Grizzly Monthly News

Dear Grizzly Families,

We are excited to share this month’s updates, celebrations, and important reminders from Grant Ranch ECE–8. Our school continues to thrive because of the strong partnership between our students, staff, and families. From academic milestones and athletic achievements to community events and hands-on learning opportunities, there is so much to celebrate in Grizzly Country.

Thank you for your continued support, engagement, and commitment to helping our students grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Together, we are building a culture of excellence, pride, and belonging.

We are proud to be Grizzlies!

With Gratitude,

Dr. CG and Mrs. Urbanowski

School Leaders at Grant Ranch ECE-8 School

Every day counts — lessons build on each other and missing class can set students back.

With your support, we can keep our Grizzlies learning and growing.

• No School: Monday, February 16 (President's Day)

• No School: Thursday, Feb 26, Grant Ranch PD

• No School: Friday, Feb 27, District PD

• Lunar Year Celebration Feb 17: 10:00 am-11:00 am

• Black Excellence Assembly Feb 25 2:30-3:30

• Last day of grades: Feb 27

• MS Field Trip to Dino Ridge MARCH 17th ($5)

We had an amazing Saturday of school-wide celebrations full of energy and community! Students enjoyed Super Bowl-themed fun as part of our day celebrating the excitement of the big game on Sunday, We brought that spirit into the building with Minute-to-Win-It challenges, where students raced against the clock in fun, football-inspired activities, and everyone had a blast showing off their skills.

Lego building challenges and esports stations were also extremely popular, giving students hands-on and screen-based opportunities to collaborate, compete, and create with friends.

Thank you to all the families and staff who helped make Saturday such a vibrant and engaging day for our Grizzlies!

Middle School Basketball has officially started with an amazing team ready to compete, and Elementary Basketball is now underway as well.

We’re proud of all our Grizzly athletes and coaches! 🐾

Grizzly Country was filled with kindness, joy, and celebration during our Valentine’s events! Classrooms shared treats, cards, and meaningful moments of appreciation, while students participated in fun activities that highlighted friendship, gratitude, and community.

It was a wonderful reminder that at Grant Ranch, we don’t just focus on academics — we build strong relationships and a culture of care. Thank you to our staff and families for helping make the day so special for our Grizzlies! 💕

Our Staff vs. Students Volleyball Game was an absolute hit! The gym was filled with energy, laughter, and Grizzly pride as students and staff faced off in a fun and friendly competition. It was a great opportunity to build relationships, show school spirit, and celebrate our strong school community.

Thank you to everyone who played, cheered, and helped make it such a memorable event — we are proud to be Grizzlies! 🐾

Get ready for our upcoming Glow Dance — a fun, high-energy night of music, lights, and Grizzly spirit! See details below for event information and volunteer opportunities.

We are also looking for families interested in serving as a PTO Board Member. This is a great opportunity to support student events, help guide funding decisions, and strengthen family engagement at Grant Ranch.

If you're interested in learning more about either opportunity, please reach out. We’d love your partnership!

Open Enrollment is now open! Please register your student(s) and help spread the word to family, neighbors, and friends. Enrollment helps us plan staffing and resources for the coming year.

Visit:

• https://schoolchoice.dpsk12.org

• https://grantranch.dpsk12.org/

Our Grizzly Food Pantry is open and here to support all Grizzly families with essential items.

What’s Available

• Non-perishable food

• Fresh items (as available)

• Kids’ jackets (various sizes)

• Shoes (limited supply)

Hours of Operation
Monday–Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Please stop by the office for access.

Location: The Grizzly Honey Pot Room
Contact: Ms. Corina Martinez

Donations welcome: gently used jackets, new shoes, and non-perishable food items.

Grant Ranch will begin CMAS testing the week of April 6, 2026. CMAS measures student proficiency on the Colorado Academic Standards. These standards provide clear and consistent guidelines on what students should know and be able to do at the end of the year, across grade levels and subject areas. Grades 3-8 will take English language arts and math assessments, with the addition of science in grade 5 and 8.

Our team worked diligently to create an equitable testing schedule. Testing will begin promptly at 9:30am. Please ensure your Grizzly is here on testing days.

Please see this flyer about the importance of state testing.

We are thrilled to share that Grant Ranch students achieved some of the highest academic results in our school’s history! With 61% of our K–5 students performing at grade level — higher than the district average — we are truly on track for continued success.

To celebrate this incredible milestone, we gathered in the lunchroom for popsicles and karaoke — a fun and joyful way to recognize our students’ hard work and growth. We are so proud of our Grizzlies and grateful for the partnership of our dedicated staff and families in making this achievement possible!

This week and next week, our Grizzlies are completing Interim Assessment #2. These assessments help us measure student progress toward grade-level standards and guide our instruction to ensure every child continues to grow.

We are incredibly proud of our students for taking their time, staying focused, and truly showing what they know. Their effort, confidence, and perseverance have been outstanding!

Thank you for supporting your child with rest, encouragement, and on-time attendance during this important assessment window. Together, we continue to move forward and build success in Grizzly Country!

Our Grizzlies are continuing to grow through hands-on learning opportunities, including our Bike Club and Bike Repair Club. Students are learning practical life skills such as bike safety, basic maintenance, repairs, and teamwork—while building confidence and responsibility.

This club supports student leadership, problem-solving, and healthy outdoor activity. We are proud of our students for taking ownership of this exciting program and learning skills they can use for life.

Bike Club Donations Needed

To support this program, we are accepting donations of:

• Gently used bikes (student sizes preferred)

• Bike helmets

• Bike locks

• Bike repair tools/stands

• Bike tubes / tire pumps

• Reflectors / safety gear

If you are able to donate, please drop items off at the Main Office. Thank you for supporting hands-on learning and helping our students build real-world skills.

Safety is part of our 3 R’s (Respectful, Responsible, Ready to Learn), and it remains our top priority.

• Arrival & Dismissal: Our front entrance is a Kiss-and-Go system. Please do not park in the lane outside the entrance. If you need to exit your vehicle, park in the lot or along the street. This helps us keep everyone safe and traffic moving smoothly.