Weekly Superintendent Update, March 18

Weekly Superintendent Update, March 18
Posted on 03/18/2022
Dr. Sirko photo

I want to start by congratulating our Grand Junction High School Knowledge Bowl team on another hard-fought win at the Colorado Knowledge Bowl tournament! The Tigers captured their 23rd win at state in their class. Congratulations to students Brady Ancell, Cailan McKim, Alexander Chang, Jake Peltier, Sam Guddat, Ashley Guddat, Asher Goldberg, Able Martinez, Makayla Mai Dao, Athena Quesenberry, Megan TerLouw, Isenia Fregaso, Jamison Whiteford, Max Wilson, and Ethan Crawford and their coach, Coady Shawcroft!


In addition, I want to echo the recognitions we celebrated at this week’s School Board meeting. Congratulations to our Jazz Band students, Jacob Mason, Rogelio Montes, and Paolo Reitz, all of Palisade High School; our D51 Athletic Director, Paul Cain, who will be inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame next month, and first-grade Dual Immersion Academy teacher Katharine Smushkov, who was accepted into the prestigious Space Foundation International Teacher Liaison program. We will have even more to celebrate during board recognitions in the months to come for speech and debate (numerous students are headed to state today), the Fruita Monument culinary team (who placed first at state), All State Band, and more!


Finally, I want to commend Central High School Principal Lanc Sellden and his team for their time and efforts to change the school’s logo. This hard work was recognized last week by the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs, when CHS was officially deemed in compliance with a new state law that bans the use of Native American mascots. I especially want to commend Lanc for including students in decision-making around the new logo.


Bus Masking Change

In accordance with the CDC, which has lifted the mask mandate on public transportation nationwide, we will transition to highly encouraging but not requiring masks on buses. This change will occur following Spring Break, on March 28.
Kindergarten Registration, Start Date

While grades 1-12 will begin the 2022-23 school year on Wednesday, Aug. 10, incoming kindergartners will start school on Friday, Aug. 12. There will be no Kindergarten Roundup this spring, though schools have the option to host welcome events later this summer. D51 parents/guardians can begin the online registration process for kindergarten (or any other grade) through ParentVUE starting July 20. After online registration is finished, a parent or guardian must provide the school with the following documents to complete their child’s registration:
*
Child’s birth certificate
* Child’s immunization records
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Proof of address, such as a utility bill
Spring Panorama Survey

The Panorama Student Survey will be administered March 28-April 8. We highly value this survey, as it allows us to know how students feel about their school culture, the relationships in the school between and among staff and students, and their sense of connection and belonging to the school community. Survey data is completely anonymous and helps the district make changes to programs, policies and practices to ensure we’re responding to all student voices concerning their successes and challenges. Sample questions from the survey will be posted on the district’s website for you to see. If you have questions, you can contact Cathy Ebel at 254-5488. If you wish to opt your student out of the survey after viewing the questions, please contact the school office.


I hope you enjoy your Spring Break, and we’ll look forward to seeing you again on March 28!