Grizzly Monthly News
Communications to our Grizzly Family
Dear Grizzly Families,
Grizzly Country is moving with purpose, and we are seeing strong momentum across our school. Each week, the dedication of our students, staff, and families is translating into meaningful growth, stronger achievement, and a positive school culture that continues to build. From our classrooms to our schoolwide events, our focus remains clear ensuring every student is learning at high levels and building the confidence to succeed.
As we move through CMAS and into the final stretch of the school year, our priority is for every student to demonstrate growth and finish strong. Our teachers and instructional leaders have been intentional in using data, planning targeted instruction, and creating engaging learning experiences that prepare students for success. We are seeing that work pay off, and we are proud of the progress our students are making. This is a critical time of the year, and your partnership matters. When students are present, prepared, and encouraged to do their best, the impact is immediate.
In this edition, you will see how our students are leading through innovation, celebration, and achievement, from STEAM Expo participation to schoolwide events that build confidence, community, and pride. It is truly an honor to serve as your principal and to be part of such a dedicated and resilient community.
As partners in your child’s success, we ask for your continued support by ensuring daily attendance and on time arrival, especially during CMAS testing, encouraging your student to do their best and take pride in their growth, staying engaged in upcoming school events, and reinforcing a positive mindset as we finish the year strong.
Thank you for your continued support as we keep pushing forward together. We are proud to be Grizzlies.
With gratitude,
Dr. CG and Mrs. Urbanowski
Important Dates April
CMAS until April 24th National Volunteer Week - April 20th - April 24th April 21st - Talent Show Auditions @ 4pm April 22nd - Grant Ranch Data Fair - 4:30pm - 6:00 pm April 22nd - Earth Day at Grant Ranch - All Day! April 27th - Cap and Gown photos for Kinder, 5th, and 8th April 28th - 2nd Grade Musical Explorer Field Trip April 30th - Day of the Child
Important Dates: May
May 1st - No School DPS PD Day
May 2nd- No Saturday School
May 4th - May 8th - Teacher Appreciation Week! (PTO has so much planned!)
May 4th - Chipotle Fundraiser 5pm - 9pm for Yearbook
May 6th - Children’s Museum Presentation (ECE-3), 5th grade fishing trip
May 7th - EM Movie Day @ 10:30 am
May 7th - Talent Show Rehearsal 4:00-5:30
May 8th - MS Field Trip to the Park (this use to be the movie!)
May 11th - Talent Show Rehearsal 4:00-5:30
May 12th - Field Day (see flyer here for parents but more info to come for teachers)
May 13th - Talent Show 9:30 - 11:00 am and 6pm
May 14th - 8th grade Elitches
May 15th - Last Award Ceremony
May 18th - Field Day in case of rain
May 19th - Band Performance at 6pm and Whole School art show at 5:30
May 20th - Band day concert
May 21st - 8th Swim at Club House 1pm - 3:30 pm
May 22nd- 4th grade end of the year celebration- Sunset Park 1-3pm
May 22nd - 8th grade continuation at school 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
May 25th - No School, Memorial Day
May 27th - 5th grade Continuation at 9:30am
May 28th - ECE Continuation 9:30, then Clement Park, half day for ECE
May 29th - Kinder continuation 9:30 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, Half Day!
Grizzlies Middle School going to Nationals Destination Imagination
Proud moment for our Grizzly Country community. Heading out to Nationals 🐻❤️🙌🏽🐻
Our Destination Imagination teams continue to represent Grant Ranch with excellence, creativity, and teamwork. From our elementary learners to our middle school leaders, these students are demonstrating what it means to think critically, collaborate, and perform at a high level.
A special shoutout to our middle school team for earning 3rd place,a well-deserved recognition of their hard work, collaboration, and perseverance.
Watching our students engage, problem-solve, and showcase their learning on a larger stage is a powerful reminder of the impact of student voice, strong coaching, and a culture that pushes innovation.
We are incredibly proud of our Archery (DI) teams for the commitment, resilience, and leadership they’ve shown. They are not only competing, they are inspiring.
Thank you to our staff, families, and coaches for supporting these opportunities for our students.
We are Grizzlies.
Grizzly Country: We have students presenting and competing for DPS STEAM EXPO
We are excited to share that several of our Grant Ranch students have been selected to represent our school at the 2026 DPS STEAM Expo: Imagination to Innovation on Saturday, May 2, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This is a special honor, as participation is limited and students were chosen based on their engagement, effort, and demonstrated skills.
