ASD Family News - Feb 26

Want to better understand how the district arrived at the proposed PK–8 school and what comes next? We’ve launched a new Facilities Journey webpage featuring an interactive map that walks through each step of the process — from building assessments and community input to site selection and funding pathways.

This tool was created to make information easy to access, transparent, and simple to explore. Click through the map to learn more and see the data, reports, and milestones that shaped the Board’s decision.

Our elementary students participated in a full-day Winter Olympics celebration during specials. Students competed within their own classes in a series of Olympic-inspired activities, including skeleton, bobsledding, curling, ice skating, and a torch relay. The focus was on participation, teamwork, and school spirit — no class-versus-class competition, just friendly fun and excitement.

Leading up to the event, students learned about the Winter Olympics and followed along as countries earned medals. A medal-tracking wall added to the anticipation and helped bring the global event to life.

In late January, our middle school scientists had the opportunity to step inside Star Lab — a portable, inflatable planetarium that transforms an ordinary space into an immersive window to the universe. During class periods across two days, students entered the Star Lab dome to explore the night sky while connecting their experience to their science unit on light and the electromagnetic spectrum. As constellations, stars, and planets filled the dome, students learned how astronomers use light and spectra to uncover information about space objects — including what stars are made of and how they change over time.

Congratulations to our FBLA students on an incredible showing at their recent competition! Our members earned 20 first-place awards and more than 70 top-three finishes, an impressive accomplishment given that each student competes in two events. We are proud of their hard work, preparation, and professionalism in representing our school so well.

SJMS has launched a new Early Childhood Education elective this term, and student interest is already high. Participants spend two days each week in the classroom learning about child development, instructional strategies, and teaching philosophies. They then spend three days a week at Seeds of Learning, gaining hands-on experience in early childhood education at a nationally accredited local preschool.

We want to extend our appreciation to Seeds of Learning for their partnership and for providing such a welcoming environment for student learning. They are doing incredible work in our community, and we are grateful for the chance to collaborate with them.

In honor of National School Counseling Week earlier this month, we wanted to do a special shout-out to our amazing ASD school counselors. School counselors make an extraordinary difference every day. They support students academically, socially, and emotionally. They help students navigate challenges, celebrate milestones, plan for the future, and feel seen and supported at school. Their impact extends far beyond their offices — it strengthens our entire community.

We are grateful for the care, expertise, and dedication of Molly Gibson (High School), Ashley Breed (High School), Kim Domingo (Bridges Program), Melissa Wood (Middle School grades 5/6), Natalie Baca (Middle School grades 7/8), Myron Carr (San Juan Mountain School), and Deborah Plemons, who has generously served as a long-term counseling substitute at both the middle and high school over multiple leaves. We also want to recognize Tracy Schenk and Julie Greenly (not pictured) for the incredible care and guidance they provide to our youngest learners.

February is Love the Bus Month, and it’s a great time to recognize the incredible work of our Transportation Department. Our bus barn team includes 26 dedicated staff members who collectively travel about 650 miles each day to safely transport between 375 and 400 students. Beyond daily routes, they also support classrooms and athletics with an average of 475 trips each year — including roughly 350 school bus trips totaling around 50,000 miles annually, plus many additional trips using Suburbans and mini-buses.

It’s an impressive operation, and one that requires skill, flexibility, and a deep commitment to student safety and service. We are grateful for everything this team does behind the scenes to keep our schools running and our students moving. Please join us in thanking our transportation staff during Love the Bus Month for the important role they play in supporting ASD every single day.

Our Kindergarteners had a special visit from the Tooth Fairy! Durango Kids Dentistry spent time with students talking about brushing, flossing, and how to keep their smiles healthy and strong.

We also want families to be aware of an important update: Our previous school-based dental program has ended due to federal funding cuts. As we work to establish a replacement, dental care is still available locally. A hygienist visits monthly through the County Health Department, offering reduced-cost services and the ability to bill Medicaid — right here in our community (no trip to Durango required!).

Thank you to everyone who has shared feedback through the District Accountability Committee (DAC) survey this year. We’ve received nearly 40 responses and have personally followed up with those who requested a direct response. We are also relaying site-specific questions and concerns to the appropriate schools. DAC will review the themes and takeaways at every meeting, and the survey will remain open for additional feedback.