Adams County School District #14 Vote 5 to 0 to Appoint Patrick Sanchez as the New Superintendent

The Adams #14 Board of Education are all on the same page when it came to the recommendation of the new Superintendent of Schools. The district started the national search which resulted in 18 total candidates from all over the Nation. The Board narrowed the pool to four finalists who included: Dr. David L. Gray, John Randal (Randy) Johnson, Dr. Bobby Northern and Patrick Sánchez. The Board voted on Wednesday June 6th to appointment Patrick Sánchez as the new Superintendent.

District third graders make record gains on reading tests

BRIGHTON – A record number of School District 27J third-grade students tested proficient and advanced on the 2012 Transitional Colorado Assessment Program test, according to unofficial data released by the Colorado Department of Education May 9.

One hundred scholarships available for teachers seeking National Board certification

Considered the “Gold Standard” for teaching, more than 97,000 teachers have obtained certification; 641 in Colorado

The Colorado Department of Education’s Office of Professional Services and Educator Licensing today announced the limited availability of a new round of scholarships to support teachers applying for National Board Certification with the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards.

Central Elementary and Rose Hill Elementary Named Colorado Healthy School Champions

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (April 10, 2012) — Thirty-two schools throughout Colorado were selected as “Healthy School Champions” as part of a statewide program that recognizes and rewards schools that are healthy. Adams County School District ’s Central and Rose Hill were among those selected and on April 4th both were recognized as awardees at Colorado Legacy Foundation’s 2012 Healthy Schools Summit. The Colorado Commissioner of Education, Robert Hammond, presented all of the Champions with a grand total of $42,500 in awards. Both Central and Rose Hill received $500 and Rose Hill also won a $2,500 salad bar in a raffle.

Learn What Kids Know About Drugs

Parents will have an opportunity to learn about illegal and legal substances being marketed to their kids when Lynn Riemer, President of Act on Drugs, Inc., speaks in Brighton on April 3rd, 2012. Riemer will explain synthetic marijuana products being marketed as incense, how the potency of today’s marijuana has increased, health concerns about energy drinks, bath salts that are being inhaled and injected, and the dangerous abuse of inhalants in everyday household products. From alcohol to prescription drugs, methamphetamine to “Ecstasy”, parents will find out how to detect and prevent substance abuse.

Trina Norris-Buck has accepted the offer to serve as principal at Vikan Middle School

27j is very pleased to share with all of you that Trina Norris-Buck has accepted the offer to serve as principal at Vikan Middle School! As many of you know, Trina is currently the assistant principal at Vikan.

Taking a Stand Against Violence

On March 29th and 30th, A Call to Men (ACTM) Institute and Alternatives to Family Violence will host a free, two-day, community-wide, training focusing on ending violence against women. The training will be held from 9a.m.-5p.m. at the Iglesia del Nararno and is open to men, women, youth, teachers, parents, school board, community and members.

Landmark Academy Students “Tee Off” New Golf Program

Students to learn health, wellness, respect for others as part of First Tee program

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (March 7, 2012) – This spring, while Landmark Academy students practice their downswing, they’ll also be learning about the importance of health and wellness, respect for others and honesty. It’s all part of Landmark’s after school golf program, The First Tee of Green Valley Ranch, hosted at Buffalo Run Golf Course (15700 East 112th, Commerce City).

GETTING TO KNOW YOU AT PRIMROSE SCHOOL

Open House Offers Parents a Fun and Easy Way to Do Their Homework

Choosing which early education school is right for your child is not an easy decision and often requires parents to do a fair bit of their own homework. The Primrose School at Reunion hopes to make this process a little bit easier by offering families a chance to visit the school during their Open House on Saturday, March 3rd from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Any families who are interested in learning more about quality, educational care for their children are welcome to attend this event. The school’s professional, highly-qualified management and teaching staff will be on hand to answer questions about their Balanced Learning Curriculum, ancillary programs like art class, soccer, fitness, and dance, supplemental programs like music enrichment and Spanish, their nutritious meal program, registration and more! Refreshments will be served and fun activities will be available for the children who visit. Those families who are truly interested may register for open spaces at this time. Any families who register and start in August will qualify for complimentary registration, as well as be entered into a drawing for a free month of tuition!

