2019 Spring Five Star Journal
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<strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2019</strong> Vol. 18 | No. 3<br />
www.adams12.org<br />
COVER: UNIFIED<br />
BASKETBALL<br />
See more photos<br />
in <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Snapshots<br />
PAGE 12<br />
Thornton<br />
Elementary is<br />
a bright spot in<br />
our community<br />
PAGE 8<br />
New branding efforts in<br />
process for the district<br />
CTE program<br />
PAGE 14<br />
See how we’re<br />
celebrating our<br />
district strengths<br />
PAGE 19<br />
Cover photo by: Mountain Range High School<br />
SEE SCHOOL WINNERS IN THE FAMILY-SCHOOL RELATIONSHIP SURVEY | PAGE 20
News <strong>Journal</strong><br />
Vol. 18 | No. 3 | <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />
Connecting you<br />
to your <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Schools<br />
News <strong>Journal</strong><br />
Official Sponsor of<br />
the <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> <strong>Journal</strong><br />
Communications Services<br />
1500 E. 128th Ave.<br />
Thornton, CO 80241<br />
(720) 972-4156<br />
www.adams12.org<br />
Board of Education<br />
Kathy Plomer<br />
Laura Mitchell<br />
Norm Jennings<br />
Brian Batz<br />
Jamey Lockley<br />
Adams 12 <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Schools is a caring, inclusive and<br />
engaging district which exists so the students it serves<br />
can attain the knowledge and skills necessary to<br />
pursue the future of their choosing and are equipped<br />
to navigate and thrive in our rapidly changing world.
IN THIS ISSUE<br />
5 Board Message<br />
8 Elementary School Feature:<br />
Bright Spot<br />
11 Middle School Feature:<br />
Trailblazers<br />
12 <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Snapshots<br />
14 New CTE Program Branding Effort<br />
16 On the way: ELEVATE Update<br />
19 Celebrating Strengths<br />
20 Family-School Relationship Survey Results<br />
21 District Calendar<br />
23 In the News<br />
25 Faces of <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Schools<br />
<strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> <strong>Journal</strong>, <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | 3
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BOARD MESSAGE<br />
By Kathy Plomer, Board President<br />
Grad Requirements<br />
Board hosts community conversation on new graduation<br />
requirements for class of 2021 and beyond<br />
It’s spring and graduation season is nearly upon us! We will celebrate 11 graduations this<br />
May – five at our comprehensive high schools, two at our alternative campuses and four at<br />
our charter schools. All together more than 2,000 students will graduate from our schools this<br />
year. We are proud of their accomplishments and look forward to what is next for them!<br />
We’re #<strong>Five</strong><strong>Star</strong>Proud that our high schools are graduating more students than ever before.<br />
Adams 12 <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Schools four-year on-time graduation rate continues to rise, reaching 84.5<br />
percent for the Class of 2018. This is up more than 11 percentage points from 2010, making it<br />
the district’s highest graduation rate since the state changed how the rate is calculated. The<br />
<strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> District surpassed the state average of 80.7 percent, as reported by the Colorado<br />
Department of Education (CDE).<br />
Graduates of the Class of <strong>2019</strong> and next year’s Class of 2020 will be the last students to receive<br />
their diploma under the current graduation requirements. New graduation requirements for<br />
the Class of 2021 and beyond were developed in response to the Colorado State Legislature<br />
passing House Bill 07-1118 requiring the development of State High School Graduation<br />
Guidelines. The Graduation Guidelines include the following two components:<br />
• High school students will be required to achieve credits and coursework approved by<br />
the district’s board of education.<br />
-AND-<br />
• High school students must demonstrate college and career readiness in both English<br />
and mathematics by achieving a minimum score in at least ONE of the College and<br />
Career Readiness Demonstrations.<br />
On March 6, the Board of Education held a conversation with parents and the community about<br />
the new graduation requirements that are in place for the Class of 2021 (this year’s sophomores)<br />
and how the district will assure students meet them. The biggest change statewide with the<br />
<strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> <strong>Journal</strong>, <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | 5
new graduation requirements is that students will need to demonstrate their competency<br />
in English language arts and math through specific readiness measures in addition to<br />
completing course requirements. The March 6 meeting provided an opportunity to hear<br />
about all the ways students could demonstrate their competency to earn their diplomas.<br />
Some of those measures are familiar to most families, like the ACT and SAT. Other ways<br />
students could demonstrate competency include:<br />
