22,694
TOTAL STUDENT MEMBERSHIP AS OF OCTOBER 2021
13TH
LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN COLORADO
84.1%
OF OUR STUDENTS GRADUATE ON TIME
(UP 2.1% FROM LAST YEAR AND EXCEEDING THE STATE AVERAGE OF 81.7%)
97
STUDENTS WERE NAMED ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCHOLARS
2,703
OUR MISSION
District 6 engages every student in a personalized, well-rounded and excellent education, preparing students to be college and career ready.
OUR VISION District 6 engages, empowers and inspires today’s students in partnership with families and communities to succeed in tomorrow’s world.
OUR VALUES AND BELIEFS • Our students come first. • We know every child can achieve. • We believe diversity is a strength. • We ensure safe, secure and healthy schools. • We build positive relationships with students, families and communities. • We promote access, opportunity and choice. • We commit to hiring and retaining quality staff. • We commit to excellence, innovation and continuous improvement.
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WORK AT DISTRICT 6
(ONE OF THE TOP NON-RETAIL EMPLOYERS IN WELD COUNTY)
19,650
MEALS ARE SERVED ON AVERAGE DAILY AT OUR SCHOOL SITES
78
DIFFERENT LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN IN DISTRICT 6
Our District 6 Board of Education
Michael Mathews President
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Terri Pappas Vice-President
Kyle Bently Director
Natalie Mash Director
Pepper Mueller Director
Rob Norwood Director
Taylor Sullivan Director
A Message from our District Leadership Team
Our students come first. That is the first value and belief listed in Innovation2030, the newly revised strategic plan for Greeley-Evans School District 6. It is the value that guides the work of our staff and Board of Education every day. It is the reason we come to work. It is our primary consideration when making decisions. Our students in District 6 have to come first because we exist to serve them, educate them, support them and assist them in reaching their goals and dreams. In this Report to the Community, you are going to meet a few of the nearly 23,000 incredible students we are privileged to serve in District 6. Their stories are touching, inspiring, extraordinary and are truly representative of all the young people who are learning and growing in our schools. Giving our students opportunities to choose their own path to success is an important part of Innovation2030. Whether it be a personalized learning plan, access to career exploration and pathways, internships and apprenticeships, creating strong community partnerships, ensuing a sense of belonging for every student and hiring the best staff possible to serve them, we at District 6 strive to ensure every child in our community is successful and engaged in their education.
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The Mill Levy Override approved by voters in 2017 has provided District 6 with the resources to assist students in many ways, including replacing outdated learning materials, updating computers and software, supporting Career Pathways and internships for students, purchasing new and safer school buses, enhancing safety and security at all schools, and providing students the opportunity to take classes at Aims Community College and the University of Northern Colorado free of charge. These are just some of the ways the Mill Levy Override has created a better learning experience and more opportunities for students, and we are incredibly grateful to our community for this support.
We are also proud to be able to provide our students the school buildings they deserve. As you will see on these pages, we are building and renovating our schools to meet the needs of our students with the bond dollars provided by voters in 2019. Every school in District 6, including our charter schools, will have improvements, additions or be rebuilt using revenue from the bond issue. More than half our students who were being educated in portable, modular buildings are now, or soon will be, back in brick-and-mortar classrooms. We will open the new Greeley West High School and Tointon Academy of Pre-Engineering in August, as well as a large addition at Chappelow Arts Magnet K-8. This is an exciting time for our students, staff and community! Speaking of community, we are more grateful than ever for our community partners. Organizations and businesses who partner with our schools and with the district to enhance and support our students are simply invaluable. Individuals who volunteer their time, mentor students, attend school board meetings and school events, provide food for staff and much more are truly our heroes. We couldn’t do this work without your support, and we thank you! Next year promises to be another bright one for District 6. Our students continue to reach new heights and we are so proud of all they have achieved with the support of our dedicated staff. Thank you, Greeley and Evans, for your continued support. Together, we will do great things for young people and in turn, create a bright future for our community.
Michael Mathews President, Board of Education
Deirdre Pilch, EdD Superintendent of Schools
Innovation2030 is the revised strategic plan for Greeley-Evans School District 6. Building on the successes of the former strategic plan, Innovation2020, the new plan includes the same main focus areas and new goals, objectives, strategies and action plans that will elevate the work in District 6. A large group of community members, District 6 staff, parents and students helped develop the revised strategic plan, identifying the work that will further student achievement, strengthen partnerships, create a positive and supportive culture and climate, and improve the organizational and operational effectiveness throughout the district. Innovation2030 is the work of District 6 for the next decade. It drives all we do, all we plan and all we achieve for our students, families, staff and community.
STUDENT LEARNING & ACHIEVEMENT District 6 engages all students in a challenging and personalized education, preparing each student to be career and college ready.
CLIMATE & CULTURE District 6 cultivates a safe, healthy and inclusive learning environment for all, embracing our diversity and engaging all stakeholders.
OPERATIONAL & ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS District 6 ensures innovation, transparency and accountability to our community through measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.
STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS District 6 enhances student success by communicating, engaging and collaborating with our communities and school partners.
