All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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The scramble for a viable plan to reopen schools amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced many area parents to weigh their students' health and safety against the quality of their education. But officials at private schools Boulder Country Day and the Dawson School say they've found a way to provide families with both for the 2020 fall semester, and are eager to welcome students back for full-time, in-person learning later this month. "In general, school leadership teams are not made up of...
With students returning to school on Tuesday, Aug. 18, it is time to meet all of the new teachers who will be entering Niwot High School. From PE to English, Niwot is welcoming staff who are prepared to guide students through online learning. Eric Rasmussen will be teaching pre-IB honors biology, pre-IB chemistry/physics, and IB chemistry SL, with classes spanning across all grades (9-12). Previously, Rasmussen taught chemistry and biology for three years at Silver Creek High School. He also...
Students at Niwot High School returned to school on Tuesday, Aug. 18, albeit through virtual means. And while the academic situation remains uncertain, with potential to add in-person classes at some point, many activities are operating with even less clarity. Both the St. Vrain Valley School District and the Boulder Valley School District are starting the academic year with 100 percent virtual instruction. Some sports such as tennis and golf are allowed, but with extra precautions. Many...
As both Boulder Valley School District and St. Vrain Valley School District announced after a summer of sparse communication that they would begin the school year online, teachers and families alike are scrambling to adjust for what's to come. The update comes as COVID-19 cases continue to fluctuate in the county; as of the Aug. 4 announcement, cases had been steadily rising for almost a month. But as of this article's publication, there has been a decline for multiple consecutive days....
Editor's note: On Aug. 4, as this issue was about to go to press, St. Vrain Valley Schools announced that the 2020-21 school year will begin with "a 100 percent online-learning model for all students" at least through the end of September. When the bell rings and students settle into their desks in a couple of weeks, teachers will find themselves face-to-face with a lot of unknowns. The invisible threat of the coronavirus puts them in a tenuous position of trying to keep themselves, their...
Editor's Note: Covid-19 has made an impact on almost everyone in the Left Hand Valley, with the announcement of a new online learning schedule at Niwot High School. Students at Niwot are scheduled to complete all of their schoolwork online. This remote learning schedule will tentatively begin on August 18th and last until the end of September. While many are unsure of what the rest of the school year is going to look like, various students are not only worried about the quality of their...
The annual Sunrise Stampede 10K run-walk has served as the unofficial kick-off to the new school year in St. Vrain Valley for more than three decades, and brings together hundreds of runners, volunteers, and vendors for some exercise, camaraderie, and family-friendly competition in the waning days of summer. It also has raised more than $250,000 for special needs students in the district, so when the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to cancel the 2020 edition, organizers quickly shifted to a format...
There wasn't anything normal about the way high school ended for the Niwot Class of 2020, but the belated graduation ceremony held on Saturday, July 25 was a lovely approximation of it. Perfect weather and a celebratory mood were the order of the day as more than 250 graduates finally crossed the stage to mark the official end of their high school journeys. Still, the ongoing health crisis loomed large over the proceedings, mostly in mundane practicalities such as social distancing and mask requ...
At Niwot High School, there are two parent groups that aim to support students--the Niwot High School Education Foundation and the Niwot High School Boosters, Inc., which supports all athletic teams and other clubs on campus. In fact, in part thanks to the booster club's efforts, Mile High Magazine has ranked Niwot's 4A athletic program number one in Colorado for the past two years. Building on this momentum, booster president Donna Blondeau is excited to get the community involved with the...
Since 2005, the nonprofit Crayons to Calculators (C2C) program has had a simple mission: to provide local students with the supplies they need to start the school year successfully. Created by a partnership between the Education Foundation for St. Vrain Valley and Boulder Valley's Impact on Education, each summer C2C musters a small army of community volunteers to fill more than 11,000 backpacks with donated pencils, notebooks, and other school essentials, which are then distributed to families...