• Accuplacer<br />
• ACT WorkKeys<br />
• Advanced Placement (AP)<br />
• ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)<br />
• Concurrent Enrollment<br />
• Industry Certificate<br />
• International Baccalaureate (IB)<br />
• District Capstone<br />
Each of these readiness demonstrations has either scores or standards that students must<br />
meet. Visit the district website for descriptions and required scores for all of these various<br />
methods.<br />
The <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> District, in partnership with the Big Idea Project, is currently piloting a Capstone<br />
course at Horizon and Mountain Range high schools. Within the Capstone course, each<br />
student will complete a mentored project resulting in a professional portfolio highlighting<br />
their skills and competencies. More information regarding the Capstone course will become<br />
available as participating students complete their final projects and are able to provide<br />
feedback on the course. The district intends to provide similar Capstone courses at all five<br />
comprehensive high schools during the <strong>2019</strong>-20 school year.<br />
Parents are encouraged to visit the district website to learn more about these new graduation<br />
requirements. Additionally, as you have questions about your child’s progress toward<br />
meeting these new graduation requirements, I encourage you to reach out to their high<br />
school counselor. •<br />
6 | Board Message
GRADUATING CLASS<br />
of 2021 and Beyond<br />
The new graduation requirements for the Class of 2021 and beyond focus on two areas:<br />
Credits and Coursework and College and Career Readiness Demonstrations.<br />
1 CREDITS AND COURSEWORK 2<br />
High school students will complete 23 credits in the<br />
following coursework to graduate:<br />
4 English<br />
3 Mathematics<br />
3 Social Studies<br />
(1.0 United States History, 0.5 Government)<br />
3 Science<br />
(2 lab-based credits)<br />
1 Physical Education*<br />
(0.5 Health)<br />
NO Physical Education Waiver available<br />
2 Fine & Practical Arts<br />
(Music, Art, Theater, Career & Technical Education,<br />
World Language)<br />
7 Electives*<br />
COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS<br />
DEMONSTRATIONS<br />
High school students must demonstrate college<br />
and career readiness in English and mathematics by<br />
achieving a minimum score or grade in at least ONE<br />
of the following assessment demonstrations*:<br />
• Accuplacer<br />
• ACT<br />
• ACT Work Keys<br />
• Advanced Placement (AP)<br />
• ASVAB<br />
• Concurrent Enrollment<br />
• Collaboratively Developed Assessment<br />
• District Capstone<br />
• Industry Certificate<br />
• International Baccalaureate (IB)<br />
• SAT<br />
*New requirement beginning with the Class of 2021<br />
*Students are not required to achieve a minimum score for English<br />
and mathematics in the same assessment demonstration<br />
WHAT ARE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS DEMONSTRATIONS?<br />
College and Career Readiness Demonstrations are assessments, assignments or classes in which students<br />
can demonstrate proficiency in both English and mathematics. By achieving a minimum score or grade in<br />
AT LEAST ONE of the demonstrations AND completing the coursework listed above, students will become<br />
eligible to graduate beginning with the Class of 2021 and beyond.<br />
Details and ongoing updates available at<br />
www.adams12.org/graduation-requirements<br />
<strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> <strong>Journal</strong>, <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | 7
Bright Spot<br />
Near closure leads to unprecedented<br />
turnaround at Thornton Elementary<br />
School<br />
In February, Betsy Miller, principal at Thornton<br />
Elementary School, stood alongside her assistant<br />
principal and two instructional coaches as they<br />
presented to the state Turnaround Network — a<br />
network of educators focused on accelerating student<br />
achievement in lower performing schools — about<br />
Principal Betsy Miller (far right) and team<br />
present to the state Turnaround Network.<br />
the professional practices that led to significant academic growth by Thornton Elementary<br />
students. Last year, the school was recognized by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE)<br />
as a “Performance” rated school, a much different perspective from four years ago when CDE<br />
recommended the school for closure.<br />
Each year, CDE takes the opportunity to bring educators together from across the state to<br />
participate in a “bright spot visit” to learn from schools that have demonstrated excellence in<br />
their service to students. This year, Thornton Elementary was one of the schools highlighted.<br />
But the path was not always bright for Betsy and her staff. In fact, it was quite dark four<br />
years ago as the schools performance rating was near the bottom in the state of Colorado,<br />
8 | Elementary School Feature
enrollment was down and school culture<br />
was suffering.<br />
“We were in our fifth year of Priority<br />
Improvement (state performance rating)<br />
and we had just received a recommendation<br />
for closure,” said Miller, as she spoke to a<br />
