE 20

News Journal
Vol. 18 | No. 3 | Spring 2019
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
5 Board Message
8 Elementary School Feature:
Bright Spot
11 Middle School Feature:
Trailblazers
12 Five Star Snapshots
14 New CTE Program Branding Effort
16 On the way: ELEVATE Update
19 Celebrating Strengths
20 Family-School Relationship Survey Results
21 District Calendar
23 In the News
25 Faces of Five Star Schools
Five Star Journal, Spring 2019 | 3

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Text “YES” to 67587
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up-to-date in your Infinite Campus profile.

BOARD MESSAGE
By Kathy Plomer, Board President
Grad Requirements
Board hosts community conversation on new graduation
requirements for class of 2021 and beyond
It’s spring and graduation season is nearly upon us! We will celebrate 11 graduations this
May – five at our comprehensive high schools, two at our alternative campuses and four at
our charter schools. All together more than 2,000 students will graduate from our schools this
year. We are proud of their accomplishments and look forward to what is next for them!
We’re #FiveStarProud that our high schools are graduating more students than ever before.
Adams 12 Five Star Schools four-year on-time graduation rate continues to rise, reaching 84.5
percent for the Class of 2018. This is up more than 11 percentage points from 2010, making it
the district’s highest graduation rate since the state changed how the rate is calculated. The
Five Star District surpassed the state average of 80.7 percent, as reported by the Colorado
Department of Education (CDE).
Graduates of the Class of 2019 and next year’s Class of 2020 will be the last students to receive
their diploma under the current graduation requirements. New graduation requirements for
the Class of 2021 and beyond were developed in response to the Colorado State Legislature
passing House Bill 07-1118 requiring the development of State High School Graduation
Guidelines. The Graduation Guidelines include the following two components:
• High school students will be required to achieve credits and coursework approved by
the district’s board of education.
-AND-
• High school students must demonstrate college and career readiness in both English
and mathematics by achieving a minimum score in at least ONE of the College and
Career Readiness Demonstrations.
On March 6, the Board of Education held a conversation with parents and the community about
the new graduation requirements that are in place for the Class of 2021 (this year’s sophomores)
and how the district will assure students meet them. The biggest change statewide with the
Five Star Journal, Spring 2019 | 5

new graduation requirements is that students will need to demonstrate their competency
in English language arts and math through specific readiness measures in addition to
completing course requirements. The March 6 meeting provided an opportunity to hear
about all the ways students could demonstrate their competency to earn their diplomas.
Some of those measures are familiar to most families, like the ACT and SAT. Other ways
students could demonstrate competency include:
• Accuplacer
• ACT WorkKeys
• Advanced Placement (AP)
• ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)
• Concurrent Enrollment
• Industry Certificate
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• District Capstone
Each of these readiness demonstrations has either scores or standards that students must
meet. Visit the district website for descriptions and required scores for all of these various
methods.
The Five Star District, in partnership with the Big Idea Project, is currently piloting a Capstone
course at Horizon and Mountain Range high schools. Within the Capstone course, each
student will complete a mentored project resulting in a professional portfolio highlighting
their skills and competencies. More information regarding the Capstone course will become
available as participating students complete their final projects and are able to provide
feedback on the course. The district intends to provide similar Capstone courses at all five
comprehensive high schools during the 2019-20 school year.
Parents are encouraged to visit the district website to learn more about these new graduation
requirements. Additionally, as you have questions about your child’s progress toward
meeting these new graduation requirements, I encourage you to reach out to their high
school counselor. •
6 | Board Message

