Garfield 16 Gazette

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Garfield 16’s 2025–26 school performance results show encouraging progress while identifying areas that need continued attention. English language arts growth among elementary and middle school students rose from the 38th percentile to the 43rd percentile. At the high school level, the presentation reports achievement gains from ninth to eleventh grade of 17.39% in English language arts and 11.43% in math.

School ratings also reflect progress. Bea Underwood Elementary improved from a Turnaround designation to Priority Improvement, while Grand Valley High School maintained its Performance Plan rating. The district’s rating for postsecondary and workforce readiness increased from “Approaching” to “Meets” expectations. Assessment participation exceeded 98% in both English language arts and math at the elementary, middle and high school levels, providing a more complete picture of student performance.

These gains come alongside continued challenges. District academic achievement remains below expectations, and achievement gaps persist for multilingual learners and students eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Attendance held steady at 92.6%, while chronic absenteeism affected 24.2% of students—underscoring the continued need to help students attend school consistently.

Moving forward, Garfield 16 is focusing on strong daily classroom instruction, coordinated curriculum and teacher professional development. Literacy grants across grades K–12 and Transformation Network support at Bea Underwood Elementary and Grand Valley Middle School are part of that work. Schools are also continuing efforts to strengthen attendance, belonging and targeted academic support so more students can build on this year’s progress.

• On Monday, November 2, 2026 conferences will be held at all the schools 10:30am - 6:30pm
• On Tuesday, November 3, 2026 there will be NO SCHOOL for CFL and BUE. GVMS and GVHS will be in session, as normal.

• CFL & BUE conferences on November 3rd will be held from 8:00am to 4:00pm.
• There is NO CARDINAL CLUB (before/after-school care) on Tuesday, November 3rd.

You will be receiving more information from your student's school about scheduled conference times.

• CFL = Grand Valley Center for Family Learning (Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st Grade)
• Phone: 970-285-5702
• Address: 100 East 2nd St., Parachute, CO 81635
• BUE = Bea Underwood Elementary (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Grades)
• Phone: 970-285-5703
• Address: 0741 Tamarisk Trail, Battlement Mesa, CO 81635
• GVMS = Grand Valley Middle School (6th, 7th, 8th Grades)
• Phone: 970-285-5707
• Address: 0364 Sipprelle Drive, Battlement Mesa, CO 81635
• GVHS = Grand Valley High School (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th Grades)
• Phone: 970-285-5705
• Address: 800 Cardinal Way, Parachute, CO 81635
• SBFRC = School-Based Family Resource Center
• Phone: 970-285-5700 Ext. 5190
• Address: 251 N. Parachute Ave., Parachute, CO 81635
• St. John's Administration Building (District Office)
• Phone: 970-285-5701
• Address: 0460 Stone Quarry Road, Battlement Mesa, CO 81635

• 2026-2027 School Year Calendar: https://www.garfield16.org/calendar121
• GVHS Fall Sports Schedules: https://gvhs.garfield16.org/athletics
• GVMS Fall/Winter Sports Schedules: https://gvms.garfield16.org/athletics
• 
  