INNOVATION2030 GOALS
• Provide a personalized learning experience so all students graduate on time and are career and college ready
• Implement consistent and coherent aligned curriculum, assessment and instructional practices that are research-based to ensure all students learn • Develop cultural responsiveness throughout the organization • Support the social and emotional wellbeing of students and staff
• Align district resources to meet the needs of all students • Maximize the recruitment, hiring and retention of all employees in the district • Strengthen relationships with parents and families • Communicate and collaborate with external stakeholders including business, local government and community organizations
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND MEASURES OF PROGRESS VISIT WWW.GREELEYSCHOOLS.ORG/INNOVATION2030 4
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Andy Hartshorn, Assistant Principal at Brentwood Middle School and Daniel Ibarra, 9th-Grade Student
One early Spring day in 2021, Daniel Ibarra knew something wasn't quite right during his first hour math class at Brentwood Middle School. One of his favorite teachers, Andy Hartshorn, wasn’t feeling well. His voice was trembling and he was sweating. “Although he was smiling, I could tell he was in a lot of pain. He felt very sick,” Ibarra said. “So I went up to him - I would have gone up to anyone who looked like that - and I said, ‘You look like crap. You need to go see a doctor.’” Hartshorn recalls that he told Daniel he was fine. He had seen a doctor a week ago, and it was just a virus. But Daniel persisted. “Later in the day he came to my room. He said ‘Hi, have you called the doctor yet?’ He just told me ‘I really care about you and I don’t think you are doing well,’” Hartshorn said. “That struck a chord with me. I remember thinking this is something I probably should do, but I didn’t have time to do it. So I decided to call the doctor. They didn’t have availability. I told them my symptoms. They called back about five minutes later and said they had an available slot right now if I could come in.” Hartshorn didn’t return to school that day. He was quickly admitted to the hospital, where doctors told his wife that he might not make it through the night. “I had a pretty massive infection and I was in a bad place. I had pretty severe sepsis. I was hallucinating. They said I had a heart attack. It snowballed from there and I was just very, very ill,” Hartshorn said. “I do remember them saying if they don’t get this right, this could be the end, that could be my last day on earth. So, that was a lot to hear.” Hartshorn did respond to the intravenous antibiotics, which he was on for the next eight weeks to battle the infection that nearly cost him his life. While he is not 100 percent physically, he is back at work at Brentwood, where he is now the Assistant Principal.
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And, he said, he is alive today because of Daniel Ibarra. “I am here because he said something. If he wouldn’t have said something, I would not have gone to the doctor that day and I very likely wouldn’t have lived to the next day. I was that ill,” Hartshorn said. “You have a student, a person as a 14-yearold, he said something that literally is the reason I am alive. He spoke up.” Ironically, earlier in the day, Ibarra had taken part in a lesson with Hartshorn using the 7 Mindsets curriculum. It was a lesson about how children do have a voice and should use it to advocate for themselves and others. It was about the importance of speaking up. “Honestly, I didn’t feel like I did something heroic. I just told him what I think everyone had told him.” Daniel said. “I care about Andy. He is a really good guy. We need more Andys, honestly.” Hartshorn believes the world needs a few more Daniels. Hartshorn and Daniel have a permanent bond now. Daniel learned the power of speaking up to help another human being, and Hartshorn learned the importance of listening to a young person whose words might sometimes get drowned out. “He’s very modest. I hope he hears how much this has meant to myself, my family, my loved ones. It’s not hyperbole, the outcome could have been really bad,” Hartshorn said. “He is one of those people who just makes the world better. I think he is starting to realize that. I hope he does. He will move mountains.” “You miss a hundred percent of the shots you don’t take. You should always speak your mind,” Daniel said. “Being kind to people should be a very common thing. Sadly, it isn’t, and I want to change that.”
WATCH THE FULL VIDEO AT: WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/GREELEYSCHOOLS
Greeley West student shoots for the stars Camden Price has just accepted the fact that he is a bit of a celebrity at Greeley West High School.
“You should have seen the round of applause he got after he made that shot,” said Unified Basketball Coach Judy Smaic.
The senior and Unified Basketball Team standout has generated a lot of buzz lately for the half-court shot that he easily sank at the buzzer during a tournament at Fort Collins High School on Feb. 26. A video of the incredible shot was posted to the Greeley West Athletics Facebook page, and soon it was being shared and has been viewed by nearly 2,000 people.
Camden, 19, has been playing basketball since he was in middle school. He made the Unified Basketball Team at Columbine High School in Littleton his sophomore year, and has worked at perfecting his half-court shot.
It was even shared on 9News Denver. “This is the first time my basketball skills have gone viral,” Camden said. “I was just running and jumped and made the shot. It felt great!”
Working on his basketball skills is something Camden knows he has to do to continue to improve. He is good at layups, is working on his backward shot and is even close to dunking the ball. His dream would be to sink his now famous half-court shot at a Denver Nuggets halftime. “I practice every single chance I get,” Camden said. “I am pretty good at defense too. I like basketball because I like the sound of when I make a basket.” Camden said he likes being a student and athlete at Greeley West. He transferred just this year, but he said he likes his classes and teachers, and, of course, being on the Unified Basketball Team. He said his teammates are “great” and supportive, especially when he sinks those three-point shots. “They were excited for me,” he said. “It was pretty cool.”
Celebrate 6!
• Two District 6 seniors were selected to receive the prestigious Boettcher Scholarship - Herminia Bocanegra from Northridge High School and Yahir Chairez-Salazar from Greeley Central High School. The Boettcher Foundation awards 40 scholarships per year that pay the full cost of tuition at any four-year college or university in Colorado, as well as fees, a book allowance and an annual stipend for living expenses.
• Danielle Bock, director of Nutrition Services for District 6, was named the Southwest Regional Director of the Year by the non-profit School Nutrition Association.
