Good News Bulletin

Ahead of Saturday's Elizabeth High School graduation, several ceremonies this week celebrated other landmark moments in younger students' lives. On Wednesday, Elizabeth Middle School said farewell to 133 eighth graders heading to high school in the fall. Thursday began with Running Creek and Singing Hills Elementary Schools celebrating kindergartners' completion of their first year of school. Later in the morning, fifth graders at both schools closed the book on their elementary years as they prepare to move on to middle school.

Whether it was EMS students turning to applaud their parents' support, Running Creek kindergartners' "When-I-Grow-Up" costumes and song, or Singing Hills fifth-graders finally getting to turn loose and run through the halls, this was a week of smiles, excitement, hugs, tears, and thousands of photos taken by rightfully proud parents.

Singing Hills' events marked the final ceremonies for Principal Regina Montera (pictured above), who is retiring after nearly a decade-and-a-half as the school's highly respected and appreciated leader -- and the first for Amber Sorg, who succeeds Ms. Montera and has worked side-by-side with her for the last six weeks to make a smooth transition for next school year.

Last Saturday, the Elizabeth High School track and field team continued to rack up successes at the state meet in Lakewood. The girls and boys sprint relays each earned second place, with the boys team setting a school-record time. Both teams are pictured at right.

Above and below are photos of Elizabeth's state champions from last weekend. At top is the Class 3A state record-setting 4x200 relay team of (clockwise from top left) Malachi Mariscal, Cooper Connelley, Andrew Brown and Caleb Dunn. Below is girls high jump champion Kyla Wolitzky.

Special thanks to Sharla Benkendorf for providing all the updates and photos from the state meet. In sharing these, she said, “these kids proved that a team makes a family. It was incredible to watch and be a part of.”

DAY 3 RESULTS

Girls 400m: Meghan Benkendorf - 6th place

Girls 300m hurdles: Lauren Rohwling - 8th place

Boys 300m Hurdles: Caleb Dunn - 8th place

Boys 4x100: Titan Toupin, Malachi Mariscal, Andrew Brown, Cooper Connelley - 3rd place

Girls 4x400 relay: Arianna Toaipa, Ashlyn Johnson, Lauren Rohlwing, Meghan Benkendorf - Second place

Boys 4x400 relay: Titan Toupin, Caleb Dunn, Malachi Mariscal, Cooper Connelley - Second place: NEW SCHOOL RECORD FOR BOYS

The Elizabeth Middle School is joining a new conference the Central Colorado Athletic League for football next season, and has set its schedule. Students in grades K-8 can register for the EMS summer football camp July 22-25 by returning this registration form. The camp will take place from 6-8 p.m. at the EHS football practice field each evening. Cost is $50 per player and includes a camp shirt. All proceeds benefit the EMS football program.

Registration for the fall season will be posted on the EMS website in late July. Until new Athletic Director Lewis starts his new position (see below), questions can be emailed to Athletics Secretary Gwenda Alltop.

EMS Football Schedule (home games in all caps)

Aug. 5: First practice

Aug. 22: ELLICOTT

Aug 29: at Rocky Mountain Classical Academy

Sept. 5: MANITOU SPRINGS

Sept. 12: at Monument Academy

Sept. 19: COLORADO SPRINGS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS

Sept. 26: at Banning Lewis

Oct. 1: PEYTON

Oct. 5: Championship Game (2 seed at 1 seed)

On May 13, Running Creek fifth graders attended and participated in the Young AmeriTowne program which helps students learn about business, economics and free enterprise in a fun and hands-on way. The Lakewood facility has a miniature town where each student has the opportunity to earn a paycheck working at a specific job that contributes to the community and then use banking services and much more.

Thanks to Michael Seefried for sharing these photos.

Over the last few weeks, five new leaders have assumed responsibilities for various aspects of Elizabeth School District. Here's an introduction to each of them, listed in alphabetical order:

Karena Dohman works with the district's preschools supporting high-quality care for young learners and educators. She believes in elevating her teachers to build strong connections with children and families. She has served as a school director in early childhood education since 2010.