Niwot High School has announced plans for an official graduation ceremony for the class of 2020. In a letter sent out to students and parents, NHS principal Eric Rauschkolb thanked everyone for their support through health concerns and the unconventional end to the school year. "We know that this year did not end in the way that anyone expected, however, as we look ahead to our official graduation ceremony, we could not be more excited to celebrate the outstanding students in our 2020...
Two Niwot High School students made their voices heard in an international competition with their performance of "I Am The One (reprise)." Soon-to-be NHS seniors Jazz Mueller and Grable Howie moved from the state level and beyond before the pandemic changed the way competitions were being held. "It kind of ended up evening the playing field," Howie said. "For us, it didn't matter what was happening. We were going to take every opportunity we had. When we got invited to submit a video for it, we...
Much of what students learn in school is something called "crystalline knowledge," or knowledge that is based on memorization of previously learned facts. While some classes, like math, might teach some degree of problem solving--think back to those pesky train problems--students arguably do not have the opportunity to frequently exercise their problem-solving skills. With this in mind, in 1978, two college students in New Jersey founded the first "Olympics of the Mind." It brought together...
In the fall of 2019, St. Vrain Valley School District formally announced its participation in awarding the Seal of Biliteracy. This award recognizes students who achieve multi-lingual proficiency by the time they graduate high school. Niwot High School, which boasts the International Baccalaureate Program, has encouraged language acquisition for years now; and with the IB program, this also extends to an encouragement of having a strong world view. Thanks to this mission and the district's...
Since 2008, the Mwebaza Foundation has been an integral part of our Niwot community. The nonprofit has expanded its partner schools to include Coyote Ridge, Coronado Hills, and Eagle Crest while also incorporating school clubs at Sunset Middle and Niwot High to allow students to continue their involvement with the foundation. Recently, the foundation's four Ugandan partner schools have suffered severely under COVID-19 restrictions, including extended lockdown measures and school closures. Many...
Around lunchtime on February 20, a scary situation unfolded outside of the entrance to Niwot High School when a belligerent 51-year old man tried to enter the building and confront a staff member. But thanks to sharp-eyed campus supervisors La'Mar West and Andrew Hart, the would-be intruder was quickly subdued, and no students or faculty were harmed. Recently, the pair was honored by the Boulder County Sheriff's Office for their "exceptional performance, achievement, and exemplary initiative"...
During his four years at Niwot High, James Tran was always eager to accept a new challenge, from joining the knitting club, to heading up the Innovation Center's curriculum development team, to teaching himself website testing. Now that penchant for self-improvement is paying off in a big way. In April, Tran was one of 100 students from across the U.S. to be awarded the Amazon Future Engineer scholarship, worth $10,000 per year over the next four years. "It's a really cool scholarship," Niwot Hi...
This year has been strange and challenging for educators everywhere, including in Niwot. In a time of unprecedented change and uncertainty, three Niwot teachers and one administrator are retiring and being honored for their service to the students and to the development of the greater community. Two teachers are retiring from Niwot High School (NHS) this year, as are a kindergarten teacher and an administrator from Niwot Elementary School. Kathy Benning served as registrar and attendance clerk...
For graduating senior Rachael Triplett, much of her career at Niwot High School has been marked by her involvement in clubs and participation in the International Baccalaureate Program (IB). During her time there, she was a four-year participant in the Knitting Club, played in the orchestra and ran both track and cross country. "Join everything you can, it's the best way to meet people," said Triplett. "Or, at least it was for me." It was her willingness to try new activities and classes that...
Staging a multi-part choral performance featuring seven dozen voices is challenging even under normal circumstances, but add in online learning, social distancing, and a novice video editor, and things become even more complicated. That was the task facing Niwot High choir director Laura Roberts as she worked to give her students a final chance "on the stage" in a virtual choir performance of Omnia Sol. But as she soon learned, just because something is "virtual," doesn't mean it won't take a...