• Six District 6 students received the Daniels Fund Scholarship, which pays up to $25,000 per year toward the student’s unmet needs to attend any accredited college or university in the United States. The 2022 Daniels Scholars are Lucero Andazola of Early College Academy, Garret Yackey of Frontier Academy, Brenden Folsom of Greeley West High School, Rasheed Garza-Archuleta from Greeley West High School, Ali Lone of Greeley West High School and George Paladichuck of Northridge High School.
• Thirteen District 6 students were chosen as All State musicians: All State Symphonic Band Karen Lovera, Greeley West and Ashlyn Schall, University Schools; All State Concert Band Bryn Shirley, Frontier Academy and Liam Royle-Grimes, Frontier Academy; All State Jazz Band (Large School) - Zeke Daggett, University Schools; All State Mixed Choir - Aly Toews, Greeley Central; All State Treble Choir Elli Houle, Greeley Central and Savana Long, Greeley Central; All State Tenor/Bass Choir - Joshua Cleveland, Greeley Central, Ash Hein, Greeley Central, Casbah Parlin, Greeley Central; All State Orchestra Claire Willard, Greeley West and Josh Rascon, Greeley West
• Jesse Manuel, a senior at Greeley Central High School who is concurrently enrolled in the Aims Community College Automotive Collision Repair and Refinishing Program, will compete at the national SkillsUSA Competition in Atlanta this summer. Manuel received a gold first place in Secondary Damage Appraisal at the SkillsUSA State Competition, held in April in Colorado Springs. • Amy Luster, who works as a campus monitor at Greeley Central High School, was named the Classified Employee of the Year by the District 6 Classified Council. • Northridge High School STEM Academy was one of two academies nationwide to be awarded the Sanford I. Weill Award for Excellence. NAF is a national network of education, business and community leaders who work together to ensure high school students are college and career ready. • Lauren Appelhans, a family and consumer studies teacher at Greeley Central High School, was named the Colorado Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year. • Ninety-seven Greeley-Evans School District 6 students earned the prestigious AP Scholars award for their outstanding performance on the 2021 Advanced Placement tests.
• Chelsea Bernard, a family and consumer studies teacher at Northridge High School, was named the Colorado Career and Technical Education New Teacher of the Year.
• Brentwood Middle School was named a 2022 Colorado Trailblazer School to Watch by the Colorado Association of Middle Level Education. The school will be recognized at the National Schools to Watch Conference in June 2022 in Washington, D.C. Stella Van Buskirk, a sophomore at Northridge High School, received a silver medal in the National Scholastic Writing Competition. Stella’s poetry submission was chosen from 2,000 works that were received.
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District 6 Seniors:
On The Path to Success Our students have faced many challenges, especially over the past two years. That’s why we celebrate their successes, their resiliency, their grit and their many accomplishments. Reaching high school graduation is an important milestone. The journey may not be direct and it may have a few detours, but reaching the destination is significant. Here are features on a sampling of graduates from each of our non-charter high schools. We wish them - and all our District 6 graduates - continued success and happiness. May all your dreams come true!
Zeynab Hassan
Andy Ortiz
Jefferson High School
Greeley West High School For Zeynab Hassan’s family, graduating from high school is a very big deal. “Graduating is a big deal in our community, because it is like a wedding or a big celebration. You get the dress of your dream and the shoes of your dream, and you get to wear a cap and gown,” she said. “My family is really excited because I am the last to graduate for a while. They are looking forward to it, saving every paycheck, because they want to go all out.” Hassan was only three years old in 2006 when she came with her family to the United States from Kenya, where war had forced the family to live in refugee camps.
Andy Ortiz has loved going to school, but it hasn’t always been easy. Entering Greeley West High School, Ortiz had a setback that could have derailed his education. “I started enduring some hardships around my Freshman year,” Ortiz said. “I suffered an unwanted injury, and I didn’t take it well. I have always loved school but it is just something that hasn’t been easy for me, especially now with my setbacks.” Ortiz said he found himself sinking into depression. He couldn’t play sports, which he had done throughout school, and he began making choices that weren’t good for him personally or academically. He fell behind in school. Finally, he decided it was time for a change. “I was making bad choices,” Ortiz said. “I soon came to realize what I really wanted in life. I wanted to make my parents proud. They haven’t always had it easy. I got new goals and now I know what I want to do in my future.” Taking a job helped Ortiz turn his life around. He started to see his work ethic return. And he realized that he would be the first male in his family to graduate high school, and the first person in his family to attend college.
“My journey was really tough, because when I first came to America I didn’t know how to speak English. I remember seeing snow for the first time. I was never used to it. As a three year old I thought, ‘Is the world going to end?” she said, laughing. The family eventually moved to Colorado and Hassan attended Bella Romero Academy. Learning to be a proficient English speaker was a struggle. “I had to speak one language at school and another language at home. It was always a shape shift,” she said. The youngest of eight siblings - six of whom graduated high school Hassan has a lot to live up to. “I always had siblings to look up to and high standards to meet,” she said. “I come from two supportive parents. They worked their butts off to help me get to where I am.” Hassan eventually found her true home at Jefferson High School. “It was pretty tough until I came to Jefferson. And then I started getting good grades and really liking school,” she said. “The community at Jefferson is really top notch. They are the family you always wanted. They just make you feel at home.”
“I am going to be the first one in my family to go to college, so that really pushes me,” Ortiz said.
Although she is excited to graduate, leaving Jefferson and the community supporting her is bittersweet. Hassan is tearful when she talks about how much her friends mean to her.
Having attended District 6 schools since Kindergarten, Ortiz said there were a lot of people who assisted him along the way. He plans to attend college and study civil engineering, with the hope that he can one day own his own business.
