St. Vrain Valley Schools Graduation 2025

GRADUATION2025

Graduatesreadyfornextsteps

ByDonHaddad

As we celebrate our 2025 graduation ceremonies, I am filled with immense pride for the approximately 2,300 graduates who have demonstrated exceptional resilience, character, and academic excellence throughout their educational journey in St. Vrain Valley Schools

The moment our graduates cross the stage to receive their diplomas represents not just their personal triumph, but also symbolizes our community’s unwavering commitment to educational excellence. Standing alongside our Board of Education, teachers, staff, families, business leaders, and community partners to honor the Class of 2025 is truly one of the most rewarding experiences of the year

From early childhood education through high school, this graduating class has embraced opportunities that have prepared them for unprecedented success. They have thrived in our district’s 44 workforce pathways and high-quality instructional focus academies spanning Biomedical Sciences, Engineering and Aerospace, Leadership, STEM, Visual and Performing Arts, P-TEACH, P-TECH, and numerous other specialized programs. Their engagement extends beyond academics to meaningful participation in athletics,

arts, music, and advanced career and technology initiatives

The countless hours they’ve dedicated to internships and community service demonstrate their commitment to making a difference in our world

The St. Vrain Advantage is evident in every aspect of our graduates’ achievements. Our district continues to lead the Denver Metro Area with the highest on-time graduation rate at 94.3% while maintaining the most rigorous graduation requirements and the lowest dropout rate at 0.4%. This advantage extends beyond metrics to the comprehensive educational experience we provide — from high-quality preschool programs to cutting-edge career pathways in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare.

Our investments in worldclass facilities like the Innovation Center and Career Elevation and Technology Center have given our students unparalleled opportunities to develop skills in emerging industries.

When St. Vrain graduates enter

college or the workforce, they do so with a profound competitive edge that sets them apart from their peers

This graduating class has shattered records for enrollment in rigorous Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and concurrent enrollment college-level courses. With the opportunity to earn approximately 34,500 college credits, they have given themselves a competitive advantage while saving their families approximately $20 million in future tuition costs. Their achievements have been recognized through prestigious scholarships, including Boettcher and Daniels Scholarships, National Merit recognition, All-State honors in athletics and performing arts, and acceptances to highly competitive universities, colleges, and military academies across the nation In St. Vrain Valley Schools, we recognize that education is the cornerstone of progress and innovation in our society. Our graduates have been equipped

with the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to navigate and lead in an increasingly complex, technological, and global landscape. The Class of 2025 embodies our district’s commitment to providing every student with learning experiences that foster creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication — essential qualities for success in any future endeavor.

Toourgraduatingseniors,I extendmyheartfeltcongratulationsandbestwishes.Yourepresentthepromiseofastrongfuture,andyourcompassion,dedication,andinnovativespiritwill undoubtedlyleadournationforwardtogreaterheights.Thechallengesoftomorrowrequireexactlythekindofleadership, innovation,adaptability,andvisionthatyouhavedemonstrated throughoutyourtimeinSt. Vrain.Icouldn’tbemoreproud ofeachandeveryoneofyou,and Ilookforwardtoyoutakingyour futuresby#StVrainStorm

Sincerely, Don Haddad, Ed.D. Superintendent, St. Vrain Valley Schools

Erie High School 2025 SENIORS APEX Homeschool Program

2025 SENIORS Crossroads School

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS

periences attending a preschoolforstudentswithdisabilities.She’scontinuedto advocate for friends with disabilities

betterandmaybehelpitin some way.”

Wieder, who is one of about 2,300 St Vrain Valley seniors graduating May 24, didn’t limit her InnovationCenterworktoasingle group. She also joined the district’smobileInnovation Labteam,thenworkedwith AssistantSuperintendentof Innovation Joe McBreen to start an accessibility team. The accessibility team workstoshowhowmaking education accessible benefits all students, including presenting to teachers on tools and strategies to use in the classroom She also organized a District Accessibility Showcase Night to highlight all the district’s service providers

“I love it all,” she said.

“With all three teams, knowingthatI’mmakinga difference is really special tome.Especiallyinscience, youhearthatwhenyou’rea scientist you can make all these cool discoveries. But here I am in high school, doing all the cool things we’resooftentoldyouhave to be an adult to do. As someone with no vision in her right eye, she said, her interest in accessibility stems from her ex-

“Myfriendsinspecialeducation classes, they’re no different than you or me,” she said “They just might have other strengths People with disabilities are incredibly valuable to our schools and our society.”

Along with working on Innovation Center teams, sheenrolledintheMedical and BioScience Academy at Longmont High As her senior internship through the academy, she participated over the summer in a weeklong research project on plant regrowth after fires at Mesa Verde National Park.

“The academy has opened the doors for me to see what’s possible,” she said “That’sbeensuper,super cool.”

Her high school experiences helped her win a Boettcher scholarship, a merit-based scholarship awarded to 50 Colorado high school seniors each year The scholarship provides $20,000 a year for four years to a Colorado university She’s headed to Colorado College, which as a Boettcher partner provides additional financial aid to cover the total amount of tuition and fees

She’s planning to major in organismal biology and ecology While she hasn’t settled on a specific career her goal is to work in conservation. As she finishes her senior year, she added, “it feels like everything is ending so, so fast.”

“I’m excited to experience new things and try something other than the town I’ve lived in for the past 18 years,” she said.

NiwotHighseniorSebastianMoyfoundhispassions in tennis and art, balanced withachallengingschedule ofadvancedplacementand honors classes.

His dad and older brother inspired him to play tennis, while an uncle showed him a potential careerpathasadigitalartist. Moy started playing tennis in eighth grade and, in the fall, moved all the way fromdoublestoNiwot’sNo. 1 singles spot He went on to win a regional championship and a first-round matchattheClass4Astate tournament

“Going in, I wasn’t as strong as a player as I am now,” he said. “I definitely worked very hard to get as far as I did When I was startingout Igotverynervous before a match. Over the years, I learned to have more fun.”