On the beautifully sunny morning of Friday, May 22, Boulder Country Day School celebrated the graduation of their eighth-grade students in a unique way. Families, including loved ones living far and near, joined a graduation on Zoom, where speeches were made, students celebrated, and promotion awarded. Students and their families then came to campus and lined the parking lot facing toward the school, spaced in accordance with social distancing guidelines. The ceremony was performed from the fron...
On May 18, BCD 3rd grade teacher, Amanda Demler, rode her bike 82 miles to visit all 12 of her students at home. She left her home at 7:00am and rode from house to house on a trip that included 7 hours of riding and 5 hours of socializing from a distance. While her students know of her athletic abilities, when the idea of a bike ride to every single house first came up on a class Zoom meeting, they were unsure. "That is very far!," said Ryan Welch. Demler, who has been a teacher at BCD for 16...
For Audrey Rhoadarmer, being editor of the Niwot High yearbook was more like holding a part-time job, albeit one with no pay and with a high rate of turnover every spring. But even with stressful deadlines, staff management issues, and workflow hiccups, the aspiring journalist is grateful for on-the-job training she picked up in her four years on staff, and considers it one of the most useful endeavors of her high school career. "It's a really good opportunity to meet people you wouldn't...
Each spring, the Niwot High School Education Foundation awards the Pursuit for Education scholarship to honor "motivated students who recognize the power and impact of post-secondary education," and it's hard to imagine a senior who fits that description better than 2020 recipient Daniel Torres. "I look forward to being the first one in my family to go to college," he wrote in an email interview about the scholarship and his future plans. "No one in my family has reached this point, and I'm...
It might not have had much pomp and circumstance, but spirits were high on Friday, May 22 as Niwot High seniors and their families took to their cars to celebrate what would have been the Class of 2020's graduation weekend. Masked spectators lined Niwot Road to cheer as a fire truck from Mountain View FPD led a procession west from the high school, to downtown, and back again. Dozens of cars in varying stages of green, white, and black decoration participated, and shenanigans were few and far...
When SVVSD canceled in-person learning and activities for the remainder of the 19-20 school year, administrators at Flagstaff Academy leapt into action. If the school couldn't hold a traditional graduation ceremony, they still wanted to give the 107 eighth-graders a way to commemorate the occasion with their classmates, even if it had to be from a distance. A few phone calls and emails later, plans for a "very unique" experience to celebrate the Class of 2020 were underway. "We have created a...
Life is full of endings and beginnings. Every ending means a new beginning, and every beginning means the inevitable end. For us, our high school experience is coming to an end. Although it isn't quite the ending we expected, we have adapted to the changes and tried to make the best of the current situation. Each of us has faced individual challenges and successes in high school and during this pandemic, but put together they tell a collective story. They tell the story of the Class of 2020....
Besides having the best grades in Niwot High's Class of 2020, co-valedictorians Anton Lavrouk (IB) and Tim Stokes (traditional) have at least one other thing in common: their modest reactions to earning the honor. "I was just trying to get good grades in my classes, so I could get into a good college," Stokes said of his sustained academic success. "So I took AP classes, and it just kind of happened." Of course, there was a little more to it than that, Stokes acknowledged, and he was surprised...
Niwot High salutatorian Julia Curd thrives on competition, whether in the classroom, on the stage, or at the keyboard, and having valedictorian Anton Lavrouk for a rival during her four years in Niwot's IB diploma programme provided plenty of motivation for success. "I really enjoyed being able to take classes with the amazing students at Niwot," she said. "I think the fact that it was so competitive really helped me reach my best. I took pretty much every class with Anton, and we were really...
When the coronavirus pandemic cancelled athletics and in-person learning for Colorado schools, it was a shock to the system for student council president Natalia Storz, who may be the busiest student at Niwot High. But like any successful leader, she had a prudent outlook about losing so many important senior milestones and how the Cougar community can move forward even stronger. "This is definitely a learning experience and a pivotal time for the Class of 2020," she said. "It has definitely...
