I don't know if it feels that way to parents and students, but it feels like summer is flying by at the HSD district offices. Take a moment to read up on the changes/updates from the district as we prepare for the best year yet at Hayden Schools.

I’m excited to bring to you The ROAR Report, Hayden School District’s update for families and community members. While this communication began last year as Tiger Talk, I recognize that it lost momentum following volume 1—and I’m committed to changing that. Starting now, you can expect a consistent, reliable update highlighting important district news, upcoming events, student successes, and ongoing initiatives. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with you as we share the stories and progress that make us proud to be Tigers. Thank you for reading—and Go Tigers!

This summer, our district and school leaders came together to focus on one of the most important questions we can ask: What does a high-quality learning environment look like in every Hayden classroom?

At our recent Board of Education retreat, we took a deep dive into how we can raise the level of academic rigor and engagement for all students. We’re working to ensure that students across all grade levels experience consistently high expectations, strong classroom routines, and meaningful instruction every day.

HSD teachers and building leaders have worked hard over recent years to improve instructional planning, align instruction and assessments to state standards, and to provide relevant feedback to students throughout the learning process. This year, using grant funds to further support and implement this work, HSD has been able to add instructional coaches to assist teachers strengthen their practice and better meet student needs. We are also aligning clear behavior expectations and classroom management routines, so that every child benefits from a focused, respectful learning environment—no matter which classroom they’re in. Last year's move to eliminate personal electronic devices and cell phones during instructional time was a step toward creating an environment with fewer distractions for all students, and it was a great first step. Finally, this year students and teachers will see a greater presence in classrooms from our building and district leaders to provide timely and intentional feedback focusing on student learning.

This year, you’ll see our schools working hard to:

• Raise academic expectations in a way that challenges and supports all students
• Provide more consistent classroom routines and behavior expectations
• Offer targeted professional development for teachers
• Improve how we use student data to guide instruction and support

Our goal is simple but ambitious: to significantly increase student engagement and learning outcomes across all schools. We look forward to partnering with you throughout the year to support every student’s success.

Hayden Valley Elementary Summer Learning Opportunity Reminders: We have some fun and exciting summer learning activities planned! If your child would like to participate, their job is to complete the packet(s) at home and bring their finished work to our evening summer learning sessions at HVE. The next date is July 23rd from 5:00-6:00 p.m. at HVE.

Also, for Hayden Middle School students we are excited to introduce something brand new this year — the first-ever HMS Summer Spark — Where Learning Sparks Imagination! Summer Spark is a unique opportunity for students to stay engaged, curious, and connected during the summer break. This is not your typical summer school — it’s a hands-on, high-energy, project-based experience designed to ignite creativity and make learning come alive. Summer Spark will run from 8:00 a.m.-noon on July 14-16, with culminating day-long field trip to Elkhead Reservoir from 8:00a.m.-3:00p.m. on July 17th.

This summer, district staff met with our information technology provider, to coordinate summer technology upgrades across the district. Approximately 140 new student Chromebooks have been purchased and are being imaged and prepared for implementation as part of our newly established technology refreshment cycle. This is the second year of refreshing our technology for students and HSD is planning on utilizing a 3-year refreshment cycle for student devices moving forward. The devices that were purchased new last year will transition up to be used by the same students during the 2025-26 school year, and this year's newly purchased devices will follow the same pattern of moving up with students as they progress through the grades.

Please encourage your child to take care of the Chromebooks as they utilize them in class and at home. To help your child get the most out of their Chromebook this school year—and avoid unnecessary repairs or disruptions—here are a few simple tips:

Keep It Clean & Safe

• Handle it with care—no stickers or personal decorations.

• Use clean hands when handling the Chromebook.
• Wipe screens gently with a soft, dry microfiber cloth (no liquids or harsh cleaners).
• Avoid eating or drinking near the device.

Store It Properly

• Always carry the Chromebook with two hands or in a protective case.
• Keep it in a safe, dry place—away from pets, younger siblings, and food.
• Never leave it in extreme heat or cold (like a car overnight).

Charge It Daily

• Plug it in each night so it’s fully charged for school the next day.
• Use only the district-issued charger.
• Avoid letting the battery drain completely.

Use It Responsibly

• Remind your child the Chromebook is a school learning tool—it is not meant for gaming, YouTube, or social media.
• Keep login credentials private and avoid changing system settings.
• Do not give another student your Chromebook to use, and do not take another student's Chromebook to use.

Report Issues Early

• If the device isn’t working properly, encourage your child to let their teacher or school tech team know right away. Small problems can become big ones if ignored.

Hayden School District is committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment for all students and staff. As part of this commitment, we are implementing the RAPTOR Visitor Management System across our campus. This system enhances school safety by screening visitors, tracking check-ins, and ensuring that everyone entering our buildings is accounted for. It also provides instant alerts to administrators if a potential threat is identified and automatically logs all visitor data for efficient reporting.

While safety is our top priority, we continue to welcome families, volunteers, and community members into our schools. RAPTOR simply adds an extra layer of security—because creating a safe and inviting space for learning means protecting it, too. Upon entering the building, visitors entering beyond the main lobby during school hours will be asked to present a state- or federally-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license). Visitors will then be printed a visitor sticker that should be prominently displayed while visiting or volunteering. The sticker will have your picture printed on it along with your name, where you will be visiting, and the date and time of your arrival. As you leave, simply check out with one of the administrative assistants by giving them back your visitor sticker and exit the building. It's that easy.

I understand this will be a new process for our school community. School staff will help communicate at registration, orientations, Back to School nights, and any other events of this new change for us. We will also be gently reminding families and visitors over the course of the year as we implement this new system. RAPTOR will not be used for visitors to our building during athletic events, after-hour programs, evening performances...

On behalf of all students and staffmembers in Hayden School District, thank you for your support in keeping our schools safe and welcoming for all.

Hayden School District is proud to partner with our fellow Routt County school districts and the Yampa Valley Community Foundation on an exciting initiative called the “Grow Your Own” Educator Advancement and Recruitment Fund. This effort is rooted in a shared belief: that some of the best future educators for our schools are already part of our community. The fund supports local staff and community members who aspire to become educators—those who already know and care deeply about our students and schools. By investing in this homegrown talent, we can strengthen staff retention and help ensure a stable, high-quality workforce across our region.

To jumpstart the effort, the Yampa Valley Community Foundation has launched a $50,000 matching campaign, made possible by an anonymous donor. Every dollar contributed by August 31st will be matched—doubling the impact of each donation. As Hayden School District continues its work to provide high-quality education, this “Grow Your Own” Fund gives us the opportunity to proactively invest in the next generation of teachers and school leaders—right here in Routt County. If you wish to donate to the Grow Your Own initiative, a link to the Yampa Valley Community Foundation can be found right here.

We’ve scheduled several summer upgrades and maintenance tasks across our buildings. Thank you to our custodial and facilities staff for working hard to ensure our campuses are ready to go!

• Summer cleaning is well underway. Thank you to our wonderful custodial team for getting ahead of schedule on our annual summer deep-cleaning!
• Painting is taking place throughout the building with "spot repairs" and with some more extensive projects.
• As always, we continue to work on our lawns through the heat of the summer.
• Large projects are also coordinated and scheduled through the upcoming 1 1/2 months:
• Installation of sidewalk to the greenhouse
• Restriping the parking lot
• Painting the scoreboard on the football field
• Fencing repairs (at the HSD campus) and installation (at the Transportation Building)
• Building storage areas in the Cub Hub
• Placement of a storage shed onto HVE playground for recess equipment