Whilehissenioryeartennis season attracted inter-

art. It’s definitely the most flexible medium. At school, we’ve been trying to push moredigitalstuffattheart shows. There’s definitely a good community there as far as art goes. You’ll find your people.” SilverCreekHighSchool senior Josephine Nguyen will graduate from Front Range Community College with an associate’s degree abouttwoweeksbeforeshe graduatesfromhighschool She transferred to Silver Creek midway through her freshman year to join the school’s P-TECH, or Pathways in Technology Early College High School, program Theearlycollegeprogram, dubbed Raptor Tech at Silver Creek, gives high school students up to six yearstoearnanassociate’s degree at no cost. Along with an associate’s degree,

entertainment industry.

est from some Division II and III programs, his college goals revolve around art school He plans to attendcommunitycollegefor ayearinPasadena,California, before transferring to thecity’sArtCenterCollege of Design. His dream is to create concept art for the

Niwot High’s art classes, he said, allowed him to try differentmediumsandgave him a community. Along with digital art, he also likes to work with paint

“Ihavetriedeverything,” he said. “Outside of school, I mostly work on digital

“I

ByAmyBounds

@prairiemountainmedia.com

Like many start-ups, the fledgling business-themed, early college program at LongmontHighSchoolwas inneedofacashinfusionas it grows So, a local family anonymously donated $552,000 to the school’s P-TECH, or Pathways in Technology Early College High School. The money will be used over the next three years to provide additional staff to support the program, which was dubbed TrojanTECHandisnowinitssecond year.

“Getting a program up andrunninginthefirstfew years is a big challenge,” said Anne Atherton, LongmontHighassistantprincipal and TrojanTECH coordinator.

P-TECHgiveshighschool students up to six years to

earn an associate’s degree at no cost Most students at Longmont High are expectedtocompletetheprogram in five years through a partnership with Front Range Community College Along with an associate’s degree the program includes mentors and internships.

While Longmont High is the fourth St Vrain Valley high school to offer PTECH, it’s the first to try a business focus that partners with general business organizations instead of a fewspecificbusinesses TrojanTECH is working with the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce, the LatinoChamberofCommerce, the Longmont Economic Development Partnership, the Longmont Downtown DevelopmentAuthorityand the city.

“EverybusinessinLongmont and the Boulder County area could be our partner,” Atherton said. “Weneededsomeonetocoordinate all those partnerships.” The donation for Longmont High’s program will

pay for a half-time industry partner coordinator whoworksoutoftheLong-

mont Area Chamber of Commerce, an additional P-TECH teacher to teach a guidedstudyclass,andstudent books and supplies. Phillip Inzerillo, who works for the Longmont Economic Development Partnership and volunteered as a TrojanTECH mentor, will fill the role of industry partner coordinator.

“I’vealwayshadapassion forwatchingstudentsgrow and excel,” he said. “I’m reallyexcitedtogetthesestudents connected to pathways to jobs If a company can start with these students when they’re young, theycanprovidethemwith thenecessaryskillsthatthe local workforce needs.” The first TrojanTECH class,nowsophomores,will work in paid internships the summer after their junior year. While most high school internships aren’t

LongmontCombinedSchoolswins12thstatechampionship

Percussion team used chairs to come out on top

ByAmyBounds abounds @prairiemountainmedia.com

The Longmont Combined Schools Drumline won its 12th state championship in its division at last weekend’s competition at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs And though the competitionseasonisover,there’s still a chance to see the show The group will performafreeshowforfriends and family at 6:30 p.m Sunday at Longmont High School, 1040 Sunset St. TheLongmontdrumline

scored 89.2 at state to beat outfourotherschoolsinthe

Scholastic A division. The winter percussion group at Lafayette’sCentaurusHigh School came in second in the same division, with a score of 87.55

“The last few years, it’s been a pretty tight battle between Longmont and Centaurus,” Longmont Director Dave Marvin said. “This year was no exception.”

Otherareaschoolpercussiongroupsthatperformed at the state competition in various divisions included Broomfield High, Frederick High and Louisville’s Monarch High. Broomfield High took first in its division against one other school

TheLongmontdrumline includes27studentsmainly

from Longmont area high schools, including Longmont High School and Silver Creek High School. Frederick High School last seasonhadenoughinterest tostartitsowndrumline,a trendMarvinsaidhehopes continues at other district high schools This year’s Longmont show theme was “Chairish Life.” Students used various types of chairs as props, including a rocking chair, school chair, office chair and wheelchair, to tell the story of the circle of life. Props including abluebabyblanketandred graduation cap and gown, added dashes of color. The students wore black, while the screens concealing the chairs and the floor mat were white

classof

Son, Iwantyoutoknowthatwearesoproudofyouandall youraccomplishments.Eversinceyouwereababyyou facemanychallengesandyouovercamethemall.You havealwayshadthatfightinyou.KeepChasingyour dreamsyoucandowhateveryouputyourmindtoo JOBNOTFINISH Weloveyou LLZ classof Congrats!

Congrats!

DJSwan SkylineHighSchool

JamesCraft SkylineHighSchool

Wewanttosayhowextremelyproudweare ofyouJamesanddoingthehardworkand gettingyourgoaltoGraduating Yourdad, me(yourmom),yoursisterandGrandmaPeggy aresoproudofyou Weloveyousomuchand can’twaittoseewhatyoudonext CongratulationsJames

2025 classof Congrats!

DianelenaKenar-Castro NiwotHighSchool

Wesawyouworksohardeverydaytoachieve thisaccomplishment.Congratulationsonyour well-deservedsuccess.Weloveyouandareso proudofyou!

fense and counter measures, ended up being one of her favorites

“Our class really bonded together to troubleshoot and solve all the labs as a team,” she said. “It was a great experience.”

A summer internship with a Boulder cybersecurity company and working with a mentor from Cisco wereotherhighlightsofher P-TECH experience.

“My mentor just helped me tremendously grow as a professional and learn how to work in a professional setting,” she said.

“She helped me with mock interviews and helped me learn how to carry myself with more confidence.”

Along with enrolling in P-TECH, she also joined Silver Creek’s Leadership Academy. Her leadership capstone project was hosting a sibling workshop or “sib shop,” for siblings of those with disabilities. She

was inspired to organize the workshop by her experiences with her brother whohasnonverbalautism.

“It’saplacetotalkabout their experiences and get support,” she said “These siblings go through a lot of things that are difficult to understand if you don’t havethesameexperiences. That sib shop is one of the thingsI’mmostproudofin high school.

Outside of Silver Creek, sheworkedonstudentproject teams at the InnovationCenter,includinghelpingdesignthedistrict’scybersecurity “escape room” bus, teaching seniors how to protect themselves in a digital world and helping organize a middle school coding competition

She’s headed to the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in the fall, where she’s planning to study data analytics and systemsengineering.While she wants to keep cybersecurityasafuturecareeroption she’salsointerestedin neuroscience research and plans to continue organiz-

ing sibling workshops in college.

“I’m excited to find another community to share myinterestsandpassions,” shesaid “Idefinitelyfound that in Raptor Tech Being part of another one at UCCS would be really great.”