GRADUATING CLASS
of 2021 and Beyond
The new graduation requirements for the Class of 2021 and beyond focus on two areas:
Credits and Coursework and College and Career Readiness Demonstrations.
1 CREDITS AND COURSEWORK 2
High school students will complete 23 credits in the
following coursework to graduate:
4 English
3 Mathematics
3 Social Studies
(1.0 United States History, 0.5 Government)
3 Science
(2 lab-based credits)
1 Physical Education*
(0.5 Health)
NO Physical Education Waiver available
2 Fine & Practical Arts
(Music, Art, Theater, Career & Technical Education,
World Language)
7 Electives*
COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS
DEMONSTRATIONS
High school students must demonstrate college
and career readiness in English and mathematics by
achieving a minimum score or grade in at least ONE
of the following assessment demonstrations*:
• Accuplacer
• ACT
• ACT Work Keys
• Advanced Placement (AP)
• ASVAB
• Concurrent Enrollment
• Collaboratively Developed Assessment
• District Capstone
• Industry Certificate
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• SAT
*New requirement beginning with the Class of 2021
*Students are not required to achieve a minimum score for English
and mathematics in the same assessment demonstration
WHAT ARE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS DEMONSTRATIONS?
College and Career Readiness Demonstrations are assessments, assignments or classes in which students
can demonstrate proficiency in both English and mathematics. By achieving a minimum score or grade in
AT LEAST ONE of the demonstrations AND completing the coursework listed above, students will become
eligible to graduate beginning with the Class of 2021 and beyond.
Details and ongoing updates available at
www.adams12.org/graduation-requirements
Five Star Journal, Spring 2019 | 7

Bright Spot
Near closure leads to unprecedented
turnaround at Thornton Elementary
School
In February, Betsy Miller, principal at Thornton
Elementary School, stood alongside her assistant
principal and two instructional coaches as they
presented to the state Turnaround Network — a
network of educators focused on accelerating student
achievement in lower performing schools — about
Principal Betsy Miller (far right) and team
present to the state Turnaround Network.
the professional practices that led to significant academic growth by Thornton Elementary
students. Last year, the school was recognized by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE)
as a “Performance” rated school, a much different perspective from four years ago when CDE
recommended the school for closure.
Each year, CDE takes the opportunity to bring educators together from across the state to
participate in a “bright spot visit” to learn from schools that have demonstrated excellence in
their service to students. This year, Thornton Elementary was one of the schools highlighted.
But the path was not always bright for Betsy and her staff. In fact, it was quite dark four
years ago as the schools performance rating was near the bottom in the state of Colorado,
8 | Elementary School Feature

enrollment was down and school culture
was suffering.
“We were in our fifth year of Priority
Improvement (state performance rating)
and we had just received a recommendation
for closure,” said Miller, as she spoke to a
room of educators during the bright spot
visit, many of whom are in similar situations
at their own schools. “It was at that time that
we joined the Turnaround Network, which I
really feel was transformational and laid the
foundation for the changes that needed to
occur”.
It was in partnership with CDE that Betsy
and her staff were able to build systems
and structures to create opportunities for
significant student growth. As part of the
closure recommendation from the state, the
school developed a plan to rapidly change
its performance. The plan included three
major focus areas to improve outcomes for
students: Culture, Instructional Feedback and
Data. Each focus area was implemented,
tracked and reviewed to help the school
identify areas of growth and areas in need of
improvement.
Thornton Elementary created an environment
where all students felt welcomed and
motivated to succeed. They did so by building
consistent routines, creating community
meetings led by student leaders and
providing weekly enrichment opportunities
for students to pursue their passions.
Creating a positive culture was not limited to
students, creating a supportive and inclusive
Betsy and her staff were able to
build systems and structures to
create opportunities for significant
student growth. Thornton
Elementary created an environment
where all students felt welcomed
and motivated to succeed.
culture was also critical for school staff. They
established multiple committees to organize
group activities, class celebrations and even
wellness competitions to create a more positive
experience for everyone.
The increased focus on instructional observation
and data is rooted in the common
belief across all schools in the Five Star District
that every educator can improve their practice
each day.
The dedication to continuous improvement
allowed Betsy and her team to also collaborate
and ultimately focus on creating
opportunities for students to reach their
academic goals through more personalized
learning experiences and increased levels of
support. Thornton Elementary has officially
turned the tide for their students, parents
and community. •
Five Star Journal, Spring 2019 | 9

