Garfield 16 Gazette
August 2022
Welcome back! It is going to be an outstanding school year!
Where has the summer gone? It is hard to believe that school starts next week. This newsletter contains some useful information as you start to get your student ready to come back to Garfield School District 16.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out to our incredible staff.
Interim Superintendent's Corner
A message from our interim superintendent
I would like to introduce myself to you as the new interim superintendent for the Garfield County School District 16. I look forward to working with the District’s administrative team, teachers, and support staff, as well as the School Board and community. I joined the Garfield 16 community in the beginning of July, and we have hit the ground running.
As we plan for the 2022-23 school year, we want the students, parents, and staff to know that we will be as back to normal with our operations as much as possible. The past two years have been anything from frustrating, to confusing, to sometimes frightening. While the administrative team and I are not public health experts, we are experts in teaching and learning. Our goal will be to support students where they are. If they have learning gaps, we will fill them. If they feel nervous and anxious about what has happened, we will support them. The best thing that we can do is to get back to the routines and practices that allow our teachers to provide the best education possible for our children.
The first day of school will be Tuesday, August 23rd for our K-12 students. Our Center for Family Learning parents will receive more information from Mrs. Frees for the kindergarten and first grade assessments on August 23rd and 24th. The first day of preschool will be Tuesday, August 30th. Principals will be sharing more information about back-to-school dates and other information parents will need to begin the school year. You can find links to each school's newsletter below.
We are looking forward to a strong start to a new school year. Until then, enjoy the rest of your summer!
Sincerely,
Jennifer Baugh
Interim Superintendent of Schools
District Highlights
GVHS & GVMS Roof Replacement/HVAC Improvement
COVID-19 Guidance Updates
Late last week, the CDC and Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDHE) announced newguidance about COVID and how it can apply to schools. This is a link to the guidance:
https://covid19.colorado.gov/practical-guide-for-operationalizing-cdc-school-guidance
Based on the CDPHE guidance, Garfield 16 will do the following this school year:
- Inform students, parents, and staff about this and any new guidance about COVID.
- Encourage everyone to voluntarily follow the guidance.
- Consult with the Garfield County Department of Health, if needed.
- COVID testing for schools is still available, but Garfield 16 is not opting into the testing.
One important change in the guidance is that the requirement for quarantine based on school exposure is no longer recommended. People who test positive for COVID should still isolate. The guidance about isolation has also changed. A person should isolate for five days, and if symptoms improve, the person can go back to regular activities while taking recommended precautions, such as masking for another five days.
In summary, Garfield 16 will operate like it did before the pandemic. The administration will monitor
everyone’s health and well-being and take steps to address any concerns if they arise.
COVID reminded us of several good health practices, such as staying home if you are sick. Of all the things we are no longer required to do, I hope everyone chooses to stick with that good practice.
School Board Meeting Time Change
The Board of Directors has changed its meeting time and format. The next meeting, on September 20th, will begin at 5:00 p.m. The meeting will begin with a work session where the Board hears presentations from the staff. The business meeting will follow the work session. The Board will resume holding school board meetings in each of the schools on a rotating basis.
School board meetings are open to the public. The date, time and location of the school board meetings can be found on the District's online calendar.
News from the Schools
Outdoor Education News & Highlights
Ari is committed to getting students outside, "As a program coordinator, I wish to extend Garfield Outdoor's initiative of breaking down barriers for students to connect to the outdoors. And as an educator, my goal is to foster memorable learning experiences for students that allow them to explore and engage with lessons through an outdoor lens."
The Outdoor Education Program will focus on getting the Grand Valley Challenge Course up and running, utilizing the Grow Dome at Grand Valley Middle School, staff meet ups, and working with teachers to target grade-level specific outdoor education.
The Challenge Course hosted students enrolled in the Summer Advantage Program and Ari plans to continue to get students on the course. The goal is to get groups of students to focus on developing team building, trust, and communication. The challenge course features low elements and high ropes challenges that will help students develop social and emotional skills. Fourteen facilitators were trained on the course from August 1st- 5th. Thank you to all those who signed up and took time out of their summer! Ari is still looking for more GV Challenge Course facilitators. If you are interested in training to help with the challenge course, please email Ari at aphilipson@garfield16.org
The Grow Dome at Grand Valley Middle School (GVMS) is another focus of the Outdoor Education Program. Ari has been working closely with Grand Valley Middle School PE Teacher David Spies and Master Gardener Kim Whelan in order to establish best practices and help students benefit from the Grow Dome. The Grow Dome is a green house hosted at GVMS. According to Ari, lessons at the Grow Dome will focus on integrating agriculture, as well as culinary and nutritional practices throughout the school year.