At Mead High School, senior Hunter Humphrey joined the school’s Energy Academy, along with the Mead wrestling and Silver Creek swim teams. ThroughtheEnergyAcademy,hedevelopedaninterestinsolartechnologyand built solar ovens as his senior capstone project Sofar,hesaid,hisdesign using mirrors to concentratetheheatgeneratedby thesunhasreachedatemperature of about 185 degrees.He’shopingtogetan oven hot enough to cook a hot dog or possibly a piece of chicken

While he’s not planning to pursue a career in energy, he said, he appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the field, from petroleum engineer-

ingtoworkingwithrenewable energy.

“You get to be educated about all of it so you know

what’sactuallyhappening,” he said. He’s participated in wrestling all four years at Mead after getting his startinthesportasathird grader One of his proudestmomentswastheMead wrestling team winning a state championship when he was a junior. He’s also planningtocontinuewrestlingincollegeonaGrecoRoman Wrestling team

“Wrestling is a big part of my life and has given me a bunch of life skills,” he said. “There’s a lot of work and determination in wrestling You show up every day to a grueling sport. His plans after high school include majoring in cybersecurity at Doane University in Nebraska

“Cybersecurity is a reallycoolindustry,”hesaid “It’scrazywhatyoucando with a computer. It’s fun to play around with computers and find out what’s wrongandhelppeople.I’m excitedtograduate.Igetto move on to something really cool.”

paid, finding paid opportunities is important to ensure students who need to worktosupportthemselves ortheirfamiliescanparticipate,programleaderssaid.

“We didn’t want that to be an obstacle for them,” Atherton said.

The program can accommodate up to 32 students per grade level. For the freshman group, the school is still looking for up to five more students to join The freshmen started in the summer with a tour of Front Range Community College and attended twoeventsthissemesterto get to know their mentors Next semester, they’ll takea fieldtriptovisitseveral downtown Longmont businesses

The freshmen also will take their first P-TECH class, Intro to Business, nextsemester,addingmore

as they

will be taught by credentialedteacheratLongmont

High By senior year they alsomaytakeclassesonthe Front Range campus.

The most mentor recent event, held Thursday, included a scavenger huntattheLongmontMuseum and an opportunity to work through common business challenges.

Several of the freshmen said they joined the program mainly for the offer of free college Another selling point, students said, is the program is open-ended and can accommodatemanydifferent interests.

Christian Castillo and Lucius Vigil are both interested in mechanics as a future career.

“I wanted to see what P-TECH was all about, so I just decided to do it,” Vigil said “I want to start a business.”

Freshman Luciana Munro is keeping her options open.

“It’s a really good op-

portunity,” she said “You can apply a business degree to so many things I can change what I want to doasIgoandlearnmore.”

Her mentor is Isaac Olson, one of the owners of theMeCoCoffeeCollective. He said he wants to help students look beyond the traditional path of college and a corporate job

“Therearebiggerthings out there,” he said. “You can create jobs and opportunitiesoutofyourpassion I want to open their eyes to all the possibilities.”

Another mentor, Jenny Diaz-Leon,graduatedfrom Longmont High and now works in Longmont’s Children, Youth and Families department

“This is a really cool program,” she said “All this support is created for you.Ireallywishtheseopportunities were available when I was in high school. This is a way to step out of their comfort zone and havesomeoneguidethem.”

2025 SENIORS Dawson School

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS

ByDanaCadey

Music lovers across Longmont are mourning the loss of director, teacher and performer Bill Wilkinson. Wilkinson, who spent decades teachingmusicinLongmont-area schools, died Dec. 9. He was 75. AccordingtoapostonWilkinson’s Facebook profile, he died “suddenly” while doing what he loved most: “preparing for a day of teaching music.” Wilkinson,whowasborninIllinois, started playing the trumpet at 10 years old. His skill with the instrument brought him

many performance opportunities including playing Taps for the Bolder Boulder 10K and police events. InLongmont Wilkinsonwasa key member of the music scene. He served as band director at Skyline High School and started the Skyline Jazz Festival in 1979. He also taught music at Longmont High School, Silver Creek High School, Longmont Christian School, and Rocky MountainChristianAcademyinNiwot. Doug Carmichael met Wilkinson while Carmichael was a studentatErieHighSchool WilkinsonwasthebanddirectoratSkyline, but got to know Carmichael when Erie High and Skyline jazz

studentsattendedamusiceducationconferencetogetherinColorado Springs As two jazz musicians, Carmichael and Wilkinson formed a lasting bond While serving as band director at Niwot High School, Carmichael was asked to help Wilkinson run the LongmontAllStarJazzBand.Thetwo also hosted summer band camps for students, including some last year

“We were technically colleagues, although he’ll always be amentortome,”Carmichaelsaid “I always aspire to be like Bill.” Wilkinson even inspired Carmichael to teach music, himself

“Even up until a month ago, I

was learning from him,” Carmichael said “I’d watch him in rehearsalsandgo,‘Yep,that’sright.’ He’llhaveanimpactonmeforthe rest of my life.” The Longmont All Star Jazz Band, which Wilkinson founded in2001,consistsoftopmusicians from local high schools. The students in the band have recorded musicandplayedateventsaround thecountry,allunderWilkinson’s direction.

“Bill took it upon himself to startthatandtokindofcultivate the local players around town,” said Willy Counts, worship pastor at Longmont’s New Creation Church

Erie High School 2025 SENIORS Erie High School

Erie High School 2025 SENIORS

Erie High School

Erie High School 2025 SENIORS Erie High School

Erie High School 2025SENIORS Erie High School

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS

player,” Counts said “He would always find ways to craft in these reallynicehornpartstomore contemporaryworshipmusic.”

“They’re really a great team, and that’s an ode to Bill.”

Wilkinson’s impact on music in Longmont goes beyondyouth Countsknew Wilkinsonfromhistimein the worship band at New Creation Church. Wilkinson played trumpet in the band, infusing the ensemble of mostly string instrumentswithsomebrass.The bandopenschurchservices with music, playing a few songs each weekend

“It was an interesting thing that Bill brought to the table, being a horn

Counts, who joined New Creation Church in 2020, workedcloselywithWilkinson in the church’s music ministry Wilkinson directed an orchestra made upofNewCreationChurch members, and arranged horn parts for the church’s music. Arranging can be a talltask,Countsexplained, but Wilkinson took it in stride

“There was never once a time where that man complainedatme,”Countssaid. “He was always just very supportive.”

A service for Wilkinson willbeheldat2p.m.Friday at New Creation Church, 737 Bross St His family members are asking peoplewhoknewWilkinsonto posthismemorablesayings, or“Bill-isms,”onhisonline obituary at bit.ly/4j9ROdb

The family will share them at the service Countssaidit’sanhonor to hold the service at the church Hisonlyconcernis that the church might not bebigenoughtoaccommodate everyone who knew and loved Wilkinson.

“Bill is worth it, if we needtodooverflowrooms,” Counts said.

