May 27, 2015 VO LUM E 50 | IS S UE 21 | 75¢
Tri-LakesTribune.net T R I - L A K E S R E G I O N , M O N U M E N T, G L E N E A G L E , B L A C K F O R E S T A N D N O R T H E R N E L PA S O C O U N T Y
A publication of
CL ASS OF 2015
MORE PHOTOS ON PAGES 18 AND 19
National Anthem performed by Kristen Ranjo.
NEXT WEEK: Student body presidents Benjamin Burckel, Jamie Keith, Tayler Scriber welcome to the Fifth Annual Graduating Class of Discovery Canyon Campus High School Graduation celebration. Photos by Rob Carrigan
Graduation coverage for Lewis-Palmer, Palmer Ridge and The Classical Academy will be in next week’s paper because of early deadlines for the holiday, but are online now.
Jadomski retires after 12 years as principal Surprise school assembly held in her honor May 20 POSTAL ADDRESS
TRI-LAKES TRIBUNE (USPS 418-960)
OFFICE: 325 Second Street, Suite R Monument, CO 80132 PHONE: 719-687-3006 A legal newspaper of general circulation in El Paso County, Colorado, the Tri-Lakes Tribune is published weekly on Wednesday by Colorado Community Media, 1200 E. Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT MONUMENT, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 11 a.m. Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m. Classifieds: Mon. 10 a.m.
PL E ASE RECYCLE T HI S C OPY
By Danny Summers
dsummers@coloradocommunitymedia.com After 12 years as the principal of Palmer Lake Elementary School — 33 years in education — Julie Jadomski said goodbye last week to a lot of fantastic students and staff. “I have worked hard over my 33 years in earning respect, supporting, mentoring, guiding, listening and helping others so our children can grow up with the tools that they need to be successful,” Jadomski said. “I can only hope that those children who had a rough start in life were given a second chance at becoming successful.” Jadomski, 64, has lived in the Tri-Lakes area since 1977. She moved to Colorado from Brooklyn in the early 1970s with her husband Richard. The couple has been married for 42 years and all three of their kids went through the District 38 school system. “I was a Colorado girl even when I was back in New York,” Jadomski said with a smile. “What I learned living in New York was the cultural diversity of the many people you interact with. That strengthened me as a person and it helped me in my career.” Jadomski, a graduate of Long island University, began her career in 1973 as a second grade teacher at Stratmoor Hills Elementary School in Harrison School District 2. She worked there for five years and then took about a decade off to raise her children. She went back to teaching in 1987 and spent six years as an English Language Learners teacher and supervisor at Otero Elementary School in District 2. She then transitioned into a Title 1 teacher (Reading Specialist) at Stratmoor Hills for two years before becoming the school’s principal for eight years. Finally, in 2003, after commuting south for nearly three decades, Jadomski was hired as the Palmer Lake’s principal. “I’ve worked really hard at Palmer Lake to continue that strong sense of family values that our district embraces,” said Jadomski, who has kissed pigs, been thrown in jail and dunked in water tanks over the years. “What a ride it’s
Palmer Lake Elementary School principal Julie Jadomski, seen here dancing during a recent assembly, is retiring after 12 years with the school. She has been in education for 33 years. Courtesy photo been.” Jadomski was honored by the district with a special surprise assembly at Palmer Lake on May 20. “I won’t miss the pace, but I’ll miss the hugs from all the kids,” Jadomski said. “It will be nice when I have a moment to look back and reflect on all the things that happened along the way. Sometimes when you are in the middle of it all you can’t stop and smell the roses.” Jadomski may not be around the school on a regular basis, but she still plans to stay involved with the district on some level. “I plan on helping out the district in other ways,” Jadomski said. “I’m sure I’ll be volun-
teering somewhere in the district reading to the kids.” Palmer Lake renamed the school’s greenhouse in Jadomski’s honor — now called `Mrs. J’s Greenhouse” — as well as dedicated a cook book in her name in the school’s library. “She’s always been about the students first,” said Jadomski’s secretary, Marilyn Henderson. “She’s always encouraging students, whether they are in trouble or had success at something they did.” Jadomski originally earned a commercial art degree from LIU and would like to apply that in retirement. “Maybe I’ll get back to painting,” she said.