All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) has long expressed concerns about the integrity and accuracy of Colorado's K-12 education performance measurement system, arguing that its "one-size-fits-all" approach overlooks the diverse needs of individual students and provides misleading assessment data that can inaccurately compare schools' performance and potentially misallocate resources. The current system, established by the Education Accountability Act of 2009, utilizes metrics from the...
This week's art student, Jocelyn Lara Serrano, has big plans for her senior year at Niwot High School. "I'm mostly just involved with music and theater," she said. "What I like about both of them is the community that we have at Niwot. Everyone is very supportive, and so incredibly talented, and I'm happy that we share a common goal of creating music together with our friends and peers or having fun performing our shows, and I love all of the teamwork we put in in order to create amazing art."... Full story
Reconnecting with her roots has always been a dream of Sky Bauer, a Niwot High School junior. A lover of the outdoors, animals, and an avid athlete, Bauer is currently in Germany as a part of the Rotary Club of Niwot's Youth Exchange for the 2024–2025 school year. "Bauer in German means farmer," said Bauer, 17. "Growing up, my mother's side always spoke German at reunions and around the house." Over time, however, she said she slowly lost the skill. "Going to public school, spending more time w... Full story
After 26 years at Niwot High School, Michael Rees is closing the final chapter of a remarkable teaching career. He showed unwavering dedication in the classroom and demonstrated visionary leadership throughout his tenure. Rees played a key role in introducing the International Baccalaureate (IB) program to Niwot, transforming the school's academic offerings and expanding opportunities for students for years to come. Rees first connected with the International Baccalaureate program in the 1980s...
Gabriel Bandera, a 2025 graduate of Niwot High School, reminisced on his time in the music and arts programs in Niwot before he heads into the music and film industry. "I've been playing piano in Jazz Band for four years at Niwot High and Advanced Jazz Band for the past three years, but I've been playing piano for much longer than that and saxophone for a few years as well," said Bandera. "By my junior year at Niwot I really started to take music, especially jazz and improv more seriously. I...
Niwot High School's Class of 2025 was honored in a heartfelt and celebratory Senior Night on Friday, May 23, marking the culmination of four years filled with academic success, community involvement, and personal growth. Hosted by senior Masters of Ceremony Peyton Rhodes, Mahuiztli (Mo) Martinez, Mila Barinek, Maria Arrece Garcia, and Meleah Perez, the event blended student performances, award presentations, and reflections, highlighting the accomplishments and unique contributions of this...
Continuing a powerful tradition of community service, the Rotary Club of Niwot awarded three scholarships at Niwot High School's Senior Night on Thursday, May 22. The Rotary Club of Niwot, formed in 2008, supports many community causes, including students at Niwot High School. The recent scholarships were the Outstanding Student Award, the Community Service Award, and the Niwot Rotary Student of the Year Award. Students throughout St. Vrain Valley School District who demonstrate exceptional... Full story
On Thursday night, May 15, the Class of 2025 at Niwot High School gathered on the football field to enjoy the closing Senior Sunset event, which symbolized the end of their high school education. The students experienced their penultimate group occasion under clear skies with distant mountain views, just before graduation week began. The "Senior Sunset" event functions as an annual companion to "Senior Sunrise," which takes place at the start of each school year. The Niwot sunrise event...
During the morning of May 14, eight teams, each consisting of three to five Niwot High School students, took part in the school's annual outdoor chalk art event called Artside, as in art outside. The outdoor area near the school's main entrance not only held the bustling activity of chalk art but also included ceramics students doing an outdoor raku firing process, led by instructor Kyle Rees. As students worked on their artistic creations, the student tech crew also added to the Artside... Full story
Niwot High School held its annual Department Awards ceremony following the final bell on Wednesday, May 14, in the Commons. The ceremony recognized students for their exceptional attitudes, achievements, and character across various subjects. In the physical education department, awards went to Axel Zamora Cano (9th grade), Hadyn Spires (10th), Irisel Valenzuela-Loya (11th), and Charlie Shaw (12th). The world languages department recognized Lia Lindseth (9th), Will Gabrielson (10th), Julia...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is known for its coverage of athletes and arts students at Niwot High School. The Courier also honors an array of students who pursue activities such as community service, robotics, academics, and topics that fall under the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) umbrella. All students and teachers at Niwot High School who know Izzy Fay recognize her as a hardworking, dedicated individual. Through her passion for diving, Fay has become a well-kno...
Marik Magginetti, a senior at Niwot High School, represents a side of the art world rarely seen but greatly enjoyed. Magginetti’s dedication to technical theater resulted in his nomination for Art Student of the Week. Magginetti’s art background comes from running things behind the scenes. He said, “I'm on the technical theater crew so my business is all in the technical. I am on the ‘how’ part of creativity, not the ‘what.’ It's still an absolute honor to help these shows succeed because I lov...