Wilkinson’s family is asking for donations to be made to the Wilkinson

BandFundatSummitClassical Academy in Broomfield.

Thefundwasestablished by Wilkinson’s family to honor his contributions to music at the school. Donations can be made at bit ly/4gLgSWw

Wilkinsonstartedaband program at Summit Classical in the fall, just a few months before his death. The advanced band had fewer than 10 students at thebeginningofthesemester.Wilkinson however got them ready to perform by November

“Hebroughtthingsoutof them that I had not seen,” said Teresa Fraser head of school at Summit Classical Academy.

Fraser said the students at Summit Classical had beenaskingforabandprogram prior to Wilkinson’s arrival.

Whenonestudent,acello player, wanted to join the band, Wilkinson arranged themusictoincludeacello part

The Wilkinson Band Fundwillhelpcontinuethe program at Summit Classical as the school searches for a new band teacher Wilkinson’s family members are also donating his instruments and music to Summit Classical

Fraser said she’d assumed other schools were benefitingfromtheWilkinson Band Fund, too To learnthatSummitClassical

was the sole recipient she said, was overwhelming “He gave us, in his life, so much to start a band program that was excellentandblewpeopleaway,” Fraser said of Wilkinson “After his death, this legacy is still going on. So much of him is going to just be ever-present in our school.”

Summit Classical will dismiss classes at noon on Fridayforstudentsandfaculty to attend Wilkinson’s memorial service All are welcome to attend Wilkinson’s service The event will also be livestreamed on the church’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/@New CreationChurchLongmont

ticketing

Erie High School 2025 SENIORS Frederick High School

Erie High School 2025 SENIORS Frederick High School

Erie High School 2025SENIORS Frederick High School

Erie High School 2025 SENIORS Frederick High School

InnovationCenterstudentspresentVRproject

ByAmyBounds

@prairiemountainmedia.com

Erie High senior Kayla Evans and Niwot High junior Katelin VonFeldt are looking to help NASA address isolation challenges for astronauts by combining virtual reality and sensory-basedmemorytriggers with exercise.

They’recreatingtheproject for NASA HUNCH, a programthatengageshigh schoolandcollegestudents in real-world research and developmentforspacemissions.

Their team was among the 20 high school student teamsthatpresentedatNASA’s Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop last month in Galveston, Texas This was the first time high school students were invited to participate in the conference, which focuses on biomedical research related to spaceflight

Thestudentshadtheopportunitytoshowcasetheir workalongsideprofessional researchers and engineers and receive feedback, as well as attend conference sessions

“Getting different perspectivesfromsomanydifferentpeoplewasjustsuper cool,” Evans said.

“It was just such a good experience It really inspired me. I have learned so much about space science and all the weird little niche things you need. I would love to continue to workwithNASAoranother space company.”

Their project was developed in the Innovation Center’s biosciences class under the mentorship of teacherJaymeSneider,who is in her second year working with the HUNCH program They also collaboratedwithCUBoulderBioastronautics,theU.S.Space Force and NASA.

“Iwantstudentstoknow their ideas and enthusiasm can make a difference,” Sneidersaid “Theycansee thatthey’remakingadirect impact It’sanamazingopportunity.”

NASAHUNCH’sBiomedical Division works with NASA flight surgeons to identify pressing astronaut health needs and then invites high school and college students to contribute innovative solutions Selectedprojectshavethepotential to influence future spaceflight technologies and are credited to their student creators.

Evans and VonFeldt said they wanted to tackle improving astronaut mental health while on long duration space missions.

“It’s very important and so under-researched,” Evans said “We thought we

could bring something to the table.”

To help astronauts feel more connected to home and reduce feelings of isolation, they created a system using 360-degree video in virtual reality to simulate familiar environments. The idea is astronauts could use the virtual reality videos in combination with scent based cues, duringtheirmandatoryexercise sessions. Their design includes lava stone pendants infused with familiar scents, such as perfumes or foods, to evoke memories and enhance emotional well-being.Theysaidanastronaut could take a video of walk on the beach with a friend, then pair that with a sea breezescentwhileusingthe

programduringanexercise sessionontheInternational Space Station.

“Exercise is already very good for your mental health,”VonFeldtsaid “We want to make it more fun andgivethemaconnection to back home When you combine sight with smell, it’s a big game changer.”

For the HUNCH program, the students presented their project to NASA in October for an initial design review, then againonMondayforafinal design review in Golden. After the final review, selected projects will be invited to a design showcase in April at Houston’s Johnson Space Center.

“I’m really proud of our design and how far we’ve come,” VonFeldt said.

MLKDayeventencouragesaction

ByAmyBounds

When Ibrahim Kabore immigrated from West Africa at age 11, he was the only Black student in his class. He said it wasn’t easy to be dropped into a new culture,whereeveryonespoke alanguagehedidn’tunderstand. But he persevered and now is part of the PTECH program at Silver Creek,allowinghimtoearn bothahighschooldiploma andanassociate’sdegreein cybersecurity from Front RangeCommunityCollege. He’salsoanathlete,participatinginfootball,wrestling and track Kabore, a senior at Silver Creek High School, spoke Monday in Longmont to mark the Martin Luther King Jr holiday. He creditedKing’sworkinthe Civil Rights Movement for his opportunities

“His dream was more than a vision,” he said. “It became an opportunity.”

He was one of three high school students who were the keynote speakers at the annual event at Silver Creek High School, with a theme of “30 Years: DreamMakers,MileMarkersandMilestones.”Sponsors included the NAACP BoulderCountyBranch,St. Vrain Valley Schools, the Second Baptist Church of BoulderandtheLongmont MulticulturalActionCommittee While Monday’s program went on as planned despite subzero overnight temperatures, last year’s event was cancelled because of a snowstorm This year’s Martin Luther King Jr march in Lafayette also was cancelled, though the plannedspeecheswereheld indoors.

Longmont’s program included a performance by violinist and Denver Public Schools teacher Alex Blocker and singer Chantil Dukart, while Peak to Peak Charter School junior Calista Monterra Fitz Silva performed a reading. Other speakers included Silver Creek senior Jardin Rose, Boulder High freshman Emiliano BrionesMora, Longmont Mayor

Joan Peck, NAACP Boulder County President AnnettJamesandSilverCreek PrincipalErickFinnestead

“We need to show up every single day,” Finnestead said “It’s one thing to celebrateDr Kingonadaylike this It’s another thing to live your life fully committed to those around you.”

Among those honored during the celebration were Glenda Strong Robin-

son,theevent’sfounderand chairperson. She received theLivingLegendandLifetime Achievement Award

“I always say freedom is not free,” said Robinson, who grew up in the segregated South and participated in the Civil Rights Movement as a college student

“Each of us has a moral responsibility to do something when something is not right,” she said.

