Garfield 16 Gazette

This newsletter can be automatically translated into 108 different languages. If you open this newsletter on your phone, look for the "Accessibility Icon" for language options. Press the "translate" button, and select your language.

To translate from a laptop or computer, please watch this short informational video in English or in Spanish:

How to translate Smore Newsletters (English) or Cómo traducir boletines informativos de Smore (Spanish)

On January 13, 2026, the Colorado Department of Education released school districts' attendance, drop out, and graduation data report for the 2024-25 school year. Garfield 16's attendance rate was 92.6%, which is above the state's average of 91.4%. Garfield 16's chronically absence rate, (students who are absent for ten or more days) is 24%, and that state's average is 28.4%.

The principals have made it a priority to improve the attendance rates in their schools. They are using strategies such as having attendance meeting with parents and students. Students at Bea Underwood Elementary School and Grand Valley Middle School can access the Truancy and Academic Recovery program to get support to catch up on any missed assignments. Grand Valley High School has taken the TAR program one step forward with it's Student Time and Engagement Program, or STEP, which emphasizes student engagement and connections to school.

These effort have led to positive improvements in student attendance. In 2022-23, the attendance rate was 89.2% with chronic absenteeism at 41.3%. By 2023-24, the student attendance rate increased to 92.6% with a chronic absenteeism rate of 20.6%.

The student drop out rate for 2024-25 was 2.0%, slightly higher than the state's average of 1.6%. A student is considered a drop out if the student enters ninth grade and doesn't graduate from a high school. For the 2024-25 reporting on the graduation rate, the senior class that entered ninth grade in 2021-22 had 62 students. While the specific circumstances for the students who dropped out is unknown, Grand Valley High School can use this data to further school improvement efforts.

The four-year graduation rate was 80.2%. The state's average four-year graduation rate was 85.6%. Historically, Grand Valley High School has seen an increase in the five-year graduation rate. Student who need to complete course recovery or are participate in the special education transition programs do graduate with more time.

G16 Families,

Please review our procedures for winter weather, snow days, and two-hour delays.

As we prepare for the winter months, these are the school closing and two-hour delay procedures. School closing, delay, and cancelation decisions are made based on the weather and road conditions in the Garfield 16 area and neighboring areas.

School Closing/Snow Day

If there is inclement weather, the District will decide to close school by 5:15 a.m., based on the conditions at 5:00 a.m.. Parents will be notified by 6:00 a.m. if there is a snow day or delayed start.

After School Activities for a School Closing/Snow Day

All after school activities will be evaluated throughout the day if the District is closed for weather or weather conditions become hazardous during the day. The District will notify staff, students, and families of after school activities cancellations by 1:00 p.m..

Two-Hour Delay

A two-hour delay will be used when the road conditions are not suitable for travel at 5:00 a.m., but are expected to improve throughout the day. The District will decide to call a delayed start by 5:15 a.m.. This will allow snowplows additional time to clear the roads. On a two-hour delayed schedule, buses will begin their routes two hours late, and all classes will begin two hours late.

Schools will operate on a modified schedule. Start times will simply be pushed back by two hours. Students will have breakfast and lunch. Students will be dismissed at the regular time.

In the event that the District has a two-hour delay and the road conditions do not improve, the District may decide to close schools for the day. The District will make this decision by 7:30 a.m. based on the conditions at 7:15 a.m.

AM Cardinal Club will be canceled on a two-hour delay day. PM Cardinal Club will continue as scheduled on a two-hour delay day. Find the two-hour delay bell schedules on our G16 Communications webpage: https://www.garfield16.org/communications/school-closure-information

Early Dismissal

In the event that weather conditions start or worsen once students are in school, the decision to have an early dismissal will be made by 10:00 a.m.

All after school activities will be canceled.

AM Cardinal Club will continue as scheduled on an early dismissal day. PM Cardinal Club will be canceled on an early dismissal day.

Communication

All families will be notified of a school closing through the district messaging system, media outlets, and social media as soon as possible.

Please be sure that your contact information is current by checking in with the secretaries at your child's school so that in the event of school closures, Garfield 16 is able to contact you.

Alternatively, you can login to your Infinite Campus account to ensure your contact information is correct.