Special
appearance
by a Denver
Broncos
Fuel Up to
Play 60
Ambassador!
FIVE STAR 5K
8:00 a.m. Kids Fun Run/Roll (1 Mile) $5
8:30 a.m. 5K Run/Walk/Roll $30
($10 registration for students)
Awards ceremony immediately following 5K.
T-shirt, water and chocolate milk included with registration fee.
Event inclusive of all ability levels and is suitable for wheelchairs.
WELLNESS FAIR
8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
REGISTER NOW!
www.adams12.org/fivestar5k
Packet Pick-Up
Thursday, April 18 and Friday, April 19
Educational Support Center
1500 E. 128th Ave., Thornton, CO 80241
Questions? Call (720) 972-6011
Same-day registration available on race day at the
Adams County Fairgrounds from 7:00 -7:45 a.m.
Adams County Fairgrounds
9755 Henderson Road
Brighton, CO 80601
All funds raised will go toward enhancing wellness programs in Adams 12 Five Star Schools.

Trailblazers
Rocky Top Middle School earns
statewide recognition
Rocky Top Middle School was recognized as a 2019
Colorado Trailblazer Schools to Watch by the Colorado
Association of Middle Level Education and the
Colorado Schools to Watch Program. On Wednesday,
March 20, Superintendent Chris Gdowski, along
with members of the Adams 12 Five Star Schools
Superintendent, Executive Director of Middle
Schools and Board of Education members
surprise Rocky Top Middle staff on March 20.
Board of Education and the Executive Director of Middle Schools Tara Pena, surprised Rocky Top
staff with cookies and balloons in celebration of their achievement.
“Rocky Top Middle School excels in providing active and engaging student learning for every
child. They have built a powerful, high-quality middle grades program that is a model for our
state,” said Diane Lauer, state director of the Colorado Schools to Watch program.
Rocky Top is one of more than 100 schools to be recognized nationwide at the National Schools
to Watch Conference on June 28, 2019 in Washington, DC. •
Five Star Journal, Spring 2019 | 11

A collection of photos from events
happening around the district.
1
2
3
5
6
4
7
Tag us in your images on social media using #FiveStarProud.

Left page: (1) Federal Heights Elementary PEAK students met Rigoberta Menchú Tum (2) Hulstrom K-8 Destination
Imagination students earned 3rd place, then headed to state (3) Leroy Elementary staff celebrate Read Across
America (4) Century Middle School visited MLK Memorial (5) McElwain Elementary hosted a daddy-daughter
and mother-son dance (6) The Studio School’s first-grade performance of The Music Man (7) Stargate’s High School
Knowledge Bowl team took 1st place
Right page: Unified Basketball high school teams compete against each other
All photos provided through each school’s social media account.

Student focus group gathered to provide CTE program name feedback.
Brand New
District collects community input as
part of district CTE branding effort
With Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities poised to expand over the next two
years in the Five Star District, community members are being asked to provide their input on a
new brand for the district’s career-focused education programs.
In April 2018, the district formed a CTE Brand Steering Committee of CTE administrators and
educators from across the district to study the potential to bring a unified brand to the district’s
CTE programs.
CTE offers students the opportunity to gain the academic, technical and employability skills
necessary for true career readiness by offering integrated programs of study that link secondary
and post-secondary education and lead to the attainment of industry-recognized credentials.
The desire to link district CTE programs by name, color and core values comes as construction
nears on a brand new CTE campus in the center of the district as well as the start of a planned
two-year renovation of Bollman Technical Education Center in Thornton this spring. But the
need for a unified brand extends beyond dedicated CTE campuses to the programs that live
within the district’s high schools.
“CTE is an incredible educational opportunity for all Five Star students,” explained Hilary
Wimmer, Mountain Range High School business and marketing teacher, who helped spearhead
focus groups for a new brand. “Unfortunately, our current brand is somewhat inconsistent
14 | New CTE Program Branding Effort