Sherecalledtheviolence by police during the MemphismarchledbyKingfollowing the death of two black sanitation workers andpraisedKing’scommitmenttononviolence,sharing his quote that “Darknesscannotdriveoutdarkness;onlylightcandothat Hatecannotdriveouthate; only love can do that.”

Also honored was Carmen Ramirez, who is retiring after serving as Longmont’s longtime community and neighborhood resources manager She saidshe’sbeenblessedtobe part of a community working for justice, adding that it can be exhausting to feel likepeoplearelosinghardwon rights

“Make it happen,” she said “It’s up to us I mean thatwitheverythinginme It’suptous.Weareresponsible.”

“Especially on this day and for the next few years we need to remember that weneedtogettowork,”she said Ramirez was one of several speakers who made references to President Trump’s coinciding inauguration and suggested the next four years will be challenging,thoughnoone mentioned Trump directly by name. Robinson’s sister, Madelyn Woodley, introduced a videoonlastyear’ssuccessful effort at the state Legislature to designate a portionofU.S.36inBoulderas theDr MartinLutherKing Jr Memorial Highway She used that effort to encourage audience members to take their own actions

Erie High School 2025 SENIORS Longmont High School

Erie High School 2025 SENIORS Longmont High School

Erie High School 2025SENIORS Longmont High School

Erie High School 2025 SENIORS Lyons High School

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS

ByDanaCadey

Hours

is a graduate of Fairview High School. Bohn will compete in canoe slalom in France this summer The canoe slalom isonewhereathletesweave throughgateshangingover the water

“It’llbenicetohavepeople who I train with there,” Bohn said of the competition Bohn has qualified for U.S. national whitewater teamsbefore Thissummer, he’ll compete in the U23 class—anolderagebracket —forthefirsttime Hisgoal is to make the semifinals

While Bohn is currently considering his college plans, he doesn’t expect to leavethewhitewatergroup soon

“IthinkI’mgoingtostick aroundforaslongasIcan,” Bohn said. Nijhawan,

2025 SENIORS Mead High School

Erie High School

Erie High School 2025SENIORS Mead High School

Mead High School

Mead High School Erie High School 2025 SENIORS Mead High School

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS

Studentsrepaircarsforwomeninneed

ByAmyBounds

St Vrain Valley’s advancedautomotivestudents are using the skills they’ve learned at the Career ElevationandTechnologyCentertorepaircarsforwomen in need

Teacher Brian Smallwood is in his third year of a partnership with a local nonprofit,AWoman’sWork, and Stapp Toyota The studentsprovidetherepairlabor,whileaWoman’sWork providesfundingandidentifies recipients. Stapp Toyotahelpsthemsourceused cars and sells them to the program at wholesale prices SmallwoodsaidtheDriving for Success program lets students give back to the community while participating in project-based learning

“It’s been very successful,” he said. “The students doprettymucheverything.”

Kate Gaddis, executive director of A Woman’s Work, said the organization’s main focus is providing monetary grants to women with emergency financial needs who live in St Vrain Valley’s boundaries and in Berthoud. About seven years ago, she said, the organization began receiving more transportation-related requests, including help with expensive car repairs But many of the cars needing repairs were worth less than the cost to fix them.

So the organization started its “Driving for Success” program, giving awaytwotofourcarsayear Sincethen,asthepricesfor usedcarshavecontinuedto rise, the need has only increased.Withagoalofhelping more women the organization partnered with St Vrain’s automotive program

“The biggest part is that (Smallwood) is able to help us identify vehicles that make sense,” Gaddis said “And we’re not paying for

labor, only for parts, so we can afford to help more women. We can feel confident we’re putting people ingoodcars It’sbeenreally awesome. I’m really proud of this program.”

Students have repaired about 50 cars to give away so far Most of the work is done by an afterschool project team, which offers apaidpositionforstudents who have completed many of the automotive classes andwanttocontinuelearning. This semester, there are two students on the team, seniors Fiona Bau-Madsen from APEX Homeschool, and Michelle Zavala, from Longmont High. A third student, Silver Creek High junior Chase Olson is an unofficialmemberwhowill formallyjoinnextsemester,

options. For Olson, another car enthusiast,takingclassesin highschoolwillsavemoney in trade school or communitycollege—studentscan

Erie High School 2025 SENIORS New Meridian High School

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS

Erie High School 2025 SENIORS Niwot High School

Erie High School 2025 SENIORS Niwot High School

Erie High School 2025 SENIORS Niwot High School

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Erie High School 2025 SENIORS

Silver Creek High School

provements like screening earlier for cancer, debugging code faster or helping generate ideas for a school assignment

“AI is a tool, just like the internet is a tool,” Silver Creek senior Kaylee Crouthamel said. “It’s reallyhardtoreplacehuman creativity.

Teachers then led sessions on topics that includedusingAItoenhance design skills, integrating AI into special education practices and streamlining tasks with AI. Cleveland Smith, a sixth gradelanguageartsteacher atAltonaMiddleSchool,led a session with the help of Silver Creek senior Lizzie Horton Horton, who is the student president of the district’sYESAmbassadorprogram,talkedabouttheways AI is helpful to her and other students with dyslexia.Theambassadorsare middleandhighschoolvolunteers with dyslexia who speak about their learning differences, self-advocacy and assistive technologies

Hortontalkedabouthow ChatGPT and similar AI technology can be helpful for students with dyslexia, butsaidmanyofherteachers are now requiring assignments to be handwritten to prevent students from using it — a requirement that can make school moredifficultformanydyslexic students.

Smithencouragedteachers to “start having better conversations around AI.”

“I’ve been hearing a lot of fear driven messages,” he said. “If our job as educators is to prepare young people for the future, having them write all their assignments on paper because we’re afraid of it is not the answer.

Smith said writing assignments from two of his sixth grade students were flagged last year as being generated using AI One student, he said, was using Grammarlytocheckforerrors and clicked on something to make his writing better with no intention

Erie High School 2025 SENIORS Silver Creek High School

CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS

of cheating. Another admitted to purposefully usingAI,givingClevelandthe opportunity to talk to him aboutthechoiceandwhyhe made it.

Along with having conversations with students on ethical use, Smith said he has used AI in his classroomtohelpstudentsgrow as writers

He ask students to type an essay in a platform called Writeable, which allows classmates and the teacher to give feedback HestartswiththeAIgrammar aid turned off for the students’ first draft, then turns it on when students gobacktorevisetheirwork Studentswillseemisspelled words and tone and voice problems,allowingthemto count the their errors and make goals to reduce them in future assignments

“We’re pairing the students’abilitytothinkabout theirownlearningwithAI,” Smith said “That’s the dif-

ferencebetweenAImaking us smarter or dumber.”

