Cherry Creek Schools: Forward Together — Sentinel Colorado

Building Forward

Forward Together

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5/13/2021 2:37:11 PM

2 CCSD FORWARD TOGETHER | SPRING 2021

THANK Y

U, VOTERS! In fall 2020, Cherry Creek School District voters chose to overwhelmingly support our schools by passing a $150 million bond, allowing us to make much-needed renovations and improvements for all of our students.

After hearing from our school community, CCSD chose five areas of focus for the bond package: school maintenance, safety and security, innovation, technology and mental health. We are also investing in a new elementary school in the southeast part of the district to alleviate overcrowding in existing schools.

This investment in the community is a vote of confidence in our district, as well as a hope for the future.

Together, we can keep Building Forward. *

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Design Work Underway • • • •

Innovation renovation projects at every neighborhood high school Two new School-Based Health Centers to provide care to students and community Central dispatch center to strengthen emergency communications New elementary school to alleviate overcrowding on the east side of district

Starting This Summer • • •

New intercoms and fire system upgrades at every school Thumb-latch locks for every classroom door for added security School maintenance of roofs, HVAC systems and more

Fall 2021 and Beyond • • • •

Planning for new Mental Health Treatment Facility Expansion of Cherry Creek Innovation Campus with exciting new career pathways Secure vestibules at school entrances Plans to put a computer in the hands of every student

CCSD FORWARD TOGETHER | SPRING 2021 3

Unlimited potential in the future of the Cherry Creek School District

C

hris Smith sees unlimited potential in the future of the Cherry Creek School District.

Smith, who will begin as the district’s new superintendent in June, has spent years getting to know the CCSD students, parents, staff, administrators and community in various roles. Over a period of more than a decade, he’s served as principal, administrator and Chief of Staff in Cherry Creek Schools, roles that have offered insights into every level of its operation.

“It is an honor and a privilege for me to accept the role of Cherry Creek Schools superintendent. I’ve spent years serving in different capacities across the district, and moving into this position gives me the chance to ensure that our legacy of excellence, equity and engagement continues well into the future,” Smith said. “Facing the challenges of the past year has taught me a lot about the strength and perseverance of our community, and I see great possibilities moving forward.

From day one, my focus will be on all the kids in our district, on making sure that every single day we make a positive impact for every one of our students.”

As he prepares to take over after a year of unprecedented challenges, Smith has a unique perspective about the trials the district has already

Chris Smith, Superintendent Cherry Creek School District

faced, and about a return to relative normalcy. During the past 12 months, Smith played a key part in organizing and implementing the Cherry Creek School District’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a complex process that involved reinventing and rethinking the standard models of teaching, learning and assessment.

Moving into the 2021-22 school year, those lessons will be at the forefront of the district’s approach to excellence, as they’ll be in Smith’s mind as he moves forward with an agenda shaped in large part by the feedback and insights of the CCSD community. Over the past months, district leadership has been in close contact with students, teachers, parents and community leaders and other district stakeholders regarding the direction of Cherry Creek Schools moving forward.

That interaction yielded an important roadmap for the coming months, one rooted in a core set of values and priorities. Moving forward, the district will continue to focus on the whole child, prioritizing mental health and emotional learning as well as academic rigor. What’s more, developing relationships, equity, engagement and a growth mindset will be a key strategy districtwide as we move into the next school year.

“We stay true to our values in Cherry Creek Schools, no matter the

challenges we face,” Smith said. “Our district is full of good people at every level. From our amazing students to our dedicated educators to our committed staff and invested parents, we are well-equipped to move into the future and continue to ‘inspire every student to think, to learn, to achieve, to care,’” Smith said, “We will remain committed to excellence.”

Smith is a 24-year veteran educator and has been with the Cherry Creek School District for more than 11 years.

Smith started his professional path as a fourth-grade teacher in Douglas County School District and progressed through roles as assistant principal and principal before coming to Cherry Creek Schools to serve as principal of Coyote Hills Elementary in 2010.

From there, Smith went on to a role in district administration, serving as Executive Director of Elementary Education, where he supervised elementary principals and collaborated with district leadership to operate schools.

