End-of-Year Celebrations

End-of-year
CELEBRATIONS

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank our
staff, students and parents for demonstrating
resilience, perseverance and a commitment to
supporting one another during this extraordinary
school year. We faced numerous challenges,
and many twists and turns. But these circumstances
also opened the door for growth and opportunity.
CHRIS GDOWSKI
Superintendent

A message from the
Superintendent
CHRIS GDOWSKI
Welcome to a well-deserved summer break!
While the 2020-2021 school year is now in the rearview mirror, I wanted to take this
opportunity to thank our staff, students and parents for demonstrating resilience,
perseverance and a commitment to supporting one another during this extraordinary
school year. We faced numerous challenges, and many twists and turns. But these circumstances
also opened the door for growth and opportunity.
As we celebrated the graduation of more than 2,300 seniors at North Stadium in May, I
was reminded of how “hopeful” I am for this young generation. They have demonstrated
tenacity, nimbleness and strength. There’s no textbook that can teach these life skills.
Thank you to the staff and parents who supported them along the way.
Here are just a few stories from this past school year that exemplify the hope I have as we
head into summer.
• Amora, a STEM Launch student, saved her own money to create birthday cake kits
for families in need so every student can enjoy their special day.
• Shadow Ridge and Rocky Top students Aleaha, Abby and Samantha embody what
it means to be positive community members and youth leaders in our district. They
are Girl Scouts and recently completed building an ADA compliant archery range
in Thornton. Their Girl Scout Troop earned the Silver Award, which is the highest
honor for Girl Scouts in middle school.
• In the first year of the district’s firefighting program, five seniors have been
accepted into the highly competitive Thornton Fire Youth Outreach program
where they’ll have the opportunity to work alongside Thornton firefighters as they
continue to pursue a career in fire service. Congratulations Jesus Carreon,
Jesse Davis, Dalton Banks, Ashlynn Akard and Antonio Gomez.
Our strengths - Care, Collaborate, Empower, Engage, Focus on Students - remain alive in
the Five Star District. In this publication, you will see more stories of our strengths in action.
Thank you for your continued partnership and best wishes for a great summer break!
3

My favorite thing about this year is
seeing the teachers learning and growing
and trying new things and stepping out
of their comfort zones. They were asking
questions and watching videos, and
working all summer to get ready for this
year...It’s really been a year of just
coming together and making the best
out of a challenging situation.
TRICIA LARUE
Mountain Range High School Teacher
4

Celebrating the
End of the Year
Through all the challenges, and twists and turns this year
presented, our community continued to show up each day to
learn, grow, connect and have fun throughout the school year.
Watch the end-of-the-year video
5

1
5
A collection of photos from across th
hardwork and fun we’ve had
2
3
6
4
7
1. Silver Creek Elementary’s first day of in-person learning in Fall 2020. 2. Students at Arapahoe Ridge Elementary show off their
dioramas about the Oregon Trail. 3. Westgate Community School day of community service. 4. Cherry Drive Elementary’s One
Book One Cherry Drive Literacy Night. 5. First day of in-person learning in Fall 2020 at Rocky Top Middle. 6. Students wish social
worker at Century Middle good luck as he rode his mountain bike for 12 hours straight in a 16 mile loop. 7. Students at Coronado
Hills Elementary cheer on their Nutrition Services staff during School Lunch Hero Day.
6

11
8
e district showing the perseverance,
during a challenging year.
12
13
9
10 14
8. Amazing art by Hulstrom K-8 students. 9. Prospect Ridge Academy third-graders welcomed summer weather with these
beautiful tissue paper flowers. 10. Third-grader Santiago and fourth-grader Hailey represent Stellar Elementary in the 2021
Virtual District Art Show. 11. STEM Launch students showing appreciation to their amazing SRO Officer Mansfield.
12. Thunder Vista P-8 students and mascot celebrate spirit night. 13. Seventh-grade science frog dissection lab at Rocky Top Middle.
14. Admin staff at Silver Hills Middle, with the help of their SRO, show appreciation for their staff by washing their cars.
7

