Good News Bulletin

What a ride!

The EHS Poms Team made history this year, securing their spot as 2024 CSML North League Champs and then becoming the first team in school history to compete in Nationals, where they finished in 20th place in the Medium Varsity Poms Division.

The team's theme this year was 'Take Flight', which was fitting for a stellar year that had them taking flight to Orlando to compete at DTU Nationals.

Coach Amber Rusk reflected on the journey.

"This team was special from day one," she says. "The bond and team culture they built was amazing! They were all like sisters and really did want each other to grow and succeed. We have been waiting for a team with their desire and heart as a team to take to Nationals for the first time! Nationals highlights was everything. Seeing their faces every step of the way and watching their reactions, hearing and seeing their excitement. Watching them take the floor with confidence and not seem like they have never done it before was simply the best!"

Congrats to our team! Way to represent Elizabeth on the National stage.

For any students interested in trying out for the EHS Poms Team, check out the dates and times below for upcoming tryouts.

A welcome donation!

The EHS Auto Program now has a full tool set and box thanks to a generous gift. EHS Auto Program teacher Derek Spohn shares the details:

"Tuesday night was very special. It was a community effort in support of our program. You see, I got a call from Jace Glick last week. He wanted to know if we could use a full tool box. He has a friend's home listed for sale and the owner, Paul Osborne, wanted to donate his tools. This is uncommon; the Snap-On and Matco brand tools are quite expensive. Jace Glick set it all up, and Saucedo Towing came to load it up and deliver it to the new shop.

A huge THANK YOU goes out to Mr. Osborne, Mr. Glick and Saucedo Towing. Your support means the world to our program!"

Submitted by: Derek Spohn, EHS Auto Shop Teacher

Another local supporter, John Caughey with Adrenaline Driven Motorsports donated two complete sets of control arms to the Auto III classes. Thank you for the donation John!

Thanks to everyone who turned out for the Elizabeth Middle School Unified Basketball Tournament. There was fun competition all around and basketball battles that took place on the court between Elizabeth Middle School, Elizabeth High School, Running Creek Elementary and Singing Hills Elementary.

The tournament is a great way to show unity within the school district with some exciting competition mixed in!

On the evening of February 26, 2025, members of the Elizabeth School District Safety and Security Department had the privilege of participating in a joint firearms training session with the Elizabeth Police Department at Franktown Firearms. This training opportunity reinforced the ongoing commitment of both departments to enhancing emergency preparedness and response capabilities within our schools and the broader community.

Under the expert instruction of Corporal Jason Rogers and Sergeant Alex Allen from the Elizabeth Police Department, security personnel engaged in a series of dynamic drills designed to improve tactical shooting skills in high-pressure scenarios. The focus of this session included shooting on the move, tactically withdrawing to cover, utilizing cover effectively while engaging potential threats, and shooting around barricades. These drills forced participants to work around different angles, simulating real-world scenarios they may encounter within school buildings. These exercises are critical in preparing security personnel to respond effectively in real-world situations where quick decision-making and controlled movement can make a significant difference in outcomes.

Throughout the evening, Corporal Rogers and Sergeant Allen shared invaluable knowledge drawn from their extensive training and field experience. Their expertise provided security personnel with insights into law enforcement tactics, situational awareness, and best practices for responding to active threats. The collaboration between both departments fostered an environment of learning, teamwork, and mutual respect.

Training opportunities such as this not only enhance the skills of our security personnel but also strengthen the partnership between the Elizabeth School District Safety and Security Department and the Elizabeth Police Department. By working together in realistic training scenarios, both teams improve their coordination, communication, and overall readiness for emergency situations.

Looking ahead, the Safety and Security Department eagerly anticipates future joint training sessions with the Elizabeth Police Department. These collaborative efforts are instrumental in ensuring that our schools remain a safe and secure environment for students, staff, and the community.

We extend our gratitude to the Elizabeth Police Department and Franktown Firearms for making this training possible and for their continued dedication to safety and security in our district. Through ongoing training and strong partnerships, we remain committed to providing the highest level of protection and preparedness for our schools.

Submitted by: Tyler Rabideau, ESD Director of Safety and Security

The newest ESD Board Member Spotlight is on David Fletcher.

Fletcher was appointed by the board at the beginning of this year to fill the spot that was vacated by Heather Booth.

Fletcher's background is with the U.S. Navy. He retired from the Navy in 2018 after serving for 20 years. He began his naval career as a flight student and then ended up in service warfare. He ended up working in intelligence for 17 years of his time with the Navy. Fletcher served as an Officer, did a number of tours and brings plenty of leadership experience to the board. Fletcher says he built many of the systems that are on ships today.

Fletcher currently works as a lead engineer and lives in Elbert County. His daughter is a sophomore at Elizabeth High School. He began attending school board meetings and took interest in school board policies and decisions.

Check out the interview to learn more about Fletcher, his background and what he is interested in bringing to Elizabeth School District.

