The Stober Elementary School staff, led by principal Anne DiCola, was recognized at the JeffCo Public Schools October board meeting for its outstanding academic growth, as measured by the most recent statewide CMAS testing. Stober was one of only five schools in the district to achieve high growth, at the 70th percentile or above, on
In December of 2021 the Jeffco School Board voted to partner up with the City of Arvada and APEX Recreation (funded 50% by property taxes) and build a 35 million dollar swimming facility for the residents of Arvada. This was to replace the aging Meyers Pool. Much was written about the issue. Who was footing
Hope is the continued belief in the ability to achieve goals and dreams, even when one is faced with challenges. I’ve experienced this first hand. I love trying new things – it’s one of my values in life. And sometimes, it can be a little scary to try them. But I’ve learned that if I
As the dog days of summer slowly recede underneath the beauty of fall leaves, we welcome back our students, teachers, and parents to another school year. While Edgewater is small, we are unique in that we have four school campuses in a city less than 0.8 square miles in size. Our schools are unique in
Another school year approaches, and juniors and seniors are strategizing about their post-high school lives. Many are pursuing scholarships and apprenticeships that make the next steps of the journey possible. They often want to meet everyone’s expectations of their potential. This can be accompanied by stress, fear of failure, and a drive for perfection in
Wheat Ridge bids farewell to Sister Faustina, the esteemed principal of Saints Peter and Paul School. She is a visionary dedicated to the children and families under her care. Let’s cut to the chase: Sister Faustina orchestrated a remarkable transformation at Saints Peter and Paul. Walking through the halls of Wheat Ridge’s Catholic STEM school
The public comment period at the April 11 Jefferson County School Board meeting saw parents and community members rally in support of the board and district for its policies surrounding the LGBTQ+ community, in opposition to the accusations of speakers who seek to dismantle the district’s current policy, JB-R, the anti-discrimination Equal Education Opportunities for
“It’s all about people and positivity.” This mantra guided Robb Gneiser through 14 years as principal at Windy Peak Outdoor Lab, an outdoor education program for middle school students in Jefferson County. Founded in 1975 and located on 205 acres in Bailey, Colorado, Windy Peak provided an immersive educational experience to an estimated 60,000 students
Despite the harsh weather, scores of parents and community members reached out to the Jeffco School Board during public comment to express their hope and trust in the district to stand by LGBTQ+ students by upholding the district’s JB-R policy, in addition to supporting Colorado House Bills 1039 and 1323. The March 14 meeting was
In a move to address transportation challenges faced by families around Lumberg and Edgewater Elementary Schools, the City of Edgewater has initiated a community-based transportation planning program. The Edgewater School Transportation Plan is currently in the public input phase, with the project’s website acting as a hub for information and engagement. Organizers hope to accommodate
The first Jefferson County School Board meeting of the new year and the second meeting of the newly-elected board on Jan. 18 devoted most of the evening to awards and recognitions, before summarily approving 24 items as part of the consent agenda without discussion. Items in the consent agenda included approval of 18 acres of
On the evening of Dec. 6, I pulled onto Independence Street, heading to Peak Expeditionary School’s Festivus Celebration. Midway up the road, cars were lining the sidewalks, and as I turned into the school’s driveway, the parking lot was completely full. Having gone to Pennington Elementary (now Peak) myself and having kiddos there since 2015,
The Jeffco Schools consolidation process has been, simply put, tough. The merged school populations are working hard to make the best of a challenging situation but the loss of culture and community is draining for students, families and staff. The school district branded the closure process “Regional Opportunities for Thriving Schools” but I have talked
It’s been years since our kids attended school, and yet we are so happy when we run into parents we met at pick up and drop off, PTA activities and more, all those years ago. Recently Brenda Reitz had organized a meet up for parents whose children attended Prospect Valley. It was great to reunite
As my eldest son Hudson and his lifelong friends embark on their senior year of high school this year, I cannot help but reflect on their journey. How have the remarkable amount of changes around what all of our students and educators went through in a COVID-19 world impacted them? Fast forward to today, going
More and more, people young and old are looking for a different career path than one needing a college degree and the debt that comes with it. At the Construction Industry Training Council of Colorado (CTIC), now located in Wheat Ridge, the incentives and options available to those interested in trades are nearly too good
Each phase of my education has provided several building blocks to the foundation of the person that I am today. As a college student, I often reflect and refer to these building blocks to better assess academic and personal matters. While I learned many useful lessons that I will continue to carry with me, I
Healing our inner child is a concept that most of us are familiar with, unique to each person’s perspective. For me, this looked like running to Prospect Valley Elementary School, followed by sitting under the big cottonwood tree that overlooked the playground and field. I caught myself several times engulfed with nostalgia, recovering lost memories
Back in the 1960s, the British Prime Minister was asked what the greatest challenge is for a statesman. His famous reply has been repeated many times: “Events, dear boy, events.” In my remarks to this year’s graduates, I’ve said that In August 2019, they started high school with the same hopes, dreams and fears as
The invitation read “Reimagining High School.” The description was too enticing to refuse. We’ve spent years complaining about our public education and here was an opportunity to be part of the conversation. It’s really the only way you’re granted an official permission to complain. It’s a snowy Saturday morning and I’m headed to the Jeffco
The Neighborhood Gazette, in an attempt to do a meaningful story about the bond project at Wheat Ridge High School, has stumbled upon some questions that remain yet to be answered. A Feb. 13 tour of “The Farm” revealed some troubling issues within the walls of a building that should be considered one of the
Let me introduce myself. I’m Susan Miller, and I represent District Four on the Jefferson County Board of Education. So why am I here writing about Wheat Ridge? Because I’m a fiercely proud mom of four Farmer graduates. We choiced our first child into Wheat Ridge High School back in 2010, when Griff Wirth and
The long-overdue facelift of Wheat Ridge High School is finally about to happen. The heart of the community since it was built in 1957, its face is largely unchanged since that time. The bond money voted in years ago is being put to use at last, with the final project expected to be completed by
When it comes to our children and the immunizations they are required to have when enrolling in school, Colorado ranks last in the United States with low rates of immunization. We’re not talking about the COVID shots but the ones that keep you from getting the measles, mumps, polio, chicken pox and pertussis. The kind
