Gold Rush Elementary
Principal's Message - July 17, 2025
“Foster Growth by Challenging Critical Thinkers to Take Risks,
Honor Differences & Care for Others”
ENHANCING OUR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
While students and staff have been away, we’ve been hard at work preparing for an incredible new school year. At Gold Rush, we are deeply committed to providing the highest quality learning environment for all students—and this year is no exception!
Over the summer, several exciting updates were made to our building to ensure our learning spaces are not only functional but also inspiring. Our stairwells, bathrooms and gym received a fresh coat of paint, giving the school a bright and cheerful look. We are especially grateful to Mr. Ankenbruck, a dedicated Gold Rush parent, for lending his talent and time to help make this transformation possible. His work has truly made a difference, and we are so thankful!
In addition to these building-wide improvements, we also transformed our Gold Mine Room, which now features beautiful, modern furniture that complements the updated look of our hallways. These enhancements help create an environment that’s not only welcoming, but also aligned with how students learn and collaborate today.
Perhaps most exciting of all, each of our classrooms is now equipped with brand-new Promethean Boards—a major step forward in our instructional technology! These interactive displays offer crisp, bright images and clear sound, and they provide many features that will enhance student learning. Teachers and students can interact with the boards directly, using them for everything from displaying lessons to writing and drawing using whiteboard functions. This technology opens up new possibilities for engagement, collaboration, and creativity in every classroom.
We are confident that the updates to our building and the integration of new classroom technology will enhance your child’s daily experience at school. As always, we are grateful for your partnership and support, and we cannot wait to welcome students back for a year full of learning, growth, and adventure!
REGISTER VIA EXPRESS CHECK-IN: TODAY -AUGUST 1
All students must register for the upcoming school year using Online Express Check-In today through Friday, August 1st. 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
303-387-7707
Anita Rudman - GRE Administrative Assistant
303-387-7704
VIEW CLASS ASSIGNMENTS
We know that your child is eager to know who his/her classroom teacher will be. Starting today you can view your child's teacher assignment in Parent Portal. Click the schedule tab and then select your child in the upper right corner. You can look forward to receiving a welcome letter from your teacher via email by Friday, August 1st.
MEET YOUR TEACHER & PICTURE DAY (GRADES 1-5 ): AUGUST 12
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 opens today and 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.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL (GRADES 1-5 ONLY): AUGUST 13
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.
BALANCED BEGINNINGS (KINDERGARTEN ONLY): AUGUST 13-15
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.
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT: AUGUST 27
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!
AUGUST 2025
ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
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.