Eight ACHS Students Named Semifinalists for Daniels Scholarship

Adams City High School announced today that eight students have been named semifinalists for the Daniels Scholarship.

9NEWS: How Safe 2 Tell helps students report threats

Colorado again called to Washington to share education insights

State Board Chairman Bob Schaffer testifies to U.S. House Committee on Education

Colorado’s state education officials are becoming a regular feature recently in Washington, D.C., being called to explain the state’s nationally recognized reform system. Now, the State Board of Education’s Chairman Bob Schaffer has been requested to testify in front of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce on two bill proposals.

Community Representatives Requested for ACHS Principal Interviews

Adams 14 is beginning the interview process for candidates applying to serve as Adams City High School (ACHS) principal. Shelli Robins has served as the interim principal since the beginning of the 2011-12 school year, and the District is now beginning the process to select the permanent principal of ACHS.

Coffee and Conversation with Members of the 27J Board of Education

Come and share coffee and conversation with the members of the Board of Education. The Board will host two events. Both are from 9-10:30 a.m. The first one will take place on February 25, 2012 at the Todd Creek Fire Station 55. The address is 15801 Havana Street (located at the corner of Hwy 7 and Havana Street). The second conversation will occur on March 17, 2012 at the Great Rock Fire Station 54. The address is 15229 Great Rock Road (located at the corner of Great Rock Road and Bromley Lane). This will be a great opportunity to get information about the school district, and provide input on future goals and plans. Everyone is welcome.

Colorado among first in nation to be granted waivers from NCLB

Colorado got further affirmation today of its strong education reform system when the White House announced it was among a very select few states to earn waivers from the federal No Child Left Behind law.

State Board of Education hears two charter school appeals

Board also briefed on progress in licensing backlog

The Colorado State Board of Education met this week for regularly scheduled meetings on Wednesday, Feb. 8 and Thursday, Feb. 9. Highlights from the meeting include:

THE PROM DRESS EXCHANGE PROVIDES GORGEOUS PROM DRESSES & MENSWEAR TO TEENS FOR JUST A $10 DONATION & STUDENT ID

NO TEEN TURNED AWAY FOR LACK OF PAYMENT IN ADVANCE OF THEIR BIG DAY

COMMERCE CITY, COLO. - (FEB. 10, 2012) – You’ve got a date to the big dance - but what about the dress? For many teens, the ritual of prom is the highlight of high school. But it can be expensive. According to promgirl.com, the cost of the big night ranges anywhere from $175 - $2,100. The dress cost is a large percentage of that estimate. A Seventeen magazine poll found that 94 percent of girls planned to spend about $195 on a prom dress. But when you’re on a budget, what’s a girl to do?

Colorado continues to rank in top 10 for scores on Advanced Placement Exams

The 8th annual AP Report to the Nation, released today by the College Board, reports that Colorado ranks 8th out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. for the percentage of the class of 2011 scoring a 3 or higher (qualifying score) on Placement Program (AP) Exams during high school. Further, Colorado has consistently ranked in the top 10 over the last five years.

Adams City High School Offers Students Late Bus Run

This week, Adams City High School (ACHS) began offering daily bus transportation for students participating in after school activities, athletics, clubs and tutoring. The District's goal is to enable more students to participate in important after school activities.

Commerce City Schools Help Raise $78,000 for Troops

ABC Fund Raising Inc and Colorado Elementary Schools Donate $78,000 to American Troops

Denver based ABC Fund Raising Inc, in partnership with 120 local elementary schools, has donated over $78,000 worth of merchandise to the Yellow Ribbon Support Center to help support American forces serving abroad.

Legal Notice

Foundations Academy

340 S. 45th Avenue

Brighton, CO 80601

303-659-9519 (phone)

303-835-7151 (fax)

OPEN ENROLLMENT NOTICE

Open enrollment for the 2012-2013 academic school year ends on Wednesday, 2/29/2012 at 5 p.m. Applications are available for K-7 and can be obtained at the school, at www.NHAschools.com or by calling NHA at 866-NHA-ENROLL. Should the number of applications received during open enrollment exceed available seats, a random-selection drawing will be necessary. The drawing, if needed, will be held on Tuesday, 3/6/2012 at 6 p.m. at the school. Applications received after open enrollment will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for remaining open seats. Waiting lists will be formed accordingly.