Niwot senior Nicholas Valin wasn't always the confident, aspirational young adult he is today. In fact, after going to private school and then being homeschooled for freshman year, his transition to Niwot was somewhat jarring. "I was new as a sophomore, so for the first two days of school, I didn't know anyone and was silent," he said, laughing at the memory. "[But] I made a lot of friends after that." Valin quickly became involved in the high school's forensics team, student council, Model UN...
Carson Simon has experienced an event that not many high schoolers can relate to. In January 2018, Simon and his father were in a single engine airplane accident due to an engine failure at Longmont's Vance Brand Airport. Simon suffered multiple injuries, including a concussion and a hairline fracture in his back, but he made it out alive. The Niwot High School student was swimming for Silver Creek High School's combined boys squad four months later. Simon is one of the more remarkable...
For the past four years, Lauren Squire has walked the halls and fields of Niwot High School. In that time, she has made friends and memories that will stick with her for a lifetime. In fact, in her advice to freshmen, she said, "Make the best of high school. It's no one's favorite time, but it's a big time in your life that you'll remember forever, so have fun." Squire has certainly had her share of fun over the years, especially on the soccer field. Not only did she have successful games, but s...
Recognizing her "positive impact on" the school community, The Niwot High School Education Foundation has awarded senior Sophia Chivers the Founding Director Scholarship for 2020. Chivers will receive $1,000 for her post-secondary education. For Chivers, making a positive impact was easy to do in a school like Niwot High, where she usually found herself "happy and engaged." "I've always really enjoyed school, and always felt really supported at Niwot," the senior said. "I love the community....
Since its founding in 1970, Dawson School has strived to nurture and prepare students to bring their best to the world, and the school is celebrating its 50th graduating class this year. "The Class of 2020 is a remarkable group of students, whose resilience and drive, creativity, integrity, and compassion are just what the world needs right now," said George P. Moore, Head of School for Dawson. "We couldn't be more proud to have these students represent Dawson's 50th graduating class." Given...
Boulder Country Day's Class of 2020 is kind and has always supported our community and each other. As a group they act with integrity, have high expectations of themselves, and will make a positive difference in the world around them! BCD graduates love school. They are: *Engaged - They are active learners, strive to do their best, have high expectations, and have fun. *Kind - They care about their community, are responsible, inclusive, and respectful. *Resourceful - They innovate, create, and...
Niwot High seniors and their families are holding a car parade to honor the Class of 2020 on Friday, May 22 at 4 p.m. The procession will begin at Niwot High School, travel west on Niwot Rd to 2nd Avenue, and then head through town to end at 83rd St. and Neva Rd. Strict social distancing and other guidelines will be followed....
Make a float out of your car and come celebrate with a graduation parade. That's what a mom in Heatherwood is telling graduates of any age or school in the area. She's organizing a car parade for May 9 in the Heatherwood neighborhood of Gunbarrel. Kathy Kester's daughter, Sara, is graduating from the University of Colorado. Kester said she wanted to do something to mark the occasion since colleges and schools aren't doing in-person ceremonies. "I felt bad that they aren't going to have any...
The Education Foundation of the Saint Vrain Valley School District recently announced the winners of their 2020 Tribute to Teachers, which honors individual teachers at the Pre-K through 12th grade, who exemplify excellence in teaching. In what has been an unprecedented end of the academic year, these three award-winners have continued to play a critical role in the growth and development of the youngest members of our community. Jess Esinhart: Legacy Elementary School Jess Esinhart is no strang...
The socially distant version of the annual Tribute to Teachers awards may have lacked the glamour of a gala, but that didn't make it any less special to Megan Schlagel, recipient of Niwot High's 2020 Teacher of the Year award and a finalist for St. Vrain Valley Teacher of the Year. "I was really honored by the recognition," Schlagel said of hearing the news of her award. "I'm not usually a crier, but I was crying. I've been teaching 11 years, and it's definitely the highlight, I would say, just...
