Gold Rush Elementary
Principal's Message - April 24, 2026
This week, we are proud to celebrate our incredible volunteers, Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), and School Advisory Committee (SAC) as part of Volunteer Appreciation Week!
We truly appreciate every volunteer for their efforts to support our students and strengthen our school community. Whether you are facilitating a small literacy or math group, organizing classroom materials, or helping run a class party or activity, your contributions make a meaningful difference. Every act of support—no matter how small—has a positive impact on our classrooms and on our students’ experiences.
We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our PTO, who work tirelessly to plan and facilitate schoolwide events that create lasting memories for students and families. Our recent Mother-Son Night of Fun at Family Sports was a wonderful example of how the PTO brings our community together.
As we reflect on the work of our current PTO board, we want to recognize Leila Sueper (President), Cori Miracle (Vice President), Courtney Zielaskowski (Communications), Andy Goehl (Treasurer) and and Daniel Nice (IT Officer - returning next year) as their terms come to a close. While we look forward to welcoming a new board next year, we are deeply grateful for the dedication and effort this team has given over the past several years. Their commitment has greatly enriched the school experience for students, families, and staff.
We also extend our appreciation to the members of our School Advisory Committee (SAC), whose terms are also ending. Lindsey Harding (Chair), Daniel Nice (Vice Chair), Cori Miracle (PTO Representative), and Kelly Dixon, Allison Fox, and Christine Watson (parent representatives) have provided valuable insight into both instructional and operational aspects of our school. Their thoughtful input has helped shape many important decisions.
Our parent leaders, both in the PTO and SAC, will be greatly missed, and their contributions will always be remembered and appreciated.
Finally, if you are a parent volunteer who has not yet collected your appreciation gift from the main office, we encourage you to stop by. Our adventure notebooks and tokens are a small way to thank you for your tremendous support.
Our fourth grade students have been deeply engaged in their study of Colorado history this year as part of their social studies curriculum, and this week brought that learning to life in an exciting and memorable way!
Students participated in an interactive classroom simulation that transported them back to the time of the Gold Rush. Each student staked a claim within the classroom and gathered materials scattered throughout the room. They later discovered the value of the items they collected—corn kernels represented gold and were worth $100, while rice symbolized dirt and held no value.
As the activity continued, students were given task cards that introduced both unexpected challenges and rewards. Some experienced setbacks, like losing tools in the river and paying a $20 penalty, while others benefited from lucky breaks, such as securing supplies from a merchant for just $10. Throughout the simulation, students managed their money and quickly realized how difficult it was to get ahead—or even stay afloat—during that time period.
This hands-on experience helped students build a deeper understanding of the realities and challenges faced during the Gold Rush. The level of engagement was contagious across all classrooms, and it was wonderful to see students so immersed in their learning.
This simulation, along with their recent music performance featuring songs about Colorado and their field trip to the Colorado History Museum, has truly made history come alive this year!
We are proud of the enthusiasm and curiosity our students continue to show.