Allan has been parenting his five little
siblings since last March (2020) because
his parents are at work every day. He
called me to figure out how to get them
meals, how to get them computers,
and how to help them log in. You couldn’t
ask for a better big brother.
ELLEN RAFFEL
Silver Hills Middle

Five Star Stories
A collection of good news stories from across the district.
After wondering why
more women don’t play
football, third-grader
at Leroy Elementary
started an all-girls team
FutureForward at
Washington Square
celebrates students for
landing industry jobs
Meridian Elementary
students honor World
Health Week with
message for nurses
and doctors
9News honored
Westview Elementary’s
office manager as a
local Wonder Woman
Student from Thunder
Vista P-8 earns trip to
Johnson Space Center
in Houston
Food for Hope helps
provide students and
families districtwide
with nutritious food
Read these and other Five Star Stories at goodnews.adams12.org
9

These students from Mountain Range joined
our virtual Wednesday tutoring sessions to
help Silver Hills Middle students with their
academics in math, language arts, science,
social studies and Spanish. They tutored over
60 students between March 3-May 5 and showed
tremendous kindness, understanding, organization
and maturity during each and every session.
SARAH MYERS
Silver Hills Middle

Five Star Engage
Engagement is defined as building strong relationships between
students, teachers, families and the school. By highlighting successes
and the creative ways that individuals are demonstrating school
engagement, Student Engagement Initiatives hoped to encourage
and develop strong connections between schools and the broader
community. Student engagement is a key element of a positive
school climate, with a large body of research linking it to academic
achievement.
Find more recognitions at www.adams12.org/FiveStarEngage
11

I had an amazing para who helped me
through the school year. I went from having
passing grades to then becoming
the December 2020 Science Student of the
Semester, I earned three Hawk Pride Awards
and I was mentioned on Five Star Stories.
Tenth-grade might have started off on the
wrong step, but then it made a comeback and
became one of my best years in school.
AYDEN MARTINEZ
Horizon High School Student

494
GRADUATING
SENIORS

It’s just like when adults are working at
home, they create their own area. That’s
what Greg Waller (Industrial Arts Teacher)
has done. By giving them this desk! When he
first embarked on this project, he thought he
would make four desks. By the time winter
break rolled around, he had built 20.
JAMI MILLER
Westlake Middle Principal

*Full scholarship to ROTC program of choice
498
GRADUATING
SENIORS

Seeing that we were in a tough situation,
Olivia saw a need and offered to help fill it.
To have a high school senior step up to help
us out was more than any principal could
ask for. Olivia asked if she could rearrange
her schedule so that she could give up
her free hour to come in and act as a
teaching assistant for the class, helping out
with some of the lessons that are easier
done in person than on a remote setting.
TIFFANY HANSEN
Mountain Range High School Principal

392
GRADUATING
SENIORS

Delanie Davey, who graduated magna
cum laude from Front Range Community
College, is among the first graduating class
of P>TECH students at Northglenn High
School. Three graduated this spring, and
two more finish up with summer and will
move on to work for Lumen.

380
GRADUATING
SENIORS

My goal was to purchase two books per
student, starting with back to school night.
After posting on my Facebook and
Instagram, I raised over $1,100 and have
bought over 200 books. I still have money
left over so students will get to buy a
summer book, too! I was blown away
because I truly thought I was only going
to get two books per student!
TAYLOR LEDERMAN
Cherry Drive Elementary Learning Specialist

280
GRADUATING
SENIORS

Scholarship
Honors
Getting to graduation is a true testament
of not only the student’s hard work,
but that of the families, teachers and
community members who helped them
gain the knowledge and skills necessary
to pursue a future of their choosing.
This educational teamwork, yet again,
proved a success with select graduates
from district high schools earning
scholarships. Here are only a few of
the honors from the Class of 2021 –
congratulations to each and every
graduate for their accomplishments
during their time at Five Star Schools.