In his current role as Chief of Staff, Smith led the district’s planning for the restart of In-Person and Online learning last fall in the midst of the pandemic. He also supervised District Leadership Team efforts to create the Future Forward Strategic Plan and restructured district security to better serve schools and with a focus on equity.

2020-21 School Year Highlights

4 CCSD FORWARD TOGETHER | SPRING 2021

Schools welcome students back for the 2020-21 school year

Cherry Creek Elevation rises to the challenge of 5,000% growth

Tiny houses built by CCIC students and staff find new home

CCHS nurse named best in Colorado by state association

Sources of Strength helps students find support in challenging times

CCSD students start mask-making company, donate to COVID-19 relief

CCSD voters approve bond and budget election

Red Hawk Ridge students celebrate Kindness Week

CCSD FORWARD TOGETHER | SPRING 2021 5

Heritage Elementary students paint inspirational mural

Fox Ridge Middle School students complete public service project

Installation of Red Bags offer resources for emergencies

Fox Ridge students take part in online forum with U.S. Space Force members

CCSD elementary schools receive new gym floors

Nonprofit created by CCSD alums garners support from Fortune 500 companies

Thunder Ridge science students aim for a slot on the International Space Station

High schools kick off planning for innovation spaces

6 CCSD FORWARD TOGETHER | SPRING 2021

Did You Know?

42 elementary schools

66

schools

(with full-day kindergarten)

11 middle schools 8 high schools 3 charter schools 1 magnet school 1 Cherry Creek Innovation Campus 11.4% African-American

55,000 students

0.06% American Indian / Alaskan Native 8.6% Asian 20.9% Hispanic 0.3% Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 50.5% White 7.7% Two or more races

79

nurses across the district

150 languages spoken

7

career pathways at the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus

89%

graduation rate

25%

qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch

CCSD FORWARD TOGETHER | SPRING 2021 7

8 CCSD FORWARD TOGETHER | SPRING 2021

Incoming CCIC principal sees possibility, expansion in school’s future

Steve Day, Principal of CCIC

S

teve Day knew that the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus was a good fit for him as soon as he learned about its students, its mission and its resources.

Beginning in the fall, Day will take over as principal of CCIC, following the retirement of Mark Morgan, who opened the facility as principal in 2019.

The mission and structure of CCIC, which serves as a stand-alone college and career preparedness facility accessible to high school students across the Cherry Creek School District, resonated with Day, partly because of his current job in Portland, Ore. “I’m currently the director of the Center for Advanced Learning. It’s a school that’s focused very much along the same lines of the CCIC,” Day said, pointing to both institutions’ emphasis on connecting students with viable, real-world skills. “I thought that if there was any job that I was most qualified for, it’s this one. The CCIC offers a parallel to exactly what I’m doing now.”

CCIC students have access to curriculum rooted in seven professional pathways: Advanced

Manufacturing; Business Services; Health and Wellness; Hospitality and Tourism; Infrastructure Engineering; IT and STEAM; and Transportation.

The 117,000-square-foot facility located east of Dove Valley Regional Park offers students a wealth of state-of-the-art teaching tools and resources designed to develop professional skills. Thanks to the generosity of CCSD voters and the passage of the 2020 bond, these resources will continue to expand and grow for incoming CCIC students.

Day sees an unlimited amount of potential and possibility for the facility in the coming years. With attendance set to increase, and with additional professional pathways and instruction set to develop, Day said that CCIC is on track to become a model for careerbased, professional learning.

“We’re talking about authentic education. We’re putting students in a place where they’re excited about what they’re doing … We’re saying, let’s talk about what industry looks like. Let’s get you out into the setting of the office, the factory, the workplace,” he added, pointing to the value of connecting students

with tactile, experiential professional training. “This kind of education offers students the opportunity to find confidence and direction; the beauty of a place like CCIC is that students have the chance to dive into programs and explore.”

Day is quick to point to data that supports the value of such experiential education: higher graduation rates, higher completion rates, more students who successfully head to college or career.

All of these benefits are clear in the national data regarding professional, career-based education. When it comes to his new post in the Cherry Creek School District, Day says the importance of making sure such benefits remain accessible to all students is paramount.

