SCHS Newsletter

This month, the SCHS Newsletter highlights the opportunities and initiatives designed to take performance to the next level while celebrating the accomplishments of our students so far this year. With just five weeks remaining until final exams, now is the time to build on our progress, stay focused, and finish the semester strong. Let’s keep raising the bar and celebrating success together!

Final exams are approaching! As we prepare for the end of the semester, Sand Creek High School is raising expectations for student attendance and academic performance.

Beginning this school year, students must meet both academic and attendance expectations to qualify for a final exam exemption.

What is changing?

Previously, students who earned an A in a class could qualify to be exempt from the final exam in most classes. Beginning this year, students must also meet the following attendance requirement:

• Academic expectation: Earn an A in the class. Some classes, including Concurrent Enrollment courses, AP courses, and various CTE Capstone courses, expect students to take final exams no matter the grade students earn.

• Attendance expectation: Maintain an overall attendance rate of at least 85%.

• Attendance window: Attendance is measured from 2 November 2026, through finals week. Next semester, the attendance expectation will begin in January 2027 and run through May 2027.

• Absence limit: Students may not miss more than four days of school during the windows listed above for each semester. A full day's absence is when a student misses 51% of the school day or more. Individual periods accumulate and impact the overall attendance rate.

Ms. Sanchez-Martinez shared this change with students during a school wide meeting on 29 October 2026 so students could prepare and communicate with their families.

Why are we raising expectations?

The Colorado Department of Education reported that 49% of Sand Creek students were chronically absent during the 2025–2026 school year. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of the school year.

At Sand Creek, we are committed to strengthening attendance expectations because consistent attendance supports student learning, achievement, and future opportunities. By working together, we can empower students and partner with families to open doors for their futures.

We understand that life happens.

• If your student is sick, experiences a family emergency, or has another circumstance that requires an absence, please contact our main office at (719) 495-1160 to report and excuse the absence.

• We value open communication and understand that families may need support navigating attendance expectations.

How do I find my student's attendance?

• In the Parent Portal Dashboard, scroll down to Attendance (past Class Overview). Look for absences that begin to accumulate on 2 Nov 2026. As stated above, missing more than 51% of the school day counts as a full day absence as well as individual classes that are missed consistently.

Clarifications and Support Needs

Please reach out to our Dean of Students/Attendance, Ms. Amanda Wise, for questions about attendance, the updated expectations, or available support at amanda.wise@d49.org.

Together, we can strengthen our partnership, support student success, and help every Scorpion finish the semester strong!

"Match" is a free, direct admission program available to Sand Creek seniors that makes exploring college opportunities easier than ever. By completing a brief questionnaire, uploading their transcript, and sharing their interests, students can receive admission offers from participating colleges and universities in Colorado, across the United States, and even internationally—all without completing individual college applications.

The process takes approximately fifteen minutes and is completely free!

Sand Creek seniors are already seeing incredible results! This year, 107 seniors have completed their Match profiles, receiving a combined total of 692 college admission offers and $13.3 million in scholarship offers.

Interested in learning more or getting started? Contact Dean of Academic Advisement, Mr. Sory, at michael.sory@d49.org.

This month, our community leaned into recognition both multiple submissions for students and staff alike!

Two adults led the way to nominate students this month:

• A parent nominated Alayna Manley "for her unselfish choice to help another student who was failing in a class. Alayna unselfishly took the initiative to help this student with assignments [and] notes and study for test when no one asked her to. She is the definition of a shining star. Now that student has a passing grade. Thank you Alayna!"
• A staff member chose to honor student Holly Locascio: "Holly consistently welcomes and includes all of her peers, regardless of their abilities or personalities. Her positive attitude sets an example for those around her, and she has a meaningful impact on her classmates. Sand Creek is a better place because of her!"

Students also made sure to nominate their peers:

• Kira Dalsing was nominated by a classmate for "always [going] above and beyond, especially as she's part of a lot of extra after school activities. She's also a great friend and always helps when someone's going through something. Kira is a very responsible and capable student, especially helping us out in orchestra!! :)"

Students also made sure to nominate their teachers this month:

• Visual Arts teacher Ms. Boyd made a strong impression with one of her students, who states that "she always recognizes people for hard work, and makes sure to let people be able to catch up via days to work, or with extra credit. She also gives a lot of options for ways that she can recognize the people that she believes deserves it."
• FIVE students nominated Mr. MacIvor this month, highlighting various practices from him that they sought to recognize. One student sought recognition for Mr. MacIvor because he "[does] a really good job at making his class easy to understand and fun to be in overall," while another stated, "Since ninth grade I have dreaded ELA, but Mr.MacIvor has made learning fun and interesting, The voices, the faces, and even when he gets upset at us, he apologizes. I have never seen a teacher apologize and openly funny." Thank you for making a positive impact!

Main Line: (719) 495-1160

Email: sandcreekleadershipteam@d49.org

Website: schs.d49.org