Landmark Academy at Reunion

10566 Memphis St

Commerce City, CO 80022

303-287-2901 (phone)

303-287-4196 (fax)

OPEN ENROLLMENT NOTICE

Open enrollment for the 2012-2013 academic school year ends on Wednesday, 2/29/2012 at 5 p.m. Applications are available for grades K - 8 and can be obtained at the school, at www.NHAschools.com or by calling NHA at 866-NHA-ENROLL. Should the number of applications received during open enrollment exceed available seats, a random-selection drawing will be necessary. The drawing, if needed, will be held on Wednesday, 3/14/2012 at 4 p.m. at the school. Applications received after open enrollment will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for remaining open seats. Waiting lists will be formed accordingly.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS

Foundations Academy and Landmark Academy at Reunion admits students of any race, color, and nationality or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of intellectual or athletic abilities, measures of achievement or aptitude, disability, status as a handicapped person, homeless status, English proficiency, religion, creed, race, sex, color, or national origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies and athletic or other school-administered programs.

Anythink to Host Tournament for Young Entrepreneurs

Competition Aims to Promote Business Dreams

THORNTON, Colo.­ –February 1, 2012–Over four Saturdays in March, young business minds will have the chance to learn how to become entrepreneurs in a tournament hosted by the Adams County Workforce & Business Center and the Governor’s Summer Job Hunt Program. The goal of the Young Entrepreneur tournament is to inspire, educate and encourage young adults ages 14-21 in a competitive entrepreneurial environment that prepares them to start and run a successful business.

Landmark Academy Hosts Enrollment Information Meeting

Parents interested in enrolling their child encouraged to attend

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Jan. 31, 2012) – Landmark Academy at Reunion will host an enrollment information meeting for prospective parents on Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at the school, located at 10566 Memphis St. in Commerce City.

Statewide K-12 student enrollment continues to grow

Online schools statewide also see gains

The Colorado Department of Education announced today the statewide pupil count for the 2011-2012 school year increased by 10,949 over the previous year, bringing the total to 854,265 public school students.

Local Teacher Receives Outstanding Reading Teacher Award

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Jan. 27, 2012) – The Colorado Council International Reading Association (CCIRA) recently selected Sarah Iversen, 4th grade teacher at Landmark Academy at Reunion in Commerce City, as the winner of the Past Presidents’ Memorial Award for Outstanding Reading Teacher. CCIRA annually presents the award to a teacher who has achieved a significant and successful reading program in his/her first five years of teaching.

Public Schools from Metro Area Recognized for Success, $500k in Awards

DENVER, Colo. – 14 public schools and 2 public charter management organizations from the Denver metro area representing 6 districts received awards today for outstanding success in improving academic performance. All are winners of the Foundations for Great Schools 2012 grant awards program, which focuses on recognizing and encouraging success among schools serving high proportions of low-income students. A total of $500,000 in grant awards will be distributed among the 16 award winners.

The annual United Power Scholarships Applications due on Feb. 3

Brighton, Colo.-Applications are due on Feb. 3 for United Power's 2012 Scholarship Program which will provide $10,000 in scholarships to students served by United Power. Sixteen students in the United Power service territory will receive awards in 2012 from the member-owned electric cooperative.

Community Meetings to Discuss School Attendance Boundary Adjustments

Many Adams 14 elementary schools are experiencing enrollment increases, and many schools are now overcrowded. The District recommends moving several preschool classrooms to Hanson next year, as well as making school attendance boundary adjustments to rebalance student populations in schools.

Local Families Receive Support to Apply for College Financial Aid

College Goal Sunday hits Commerce City to help families pay for college

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Jan. 12, 2012) – On Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, local families in Commerce City will have the opportunity to attend College Goal Sunday to receive free assistance on how to pay for college.