and confuses many of our stakeholders. Our
hope is that the branding process will help
develop one, unified CTE brand that can be
clearly communicated. This will help students,
parents and other stakeholders better understand
the CTE programs and opportunities
that are offered at our main CTE campuses and
at each of the high school campuses.”
From October through December 2018, more
than 70 focus groups of staff and students from
across all district high schools were convened.
Group members were asked to relate their own
understanding and knowledge of district CTE
programs through words and themes that they
commonly link with CTE. They were then asked
to provide input on potential colors for a new
brand as well as names.
“Involving stakeholders in the CTE branding
has been the most important part of the
entire process. Our students, parents, and
community members are all passionate about
CTE education and they understand the value
this type of career-focused education provides
for our students,” Wimmer said. “They are the
‘heart’ of CTE education and understand it
best because they have first-hand experience
with many of our programs.”
“I believe that when we involve current CTE
students and staff it makes the program more
unique, unified and individualized,” added
junior student Anna Helfrich. “By surveying
our peers they will help make the program as
successful as possible because they know what
will be best for our new branding and CTE
program.”
In early March, more than 1,600 district staff,
parents, students and community members
“Our hope is that the branding
process will help develop one,
unified CTE brand that can be
clearly communicated. This will
help students, parents and other
stakeholders better understand
the CTE programs and opportunities
that are offered at our main
CTE campuses and at each of the
high school campuses.”
Hilary Wimmer
Mountain Range High School business and marketing teacher
took an online survey to provide similar input
and share their own suggestions for a
CTE brand.
The feedback from the community survey will
be reviewed by the Brand Steering Committee
in the development of CTE name suggestions,
colors and core values. An announcement of
a new CTE brand is anticipated later this year.
While the goal is to create a unified look for
district CTE programming, the district will seek
ways to preserve and incorporate the current
Bollman name – named after former school
board member, Henry Bollman. •
Five Star Journal, Spring 2019 | 15

On the Way!
District begins investing voter-approved funds
based on community’s ELEVATE plan
During the 2017-2018 school year, over 7,000 parents, students, staff and community members
from the Five Star community came together to create a new strategic plan that will continue to
elevate student success for years to come. The new community-driven strategic plan, ELEVATE,
was approved by the Board of Education in fall 2018 and features new goals for the district,
including an increased focus on social-emotional learning, expanded career and technical
education, reducing class sizes, and improvements in technology and teacher salaries, among
other initiatives.
In its commitment to jumpstart the work outlined in the new strategic plan, the Board of Education
prioritized a series of investments aligned to ELEVATE to be featured in a 2018 mill levy
override ballot measure. Thanks to the support of the Five Star community, Ballot Issue 5C
was passed on Nov. 6, 2018, providing $27 million in additional funding to address priorities
aligned to the ELEVATE goals.
Efforts began this spring toward implementing the new strategic plan and fulfilling the priorities
outlined in Ballot Issue 5C.
16 | ELEVATE Update