“I have always been the type to make friends quickly,” she said. “I have made those friends that I will have for a lifetime. Knowing you have those people for the rest of your life is life-changing.”
“I am really grateful for all the teachers, everyone who has supported me through everything. They had hope in me, and I am eternally grateful for that.”
After graduation, Hassan plans to study nursing, first at Aims Community College and then at the University of Northern Colorado. “My future plans are really bright because I set high expectations for myself,” she said. “I have always been the type to help people and love to take care of people. What a better way than to be a nurse?” Hassan also hopes her journey is an inspiration to others.
WATCH THEIR FULL VIDEOS AT: WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/GREELEYSCHOOLS
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“I hope to inspire other girls to let them know that just because they come from a different background doesn’t mean they can’t do what they love to do,” she said.
Elias Haro
Greeley Central High School
“Since I’ve been in school I have enjoyed sports and academics,” Haro said. “My parents have always pushed me to come into the classroom to learn something new every day while also having fun.” Being active in sports and clubs helped Haro feel at home at high school, taught him leadership skills and helped him meet new friends. It also taught him that giving back to his community and helping others is a passion he will continue to pursue. “My advice would be to right away look into joining clubs, sports and making new friends,” he said.” If you are just alone in high school, you are definitely going to be struggling.” Haro cultivated his interest in engineering when Greeley Central opened the Advanced Manufacturing Career Pathway in 2019. “I think that is what made me fall in love with engineering. I want to go to college for electrical engineering,” he said.
As a first generation high school graduate, Elias Haro knows what an incredible opportunity his education in District 6 has provided. And he is very grateful.
Haro loves Greeley Central. The teachers are excellent and supportive, and the diverse student population has furthered his education.
“Being a first generation student is an honor and it is amazing,” Haro said. “My parents didn’t have the opportunity to get an education like me and my sisters. The fact that I get to repay them by going on to college shows how their hard work has paid off.”
“You get to meet people from different cultural backgrounds and make friends with a lot of different people you think you might not even talk to,” Haro said.
Haro worked hard at Bella Romero Academy and Greeley Central High School to ensure he succeeded both academically and socially.
As he looks forward to his high school graduation and studying engineering at one of three universities he is considering, Haro is just grateful that he has made his parents proud. “They tell me that every day,” he said.
Saul Sanchez
For his first two years of high school, Saul Sanchez didn’t take his coursework very seriously.
Northridge High School
“My first two years of high school were a struggle. I was really lazy and I wasn’t the best student,” the Northridge High School senior said. “It is a lot more challenging to get my GPA where I want it to be because of those first two years. But I am getting a lot of support.” In particular, Sanchez found the Student Recovery Program and getting involved in AVID - Advancement Via Individual Determination - taught him how important it is to create positive relationships, both with teachers and with students. “AVID helps me so much because we do these peer led study groups. We put problems on the board, and we, as students, work through it,” he said. “People come up to me with questions for math and I take them step-by-step on how to do it and they always thank me for it.” He said now he is better at putting his own priorities first. “It all just hit me at once,” Sanchez said. “I am not doing it for anybody else. It’s for me. It’s for my future. If I am not putting the effort into it, no one will.”
Sanchez said although his journey has been difficult at times, he is proud of all he has accomplished and is ready to step into his future.
A Greeley native with two older sisters who attended college, Sanchez now hopes to become an electrical engineer, first attending Aims Community College and then hopefully the University of Wyoming.
“I just turned my life around and I am really proud of that,” he said. “Even my parents didn’t think I was going to make it through high school. I got a 4.0 my junior year. And here I am now.”
Delaney Shanley is proud to be in the first graduating class for D6 Online Academy. “It’s thrilling,” she said. “It is a great opportunity to be part of a new amazing school and be part of this graduating class.” D6 Online Academy opened in August of 2021, mainly in response to COVID-19 and the desire of families and students to stay in a virtual learning environment as schools returned to in-person learning. For some students, it is a better fit to learn virtually. For Shanley, who has struggled with physical and mental health, it made learning possible. “When I was in-person in school, I was having some struggles with chronic migraines, and having trouble with being able to go to school and staying focused without triggering a migraine episode,” she said. “So, having access to an online school has really helped me manage my symptoms.
Delaney Shanley D6 Online Academy
“I have struggled a lot with mental health issues and motivation and stuff like that. Having that support, especially from D6 Online Academy, has really helped keep me going and keep me at pace. It doesn’t feel like you are so alone when you are doing school work anymore, which is great.”