Niwot High School's theater department held its annual Theater Banquet on Friday, May 9, celebrating the actors and technical theater crew for their accomplishments this school year, which included producing "Murder on the Orient Express" and "Footloose." Students were treated to a banquet of food while playing rounds of "Family Feud." Many students took to the microphone to touch the hearts of their peers. Nine awards were given to students from their peers, spanning all grade levels and...
Mohi Bauer, a senior at Niwot High School, has a passion for logic-based problem-solving and mentally challenging tasks. Bauer constantly seeks new ways to further these interests apart from his classes, including participation in competitions and starting his own club at Niwot High School. "During my freshman and sophomore years, I participated in Niwot's Chess Club, Math Club, and Up-a-Creek Robotics' FRC team 1619 on the robot software subteam," he said. "During my junior year, I co-founded a...
The environment at Niwot High School transforms during the weeks leading up to May 15, the last day of school for seniors. Underclassmen remain focused on finals while seniors direct their attention toward the end of their high school experience. The Class of 2025 has planned several graduation events, which will reach their peak at Senior Sunset on the final school day May 22. During graduation weeks, seniors follow established traditions that lead up to their big day. The Senior Grad Walk ranks among the most popular events, bringing...
Katelin VonFeldt, a junior at Niwot High School, and Kayla Evans, a senior at Erie High School, were invited to present their project at NASA's HUNCH final design showcase in April at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. The showcase focused on biomedical research related to human spaceflight. VonFeldt and Evans' project uses virtual reality and sensory-based memory triggers to address the isolation and stress astronauts experience in space. Nationally recognized as one of the top 20 high...
Grace DeRose, a senior at Niwot High School, has been reminiscing about her full theater experience during her time at school. She has been in eight productions at Niwot High, including "Peter and the Starcatcher," "Mamma Mia," "Noises Off" where she appeared as Tim Allgood, "Beauty and the Beast," "Puffs," "Shrek" where she played Gingy, "Murder on the Orient Express" where she played Countess Andrenyi, and, most recently, "Footloose" where she performed as Cowboy Bobby and served as the...
Niwot High School hosted its annual Music Awards Night on Thursday, May 1, recognizing student musicians across band, choir, orchestra, jazz, and mariachi for their achievements throughout the year. The evening began with the presentation of academic letters, awarded by grade level to students who demonstrated consistent excellence and commitment in their music groups. After letters were distributed, directors introduced a series of individual awards, highlighting students’ leadership, musicianship, and growth. “Music Awards Night is one of...
Niwot High School senior Samantha Zacky is not only a major player on the Niwot girls tennis team but she is also the founder of the Jewish Together Club which was established during her junior year. The mission of Jewish Together remains rooted in two primary values: creating a safe, welcoming environment for Jewish students and increasing education across the student body. Zacky said she started the club because she "felt there was really a need in the community, seeing as there was not a...
As the school year comes to a close, many seniors are beginning to reflect on their lives over the past few years as they begin a new journey. For some students, the arts have been a large part of their past. "Art is a very important part of my life and I am a part of a lot of different groups in the school," said Gabby Gravelle, a senior at Niwot High School. "I am a part of the Niwot theater program and the musical has been the highlight of each school year for me since freshman year." Gravell...
On April 11, educators, families, and community members gathered at the University of Colorado Boulder for the annual St. Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation Celebration of Excellence, recognizing exceptional teachers across St. Vrain Valley Schools. Hosted by the St. Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation, the event honors educators who go above and beyond in supporting students, fostering a love of learning, and making a positive impact within their school communities. Honorees were...
Heatherwood Elementary School is preparing to unveil an ambitious new environmental STEAM program when students return to classes for the 2025-2026 school year this fall. The program aims to seamlessly integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics principles with environmental literacy in a way that connects students to the natural world around them. The Heatherwood Educational Advisory Team has been working diligently to create a program that fosters deep connections...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is known for its coverage of athletes and arts students at Niwot High School. The Courier also honors an array of students who pursue activities such as community service, robotics, academics, and topics that fall under the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) umbrella. Many faculty members consider Niwot High School senior Cas Clark an exemplary student, especially teacher Sarah Demmel, who recognized their individuality and enthusiasm...
Every year, thousands of students from around the world gather to compete at the FIRST World Championship, the culminating event for the programs under its umbrella. Among these is FIRST Tech Challenge, where teams of middle and high school students design, build, and program robots to take on a new game challenge each season. Through the year, teams advance through local, state, and national competitions to earn a spot in the World Championship, where they compete in division rounds and...
