The Falcon Zone Flyer

September 29th, 2026

Looking for an easy way to give back to the Falcon Zone community? The Falcon Zone Community Pantry is always in need of hygiene items, which are some of the most requested and appreciated donations we receive. If you’d like to help, the easiest way to donate is through our Pantry Amazon Wishlist linked below. Every item makes a difference for a Falcon Zone family!

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1V2L2PKA7V435?ref_=wl_share

FES and BRES will be hosting a Trunk or Treat event on October 30th at 5pm and are in need of candy donations. Please take a minute to check out their wishlist!

Thanks for being part of our village,

Cari Muresan

FZ Community Liaison

Empowering Moments

From Superintendent Smith...

There are so many ways our Falcon Zone students and staff are making a difference, and this week we are celebrating two great examples of service, leadership, and WINGS in action!

Our Falcon High School Space Force JROTC continues to provide students with incredible opportunities to develop advanced skills, strengthen problem-solving strategies, learn about military operations, and build the leadership and life skills that prepare them for whatever comes next. Many of our cadets go on to serve in the military, participate in collegiate ROTC programs, or enter careers where they continue to serve and give back to their communities.

This past weekend, FHS hosted the 2nd Annual Raider Showdown, bringing JROTC teams together for a day of physical fitness, teamwork, problem-solving, and competition. Our Falcon teams delivered an outstanding performance, with one team earning 3rd place overall, including a 1st-place finish in the 3K Run and 2nd-place finishes in the Obstacle Course and Sit-Ups. Our second team also earned a 2nd-place finish in Push-Ups, along with several strong individual performances across the day's events.

These accomplishments reflect so much more than athletic ability. Our cadets demonstrated Grit through demanding physical challenges, Networking as they relied on one another as a team, Self-Confidence as they competed under pressure, and Integrity through the discipline and commitment required to represent FHS with pride. We are incredibly proud of our cadets, student leaders, and instructors for continuing to raise the bar!

We are also proud to celebrate Falcon Zone Safety and Security Specialist Dave Pratt, who can regularly be found across our campuses supporting our teams to ensure our schools remain safe and prepared. Mr. Pratt works alongside building leaders, supports our armed security officers, helps coordinate safety drills and emergency procedures, and most importantly, takes the time to build relationships with our students and staff.

Recently, Mr. Pratt has been visiting each of our elementary schools and reading with students. As a retired Colorado Springs Police Officer, he brings a wealth of experience to our schools, but his willingness to simply sit down with students, share a book, and build a positive connection is what makes these visits so meaningful. That is Integrity and Networking in action: serving others, building trust, and investing in our students.

From our cadets pushing themselves to new limits to Mr. Pratt sharing a book with elementary students, these stories remind us that earning our WINGS is about more than what we accomplish for ourselves. It is about using our Wisdom, Integrity, Networking, Grit, and Self-Confidence to serve others and make our community stronger.

Through Engaging Environments, Enhanced Opportunities, and Elevated Instruction, we Empower all Learners to Earn their WINGS!

Empowered Falcon Zone Staff

Our Empowered staff members are making a difference every day by supporting students, creating engaging environments, providing enhanced opportunities, and delivering elevated instruction. To recognize their hard work and dedication, staff members who exemplify these values are being awarded Empower hoodies. We are proud of the positive impact they have across the Falcon Zone and are excited to celebrate and recognize outstanding staff throughout the entire school year.

Rick Castro & Ray Parker

We are proud to recognize Rick and Ray, our amazing security officers at PALC! They do so much more than help keep our school safe—they take the time to build relationships with students, get to know them, and make sure they feel supported and valued. They consistently go above and beyond for our kids and are an important part of the PALC community. We are grateful for all they do each day!

Alex Madsen

We are proud to recognize Mrs. Madsen for the incredible support she provides to her students! As a science teacher, she goes beyond the school day and scheduled class periods to make sure her students have the help and support they need to be successful. She also teaches Forensic Science, where students are highly engaged and excited to learn through hands-on, real-world experiences. We appreciate the time, energy, and dedication she gives to her students every day!

Lauren Besler

We are proud to recognize Mrs. Besler, an incredible interventionist who truly makes a difference for her students. She provides targeted instruction while taking the time to understand and individualize support based on each student’s unique needs. Her dedication and commitment help students build confidence, make progress, and find success in their learning. We are grateful for the impact she makes!

