Superintendent Weekly Update
District Newsletter - August 15, 2025
It’s been a great start to the school year, and I’m looking forward to the many events and activities September brings, especially as Homecoming season gets underway.
Fall sports are in full effect, and I encourage everyone to get out and support our student athletes. Saturday I was able join families, staff, and students at the Cross Country meet held at Las Colonias Park! Shoutout to CHS for taking first in the varsity boys and girls races, and shoutout to all of our athletes and coaches for your hard work. Tonight we have an in-district battle on the football field between CHS and FMHS. Come join me as we cheer on our Warriors and Wildcats.
On Monday, we officially kicked off the implementation of our new five year, community co-created Strategic Plan by gathering staff and community partners for a full day of planning how we will operationalize this new plan. I'm appreciative to Dr. Alex Carter from the Colorado Education Initiative, along with our Executive Director of Teaching & Learning, Jackie Anderson, for organizing this event. More information will be coming out soon with details about the new plan, and we are excited to continue the work we started with our prior plan as we continue to see our students grow and thrive through the support of our staff and community.
This week I was also able to join some of our D51 staff, along with leaders from school districts across Colorado, as we kicked off year two of ElevateAI. This is a partnership with SparkFun Electronics, Colorado Education Initiative, AI Education Project, MagicSchool.ai, IBM, Cisco, University of Colorado-Boulder, and AI National Institute to collaboratively tackle the topic of AI in education and how we can train staff to responsibly implement AI resources in the classroom. It's great that D51 was selected to be a part of this work as we will be on the cutting edge of implementation of AI in schools. This work, partnered with our More Social, Less Media work means that we can find ways to utilize tech like AI in our schools without becoming overly reliant on it at the same time. Shoutout to our D51 staff who are helping to lead this work, which will be a model for the state and nation.
A quick reminder: All District 51 schools and offices will be closed on Monday in observance of Labor Day. This holiday, first established in the late 19th century, honors the contributions of American workers and the vital role they play in shaping our country’s strength and success. We’re proud to recognize this day and extend our gratitude to the dedicated staff and families who make our district thrive every day.
We hope you and your families enjoy a relaxing long weekend, and I hope you can get outside and enjoy this beautiful weather. We’re excited to see everyone back on Tuesday!
Last night, Grand River Academy hosted an exciting and meaningful family event featuring local comedian and magician Ty Gallenbeck. The evening was designed to help families begin making connections with one another, building a stronger support system as they navigate the unique world of online learning together. This event is the first in a series of parent engagement opportunities that will encourage families to connect with the school and with each other.
Ty, who hails from the Delta area and also performs regularly in Telluride, amazed families and community members with his sleight of hand and incredible card tricks. His energy and humor created a fun, welcoming environment where kids and adults alike could laugh, relax, and enjoy time together.
Our District 51 Strategic Plan emphasizes the importance of family-to-school connections and ensuring every student feels a genuine sense of belonging. Events like this at Grand River Academy bring that vision to life by creating opportunities for families to connect with one another and with the school community. Shoutout to Principal States and the GRA staff for fostering an environment where those connections can flourish!
I’m excited to share that for the second year in a row, District 51 is partnering with The Daily Sentinel to bring their Ads by Kids program to our students again. This time at Pomona Elementary!
Earlier this week, the Daily Sentinel team visited Pomona to share with our 4th- and 5th-graders all the different pieces that go into making a newspaper. Students got a fun, behind-the-scenes look at how the paper comes together each week and the teamwork it takes to make it happen.
Building on last year’s project at STEAM @ Tope Elementary, Pomona students will now get to work with local advertisers and design ads that will be published in the Sentinel. It’s a hands-on experience that sparks creativity while giving students a taste of real-world design, marketing, and collaboration.
Huge shoutout to The Daily Sentinel for supporting our students and making this partnership possible again this year, and to Principal P. and his staff at Pomona for being so excited to particpate in this partnership. We can’t wait to see Pomona’s creativity shine in print.
Attendance Matters - Be HERE FOR IT!
One of the most important ways we can ensure every child succeeds in District 51 is by making sure they are in school, every day. This year, we’re not just asking students to show up. We’re inviting them to be HERE FOR IT: Here for school, here for friendships, here for sports and clubs, here for the good days and the hard ones, here for growth, here for learning, connection, and fun.
Research is clear: when students miss just two days a month (about 18 days a year), they are more likely to fall behind academically, struggle socially, and feel less connected to their school community. Consistent attendance builds routines, strengthens relationships, and sets the stage for long-term success.
That’s why you’ll see a renewed push across D51 this year, through districtwide campaigns, fun incentives, and messaging that celebrates showing up and staying connected. Because showing up is about more than just being counted; it’s about belonging!
What families can do:
-
Keep a consistent bedtime and morning routine.
-
Avoid scheduling vacations or appointments during school hours.
-
Reach out for support if your child is struggling with anxiety or other challenges.
-
Celebrate small wins, like a full week of showing up!
Of course, if your child is truly sick, running a fever, vomiting, or has a contagious illness, please keep them home. But on all other days, every day counts.
This year, let’s help our students be HERE FOR IT: for the lessons, the laughter, the practices, the performances, and all the in-between moments that shape who they are becoming. Because when our students show up, they grow. And as a district, we are here for every step of that journey.