“The enrollment of CCIC is representative of the district. That was what I was looking for when I was applying for the job. I didn’t want to go to a place that was excluding populations,” Day said. “CCIC is just at a whole different level from what I’m doing now. It’s bigger, it’s newer and it’s student-centered.”

CCSD FORWARD TOGETHER | SPRING 2021 9

Congratulations to the Class of 2021!

“Your time in the Cherry Creek School District hasn’t been easy. You met the challenges of unprecedented times and succeeded with determination and hope. You persisted until you found a light at the end of the tunnel, and now you’ll bring that light into the broader world.”

-Dr. Scott Siegfried, Superintendent of Cherry Creek Schools

10 CCSD FORWARD TOGETHER | SPRING 2021

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Summer Learning Opportunities The Cherry Creek School District is proud to offer a wide variety of fun, unique and educational summer learning opportunities for students in all grade levels. Check out the awesome offerings below, then get more information and registration links at: https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/SummerLearning.

» Extended Child Services Summer Camps A high-quality, affordable child care option for students ages 5-11! These camps offer free breakfast and lunch, project-based learning experiences every morning and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) activities every afternoon, along with lots of outdoor play and fun field trips. Summer camps will be held at 16 locations across the district.

Details: 6/1/20218/13/2021 | 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. | $35.50/day + Field Trip Fees

» Grade Launch Camp Students who will be in sixth or seventh grade next year will have a blast at the new Launch Camp offered at every CCSD middle school during the first week of August. Three, FREE halfday sessions will give students the opportunity to meet teachers and students at their school, engage in exciting project-based learning, and explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics in a summer camp setting!

Details: 8/2/20218/4/2021 | 8:30-11:30 a.m. or 12:30-3:30 p.m. | No cost

» YMCA Power Scholars Program This FREE program offers current K-4 students a fun and engaging experience that helps them increase math and literacy skills, strengthen self-confidence and build a stronger connection with their school and the community. Morning and afternoon sessions will be offered at 14 locations across the district.

Details: 6/2/20217/1/2021 | 9-11:30 a.m. or 1-3:30 p.m. | No cost

» CCSD Summer School Cherry Creek Schools is offering both In-person and Online Summer School options for students who need credit retrieval for a class they didn’t pass during the regular school year, as well as students wanting to take a class during the summer to have more class opportunities in the next school year.

» STEMBlazers Middle school girls who would like to explore science, technology, engineering and math are invited to take part in the FREE STEMBlazers virtual summer program. On Tuesdays and Thursdays in July, female students will engage in empowerment and confidence seminars and STEM career exploration discussions with local female role models.

Details: 7/6/20217/9/2021 | 9:30-11 a.m. | No cost » Cherry Creek Innovation Campus Summer Courses Is your high schooler interest in exploring their career options? The Cherry Creek Innovation Campus, a state-of-the-art college and career preparation facility, is offering Construction Bootcamp, Sports Business Academy, Introduction to Computer Programming and more courses.

Details: Dates vary, each course is $250 and includes supplies

» In-person Summer School Sessions Session 1 June 7-25, 2021, 8 a.m. to 12 noon Location: Institute of Science & Technology (IST) between Overland High School and Prairie Middle School Registration Deadline: 12 noon on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 Session 2 June 28-July 19, 8 a.m. to 12 noon Location: Grandview High School Registration deadline: 12 noon on Monday, June 21, 2021 » Online Summer School Sessions Quarter 1: June 7-15, 2021 Quarter 2: June 16-25, 2021 Registration deadline for Quarter 1 and 2 is 12 noon on Friday, May 28, 2021.

Quarter 3: June 28-July 7, 2021 Quarter 4: July 8-19, 2021 Registration deadline for Quarter 3 and 4 is 12 noon on Monday, June 21, 2021.

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12 CCSD FORWARD TOGETHER | SPRING 2021

Future Forward: Career and Technical Education “Our SolidWorks program prepares students for industry-recognized credentials, helping them move successfully forward with their passions and career.”

-Ben Nuebel, Cherokee Trail High School

1st place

winners of 2020 State TSA Computer-Aided Design competition

“This district is fortunate to have incredible students who are interested in returning to the classroom as teachers. The Future Educator pathway started at Overland as the Teacher Cadet program, and now has flourished across the district.

