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SUBJECT: Week In Review - January 15-19, 2024
January 19, 2024
Happy Friday!
I hope you were able to enjoy this shorter than expected week. As always we appreciate the understanding and partnership of our families and staff when we need to call a snow day as we did this past Tuesday.
The decision to close, delay or keep a school open during inclement weather is never taken lightly. We always keep the safety of our students, staff, and parents top of mind. Factors including snowfall, wind chill, road conditions and more are all taken into consideration. While conditions can vary across our district, many of our families and staff travel across the district to get to school, so closure decisions generally apply to the entire school district (unless otherwise indicated). Please watch this video to learn more about what goes into a snow day decision. You can also find more information on our website.
We often hear from families that they would prefer DCSD call a delay or closure in advance (such as the evening prior) so that they can make arrangements for child care, or to miss a day of work. At times, it’s easy to predict the evening before that weather will warrant a delay or closure the next day. However, calling a delay or closure in advance also comes with some trade offs, such as more risk that the call to delay or close could end up being the wrong call (Colorado storms are known for being much worse or much more mild than forecasted). We take all of this into consideration when evaluating weather conditions.
Should a snow day or delay be called, we send an email and text to our families and staff (generally no later than 5am), and we also post the information on the DCSD website, social media channels and local news stations. If you don’t hear from us, then school is open as normal. Please keep in mind that on days where our Snow Team is activated but a delay or closure is not called – we respect the decision of our parents to keep their child home, if necessary. Please call your child's school and this will be an excused absence.
Click here to make sure you are receiving emergency communications from us which include information about weather-related closures or delays.
Have a great weekend!
Erin Kane
Superintendent
Douglas County School District
GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND DCSD
Twice as nice: Teen actor raises another $12,000 for local nonprofit
Eli Testa, a 16-year-old junior at Highlands Ranch High School, started a theater company called "Future Is Bright" during the pandemic shutdown just to create a group performance opportunity for fellow Colorado high-school students — and raise money for The Denver Actors Fund. Testa’s second annual all-student-created, produced and performed cabaret raised $12,000 in four performances last weekend at the Parker Performing Arts School. That brings to $20,000 the total he and his company have raised for the Denver Actors Fund, which in nine years has paid down Colorado theater artists’ medical bills by more than $1 million. Read more. >>
Did you know that Mountain Vista High School has a Hydroponic Farm?
Since 2017, Mountain Vista High School staff and students have been operating an on-site hydroponic farm or freight farm. What used to require two to three acres of land to grow food can now be done in a crate/box. Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil. Hydroponics saves water, boosts yield, and enables year-round farming. Read more. >>
Congratulations to DCSD Drama and Thespian Students who took top Honors at Colorado ThesCon
The Colorado Thespian Conference is one of the largest in the nation, with approximately 4,000 attendees. Students attend workshops and performances, perform pieces and present designs, and audition for college programs. The 2023 conference took place at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts in December. The winners of the Critic’s Choice and the scholarship winners performed for the conference in a closing ceremony in the Bellco Theater.
Congratulations to the following DCSD students.
2023 ThesCon
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Jay Seller Musical Theatre Scholarship, Winner: Reed Grayner, Ponderosa High School - performed on Main Stage
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Musical Theatre Scholarship, Runner Up: Addison McNeil, Mountain Vista High School - performed on Main Stage
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Improv Team, The Last Minute Replacements, 1st place: - performed on Main Stage, Ponderosa High School - Mainstage Critic's Choice Winners: Jackson Coleman, Bella Guerrie, Reed Grayner, Nathan Albright, Andrew Brundige, Crow Nortillo, Fienna Jones, Goose Sikora, Sophia Smith, Shannon Dunn,
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Critic’s Choice, Musical Theatre Duet: Emerson Armour and Emma Maddaford, Castle View High School - performed on Main Stage
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Tech Challenge: 1st Place, Chaparral High School, Makenna O'Kelley, Logan Peek, Noah Platte, Isa Rolsen, and Sarah Stanz
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Critic’s Choice, Musical Theatre Solo: Eli Testa, Highlands Ranch High School - performed on Main Stage,
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One-Act Play: Rock Canyon High School - Superior - directed by Lola Claggett and Phoebe Seager; Cast: Sasank Vepa, Kyle Walsh, Cale Williams, Kaylen Stancik, Eleanor Nugent, Brikelle Paxton, Aspen Heppe, Taylor Johnson, and Addi Martin
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Tech Challenge: 4th Place, Rock Canyon High School; Nick TeSelle, Alex Jacot, Lizzie Schlue, Tyler Chu, J.M. Herskovits
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State Officers: Nathan Manning, Douglas County High School, Daniel Bethel, Highlands Ranch High School
2023 Junior ThesCon
Share Your School’s Good News!