Thank you,

G16 Communications

Important Upcoming Events:

• GVHS Winter Sports- Find schedules at https://gvhs.garfield16.org/athletics
• GVMS Winter Sports- Find schedules at https://gvms.garfield16.org/athletics

• Jan. 30: CFL's Coffee with the Principals 9:00AM- 9:45AM

• Feb. 2-6: School Counselor Appreciation Week

• Feb. 4: GVHS PSAT/SAT Practice Test for 9th, 10th, and 11th Grades. Seniors arrive to school at 11:00 am or normal time for seniors in CMC welding/auto.

• Feb. 10: Board of Education Meeting 5:00 pm. 460 Stone Quarry Road, Battlement Mesa, CO 81635. Find agenda at https://go.boarddocs.com/co/garfield16/Board.nsf/Public

• Feb. 11: GVMS Girls Basketball Pictures

• Feb. 16 - 20: CFL Book Fair

• Feb. 16: School Resource Officer Appreciation Day

• Feb. 16: President's Day Holiday- School-Based Family Resource Center closed.

• Feb. 24-27: GVHS Wish Week benefiting the Make A Wish Foundation

• Feb. 26: GVHS Wish Week Silent Auction 5:00PM

• Feb. 27: CFL's Coffee with the Principals 9:00AM- 9:45AM

• Mar. 3: GVHS FFA District Leadership Development Events in Craig

• Mar. 3: GVHS Mandatory Senior Meeting during Advisory

• Mar. 4: GVMS Spring Concert

• Mar. 6: End of 3rd Quarter

• Mar. 10: Board of Education Meeting 5:00 pm. 460 Stone Quarry Road, Battlement Mesa, CO 81635. Find agenda at https://go.boarddocs.com/co/garfield16/Board.nsf/Public

• Mar. 13: GVHS Senior Pictures Due

• Mar. 16: GVHS Key Club to Journey Home in Rifle

• Mar. 19 GVHS & GVMS Winter Special Olympics on the Grand Mesa

• Mar. 19: BUE Spring Picture Day

• Mar. 23-27 SPRING BREAK- NO SCHOOL, NO CARDINAL CLUB, NO MONDAY PROGRAMS, SCHOOL-BASED FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER CLOSED

Don’t forget about our before and after school childcare program, Cardinal Club. Cardinal club is childcare for children in grades kindergarten through 5. Students must be enrolled in Garfield 16 schools.

Cardinal Club is located at CFL and BUE before and after school.

Cardinal Club at BUE and CFL will be held from 6:30 am until the start of school, and again from dismissal of school until 6:00 pm.

The fees for the CFL and BUE Cardinal Club are per child, and reduced rates are available for eligible families.

CARDINAL CLUB IS NOW ACCEPTING CCCAP!

Find more information about our before and after-school childcare program (Cardinal Club) located at both BUE and CFL by following this link: https://www.garfield16.org/parents/pagecardinal-club

Cardinal Club registration forms will also be available at back-to-school nights.

Download our app and easily see events for all schools, or just selected schools, and add events to your device (phone) calendar!

The face behind the name: Bob Beverly was one of Powderhorn’s founders and a Colorado Ski Hall of Famer, dedicated to bringing snow sports to the Western Slope. Every year we honor his legacy with our Bob Beverly Free Learn-To program for folks who have never skied or snowboarded before.

Visit powderhorn.com/bob to reserve now—complete three sessions to be eligible for the deeply discounted Rookie Season Pass. For last year’s Rookies, the Sophomore Season Pass will be available to purchase in-person at the Ticket Office this season.

The School-Based Resource Center is here to support you! We are open Tuesday–Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and on Mondays by appointment.

Our services include student mental health support, substance education, family resources, help with government assistance, adult education classes, legal aid, a clothing closet, and a food pantry. Stop by and see us at 251 Parachute Avenue, or give us a call at 970-285-5700 ext. 5190 to learn more.

FACEBOOK

WEBSITE

Please do not hesitate to reach out to our School Based Family Resource Center for more information.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Claudia Flores Cruz

Center Coordinator

970-285-5262

cflorescruz@garfield16.org

As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, we would like to inform you about the resources available for accessing information on registered offenders. At the beginning of each school year, we provide written details on where and how you can obtain this information from local law enforcement agencies. This information is also posted on the district’s website for your convenience.

We believe it is crucial for parents and guardians to have access to this information to stay informed about their community and to take any necessary precautions to protect their children. By keeping you informed, we hope to foster a safer environment for all our students.