Jamie Mitchell

We are proud to recognize Mrs. Mitchell, our Dean of Students, for the countless ways she supports our school community each day. She is always on the move, supporting students with behaviors, building positive relationships, and helping students feel seen and supported. She is also a strong instructional leader who supports teachers and contributes to the success of the school in a million different ways, many of which happen behind the scenes.

Camille Reagan

We are excited to recognize Mrs. Reagan as the first recipient of our 2nd Edition Empowered Hoodie! Mrs. Reagan was recognized a few years ago, but she continues to demonstrate what it means to be Empowered every day. As a counselor, she works tirelessly to support the social and emotional needs of students by pulling small groups, meeting individually with students, and taking the time to build trusting relationships. We are proud to recognize her continued dedication each day!

Rhea Derosier

We are proud to recognize Mrs. DeRosier, our Athletic Director Administrative Assistant, for all the ways she supports FHS! She juggles countless responsibilities, from activities and athletics to field trips and everything in between. No matter what comes her way, she is always willing to jump in, lend a hand, and support students and staff without hesitation. We appreciate all she does to help keep FHS running smoothly every day!

SMSgt Lopez

We are proud to recognize SMSgt Lopez for the incredible work he does with our JROTC program! He is committed to providing students with enhanced opportunities that challenge them, build their skills, and prepare them for life beyond high school. Through his leadership and dedication, he helps ensure students leave the JROTC program and FHS with the confidence, character, and leadership skills to make a difference in their communities.

Kava Lientz

We are proud to recognize Mrs. Lientz, FHS Assistant Principal, for the many ways she supports our school community! She is a true instructional leader who supports faculty, strengthens instruction, and is always looking for ways to help staff and students succeed. She also leads and supports our SPED program, ensuring compliance, inclusion, and a high-quality experience for students.We appreciate her willingness to serve Falcon Nation!

Falcon Zone Staff Recognition

In the Falcon Zone we pride ourselves on having the most incredible staff! We want to give our community a chance to recognize those people that make a difference in our schools and for our students every day! Please let us know who is making a positive impact for your student. Let us know who has gone above and beyond to enhance your experience in our zone. Let us know who is doing an outstanding job!

Every staff member that is recognized will receive a note of recognition and a shoutout in our community newsletter. Staff members include not only teachers but secretaries, administrators, custodial & kitchen staff, paras, etc.

We want to know who is making a difference! Thank you for taking the time to fill out this quick form!

Falcon Zone Staff Recognition - Submit HERE

Bethany Stegman (WHES) - Mrs. Stegman is the most amazing principal. She greets each student by name and you can tell that she genuinely cares about each and every one of them. We just had our fun run celebration and each student in the school received a can of silly string to celebrate. Mrs. Stegman rode down the lane on a go cart and was completely covered in silly string. The students absolutely loved it and will surely remember it for years to come. We used to do the celebration for the top fundraising classes only, but she wanted to make sure that each and every student was able to participate in the fun. I have never worked with a more selfless principal and she is truly the reason that Woodmen Hills is so successful. Not only do we excel academically, but our students are celebrated each and every day!

Amy DeWeerd (FES) - Mrs. DeWeerd has gone above and beyond as a teacher this year, and we’re only 2 months in! She has navigated not only moving school buildings this year, but also integrating classes from Falcon Elementary and Bennett Ranch into 1 room. I can’t fathom the temporary intricacies. She is warm and compassionate, I’m confident that she “sees” my student, AND she’s been ensuring academic growth. What more could I possibly ask for? Mrs. DeWeerd, we are so thankful for your professional skills and your heart combined.

Brent & Mike (BRES) - A HUGE shout-out to our incredible custodial team! I handed them my (probably slightly chaotic) map for Fall Festival setup, and they absolutely RAN with it! They took my vision, made it happen, and saved me SO much stress in the process. I truly appreciate everything you do behind the scenes to help make our school safe and our events successful. Your hard work, flexibility, and willingness to jump in and help mean more than you know! Thank you for making my life a whole lot easier and helping get everything ready for our BRES Fall Festival! We are so lucky to have you!

Mrs. Chapman (WHES) - My son has absolutely loved music class this year and always looks forward to it. Your enthusiasm and the joy you bring to the classroom have made such a positive impression on him. Thank you for making music class something he genuinely enjoys and looks forward to each week!

Mr. Sundgren (FMS) - We appreciate you making Advanced P.E. such a fun and rewarding experience for our son! He has loved the fun, challenging games and the vigorous course you created. Your encouragement to push himself, work hard, and strive for excellence has made such a positive impact. thank you for making P.E. something he truly looks forward to!