Mustang Musings

October was a busy month full of hands-on learning opportunities and student activities. The leaves may be falling, but our students are full-steam ahead into learning!

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!

We just finished our 2-day comprehensive Student Centered Accountability Program (SCAP) review. Thank you to all of you who participated and gave your feedback to help us improve.

Now, everyone has an opportunity to give voice and input by completing the following linked survey. We use this data to help inform our strategic priorities and continuous improvement practices. Complete the survey by end of TODAY.

Message from our UC Denver partners:

THANK YOU for taking the time to provide your views about your child's school! The information from your response to this survey will be very helpful to school and district leaders in working to improve the learning experience for all our students. The survey is anonymous. No one will know your identity, not even the University of Colorado Denver researchers administering the survey. If you have children in more than one school, you can take the survey for each school if you wish to do so. We estimate the survey will take about 10-15 minutes to complete on average.

Click on this link to complete the survey: https://ucdenver.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_77jGoX89VKceX4O

This month we highlighted the Profile of a Learner skill of Knowledgeable. Students and staff can nominate anyone they see demonstrate the Profile of a Learner trait of the month.

Here are those staff and students recognized this month:

• Katie Gumnic
• Nellie Thomson
• Martha Schake
• Jaime Franklin
• Maisie Harvey
• Lyndee Thomson
• Daniel Pedersen
• Gracie Typhair
• Elenor Holley

Recognition at the West Grand Board of Education meeting on October 8. Many couldn't make it due to scheduling, but they were still recognized!

The K-5 classrooms participated in a competition to have all classrooms create their own design of the Profile of a Learner poster. After students finished their posters, they displayed them for all to see and vote on.

The winner is...(drumroll, please)...

Mrs. Nelson's 5th grade class!

Ms. Winchester's Project Management class at the high school is using the drawings to make digital posters for K-5 students to connect with. Stay tuned for the final product!

We are very excited to announce our Intern of the Month for October, Lydia Johnson.

Lydia is serving as an intern for School District Nurse Chelsea Gaines.Lydia assists Nurse Gaines with hearing and sight screening, and helps when students arrive at the office with symptoms.The most prominent Profile of a Learner trait Lydia demonstrates is being Inquisitive.Lydia stated that she is always able to get answers from Nurse Gaines.Nurse Gaines also gives assignments that prompt Lydia to practice critical thinking and sound communication.

Lydia believes that her internship will be of great value on her Nursing Pathway journey .

Check out this music video created by our Middle School Mustang Mentor students.

Homecoming was a week full of fun and festivities around the district. The luau themed Homecoming week included the traditional powder puff football game on Wednesday, bonfire night on Thursday and dance for high school students on Saturday. The volleyball and football teams faced-off against Vail Christian, Tuesday and Friday respectively. Homecoming Royalty was announced during the halftime of the football game. Royalty candidates chose someone that has influenced them during their time here at West Grand to walk them out on the field. Both schools enjoyed a spirit dress up week as well.

What a great week to be a Mustang!

A tradition here at West Grand is to recognize our senior student-athletes and their families. Its a great way to highlight those who are finishing their K-12 educational journey here at West Grand and their commitment to their team(s).

Pictured below are the senior night pictures for: Football, Spirit, and Cross Country. Volleyball's senior night will be this upcoming Saturday, November 2.

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.

College & Career Department wished to congratulate:

• Caitlyn Corcoran as she was accepted into Northeastern Junior College to study Equine Science
• Orion Ilgner was accepted to Colorado Mesa University to study Music

Our WGHS Agricultural program received a Top 20 Foundational SAE Certificate.

Thank you to the hard work of our students and our teachers, Ms. Harmon and Ms. Goodell. Congratulations!

Kremmling Fire Department visited the K-5 classrooms to teach students about various aspects of fire safety. KFD demonstrated how their gear and equipment work, spoke to kids about how to be safe in their own homes, and let students sit in the fire engine. A few sirens were even heard!

We appreciate our community entities who keep us safe and help teach our students about what they do! Thank you, Kremmling Fire!

WGHS Social Studies teacher and cross country and track coach, Ryan Tripicchio, representing West Grand as he runs the Chicago Marathon! Now that is some Mustang Pride! Congrats, Coach.

Check out October's ML Connection Newsletter by clicking on the PDF links.

WGHS Class of 2024 alumn, Damon Simmons graduates from Navy Basic Training! Congratulations!

*Photo credits to Lorena Lott.

We are proud of Damon and all of our West Grand Alumni. If you have alumni news or highlights you would like to be shared, send them to Mrs. Bauer at bauere@wgsd.us.

If you haven't seen it yet, make sure you look at the different discounted or free ski pass information for West Grand students attached below. What a great opportunity for our kids to experience our surroundings this upcoming winter season.

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.