• October 23: BUE 2nd Grade Dental Screening
• October 23: CFL Coffee with the Principal 8:00am
• October 24: **HALLOWEEN EVENT**- GV Recreation Center Trunk R Treat, GVHS Key Club Halloween Carnival, and Spooky Movie on the Lawn at the Grand Valley Recreation Center 3pm (see flyer below for more details).
• October 25-27: GVHS State Marching Band Trip to CSU Pueblo
• October 26: GVHS Key Club to JHACC
• October 26: G16/Theatre Aspen Edu Performance of Mad Tea Party at GVMS 3pm
• October 27: BOCES Special Olympics Bowling
• October 27-30: BUE Red Ribbon Week
• October 28: SBFRC Great Expectations FREE BILINGUAL Circle of Parents Group 1:00pm (unregistered/drop-ins welcome!)
• October 29: BUE Picture Retakes 8:30am - 11:30am
• October 30: **HALLOWEEEN EVENT**- Trick R Treat Street at BUE 4:30 pm, Parachute Branch Library Costume Contest 5pm, and LULAC Hair Tinsel Fundraiser
• Free candy, free hot dogs, free costume contest.
• October 30: GVHS Foods Club Hot Chocolate & Coffee Fundraiser during GVHS Football Game
• October 30-31: GVHS State Cross Country- TBD
• November 2: MONDAY- PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES K-12.
• November 2: SBFRC Diaper Depot Registration Open (see the SBFRC section below for more details)
• November 3: TUESDAY- PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES K-5. NO SCHOOL CFL & BUE. GVMS & GVHS- School in-session, as normal.
• November 4: SBFRC Great Expectations FREE BILINGUAL Circle of Parents Group 1:00pm (unregistered/drop-ins welcome!)
• November 4-5: BUE 3rd Grade Field Work 8:30am
• November 6: GVHS Environmental Science to Bangs Canyon
• November 10: BOE Meeting 5:00pm 0460 Stone Quarry Road, Battlement Mesa, CO 81635. Find agenda at https://go.boarddocs.com/co/garfield16/Board.nsf/Public
• November 11: BUE Veterans Day & GVHS Veterans Day 11am
• November 11: SBFRC Great Expectations FREE BILINGUAL Circle of Parents Group 1:00pm (unregistered/drop-ins welcome!)

Join us for Theatre Aspen Edu's Performance of Mad Tea Party: A Radio Play at GVMS on October 26, 2026 at 3:00pm.

Join us to honor our Veterans on November 11, 2026.

• BUE is holding a Veterans Day Celebration at 8:00am.
• GVHS is holding a Veterans Day Celebration at 11:00am. Please see the flyer below, and submit Veteran information by following this link.

All families and Veterans are welcome at both events!

Download our app and easily see events for all schools, or just selected schools, and add events to your device (phone) calendar!

GVHS Marching Band placed 2nd at the Colorado Bandmasters Association Regional Competition this week! The Band earned 2nd place in the 1A Class, scoring 53.5 points. The Band also recently won 1st Place of the 1A Class at the Colorado West Marching Band Festival.

According to Ms. Beaton, Music Teacher for both GVHS and GVMS, "the band had a strong performance. They have been working hard all season and it's good to see that work pay off. A huge thank you to the band parents who helped out at these competitions, and the GVHS staff and administration." The GVHS Marching Band is student-led by Drum Major Nadia Snyder.

They head to the State Marching Band Competition October 25-27 at CSU Pueblo.

The Garfield 16 Outdoor Ed. programs have been buzzing with activity. Here's a little about what's been happening over the past few weeks.

The GVMS Outdoor Ed. class visited the high ropes challenge course for a day of team building and climbing challenges. Those students have been learning about crafts and skills such as bow making, gardening, and leather working. The greenhouse is alive and well with fresh crops of all types of plants thanks to the various classes of kiddos. These kids also got to take a seperate trip to the Colorado River to sample macroinvertebrates from the river before fishing at Parachute Pond as part of their water ecology unit.

At the beginning of October, the BUE 4th graders visited and hiked to Rifle Arch to see weathering and erosion in action.

The GVHS Environmental Science classes also got to put on waders and get into the river to sample and identify macroinvertebrates in order to determine the biodiversity and river health.

BUE's 5th graders also got to make it out to the challenge course. Each class trekked to the administration building to focus on some team building challenges meant to strengthen their communication skills and build a sense of togetherness before harnessing up and challenging themselves by climbing on the high rope elements.

This week started the GVMS PE archery unit. Every student in PE get's 2 weeks of archery focusing on self improvement, goal setting, hunter education, and the variety of archery categories such as 3D archery and atlatl shooting.

And we are thrilled that each and every 7th grader got to make it to the top of the steep Hanging Lake trail. Kids supported their community by working together making it to the top of the most hiked trail in all of Colorado. Along the way students identified geological features such as fault lines, rock strata and earth processes that formed and carved the Glenwood Canyon.

