What an incredible week it has been! Our students and staff had the privilege of participating in Legend High School's Wish Week, and what a memorable experience it was. From daily spirit events to cheesing Dr. Brown and a fantastic Parents' Night Out, the week was filled with laughter, excitement, and the spirit of giving.
A Week of Fun and Generosity
Throughout the week, Gold Rush students embraced the energy of Wish Week with enthusiasm and creativity. They participated in daily theme days, showed their school spirit, and even had some fun moments "cheesing" our principal, Dr. Brown! The parents also got involved, enjoying a night of relaxation and community during the Parents' Night Out. It was a wonderful opportunity for all of us to come together in support of an amazing cause.
A Tremendous Success – Thank You!
Thanks to the generosity of our families and the efforts of our students, Gold Rush raised $3,350 to help make children’s wishes come true through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This contribution will go a long way in helping grant life-changing wishes for children facing critical illnesses, and we couldn’t be more proud of what our community has accomplished together.
Presenting Our Contribution
On Friday, students had the honor of presenting our contribution during Legend High School's closing assembly. It was a heartwarming moment for everyone involved, and our Gold Rush students were beaming with pride as they shared our collective effort with the larger school community.
Uniting as One Community
Events like Wish Week are a beautiful reminder of how much we can accomplish when we come together. The collaboration between our students, staff, and families created an atmosphere of joy, kindness, and generosity that truly united us all as a larger school community. We are so grateful for each and every one of you who contributed your time, resources, and spirit to make this event such a tremendous success.
Thank you once again for your incredible support. We look forward to more opportunities to come together in the future!
This month in our art class, students took a fascinating journey into the world of wildlife, inspired by the legacy of John James Audubon, a renowned American ornithologist, naturalist, and artist. Audubon’s passion for studying birds and his meticulous illustrations of them have influenced generations of nature lovers and artists alike. Drawing from his technique of combining art and science, students engaged in a creative project that brought the beauty of animals to life using a unique scratchboard technique.
Project Overview
Our young artists started by exploring Audubon’s stunning animal illustrations, studying how he captured the essence of wildlife with intricate details and textures. From there, each student selected a photograph of an animal to create a portrait using a special chalk transfer technique, which was then scratched into a board to produce their very own interpretation.
Scratchboard Technique
After transferring their images, students used scratching tools to create beautiful textures on the board. Through a process known as hatching and stippling, they carefully applied varying pressure to develop different levels of shading, adding depth and texture to their animals. This technique allowed them to explore the tactile nature of art and refine their fine motor skills while interpreting the textures and details that make each animal unique.
Implied Texture Through Hatching and Stippling
To mimic the fur, feathers, and skin of their chosen animals, students practiced using line work in two key styles:
- Hatching: Drawing closely spaced parallel lines to create shading and texture.
- Stippling: Applying small, precise dots to give a sense of form and depth.
These methods allowed students to explore how artists can "imply" texture in their work without using paint or other materials, showcasing the power of just lines and marks.
Celebrating Our Young Artists
We are so proud of the creativity and skill our students have demonstrated throughout this project. The scratchboard portraits showcase their ability to merge art with scientific observation, just as Audubon did with his iconic works.
There’s nothing more important than making sure your child stays healthy and learning all year long. Getting vaccinated gives children and adolescents the best chance of this.
Colorado law requires students who attend school to be vaccinated against many of the diseases vaccines can protect against, unless a Certificate of Exemption is filed. Click here for more information. Before a student’s first day of school, families are responsible for providing an up-to-date immunization record, an in-process plan, or a Certificate of Exemption to each school the student attends. An in-process plan is written by your student’s immunizing provider and shows that your student is following the ACIP schedule to catch up on missing dose(s) of one or more school-required vaccines.
Getting vaccinated and following the recommended schedule is important. Think of vaccines as a special training program for the body, teaching it how to fight off harmful germs. The protection from vaccines can last a very long time, which helps to keep your child, your family, and your community safe and healthy.
Vaccines required for school:
* Hepatitis B (HepB)
* Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP, Tdap)
* Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
* Polio (IPV)
* Varicella (chickenpox)
Kindergarten & Sixth Grade
Colorado law requires children between the ages of 4 and 6 years to receive their final doses of DTaP, IPV, MMR, and varicella before kindergarten entry. Colorado law requires adolescents to receive one dose of Tdap before sixth-grade entry, even if the student is 10 years old.
Number of doses and spacing of vaccines:
Colorado follows recommendations set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. This committee is a group of medical and public health experts who study vaccines and recommend them for the public. View recommended vaccine schedules here for children birth through 6 years of age and here for children/adolescents 7-18 years of age.
Vaccines that are not required for school but are recommended include:
COVID-19, hepatitis A (HepA), human papillomavirus (HPV), influenza (flu), and meningococcal disease (MenACWY and MenB). The timing and spacing of these vaccines also follow the recommended vaccine schedules for children birth through 6 years and children/adolescents 7-18 years of age.
Vaccination records. Share your student’s updated Certificate of Immunization with their school every time they receive a vaccine. Need to find your student’s vaccine record? Click here for more information.
Exclusion from school:
If there is an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease at your student’s school, and your student has not received the vaccine for that disease, they may be excluded from school for many days. That could mean lost learning time for them and lost work and wages for you. For example, if your student is not up to date with their MMR vaccines, they may need to stay home from school for 21 days after someone gets sick with measles.
Exemptions from one or more school-required vaccines:
If your student cannot get vaccines for medical reasons, you must submit a Certificate of Medical Exemption to your school. If you choose not to have your student vaccinated for nonmedical reasons, you must submit a Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption to your school. Nonmedical exemptions must be submitted on an annual basis. Click here for more information about exemptions.
Have questions?
Talk with a health care provider or your local public health agency to ask questions and find out which vaccines your student needs. Find a vaccine provider here. Read about the benefits and importance of vaccines here. ImmunizeForGood.com, and cdphe.colorado.gov/immunization-education.
Staying up to date on routine immunizations is important for adults as well as children. It's never too late for adults to get back on track! Click here to learn more.
Finding and paying for vaccinations:
If you need help finding free or low-cost vaccines click here or dial 2-1-1 for information on Health First Colorado (Medicaid) and vaccine clinics in your area.
