Herald Highlands Ranch 8-15-2013
Highlands Ranch
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 26, Issue 39
August 15, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourhighlandsranchnews.com
Students are back in class Rocky Heights Middle School among those that opened doors By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com
When whiskey is at stake, anything goes. These two were among a half dozen kilt-wearing warriors fighting for a bottle Aug. 10 at the 50th Annual Colorado Scottish Games at Highlands Heritage Park in Highlands Ranch.
Kilted tilt!
The Colorado Scottish Festival celebrated its 50th anniversary in style Aug. 10 and 11 as crowds flocked to Highlands Ranch with whiskey and music on the mind. Bagpipes filled the air, haggis filled the belly, and British Dogs, Funny Cars, and kilt-clad clansfolk took center stage. There were Highland Games, jewelers and a chance to learn about one’s Celtic Heritage at every stop and turn.
Photos by Ryan boldRey
Sixth-grader Kyra Camm arrived at Rocky Heights for her first day of middle school nervous, but prepared. “I was so scared for middle school that I bought a book about it,” she said. “It said you should have at least two groups of friends so if you get mad at one group, you have another.” Fellow sixth-grader Natalie Aston, who attended Wildcat Mountain Elementary with Camm, shared Camm’s feelings of excitement and nervousness. “It feels good but it’s kinda scary,” Aston said. “I’m just excited to be in a bigger school with better lunches.” “Sometimes you got tired of the elementary school, because you just want to get older,” Camm said. “I’m most excited to meet new people and new teachers.” Almost all DCSD schools opened for the 2013-14 academic year Aug. 12, with a few charter schools starting classes Aug. 5. Rocky Heights teachers were excited, too. Several of them gathered upstairs in the newly designed innovation lab. Last year, computers lined the walls. This year, they’re placed back-to-back in groups of three at pods that each allow three children to work together. “The innovation team is new,” teacher Sharon Majetich said. “We’re trying a slightly more collaborative approach. We’re trying to push (students) to think a little more outside the box.” Among the team’s units is a four-week study of Colorado’s wildfires. Students School continues on Page 11
No Scottish Festival would be a true Scottish Festival without bagpipes.
Rocky Heights Middle School Principal Mike Loitz gives students a rooftop welcome to their first day of the 2013-14 school year Aug. 12. Photo by Jane Reuter
The Parade of Clans brings out the Scottish in many of us, including the Mackays Aug. 10 during the Midday Ceremonies of the 50th Annual Colorado Scottish Games at Highlands Heritage Park.
The British Dogs, a staple of the annual event, were not the only animals to take a lap at the Midday Ceremonies during the Colorado Scottish Games at Highlands Heritage Park in Highlands Ranch. This Eagle also made the rounds.
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