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WPS News Now - Issue 8 - Fall 2019
Westminster Public Schools (WPS) Superintendent Pam Swanson has been honored as 2020 Colorado Superintendent of the Year by the Colorado Association of School Executives. Dr. Swanson was selected through a competitive process and will represent Colorado in the 2020 American Association of School Administrators National Superintendent of the Year Program.
Congratulations! Dr. Pamela Swanson, the 2020 Colorado Superintendent of the Year Under Dr. Swanson’s leadership, WPS has become the largest school district in the country to move to an entirely Competency Based System (CBS). This personalized model is rooted in the belief that every child learns differently and advances students to the next level upon demonstration of mastery of topics. Based on 2019 CMAS and PSAT/SAT data, WPS has achieved four consecutive years of gains in student achievement and growth, earned the highest English Language Acquisition growth score of any metro area district, and was the only district in the metro area to show an increase in SAT scores.
Dino Valente Honored With McGuffey Award This prestigious award was presented by the Colorado Association of School Boards to honor the significant impact Dino made during his tenure on the WPS board from 2011-2019. Dino graduated as class valedictorian from Westminster High School and earned his law degree from the University of Denver. “Congratulations, Dino, and thank you for your service!”
“I believe this recognition validates our Competency Based System and our willingness to take on the status quo in public education,” said Swanson. “CBS is about equity in education and working to ensure that all students reach their full potential regardless of their background and circumstances.” -Dr. Pamela Swanson, Superintendent
WPS Summit Earns Rave Reviews
“Send a message. Stay drug free.”
Rave reviews have been received from educators across the country for the district’s 2019 Competency Based Education Summit: Elevating Learning through Personalization which was held this fall.
These words are at the heart of this year’s Red Ribbon Campaign. WPS highlighted the campaign for the entire month of October in conjunction with the National Family Partnership and the Westminster Area Community Awareness Action Team.
For almost a decade, educators nationwide have looked to WPS for information and examples of successful CBS implementation. To meet growing interest and requests, WPS launched our first annual Summit in 2018. For 2019 highlights go to: bit.ly/WPSSummit2019.
Red Ribbon Campaign
The campaign included high profile messages at all the schools and visits from National Guard Army helicopters at many of the schools. See the video of the helicopter at Mesa Elementary: bit.ly/MesaRedRibbon.
The 2019 Annual Showcase
brought families together from across the district for an informative, entertaining night. The Trick-or-Treat themed event included booths for each school to highlight happenings, provided information and resources from community partners such as the Boys & Girls Club, and showcased musical performances. Students also enjoyed collecting goodies and showing off their costumes: bit.ly/WPS2019Showcase.
THE DISTRICT’S COMPETENCY BASED SYSTEM MIRRORS R E A L W O R L D E X P E C TAT I O N S STUDENTS GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL R E A D Y F O R C O L L E G E O R T O S T E P I N T O HIGH-PAYING REWARDING JOBS
Save the Dates! Dec. 02 • CTE Holiday Makerspace Night 5:30-7 p.m. bit.ly/CTEMakerspace 303-487-2608 Dec. 04 • Early Release (Elementary and Middle) Dec. 06 and 07 • Winter Spectacular Concert 7 p.m. (both nights) • Winter Spectacular Lite 2 p.m. (Dec. 07 only) wps.booktix.com 720-542-5434 Dec. 10 • Board of Education Meeting Dec. 23, 2019 - Jan. 06, 2020 • Winter Break No School
Welcome Christine Martinez to the WPS Board of Education Christine Martinez, a local parent, joined the WPS Board of Education in November, continuing the board’s rather unique distinction of having all seats filled by graduates of the district. She replaced Larry Dean Valente who was term-limited. Christine graduated from Westminster High School in 2001 and has a child attending Sunset Ridge. “I decided to run for the Board of Education because I wanted to be more involved,” Martinez said. “I joined PTA when my son started kindergarten and loved every minute of it. After doing it for a couple of years, I wanted to see what else and where else I could help.” In addition to her role as a parent, Martinez played a prominent role in the passage of last year’s mill levy override.
SHOUT-OUTS At WPS we take pride in our learning community. Students, volunteers, and staff members work every day to achieve the best outcomes. A few highlights:
ACYI Champion Award Goes to Westy Grad Elizabeth Martinez, Westminster High School Class of 2018, accepted the Youth Initiative of Adams County (ACYI) Champion Award at the ACYI Catalyst for Change Breakfast. In her heartfelt speech she talked about overcoming adversity, saying that if it weren’t for her high school counselor and an education system that catered to her needs, she would likely be a high school dropout. Instead, she is on her way to getting a degree in computer science from Front Range Community College. We are so proud of you, Elizabeth!
Ranum High Alumni Inducted to Hall of Fame Diana and Denise Lopez, two of the best student athletes in WPS history, have been inducted into the Regis University Hall of Fame, capping remarkable academic careers that highlighted what hard work and family support can accomplish. The twins, who graduated from Ranum High School in 2003 after leading their team to the state girls’ basketball title, earned full ride scholarships to Regis University, making them the first in their family to go to college.
Lottie Wilson and Samantha Trevizo earned this year’s first two WPS Fred Awards for going above and beyond the call of duty while working for our students: bit.ly/2019Fred.
Westminster High School’s Technology Student Association raised nearly $1,500 for the American Cancer Society in their inaugural Relay for Life.
Shaw Heights’ students and staff raised enough money to purchase 40 Thanksgiving meal baskets from Food for Hope via their annual 5k fundraiser. “What we were able to accomplish beginning at Ranum High School set the foundation for the goals I wanted to set on and off the court as I continued my education and basketball career. It was a special feeling to represent our Westminster community as student athletes and to receive the support we have always received from our school district means so much to me.” -Diana Lopez
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Great things are happening across the district. We continue to set the bar higher, never becoming complacent. We are thankful for living and working in this special community that feels like family. Kindest Regards, Superintendent Pam Swanson, Your Board of Education, & the WPS Team Above is an artist’s rendering of what the remodeled Early Learning Center at Gregory Hills will look like when work is complete in the summer of 2020. Groundbreaking on the new Skyline Vista Elementary (below) will happen in early December 2019 with a scheduled opening in the fall of 2021.
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