Posted February 27, 2023
Hello Columbine Community,
What a week! A long weekend, freezing temperatures, and our newest Students of the Month – we made it. We have had such an amazing month focusing on empathy but more specifically focusing on BHM. Please see the amazing doors each of our crews created to celebrate their learning this month and beyond. If you are interested in coming to see our amazing doors in person, there are two opportunities for this. 3rd and 4th grade families please feel free to come to the concert early on Tuesday and walk the building with one of the members of our Black Excellence Focus Group members. OR on Friday we will host a coffee with Corey and Stacey and we will begin with a building walk admiring our amazing doors.
Columbine Innovation Application
I wanted to share some important updates for next year (and beyond). Columbine is currently an EL Partner School. Our partnership, collaboration, and programing within EL has transformed this school over the past 6 years. We are in an exciting space of growth and opportunity to take the next step in solidifying our commitment to EL by launching a process called credentialing. I shared this video with staff on Tuesday to better understand the credentialing process. Credentialing is a multi-year process but I believe we are ready for the challenge. In order to go through this rigorous process, it is important that we ensure an ability to live and carry out EL with true fidelity. With this in mind, alongside staff and community, I will be writing an Innovation Application for Columbine to go into effect next year. To learn more about Innovation Schools please attend coffee with Corey and Stacey on Friday. All innovation applications are approved by our District Board of Education which will take place in May.
If you are interested in joining the Innovation Committee to help write our Innovation Plan please email Corey! corey_jenks@dpsk12.net
Coffee with Corey and Stacey
Please join Stacey and I for a coffee on March 3rd at 8:30am to get school updates, ask questions, connect, admire our amazing BHM doors and learn some important updates for next school year!
CMAS Coming up in March
As we near the month of March, we are preparing our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Cougars for CMAS. Please see this CMAS family letter for more information and the testing schedule.
Upcoming Events
| February 28th – Donuts at Drop offFebruary 28th – 3rd/4th Grade Concert @ 2:30March 1st –Start of Women’s History Month and focus on Ambition!March 3rd – Coffee with Corey and Stacey @ 8:15March 10th – Community Game Night @5:30 |
PTA
| Columbine Cougars PTA Update Click here for our full Weekly Newsletter PTA Team Updates School AdvocacyAt the DPS Board meeting on Wednesday, DPS leadership presented the board with a new approach around addressing under-enrolled schools. A few highlights:3 schools (with fewer than 120 students and less than 25 incoming Kindergartners/50 incoming 6th graders) are named for possible closure for next fall – none of these 3 are in our region12 other schools who have “concerning” enrollment (under 215 students) and may face closure in the Fall of 2024. Columbine is not on this list because our enrollment is higher. 3 schools within our region are listed: International Academy of Denver at Harrington, Whittier K-8 and newly on the list, Cole Arts & Sciences Academy. For these schools, it sounds like there will be a community engagement process between March and August to assess different options. Details were not included on this process.While Columbine is not on these lists, it is important that we support our community with empathy as our community moves through this process (again). We will continue to keep our community updated as more information becomes available around the community engagement process. Outreach and Inclusion TeamThe team met this past Tuesday, February 21st and here are a highlights of the meeting and minutes:Team has updated its name to be more focused on growing diverse, inclusive membership and participation.Next Doughnuts @ Drop-Off is Tuesday, Feb 28th. Come all, or volunteer to help out here!Game night is back!! Mark your calendars for Friday, March 10th at 5:30pmNext Outreach and Inclusion Team Meeting (virtual) will be March 21st at 6:30pm. All are welcome!Current Team Members include: Tanya Jones, Melanie Ramsey, Kandice Morgan, Kirsten Hansen, Melissa Cizmorris, Rachel Bernstein and Will-Lee-Ashley Weekly SpotlightA giant shout out and blast of gratitude to our PTA Treasurer, Tanya Jones for jumping on board to help run and support the Columbine LEAP Store (volunteer opportunities available below). Tanya has also gone above and beyond to help ensure that our families who attend the Student of the Month Assembly are welcomed with treats and warm drinks! AND she continues to volunteer and support our Popcorn Fridays. We are grateful for you! |
Community Resources
The mission of the Columbine Community Resources Team is to connect Columbine families & the community with valuable, local resources. Continue to check throughout the month, for added resources. Food-Housing-Clothing-Misc/Comida-Vivienda-Ropa – Feb 2023General health, Mental health & Substance misuse/Salud general, salud mental y abuso de sustancias – Feb 2023Immigration SupportApoyo a la Inmigración – Feb 2023Student & Family Enrichment/Enriquecimiento estudiantil y familiar – Feb 2023Cultural Appreciation/Apreciación cultural – Feb 2023Events/Eventos – Feb 2023Race, Racism and Racial Justice ResourcesShare resources & comments, or join our email list by scanning the QR Code.Without community, there is no liberation. – Audre Lorde |
CHECK OUT OUR AMAZING DOORS BELOW!
In Crew,