room of educators during the bright spot<br />
visit, many of whom are in similar situations<br />
at their own schools. “It was at that time that<br />
we joined the Turnaround Network, which I<br />
really feel was transformational and laid the<br />
foundation for the changes that needed to<br />
occur”.<br />
It was in partnership with CDE that Betsy<br />
and her staff were able to build systems<br />
and structures to create opportunities for<br />
significant student growth. As part of the<br />
closure recommendation from the state, the<br />
school developed a plan to rapidly change<br />
its performance. The plan included three<br />
major focus areas to improve outcomes for<br />
students: Culture, Instructional Feedback and<br />
Data. Each focus area was implemented,<br />
tracked and reviewed to help the school<br />
identify areas of growth and areas in need of<br />
improvement.<br />
Thornton Elementary created an environment<br />
where all students felt welcomed and<br />
motivated to succeed. They did so by building<br />
consistent routines, creating community<br />
meetings led by student leaders and<br />
providing weekly enrichment opportunities<br />
for students to pursue their passions.<br />
Creating a positive culture was not limited to<br />
students, creating a supportive and inclusive<br />
Betsy and her staff were able to<br />
build systems and structures to<br />
create opportunities for significant<br />
student growth. Thornton<br />
Elementary created an environment<br />
where all students felt welcomed<br />
and motivated to succeed.<br />
culture was also critical for school staff. They<br />
established multiple committees to organize<br />
group activities, class celebrations and even<br />
wellness competitions to create a more positive<br />
experience for everyone.<br />
The increased focus on instructional observation<br />
and data is rooted in the common<br />
belief across all schools in the <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> District<br />
that every educator can improve their practice<br />
each day.<br />
The dedication to continuous improvement<br />
allowed Betsy and her team to also collaborate<br />
and ultimately focus on creating<br />
opportunities for students to reach their<br />
academic goals through more personalized<br />
learning experiences and increased levels of<br />
support. Thornton Elementary has officially<br />
turned the tide for their students, parents<br />
and community. •<br />
<strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> <strong>Journal</strong>, <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | 9
Special<br />
appearance<br />
by a Denver<br />
Broncos<br />
Fuel Up to<br />
Play 60<br />
Ambassador!<br />
FIVE STAR 5K<br />
8:00 a.m. Kids Fun Run/Roll (1 Mile) $5<br />
8:30 a.m. 5K Run/Walk/Roll $30<br />
($10 registration for students)<br />
Awards ceremony immediately following 5K.<br />
T-shirt, water and chocolate milk included with registration fee.<br />
Event inclusive of all ability levels and is suitable for wheelchairs.<br />
WELLNESS FAIR<br />
8 a.m. to 11 a.m.<br />
REGISTER NOW!<br />
www.adams12.org/fivestar5k<br />
Packet Pick-Up<br />
Thursday, April 18 and Friday, April 19 <br />
Educational Support Center<br />
1500 E. 128th Ave., Thornton, CO 80241<br />
Questions? Call (720) 972-6011<br />
Same-day registration available on race day at the<br />
Adams County Fairgrounds from 7:00 -7:45 a.m.<br />
Adams County Fairgrounds<br />
9755 Henderson Road<br />
Brighton, CO 80601<br />
All funds raised will go toward enhancing wellness programs in Adams 12 <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Schools.
Trailblazers<br />
Rocky Top Middle School earns<br />
statewide recognition<br />
Rocky Top Middle School was recognized as a <strong>2019</strong><br />
Colorado Trailblazer Schools to Watch by the Colorado<br />
Association of Middle Level Education and the<br />
Colorado Schools to Watch Program. On Wednesday,<br />
March 20, Superintendent Chris Gdowski, along<br />
with members of the Adams 12 <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Schools<br />
Superintendent, Executive Director of Middle<br />
Schools and Board of Education members<br />
surprise Rocky Top Middle staff on March 20.<br />
Board of Education and the Executive Director of Middle Schools Tara Pena, surprised Rocky Top<br />
staff with cookies and balloons in celebration of their achievement.<br />
“Rocky Top Middle School excels in providing active and engaging student learning for every<br />
child. They have built a powerful, high-quality middle grades program that is a model for our<br />
state,” said Diane Lauer, state director of the Colorado Schools to Watch program.<br />
Rocky Top is one of more than 100 schools to be recognized nationwide at the National Schools<br />
to Watch Conference on June 28, <strong>2019</strong> in Washington, DC. •<br />
<strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> <strong>Journal</strong>, <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | 11
A collection of photos from events<br />
happening around the district.<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
5<br />
6<br />
4<br />
7<br />
Tag us in your images on social media using #<strong>Five</strong><strong>Star</strong>Proud.