Shanley has lived in Colorado most of her life, but only a short time in the Greeley area. She is the youngest of four siblings. What she likes most about the D6 Online Academy is the school’s ability to adapt to the needs of its students. She likes studying English, literature and sciences, and she loves drawing and painting. “I like that it’s adaptive,” she said. “You can have livetalk classes, or self-paced, or you can have some concurrent enrollment classes with other schools if you want to do something like orchestra,” she said. “It is also very easy to change. If you don’t like something you can drop it and do something else.” After graduating, Shanley plans to enter the workforce for a year and then hopefully attend veterinary school. She has some advice for younger students as they navigate high school. “Reach out if you need help. There are a lot of resources that can help you if you are having struggles with your work,” she said. “There are also a lot of people who may be in the same boat as you. So don’t be afraid to ask questions and ask for help if you need it.” (DISTRICT 6 SENIORS: ON THE PATH TO SUCCESS CONTINUED ON PAGE 15)
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NEWLY CONSTRUCTED SITES IN PROGRESS OR COMPLETED
MCAULIFFE STEM ACADEMY HOME OF THE SILVER FALCONS
COMPLETION: OPEN TO STUDENTS BUILDER: Sampson Construction ARCHITECT: Cuningham Group
entrance after winter Students at S. Christa McAuliffe STEM Academy walked into the new oot addition that square-f 55,000the see to craning necks their break, their eyes wide and nearly doubled the size of their school. ium, new main and The completed addition includes new classrooms, a new gymnas expanded cafeteria, an administrative offices, a new secure entrance off 4th Street, an portable buildings that additional SmartLab and several collaboration spaces. And, the eight the site, leaving room previously housed hundreds of students have all been removed from for outdoor learning spaces. ons, and two additional The older part of McAuliffe also received a significant renovatiof the building. Kindergarten classrooms were constructed on the northwest side
TOINTON ACADEMY OF PRE-ENGINEERING Students who attend the principles of engineering atnew Tointon Academy of Pre-Engineering in August Are engineering principles every grade level, and how those apply to different will learn the content areas. principles used when hum needed to create a beautiful clay pot? Of course. Are ans play basketball? You bet engineering ! District 6 has selected Pro ject Lead the Way as the cur engineering concepts in wha riculum that will help inst reinforce what students are t is taught every day. And architects also used tho ructors embed se con learning and understanding in the design of this innovati cepts to ve school. A real Cessna airplane will of flight. A second level hang in the commons area of the school, reinforc outdoor garden will allow ing engineering in the germinatio students to witness the prinprinciples n and ciples of gro wth of plan ts. Exposed heating and coo and mechanical systems in for what they are learning. the building itself will allow students to view real-lifeling, electrical applications Tointon Academy will ope n with grades preschool-6th two years. Its enrollment com , growing to 8th grade school from throughout the es from its new boundary and students who open over the next enrolled in the district. The school is named for Bob and supporters of public edu and Betty Tointon, long-time Greeley residents, philanthropists cation.
HOME OF THE ENGINEERS
COMPLETION: AUGUST 202 2 CONTRACTOR: Roche Con structors ARCHITECT: DLR Group
GREELEY WEST The new Greeley We st classrooms of the old High School is a stark contrast from the cramped, dark hallwa Greeley West High Sch ys Greeley West in Augu st, enjoying learning spaool. Students and staff will officially open the and and design, while provid ces that boast the late new st in technology, equip of bathrooms, natural ing all the amenities that the old building lac light and cooperative lea ked, including a large ment number rning areas. Students will perform in a state-of-the-art aud includes an indoor tra itorium and practice spo ck. rts in a gymnasium tha classrooms that includ There are spaces for students to learn and t e the latest technology. gat in March 2020, allowin The southern wing of the her outside, and spacious g contractors to tear do sch ool opened to stu wn the auditorium and gymnasium in the old bu dents ilding.
HOME OF THE SPARTANS
COMPLETION: AUGUST 2022 CONTRACTOR: Adolp hson & Peterson Construction ARCHITECT: Hord, Co plan, Macht
CHAPPELOW K-8 ARTS MAGNET
HOME OF THE CHEETAHS
COMPLETION: AUGUST 2022 CONTRACTOR: Sampson Construction ARCHITECT : Cuningham Group
school with no dedicated Chappelow Arts Magnet K-8 is a fine and performing arts-focused are all performed in the performance space. Plays, musical performances and dance recitals for weeks. gymnasium, sometimes displacing regular physical education classes summer, students at With the 28,000-square-foot addition that will be completed thisd to their art programs. dedicate ms classroo and m auditoriu an Chappelow will actually have the brick-and-mortar And, for the first time in decades, all students will be learning inside building. No more portable classrooms! in spaces that were Chappelow students will now have the opportunity to learn and perform their talents. grow to room the them giving , pursuing are they arts the for meant
UPCOMING PROJECTS
James Madison STEAM Academy Madison Elementary School is one of the notorious round buildings constructed in the 1960s. Soon after it was built, a temporary building was constructed, which has housed the kindergarten classrooms. A brand new building with a brand new name is under construction west of the current school. Once the new school opens, the old building will be torn down. The new James Madison STEAM Academy PreK-8 will be constructed for 750 students who live in the current Madison boundary. This 113,500-square-foot school is estimated to cost $49.5 million to build. The STEAM focus - science, technology, engineering, arts and math was selected by a committee of staff, students and parents who worked together to identify the focus for their school community. In partnership with Sunrise Community Health, the school will include a community clinic for its students and families. Ground was officially broken for the new school on a windy April 5. The school is slated to open in August 2023.
Jefferson High School Jefferson High School is currently located in what was previously Jefferson Elementary School. It is not a school that was built for high school students or Career and Technical Education. In 2018, Greeley-Evans School District 6 purchased the former Colorado Department of Transportation property located at the corner of 14th Avenue and 2nd Street in Greeley. This property is adjacent to Billie Martinez Elementary School. The Citizen’s Bond Oversight Committee approved the use of proceeds from the bond sale to renovate and rebuild this site to accommodate a new Jefferson High School. The existing CDOT brick building does not meet Americans With Disabilities Act requirements and has some structural damage. It will be demolished and the new high school will be constructed. The other building on site will be renovated for a new Career and Technical Education Center. Jefferson is an alternative high school serving about 400 students. The 45,400-square-foot school will cost an estimated $23.7 million to build.