Rachel Ortiz, who is one of two teachers in the school’s center-based program for autistic students is using AI to reduce her workload and problemsolveclassroomchallenges

“The more I look into it andplayaroundwiththeAI options, it’s definitely helping me navigate situations in the classroom,” she said.

AI,Ortizsaid,hashelped her ratchet down the readinglevelofclassroommaterialssoherstudentscanaccess those materials when they’reingeneraleducation classrooms

She has also used it to create a “social story” for a student struggling at recess, as well as to generate ideas for students’ high interestareasthatalsorelate to state standards

Thetrick,sheadded isto beasspecificaspossiblein her AI prompts without including any personal data

about her students

“If you just give it bare bones requests, you may not get a good answer,” Ortiz said “But it will ask if you want to change something.Youcanbouncethose ideas off this interface. It’s like having a sounding boardwithouthavingsomeone there.”

InBoulderValley,thedistrict started by creating an AIadvisorycommitteeand, in the fall of 2023, developed monthly AI learning workshops for educators.

The committee worked onidentifyingasystemthat would allow teachers to benefitfromthetechnology while protecting student data The group settled on contractingwiththeMagic School AI platform, allowingteacherstousetheplatformwhilekeepingBoulder Valley’s data protected inside a “walled garden.”

“It was a real journey to discover what we really needed,” said Lynn Gersh-

man, Boulder Valley’s academic services director.

The teacher workshops coveredtopicsthatincluded howAIworks,howtowrite prompts, ways to use it in education to save time and howtousetheMagicSchool platform

In less than a year, Boulder Valley teachers have produced 50,000 content generationsusingthatplatform

“Our teachers are really excitedandareusingMagic School like crazy,” Gershman said “I’ve been in ed tech a long time I’ve never seen adoption of a tool like this with so many people.” Teachers, for example, canusetheplatformtogeneratethecommonelements ofanIndividualizedEducationProgram,orIEP,document for special education students Teachers then personalize student specific learning goals Teachers also can use the platform with students, but it’s

only available to students with a teacher guide

“Theteachersareincontrol,”Gershmansaid “They show the students how it works.Thestudentsjointhe room with the tools in it, andteacherscanseewhat’s being generated. Teachers areembeddingthatethical use into their lesson.” Sheaddedthatshe’sseeing teachers use AI in “reallyfunandcreativeways.” Asanexample,shepointed toanelementaryschoolart teacher who used AI tools with students to digitally animatethemaskstheycreatedsotheycouldshareinformation about the different mask types Plansforthisschoolyear include starting an online forum for teachers so they can share AI lessons and ideas.

Fairview High language arts teacher Katie Miles saidshehasfoundAImore usefulasatoolforstudents

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“We can do all these different things. It’s really cool.” Zavala added that she likes knowing her work is helpingwomeninthecommunity

“I really enjoy working in the shop here,” she said.

“Our work has a purpose.

Therepairsrangefromminor work to replacing engines and transmissions

“We can touch on a lot more topics,” Olson said

Having a working car can just take a lot of mental loadoff someone It’sreally nice to help people out.”

Aftercompletingallnecessarymaintenanceandrepairs, the students present the vehicle to the grantee and go through a check list Bau-Madsen said the women can bring the cars backtotheschooldistrict’s shop, which charges a reduced rate for labor, saving “tremendous amounts of money.”

She was part of a three-

studentteamthatwonfirst placeatastatecompetition for a presentation on the project in the community service category, allowing them to compete over the summer at the SkillsUSA nationalcompetition Inthe spring, they also attended A Woman’s Work fundraisingluncheonandpresented information about the program at a school board meeting.

“Iamabletohelpoutmy community as I learn valuable life skills for my future,”shewroteinanemail “I am excited to grow the programoverthefollowing year I would like to teach some of the younger students about this incredible opportunity so that they can continue in the following years.”

than as a time saver with teachingtasks,becauseshe oftenneedstoreviseorcorrect what it generates

One way she is using it with students is to generate book recommendations, with students asking AI to suggest books based on T.V shows, movies and songs they like.

“My goal as a language arts teacher has always been to help students read andwritetheworldaround them,” she said.

“Whether we like it or not, AI is the world around us So I’m interested in learning right alongside students how we can wield AI as a tool to help us achieve that goal.”

Miles said she has addressed the potential for

“Whetherwelikeitornot,AIistheworldaroundus. SoI’minterestedinlearningrightalongsidestudents howwecanwieldAIasatooltohelpusachievethat goal.”

—

Fairview High School language arts teacher Katie Miles

students to use AI to write their papers by asking students to write about topics they care about and their own experiences

“Thisyear,Ihaven’tseen

many students turn to AI when given the chance to share their own voice,” she said The best way for the district to help teachers navi-

gate the world of AI Miles added,istosupportthemin creatingengaginglearning experiencesthatfostercreative and critical thinking.

“We need more freedom

to help students learn to think outside the box,” she said “We need more inquiry-driven, self-directed, project-basedlearningthat bolstersyoungpeople’sability to transfer skills across disciplines and solve problems creatively. “These kinds of thinkers can understand when and how to use AI to further their own ideas, not use it asacrutchtodothethinking for them.”

2025 SENIORS Twin Peaks Classical Academy

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ByAmyBounds

abounds

@prairiemountainmedia.com

Niwot High’s new color guard director Anthony Pierro, was so impressed with the talent of Niwot’s students, along with those at other schools featured during St. Vrain Valley’s bandnight,thathedecided to start a competitive winter guard program

“Thekidsinspiredmeto build them the program I wish I had in high school,” hesaid.“Thekidsaregreat They are so willing to try everything.”

Similar to the district’s popular and award winningwinterpercussionprogram Pierromadethewinter guard program open to high school students districtwide. The fledgling eight-student team is competing through the Rocky Mountain Color Guard Association,whichoffersmultiple divisions, or classes, for both school-based and independent guards.

St Vrain’s first official competition was Feb. 8 at Mountain Range High School in Westminster.

“We are competing, but we’re all there to support each other because we love what we do,” Pierro said.

“We’re really competing with ourselves to score the best we can, and we hope everybody else does their best Whatever placements happen, happen.

Pierro, who also teaches in the guard program at Boulder’s Fairview High andperformswithanindependentDenverguard,said winter guard offers more time to focus on technique and guard specific trainings, including incorporating more dance

In marching band, color guard gives a visual boost totheperformance Inwinter guard, the color guard creates its own show. Indoor performances, set to music, use choreographed dance and twirling colorful silk flags to visually tell a story. Along with tossing flags, guard members may toss rifles and sabres, reflecting the color guard’s

military roots

“It’ssofuntotaketheaudienceintotheworldofthe

show,” Pierro said.