We have more students applying to be apprentices in the program, and even matriculating on as second and third year Future Educators.”

-Kara Billings, Overland High School

31

students enrolled in Future Educator pathway for 2021-22

“Many of our students are interested in a career in healthcare.

Our Certified Nurse Assistant program gives students a chance to learn and practice these skills firsthand.”

-Lara Kibbee, Cherry Creek Innovation Campus

160

students enrolled in the CNA program

CCSD FORWARD TOGETHER | SPRING 2021 13

“Our students in the Design and Multimedia Art pathway are using innovative, digital technologies that will give them career skills or spark a lifelong love of art and design.”

-Laura Hamilton, Eaglecrest High School

20

AP students are submitting art portfolios this week to College Board

“Cyber security and programming competitions allow our students to gain valuable experiences that will give them a foot in the door. This year, we started a club that will provide students an opportunity to lead, mentor and socialize as they participate in competitions.”

-Kenneth Sarnowski, Grandview High School

1st place

winners in the 2021 CyberQuest competition

“The best part about our automotive program is the opportunity for students to learn, grow and earn college credit. For many of our students, they are the first to attend college and this gives them a big advantage in life.”

-Craig Capraro, Smoky Hill High School

1

hybrid electric vehicle for students to train on latest technologies

“Even in such a difficult year, our kids have found ways to embrace DECA culture by creating awareness for impactful organizations. This program gives students real-world experience so they can thrive after high school.”

-Beth Adolphi, Cherry Creek High School

55

DECA students went to Nationals in 2020-21

14 CCSD FORWARD TOGETHER | SPRING 2021

IMPORTANT DATES First day of school: August 16 Fall break: Oct 18-22 Winter break: Dec 20 – Jan 3

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Colorado State Patrol Trooper Josh Lewis fist bumps 3-year-old Lincoln Delagarza, of Northglenn, Colorado, before racing begins at Bandimere Speedway west of Denver on May 5, 2021. The State Patrol runs a program called “Take it to the Track” in hopes of luring racers away from public areas to a safer and more controlled environment, even allowing participants to race a trooper driving a patrol car. The program’s goals have gained new importance and urgency this year as illegal street racing has increased amid the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert)

Colorado speedway program aims to curb illegal street racing

BY THOMAS PEIPERT AP Writer

F

rustrated by an increase in dangerous street racing amid the pandemic, Denver area police have deployed the department’s helicopter to track races, closed lanes in areas often used by racers and sent officers to places where the groups meet.

The problem,often involving highschool students, has been especially concerning to Aurora police.

But law enforcement also has shifted gears to tackle the problem by using a racetrack in the foothills west of the city to provide a safe venue for those who feel the need for speed.

The Colorado State Patrol has teamed with Bandimere Speedway to lure racers from public areas to a more controlled environment, even allowing participants to race a trooper driving a patrol car.

On a recent day, dozens of drivers lined up to race at the speedway, revving their engines and squealing their tires before hurtling down the quarter-mile track. Most drove highly tuned vehicles, but there was the occasional stock SUV or pickup.

“This is a great alternative to street racing. You can bring out whatever you have, be it a supercar or mom’s minivan, grandpa’s Buick. We want to see them all out here. ... And you can race a cop, and do so legally,” said State Trooper Josh Lewis, who beat a Toyota SUV in his first race last week by topping out at nearly 89 mph (143 kph).

The Colorado State Patrol has been involved in the “Take it to the Track” event for more than a decade, but its goals have gained new importance and urgency after two recent high-profile street racing incidents in the area.

On April 3, police say a mother of two who was delivering food was killed when a street racer broadsided her car with his SUV in the heart of downtown Denver.

About a month earlier, hundreds of street racers clogged a stretch of interstate in suburban Aurora, some allegedly blocking the shoulders to keep officers away. Police warned oth-

er motorists to avoid the gridlock after reports of guns being waved and fireworks being set off.

Lewis said the “Take it to the Track” program’s impact on illegal racing is hard to quantify, but it provides important community outreach nevertheless.

“We don’t necessarily know about data to be able to back it up, but every time we’re out here, we always get folks who come up to us and tell us how much they enjoy the program, how great it is, how much fun it is,” he said.