Highlights include:
• In December 2018, district-level fees for
students at all grade levels were eliminated.
Retroactive to the start of the 2018-2019
school year, families will no longer be asked
to pay district-level fees per child, equating
to between $15-45 per student. Families who
already paid these district-level fees for the
2018-2019 school year received a refund of
their payment.
• A major need and priority was the reduction
of class sizes. Schools are currently planning
their budgets for the 2019-2020 school year
to hire additional teachers. This year, middle
and high schools already have the necessary
funding to pay for additional teachers in
order to reduce class sizes. Two teachers will
be added at all middle schools and three will
be added at all district high schools. Nearly
17 teachers will be added at the elementary
level to address targeted areas with high
class sizes across the district.
• Employees in the Five Star District received a
promised one percent cost-of-living adjustment
(COLA) in January.
• Other staff salary implications are confirmed
but the details are being negotiated in our
Interest-Based Strategies Negotiations,
including increasing new teacher salaries
and increasing the amount of years that
teachers get credit for when transferring
into the district.
• Another major component of the ELEVATE
plan is to increase social-emotional supports
Thanks to the support of the
Five Star community, Ballot Issue 5C
was passed on Nov. 6, 2018,
providing $27 million in additional
funding to address priorities aligned
to the ELEVATE goals.
and learning opportunities for students.
This spring, Social-Emotional Learning Specialists
will be hired to start in August 2019
at elementary, K-8 and middle schools, and
additional counselors will be hired in our
high schools. Schools will begin adopting
and implementing social-emotional curricula
next year.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) is expanding
in the Five Star District thanks to
the 2016 Bond Program which is building
a new CTE site at 124th and Washington. In
addition, Ballot Issue 5C is providing funding
for new pathways and hands-on learning
opportunities for students. Funding will also
be used to hire staff and purchase learning
materials and resources for the new location.
Updates on mill levy override spending and
allocation are ongoing. For more information,
visit www.adams12.org/ELEVATEfunding •
Five Star Journal, Spring 2019 | 17

JOIN
OUR
TEAM
Experience the Five Star Difference
We’re hiring Bus Drivers and Bus Assistants.
• Flexible Hours
• Benefits Package
(with a 20 hour work week)
• Paid Training
• Tuition Reimbursement
Available
Call Transportation with questions at (720) 972-4334.
Apply now! www.adams12.org/careers

Celebrating Strengths
During the 2017-18 school year, Adams 12 Five Star Schools pursued a year-long engagement
process to determine the district’s new strategic plan, ELEVATE. What we discovered through
that process were district strengths as determined through stories from members of our staff
and community. We asked about a time when the district, school or a staff member did right
by a student. When were we at our best? We heard stories of teachers caring for students and
counselors collaborating together. Stories of custodians feeling empowered and of parents
engaging with school staff. Overall, we heard stories that focused on going above and beyond
for the success of all students across our district.
Throughout the process, we compiled stories into categories that revealed our district strengths.
In Adams 12 Five Star Schools, we Care, Collaborate, Empower, Engage and Focus on Students.
It tells us who we are currently, but also challenges us moving forward. How will we continue to
live out our strengths in our communities?
One way to live out our strengths is to continue to tell stories.
You are invited to tell yours today: www.adams12.org/stories
What story will you tell?
Five Star Journal, Spring 2019 | 19

Results are in!
Families provide valuable feedback and schools win prizes
In spring 2019, Adams 12 Five Star Schools families responded in record number to the 2018-19
Family-School Relationships Survey. Nearly 6,200 parents across the Five Star District participated
to provide valuable feedback to schools and the district.
>> View the survey results for your school.
For a fun challenge to encourage families to take the survey, schools competed against other
like schools to receive the most completed surveys. Schools were grouped with other similar
schools by level and demographics, and competed for a chance to win a small amount of fun
money for a celebration with students and families at the schools.
Winners were in two categories: highest percentage of families taking the survey per school
community; and highest percentage of growth between number of families taking the survey
this year versus last year.
HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF SURVEY TAKERS WITHIN EACH
GROUPING BASED ON LEVEL AND DEMOGRAPHICS:
HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF GROWTH
FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR:
Overall winner:
MCELWAIN
ELEMENTARY
VANTAGE
POINT/
CROSSROADS
MIDDLE
LEGACY
HIGH SCHOOL
48%
4%
16%
STEM LAB K-8
38%
SILVER CREEK
ELEMENTARY
47%
41%
THE STUDIO
SCHOOL
45%
43%
THUNDER
VISTA P-8
COYOTE RIDGE
ELEMENTARY
36%
Overall winner:
FEDERAL HEIGHTS
ELEMENTARY
HILLCREST
ELEMENTARY
22%
HULSTROM K-8
MOUNTAIN VIEW
ELEMENTARY
MERIDIAN
ELEMENTARY
NORTH STAR
ELEMENTARY
STEM LAB K-8
THORNTON
ELEMENTARY
ARAPAHOE RIDGE
ELEMENTARY
CORONADO HILLS
ELEMENTARY
8% 8% 7% 7% 7% 6% 5% 5%
Each school will use the feedback from families, alongside their staff feedback, to get a better
sense of how well they are serving families in their communities and ensure the district is
progressing with our ELEVATE strategic plan.
Look for your school to communicate areas of strength and opportunity from the feedback
you provided by the end of the year. •
20 | Family-School Relationship Survey Results