You can find the Garfield County Sheriff's Office Offender Search here: https://www.garcosheriff.com/sex-offender-search/

Garfield 16 provides all students with counseling services through the school counselors. School counselors work with students to support their academic growth and success as well as their social and emotional development. School counselors work closely with teachers, principals, and parents to support students experiencing issues that impact their learning. These issues can be, but are not limited to, declining grades, poor work habits, organizational skills, distracting behaviors, school avoidance, anxiety, trauma, and transient personal or family issues, such as the loss of a loved one or change in family dynamic. A school counselor may work with a student on an individual basis or as part of a group. In addition, school counselors work with the administration to assess at-risk students.

At the elementary level, school counselors provide direct instruction to all students in social and emotional growth and wellbeing. Topics include social skills, recognizing emotions, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. For students who may be experiencing difficulty with social skills, regulating behaviors, or school counselors provide individual and group coaching.

At the secondary level, school counselors begin to support students with college and career planning and decision making. School counselors work with students on their Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) requirements. School counselors facilitate college and post-secondary career and workforce exploration. At the high school level, school counselors work with students to ensure they are on pace for graduation.

How to contact your school counselor:

CFL:

• Referral Form
• Email Ms. Landry
• Call 970-285-5702

BUE:

• Referral Form
• Email Mrs. Sherraden
• Email Mrs. DeMaio
• Call 970-285-5703

GVMS:

• Parent Referral Form
• Student Referral Form
• Email Mrs. Hoyt
• Call 970-285-5707

GVHS:

• Email Mrs. Paine
• Email Mrs. Largent
• Call 970-285-5705

• All students and their families.
• Fill out the referral form, found by clicking this link.
• Drew Hogan- SBFRC Counselor
• Leslie Pinaire- SBFRC Counselor

Did you know that we can administer medication to your students if they have a need. What we need from you is a doctor's order/care plan, that needs to be signed by the doctor and by you as the parent. Parents then need to bring in medication to the school and we have trained staff that are able to administer medications. If you have any questions please call the district nurse at 970-285-5707

Find information about G16's Health Services by clicking the link below. Information includes: recommended immunizations, what to do if your student needs medication at school or has a severe allergy, and vision and hearing screenings by grade.

Garfield 16 is excited to participate in the Healthy School Meals for All program approved by Colorado voters, which provides all students in our district with access to free, nutritious breakfast and lunch.

Just like in previous years, families should continue to provide their household income information by filling out the Free/Reduced Meals Application. While meals will be provided for free to all students in participating schools, it's important to continue gathering this information in order to receive full access to federal funding, which goes directly back to schools to help cover the cost of meals and support after school and other nutritional programs.

Thank you for your support in helping maximize federal funding for our district and schools.

Healthy School meals for all cde webpage resources

If you need to contact transportation for any reason, including a missing student, please call the Transportation Office at the number below:

Office: 970-285-5701 ext. 5133

The school bus is an extension of the school building. All of the rules and expectations in school apply while riding a school bus or waiting at a bus stop.

1. Students should be at the bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled pick up time.

2. Students should enter the bus and immediately sit in the seat.

3. Students must remain seated at all times. This is to ensure the safety of all students in case of a sudden stop, and standing is distracting to the driver.

4. Students must keep their hands and heads in the bus at all times.

5. Students should keep the bus aisle clear at all times.

6. Students should use indoor voices while riding the bus. Shouting and load noises are not allowed.

7. Students are not allowed to eat or drink on the bus.

8. Students must follow the directions of the bus driver and bus monitor at all times, without exception.

9. Students should collect any trash they have and throw it into the trash can when exiting the bus.

10. Kindergarten and first grade students must be met at the bus stop by a responsible adult to exit the bus. If a responsible adult is not at the bus stop, the students will be returned to the Center for Family Learning for the parent/guardian to pick up the student.

Find information about rental counseling, prepare to buy a home, receive pre-purchase counseling, find help with closing costs, reverse mortgage counseling, financial counseling, help for those facing foreclosure, and help with home repairs. **

**Garfield County School District #16 is not responsible for, and does not endorse, any statement, sentiment, or opinion published or expressed in this document. This document is not part of, and has not been distributed as part of the District's curricular or extracurricular programs.