He said paperwork and logistics have been the biggest challenges of starting a new program, including finding a rehearsal space. The team rehearses for three hours, twice a week after school at Longmont’s Altona Middle, which offers a space with concrete floors and high ceilings to allow students to throw — and drop — flags and rifles without worry Heboughtthelargefloor tarp needed for competitionsatadiscountfromanotherguardandfoundcostumes that would fit their budget through Amazon Creatingashowthatworks for all the skill levels and showcases the strengths of the team is another challenge. The St. Vrain show’s theme is “The Dance of the Flamingos.”

“I’m trying to figure out how to give them a show

that’s challenging, but also attainable,” Pierro said “There is definitely a place for every skill level and everytypeofstudentinguard Ourjobistofigureouthow we can best show your talentsandhelpyougrowasa performer.

St Vrain’s team captain, Niwot High junior Lezlee Avalos,saidshewasthrilled when she found out about the winter guard program and is hoping it will help with recruitment during marching season.

“Competitions are scary, but fun,” she said “I love being in color guard I’m so proud to be part of this team I’mveryexcitedtosee where our show goes.”

Thestudentspraisedthe friendliness of the marching band and guard community,addingthatthey’re looking forward to seeing performances by guards from around the state during competitions.

“Half of the fun is to see what other guards are doing,” Frederick High freshmanKarleneKindvallsaid “It’s such a great community It’s so welcoming to everybody.”

In the Boulder Valley School District, which has a long history of participating in winter guard, four high schools are taking part in this year’s competition season — Broomfield, Centaurus, Fairview and Monarch

Last year, Monarch High’s 13-student team scored second in its class last year. This year, the team grew to 19 students and will perform a show with an art theme

Instead of highlighting a particular artist, Monarch Guard Director Mado Krech said, he wanted to tell the story of the artistic process.

“You always have things thatinspireyouasanartist,” he said. “The show is about thejourneyofanartist.”

He said one of the keys toahighscoringshowisto makeitchallengingenough that students are pushing themselves, but not so difficult they can’t perform it.

“You can push yourself past where you see your limit,”hesaid.“Youcansurprise yourself.”

The Louisville school’s winter guard is an afterschool activity that’s open tothosewhoparticipatedin guardduringthemarching band competition season, as well as those who are new to the activity. About half the guard this season are marching band members who played instruments during the marching season.

CallieMrlajoinedwinter guard last year as a freshman after playing baritone in the marching band She struggled for most of the season as she worked on learning various flag-tossing techniques, she said, becauseshewascomparing herself to others who were more experienced

Once the skills started to click and she let go of the comparisons,thefunstarted tooutweighthestruggle.

“It’ssovisualandexpressive,” she said.

She’s become such a fan of guard, she added, she’s consideringswitchingfrom baritone to guard for next fall’s marching season.

“It’s one of the most accepting communities I’ve ever been a part of,” she said “Everyoneisverywillingtohelppeopletrysomething new. I love guard.”

Their competition class allows up to eight minutes foreachshow,includingup

tofive-and-halfminutesfor the performance. The rest of the time is spent rolling outthetarpandpositioning propsandweapons.There’s a point deduction if a team goesovertheallowedtime so Monarch includes timed practicesduringrehearsals.

Monarch guard captain Sam Harrington, a senior who has participated in winter guard all four years of high school, creditedguardwithhelpingher find herself in high school.

“I wasn’t comfortable in myself and my body,” she said “It forced me to get overthat.Itmadememore self centered.

Thoughshe’sateamveteran, she said, she learns more every season. She spins flag rifle and sabre, with the precision needed to toss and catch the slim sabremakingitherfavorite

“There’ssomethingreally magicalaboutworkingona hard skill and then getting it,” she said.

While she said she loves performingwiththemarchingband,winterguardis“a million times better.

“In marching, we just add to the general effect,” she said “We’re not really thebigfocus.Winterguard, we get to work on our own thing, and it’s a lot more personal You can make that personal connection with the audience.”

She’s not sure if she will continue with color guard afterhighschoolbyjoining anindependentguard,noting it will likely depend on where she ends up attending college. But either way, she said, the time she committed to the guard program at Monarch has been well worth it.

“Even if I never do it again, it’s four years of memories,” she said.

Niwot freshman Ely Stackpole tosses a flag into the air during rehearsal at Altona Middle School in Longmont earlier this year.

‘Wecansharewhatwe’redoing’

District hosts education leadership conference

ByAmyBounds abounds @prairiemountainmedia. com

St Vrain Valley shared its innovation successes withotherschooldistricts from around the country for a few days in October

The three-day Leadership Institute for Transformative Education, hostedbySt VrainValley in partnership with the Colorado Education Initiative, wraps up today. Held at the district’s Innovation Center in Longmont, the conference includes school visits Innovation Center program tours,astudentpaneland a drone show by the Innovation Center’s student drone team.

Participants included leadership teams from 16 schooldistricts representing 12 states.

“We can share what we’re doing and keep connecting with districts around the state and the country,” Superintendent Don Haddad said.

He pointed to the district’s combination of foundational academics, which are generating hightestscoresandgraduation rates and innovative programs, which include quantum computing, AI and cybersecurity pathways for students.

“Innovation is really driving our system to anotherlevel,”hesaid.“When youseehowfastthingsare changing, education systemsneedtobelookingat thiskindofwork.

StrategicEDU President Adam Garry gave a keynote talk Wednesday

on “The Curious World of GenerativeAI:Possibilities and Risks.” He suggested being curious but cautious about the emerging technology, recommending that districts develop guidelinesforitsuse Generative AI, he noted, will create new content that’s different, even with the same prompt, each time. While itssuperpoweriscreativity,hesaid,italsohaslimitations Using it to grade a piece of writing for example, isn’t a good idea because even the same piececouldgetadifferent score each time, he said.

“Wehavetokeepthehumanintheloop,”hesaid.

After the talk, the school leaders attended breakout sessions on topics that included community-business partnerships, creating a guaranteed curriculum and reclaiming the narrative of public education In another session several St Vrain lead-

ers shared approaches to connecting students to careers used in the district’s career and technical education, Innovation Center, P-TECH and P-TEACH programs PTECH is a national early college program, while PTEACH is a St. Vrain created,grow-your-owneducator program

DinaPerfetti-Deany,St. Vrainareaassistantsuperintendent,saidthedistrict proposed building a secondcareerandtechnology education center in Weld County because demand for programs like welding,pre-lawandconstruction is so high. She added every program includes a path directly to industry, tocommunitycollegeorto afour-yearcollege.