The event takes place every Wednesday throughout the summer.

Ray Propes, 58, of Windsor, said he started street racing as a teen and found himself doing it “every time I got in a car, it seemed like.”

“I turned 16, it wasn’t six months before I lost my license,” he said. “I was racing everything and anyone and all the time.”

He has since traded in those days for the track, in part because the conditions are more predictable and “you don’t get the tickets that you get on the street.”

“The prepped track. The traction is there. Straight line. You don’t have to worry about accidents, animals, kids, birds, anything,” he said.

Tyler Truini, 28, of Colorado Springs, left work early one day last week to “just play around on the track” at Bandimere Speedway. He said he steers clear of illegal racing because his 2019 Dodge Charger Hellcat is too fast for the street.

“A lot of my friends that I hang out with, we always talk about just coming to the track because it’s a lot easier, and it’s better for the car and better for everyone else’s safety,” he said.

CCSD FORWARD TOGETHER | SPRING 2021 15

Building a stronger, smarter community...together!

The Cherry Creek Schools Foundation (CCSF) is dedicated to positively impacting ALL of CCSD’s students, investing in innovation, and providing opportunities for EVERY student to achieve their best!

$73,000

scholarships awarded in 2019-20

250

47,000

Internet Hot Spots for students in need

books and reading materials distributed

$50,000

funds secured for Students Organized Against Racism in all high schools

2,100

middle and high school students received tutorial support

3,700

teachers helped by professional development grants

580

families received emergency aid during the pandemic

SUPPORT THE FUTURE: GET INVOLVED Give where you live and learn!

We know that strong schools are key to a strong community. Our work is only possible thanks to the generosity of community members like you.

Learn more and donate today at: CCSDFoundation.org The Cherry Creek Schools Foundation 501c (3) Non-Profit | Tax ID#84-1218299

4,000

school supply kits provided

1,000+

teacher-awarded grants

16 CCSD FORWARD TOGETHER | SPRING 2021

70 yrs of Commitment

T

he Cherry Creek School District’s commitment to excellence has been a constant over the past 70 years.

As the district evolved from a few, far-flung buildings spread across Arapahoe County to a unified community serving more than 54,000 students across 108 square miles, its core values remained unchanged. Cherry Creek Schools has always been a place where all students are valued and encouraged, a place where the metrics of excellence are always expanding to meet the demands of the moment. After seven decades, Cherry Creek Schools remains committed to its core mission, “to inspire every student to think, to learn, to achieve, to care.”

That mission and those values are even more crucial as the district moves ahead.

The past year has offered myriad challenges that have forced students, teachers, staff and administrators alike to rethink the everyday demands of learning and the meaning of equity. The COVID-19 global pandemic pushed our district to rein-

vent our models of instruction; a national push for social and racial equity emphasized the importance of our own work to ensure that every student has the same access to excellence.

The lessons learned from the past year will figure into the district’s continuing efforts to keep true to our values and our promise for every child. When he begins in the fall of 2021, Superintendent Chris Smith will incorporate all of these experiences into his work.

The Cherry Creek School District will focus on the students’ well-being, relationships, equity, engagement and a growth mindset; the coming year will see a continued focus on bringing our long-held values and goals into the 21st century.

Our work as educators has always demanded constant focus, effort and engagement. Our dedication to that work has always been rooted in our core commitment to excellence and our underlying belief in the ability of every single child “to think, to learn, to achieve, to care.” Those values will continue to steer our work through the 2021-22 school year and beyond.

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Learning Opportunities Abound for Students of All Ages

Tesoro’s onsite school programs explore the history of Colorado in the first half of the 19th century. Whether it be handling historical objects, examining primary sources, touring an authentic adobe replica of Bent’s Fort, or participating in hands-on, minds-on learning activities, students will think critically and make connections between the past, present, and future. All of Tesoro’s school programs support Colorado Academic Standards.

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Anna and Bryson Creighton say a nightly ritual, ringing a meditation bowl, proved a sound coping mechanism for a cooped-up family during the pandemic. Officials are encouraging families to find support systems to combat a quiet child abuse and neglect crisis. Screenshot via CDHS

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Resources available for families stressed by a year of pandemic

F

aced with epic stress, confinement and isolation, Anna and Bryson Creighton found a new wellness ritual with their two young girls during the pandemic: a chakra singing bowl.