Education board passes rules for charters, online schools

State board of education receives other updates

The Colorado State Board of Education met this week for a regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 11. Highlights from the meeting include:

5th Annual School District 27J Wellness Fair

The 5th Annual School District 27J Wellness Fair is being held on Saturday, January 14th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Fair will take place at Prairie View Middle School, 12915 120th Avenue, Henderson, 80640. The event will kickoff with a Community Walk. CBS 4's Evrod Cassimy will be on the Flat14ers trail with Radio Disney AM 1690 broadcasting the event. Below is a list of the great opportunities that will be provided at various booths along with demonstrations. Come and enjoy the fun, and get healthy!

Parents for 27J Students To Host School Finance 101 Learning Opportunity

The Parents for 27J Students group invites everyone to attend their monthly meeting scheduled for January 9, 2012 at 6:30 pm. The meeting will be held at the Prairie View High School cafeteria located at 12909 East 120th Ave. The meeting will feature a presentation and discussion to help attendees understand public school finance in Colorado and specifically within School District 27J. All 27J residents are encouraged to attend. Residents will also receive information related to opportunities to provide input into the District FY 2012-2013 budget.

Foundations Academy Students Host Giving Tree for Families in Need

Students encouraged to give up one of their holiday gifts for a child in need

BRIGHTON, Colo. (Dec. 12, 2011) – There’s more on the Foundations Academy holiday tree than bulbs and tinsel. This year, the tree is decorated with ornament tags with the age and gender of local children without gifts this year. To help students learn the importance of giving, the charter school erected the Foundations Giving Tree to help local families in need.

Scenes from Landmark Academy in Reunion

Landmark Academy in Reunion designated Dec. 2 as Egypt Day. The 1st grade classes spent the day learning about Egypt and Egyptians by dressing in Egyptian attire and participating in games, crafts and writing activities.

How does your school perform? (Adams #14 and 27J)

The following information is from the ColoradoSchoolGrades.com group...

Colorado School Grades is presented by a coalition of 18 community organizations that believe all children deserve access to a high-performing school. Their mission is to provide community members, parents, students, and educators with school performance information that is both accessible and easy-to-understand. Their hope is that this information will help families and students make more informed decisions about the school they choose based in some part on academic information.

CDE Releases Rating of Schools...

The 2011 Colorado Department of Education Accreditation Ratings:

Schools district are classified into five categories:

-Accredited with Distinction
-Accredited
-Accredited with Improvement Plan
-Accredited with Priority Improvement Plan
-Accredited with Turnaround Plan

Individual schools are classified into four categories:

-Performance Plan
-Improvement Plan
-Priority Improvement Plan
-Turnaround Plan.

Adams County School District #14 - Accredited with Turnaround Plan*... Final % of Points: 38.6

School District 27J - Accredited with Improvement Plan... Final % of Points: 54.1

*The schools or districts listed as "turnaround" or "priority improvement" need to make academic gains quickly in the coming years, or else the state may take measures against the school or district.

Parents for 27J Students Group Meeting

The next Parents for 27J Students Group meeting will be on Monday, December 12, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. This meeting will be held at the District Training Room, 80 S. 8th Avenue, Brighton. Election and voting information will be discussed. This will also be an opportunity to hear comments about successes and challenges that occurred during the election process. Future goals and opportunities for the group to support 27J students will be the final topic of discussion. For more information, please contact Lynn Ann Sheats at 303-655-2952 or lsheats@sd27j.org.

Marijuana and alcohol use among teens is rapidly rising in Adams County

The Adams County Youth Council urges teens and parents to come together to address the growing rates of substance use among teens in Adams County

Over a quarter (30 %) of 9-12 graders in Adams County reported having used marijuana in the last 30 days in the fall of 2010. This is a 58% increase in three years. Of these same students, 65% think it is easy to get marijuana if they wanted it and 42% think there is very little risk to people who smoke marijuana regularly. Also, over a third (41%) of 9-12 graders reported to have had at least one drink of alcohol in the last 30 days, which is a 25% increase from 2008. (data from Adams County Student Survey of over 27,000 students in grades 6 through 12 in Mapleton, Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Adams 14, Brighton 27J and District 50 in 2008, 2009, 2010).

