Creighton Community Newsletter

Welcome to the Conversational Leadership Podcast with Creighton Superintendent Jay Mann. This week, Superintendent Jay Mann sits down with Assistant Superintendent of Business, Operations and Development, Vanessa Shapiro to break down Creighton’s November ballot initiatives, explain what budget overrides are, and share how they work within school districts.

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4wJvSyeSZ2eDgVct0d2hmz
• I Heart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/338-conversational-leadership-123648792/
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f3b02164-c77f-4c01-a3ef-eff7eb0cc0fb/conversational-leadership-with-superintendent-jay-mann
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conversational-leadership-with-superintendent-jay-mann/id1713795305

Encourage Your Middle Schooler to Attend the Creighton High School Fair!

The annual Creighton District High School Fair is a fantastic chance for students to explore unique programs and "shop" local high schools to find the best fit for their future.

• Date: November 4, 2026

• Time: 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

• Location: Excelencia Multipurpose Room (2181 E. McDowell Rd)

• Incentive: All participating students will be eligible to earn a free dress down day pass!

Celebrations were in full swing across our district as schools honored the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of the Hispanic community for Hispanic Heritage Month!

Both Biltmore Preparatory Academy and Iron Mountain Academy hosted fantastic school-wide celebrations filled with vibrant student performances, cultural music, engaging activities, and community connection. Students and staff came together to learn, honor traditions, and celebrate the diverse heritages that make our Creighton community so special. Thank you to all the educators, families, and students who helped make these events such a memorable success!

This month, we’re celebrating the incredible principals who lead our Creighton schools with heart, dedication, and purpose every day. Thank you for supporting our students, encouraging our staff, partnering with our families, and helping create school communities where everyone can learn, grow, and thrive. We appreciate all you do for Team Creighton!

Step right up! This week, we are celebrating National School Lunch Week with a fun carnival theme to honor the incredible "ringmasters" of our school cafeterias! Our dedicated child nutrition staff work hard every day behind the scenes to serve up nutritious, delicious meals that keep our students energized and ready to learn. From cheerful morning greetings to nourishing hot lunches, our cafeteria teams make every school day a winning experience. Thank you to our amazing food service heroes for all you do to support Team Creighton!

Excitement is building at Biltmore Preparatory Academy as the school’s rebuild is underway and moving right along! Creighton School District Governing Board members Trista Jones and Nicole Marquez recently joined district leaders and the construction crew for an on-site walkthrough to view the fantastic progress firsthand. It is inspiring to see the foundation being laid for bright new learning spaces, and we are thrilled for what this transformation will mean for our students. Thank you to our community for making this rebuild a reality!

The Creighton Academy recently welcomed NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Suárez for an inspiring visit with our students! Suárez shared his journey to becoming a champion, speaking candidly about what it takes to follow your dreams, overcome obstacles, and work hard every day. He also answered questions directly from our students.

In addition to inspiring our students, Suárez’s sponsor, Freeway Insurance, generously presented The Creighton Academy with a $3,000 donation to support our school community. We are deeply grateful to Governing Board President, Sophia Carrillo for making the connection and to Daniel Suárez and Freeway Insurance for taking the time to empower our young learners and support Team Creighton!

Once a Creighton student, always part of the Creighton family!

In our latest Alumni Spotlight, we’re celebrating Janett Hernandez and the journey that has taken her from the classrooms of Creighton to where she is today. Stories like Janett’s remind us that the lessons, relationships, and experiences built in our schools can continue making an impact long after students leave our classrooms. We’re proud to celebrate our alumni and see the many places their journeys take them!

We had a special visit at Biltmore Preparatory Academy from ABC15 Meteorologist Jorge Torres! Jorge met with our 5th graders to talk about weather, share what it’s like to be a meteorologist, and give students a behind-the-scenes look at broadcast meteorology.

Then our students took center stage as ABC15 Kidcasters! They stepped in front of the camera and delivered their very own weather reports, bringing their meteorologist dreams to life!

A huge thank-you to Jorge Torres and ABC15 for visiting BPA and turning our students into meteorologists for a day!

Structured English Immersion Night was hosted for our families of our multilingual learners! Families were provided with information on our Structured English Immersion programs and AZELLA as well as strategies for families to use at home to support language acquisition. We were able to provide students and families book packs that included five books for students and families use with the strategies shared during the session.

A HUGE thank you to this incredible team! These volunteers were here for a short time, but did a TON of work for us including repainting the curb out front, revamping and building new garden beds and benches, planting seeds and transplants out front, bringing and filling over 60 emergency food bags, organizing the Clothing Closet, sanitizing all the toys and supplies in our Early Readiness Classrooms, and even painting small rocks and pots for families to take and enjoy! What a treat to be on the receiving end of the kindness of strangers -- thank you all SO MUCH!!

Early literacy forms the foundation for a child's educational journey, language development, and long-term academic success. Building strong reading skills early in life enhances vocabulary, strengthens comprehension, and fosters critical thinking. Beyond academics, early reading nurtures imagination, curiosity, and emotional empathy.

Tips & Tricks for Promoting Literacy at Home

• Read Together Daily: Set aside 15–20 minutes every day to read aloud. Let your child pick books that match their interests to keep them engaged.

• Point Out Words in Everyday Life: Point to labels, street signs, store banners, and grocery lists to help children connect printed words with their real-world meanings.

• Ask Open-Ended Questions: While reading, ask questions like "What do you think will happen next?" or "How do you think that character feels?" to build comprehension and critical thinking skills.

• Create a Dedicated Reading Space: Designate a cozy, comfortable corner in your home with easy access to a variety of age-appropriate books.

• Make Writing Fun: Encourage drawing, tracing letters, and scribbling lists or letters to family members to build fine motor skills and letter recognition.

• Model Reading Behavior: Let your children see you reading books, news, or magazines. Children naturally imitate the habits of the adults around them.