She holds a Bachelor of Human Development degree in elementary education from Metropolitan State University and a Master of Arts in early childhood education from Capella University. Dohman has received a National Director Credential from McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership and was Director of the Year in 2015 from The Goddard School. She works as a part-time faculty instructor teaching early childhood for Fort Morgan Community College.

Dohman and her husband share two children and they enjoy traveling and camping. She and her family spend as much time as they can outdoors. For hobbies, Dohman enjoys baking and decorating cupcakes.

Jared Lewis will take over as assistant principal and athletic director at Elizabeth Middle School as of the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.

He has worked in Colorado Springs School District 49, Denver Public Schools, Cherry Creek School District and Mapleton School District. He is finishing up this school year having served as a counselor for 350 students at Eaglecrest High School in Centennial, which has a population of more than 3,000. He worked on the school’s intervention team to help implement practices to ensure all students were seen and did not slip through the cracks. He was also the head JV track and field coach and assistant sprints coach.

Lewis holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a master’s in school counseling, both from the University of Northern Colorado. Throughout his career, he has attained training and certification in bullying prevention, behavior support systems, and crisis prevention. He has also worked at the district level to help implement an anti-bullying curriculum throughout grades K-8.

He is the proud grandson and son of Air Force service members, and the youngest of three boys to parents who will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary later this year. His niece and four nephews are his “absolute joy.”

Lewis was born in Baltimore and said he will always be a Ravens fan, but he has adopted the Nuggets, Rockies and Avalanche as his teams in other sports. Aside from spending time with his family, “I also get to hang out with the greatest 8-year-old pup named Luffy (pronounced Lou-Fee).”

Kim Moore oversees curriculum and instruction for Elizabeth School District and supervises the principal team.

Moore began teaching at Peyton Elementary where she taught grades 1, 2, 3 and 5. While there, she earned Peyton Elementary School Teacher of the Year in 2007. In 2011, she moved to Falcon School District 49 where she taught sixth grade at Falcon Middle School for two years. She then moved to Ridgeview Elementary School in 2013 where she served as a special education teacher. She made the jump to administration at Ridgeview, serving as dean of students, then assistant principal, and ultimately principal. Focusing on relationships with students, staff and families was key to her success as principal: Ridgeview earned the prestigious Capturing Kids' Hearts National Showcase School award each year of her tenure.

Moore holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master of arts in curriculum instruction, both earned at Colorado Christian University. She furthered her education with a principal licensure program through the University of Phoenix.

Moore is married to her high school sweetheart and together they have two married daughters and three grandchildren. The family has strong military ties: Moore was raised in a Navy family: Her husband is retired Air Force and currently works for U.S. Space Force; one son-in-law is former Army; and another is currently in the Air Force. Moore and her husband enjoy spending time in the mountains hiking, camping and riding their ATV. They are also avid Colorado Avalanche fans. In her downtime, she enjoys reading and spending time in her craft room making cards.

Tiara Noe has been in transportation for 15 years, starting as a substitute driver, then as a full-time driver, and as transportation trainer for four years. She served as the transportation coordinator before becoming director.

Noe had the privilege of working closely with the Colorado State Pupil Transportation Association, serving as trainer co-chair for three years. On that committee, she helped write the federal Entry Level Driver Training. She also piloted ELDT training for small districts in the state. She is the CSPTA board member for Elbert County District 4 and currently the special-education co-chair.

These positions have not only provided opportunities for professional growth but also helped Noe make strong connections with transportation peers across Colorado. She is working toward a bachelor of science degree in management, with an expected graduation from the University of Phoenix in December 2026.