Completed Projects 12
Many schools have undergone renovations, including new paint, flooring, ceiling tiles, heating and ventilation updates or replacements, new door lock hardware on classrooms and exterior doors, new secure front entrances, college and career spaces and additional renovations as needed. Schools that have completed renovations are: Jackson Elementary, Martinez Elementary, Dos Rios Elementary, Heiman Elementary, Winograd K-8 and Bella Romero Academy 4-8 campus.
Thank you to our community for your support! In 2017, voters in Greeley and Evans approved a Mill Levy Override for Greeley-Evans School District 6. These 10 mills of property tax collected on residences and businesses within the District 6 boundary are dedicated to improving safety and security, improving transportation, supporting academic and vocational programs, providing instructional materials and technology, attracting and maintaining a competitive workforce and supporting the operational needs of charter schools. This local funding source has provided essential operational support for District 6 students, staff and schools.
With the Mill Levy Override, District 6 has:
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NEW SCHOOL
BUSES
23
16,774
NEW DEVICES FOR STUDENTS TO USE Providing EVERY student in non-charter schools with a computer to use for school
NEW TRUCKS, VANS AND TRACTORS
FOR GROUNDS AND FACILITES DEPARTMENTS
Helped fund the construction of an
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING CAREER PATHWAY
at Greeley Central High School
Increased wages for every hourly employee to compete with market wages
700
NEW DEVICES FOR STAFF Funded concurrent enrollment at Aims Community College and the University of Northern Colorado for
1,031
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Addition to Meeker Elementary School, including eight classrooms and two preschool classrooms, eliminating all portable classrooms
600
SECURITY CAMERAS
INSTALLED AT MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS Purchased new textbooks, digital content and other learning materials for World Languages, art, K-12 social studies, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate, K-12 math, K-12 science, elementary literacy and secondary English language arts
What's Next for Bond Projects
Addition to Martinez Elementary School, including eight additional classrooms, bathrooms and offices, eliminating all portable classrooms Renovations and an addition at Heath Middle School, including new wood shop, secure entry, choir room, office and SmartLab. This will eliminate nine portable classrooms. Renovations at Maplewood Elementary School, including paint, some flooring, new door hardware and a new secure entrance Renovations and an addition at Franklin Middle School, including a new office and secure entrance
Renovations at current Jefferson High School. Jefferson Junior High School will move into this space in 2023, as well as other District 6 programs including Transitions and Child Find Greeley Central High School renovations including secure entrance; new paint, carpet and flooring; secure door hardware; technology upgrade; exterior door replacements; unit ventilators in classrooms; some Career and Technical Education classroom updates
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SmartLabs
The Next Step in Learning
SmartLabs engage all learners in a hands-on, project-based approach in which Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines are integrated. SmartLabs provide highly personalized instruction that empowers students to shape their learning to meet their individual interests, abilities and learning styles.
Heiman Elementary SmartLab
The Success Foundation, through community donations, has helped District 6 implement SmartLabs at 10 elementary, middle, and K-8 schools. There will be 11 additional labs installed through 2024. With these SmartLabs, students have been able to develop better communication, collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will help them succeed in school, higher education and their future careers. By making SmartLab learning available and providing equitable access districtwide, it levels the playing field. All students, including those with disabilities, students underrepresented in STEM subjects and English language learners are given a chance to develop the skills and confidence needed for life beyond the classroom. SmartLabs provide a wealth of learning opportunities that would otherwise not be possible for so many District 6 students.
Meeker Elementary SmartLab
Thank you to the many donors and corporate sponsors who have provided these SmartLabs to our students!
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I have learned about coding a website, tracking a point from a satellite, and about building and using a robot to do a certain task. The SmartLab has clearly made me smarter! Levi - District 6 Seventh Grade Student
Martinez Elementary SmartLab
District 6 Seniors:
On The Path to Success David Galvan
Early College Academy
Galvan found out later from medical personnel and his family that he wasn’t expected to live. Although he still suffers some short-term memory loss and speech issues, he is back in school and ready to graduate just a few months after the accident. “Right now, this whole side of my face is titanium. I am obviously very glad, thankful to God, for giving me another chance,” Galvan said. “I guess I wasn’t supposed to be communicative at all, so I am extremely grateful nothing bad happened.” With the rigorous college-level courses students take at ECA to earn an Associates Degree and a high school diploma, Galvan had some catching up to do when he returned to school. Staff at ECA have helped him finish his classes so he can get his high school diploma with his classmates. He won’t get his Associates of Arts degree this semester, but he will try to finish his degree this summer.
Last year, David Galvan woke up in a hospital bed, confused and unsure about why he was there. His parents tried to calm him and tell him about the horrific accident that had landed him in the Intensive Care Unit. But it was the words uttered by the doctor that he remembers. “A doctor was there, the main doctor that was helping me. He just looked at me and he pointed at me. ‘You don’t know how lucky you are to be alive. God gave you a second chance,’” he recalls the physician saying. Galvan, a senior at Early College Academy, and his cousin had been coming home early the morning of November 21, 2021, after Gavlan had performed with his band in Denver. He had asked his cousin to drive because he knew would be tired after playing music for eight hours. The two were driving on a county road when they saw a semi-truck ahead that appeared to be stopped in the lane. Its hazard lights weren’t on, but Galvan and his cousin assumed it was having mechanical issues. They approached slowly and his cousin decided to signal and pass the truck. As they passed, the semi turned to the left, striking and crushing the passenger side of the vehicle where Galvan was sitting. He sustained massive head injuries.