Adams 14 Board of Education Swears in Three New Members

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (November 23, 2011) – The Adams 14 Board of Education welcomed new school board members at their regular meeting on November 22. Board members Mary Morton, Larry Quintana and David J. Rolla took their seats with the Board after reciting the oath of office. Larry Quintana previously served a four-year term, while Mary Morton and David Rolla are newcomers on the Board.

Interview with Adams-14 Board Member Elect, Larry Quintana...

“There is no ‘big I’ or ‘little U’ in ‘T-E-A-M’”, stated the Adams-14 Board Member Elect, Larry Quintana, adorned in a veteran’s cap and a Denver Bronco’s jacket and over a McDonalds breakfast. We took a casual moment with Adams-14's most outspoken board member for a recap on the past and a preview of where one of the most tumultuous school districts in Adams County is headed.

Winners Selected for United Power’s 2011 Holiday Card Coloring Contest

The winners of United Power’s 2011 Holiday Card Coloring Contest have been selected from nearly 400 entries. The following children have won $50 in cash and the honor of their drawing decorating corporate holiday cards mailed by the electric cooperative this holiday season. Congratulations to the following students:

Adams County School District 14 Takes Pro-active Approach to Truancy

Many more students are attending class currently in Adams County School District 14, thanks to the pro-active approach by the staff at the district.

SCHOOL DISTRICT 27J RECEIVES $100,000 GRANT FROM LOWE’S CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded a $100,000 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education® grant to School District 27J to provide electrical power distribution to the core classrooms of Overland Trail and Vikan Middle Schools. These improvements will allow the students at these schools the same opportunities for instructional technology as those at the district’s two newer middle schools. Lowe’s will be recognized for this grant by the Board of Education on Tuesday, October 25th at 7pm, at the District Training Room, 80 S. 8th Avenue in Brighton.

K-9 Search of Adams City High School only finds one bad apple

On October 19, 2011 at approximately 8:15 a.m., several Adams County police agencies, in cooperation with Adams County School District 14, conducted a search of Adams City High School for illegal contraband and narcotics.

Adams City High School Wellness Center Named After Late Commerce City Resident Lois Kimmes

Lois Kimmes

Commerce City, CO (October 17, 2011) – On Thursday, October 13th at 3:30 in the afternoon, the Wellness Center at Adams City High School was dedicated in memory of the late Lois M. Kimmes. Lois Kimmes, a long-time Commerce City resident, was involved with Community Health Services (CHS) since 1997 and served as Board President for nine years. Lois fought a brave battle with cancer and passed away at home on October 18, 2010 at the age of 66.

President Shaffer renews his call for an audit of online schools following media analysis

“Please put partisan politics aside and do the right thing”

DENVER— Today, Senate President Brandon Shaffer (D-Longmont) sent a second letter to members of the Legislative Audit Committee which included reports from media sources from around Colorado demonstrating the need for an audit of Colorado’s online schools. President Shaffer first called for an emergency audit of online schools on September 26, 2011 after serious problems with some of those schools were exposed in several investigative reports.

Help Monaco Elementary in the GLEE Give a Note Competition

Third-grade students at Monaco Elementary, along with teachers Ms. Lewis and Ms. Preisser, submitted a fantastic video to the GLEE Give a Note Foundation’s competition.

District 27J Reaches Agreement with Aurora and Gaylord on Conference Center Urban Renewal Plan

After nearly two months of negotiations, School District 27J has consented to the inclusion of agricultural property within their boundaries to be included into the Aurora Conference Center Urban Renewal Plan.

Adams County School District #14 Board President Jeannette Lewis is Censured... Board Says ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

A censure is an expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism. And that is exactly what the Adams County School District #14 School Board did to its President Jeannette Lewis on Tuesday, October 12, 2011.

FOX31: Parents: Bus driver makes children late to school on purpose

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- There’s a battle in Commerce City between parents and their children’s school bus driver.

The parents say the driver is intentionally making their children late for school at Alsup Elementary as punishment for bad behavior on the bus.

The parents say they can prove it with a videotape they recorded. Full Story Click Here...