January 17, 2013
50 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
Adams County and Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 68, Issue 13
D50 STEM school named Hiring process begins By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com
Bones made of various art mediums make a pathway in a room during the Million Bones Project on display Saturday Jan. 12 at the Rodeo Market Community Arts Center in Westminster. Photos by Andy Carpenean
Bones project helps those suffering By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews. com It’s a powerful display — more than 13,000 bones arranged in the Rodeo Market Gallery in Westminster that represent lives lost due to genocide. The mock bones were made of various art mediums by people in the community and across the state as part of the One Million Bones Project, a large-scale social arts project using education and hands-on art-making to raise awareness of genocide and other atrocities happening in countries around the world. The effort to make the bones began last summer when the South Westminster Arts Group was invited to be part of the project. SWAG co-chair Carol Cooper got straight to work, recruiting the students she teaches at the Prep Academy in Denver to participate. She said the project really touched home for her because two of her students were affected by genocide, but escaped. “I was cautious about doing this because we have students from the Congo and Somalia that are survivors,” she said. “But both of them wanted to do
A bone montage by South High School during the Million Bones Project was displayed Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Rodeo Market Community Arts Center in Westminster. whatever they could to help the people in their country.” Cooper also had help with the bones from other schools in Colorado and people in Westminster. She said for every bone created through this initiative a $1 is donated up to $500,000, to
‘It’s been incredible. And I hope what we give them is hope.’ Carol Cooper, SWAG co-chair POSTAL ADDRESS
help with relief from communities suffering from genocide. This June all of the bones will be sent to Washington, D.C., to be part of the national display at the National Mall. “It’s been incredible. And I hope what we give them is hope,” Cooper said. “How can we justify not speaking up. When you become educated or enlightened then it becomes your obligation to say stop, this is wrong.” To celebrate months of hard work for all of the Colorado groups participating, SWAG hosted a public reception on Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Rodeo Market Gallery. The event featured an educational seminar and entertainment from cultural groups.
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Debbie Teter SWAG chairperson said what really grabbed her about the project was the monumental way the community was able to come together to help teach younger kids that genocide is wrong. “All of this is representative of the lives that are lost,” Teter said. “I want people to feel the loss, and then feel the hope through this project.” For more information on the One Million Bones project, visit www.onemillionbones.org. To check out the bones on display in Westminster, visit the Rodeo Market Gallery, 3915 W. 73rd Ave. Hours of operation: 12-4 p.m. on Sundays and Thursdays, 3-6 p.m. on Fridays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays.
The new Adams County School District 50 STEM school now has a name: Colorado STEM Academy. The name was unanimously approved during the Jan. 8 school board meeting. Anthony Matthews, STEM principal, said the name was based off not only a marketing strategy, but helping students and parents identify with the school. He said because the school will reach students in and outside of District 50, Colorado STEM Academy was the best choice. “We really wanted something more creative,” he said. “Because we are looking at potentially drawing students outside the district, we really wanted a name that would pop.” Colorado STEM Academy is set to open in August. In October 2012, the board approved the location of the school at 72nd Avenue and Irving Street in Westminster, the former Crown Pointe Academy Charter School. Matthews said the main planning focus right now is putting together furniture and equipment quotes for the school. He said the furniture will allow for flexible learning. “We want furniture that can be set for groups, or lined up or placed in circles,” he said. “We are also working on our curriculum bids for the students.” Along with the furniture and equipment, Matthews said the technology piece is also a focus. He’s working on a technology budget that will allow for every student in the school to have some type of technical device, whether it’s access to an iPad, Chromebook or desk top computer. Matthews said he plans on waiting to order the devices to ensure the most upto-date technology is purchased. “It’s been very exciting developing a school,” Matthews said. “There are the highs and lows, but my goal is to open the most successful STEM school in the state.” The hiring process for Colorado STEM Academy is also underway. Teaching and other staff positions were posted on the District 50 website on Jan. 14 and people are welcome to begin the application process. Matthews said the total buildout for the school will be 300, beginning with 200 for the 2013-2104 school year. The number will increase to 250 students for the 2014-2015 school year, followed by the final increase to 300 in the following school year. For the first year, Matthews said 13-and-a -half instructional staff and five-and-a-half support staff will be hired. That number will jump up to 18 instructional staff and eight support staff for the 2014-2015 school year and finally 20 instructional staff for the 201516 school year. Support staff will stay at eight. “Because we are a STEM school, we have to be pretty specific with the type of engineering, science and technology teachers we hire,” he said. “My background is heavily in technology education and I am trying to knock this school out of the park. I want it to be perfect, but perfection is hard.” People interested in applying at Colorado STEM Academy can visit the District 50 website at www.adams50.org and click on the jobs tab.