This week, the staff at Elizabeth High School took part in a Q&A session in the library with ESD Superintendent Dan Snowberger and ESD Board Members Rhonda Olsen, Mary Powell and David Fletcher.

The Q&A sessions are ongoing at all ESD schools. Previous sessions have taken place at Singing Hills Elementary, Elizabeth Middle School and Running Creek Elementary.

The idea of the sessions is to give the staff an opportunity to have face to face time with the Superintendent and board members to discuss issues relating to the school district. The EHS session was a nice exchange of ideas, updates and there were plenty of great questions.

Thanks to our board members for attending and to the EHS staff for getting involved!

Spread the news far and wide!

Elizabeth School District is holding a job fair on Saturday, March 8th from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Elizabeth High School. We're looking to hire classroom teachers, substitutes, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, facilities staff, special education teachers and related service partners and more!

There will be job interviews on the spot and for some positions, contract offers will be made.

We look forward to seeing some great candidates!

THERE IS A NEW CLASSICAL CHARTER SCHOOL COMING TO ELIZABETH THIS

FALL! Independence Classical Academy (ICA), a new elementary classical

charter school, is coming to Elizabeth August 2025.

What sets Independence Classical Academy (ICA) apart from the other schools in the area is that it offers a classical education, which is grounded in the belief that education should cultivate wisdom as well as virtue.

Grammar, logic, and rhetoric provide the foundational framework through which students acquire knowledge, develop critical thinking, and master oral and written communication skills. In addition to providing intellectual rigor, foundation stones (virtues) are taught that instill a sense of moral responsibility. Through the Core Knowledge Curriculum which includes history, literature, science and art, students are reconnected with the wisdom of the past, preparing them to engage meaningfully with the challenges of the present, envision a better future, and develop a capacity to know the good, the true, and the beautiful.

With regards to location, for the first year (2025-2026), the plan is to hold classes in the Frontier School building on Banner Street in the town of Elizabeth while the new building is being built. Then, for the second year (2026-2027), the plan is to move into the new school building which will be located near the corner of CR 158 and Delbert Road in the new Independence Neighborhood. For students living in-district, busing will be provided by the Elizabeth School District starting in the fall of 2025 and will continue after the move into the new building.

To find out more and enroll your child, please visit www.independenceclassical.org.

The Greater Elizabeth area is in the process of developing a Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails (PROST) Master Plan which will set the groundwork for the long-term health, connectivity, and sustainability of the area and its communities.

Your voice is the most important piece of this process, so we invite you to participate in a 10-15 minute online survey by scanning the QR code or visiting the link below. Don’t miss your chance to get involved—the survey closes on February 28th, 2025. Hard copies are available at Elizabeth Town Hall.

bit.ly/ElizaPROSTSurvey

The Means Agency Farmers Insurance is celebrating ESD Teacher of The Month for January. Congrats to the recipients! All were given gifts cards to Sammie D's. Ms. Burton was also given flowers from Colorado in Bloom.

Elizabeth High School Performing Arts is proud to present Disney's "Descendants" The Musical! Descendants tells the story of the children of Disney villains who must choose between good and evil. The children are given a chance at redemption and sent to Auradon Prep to attend school with the children of their parents' enemies! Join us for a show full of laughs, singing, dancing, and Disney magic!"

Submitted by: Carson Powell

Feb 28 - EHS Winter Musical 7:00-9:00 p.m.

March 1 - EHS Winter Musical 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m.

March 3 - EHS Cardinal Club Meeting 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Preschool Registration Meeting - RCE - 4:00-6:00 p.m.

March 4 - EMS Wrestling 6th, 7th and 8th vs. Lewis-Palmer 3:45-5:45 p.m.

EMS Orchestra Concert 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Parent Vape Meeting at EHS 6:00 p.m. in Cafetorium

Preschool Registration Meeting - SHE - 4:00-6:00 p.m.

March 5 - EHS Choir Concert 7:00-9:00 p.m.

March 6 - EHS Instrumental Music Concert 7:00-9:00 p.m.

March 8 - EHS Father Daughter Dance 5:00-7:00 p.m.

ESD Job Fair @ EHS - 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

EMS sports calendar

EHS sports calendar

**Reminder to all parents: Be sure to check the websites of your individual schools for more information about upcoming events.

Elizabeth High School: https://www.elizabethschooldistrict.org/EHS

Elizabeth Middle School: https://www.elizabethschooldistrict.org/EMS

Singing Hills Elementary School: https://www.elizabethschooldistrict.org/SHE

Running Creek Elementary School: https://www.elizabethschooldistrict.org/RCE

The Elizabeth Education Foundation partners with Elizabeth School District in numerous ways throughout the year to support students and teachers. This volunteer-led, independent fundraising foundation provides scholarships for graduating seniors, classroom grants for teachers, and the STARS Awards for outstanding citizenship among students.

Learn more about the EEF at its website.