Update for Our Community

Not all items described in this newsletter apply to Jeffco charter schools.

September 17, 2020

Look What You Bought: Part 7

Just in time for #ConstructionAppreciationWeek!

Take a look at part 7 of our video series Look What You Bought, highlighting capital improvements made possible by Jeffco voters with the success of the 2018 bond measure. It has been a busy summer - check out the work! See the progress on the brand new Kendrick Lakes Elementary building, upgrades and a new entrance at Columbine High, a new addition at Three Creeks K-8, and major renovations to 1960s-built Stober Elementary.

We are #TeamJeffco

A feature we introduced last week, We are #TeamJeffco tells stories from our district demonstrating adaptability, teamwork, and some good old-fashioned Jeffco pride.

Carrie Halbasch

Remote Kindergarten, Little ES

Jumped Into Action to Learn the Tools of the Remote Learning Trade

Carrie's creativity and innovation, partnered with her amazing teaching skills, have made her remote kindergarten class an exciting, loving, and enriching place to be - so very important for our youngest learners! From the minute she learned she would be teaching six-year-olds remotely, she poured herself into studying about a variety of effective remote learning strategies, training herself on different tools for instruction and communicating, and has worked incredibly hard to make these students' first school experience incredible!

We Are #TeamJeffco: One Student Teacher's Story

Justin Roberts

Student Teacher, West Woods

Jeffco Graduate Joins His Former Teacher for More Learning

Jeffco graduate and former Pomona football player Justin Roberts has returned to his elementary alma mater, West Woods, to learn from his own former teacher. A true story of Jeffco Generations, Justin was influenced by his father, who teaches PE at Alameda HS and his mother who works in the district athletics office. Student teaching PE at West Woods is giving "J" a vision for his own future, "If I can help some kid learn about physical activity and be physically active for the rest of his life, then that's a win for me." And for Jeffco students!

Jennifer Warren

Spanish, Evergreen HS

Transitioned Passion for Connection to All Learning Environments

Jenn focuses on getting to know her students deeply and uses her class as a vehicle to talk about life, plans, hopes, and challenges. She forms real and lasting bonds with the young people she serves. Setting the tone for the new school year has always been so important to Jenn, which makes this historic school year a bit harder teaching some students remotely and others in hybrid mode. But she won't rest until her students feel a sense of community, connection, belonging, and accomplishment, no matter the learning environment.

Food Service Updates

Updated meal service options are now available for students on all learning schedules - In-Person, Hybrid, and 100% Remote Learning. See overview of meal service options for more information and note that time and location of meal distribution for 100% remote students is school specific. As a reminder, all full meals are free to students through December 31, 2020. Click graphics below for details.

Discipline and Code of Conduct Updates and Restorative Practices

As a reminder to families and students, the Jeffco Public Schools Code of Conduct applies at all times - whether a student is attending in-person or remote learning. One of our guiding principles is to provide a warm, welcoming, safe, and supportive learning environment regardless of learning model. Please review the Code of Conduct and our Remote Learning Behavior Expectations with your student as a reminder of our expectations.

Additionally, we have provided some information and updates about Restorative Practices - a process practiced in our schools that takes a collaborative approach to building connection and relationships and repairing harm. We have also provided resources for using Restorative Practices at home.

Community Budget Workgroup - 2020-21

The Jeffco Public Schools Interim Superintendent is establishing a Community Budget Workgroup to collect feedback and provide recommendations on the three-year financial forecast of the district. The group will convene 2-3 times in the fall and 2-3 times in the spring and will assist with prioritization of reductions and reserve spending to prepare for anticipated budget shortfalls. The workgroup will consist of two community stakeholders, two committee-appointed representatives each from the Financial Oversight Committee and District Accountability Committee, and a representative from each staffing group including licensed, classified, administrative/principal, and administrative/central.

If you are interested in serving on the Community Budget Workgroup, please submit your application no later than 5pm on Wednesday, September 30, 2020.

All-County Large Group Music Festivals Postponed Until 2021-22

Jeffco Public Schools All-County Large Group Music Festivals will be postponed until the 2021-22 school year due to the safety restrictions in place to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. These teacher-run events for Vocal Music (November) and Instrumental Music (January) are a musical highlight in our district, but with restrictions on singing, playing, and crowd size, it isn’t feasible to gather in these groups at this time. Jeffco teachers hope to take this time to regroup and make the 2021-22 ensembles a great experience for Jeffco’s talented music students. All-County Jazz, which is tentatively scheduled in April, will be re-evaluated at a later date. If you have questions, please contact your student’s music teacher.