Niwot High School junior Ollie O'Brien developed an affinity for the footlights at an early age. When they were only six, O'Brien attended the School of Rock in Boulder, joining in with other musicians to perform rock songs. "There was one time where the School of Rock in Broomfield was hosting a Beatles versus The Rolling Stones concert and they needed a singer," O'Brien said. "They called the School of Rock in Boulder to ask if there was a singer available, and they said, 'We have a...
Dr. Don Haddad, the highly respected and impactful superintendent of the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD), is embarking on a well-deserved retirement. He says he will not be completely stepping away, suggesting his invaluable experience and passion for education will continue to enrich the SVVSD as an emeritus superintendent. Emeritus status is an honorary title awarded to individuals, typically faculty or staff, who have retired from a specific position or organization, recognizing...
Lately, Niwot High School has seen an increase in acts of kindness, specifically those towards staff members. Throughout this past semester students have taken initiative in showing staff appreciation by purchasing coffee for teachers, counselors, and other staff members. Whether it be an iced coffee from the popular Longmont spot Ziggi's Coffee, or a hot tea from WiNot Coffee Company, the impact of these students has not gone unnoticed. These small acts can make a staff member's day and...
The St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) held its annual student art show at the Boulder County Fairgrounds from April 15 to April 20 with artwork featured from students attending Niwot Elementary School and Niwot High School. The district-wide student showcase included the mediums of ceramics, digital art/photography, drawing, jewelry making, metalwork, mixed media, painting, and printmaking. On Thursday evening, April 17, many students from the district's 55 schools, along with their art...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is known for its coverage of athletes and arts students at Niwot High School. The Courier also honors an array of students who pursue activities such as community service, robotics, academics, and topics that fall under the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) umbrella. Niwot High School senior Mira Clayborn has excelled in her studies throughout the past four years while simultaneously committing a large portion of her life to her passion,...
Niwot High School senior Benjamin Gunn believes that music is the purest form of communicating a message to someone beyond symbols and knowledge. "For traditional visual arts," Gunn said, "you can show someone a picture and make them feel something through various symbols that they've probably encountered. But I feel music is so inspirational and important that you can convey a message without needing any previous knowledge. It is just raw emotion from the performer communicated through the...
For over three months, Niwot High School’s theater department has been working hard to bring the iconic musical, “Footloose,” to life. The musical was performed April 3, 4, 10, 11 and 14 to a packed NHS auditorium. The “Footloose” story revolves around Ren McCormack, played by Niwot sophomore Camryn Bell. and his mother, played by Alison Kraut, who relocate to the fictional town of Bomont, Utah, from Chicago. Ren is horrified to learn that all things rock music and dance, both which are engra...
"Senior Assassin" is a popular tradition at high schools across the country, and each year, Niwot High School seniors look forward to taking part in the fun. While the rules vary slightly from round to round and from school to school, some elements remain consistent. At the core of the game, each player gets randomly assigned a target, and over the next few weeks, it is their responsibility to "assassinate" that person. Each assassination must be recorded and posted online. Seniors who play buy...
The St. Vrain Unframed Art Show is happening now until Sunday, April 20, at the Boulder County Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall. The event showcases student artwork from all 55 schools in the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD), including creations from students attending Niwot Elementary School, Sunset Middle School and Niwot High School. The art show is open to the public daily, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event features student art from all grade levels...
Technical theater has a way of forging bonds between people. When Bri Rivard attended Coal Ridge Middle School, the school did not have a technical theater program, and she had never even heard the term before. Then, her ninth-grade English teacher, Mrs. Myers, recommended technical theater to her. Rivard didn't have many friends at the time, and she thought it would be a great environment for meeting people. Now, Rivard is grateful Myers recommended it to her. "I have met incredible people...
Niwot High School held its annual prom on Saturday, April 5, at Denver's Mile High Station. The event was themed "Midnight in Manhattan," and it combined celebration and elegance in its decor and activities. Hundreds of Niwot students took part, with the majority of upperclassmen in attendance. The celebration kicked off at 8:00 p.m. and ended at 11:00 p.m., and the dance floor was busy throughout the night. Niwot counselor and Student Council advisor Leah Messinger explained that finding...
Ben Gabrielson loves math. Now a senior at Niwot High School, he says his biggest challenge in high school was running out of math classes to take. After exhausting Niwot's math class offerings early in high school, he began taking classes concurrently at Front Range Community College. Last semester, Gilbert finished the classes offered at Front Range and is currently working with Niwot's math teacher, Megan Schlagel, to teach himself discrete mathematics as an independent study. Gabrielson...