At the University of Colorado Boulder, campus has been a little quieter this spring with the March 11 announcement that in-person classes would be moved online. Five days later, CU recommended all students living in dormitories move back home. But for some, that wasn't an option. Senior David Broughton is a resident advisor (R.A.) at Hallett Hall and one of the few still living on campus. Broughton said there are approximately four students and six R.A.'s remaining at Hallett Hall. Hallet's population of about 10 students is the lowest in the...
To be sure, the local seniors in the class of 2020 are missing some notable high school rites of passage, but assuming Colorado's social distancing measures continue to ease through summer, a commencement ceremony won't be one of them. In an April 20th letter to district families announcing the cancellation of in-person classes, St. Vrain Valley Schools Superintendent Don Haddad wrote: "For our graduating seniors and their families, we know how especially disheartening these past few weeks have...
They call her Mama G., but students and teachers at Flagstaff Academy can now refer to their middle school principal as Colorado Charter School Leader of the Year. "I was very excited and totally humbled when I found out about all the nominations and the kind things people had to say," said Katie Gustafson, 39, who has been an administrator at the school for five years and a teacher for five years before that. The award from the Colorado League of Charter Schools recognized Gustafson for...
Grable Howie isn't used to writing songs on command, but when the talented junior was tapped to represent Niwot High in the CU College of Music's Centennial Song competition, he found that inspiration was easy to come by in his home state. "I was tasked with writing a song about the spirit of Colorado," Howie said of the contest, held to commemorate the College of Music's 100th anniversary. "It was a little difficult to do this, because I was only able to have five tracks, and I had a slightly...
The empty parking lot at Niwot High School is more than the result of a much-needed Spring Break. School closures have forced sports, clubs and all extracurriculars to hit the pause button for the sake of public health in light of COVID-19. While time off from classes may seem like every high schooler's dream, these cancellations have caused upset among students who have been working hard all year. Among these cancellations are the Band Spectacle concert, Choir/Orchestra concerts, Mock Trial...
Beginning on March 30th, BCD will launch 'Bulldogs Connect,' their distance learning initiative developed to meet the needs of students and families during the forthcoming school facility closure due to COVID19. Since March 13th, BCD faculty have been collaborating virtually to design a distance learning program to serve all of their students from Preschool through 8th grade at developmentally appropriate levels. BCD teachers will be using multiple platforms including Seesaw, Google Classroom, a...
Just a few short weeks ago, the long-term closure of schools seemed unthinkable, but the coronavirus pandemic has abruptly forced the world into adopting different ways of thinking about everyday life. For parents, students, and educators, that has meant confronting the reality of full-time "remote learning," and adjusting to unfamiliar roles and responsibilities in the education environment. At Dawson School in Lafayette, the community is embracing the new paradigm with optimism, togetherness,...
A bonus week of Spring Break sounds like a dream come true for students, but, at Niwot High School, reaction to the St. Vrain Valley School District's decision to cancel classes in the wake of COVID-19 has been decidedly mixed. With milestone events and the spring athletic season now in jeopardy, the drastic disruption of the spring semester has caused almost as much anxiety as the virus that prompted it. "I think there are a lot of people filled with fear, because nobody really knows what's...
At age 13, Rumi Natanzi suffered a medical emergency that required years of recovery. She spent a lot of that time listening to original cast recordings of popular musicals, and by the time she was ready to enter ninth grade, she had found a new passion-one that eventually developed into a memorable four-year run on the Niwot High stage. A few weeks ago, Natanzi took her final bow as a Cougar, and said goodbye to the place that has allowed her to tell stories with her expression and voice. "I di...
This past Wednesday, Niwot Elementary School hosted its 12th annual Children's Book and Art Sale to benefit The Mwebaza Foundation, a local non-profit started in 2008 by the school's first-grade teacher, Dale Peterson. Each year, this fundraiser garners donations from parents, students, and visitors from used children's book sale purchases. What set this year apart was the inclusion of children's art, made and donated by students from all grade levels at Niwot Elementary. The Niwot Elementary...