Left page: (1) Federal Heights Elementary PEAK students met Rigoberta Menchú Tum (2) Hulstrom K-8 Destination<br />
Imagination students earned 3rd place, then headed to state (3) Leroy Elementary staff celebrate Read Across<br />
America (4) Century Middle School visited MLK Memorial (5) McElwain Elementary hosted a daddy-daughter<br />
and mother-son dance (6) The Studio School’s first-grade performance of The Music Man (7) <strong>Star</strong>gate’s High School<br />
Knowledge Bowl team took 1st place<br />
Right page: Unified Basketball high school teams compete against each other<br />
All photos provided through each school’s social media account.
Student focus group gathered to provide CTE program name feedback.<br />
Brand New<br />
District collects community input as<br />
part of district CTE branding effort<br />
With Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities poised to expand over the next two<br />
years in the <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> District, community members are being asked to provide their input on a<br />
new brand for the district’s career-focused education programs.<br />
In April 2018, the district formed a CTE Brand Steering Committee of CTE administrators and<br />
educators from across the district to study the potential to bring a unified brand to the district’s<br />
CTE programs.<br />
CTE offers students the opportunity to gain the academic, technical and employability skills<br />
necessary for true career readiness by offering integrated programs of study that link secondary<br />
and post-secondary education and lead to the attainment of industry-recognized credentials.<br />
The desire to link district CTE programs by name, color and core values comes as construction<br />
nears on a brand new CTE campus in the center of the district as well as the start of a planned<br />
two-year renovation of Bollman Technical Education Center in Thornton this spring. But the<br />
need for a unified brand extends beyond dedicated CTE campuses to the programs that live<br />
within the district’s high schools.<br />
“CTE is an incredible educational opportunity for all <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> students,” explained Hilary<br />
Wimmer, Mountain Range High School business and marketing teacher, who helped spearhead<br />
focus groups for a new brand. “Unfortunately, our current brand is somewhat inconsistent<br />
14 | New CTE Program Branding Effort
and confuses many of our stakeholders. Our<br />
hope is that the branding process will help<br />
develop one, unified CTE brand that can be<br />
clearly communicated. This will help students,<br />
parents and other stakeholders better understand<br />
the CTE programs and opportunities<br />
that are offered at our main CTE campuses and<br />
at each of the high school campuses.”<br />
From October through December 2018, more<br />
than 70 focus groups of staff and students from<br />
across all district high schools were convened.<br />
Group members were asked to relate their own<br />
understanding and knowledge of district CTE<br />
programs through words and themes that they<br />
commonly link with CTE. They were then asked<br />
to provide input on potential colors for a new<br />
brand as well as names.<br />
“Involving stakeholders in the CTE branding<br />
has been the most important part of the<br />
entire process. Our students, parents, and<br />
community members are all passionate about<br />
CTE education and they understand the value<br />
this type of career-focused education provides<br />
for our students,” Wimmer said. “They are the<br />
‘heart’ of CTE education and understand it<br />
best because they have first-hand experience<br />
with many of our programs.”<br />
“I believe that when we involve current CTE<br />
students and staff it makes the program more<br />
unique, unified and individualized,” added<br />
junior student Anna Helfrich. “By surveying<br />
our peers they will help make the program as<br />
successful as possible because they know what<br />
will be best for our new branding and CTE<br />
program.”<br />
In early March, more than 1,600 district staff,<br />
parents, students and community members<br />
“Our hope is that the branding<br />
process will help develop one,<br />
unified CTE brand that can be<br />
clearly communicated. This will<br />
help students, parents and other<br />
stakeholders better understand<br />
the CTE programs and opportunities<br />
that are offered at our main<br />
CTE campuses and at each of the<br />
high school campuses.”<br />
Hilary Wimmer<br />
Mountain Range High School business and marketing teacher<br />
took an online survey to provide similar input<br />
and share their own suggestions for a<br />
CTE brand.<br />
The feedback from the community survey will<br />
be reviewed by the Brand Steering Committee<br />
in the development of CTE name suggestions,<br />
colors and core values. An announcement of<br />
a new CTE brand is anticipated later this year.<br />
While the goal is to create a unified look for<br />
district CTE programming, the district will seek<br />
ways to preserve and incorporate the current<br />
