Dear Columbine Families,
The results are in, and we have so much to celebrate! Columbine students made tremendous gains last year on the state CMAS assessments. These results show what we already know: our students are capable of excellence, and our teachers and families are helping them get there. If you have not yet seen the recent post from DPS recognizing Blue Ribbon awarded educators, go check it out. Columbine is making headlines across the city!
While we are proud of this growth, we also know our work is not finished. Proficiency is not yet where it needs to be, but we have powerful momentum. We believe in our students’ potential and will continue working until every child achieves the success they are owed.
Key Results:
READ Act Early Literacy grew by 8%
CMAS ELA (English Language Arts) grew by 19%
CMAS Math grew by 14%
CMAS Science grew by 38%
This incredible growth places Columbine among the top 10 schools in the state of Colorado for student growth last year!
Median Growth Percentiles (MGP)
Median Growth Percentile (MGP) shows how much progress students make compared to their peers statewide.
ELA MGP rose from 34.5 (23-24) → 56 (24-25)
Math MGP rose from 34.5 (23-24) → 51.5 (24-25)
These numbers represent real, meaningful progress for kids
Blue Ribbon Awards
Julia Puckett (5th grade) earned the DPS Blue Ribbon for Reading and Writing. Her students’ MGP in ELA was 72.
Kayla Shea-Lewis (5th grade) earned the DPS Blue Ribbon for Math. Her students’ MGP in Math was 82.
We are so proud of our students and staff for this extraordinary effort!
Black Student Success
As part of the Black student success cohort, there is so much growth to celebrate for our Black student achievement.
Our Black student Early Literacy READ Act proficiency improved by 18%
Our Black student CMAS ELA MGP improved from 25 → 60 !!!
We can take pride in this moment of student growth, while staying laser-focused on the continued effort needed for our students to reach the heights of achievement they deserve. Together, we will keep this momentum going.
Thank you for your partnership and support in making Columbine a place where students thrive.
In Crew,
Corey
Don’t have time to read the whole thing? Read the Quick Hits!
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Key Dates
August 27th - Back=to-School Night (5:30-7:00) Come in for Back-to-School Night to meet your child’s teacher, learn about their learning journey for the school year, and connect to our shared language and agreements at Columbine. Stay at 7:00pm for our 1st PTA meeting of the year!
9:00-12:00
Reminders
Calling for Volunteers!
Action Items:
Download the DPS App (search ‘Denver Public Schools’ in your App store)
Do I have to? Yes! All of our communications will come through this app. More info to come.
Calling for Coaches! Join Our ELCSports Team! 
We’re hoping to bring the ELCSports program to Columbine this year! ELCSports offers 4th and 5th graders the chance to learn teamwork, sportsmanship, and skills through fun, engaging competition. To make this season a success, we’re looking for community members interested in coaching flag football or soccer. Coaches can be parents, guardians, relatives, or other community members who are passionate about youth sports. Training and support are provided, and no prior coaching experience is required—just enthusiasm and commitment!
If you’re interested in making a difference for our student-athletes, please contact Tyler Quinn at tyler_quinn@dpsk12.net
Calling for Library Volunteers! Library Volunteer Training 
We are looking for a dedicated group of volunteers who are wanting to support teachers in the library on a weekly basis. If you are interested, please plan to attend the volunteer training on Tuesday, August 26th from 8-8:30am in the Library If you are interested in volunteering, but can't attend the training, please reach out to Kristen Holligan (kristen_holligan1@dpsk12.net) to schedule a different time to meet!
Final Few Days! Interested in serving on the Columbine Collaborative School Committee (CSC) this Year??
Interest Form Here We have two open family positions on our CSC. To read more about our CSC and the upcoming election process, please visit the CSC page on our website!
Candidate Nomination Closes midnight on Aug 27th
Election window Aug 29th-Sept 7th
Results announced Sept 11th
First CSC Meeting Sept 17th
OLD NEWS 
Calendars & Non-Student Contact Days
You can view the 2025–2026 DPS District Calendar [linked here].
In addition to district-wide non-student contact days, Columbine students will also not attend school on:
January 6th – Columbine-specific professional learning day
March 5th – Columbine-specific family conference day
Discovery Link will provide full-day care options for ECE–5th grade on both days.
ECE-only additional closure dates:
October 10th
January 30th
April 24th
Discovery Link will provide full-day care for ECE students on these days if there are enough students signed up!
On-time Arrival!
We strongly encourage families to arrive on time to help students begin their day with a sense of calm, connection, and readiness. If your child arrives late, families must walk them into the front office to sign them in and get a tardy pass.
Building Access & Afternoon Pick-Up Policy
To keep our school safe and running smoothly:
All visitors must schedule meetings with staff in advance. We are not able to accommodate unscheduled classroom visits during the school day, before or after school.
No student pick-ups between 3:00–3:30 PM. If your child has an afternoon appointment, please plan to pick them up before 3:00 PM. This helps us ensure all students transition safely during our dismissal routines and is less disruptive to our end of day crew circles.
After-School Programming Update
Discovery Link will be providing care for all ECE-5th grade students this year. We are currently exploring other potential after-school options that offer no-cost care. While no formal programs will be in place at the start of the year, we will communicate any new opportunities as soon as they become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please use this link to sign your children up for Discovery link!
10Four Afterschool Program - Neighborhood Youth Organization- Information Here Afterschool program FREE for children ages 7-18. Register using this link. Transportation provided from Columbine to 10Four everyday except Thursday.
Visitor Check-In: RAPTOR Safe App
We’ve updated our visitor sign-in system to enhance school safety:
Please download the RAPTOR Safe app before your first visit.
When you arrive, scan your QR code or digital badge and sign in. This process helps us keep an accurate record of all guests on campus and ensures every student is safe.
Looking to get Involved? Join our PTA!
There are SO many ways to get involved at Columbine. Use this link to join the Columbine PTA for the 25-26 school year. You can learn more about our PTA committees and events on the PTA page of our website.
Read the PTA newsletter here!
We can’t wait to see you soon!
In Crew,
Corey Jenks
Principal, Columbine Elementary