DISTRICT CALENDAR
2018-2019 School Year
Printable versions of the 2018-2019 Year-at-a-Glance are available in both English and Spanish.
*Dates may not apply to district charter schools; please check each school’s calendar for school-specific information.
Adams 12 Five Star Schools
1500 East 128 th Avenue
Thornton, CO 80241
SCHOOL CALENDAR– 2018-2019*
JULY 2018 F First Day of School for Students
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
FS-August 15, 2018 6 th morning; 7 th -8 th afternoon; 9 th ONLY
FE-August 15, 2018 ALL Elementary K-5 and K-8 Report
FS-August 16, 2018 ALL Students K-12 Report
JANUARY 2019
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 6 B 8 9 10 11 12
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 13 14 15 16 17 A 19
L Last Day of School for All Students
May 23, 2019
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
29 30 31 27 28 29 30 31 18
A Elementary Assessment Days
September 4, 2018; January 18, 2019
May 3, 2019
AUGUST 2018 FEBRUARY 2019
W Elementary School Work Days (No School for K-5 Students)
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 1 2
October 11, 2018
February 13, 2019; May 10, 2019* (potential snow day make up)
5 6 7 8 I D 11 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
D Teacher Duty Days (No School for All Students)
August 10, and 14, 2018
December 21, 2018
May 24, 2019
12 I D FS/FE FS 17 18 10 11 12 W B I 16
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
26 27 28 29 30 31 17 24 25 26 27 28 19
SEPTEMBER 2018 MARCH 2019
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
C Teacher Comp Day – All Schools (No School for All Students)
November 19, 2018
1 1 2
I District In-service Days – All Schools (No School for All Students)
August 9, and 13, 2018; February 15, 2019
2 3 A 5 6 7 8 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 10 11 12 13 14 Q 16
B In-Common Release Days – K-8 (No School for K-8 Students)
October 12, 2018
January 7, February 14, and April 1, 2019
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
30 19 31 16
Q Quarters Days
Oct. 12, 2018 42 days
Dec. 20, 2018 43 days
OCTOBER 2018 APRIL 2019
Mar. 15, 2019 47 days
May 23, 2019 43 days
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 B 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 W B/Q 13 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Pupil Count Window ............................ September 24 – October 8, 2018
Calendar Information
Registration of New Students .............. Please Contact Your Local School
School Year Starts, K-9 ................................................... August 15 , 2018
School Year Starts, All Students Report ......................... August 16 , 2018
28 29 30 31 23 28 29 30 22
Labor Day .................................................................. September 3, 2018
Dist. In-Svc. No School-All Students ........ Aug. 9, 13, 2018; Feb. 15, 2019
NOVEMBER 2018 MAY 2019
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
Elem. Assessment Days .................... Sept. 4, 2018; Jan. 18, May 3, 2019
Elementary Work Days ..... Oct. 11, 2018; Feb. 13, 2019; May 10* , 2019
In-Comm. Rel. Days, K-8 ....... Oct. 12, 2018; Jan. 7, Feb. 14, Apr. 1, 2019
1 2 3 1 2 A 4
Teacher Comp Day-No School ................................. November 19 , 2018
Veterans’ Day Observed .......................................... November 12 , 2018
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5 6 7 8 9 W* 11
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Thanksgiving Break .............................................. November 20-23, 2018
18 C 20 21 22 23 24 19 20 21 22 Q/L D 25
25 26 27 28 29 30 17 26 27 28 29 30 31 18
End of First Semester ............................................... December 20, 2018
Teacher Duty Day-No School-All Students ................ December 21, 2018
Winter Break ................................. December 24, 2018- January 4, 2019
High School In-Common Release Day ..............................January 7, 2019
DECEMBER 2018 JUNE 2019
All Students Return from Winter Break ...........................January 8, 2019
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
Martin Luther King Day..................................................January 21, 2019
1 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Presidents’ Day ............................................................February 18, 2019
Spring Break .............................................................. March 25-29, 2019
Last Day for Students......................................................... May 23 , 2019
Teacher Duty Day ............................................................... May 24, 2019
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 Q D 22 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Memorial Day ..................................................................... May 27, 2019
30 31 15 30
BASE CLOSED ...................................................... August 6-10, 2018
SUMMER BASE OPEN ................................ May 31 – August 3, 2018
BASE OPEN ..................................... August 13, 2018 A.M. and P.M.
*Subject to Revision
Approved January 31, 2018
You can also find the 2019-2020 calendar.
Five Star Journal, Spring 2019 | 21