Bollman name – named after former school<br />
board member, Henry Bollman. •<br />
<strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> <strong>Journal</strong>, <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | 15
On the Way!<br />
District begins investing voter-approved funds<br />
based on community’s ELEVATE plan<br />
During the 2017-2018 school year, over 7,000 parents, students, staff and community members<br />
from the <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> community came together to create a new strategic plan that will continue to<br />
elevate student success for years to come. The new community-driven strategic plan, ELEVATE,<br />
was approved by the Board of Education in fall 2018 and features new goals for the district,<br />
including an increased focus on social-emotional learning, expanded career and technical<br />
education, reducing class sizes, and improvements in technology and teacher salaries, among<br />
other initiatives.<br />
In its commitment to jumpstart the work outlined in the new strategic plan, the Board of Education<br />
prioritized a series of investments aligned to ELEVATE to be featured in a 2018 mill levy<br />
override ballot measure. Thanks to the support of the <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> community, Ballot Issue 5C<br />
was passed on Nov. 6, 2018, providing $27 million in additional funding to address priorities<br />
aligned to the ELEVATE goals.<br />
Efforts began this spring toward implementing the new strategic plan and fulfilling the priorities<br />
outlined in Ballot Issue 5C.<br />
16 | ELEVATE Update
Highlights include:<br />
• In December 2018, district-level fees for<br />
students at all grade levels were eliminated.<br />
Retroactive to the start of the 2018-<strong>2019</strong><br />
school year, families will no longer be asked<br />
to pay district-level fees per child, equating<br />
to between $15-45 per student. Families who<br />
already paid these district-level fees for the<br />
2018-<strong>2019</strong> school year received a refund of<br />
their payment.<br />
• A major need and priority was the reduction<br />
of class sizes. Schools are currently planning<br />
their budgets for the <strong>2019</strong>-2020 school year<br />
to hire additional teachers. This year, middle<br />
and high schools already have the necessary<br />
funding to pay for additional teachers in<br />
order to reduce class sizes. Two teachers will<br />
be added at all middle schools and three will<br />
be added at all district high schools. Nearly<br />
17 teachers will be added at the elementary<br />
level to address targeted areas with high<br />
class sizes across the district.<br />
• Employees in the <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> District received a<br />
promised one percent cost-of-living adjustment<br />
(COLA) in January.<br />
• Other staff salary implications are confirmed<br />
but the details are being negotiated in our<br />
Interest-Based Strategies Negotiations,<br />
including increasing new teacher salaries<br />
and increasing the amount of years that<br />
teachers get credit for when transferring<br />
into the district.<br />
• Another major component of the ELEVATE<br />
plan is to increase social-emotional supports<br />
Thanks to the support of the<br />
<strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> community, Ballot Issue 5C<br />
was passed on Nov. 6, 2018,<br />
providing $27 million in additional<br />
funding to address priorities aligned<br />
to the ELEVATE goals.<br />
and learning opportunities for students.<br />
This spring, Social-Emotional Learning Specialists<br />
will be hired to start in August <strong>2019</strong><br />
at elementary, K-8 and middle schools, and<br />
additional counselors will be hired in our<br />
high schools. Schools will begin adopting<br />
and implementing social-emotional curricula<br />
next year.<br />
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) is expanding<br />
in the <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> District thanks to<br />
the 2016 Bond Program which is building<br />
a new CTE site at 124th and Washington. In<br />
addition, Ballot Issue 5C is providing funding<br />
for new pathways and hands-on learning<br />
opportunities for students. Funding will also<br />
be used to hire staff and purchase learning<br />
materials and resources for the new location.<br />
Updates on mill levy override spending and<br />
allocation are ongoing. For more information,<br />
visit www.adams12.org/ELEVATEfunding •<br />
<strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> <strong>Journal</strong>, <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | 17
JOIN<br />
OUR<br />
TEAM<br />
Experience the <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Difference<br />
We’re hiring Bus Drivers and Bus Assistants.<br />
• Flexible Hours<br />
• Benefits Package<br />
(with a 20 hour work week)<br />
• Paid Training<br />
• Tuition Reimbursement<br />
Available<br />
Call Transportation with questions at (720) 972-4334.<br />
Apply now! www.adams12.org/careers
Celebrating Strengths<br />