The Aurora couple sits with their daughters — one 20 months old, the other four years old — on the floor and rings the bowl, which sustains a melodic, soothing tone capable of smoothing out kinks after a chaotic day spent indoors.

“And we ask them what they feel in their bodies, and if it makes them happy, sad or calm. And if they’re not ready to go to bed, we do it again,” Anna said.

The little ritual is one of many tactics the family employed to stay sane as the months spent indoors ticked by.

They’d visit the horses at their relatives’ farm regularly; they’d give each other space and learned when to ask for it.

For their work, the Creightons and several other families from around Colorado earned shout-outs in May from Gov. Jared Polis, Department of Human Services brass and local childcare boosters.

The parents swapped tales of craftiness and resilience but also stress and mounting piles of bills in a virtual meeting to kick off the state’s Child Abuse Prevention Month.

With the event, officials hope to combat grim child abuse and neglect trends with renewed attention and healthy coping mechanisms in households.

Nationally, child abuse and neglect proved to be devastating, albeit more quiet, issues underlying the health crisis COVID-19 brought last year. The Associated Press found last month that child welfare workers received far fewer reports of concerns as families became more and more isolated.

As a result, government welfare departments initiated 200,0000 fewer child abuse and neglect investigations and assessments compared with the same time period of 2019.

Local data mirrors that picture in Colorado: In March 2020, the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline, 844-CO-4-KIDS, saw a 13% decline in calls compared to the year before.

That’s largely because, with schools closed and life stalled, teachers and other mandatory reporters who typically report issues didn’t have eyes on kids — not because kids were suddenly growing up in healthy environments.

“That doesn’t mean that there’s less abuse out there,” Polis said of the figures.

Experts have said that “risk factors” for abuse and neglect actually grew during the pandemic, including: loss of income, absence of child care or school, mental health declines and social isolation.

In her Aurora household, Judith Padilla drew from a deep well of energy and the help of local resource providers to keep the wheels on. Padilla has seven children, four of which lived in Mexico with family during the pandemic.

Padilla said her income trickled in the last year because of lost work opportunities and a leg injury. At home, her kids helped her with the rotating list of chores: laundry, cooking, doing dishes, cleaning. She loves to goof around with her kids, she said, which helped her keep a bond with them. On Thursday, she shared a video of playing outdoors with her kids after a deep snowfall. “...(W)hen it comes to mischief, we do that together too,” Padilla said in Spanish.

But she said she was struggling to make ends meet. And faced with the prospect of asking for help, she wondered whether she had failed as a a parent.

Resource providers assured her she had not.

Soon, she was paying some rent with dollars from the Left Behind Worker’s Fund, an Aurora initiative disbursed by the Aurora Community Connection Center, Village Exchange Center and others to reach families largely ineligible for pandemic-era government assistance. Padilla said she doesn’t have legal status to live in the U.S. She turned to RISE Colorado, an Aurora nonprofit, for free food and fresh produce. She received prepaid cards to buy soap, shampoo and toiletries for her kids.

Other parents shared tales Thursday of rough days and how they coped. A key theme: asking other people for help.

“During the pandemic, it is even more important for all of us to reach out to the parents we know and ask how we can help,” Minna Castillo Cohen, director of the state’s Office of Children, Youth and Families, said in a statement. “Coronavirus has brought many unknowns but what we do know is that we need one another. Help a family when you can and know that it’s okay to call 844-CO-4-Kids if you’re concerned about a child or youth’s safety and well-being.”

CCSD FORWARD TOGETHER | SPRING 2021 19

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Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital 700 Potomac Street Aurora, CO 80011 24/7 Crisis Line - (844) 556-2012 Walk-ins accepted healthONEcares.com/BalancedWellness

900 Potomac Street Aurora, CO 80011 (303) 367-1166 spaldingrehab.com

FIND A DOCTOR HealthONEcares.com/physicians 303-575-0055

20 CCSD FORWARD TOGETHER | SPRING 2021

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