Demetrius Garcia has big dreams. “I would like to be a body mechanic, maybe even have a shop of my own. Maybe my family could work there,” the senior at the Greeley-Evans Alternative Program said. “It will be great. I can’t wait.
Galvan’s real passion is music, a love he inherited from his father. Although his dad didn’t have resources to learn to play music, he has an incredible ear, even the ability to pick out flaws on recordings that Galvan can’t hear. His grandfather gave him a small keyboard when he was eight years old. In fifth grade, he joined a music program and signed up to play the alto saxophone. Galvan got his first job with a band in 2012, and has played with various bands ever since. He is currently playing keyboard with Banda Villanos Show from Denver, a band that plays traditional Duranguense music. He hopes someday to become a professional sound engineer. “I want to be the guy who controls all the sound in a big concert or record songs for groups and bands. I am definitely planning to be a sound engineer,” Galvan said. “Music is my life. I honestly don’t know what I would be doing or who I would be if it wasn’t for music.” Galvan has a positive attitude, and is so grateful to his father, mother and two siblings. “I love my family so much. Honestly, I wouldn’t be the person who I am right now if it wasn’t for them,” he said. “They are the ones who taught me how to be prepared for life; how to be prepared for everything.” Now, he is ready to graduate and begin a new chapter. “I feel ready for life, to be honest,” Galvan said, smiling. “It’s something I am not scared about; it’s something I am excited about.”
Demetrius Garcia Greeley-Evans Alternative Program
“In my free time I like to help my uncle. He is a body mechanic, and he fixes old cars. To me I think that is fun, another one of the goals I want to achieve.” Born and raised in Greeley, Garcia comes from a large family where he is one of the older siblings. School hasn’t always been easy for him. Then he found GAP. “When I got to GAP I actually picked up the pace and started getting back on track, bettering my education,” he said. “What is different about GAP is I can actually come to the teachers and they will help me. I feel like I got more help here than anywhere.” GAP is a self-paced program for older students who are behind on their high school credits. Garcia was able to complete a whopping 25 high school credits in one and one-half years. Garcia has also become a leader at the school, attending a leadership conference with two of his classmates. He now likes to encourage other students and work toward making the school a positive environment for all.
To reach this point, Garcia had to put in the work. He stayed after school and kept motivated. But he credits the staff at GAP with pushing him and believing he could finish.
“I try to encourage all the students I can. There is this one guy, he used to not come at all. I was like, ‘Come on, let’s just do it. Let’s graduate.’ He actually is coming a lot more,” Garcia said. “It made me feel like I was actually doing something right in my life and going on the right path.”
“If it wasn’t for the teachers and them encouraging me, I wouldn’t have been close to graduating. I would have dropped out. I am actually really proud. I saw my credits this morning and it blew my mind, I was so happy,” he said. “Look where I am at. I am almost done!”
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Soaring to New Heights
Gema Ortega, an 8th-grade student at Franklin Middle School, poses with her winning artwork entry
District 6 Student Internships Opportunities In three years, Gema Ortega completely filled seven sketch books with her original drawings. “My mom is so supportive,” Ortega said. “She is always buying me art supplies.” So, one can imagine how excited Ortega’s mom was when she learned her daughter had won a contest through the city of Greeley to have her original artwork displayed as a cover for an electrical box at the intersection of 4th Street and 35th Avenue, not far from where Ortega attends eighth grade at Franklin Middle School. “It was just a rush of excitement,” Ortega said when she learned in early April that her artwork was selected. “My mom was really excited. She has it framed and hung it in the living room.” Ortega’s artwork that now adorns the electrical box is a depiction of a hot air balloon, floating in the wind over waves and heading toward the moon. She said it took four attempts to get the drawing to where she wanted it. “I had 10 submissions from students for the contest and they were impressive,” said Franklin Art Teacher Sarah Zimmerman. “When I saw Gema’s I thought, ‘This might be a winner.’” In addition to her art being displayed for all travelers on 4th Street and 35th Avenue to see, Ortega also received a $450 prize. The city has solicited art from many different sources to help beautify areas and cover everyday items such as the electrical boxes. Ortega said all her practice in those seven sketch books paid off. “Art is a lot of practice and perfecting your skills,” Ortega said.
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District 6 Career Pathways Greeley-Evans School District 6 is committed to providing a variety of Career Pathways for students to explore future careers and further educational paths. For many of these pathways, students can earn industry certificates or college credit while still in high school. Each comprehensive high school offers many different pathways for students. Students can also open enroll into a high school to participate in a specific Career Pathway program. There are 12 Career Academies and 31 Career Pathways in those academies. The Career Academies are: Advanced Manufacturing, Agriculture, Arts, Construction and Advanced Manufacturing, Business, Health Sciences, Hospitality, Human Services and Education, Leadership, Public Safety, Scholastic and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). In addition to coursework, students have the opportunity to do job shadowing, paid internships and apprenticeships in some pathways. One such experience is the Health Sciences job shadowing partnership with North Colorado Family Medicine at Banner Health. This partnership allows students to engage in a structured 4-hour job shadowing experience, which includes a lunch debrief and mentorship evaluation. In the Spring of 2022, 14 students from the Greeley Central High School Health Sciences Academy participated in this program.