During the 2017-18 school year, Adams 12 <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Schools pursued a year-long engagement<br />
process to determine the district’s new strategic plan, ELEVATE. What we discovered through<br />
that process were district strengths as determined through stories from members of our staff<br />
and community. We asked about a time when the district, school or a staff member did right<br />
by a student. When were we at our best? We heard stories of teachers caring for students and<br />
counselors collaborating together. Stories of custodians feeling empowered and of parents<br />
engaging with school staff. Overall, we heard stories that focused on going above and beyond<br />
for the success of all students across our district.<br />
Throughout the process, we compiled stories into categories that revealed our district strengths.<br />
In Adams 12 <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Schools, we Care, Collaborate, Empower, Engage and Focus on Students.<br />
It tells us who we are currently, but also challenges us moving forward. How will we continue to<br />
live out our strengths in our communities?<br />
One way to live out our strengths is to continue to tell stories.<br />
You are invited to tell yours today: www.adams12.org/stories<br />
What story will you tell?<br />
<strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> <strong>Journal</strong>, <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | 19
Results are in!<br />
Families provide valuable feedback and schools win prizes<br />
In spring <strong>2019</strong>, Adams 12 <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Schools families responded in record number to the 2018-19<br />
Family-School Relationships Survey. Nearly 6,200 parents across the <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> District participated<br />
to provide valuable feedback to schools and the district.<br />
>> View the survey results for your school.<br />
For a fun challenge to encourage families to take the survey, schools competed against other<br />
like schools to receive the most completed surveys. Schools were grouped with other similar<br />
schools by level and demographics, and competed for a chance to win a small amount of fun<br />
money for a celebration with students and families at the schools.<br />
Winners were in two categories: highest percentage of families taking the survey per school<br />
community; and highest percentage of growth between number of families taking the survey<br />
this year versus last year.<br />
HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF SURVEY TAKERS WITHIN EACH<br />
GROUPING BASED ON LEVEL AND DEMOGRAPHICS:<br />
HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF GROWTH<br />
FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR:<br />
Overall winner:<br />
MCELWAIN<br />
ELEMENTARY<br />
VANTAGE<br />
POINT/<br />
CROSSROADS<br />
MIDDLE<br />
LEGACY<br />
HIGH SCHOOL<br />
48%<br />
4%<br />
16%<br />
STEM LAB K-8<br />
38%<br />
SILVER CREEK<br />
ELEMENTARY<br />
47%<br />
41%<br />
THE STUDIO<br />
SCHOOL<br />
45%<br />
43%<br />
THUNDER<br />
VISTA P-8<br />
COYOTE RIDGE<br />
ELEMENTARY<br />
36%<br />
Overall winner:<br />
FEDERAL HEIGHTS<br />
ELEMENTARY<br />
HILLCREST<br />
ELEMENTARY<br />
22%<br />
HULSTROM K-8<br />
MOUNTAIN VIEW<br />
ELEMENTARY<br />
MERIDIAN<br />
ELEMENTARY<br />
NORTH STAR<br />
ELEMENTARY<br />
STEM LAB K-8<br />
THORNTON<br />
ELEMENTARY<br />
ARAPAHOE RIDGE<br />
ELEMENTARY<br />
CORONADO HILLS<br />
ELEMENTARY<br />
8% 8% 7% 7% 7% 6% 5% 5%<br />
Each school will use the feedback from families, alongside their staff feedback, to get a better<br />
sense of how well they are serving families in their communities and ensure the district is<br />
progressing with our ELEVATE strategic plan.<br />
Look for your school to communicate areas of strength and opportunity from the feedback<br />
you provided by the end of the year. •<br />
20 | Family-School Relationship Survey Results
DISTRICT CALENDAR<br />
2018-<strong>2019</strong> School Year<br />
Printable versions of the 2018-<strong>2019</strong> Year-at-a-Glance are available in both English and Spanish.<br />
*Dates may not apply to district charter schools; please check each school’s calendar for school-specific information.<br />
Adams 12 <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Schools<br />
1500 East 128 th Avenue<br />
Thornton, CO 80241<br />
SCHOOL CALENDAR– 2018-<strong>2019</strong>*<br />
JULY 2018 F First Day of School for Students<br />
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S<br />
FS-August 15, 2018 6 th morning; 7 th -8 th afternoon; 9 th ONLY<br />
FE-August 15, 2018 ALL Elementary K-5 and K-8 Report<br />
FS-August 16, 2018 ALL Students K-12 Report<br />
JANUARY <strong>2019</strong><br />
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5<br />
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 6 B 8 9 10 11 12<br />
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 13 14 15 16 17 A 19<br />
L Last Day of School for All Students<br />
May 23, <strong>2019</strong><br />
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 20 21 22 23 24 25 26<br />
