Good News Bulletin

Elizabeth High School senior Sophia Shaye Lovato worked hard to earn a rare and prestigious appointment to the United States Air Force Academy.

To go from one of 10,000 applicants to one of 1,100 cadets selected – and just a handful from Colorado – high school students begin the 20-step process as juniors. Through the USAFA online application portal, they must prove they’re a top student by uploading transcripts, application materials, test scores, a resume, a passing medical evaluation, an interview with their admissions liaison officer, three 1,000 word essays, numerous reference letters – Shaye received one from retired Air Force Maj. Gen. John Barry, the CEO of Wings Over the Rockies – and a recommendation from their U.S. Representative in Congress or one of their Senators. Shaye’s nomination came from U.S. Rep. Ken Buck shortly before he retired from Congress.

Except from Shaye’s congressional essay:

My love for our country, unwavering commitment to service, and desire to change the entire world I live in for the better are only some of the factors that truly drive my aspiration to attend a military academy. I am drawn to the idea of being part of an institution that places protecting America at the forefront of its mission. The prospect of working alongside individuals who share a deep sense of purpose and dedication to a higher cause is both inspiring and motivating to me. I genuinely love the prospect of a good challenge, which is why I’m not just applying to a normal college institution. I believe that I am ready to face any challenges the military academies can offer me because I have faith in my experiences and dedication to do what is right. All of these qualities combined are what will allow me to thrive in any environment during my time in the military.

Thanks to the Lovato family for sharing photos.

Each year, fifth graders from Elizabeth School District visit Young AmeriTowne in the Belmar neighborhood of Lakewood as a capstone of a month-long project to learn about money, careers and their own interests and skills.

When Singing Hills Elementary students took at day-long field trip to Young AmeriTowne on April 26, 2024, three of their students shared, in the video above, the experience through their eyes: Coralie, the community relations director; Matthew, the parcel delivery specialist; and Luna, the reporter.

More than 70 students from Singing Hills filled dozens of roles at Young AmeriTowne, which is a specialized facility that is part of Young Americans Bank and sponsored by numerous businesses and organizations interested in helping students explore career opportunities and learn skills that will be useful to them throughout their lives.

Fifth-grade teachers Dominique Hellmund, Rachel Midiri and Jessica Schmidt led their students through several weeks of financial education and citizenship lessons as they prepared to staff 16 different businesses at Young AmeriTowne. Many students interviewed for their jobs, and others mounted campaigns for town leadership positions, including mayor.

Thanks to Jessica Schmidt for the photos.

Lindsey Cutter's eighth grade science students put their lessons in physics to work making ball-bearing roller coasters, and the students and staff at Elizabeth Middle School voted on their favorites in several categories:

• Best Decorated
  
• Most Likely to Make Its Riders Lose Their Lunch
  
• Most Creative
  
• Most Realistic
  
• Most Likely to Seriously Injure or Unalive Its Riders
  
• Best of Show
  

The eighth-graders spent about a week-and-a-half devising, building, testing and decorating their coasters and, on Friday, set them up in the library for classes to stop by and take turns testing each before voting.

Students from every class at Running Creek Elementary ran laps around the parking loop on Wednesday for their annual Run 4 Funds, and after they were finished running, each group was treated to a bubble party.

The annual fundraiser provides money for equipment and supplies at the school. Students took pledges in the weeks prior and then ran laps to determine how much they would earn for from those pledges. For each lap that they ran, accompanied by music, high-fives and lots of encouragement, they picked from a selection of colorful wristbands. At the end of their running time, they counted the number of wristbands they had accumulated. After counting, they lined up for a bubble-cannon blast.

Thanks to Michael Seefried for the photos.

Andy Smith, with Pursue Life Inc., kicked off the first-ever Financial Leadership Summit at Elizabeth High School on Tuesday. More than 70 attendees came out to support 43 personal finance students as they presented content around budgeting, shopping, impulse buying, real estate, investing, groceries, travel, and entertainment.

"It was so neat to see the growth of these students over 90 minutes!" said Chris Martinez, business teacher and co-leader for the Future Business Leaders of America. "They had prepared for the past three weeks and were so nervous for that first session. By session three, they were on it! They were confident in their presentation skills, they had adjusted their content as necessary to fit within the time constraints and they were having fun. We are so proud of these kids. They did an amazing job."

The event was also a fundraiser to help the five FBLA National qualifiers get to Orlando, Florida, at the end of June. Anyone who would like to donate to help as well, can reach out to Chris Martinez or Meaghan Gieck at Elizabeth High School.

Thanks to Chris Martinez for the information and photos.

Running Creek Elementary School's annual participation in the American Heart Association's Kids Heart Challenge not only raised funds for a great cause, but the students also got the chance to slime PE Teacher Madison Wages.

As Rebecca Miller and the returning members of her 19-7 Elizabeth High School softball team prepare for their 2024 season, she took a few moments to look back at her first year as the head coach in the podcast interview linked below.

After serving as an assistant coach for the previous several years at the high school level, plus coaching wave after wave of middle school softball players, Coach Miller finds herself at the center of a powerhouse program that has been successful for the better part of a decade. How does she maintain those high standards and plan to exceed them? The wide-ranging conversation has those answers.

To make sure you hear all of ESD interviews with coaches, just search for Elizabeth School District and hit the follow or subscribe button in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast app.

