Gold Rush Elementary

Inspiring Purpose, Compassion & Excellence

Gold Rush Elementary staff reunited this week, and the energy on campus was truly electric! The buzz of excitement for the new school year could be felt throughout the building as teachers came together to welcome new staff members, celebrate our successes, and plan for a strong start.

Even though Gold Rush continues to be one of the top-performing schools in the district, we remain deeply committed to continuous improvement. Each year, we set new goals and action steps based on our most current data to ensure every student continues to grow and thrive.

This year, teachers will be implementing a powerful new instructional framework called Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD). SRSD is designed to support students as they respond to text through writing. This approach not only strengthens their ability to analyze nonfiction texts but also builds academic resilience by equipping students with tools to construct thoughtful, well-supported written responses.

We’re also excited to share that every classroom is now equipped with a new Promethean board! These interactive displays offer crisper images, improved sound, and hands-on navigation of digital content. Both teachers and students can annotate, explore, and interact directly with lessons on the screen—enhancing engagement and collaboration across all grade levels.

In addition, teachers received training on new literacy assessments aligned with Colorado’s Science of Reading research. These assessments will help us identify each student’s individual learning goals and match them with texts that are just right for their reading level. Assessments will begin in August, and we look forward to sharing the results with families during fall conferences.

We’re confident that the new tools, strategies, and insights gained this week will have an even greater impact on student learning. We are eager to share our progress toward schoolwide goals in future communications.

Thank you for being part of our GRE community—we can’t wait to welcome your family back next week!

All students must register for the upcoming school year using Online Express Check-In today. In addition to registering your child, you will update your contact information, pay school fees, complete the student directory and order a yearbook (listed under "Optional Fees''). Click here to login to Express Check-In, click here for information on how to navigate Express Check-In and click here for password assistance.

Please note that the Emergency Dismissal form must be printed and turned in to your teacher during Meet Your Teacher (Grades 1-5), Balanced Beginnings (Kindergarten) or the first day of school. For assistance please contact one of the individuals below:

Shala Goehl - GRE Registrar

sgoehl@dcsdk12.org

303-387-7707

Anita Rudman - GRE Administrative Assistant

anita.rudman@dcsdk12.org

303-387-7704

We believe that it is important for students to have the opportunity to meet their teacher and visit their classroom prior to the first day of school. Families are welcome to visit their classroom on Tuesday, August 12th, and drop off school supplies. Please plan to drop off any medications taken during the school day and physician forms in the main office. Students will take their school picture in the gym after they visit their classroom. You can click here to order pictures online. The picture day ID is EVTQD2R38.

We want to ensure that families are able to spend time with the teacher in a small group setting, so we ask that parents sign up for a specific time. Click here for our online scheduler, which closes August 1st. The password is digger. The sign up is first come first serve, so please sign up as soon as possible if you have a preferred time or you wish to align siblings’ times. School supplies ordered through the PTO will be delivered to your child’s classroom. Click here for a map of teachers’ classrooms.

The first full day of school for students in grades 1-5 is Wednesday, August 13th. Students will meet their teachers on the front blacktop on the first day of school for an opening flag ceremony that begins at 8:30 AM. Click here for a map of your classroom location for our opening ceremony. All teachers will have a sign with their name on it. Students will walk into school with their teacher at the end of the ceremony.

On the second day of school students will enter the building at their assigned locations between 8:20 AM-8:30 AM and walk directly to their classrooms. These locations are different from where students met for the opening Flag Ceremony. Click here for year long classroom arrival locations. Teachers and older students will assist our younger students. Parents of preschool students need to walk their children through the preschool playground to the preschool door and sign their child in.

Kindergarten students have a transitional start to the school year called Balanced Beginnings. Balanced beginnings is an opportunity for students to get to know classmates and partake in engaging activities in a small group setting. Classroom teachers begin to build community and learn each child's social, emotional and academic strengths and needs. The goal is to make sure students are comfortable and familiar with their new environment before their first full day of school.

Kindergarten students will meet with a small group of students on either August 13th or 14th for two hours. Parents will drop their child off at their classroom's exterior door. Students in Ms. Andersen's class will meet in the front vestibule of the school.

Students will take their picture with their parents between 11:00 AM-1:00 PM on their selected day. Please plan to drop off any medications taken during the school day in the main office. Parents need to click here to sign up for Balanced Beginnings. Times are on a first come first serve basis.

Kindergarten students’ first full day of school is Monday, August 18th. A staff member will meet students at their classroom's exterior door between 8:20-8:35 AM. Kindergarten parents are invited to a Tears and Cheers Breakfast in our cafeteria at 8:45 AM on August 18th.

Mark your calendars for Back to School Night!

Back to School Night is a great way to get to know your child's teacher and learn about the coming school year. Please see the schedule below:

Principal's Celebrations & Goals 4:15-4:30 PM @ Gym

Classroom Presentation - Session 1 4:35-5:05 PM @ Classrooms

Classroom Presentation - Session 2 5:10-5:40 PM @ Classrooms

Outdoor Education Presentation (Fifth Grade Only) 5:45-6:30 @ Gym

Back to School Night is intended for parents only.

We hope you will join us for these informative sessions!

ARRIVAL

If you are returning to Gold Rush, you are aware that all students enter the building between 8:20-8:30 AM and head directly to their classroom. Grade levels/classrooms are assigned a specific entrance and all entrances are monitored at 8:20 AM by GRE staff.

Classroom teachers will show students how to enter the building and proceed to their classroom on the first day of school. Additional adults will be present to support students during the first week of school.

It is imperative that students are not dropped off prior to 8:20 AM unless they have a previously scheduled meeting or activity as supervision is not available.

DISMISSAL

We also had great success with our staggered dismissal times for primary and intermediate students. Please see GRE’s dismissal schedule below.

3:25 PM

Grades K- 2

3:30 PM

Grades 3-5

**Rolling car loop begins

At 3:25 PM Kindergarten teachers will walk their students out their exterior classroom door. Students in first and second grade will also follow out the main entrance at this time. K-2 teachers will meet at the same place students lined up during arrival. Please see the map below or click here.

At 3:30 PM 3-5 teachers will walk students out of the building. Third graders will dismiss out the main entrance and fourth and fifth graders will dismiss out the back gym doors. Teachers will escort students to the shade structure on the front blacktop if they are getting picked up in the car loop.

Parents can park and meet their child at their teacher's identified location or use the rolling car loop. The car loop for all students will begin at 3:30 PM. Parents cannot park in the car loop or bus loop at any time before or after school.

2021 South Swift Fox Way, Parker, CO, USA

303-387-7700

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