Daniels Fund Scholarship Recipients
The Power of One Charity
Scholarship Recipients
FAWAD AHMADZAI
Stargate School
GRACE KATHERINE POLLOCK
Horizon High School
HORIZON HIGH SCHOOL
Michael Cruz
Sarah Le
Grace Pollock
Kevin Ramirez
Savanna Tiddark
NORTHGLENN HIGH SCHOOL
Briana Cordova
Hmayal Shaw
THORNTON HIGH SCHOOL
Amna Khamosh
Carlos Ortega
VANTAGE POINT HIGH SCHOOL
Madison Hoffman
MARCO ANTONIO RENTERIA
Northglenn High School
Boettcher Scholarship
Recipient
MARGOT SWETICH
Northglenn High School
RACHEL ANN CHAGNON
Northglenn High School
Air Force Academy
Appointment
GIOVANNI QUINTANILLA
Northglenn High School
Aim for the Stars
Scholarship Recipients
HORIZON HIGH SCHOOL
Cristal De La Torre
Gabriella Liberati
Grace Marquez
Maxson Boyer
Sarah Le
LEGACY HIGH SCHOOL
Jason Allen
Jennifer Juarez Hernandez
MOUNTAIN RANGE HIGH SCHOOL
Faith Jones
Hannah Chavez
Quyen Bui
NORTHGLENN HIGH SCHOOL
Alyssa Baca
Denisse Andrea Larrasolo Lo
Briana Cordova
Eila Cansler
Spencer Case
Yahir Coronado Herrera
THORNTON HIGH SCHOOL
Linh Yen Giang
Amna Khamosh
Cinthia Lara
Jennifer X. Lara
Nicole Martinez
Congratulations!
23

Shannon [Five Star Education Foundation
Director] made it a point to come to both
our coffee and tea with the principal.
In addition, she invited several community
stakeholders who will help us grow our
school-based pantry which provides many
needed items to our McElwain community
such as food, clothing and hygiene needs.
SARA OLSON
McElwain Elementary
The Five Star District is here for you if you’re in need. There are 27 schools throughout
the district that have resource closets filled with food, clothes, household items,
baby essentials, hygiene products and other necessities. Families can “go shopping”
for items (free of charge) they might need due to hardships they are facing as a
result of the pandemic. The resource closets were made possible by the support of the
Five Star Education Foundation and are coordinated by the district’s Office of Whole
Child Initiatives.

25
206
GRADUATING
SENIORS

Since March of last year, our Nutrition
Services staff have served over 4 million
meals! This has been a tough year with
many changes, and the staff have gone
above and beyond to ensure our students
have a warm meal, whether they are
learning in person, learning remotely,
or community families visiting one of
our high school distribution locations...
We couldn’t be more thankful for the hard
work they have put into this school year!
ASHLEY BURKE
Nutrition Services Supervisor
26

*Full scholarship to ROTC program 27 of choice
56
GRADUATING
SENIORS

“Driveway Dreams”
Madison Nicks
Senior
Stargate School
...the talent of our students and the
support of our educators remains up
to the same standards as always.
It’s clear that our educators have been
working closely with our students to help
them be really thoughtful about ways
they can express themselves and you’re
going to see some art that will inspire you,
excite you and that you’re really going
to enjoy tremendously.
CHRIS GDOWSKI
Superintendent
View District
Art Show
28

29
*Not all students pictured

Employees of the Year
This school year we have seen our colleagues
tackle new responsibilities, rise to new heights
to meet the needs of our students and exhibit
strength, resilience and innovation while facing
unprecedented challenges. From teachers to
custodians, principals to counselors, the many
different roles and responsibilities of Five Star
employees ELEVATE student success in every
classroom, every day.
Adams 12 Five Star Schools, in partnership
with the District Twelve Educators’ Association
(DTEA) and the Classified School Employees’
Association (CSEA), announce the 2021
employees of the year for the Five Star District!
30