Wednesday was National Principal Appreciation Day, so please join us in expressing appreciation for Running Creek Principal Michael Seefried, new Singing Hills Principal Amber Sorg, Elizabeth Middle School Principal Kimberly Runyan, and Elizabeth High School Principal Bret McClendon (and, not pictured, retiring Singing Hills Principal Regina Montera and Legacy Academy Principal Tony Vruggink).

These leaders are TIRELESS education experts, advocates for students, managers of large staffs, and wearers of more hats than can be counted!

May 6-10 – National Teacher Appreciation Week

May 6 – Board of Education Meeting, 6 p.m.

May 6 – EHS Marching Band Info Night, 6 p.m.

May 7 – National Teacher Appreciation Day

May 7 – EHS Instrumental Pops Concert, 7 p.m.

May 8 – National School Nurse Appreciation Day

May 9 – EHS Pops Choir Concert, 7 p.m.

May 17 – Last Day of School for Seniors

May 17 – Graduation Rehearsal and Changing of the Guard, 12:30 p.m.

May 18 – National Speech Pathologist Appreciation Day

May 20 – Board of Education Meeting, 6 p.m.

May 23 – Last Day of School

May 25 – EHS Graduation, 10 a.m.

EMS sports calendar

EHS sports calendar

The Elizabeth High School Spring Car Show is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. this Sunday at the EHS parking lot.

The event is sponsored by the Elizabeth High School Auto Shop Program.

Along with dozens of classic cars and trucks, one-of-a-kind rides, and high-end hot rods -- all part of the car competition (with handmade awards awaiting the winners), food trucks will be on site. Young attendees will have lawn games and a scavenger hunt to add to the fun.

The school district and its contractor have been working to address some major hurdles caused by this being a project funded by a grant from the U.S. government. What started as a simple project has become one mired in significant regulation and red tape.

At this time, the district expects:

• Final issuance of a State of Colorado permit for the building in the next week.
  
• Excavation for the building to begin in the next two weeks.
  
• Construction beginning in early June.
  

All school district projects require a permit not from Elbert County or the Town of Elizabeth, but from the state building department, which entails a much lengthier process. A more detailed update will be issued next week outlining the building timeline. At this time, the district anticipates the completion of the auto shop will occur by Sept. 1. Stay tuned for more information!

The Means Agency honored the above educators as the Teachers of the Month of April.

Each monthly honoree receives a goody bag from The Means Agency with handy classroom essentials such as pens, sticky notes, Band-Aids and hand sanitizer. Each honoree also receives a $20 gift card from a local business -- for April, the generous donor was El Pinito Restaurant.

Carson Powell, the director of the Cardinal Pride Marching Band will host a 2024 season informational meeting -- and reveal the show the band will perform -- at 6 p.m., May 6, in the EHS Band Room.

The marching band, coming off its best-rated season ever, is an extracurricular activity and open to students in grades 8-12 with at least one year of musical experience.

For more information, and to register by May 10, check out the Cardinal Pride webpage.

Music from "Star Wars," Pixar's "Coco," Disney's "Frozen," "The Lord of the Rings," "The Hobbit" and more will fill the EHS cafetorium at 7 p.m., May 7.

The "Movies in Concert" event will be the final EHS Performing Arts musical performance for the Jazz Band, Orchestra, Concert Band and Symphony Orchestra for this school year.

Admission is free.

Registration is open for the Independence Day 5K Fun Run/Walk on July 4, a partnership of the Elizabeth Cardinal Club and Elizabeth Park and Recreation District.

The Elizabeth Cardinal Club is a nonprofit organization focused on raising funds to support scholarship opportunities for student athletes continuing their education beyond high school. Registration opens June 1 at ElizabethPR.com.

The day of the race will include a free pancake breakfast provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Check-in runs from 7:15-7:45 a.m, and the race starts at 8 a.m. at Evans Park. Prizes will be given to the top three runners in each division.

Pre-registration fees (June 1-26):

• $30 for adults (includes t-shirt and swag bag)
  
• $20 for children 12 and under
  
• $100 for a family four-pack

Day-of registration fees:

• $40 for adults
  
• $25 for children 12 and under
  
• $120 for a family four-pack
  

No refunds will be given. For those unable to attend, registration constitutes a tax-deductible donation to the Elizabeth Cardinal Club.

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.

EEF has arranged for a trio of food trucks to be on site at the EHS multi-district track and field meet on May 11:

• Catalina's Tacos
  
• The Chaotic Kitchen
  
• Kona Ice

The food trucks will set up around 10 a.m., and Catalina's and The Chaotic Kitchen will have a limited breakfast menu in addition to lunch items. The food trucks will stay until approximately 3 p.m. and each will donate a percentage of their proceeds to the EEF.

The Colorado Rockies are partnering again this year with the Elizabeth Education Foundation to offer a pair of games that will benefit Elizabeth Schools.

The Elizabeth days at the ballpark are Saturday, May 11, for a 6:10 p.m. first pitch versus the 2023 World Series Champion Texas Rangers and Sunday, May 26, for a 1:10 p.m. game versus the Philadelphia Phillies.

By visiting Rockies.com/ELIZABETH to buy tickets, a portion of each tickets sold will be donated to the EEF. Seats available at that link for the Elizabeth fundraiser start at $16 each.

The sections that have been reserved for these ticket sales will be released for public sale 10 days before each of ESD's games, so if families, groups or teams want to be able to get a block of seats together, make sure to get tickets before the public release date!