Noe has been married for 23 years to her high school sweetheart, whom she met at Elizabeth High School. They have three children and a granddaughter. She is proud that each of her children have attended/are currently attending Elizabeth High School and Elizabeth Middle School. The Noe family lives on 40 acres in Elizabeth with five horses, a pony, two goats, two pigs, and five dogs. The family is deeply involved in 4-H, “and we are proud to be a part of this fantastic community,” she said.

As the newest of two assistant principals at Elizabeth High School, Cory Robinson manages students whose last names range from L to Z. He also oversees all EHS students’ 504 plans along with serving as director for the EHS Affective Needs program.

Robinson started at Elizabeth High School in August of 2020 as a Physical Education and Health teacher. During that time he helped coach boys soccer, along with girls and boys golf.

A lifelong learner, he holds two bachelor of science degrees, one in sports and recreational management from the University of Minnesota and one in sports kinesiology science from the University of Northern Colorado. He also holds a master's degree in educational leadership and an educational specialist degree in administration from Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Robinson lives in Castle Rock with his wife and two young sons. They also have an adult son who lives on their family farm in Robinson’s native Canada. Robinson is a huge hockey fan who played in college and continues to play in a recreational league at Denver University every Sunday night.

On Thursday, Gov. Jared Polis signed the new School Finance Act which changes the way Colorado schools are funded. Last summer, Superintendent Dan Snowberger was appointed to a school finance task force to study how Colorado schools could be more equitably funded. For 30 years, schools have been funded based on a formula which led to inequitable funding -- large, urban districts received adequate resources but rural and high-poverty districts often were left out of the equation.

As a result of the school finance task force work, Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie (D), Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen (R) and several other legislators proposed House Bill 24-1448, which changed the way school funding was determined. It drives funding based on student need. Snowberger and others on the task force worked alongside these legislators to win overwhelming bipartisan support for the legislation in both the House and Senate and were proud to bring about passage of the legislation.

Snowberger and task force members were invited by the governor and other legislators to be present at the bill signing Thursday at Virginia Court Elementary School in Aurora. The new school-finance law will increase funding to rural districts and districts with greater at-risk populations across Colorado.

Photos below show, from left, Snowberger, center, with McCluskie and Denver Public Schools CFO Chuck Carpenter; Gov. Polis addressing the attendees of the bill signing; and Polis signing the bill.

May 25 – EHS Graduation, 10 a.m.

June 3-7 – EHS STEAM Camp

June 10 – Board of Education meeting, 6 p.m.

June 24 – Board of Education meeting, 6 p.m.

EMS sports calendar

EHS sports calendar

The Elizabeth High School Basketball Program will host a youth skills camp from 8 a.m.-noon on June 1 at EHS.

The camp is open to basketball players ages 8-13 and costs $40.

For more information and to register, email EHS girls basketball coach Chris Martinez.

The annual EHS Football Booster Club Golf Tournament is set for July 29 at Spring Valley Golf Course. Check-in begins at 7 a.m., with a shotgun start at 8 a.m.

The cost to enter is $150 per person/$600 per team and includes green fee, cart, range balls and lunch. All proceeds go to the EHS Football Program.

Prizes will be given for the three best team scores, longest drives for men and women, and closest to the pin along with a putting contest.

To register, call 303-646-3599 or go to elizabethpr.com. The registration deadline is July 22.

The Elizabeth Education Foundation partners with Elizabeth School District in numerous ways throughout the year to support students and teachers. This volunteer-led, independent fundraising foundation provides scholarships for graduating seniors, classroom grants for teachers, and the STARS Awards for outstanding citizenship among students.

Learn more about the EEF at its website.

The Colorado Rockies are partners again this year with the Elizabeth Education Foundation, offering discounted tickets that also benefit Elizabeth Schools.

The Rockies scheduled two Elizabeth days at the ballpark, and there's one left, and it's this Sunday with a 1:10 p.m. first pitch versus the Philadelphia Phillies.

By visiting Rockies.com/ELIZABETH to buy tickets, a portion of each tickets sold will be donated to the EEF. Seats available at that link for the Elizabeth fundraiser start at $16 each.