Camryn Bell's love of theater stems from the community within it. "Like any other extracurricular," he said, "doing theater is being in a team. It's exhilarating to perform for an audience alongside people who have worked incredibly hard with you for months prior. Putting the work in and getting to share your effort with the world is truly an unmatched feeling." The Niwot High sophomore went into high school with no intention of doing theater. He was more focused on sports, but then he had a...
On Monday, February 24, middle school and high school students from the Boulder County area were excited to present their science projects at the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) Corden Pharma Regional Science Fair at the Boulder Valley School District Education Center. The BVSD Regional Science Fair website explains, "Science fairs allow students the opportunity to research, create, and present while constructing their own ideas through reading informational text, participating in...
Each spring season, Niwot High School presents a musical production ranging from "Mamma Mia" to "Shrek The Musical." This year, "Footloose," written by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie, will be performed for five nights at Niwot High School, beginning April 3. Based on the 1984 film, "Footloose" follows the story of a new senior at Bomont High School (Ren McCormack) who loves to dance, a local preacher (Reverend Shaw Moore) grasping in the face of loss, and a rebellious young girl (Ariel Moore)...
Keynes Chen, Niwot High School's orchestra and mariachi director, has been named Niwot High School's Teacher of the Year by the St. Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation. His recognition comes as no surprise to those familiar with the remarkable growth and success of the school's music program under his leadership. Since starting at NHS in January 2019, Chen has built the school's orchestral music programs into something extraordinary. What began as a small program has grown into three...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is known for its coverage of athletes and arts students at Niwot High School. The Courier also honors an array of students who pursue activities such as community service, robotics, academics, and topics that fall under the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) umbrella. Niwot High School senior Sanjana Kaushik is involved in a myriad of activities at Niwot High School. For example, she immerses herself in instrumental music, playing flute,...
Niwot High School choirs traveled to Orlando, Florida, on Mar. 13 to compete at Festival Disney, an all Disney-produced music competition among middle and high school students across the United States. A mix of Niwot choir members came together to create the unique choir called the Niwot High School Disney Choir. Members of the Treble Choir, Tenor/Bass Choir, Sedalia, Chamber Singers, and Evenstar joined together to form a new and exciting group to compete alongside one another. The group only...
Niwot High School's Math Club is a student organization that supports students who are interested in, excelling in, or struggling in math. Math Club president Katherine Cui, a NHS senior, explained, "Math Club is where students can come to do their math homework, study for math tests, and get help from their peers and a math teacher. Math Club is also where students can come to experience how math can be made fun – especially since it is so many people's least favorite subject." The club had b...
Almost every month, Niwot High School principal Eric Rauschkolb nominates three outstanding students to the Rotary Club of Niwot to be considered as the club’s “Student of the Month.” These students are heavily dedicated to their academics, extra-curriculars, and outside volunteerism. The Rotary Club then decides who has earned the honor of being named as the club’s “Student of the Month.” This past February, the Rotary Club of Niwot named Eliana Henriques as the “Student of the Month.” Henrique...
Niwot High School senior Shefali Joshi thrives at the crossroads of creativity and innovation. One of her proudest high school achievements is pursuing an IB diploma. She said, "I'm really proud of how I stuck through the IB program even though it was hard at times. I really enjoyed the classes that were offered, even though there was a lot of extra work that goes into them." One such extra project is the Creativity, Art, and Service (CAS) project all IB diploma candidates are required to comple...
Niwot High School freshman Khai Dang-Lee grew interested in art when their mother showed Dang-Lee her own old sketches. "She is an amazing artist and seeing her beautiful work inspired me to make my own," Dang-Lee said. "It was around fourth grade, the beginning of COVID. I loved art class at Eisenhower Elementary. It was mostly very short fun projects, but it was my favorite class then. At Manhattan Middle School art was more advanced, and we had longer projects. Sixth grade is when I started...
During her freshman and sophomore years, Niwot High School senior Olivia DeRose was a member of the Chamber Singers Choir, and she was a member of the Evenstar Choir her sophomore and senior years. She is a part of the theater program at NHS and she has been in every musical since her freshman year, including "Footloose" this year. According to Laura Walters, the NHS Choir Director, DeRose has been a strong member of Niwot choirs for four years. "She has been in Chamber Singers and Evenstar,...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is known for its coverage of athletes and arts students at Niwot High School. The Courier also honors an array of students who pursue activities such as community service, robotics, academics, and topics that fall under the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) umbrella. Niwot High School senior Emma Ortiz's classmates and teachers consistently describe her as a "bright light" within NHS. They say her positivity can be felt from miles away....