29 30 31 27 28 29 30 31 18<br />
A Elementary Assessment Days<br />
September 4, 2018; January 18, <strong>2019</strong><br />
May 3, <strong>2019</strong><br />
AUGUST 2018 FEBRUARY <strong>2019</strong><br />
W Elementary School Work Days (No School for K-5 Students)<br />
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S<br />
1 2 3 4 1 2<br />
October 11, 2018<br />
February 13, <strong>2019</strong>; May 10, <strong>2019</strong>* (potential snow day make up)<br />
5 6 7 8 I D 11 3 4 5 6 7 8 9<br />
D Teacher Duty Days (No School for All Students)<br />
August 10, and 14, 2018<br />
December 21, 2018<br />
May 24, <strong>2019</strong><br />
12 I D FS/FE FS 17 18 10 11 12 W B I 16<br />
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 17 18 19 20 21 22 23<br />
26 27 28 29 30 31 17 24 25 26 27 28 19<br />
SEPTEMBER 2018 MARCH <strong>2019</strong><br />
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S<br />
C Teacher Comp Day – All Schools (No School for All Students)<br />
November 19, 2018<br />
1 1 2<br />
I District In-service Days – All Schools (No School for All Students)<br />
August 9, and 13, 2018; February 15, <strong>2019</strong><br />
2 3 A 5 6 7 8 3 4 5 6 7 8 9<br />
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 10 11 12 13 14 Q 16<br />
B In-Common Release Days – K-8 (No School for K-8 Students)<br />
October 12, 2018<br />
January 7, February 14, and April 1, <strong>2019</strong><br />
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 17 18 19 20 21 22 23<br />
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 24 25 26 27 28 29 30<br />
30 19 31 16<br />
Q Quarters Days<br />
Oct. 12, 2018 42 days<br />
Dec. 20, 2018 43 days<br />
OCTOBER 2018 APRIL <strong>2019</strong><br />
Mar. 15, <strong>2019</strong> 47 days<br />
May 23, <strong>2019</strong> 43 days<br />
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S<br />
1 2 3 4 5 6 B 2 3 4 5 6<br />
7 8 9 10 W B/Q 13 7 8 9 10 11 12 13<br />
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 14 15 16 17 18 19 20<br />
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 21 22 23 24 25 26 27<br />
Pupil Count Window ............................ September 24 – October 8, 2018<br />
Calendar Information<br />
Registration of New Students .............. Please Contact Your Local School<br />
School Year <strong>Star</strong>ts, K-9 ................................................... August 15 , 2018<br />
School Year <strong>Star</strong>ts, All Students Report ......................... August 16 , 2018<br />
28 29 30 31 23 28 29 30 22<br />
Labor Day .................................................................. September 3, 2018<br />
Dist. In-Svc. No School-All Students ........ Aug. 9, 13, 2018; Feb. 15, <strong>2019</strong><br />
NOVEMBER 2018 MAY <strong>2019</strong><br />
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S<br />
Elem. Assessment Days .................... Sept. 4, 2018; Jan. 18, May 3, <strong>2019</strong><br />
Elementary Work Days ..... Oct. 11, 2018; Feb. 13, <strong>2019</strong>; May 10* , <strong>2019</strong><br />
In-Comm. Rel. Days, K-8 ....... Oct. 12, 2018; Jan. 7, Feb. 14, Apr. 1, <strong>2019</strong><br />
1 2 3 1 2 A 4<br />
Teacher Comp Day-No School ................................. November 19 , 2018<br />
Veterans’ Day Observed .......................................... November 12 , 2018<br />
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5 6 7 8 9 W* 11<br />
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 12 13 14 15 16 17 18<br />
Thanksgiving Break .............................................. November 20-23, 2018<br />
18 C 20 21 22 23 24 19 20 21 22 Q/L D 25<br />
25 26 27 28 29 30 17 26 27 28 29 30 31 18<br />
End of First Semester ............................................... December 20, 2018<br />
Teacher Duty Day-No School-All Students ................ December 21, 2018<br />
Winter Break ................................. December 24, 2018- January 4, <strong>2019</strong><br />
High School In-Common Release Day ..............................January 7, <strong>2019</strong><br />
DECEMBER 2018 JUNE <strong>2019</strong><br />
All Students Return from Winter Break ...........................January 8, <strong>2019</strong><br />
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S<br />
Martin Luther King Day..................................................January 21, <strong>2019</strong><br />
1 1<br />
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 2 3 4 5 6 7 8<br />
Presidents’ Day ............................................................February 18, <strong>2019</strong><br />
<strong>Spring</strong> Break .............................................................. March 25-29, <strong>2019</strong><br />
Last Day for Students......................................................... May 23 , <strong>2019</strong><br />
Teacher Duty Day ............................................................... May 24, <strong>2019</strong><br />
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 9 10 11 12 13 14 15<br />
16 17 18 19 Q D 22 16 17 18 19 20 21 22<br />
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 23 24 25 26 27 28 29<br />