W
I
N
N
E
R
S
Strength in Action Award:
CARE
MARA THOMAS
Riverdale Elementary
School Social Worker
Strength in Action Award:
COLLABORATION
CARRIE LACHERMEIER
BASE Programs Operations
Manager
Strength in Action Award:
EMPOWER
STEVE BOGUCKI
Rocky Top Middle
6th Grade Science Teacher
Strength in Action Award:
ENGAGE
AMY STICE-NEVINS
Arapahoe Ridge Elementary
Social Emotional Learning
Specialist
Strength in Action Award:
FOCUS ON STUDENTS
KATE VOGEL
Rocky Mountain Elementary
Principal
Diversity and Equity
Award
ANDRES MARTINEZ
Thornton High School
Social Studies Teacher
Volunteers of the Year
STACY LAMBRIGHT, NATIVITY
MILLER, BRAEDI TAGART
Horizon High School
Substitute of the Year
LOULOU NAJJAR
Vantage Point High School
Classified Employee
of the Year
RAELENE CRUMP
Stukey Elementary
Office Manager
Certified Employee
of the Year
GLENN ASHLEY
FutureForward at Washington
Square, Welding Teacher
Administrative Employee
of the Year
TIM GRIFFIN
Glacier Peak Elementary
Principal
View all nominees and watch celebration videos online at
www.adams12.org/2020-21EOTY
31

Promises Kept
Bond work will complete in Summer
2022 with a final round of school roof
replacement projects and any remaining
bond-funded facility maintenance work.
All projects outlined as part of the
original bond plan will be completed as
originally promised.

2020 Highlights What’s Still Ahead: Summer 2021
Completion and opening of FutureForward at Washington
Square, the district’s second career and technical education
campus.
Turf replacement project at North Stadium and new artificial
surfaces at Horizon and Mountain Range high schools and
Pathways Futures Center.
Start of roof replacement/restoration projects including
BEST Grant-funded roof replacement at Thornton Middle
School.
Kitchen renovation and modernization at Vantage Point
High School.
Final round of school interior renovation projects and
safety upgrades (Coronado Hills, Meridian, Prairie Hills,
Silver Creek and Stellar elementary schools, Silver Hills and
Rocky Top middle schools, Mountain Range High School
and Pathways Futures Center).
Completion of $20 million, 100-mile district fiber network.
Project will connect district schools and facilities on a district-managed
network and meet the internet connectivity
needs of the district for years to come.
Phase 1 of the $6 million renovation of Five Star Stadium
including new bleachers, upgrades to stadium facilities and
new front entry.
Critical plumbing repair projects at six of the district’s older
schools (Malley Drive, Leroy, Hillcrest, McElwain and Rocky
Mountain elementary schools, The Studio School and
Hulstrom K-8).
Completion of two-year renovation of district’s original
career and technical education campus, FutureForward at
Bollman.
Playground improvement projects (Eagleview and Coyote
Ridge elementary schools).
Roof replacement/restoration projects at 10 district
schools and facilities including a full roof replacement at
Northglenn High School funded with a matching $1.7M
state BEST Grant.
New Master Planning Process
Even as the 2016 Bond Program begins to reach its final
phases, work has started on a plan to address the next
generation of district programming and facility needs.
A completed master plan is tentatively scheduled to be
finished in early 2022. The finished plan could be used as
a foundation for the Five Star Schools Board of Education
to consider presenting future bond funding proposals to
district voters.
Want to be part of the
Master Plan creation process?
Five Star Schools is looking for district parents
and community members interested in joining its
Long Range Planning and Advisory Committee. Get more
information at www.adams12.org/committees.
Investing in every student, every school, every community
www.adams12.org/bond
33