Coming up we have 3rd grade visiting Colorado National Monument and the GVHS Environmental Science classes headed out to Bang's Canyon to hike and see the mica mines in order to learn more about how these beautiful crystals formed.

The School-Based Resource Center is here to support you! We are open Tuesday–Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and on Mondays by appointment.

Our services include student mental health support, substance education, family resources, help with government assistance, adult education classes, legal aid, a clothing closet, and a food pantry. Stop by and see us at 251 Parachute Avenue, or give us a call at 970-285-5700 ext. 5190 to learn more.

Join Breanna for a Meet & Greet as we kick off a new Circle of Parents group in our community!

Come meet other parents, share ideas, ask questions, and help shape a group that supports, empowers, and connects us all.

September 16th

1:00 PM–2:30 PM

251 Parachute Ave, Parachute, CO*

We’d love to see you there!

Questions? Call or text *970-309-1815*

The School-Based Family Resource Center (SBFRC) is excited to offer diaper and pull-up assistance to families in the Garfield 16 School District!

Eligible families may request up to 37 diapers or pull-ups per child, per month, based on availability and size.

Sign-ups will be available during the 1st week of each month through our Facebook page, while donated supplies last. If you do not have Facebook, you can sign-up by following this link: https://forms.gle/KEw76J1fxbnzjpFv6

(PLEASE NOTE, THE FORM IS ONLY OPEN DURING THE 1ST WEEK OF EACH MONTH).

This program is made possible through the generosity of our amazing community donors. Thank you for helping us support local families!

Program ​Spotlight

The G16 School-Based Family Resource Center (SBFRC) in Parachute serves as a one-stop hub connecting families to essential resources and services. The center offers food, clothing, and household necessities through the Pantry of Hope; food security support from Lift-Up; youth advocacy, mentoring, life skills, and career readiness services through YouthZone; public assistance application support through Garfield County Human Services; and free legal assistance through Alpine Legal Services. In addition, the center provides meaningful workforce opportunities by hiring youth to help manage and operate the clothing closet, building valuable job and leadership skills while serving their community.

Garfield County Public Health and the Healthy Beverages Partnership are working together to reduce sugary drink consumption across Colorado. The goals are to reduce sugary drink marketing in public spaces and restaurants, decrease the availability of sugary drinks to children, and improve healthy options for families. Additionally, the partnership provides education about the relationship between chronic diseases and sugary drink consumption. The Healthy Beverage Partnership is funded through the Colorado Department of Health and Environment’s Cancer, Cardiovascular, and Pulmonary Disease Grant Program.

For more information, visit the Garfield County Public Health Healthy Beverages webpage by following this link: https://www.garfieldcountyco.gov/public-health/healthy-beverages/

FACEBOOK

WEBSITE

Please do not hesitate to reach out to our School Based Family Resource Center for more information.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Claudia Flores Cruz

Center Coordinator

970-285-5262

cflorescruz@garfield16.org

As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, we would like to inform you about the resources available for accessing information on registered offenders. At the beginning of each school year, we provide written details on where and how you can obtain this information from local law enforcement agencies. This information is also posted on the district’s website for your convenience.

We believe it is crucial for parents and guardians to have access to this information to stay informed about their community and to take any necessary precautions to protect their children. By keeping you informed, we hope to foster a safer environment for all our students.

You can find the Garfield County Sheriff's Office Offender Search here: https://www.garcosheriff.com/sex-offender-search/

Garfield 16 provides all students with counseling services through the school counselors. School counselors work with students to support their academic growth and success as well as their social and emotional development. School counselors work closely with teachers, principals, and parents to support students experiencing issues that impact their learning. These issues can be, but are not limited to, declining grades, poor work habits, organizational skills, distracting behaviors, school avoidance, anxiety, trauma, and transient personal or family issues, such as the loss of a loved one or change in family dynamic. A school counselor may work with a student on an individual basis or as part of a group. In addition, school counselors work with the administration to assess at-risk students.

