Gold Rush Elementary
Principal's Message - April 17, 2026
We are so proud of all of our students’ growth in writing this year!
Recently, our youngest learners had a special opportunity to share their latest informational writing with their families. Just like students in grades one through five, our kindergartners are developing skills across a variety of genres—including informational, opinion, and narrative writing—and are using the SRSD structure to thoughtfully respond to texts.
As part of their culminating informational unit, kindergarten classrooms were transformed into African savannahs. Students became experts on an animal of their choice, engaging in research, reading, and writing to develop their final pieces. Their work included multiple facts, detailed illustrations, and clearly organized information about their animal’s habitat, diet, and characteristics.
Families were delighted to see the excitement and pride students demonstrated as they shared their learning. This integrated unit brought together reading, research, writing, and even map skills, as students identified locations connected to their animals.
We are incredibly proud of our students’ hard work, creativity, and enthusiasm for learning!
We are extremely proud of our intermediate students for the effort they demonstrated over the past two weeks during state assessments. As you are aware, our third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students participated in the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) assessments in English Language Arts and Math. In addition, fourth graders completed a Social Studies assessment, and fifth graders were assessed in Science.
Throughout the testing period, students showed impressive focus, perseverance, and commitment to doing their best. It was clear from their daily efforts—and even their use of scratch paper—how thoughtfully they applied the strategies they’ve been learning all year. Many students utilized SRSD writing tools to unpack prompts and organize their written responses based on the texts they read. In math, students demonstrated their thinking by showing their work and carefully working through each problem.
Our entire school community came together to support them. Hallways were filled with encouraging, growth mindset messages, and classrooms displayed positive affirmations to keep students motivated. Younger grade-level buddies contributed as well, surprising their older peers with thoughtful treats and kind notes. They also helped maintain a calm and quiet environment throughout the building to support focused testing conditions.
We are incredibly proud of all our students for their hard work, determination, and willingness to show what they have learned. We are equally grateful to our entire school community for creating such a supportive and encouraging environment.