Continuing to
ELEVATE
Thanks to the support of the Five Star
community, Ballot Issue 5C was passed
on November 6, 2018. The Ballot Issue
represents a funding measure to jump-start
priorities identified through our
strategic plan ELEVATE. We continue
to make strides in fulfilling our plan
to elevate student success in every
classroom, every day.
www.adams12.org/ELEVATE
34

Prioritized Investments
for the district’s strategic plan — ELEVATE.
SPRING 2021 UPDATE
Reduce class sizes and increase high school course options
Elementary: Add 16.5 teachers districtwide to address class sizes above targeted levels
Middle: Add 2 teachers per building
High: Add 3 teachers per building
$ 4,594,671
Additional teachers to reduce class size were hired and
assigned to schools in the fall of 2019.
Update learning materials, resources and textbooks $ 1,528,500
Expand Career and Technical Education (CTE) programming $ 2,241,800
Add academic interventionists at elementary and K-8 schools $ 1,472,455
Increase early career educator salary and compensation across all
experience levels to remain competitive in the market
Increase experience credit to 10 years to better recruit
veteran teachers
$
$
3,259,781
$509,500
Develop and implement a new program for teacher leadership $ 1,528,500
Implement 1% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for all staff $ 3,433,292
These funds were used to replace outdated textbooks
and learning materials to align with current content
standards and 21st century learning.
These funds include support for a director, a coordinator,
curriculum and other materials for CTE expansion.
Expansion allows an additional 350 students to
participate in CTE offerings.
There is a .5 Academic Interventionist allocated to each
of our elementary and K-8 schools, which provides
support to nearly 800 elementary students.
Starting salary was increased, putting us third in our
metro-area comparison group and 2.1% above the
average starting salary.
In the past two years, since resuming the acceptance of
10 years service credit, we hired 193 certified employees
with 7 or more years of experience. This is a 31% increase
over the prior two years when we only accepted 6 years.
The IBS Negotiations Team continues to work on the
development of this job description.
Complete. Effective January 2019.
Implement salary adjustments for identified administrative and
classified (support staff) roles to remain competitive in the market
$ 152,850
Complete. Effective January 2019.
Add counselors and social workers to schools at all levels $ 3,512,493
Develop and implement social-emotional learning curriculum $ 407,600
Expand preschool to new locations $ 713,300
Add a member to the district crisis response team $ 101,900
Install facility access cards at high schools $ 305,700
Add additional campus supervisors at high school
(2 per comprehensive high school
$ 407,600
Reduce district-level student fees $ 1,120,900
Update technology devices and systems $ 152,850
Allocate resources to district charter schools based on enrollment $ 2,812,159
We added 54 FTE to our campuses to support social/
emotional wellbeing, a combination of Social Emotional
Learning Specialists, School Counselors, and SSS Mental
Health Providers.
In January of 2020 the BOE approved seven social/
emotional learning programs for our K-8 schools. These
include,Second Step, PATHS, Random Acts of Kindness,
Top Twenty, School Connect, Zones of Regulation and
Owning Up (Cultures of Dignity).
The expansion at these identified sites has resulted
in an increase of 21 staff members and an additional
390 students served in our preschool program
New staff member hired effective July 2019
Electronic access control was added at high school
exterior doors to support secured campuses starting in
the 2019-20 school year.
Funding for new campus supervisors added to high
school budgets for 2019-20.
Complete. Families are no longer charged
district-level fees. Those who already paid a fee
this year were reimbursed.
Funding was used to update and replace student
Chromebooks across the district.
Charter began to see their funding in June 2019.
TOTAL: $28,255,851
Revised May 2021
21 ST CENTURY
LEARNERS
DIVERSE
LEARNING
OUTSIDE-
THE-CLASSROOM
LEARNING
SAFE
SCHOOLS
SOCIAL-
EMOTIONAL
LEARNING
WORLD-CLASS
STAFF
35
*Original estimated cost was $27,000,000 but the mill allows for inflation

1500 E. 128th Ave., Thornton, CO 80241 | (720) 972-4000
www.adams12.org
@Adams12
FiveStarSchools