At the elementary level, school counselors provide direct instruction to all students in social and emotional growth and wellbeing. Topics include social skills, recognizing emotions, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. For students who may be experiencing difficulty with social skills, regulating behaviors, or school counselors provide individual and group coaching.

At the secondary level, school counselors begin to support students with college and career planning and decision making. School counselors work with students on their Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) requirements. School counselors facilitate college and post-secondary career and workforce exploration. At the high school level, school counselors work with students to ensure they are on pace for graduation.

How to contact your school counselor:

CFL:

• Referral Form
• Email Ms. Landry
• Call 970-285-5702

BUE:

• Referral Form
• Email Mrs. Sherraden
• Email Mrs. DeMaio
• Call 970-285-5703

GVMS:

• Parent Referral Form
• Student Referral Form
• Email Mrs. Hoyt
• Call 970-285-5707

GVHS:

• Email Mrs. Paine
• Email Mrs. Largent
• Call 970-285-5705

• All students and their families.
• Fill out the referral form, found by clicking this link.
• Drew Hogan- SBFRC Counselor
• Leslie Pinaire- SBFRC Counselor

If you have any questions please call the district nurse at 970-285-5707

Garfield 16 is excited to participate in the Healthy School Meals for All program approved by Colorado voters, which provides all students in our district with access to free, nutritious breakfast and lunch.

Just like in previous years, families should continue to provide their household income information by filling out the Free/Reduced Meals Application. While meals will be provided for free to all students in participating schools, it's important to continue gathering this information in order to receive full access to federal funding, which goes directly back to schools to help cover the cost of meals and support after school and other nutritional programs.

Thank you for your support in helping maximize federal funding for our district and schools.

Healthy School meals for all cde webpage resources

If your student(s) wish to ride the bus to and/or from school, you must fill out a Bus Registration Form and return it to your child's school. Here is a link to the form: Bus Registration Form.

All bus registration forms are due before September 11, 2026.

If you need to contact transportation for any reason, including a missing student, please call the Transportation Office at the number below:

Office: 970-285-5701 ext. 5133

The school bus is an extension of the school building. All of the rules and expectations in school apply while riding a school bus or waiting at a bus stop.

1. Students should be at the bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled pick up time.

2. Students should enter the bus and immediately sit in the seat.

3. Students must remain seated at all times. This is to ensure the safety of all students in case of a sudden stop, and standing is distracting to the driver.

4. Students must keep their hands and heads in the bus at all times.

5. Students should keep the bus aisle clear at all times.

6. Students should use indoor voices while riding the bus. Shouting and load noises are not allowed.

7. Students are not allowed to eat or drink on the bus.

8. Students must follow the directions of the bus driver and bus monitor at all times, without exception.

9. Students should collect any trash they have and throw it into the trash can when exiting the bus.

10. Kindergarten and first grade students must be met at the bus stop by a responsible adult to exit the bus. If a responsible adult is not at the bus stop, the students will be returned to the Center for Family Learning for the parent/guardian to pick up the student.

On behalf of Headwaters Housing Partners, I am sharing a link to their Roan Flats waiting list. This is the new apartment complex that was the old Parachute Inn. If you would like more information, please fill out the form and their property management team will get back to you. **

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En nombre de Headwaters Housing Partners, comparto un enlace a su lista de espera para Roan Flats. Este es el nuevo complejo de departamentos que fue el antiguo Parachute Inn. Si deseas más información, por favor llena el formulario y su equipo de administración te responderá. **

Find information about rental counseling, prepare to buy a home, receive pre-purchase counseling, find help with closing costs, reverse mortgage counseling, financial counseling, help for those facing foreclosure, and help with home repairs. **

**Garfield County School District #16 is not responsible for, and does not endorse, any statement, sentiment, or opinion published or expressed in this document. This document is not part of, and has not been distributed as part of the District's curricular or extracurricular programs.