WPS Fall 2021 Newsletter

Preparing future leaders, learners, and thinkers for a global community Para ver en español visite: mywps.org/wpsnewsnow14sp

WPS News Now - Issue 14 - Fall 2021

2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR FILLED WITH OPTIMISM

COVID-19 masks may have covered the smiles on students’ faces as they returned to school on August 17, but underneath they were there.

Superintendent Dr. Pamela Swanson said, “I’m so proud of the resiliency our students and staff continue to demonstrate. We have proven over and over again that we really mean it when we say we are a district ‘Where Education is Personal.’ We continue to make excellent progress on our bond projects and are a national leader in Competency Based Education.”

CBS SUMMIT BRINGS EDUCATION LEADERS TO WESTMINSTER More than 200 education leaders from around the country came to Westminster from October 6-8 to learn more about Competency Based Education and why they should consider it for their schools. Attendees also visited several WPS schools to view the district’s Competency Based System (CBS) in action and talk with teachers and students.

Among the materials handed out at the summit is this notebook designed by Westminster High School (WHS) student Lesly Lozano Venicio.

She said a big part of the fashion world is about standing out in a crowd of creative people and in this piece, she includes an image of herself standing out amongst a crowd of other bright individuals.

Learn more about Lesly: mywps.org/lesly

WPS CHIEF EDUCATION OFFICER NAMED A TOP EDUCATION VISIONARY

Dr. Oliver Grenham, Chief Education Officer for WPS, has been named one of the top 100 Visionaries in Education by the GFEL (Global Forum for Education and Learning). Dr. Grenham is one of the most respected experts in the implementation of Competency Based Education (CBS) and has been a chief architect of the district’s CBS.

WPS Board of Education President Ryan McCoy Was Honored with the Prestigious McGuffey Award by the

Colorado Association of School Boards on September 21. McCoy is entering the final months as leader of the school board. First elected in 2013, he is term limited and could not run for reelection. The McGuffey Award honors board members who have made a significant impact during their time in the role. McCoy graduated from WHS in 2000 and has two children enrolled in the school district. McCoy is also the Executive Director of the Front Range Community College Foundation.

In early August of 2021, WPS opened the Robert J. Landgraf Center for Teaching Excellence which is named after a man who represents the very best of our community values.

Bob overcame early obstacles in his life to create a wonderful family and successful business, while never forgetting those who helped him along the way. The center will serve as a central location for teachers to come together to learn, share ideas, and improve outcomes for all students. In this video, we share in his memory what a great community leader he was for us all. See the Video: mywps.org/boblandgraf

Board of Education member Joe Davidek received the first-ever Lifetime Legacy Award for his support of the arts in WPS

“Thanks to everyone. It’s a great honor and very humbling,” he said about

Orchard Park Academy, the first new

school in Westminster Public Schools in more than a decade, opened on time and on budget for the 2021-22 school year. Students, parents, teachers, and community members are pleased with the state-of-the-art school.

the award. “I hope to see the pipeline expand even further in the future.” The Creative Arts Pipeline was created in 2016 in large part because of Davidek’s leadership. A musician himself, he insisted the arts receive the attention and funding it needed to meet the needs of all students. An outgrowth of the pipeline was the creation of the Metropolitan Arts Academy. The Creative Arts Pipeline is also teaming up with the Westminster Public Schools Foundation to fund a scholarship for students interested in pursuing careers in the arts after high school graduation.

“The Colorado Dream,” a Colorado Public Radio (CPR) series looking at how Career Technical Education (CTE) prepares high school students for the day after graduation, is bringing a lot of attention to the CTE program at WHS. Reporter Stephanie Daniels spent hours visiting classrooms and talking with students about how CTE has shaped their education and plans for the future. She created a four-part series that you can listen to here: mywps.org/codream

In addition to having a fun filled day, hundreds of students received free backpacks and supplies at the 2021 WPS Back-to-School BBQ thanks to a generous donation from A Precious Child.

FUTURE CENTER EXPANDS OPERATIONS

As part of its relentless effort to help students prepare for the “Day after Graduation,” the Future Center at WHS is now hosting twice-monthly information sessions that expose students to all of their options during the course of one visit. The sessions with universities, colleges, employers, tech schools and the military are in addition to the one-on-one counseling opportunities the staff provides for students. In 2019 the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) named WPS “District of the Year” in recognition of its work to help students focus on career choices and college preparation using Individual Career Academic Plans (ICAP). Learn more: mywps.org/fc

Congratulations to WHS teacher Robbie Ferguson on being awarded the 2021 Mile High Chapter Teacher of the Year Award from the Air Force Association. Way to go, Robbie!!

NEW FACES COMMUNITY CENTER TO BE NAMED AFTER DAN VALLEZ

During an emotional meeting recalling the life and legacy of educator Dan Vallez, the Board of Education enthusiastically approved a proposal to name the recently purchased Perl Mack Community Center after him. Superintendent Pam Swanson called him “a dear friend” and a “community builder.” His children, family, and friends attended and watched a video about Dan’s life. See it here: mywps.org/vallez

Two New Board of Education Members

Dan Orecchio, a WPS graduate, and Aaron Martin, the husband of a WPS principal and father of two WPS students, will join the Board of Education in November replacing Ryan McCoy and Joe Davidek who are term limited and unable to run for reelection. Because they were the only two candidates to file to run, the board passed a resolution canceling the November election, saving the district thousands of dollars in election costs. Learn more about Dan and Aaron: mywps.org/newboe

Two New School Principals

The next time you hear WHS students playing music, listen closely and you will notice that not only are the students better, so too are their instruments. Thanks to the generosity of the group Bringing Music to Life, WHS has a major upgrade in its supply of instruments for students to play.

Families at Tennyson Knolls Preparatory School (TK Prep) and Colorado Sports Leadership Academy (CSLA) are getting to know the two new leaders in their buildings; both are educators with longtime ties to WPS. Molly Mojden (bottom left) has taken on the leadership role at TK Prep and Lindsay Lohmann (bottom right) is the new principal at CSLA. The two were appointed in the summer after successful tenures as assistant principals in the district. Both grew up with educators in their families and developed a strong sense of the importance of education. Learn more: mywps.org/newprincipals

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AT CSLA CELEBRATED

Dignitaries gathered at the Colorado Sports Leadership Academy (CSLA) on September 22 to celebrate the club, the second in the district. The first opened on the Hidden Lake High School campus five years ago. Erin Porteous, Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver, credited Superintendent Pam Swanson and Chief Operating Officer James Duffy for their persistence in opening both clubs. “Dr. Swanson and Dr. Duffy have been champions for all children of Westminster Public Schools,” she said. Board Member Christine Martinez spoke on behalf of the district saying the district was “excited and thrilled by the partnership.”

Both facilities provide a valuable after-school opportunity for our kids to learn, have fun, and be safe! mywps.org/csla-bgc

“When a teacher knows a student as an individual, they have their back.”

- Dr. Pamela Swanson, Superintendent

Parents! We have a place for your child at Westminster Public Schools!

Enrollment is still open regardless of where you live. WPS is an open enrollment district, meaning families can apply to attend any of our schools. WPS prides itself on offering a learning environment #WhereEducationisPersonal.

ENROLL NOW mywps.org/enroll

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