“Wearen’tdead-ending kids,” she said.

ByAmyBounds

abounds @prairiemountainmedia. com

Voters overwhelmingly approvedSt.VrainValley’s $739.8millioncapitalconstruction bond issue, giving the school district the go-ahead to add five new buildingsandupdateexistingschools.

Issue 5C passed 74% to 26%, according to unofficial results as of Wednesday afternoon in Boulder, Broomfield, Larimer and Weld counties. In Boulder County the measure passed with 77% of the vote In Weld County, it passed with 69% of the vote Broomfield County saw 76% vote “yes.” Larimer County voters approveditwith57%infavor.

Superintendent Don Haddadthankedthecommunity for supporting the measureonelectionnight.

“They’ve always been very supportive,” he said. “This particular bond will take St. Vrain to a completely new level. Our students and our communities will be the big winners.”

He added that the dis-

Drumline

FROMPAGE3

“It’s a very emotional show and was incredibly wellreceived,”Marvinsaid.

“It’safunwayoftakingyou throughacircleoflifewithout having any lyrics. The story was told through the props.”

Withashowthat’sabout 6 minutes long, Marvin added, the group approached the show design like a music video

“Inaveryshortperiodof time,wecantakeyoufrom point A to point B to point C and have the story tell itself to anyone watching,” he said.

Longmont High School senior Mary Jane Cronin, who plays snare drum and waspartofthedrumlineall four years of high school, saidshejoinedbecauseshe wasexcitedaboutthetheatricalcomponentandopportunity to tell a story

“There’sjustawholeproduction,” Cronin said. “It’s really,reallycool.I’veloved it I’ve gotten to improve a lot. It’s a great community I’ve met a lot of great people.”

She credited that community, plus the high standardsoftheinstructors,for the drumline’s success

“We’re all like one big friend group,” she said. “Having that connection really elevates the music.”

Ryan Joseph, a Longmont High School senior who plays the bass drum, joined winter percussion for the first time this year

While memorizing all the music and movements, or drill, in such a short time can be stressful, he said, performing with the group was also “incredibly fun.”

“ItwasoneofthebestexperiencesI’veeverhad,”Joseph said. “The people and the community it’s built around makes the experience so much more memorable The group just has so much dedication to the artweproduce Itmakesus stand out and able to win as many championships as we have.”

trict has already started designworkfornewbuildings and additions, which willmeanbreakingground on projects in the spring and summer to get ahead ofinflationasmuchaspossible

The money will pay for fivenewbuildings including three new schools to handle expected enrollmentgrowthoverthenext 10 years in the Carbon Valley Erie and Mead areas.All fiveareinthe first phaseofthebondwork.

Anewhighschooltorelieve crowding in the Erie andCarbonValleyareawill bebuiltona73-acreproperty that’s north of Colo. 52 in Frederick. The land, which the district bought for $6.1 million in 2022, is at the southeast corner of Godding Hollow Parkway andAggregateBoulevard Erie High, the district’s largest high school, enrolled 1,760 students last fall Temporary mobile classrooms are providing theneededspaceuntilthe new school is built. The newschoolalsoisexpected todrawstudentsfromsurroundingcommunities,includingfastgrowingareas ofMeadandFrederick

A second Career and Technical Educational Center will be built on that same property, allowingareastudentstoattend those classes without havingtotraveltoLongmont’s CareerElevationandTechnology Center. The new center also is expected to free up about 100 spots at theLongmontcenter.

A new K-8 school is plannedinMead,nearthe newhighschool,torelieve crowding in the town’s schools.MeadElementary last fall enrolled 802 students, making it the district’s largest elementary school

Fast-growing Erie will get a new elementary schoolintheCollier’sHill neighborhood Thiswould beErie’ssixthelementary school Along with the elementary schools there’s SoaringHeightsPK-8and AspenRidgePreparatory, a PK-8 charter school. The bond also includes money for a new building for St Vrain Community Montessori, a K-8 charter school located in Longmont The new building willbeona10-acreschool districtpropertyonQuail Road in Longmont The

“We want our at-risk students in these programs,” she said.

Theafternoonincluded a site visit to one of four schools: Frederick High, the Career Elevation and Technology Center, Soaring Heights PK-8 and Longmont Estates At Soaring Heights in Erie, participants heard about the school’s STEM neuroscience program from Principal Cyrus Weinberger visited middle school classes making prototypes and tried their own a design challenge.Inoneclass,eighth gradersdesignedshipsusing cardboard and other materials to better protect cargo with a goal of keepingplasticsoutofthe ocean.Inanother,seventh graders used specialized Lego kits to create a mechanical claw for an underwater robot

Other important elements Perfetti-Deany said, are providing consistent high school block schedules and start times so all students can access the classes, as well as not limitingenrollmenttoupperclassmen or students with a certain GPA

district’s charter schools, including St Vrain Community Montessori, are slatedtoreceiveatotalof $54 million. Along with new buildings, the proposal includes money for maintenance, repairs and safety improvements at existing schools, as well as money to add classrooms and reconfigure outdated spaces Included in that work is an expansion of Longmont’s Innovation Center, which offers STEM programs to students districtwide.

Next steps include selling the first round of bonds, totaling $345 million on Dec 4. The Finance and Audit Committee will serves as the board-appointed bond oversight committee. To apply to serve on the committee, go to bit ly/4fCud2e The measure won’t require a jump in property taxes,butinsteadextends previous voter-approved property tax increases The32,500-studentschool districtestimatesthatthe total repayment cost, including interest, will be $998.9 million.

Ourgraduatesareadvancingthefutureof ourcommunity,state,nation,andworld AstheClassof2025takesflight,wecannot waittoseewhattheyaccomplishnext

CLASSOF2025ACHIEVEMENTSINCLUDE: Approximately

2,300

2025graduates

2025graduates. St Vrainhasthehighest on-timegraduationrateof anydistrictintheDenver Metroareaat943%

24.5

creditstograduate,among themostrigorousinColorado

44 workforcepathwaysand high-qualityinstructional focusacademies

$20 MILLION

inpotentialtuitionsavings throughtheopportunity toearnover34,500college creditsthroughAdvanced Placement,International Baccalaureatecourses, andconcurrentenrollment collegeclasses

57 ofour89P-TECHgraduates finishedtheirassociate degreein4years,earning theircollegediploma alongsidetheirhighschool graduation

49

PathwaystoTeaching (P-TEACH)graduates

3,198

ConcurrentEnrollment coursestaken

240 graduatesearned theSealofBiliteracy

LearnmoreabouttheClassof2025’saccomplishmentsby scanningtheQRcodeorvisitingstvra.in/2025graduates