Our students will proudly represent Grizzly Country through the Grizzly Bike Shop and our Mario Kart teams at both the elementary and middle school levels. This opportunity showcases the creativity, problem solving, and collaboration our students are developing every day.
Grizzlies building the first customized mountain bike for our DPS superintendent
Our Grizzly Bike Shop students are taking their skills to the next level by designing and building a customized mountain bike for DPS Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero. This project is a powerful example of hands on learning, where students are applying technical skills, problem solving, and teamwork in a real world context.
As part of the design, students are ensuring the bike reflects DPS pride by incorporating district colors and thoughtful details that represent our community. From selecting components to assembling and fine tuning the bike, students are leading the process and taking ownership of their craftsmanship.
This experience not only builds mechanical and engineering skills, but also reinforces perseverance, attention to detail, and pride in high quality work. We are proud of our students for representing Grizzly Country through innovation, creativity, and excellence.
Grizzly “Minute to Win It” CMAS Pep Rally and Parade
Our Grizzlies brought the energy and excitement as we kicked off CMAS with a schoolwide pep rally and parade. Students participated in fun and fast paced “Minute to Win It” games that built excitement, teamwork, and school pride.
The celebration continued with a parade led by our middle school students, with strong support and cheers from our early elementary Grizzlies. It was a powerful moment of community, bringing everyone together to celebrate the hard work our students have put in all year.
We are proud of our students for showing up with confidence, positivity, and Grizzly pride as they head into CMAS ready to do their best.
Celebrating Assistant Principal Week: Mrs. Urbanowski
We proudly celebrated Assistant Principal Week and recognized Mrs. Urbanowski for her outstanding leadership and dedication to our Grizzly community.
Teachers, staff, and students came together in a special way to show their appreciation, organizing a surprise flash mob dance and sharing heartfelt messages of gratitude. It was a powerful moment that reflected just how much she means to our school.
Mrs. Urbanowski leads with heart, consistency, and a deep commitment to our students, staff, and families. Whether she is supporting instruction, building strong relationships, or ensuring our school runs smoothly each day, she brings a level of care and professionalism that makes a lasting impact.
We are grateful for her leadership and the positive culture she helps create at Grant Ranch. Thank you, Mrs. Urbanowski, for all that you do for our students and staff.
Attendance Goal: 93%
Every day counts — lessons build on each other and missing class can set students back.
With your support, we can keep our Grizzlies learning and growing.
Saturday School –Come join us
As we continue our Saturday School program, we want to thank our students and families for their commitment and consistent participation. These sessions have provided valuable opportunities for academic support, enrichment, and continued growth.
Please note that there will be no Saturday School on May 2. Our final Saturday School session will take place on May 9.
We look forward to finishing strong and celebrating the hard work our students have shown throughout the program. Thank you for your continued support of Saturday School.
Gratitude for Our Grizzly Families
As a small token of appreciation, we provided donuts to families during regular school drop off. This was our way of saying thank you for the continued support, trust, and partnership you show our school each day.
We are proud to serve our Grizzly families and value the strong connection we have with our community. Your support makes a difference, and we are grateful for all that you do for our students and our school.
Open Enrollment is now open!
Open Enrollment is now open! Please register your student(s) and help spread the word to family, neighbors, and friends. Enrollment helps us plan staffing and resources for the coming year.
Visit:
Grizzly Food Pantry – Now Open
Our Grizzly Food Pantry is open and here to support all Grizzly families with essential items.
What’s Available
Non-perishable food
Fresh items (as available)
Kids’ jackets (various sizes)
Shoes (limited supply)
Hours of Operation
Monday–Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Please stop by the office for access.
Location: The Grizzly Honey Pot Room
Contact: Ms. Corina Martinez
Donations welcome: gently used jackets, new shoes, and non-perishable food items.
CMAS
Grant Ranch will begin CMAS testing the week of April 7, 2026. CMAS measures student proficiency on the Colorado Academic Standards. These standards provide clear and consistent guidelines on what students should know and be able to do at the end of the year, across grade levels and subject areas. Grades 3-8 will take English language arts and math assessments, with the addition of science in grade 5 and 8.
Our team worked diligently to create an equitable testing schedule. Testing will begin promptly at 9:30am. Please ensure your Grizzly is here on testing days.
Safety & Procedures
Safety is part of our 3 R’s (Respectful, Responsible, Ready to Learn), and it remains our top priority.
Arrival & Dismissal: Our front entrance is a Kiss-and-Go system. Please do not park in the lane outside the entrance. If you need to exit your vehicle, park in the lot or along the street. This helps us keep everyone safe and traffic moving smoothly.
