Dear Jeffco Community,
It may be hard to believe, but we are beyond the halfway point in this school year and the end of another year of learning and growing for our young people is in sight. The last day of school is planned for May 22 (presuming significant weather cancellations do not cause us to extend).
Schools in Jeffco have focused on the
Jeffco Deeper Learning Model this year as part of an effort to center student experiences on challenging academic standards. In short, we wish our students to experience learning that is authentic and meaningful to them, but that also prepares them with foundational academic skills.
The Jeffco Deeper Learning Model is a straightforward vehicle for this work. It features four distinct parts, including:
Plan - The planning of student experiences in alignment with challenging academic standards.
Teach - Delivering academically focused lessons with an emphasis on authentic (real life) tasks and
experiences.
Assess - Using formal and informal classroom assessments of student learning to determine where
students are succeeding or struggling.
Reflect - Putting in place intentional time and structures to allow teachers and staff to evaluate data,
consider what’s working, and next steps.
The Jeffco Deeper Learning Model is not revolutionary; it uplifts the basics of teaching and reminds us that with a balanced approach we can achieve desired outcomes with our students. To use a football analogy (since we are still in the wake of the Super Bowl), it is basic blocking, tackling, passing, and running.
All schools are now implementing their mid-year plans, leading up to the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) testing windows, which go into high gear in April. We’ve also identified the key areas most likely to appear on these exams and shared that information with our teachers and staff. While there are many opinions about these tests and we respect the decisions of families on participation, our expectation is for students to engage and do their best.
I encourage you to talk to your school’s principal and teachers about how the Jeffco Deeper Learning Model is being implemented in their school, and how you can support that work.
On another note, this is
National School Counseling Week. Please take the time to express your appreciation to your school counselors, thanking them for the extraordinarily important work they do with our students. Earlier this week, I invited four members of our counseling team to visit with me in a Facebook Live broadcast. You can
see a replay here.
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Kind regards,
Dr. Jason Glass
Superintendent & Chief Learner
Jeffco students, parents, families, staff, and community members
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JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPPORTS MENTAL HEALTH
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Supporting Mental Health in Students and Staff
At Jeffco Public Schools, we want to ensure a safe learning and working environment for all those who engage in our community. In ensuring this safe space, we have to take into account not only physically safe spaces, but also mentally safe spaces. Jeffco is actively seeking to inform, inspire, and engage our community on the many facets of mental health supports in our district.
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STAFF AND COMMUNITY SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING
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In 2019, Jeffco Public Schools began the process of training ALL 14,000+ Jeffco employees in
QPR, an evidence-based suicide prevention gatekeeper model.
As of February 2020, Jeffco Public Schools has:
- held approximately 60 trainings at 60 different locations
- trained over 5,000 staff members
- trained close to 600 families/members of the Jeffco community
Jeffco offers QPR training throughout various articulation areas. When a training is scheduled in your area, you will be notified by your school.
COMING SOON TO AN AREA NEAR YOU
Look for trainings coming soon to the Moore Middle School/Pomona High School area, Standley Lake High School area, and the Jefferson/Edgewater area.
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STUDENT RESOURCES
Along with the QPR Suicide Prevention training protocol, other student support measures are in place at schools to encourage conversations around mental health.
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SOURCES OF STRENGTH
Sources of Strength is an evidence-based suicide prevention program led primarily by students. It exists to spread hope, help, and strength as well as increase protective factors in the lives of the peer leaders and their classmates.
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EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION TEAM
Jeffco’s
Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Team promotes a culture of equity, inclusion, and belonging across the district by creating equitable access and opportunity across race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and language.
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MAKING AN IMPACT
The effects and positive impact of having these conversations and trainings are undeniable. Opening up conversations about mental health, especially suicide, is saving lives and raising awareness in Jefferson County. Take a look below at some of the amazing things that have come about from our students, staff, and community members.
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After finding concerning message, Golden HS students use Post-its to spread kindness
An anonymous cry for help scribbled on a bathroom wall inspired a flurry of encouraging messages at Golden High School. Now the responses have spread from that wall to the internet as students seek out ways to support each other.
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Drake Middle Schoolers win
Denver Post
Essay Writing Contest With Poem and Song About a Friend Lost To Suicide
This poem was selected as the winner of
The Denver Post’s teen essay contest as part of an ongoing Crisis Point project on youth suicide in Colorado. The middle-school students wrote about the loss of mutual friend who died by suicide last year.