HOW DOES TESTING
WORK FOR STUDENTS,
AND WHAT DOES
IT MEAN?
WHAT DO
YOU DO
TO KEEP
MY KIDS
SAFE?
WHERE DOES
THE MONEY
COME FROM
AND WHERE
DOES IT GO?
HOW CAN I MAKE
A DIFFERENCE IN
EDUCATION AT
THE LOCAL AND
STATE LEVEL?
LEARN MORE ABOUT ADAMS 12 FIVE STAR SCHOOLS
Join the Five Star Leadership Academy
The Five Star Leadership Academy provides an opportunity for parents and community
members to learn about public education and make lasting connections with district leaders,
parents and community members.
The program meets once a month from September through May. All meetings take place
from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Educational Support Center (ESC), 1500 E. 128th Ave. in Thornton.
Apply now! Applications due by May 10, 2019
www.adams12.org/FSLA

IN THE NEWS
District continues to elevate graduation rate beyond state average,
sees more students staying in school
In January, the state released the graduation and dropout rates for the Class of 2018. The
Five Star District’s graduation rate continues to improve year-over-year reaching an all-time
high 84.5 percent. Not only did the district see its highest graduation rate across all student
groups and surpass the state average, it also saw the lowest dropout rate in district history.
Read More >
Eight schools in the Five Star District honored with academic
achievement awards from the state [VIDEO]
Eight schools earned academic achievement awards form the Colorado Department of
Education (CDE). Two of the eight schools earned two awards and the other six received one
of the following: Centers of Excellence, the Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award
or the John Irwin Award. Read more about the awards and the school recipients.
Legislative Update: State lawmakers face key school funding questions
Many educators and parents hoped they had an answer for Colorado’s school funding challenges
with last November’s proposed Amendment 73. But voters did not approve the plan,
making it the third statewide tax increase for schools to be rejected in less than a decade.
That sent the school finance problem back to the Legislature, which faces three key questions
about paying for education; issues that likely won’t be resolved until April, as the session heads
into its final weeks. 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.
SHARE YOUR NEWS
Help Adams 12 Five Star Schools spread the word about the great things
happening across the district. With more than 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.

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Faces of Five Star Schools
Adams 12 Five Star Schools may extend across five cities and two counties, but we pride
ourselves on being a close-knit community and school district. We are fortunate to have
a strong partnership between students, staff, parents and the community to support our
students’ academic, physical and social-emotional needs.
During the 2018-2019 school year, the Five Star District is highlighting members of the Five
Star community from students to staff and parents to community members. Each week
over the school year, we invite you to get to know the many Faces of Five Star Schools:
www.adams12.org/faces •
Five Star Journal, Spring 2019 | 25

1500 E. 128th Ave., Thornton, CO 80241 | (720) 972-4000
www.adams12.org