Memorial Day ..................................................................... May 27, <strong>2019</strong><br />
30 31 15 30<br />
BASE CLOSED ...................................................... August 6-10, 2018<br />
SUMMER BASE OPEN ................................ May 31 – August 3, 2018<br />
BASE OPEN ..................................... August 13, 2018 A.M. and P.M.<br />
*Subject to Revision<br />
Approved January 31, 2018<br />
You can also find the <strong>2019</strong>-2020 calendar.<br />
<strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> <strong>Journal</strong>, <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | 21
HOW DOES TESTING<br />
WORK FOR STUDENTS,<br />
AND WHAT DOES<br />
IT MEAN?<br />
WHAT DO<br />
YOU DO<br />
TO KEEP<br />
MY KIDS<br />
SAFE?<br />
WHERE DOES<br />
THE MONEY<br />
COME FROM<br />
AND WHERE<br />
DOES IT GO?<br />
HOW CAN I MAKE<br />
A DIFFERENCE IN<br />
EDUCATION AT<br />
THE LOCAL AND<br />
STATE LEVEL?<br />
LEARN MORE ABOUT ADAMS 12 FIVE STAR SCHOOLS<br />
Join the <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Leadership Academy<br />
The <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Leadership Academy provides an opportunity for parents and community<br />
members to learn about public education and make lasting connections with district leaders,<br />
parents and community members.<br />
The program meets once a month from September through May. All meetings take place<br />
from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Educational Support Center (ESC), 1500 E. 128th Ave. in Thornton.<br />
Apply now! Applications due by May 10, <strong>2019</strong><br />
www.adams12.org/FSLA
IN THE NEWS<br />
District continues to elevate graduation rate beyond state average,<br />
sees more students staying in school<br />
In January, the state released the graduation and dropout rates for the Class of 2018. The<br />
<strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> District’s graduation rate continues to improve year-over-year reaching an all-time<br />
high 84.5 percent. Not only did the district see its highest graduation rate across all student<br />
groups and surpass the state average, it also saw the lowest dropout rate in district history.<br />
Read More ><br />
Eight schools in the <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> District honored with academic<br />
achievement awards from the state [VIDEO]<br />
Eight schools earned academic achievement awards form the Colorado Department of<br />
Education (CDE). Two of the eight schools earned two awards and the other six received one<br />
of the following: Centers of Excellence, the Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Award<br />
or the John Irwin Award. Read more about the awards and the school recipients.<br />
Legislative Update: State lawmakers face key school funding questions<br />
Many educators and parents hoped they had an answer for Colorado’s school funding challenges<br />
with last November’s proposed Amendment 73. But voters did not approve the plan,<br />
making it the third statewide tax increase for schools to be rejected in less than a decade.<br />
That sent the school finance problem back to the Legislature, which faces three key questions<br />
about paying for education; issues that likely won’t be resolved until April, as the session heads<br />
into its final weeks. Read More ><br />
These are excerpts of stories — visit www.adams12.org to read these stories in<br />
their entirety and others highlighting student, school and community success.<br />
SHARE YOUR NEWS<br />
Help Adams 12 <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Schools spread the word about the great things<br />
happening across the district. With more than 39,000 students across<br />
five cities in 54 schools, we need your help in sharing the exciting events,<br />
initiatives and success stories happening at your child’s school. Submit<br />
your good news story: www.adams12.org/share-your-news.
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Faces of <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Schools<br />
Adams 12 <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Schools may extend across five cities and two counties, but we pride<br />
ourselves on being a close-knit community and school district. We are fortunate to have<br />
a strong partnership between students, staff, parents and the community to support our<br />
students’ academic, physical and social-emotional needs.<br />
During the 2018-<strong>2019</strong> school year, the <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> District is highlighting members of the <strong>Five</strong><br />
<strong>Star</strong> community from students to staff and parents to community members. Each week<br />
over the school year, we invite you to get to know the many Faces of <strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Schools:<br />
www.adams12.org/faces •<br />
<strong>Five</strong> <strong>Star</strong> <strong>Journal</strong>, <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | 25
1500 E. 128th Ave., Thornton, CO 80241 | (720) 972-4000<br />
www.adams12.org