We will continue to send these celebratory emails out each week. If we missed a celebration or you have good news to share, please submit it here.
RESOURCES AND TIPS FOR PARENTS
Mental Health Resources
What Children Really Need is Adults that Understand Development
The brain doesn’t fully develop until about the age of 25. This fact is sometimes quite surprising and eye opening to most adults. It can also be somewhat overwhelming for new parents and professionals who are interacting with babies and young children every day, to contemplate. It is essential to realize however, that the greatest time of development occurs in the years prior to kindergarten. And even more critical to understand is that by age three 85 percent of the core structures of the brain are formed with the first 2 months being found to have the most significant influence.
Literacy
Developing Reading and Writing at Home
Writing is a terrific way for children to express their thoughts, creativity, and uniqueness. It is also a fundamental way in which children learn to organize ideas. And learning to write well helps children to be better readers. When engaging in writing, young children often mirror what they see around them: adults and older children writing lists, letters, text messaging. They are observing the way writing is used in our everyday lives.
Health and Wellness
What is Sleep and Why All Kids Need It
Your body and your brain need sleep. During sleep, the brain sorts through and stores information, replaces chemicals, and even solves problems while you snooze. Most kids don’t get enough sleep. Kids 5 to 12 years old need 9 to 12 hours each night. Not every kid is the same and some kids need more sleep than others.
EVENTS
DCSD Legacy Campus Required Registration Information Session
Monday, January 22 | 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Students who will be juniors or seniors in the 2024-2025 school year and are interested in applying to attend courses at the Legacy Campus during the 2024-2025 school year should attend this registration information session. www.legacycampus.org
The Dangerous Truth About Today’s Marijuana: Johnny Stack’s Life and Death Story
Wednesday, January 24 | 6:15 p.m.
Chaparral High School - Mary Gill Theater
Click here for more information.
Learn Multisensory Methods To Help Your Child Master Multiplication Facts
Hosted by DCKid
Wednesday, January 24 | 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Highlands Ranch Library, 9292 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Highlands Ranch
Click here for more information and to register.
Parent University: The Role of Today’s School Counselor
Wednesday, January 31 | 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Online/Virtual Event
Douglas County School District will be celebrating National School Counselor Week the week of February 5-9. Join Dr. Kelli Smith, Director of Health, Wellness and Prevention, and DCSD Lead Counselors Renee Cawley and Kambi Crabb, to discuss how students can best leverage their school counselor. Specifically, data will be shared on our DCSD counseling programs' impact on students' achievement and engagement in our schools. Learn more and register. >>
ANNOUNCEMENTS
2024 Douglas County Outstanding Youth Award Nominations
The Outstanding Youth Award recognizes teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 who have overcome personal adversity and created positive change in their lives. The Youth Awards focus on teenagers who have triumphed over great odds and serve as inspirations and role models. If you know young people who would be good candidates for the Youth Awards, please help us identify them by completing the nomination form, link is below. Award winners receive a cash gift! Nomination forms are due by: March 29, 2024.
Join the DCSD Family
DCSD is hiring for a variety of positions, including bus drivers, transportation assistants, educational assistants, BASE workers, kitchen assistants, building engineers, security dispatchers, grounds and maintenance and so much more. Learn more and apply today at www.dcsdk12.org/careers.