Even though February is the shortest month of the year, it was a busy one packed full of student learning, work, and fun events. February hosted events like: School Counselor Week, Kindness Week, Regional Science Fair, and State Wrestling to name a few. Check out some of our highlights. There are a lot of things to love and appreciate about our district!

Past newsletters will be posted on our district website.

Also, if there are specific items or questions you have, please reach out to Mrs. Bauer at bauere@wgsd.us or 970-724-3217.

We are Grand Today. Greater Tomorrow.

Go Mustangs!

This month we recognized the Profile of a Learner characteristic of Inquisitive.

Those nominated and recognized include:

• Staff: Jen Hooks
• Students: Grayson Kassib, Riley Travis

Recognition at the West Grand Board of Education meeting on February 11.

Check out the QR code below if you want to see the full document of the strategic plan:

Exciting updates from the College and Career Department:

• Wyatt Guthrie selected to attend school at Kustom Built Cars Hot Rod Restoration in Grand Junction, CO. Wyatt stated that his internship at Black Tie Race Fabrications in Hot Sulphur helped him qualify and he was also awarded a scholarship.
• Taylin Harthun accepted to Kansas State University to pursue a Veterinary Medicine pathway. Taylin aspires to become an Equine Veterinarian.
• Sara Lechman accepted to Hastings College pursuing a Physical Therapy pathway and playing Basketball.
• Sky Paeglow - West Grand Intern of the Month for January. Sky interns at Middle Park Health under the guidance of Dr. Alison Rickert, DPT
• Callie Freitag won the Mountain Parks Electric Youth Tour Essay Contest. Callie is 1 of just 50 students in the state, who will enjoy an all expenses paid trip to Washington DC in June.

Earlier this month, West Grand sent several middle school and high school students to the regional science fair in Grand Junction. We are proud of all of our scientists and want to recognize the award-winners:

Awards

Middle School

2nd Place - Maci Hayes

3rd Place - Trynity Typhair

High School

2nd Place - Teagan Bruchez

3rd Place - Devon Mahorney

Special Awards

Jr. - Thermo Fisher Scientific Challenge - Maci Hayes

Sr. - Life Industries Inventors Award - $75 - Devon Mahorney

State Fair Qualifiers Juniors

2nd Place - Maci Hayes

3rd Place - Trynity Typhair

Grayson Kassib

Elizabeth George

Gracie Typhair

Lyndee Thomson & Ryder Pryor

State Fair Qualifier Seniors

2nd Place - Teagan Bruchez

3rd Place - Devon Mahorney

Hugo Gonzalez Gomez

As was shared previously, students and staff weigh in about some of the benefits of not having phones in the classroom. This has been the policy and practice at West Grand for several years, but this year there is a renewed energy and consistency in focusing on "More Social. Less Media."

There is a push at the state level to require schools to have a cell phone policy limiting their use. We are already working on updating our policy to reflect changes and to ensure consistency throughout the district.

In the 6th grade through 12th grade category: 3rd place: Luke Hickam, 2nd place: Esteban Aguilar Pineiro, Orion Ilgner and Rowan Kittrell, and 1st place: Orion Ilgner!

Thank you to all the performers for such an amazing night! And thank you to all the supporters! What a fun night to showcase our talented students.

Of course, we have to share the staff flash mob video!

Check out the PDFs for this month's ML connection newsletter.

See the press release from the Colorado Department of Education:

The Colorado Department of Education is inviting community members to recognize exceptional teachers by nominating an educator to submit an application for the 2026 Colorado Teacher of the Year. The Teacher of the Year program recognizes educators who demonstrate excellence in teaching and positively impact their students, communities and schools.

Anyone in Colorado can nominate an educator for the 2026 Teacher of the Year award. Eligible nominees must be public school teachers working in state-accredited K-12 schools and plan to continue teaching throughout the 2026-2027 school year.

Nominate a West Grand Teacher today!

February was a busy month for our all of our student, including our student athletes. Some highlights from the month include:

• Boys and Girls wrestlers competing at the CHSAA State Competition
• Senior night for girls and boys basketball
• Boys basketball finished up their season with more wins than the past three years. What a great year of growth and continued improvement!
• Girls basketball is headed to Burlington, CO this upcoming weekend to compete at regionals. Good luck, Mustangs!
• Middle school girls basketball wrapped up their season and middle school wrestling is in full swing!
• Full gyms and seeing our community come out to support our student whether it is a wrestling tournament, a basketball game, or the science fair. Having your attendance and presence makes an impact for our students and programs!

Greenhouse students are busy planting for spring. Our apple tree is almost in bloom!

Make sure you are looking for the annual Greenhouse sale later this spring!

Students in grades K-5 spent some time with the school counselor, Mrs. Vance, designing and creating their own "coping toolboxes." A coping toolbox is a collection of strategies, activities, and sometimes a place to keep physical things that can help a student (or adult) during times of anxiety or stress in a healthy way. Students have been learning about different strategies and skills during guidance lessons.

Middle school students helped our elementary students create their coping toolboxes. These supplies were funded through the district's Title IV grant funds.

1st grader, Noah Brooks, is proud to show off his artwork. That smiling face is a wonderful piece of art as well!

Egg-cellent learning happens here at West Grand in all different spaces.

In 8th grade ELA class, Mrs. Cameron is challenging the students by having them lead their own discussion as a precursor to reading “The Giver”.

WGHS FFA continues to be involved and compete as a group!

Make sure you follow our website and click on the calendar links to see the most up-to-date information on events and activities hosted here at West Grand. The schedule changes so often, the digital version is best!

Here is the website link: https://www.wgsd.us/calendar

Follow your West Grand Mustangs on the NFHS network to watch live or recorded home games and the away games if the hosting school has NFHS. Visit NFHS West Grand Athletics to catch the action.

There is still time to hit the ski slopes!

This spring the entire district is engaging in Student-Led Conferences instead of the "traditional" Parent/Teacher conferences. You should have received notification for this schedule from your student's teacher.

We're looking forward to this opportunity for our students to share what they have been learning!

Mrs. Bauer and Mrs. Hooks hosted the first Coffee and Conversation of the year. It is an informal time where they will be out in our community to sit and talk about school. There will be no agenda, just an opportunity to have conversation.

Bauer and Hooks will continue to host this open opportunity the third Thursday of the month from 7:00am - 8:00am.