Ari has also organized "Staff Meet Ups" for all certified and classified staff of Garfield 16 School District. According to Ari, "The goal of Staff Meet Up events are to connect Garfield 16 staff members to one another and to our beautiful outdoor spaces." Ari has several activities planned, including hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, cross country skiing/snowshoeing, downhill skiing, and challenge course high ropes. An all staff email will be sent at least seven days prior to the event with a virtual sign up sheet. Participants need to sign up at least 48 hours prior to the event. The events are limited to the first 14 participants. Please reach out to Ari with any questions: aphilipson@garfield16.org.
Ari will also continue to work with teachers to develop grade-level specific outdoor education. In order to accomplish this goal, Ari will be "working with outdoor partners and teaching teams to build unique explorative lessons" tailored to each grade level.
School-Based Family Resource Center
District Operations
Nutritional News
Our district has qualified for a free breakfast and lunch program for the 2022-2023 school year for all students in all schools!
To continue to qualify for this grant, we need all families to please fill out an application for free or reduced meals, regardless of family income. The application packet will be available at back to school nights and sent home the first day of school. The application can also be found using this link: Nutrition Links. This will help us to continue to qualify for this program for next school year.
Menus can be found on our school district Nutrition Website.
School Breakfast and Lunch menus are currently being created and will be updated for the start of the school year. If you looking for the breakfast and lunch menus, please visit our district Nutrition Department Website where you can link directly to each month's menus.
Please keep in mind that menus have the potential to change A LOT depending on staffing issues, and product availability. Our Nutrition Department does their best to honor the posted menus, however they can be heavily impacted for a variety of reasons. If you ever have any questions, please call 285-5701 ext. 4180 with any questions or email jwilliams@garfield16.org
Transportation News
If your child will be riding the bus, please fill out the Bus Registration Form that will go home with your child on the first day of school. Children will be able to ride the bus on the 1st day without the form. Bus Routes are posted on the transportation website (see the link below). Please check the website closer to the 1st day of school, as bus routes may be updated a bit between now and then.
Please make sure your child is following the bus rules:
- Follow the bus driver or assistant's instructions at all times.
- Arrive at the bus stop 5 minutes prior to scheduled pick-up time in the morning.
- Stand a safe distance from the curb or roadway.
- Respect the driver/assistant and other bus passengers.
- When crossing the street by the school bus, always cross 10 feet in front of the bus. Wait for the driver's signal to cross. Do not run.
- Sit quickly and quietly in seat. Remain seated facing forward while the bus is moving. The aisle is not to be blocked at any time.
- No eating, drinking, or spitting inside the bus.
- Do not throw anything off the bus or have any part of you outside the bus.
- Talk in normal tones; loud, rude, vulgar or obscene language is prohibited.
- Cell phone usage is limited to texting, video games, or listening to music (with earbuds).
- State law and/or District Policy prohibits the following items on school buses: Alcohol/drugs/tobacco; Glass items; Legally prohibited substances; Weapons or explosives (including fake weapons or explosives); Fireworks (including smoke and stink bombs); and Animals, insects, or reptiles.
- All items carried by students (i.e. band instruments, athletic equipment, backpacks, etc.) must be under the student's control at all times and must be carried in the lap, or properly secured in a vacant seat or under the seat. These items cannot occupy needed seating space or be placed in the driver's compartment, aisle, or in the step well.
- Skateboards, scooters, and roller blades are not allowed on the school bus.
- Students are permitted to leave the bus only at their designated stops. Any changes require a parent/legal guardian's written request, approved by a school administrator and by Transportation.
- Students are permitted to ride only in their assigned bus. Exceptions (for emergencies only) must be requested in writing by the student's parent or legal guardian and be approved by a school administrator.
- Keep the bus clean and free of damage.
If you have questions or need any additional information, please call the our Transportation Director, Steve Gardener, at the Transportation office (970) 285-5700 ext. 5130.
For bus routes, please click on the link below:
Upcoming Events
Community Corner
We can't wait to have our students back!
-Public Information & Grant Coordination