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COMMUNITY FORUM WITH JEFFERSON COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH
LET'S TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS
Join Jefferson Center and Jeffco Public Schools to share your perspectives and talk about children’s mental health and substance use, including what’s working, what resources are needed in the community, and how we can all work together to create a brighter future where mental health matters and is accessible to all. Space is limited.
DATE: Saturday, February 22
TIME: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
LOCATION: St. Anthony Hospital, 11600 W. 2nd Place, Lakewood, CO 80228
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JEFFCO SCHOOLS FOUNDATION NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Jeffco Schools Foundation, serving as the community foundation for Jeffco Public Schools, named Angela Baber as its next leader.
“I am delighted to welcome Angela Baber as the new Executive Director of the Jeffco Schools Foundation” shared Dr. Jason Glass, Superintendent, Jeffco Public Schools. “Jeffco Schools Foundation has been an invaluable partner to this District for nearly forty years. Under Angela’s leadership, we will celebrate and honor the contributions of our founding and existing partners and will engage even more members of our community in supporting all of our students, our educators, and our schools.”
As the Jeffco Schools Foundation Executive Director, Baber will partner with District leadership, schools, and educators to expand upon and build program support for key initiative areas that increase excellence and equity for Jeffco students. Focus areas include community engagement, celebrating educator excellence, and building philanthropic partnerships.
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STAYING HEALTHY AND VIRUS AWARE:
FLU vs CORONA
Jeffco Public Schools follows health protocols and advisement from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Safety (
CDPHE). The state of Colorado is monitoring the Chinese 2019 Novel Coronavirus. In addition to this recent concern, Jeffco would like to remind families to be vigilant about the prevalence of Influenza A and B as well.
Both the influenza virus and coronavirus spread through coughing and sneezing and have similar symptoms of fever, cough, and respiratory illness.
As with any respiratory virus, influenza A and B included, you can protect yourself by practicing these everyday actions:
- wash hands frequently with soap and water
- cover nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing
- disinfect surfaces
- avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms
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JEFFCO BUILDS: LOOKING FORWARD TO 2020
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With the first full year of construction under our belts, we are looking forward to a busy 2020. Things are picking up speed for the Jeffco Public Schools construction team, as many major school renovations and improvements will begin this year.
At a glance, we will:
- Complete three school addition projects.
- Begin construction on Warren Tech South and three high school additions and renovations.
- Break ground on four school additions.
- Finish 22 furniture replacements and 18 school improvement projects like flooring and roofing upgrades, paint, and exterior finishes.
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THEN AND NOW: FOR THE LOVE OF EDUCATION
As a part of celebrating School Board Recognition month in January, Jeffco Public Schools wanted to honor our amazing Board of Education members who give so much to the community.
We asked each board member two questions:
- Why do you love Jeffco and Jeffco Public Schools?
- What was your favorite subject, teacher or activity from when you were in school?
Take a look at their then-and-now photos and get to know why our board members have a deep passion for serving public education and the community.
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GOOD NEWS & HATS OFF
Arvada Girl Scouts Use Cookie Money to Spread Inspiration.
Jeffco Students Collect 20K Food items for Classmates In Need.
Evergreen High School Plays Some Basketball with Special Needs Players.
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happening in jeffco
Staying connected with our families and community is important to us. See the many ways we share news, info, and keep in touch!
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important dates
February 14 - No school for students
February 17 - No school, Presidents' Day
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Facebook Live:
Dr. Jason Glass discusses National School Counseling Week
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Superintendent and Chief Learner Dr. Jason Glass discusses National School Counseling Week with three Jeffco school counselors, Matt Calvert, Jill Mark, Shauna Condry, and the district's School Counselor Coordinator, Sonya Sallak.
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Jalen The Astronaut
Students at D'Evelyn Jr. Sr. High School organize a special pep rally in honor of a little boy fighting cancer. Special guest appearance from NASA Astronaut and D'Evelyn grad Matthew Dominick.
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Jeffco Preps with Pleuss
High school wrestling, high school basketball, and adaptive athletics action all take their turn in our newest preps spotlight.
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board of education meetings
Thursday,
March 5
, 5:00 p.m., Study Session
Thursday,
March 5
, 6:00 p.m., Regular Session
Wednesday,
March 11
, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Study Session
Meetings are held at the Jeffco Ed Center Board Room, 1829 Denver West Drive #27, Golden.
Meeting schedules and agendas are posted on
BoardDocs.
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