New Career and Technical Education Center With proceeds from the 2019 Bond Issue, District 6 is constructing a new Career and Technical Education Center next to the new Jefferson High School, under construction at the corner of 14th Avenue and 2nd Street, formerly known as the offices of the Colorado Department of Transportation. This center will house Construction Trades and Welding, Cosmetology, Information Technology/Cyber Security and Early Childhood programs. District 6 hopes to expand this center in the future to include more opportunities for students to gain skills and earn credentials for industries in our area. Currently, the Success Foundation Serving Greeley-Evans Schools is running a campaign to raise funds to provide the equipment needed for this new center. The scheduled opening date for the new Career and Technical Education Center is August 2023
Internship program prepares students for the future The Career Explore Internship Program allows high school seniors to participate in paid summer internships, which allows them to further explore their interests and future career opportunities. This summer, more than 130 District 6 students will participate in internships with local employers ranging from health care to manufacturing to engineering. The goal of the internship program is to prepare all students for their chosen path after high school. Experiencing the workforce in high school allows students to gain essential skills such as problem solving, collaboration, professionalism, customer service and communication, as well as the technical skills associated with the career of their choice. It helps students find a path forward after high school. Internship supervisors are essential to this program. Business hosts are always needed to expand opportunities for students.
Jaeden Nelson, senior at Northridge High School, interned at the BikeShop Agency in Greeley working hands-on with video production
If you or your employer are interested in hosting a summer intern, please contact Business Community Partnership Administrator Nelson Rodriguez at nrodriguez@greeleyschools.org or call (970) 348-6305.
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! r a o S o t e u n i t n o C s e t a R n o i t a u d a r G Graduation rates for Colorado school districts were released by the Colorado Department of Education in January, and for the fourth year in a row, Greeley-Evans School District 6 saw an increase in its on-time graduation rates. The 2021 on-time graduation rate for District 6 is 84.1 percent, exceeding the state average of 81.7 percent. The completion rate for District 6 – which includes students who take longer than four years to graduate – is 85.8 percent. A total of 1,264 students graduated from District 6 high schools in 2021. The 2021 graduation rate shows improvement over the 2020 graduation rate of 82 percent and is a significant increase over the 2017 graduation rate of 78.7 percent. “This is reflective of the work of our strategic plan. Our focus on personalized learning, as well as career and college readiness, is really paying off for the students in District 6,” said Superintendent Dr. Deirdre Pilch. “The intentional work of our staff to make sure every student has a plan for high school graduation and beyond is showing in these numbers. Our students are working hard to reach their goals with the support of our hardworking staff. I am very proud of this work.”
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Dr. Deirdre Pilch, Superintendent
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The on-time graduation rate for Greeley-Evans School District 6 seniors jumped last year, exceeding the state average by nearly three percentage points.
This is reflective of the work of our strategic plan. Our focus on personalized learning, as well as career and college readiness, is really paying off for the students in District 6. The intentional work of our staff to make sure every student has a plan for high school graduation and beyond is showing in these numbers. Our students are working hard to reach their goals with the support of our hardworking staff. I am very proud of this work.
District 6 also exceeds the state graduation rate for Caucasian, Latino and Black students, for students who live in economically disadvantaged households, for students in special education, for students with limited English language skills, and in several other areas. District 6 still has work to do to ensure all students graduate from high school on time. That is why creating robust personalized learning plans for all students and focusing on college and career preparation are still prominent in Innovation2030, the district’s new strategic plan launching this year.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2022!
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2022-2023 AUG
6
AUG 11-12
DISTRICT 6 CALENDAR of EVENTS
School Kickoff Community Celebration
NOV 21-25
Grades 1-12: Students’ First Day of School
DEC 16- Winter Break JAN 2 No school for students
Island Grove Regional Park
AUG Kindergarten: Students’ 16-17 First Day of School
MAR 13-17
Thanksgiving Break No school for students
Spring Break
No school for students
NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS All non-charter District 6 schools are closed for teacher professional development • September 26, 2022 • October 10-11, 2022 • February 6, 2023
HOLIDAYS
All public District 6 schools are closed
• March 27, 2023 • April 24, 2023
• September 5, 2022 • January 16, 2023 • February 20, 2023
Please visit www.greeleyschools.org for updates to the calendar!
Two seniors attending Greeley-Evans School District 6 high schools have been selected to receive the prestigious Boettcher Scholarship.
“I was so excited,” Bocanegra said. “My mom was like, ‘I knew you had this in the bag.’ It just means so much to me and my family.”
Herminia Bocanegra, a senior at Northridge High School, and Yahir Chairez-Salazar, a senior at Greeley Central High School, have been named Boettcher scholars, a highly competitive scholarship program that includes a lengthy application process, writing three essays, personal interviews and multiple letters of recommendation.
The Boettcher Foundation awards 40 scholarships per year that pay the full cost of tuition at any four-year college or university in Colorado, as well as fees, a book allowance and an annual stipend for living expenses. Thousands of students undergo a rigorous application and interview process to compete for this prestigious award. Students are selected based on their superior scholastic abilities, evidence of leadership and involvement, service to the community and their school, and outstanding character.
“I am completely overwhelmed about the scholarship,” ChairezSalazar said. “All my stress just rolled from my shoulders.”
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1025 9th Avenue • Greeley, Colorado 80631
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In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, Weld County School District 6, Greeley, Colorado, does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender identity, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability or need for special education services in admissions, access to treatment, or employment in educational programs or activities which it operates. Greeley-Evans School District 6 will take appropriate steps to ensure that a lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in vocational education programs. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The following person(s) have been identified as the compliance officer for the district employees and members of the public. Annette Overton, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources 1025 Ninth Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: 970-348-6000 Email: joverton@greeleyschools.org Complaints regarding violations of Title VI (race, national origin), Title IX (sex/gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, Colorado, 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Avenue, Suite 510, Denver, Colorado, 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, Colorado, 80202.
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