SCZ Summer Newsletter

From the Desk of Sean Dorsey

This school year has been challenging for students, staff, and parents yet the pandemic has presented opportunities. We are proud of our Sand Creek Zone community. More specifically, our schools and families partnered to do the very best for our learners under difficult circumstances. Moving forward, close partnership among families and schools is what will take the Sand Creek Zone to the next level in providing students with an excellent place to learn.


I want to say thank you to our staff, parents and community members. I very much appreciate everyone’s sacrifice, dedication, and enthusiasm in addressing students’ success in these unprecedented times. We hope to return in August under “standard” learning conditions and until then, it is important to find time this summer to relax, enjoy a break, and spend time with your family. Have an awesome summer! - Sean Dorsey

Student Success

SCHS Celebrates Military Enlistments

At the beginning of May, Sand Creek High School held a military "signing" ceremony to honor our students that have decided to enlist in the Navy, Army and Air Force. This year, SCHS had 21 students make the ultimate commitment to serve our country: 3 to the Army, 2 to the Air Force, and 16 to the Navy. Read and see more photos from this event here.

EES Hosts Kindergarten Jump Start

We are overjoyed at the opportunity to bring our newest wildcats into the building and introduce them to all things Evans! Their JumpStart program will bring incoming kindergarteners into the building for two hours a day from Monday, July 19th through Tuesday, July 27th. They will receive amazing support from our veteran teachers in what it is like to be in kindergarten! Slots are limited, so please sign up using the link below if you are interested in attending and are an upcoming Evans student.


https://forms.gle/UjdfhE2LGhS2Kdp49

Future Grads Celebrate Success

While end of year celebrations may not have been what some expected, our elementary schools were able to celebrate, in their own way, Kindergarten students finishing their first year of school. These students transitioned like the rest and many knew no difference since it was their first school experience. We are excited to see this promising group of students grow through the Zone! To honor this milestone, all Zone Kindergarten students earned a Class of 2033 t-shirt. Congrats future scorpions!

SRES Principal For A Day

Students at Springs Ranch Elementary had the opportunity to challenge themselves to read everyday for at least 30 minutes for the entire month of March, including spring break. The winner of this contest was able to become Principal for a Day! Congratulations to Yusuf Muhammed! He was able to do classroom walkthroughs, sat in leadership meetings and has talked to all classes about being kind, working hard and having a positive attitude.

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Zone Graduates Take Senior Walk

Each year, the current graduating class takes a walk back in time, through the buildings that brought them to where they are today. Seniors traveled to all Zone schools to be role models to younger students so they can strive to get to graduation. The Class of 2021 no only visited each location but also brought mini diplomas for teachers who have made an impact on their lives. This is one of our favorite traditions in the Zone! Congrats to the Class of 2021!

People

SCHS' New Campus Director

We are excited to announce that Amy Sanchez-Martinez is our new Campus Director for Sand Creek High School! Mrs. Sanchez-Martinez joins us with 18 years of teaching, dean, master teacher and administrative experience. Welcome, Amy!


Read more about Amy here: https://www.smore.com/upg95-we-are-pleased-to-announce?ref=email

SCZ Fantastic 49

Four staff members and one student were in the spotlight as D49 leaders and board members celebrated them for their stellar representation of the Sand Creek Zone. The Fantastic 49 awards were presented May 13 before the regular board meeting.


Congratulations to Sadie Russell (RES), Edith Georgas (RES), Lauren Stuart (HMS), Elise Clark (SCHS), and Mary Carter (EES)!

Read more about the event and our honored guests here: https://bit.ly/3u1TCKy

Retirees from the Sand Creek Zone

We wanted to give a shout out to this year's retirees for the Sand Creek Zone! Many have been with us for their entire educational career. You will all be missed!


Carol Hooey (SRES): Carol has spent 19 years in District 49, opening Springs Ranch and 28 years total in education.

Clo Fredrick (RES): Clo has been at Remington for the last 14 years, and has spent 15 years in education.
Bonnie Bonser (RES): Bonne has spent 15 1/2 years at Remington Elementary, and 25 years total in education.

Cheryl Stabler (SRES): Cheryl has been at Springs Ranch for the last 3 years.

Sue Bloyd (SCHS): Sue has spent 21 years at Sand Creek, helping open the school, 7 years at Horizon, and 31 years in education, all in District 49.

Amy Christian (HMS): Amy has worked at Horizon for the last 5 years but has spent 30 years in education.

Audrey Dazey (HMS): Audrey has spent 17 years at Horizon, 20 in District 49, and 38 years in education.

Service

Christmas Unlimited Donates to SCZ

Thank you to Christmas Unlimited for donating school supplies for our students for the upcoming school year! Over 100 boxes of supplies were delivered last week to HMS, RES, and SCHS in preparation for our students for 2021-2022. The company donated hundres of composition books, thousands of pencils, packs of crayons, markers, scissors, calculators, protractors, graph paper and post it notes. We appreciate our community support of our kiddos.
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Innovation & Growth

Cave Simulation at RES

Brett Coddington, PLTW teacher at Remington, brought in a man made cave for students during the last week of school. CaveSim inventor Dave Jackson built the simulator on a 26-foot enclosed trailer as a training course for cave rescue teams, fabricating cavern formations like stalactites, stalagmites and sub caves to enhance the realism. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology educated electrical engineer then partnered with his wife, a Colorado College graduate with a master’s degree in education, to develop the CaveSim classroom experience.


Students completed a series of science labs, expanding their knowledge on a number of topics, including cave-dwelling creatures as large as bats and as small as slime-mold. Students even learned how to build a flashlight using basic supplies like a plastic water bottle. Thank you to Mr. Coddington for bringing this unique opportunity to our students!

Multicultural Night at EES

On May 13th, Evans Elementary hosted its first Multicultural Night. Angelica Marquez, Family Engagement Liaison, hosted the event in the parking lot at EES and worked with local community businesses and groups to create something that encompassed all cultures at Evans. There were tables with activities, food for purchase, dancers and resources available. Thank you to our community partners who made this event a HUGE success!

Castellan Catering

Copy Cat Foods

Killik's Kitchen

Mauna Snoa Ice

Adam & Son Auto Plaza

Mexico El Pire

Manava O Polynesia

Girl Scouts of America

Tiger Rock Martial Arts

One Nation Walking Together

HMS Students Leave Their Mark

Students from Horizon Middle worked on an Art Mural with Art Teacher, Karlie Valor. Not only did students create this lasting piece of artwork for the school but they also learned all sorts of real world skills, like opening paint cans, patching holes, cleaning paint supplies, working together, problem solving, and more.

SCHS “Gearing Up” for Fall 2021

Teachers from the Engineering, Manufacturing, and Technology Department at Sand Creek High School welcomed a brand new, commercial JET vertical mill to the school’s Manufacturing Lab.


The new mill is a step forward in modernizing the lab for the launch of the redefined Manufacturing Pathway. Jason Mackay, lead Manufacturing teacher, developed the new pathway to ensure students can learn to work in machining, metal fabrication, and welding industries by gaining hands on experience with commercial equipment.


Additional equipment has also arrived in time for the Fall 2021 launch. A 1400 pound Computer Numerical Control (CNC) plasma table and water jet cutting system will increase student’s knowledge of modern techniques as they solve engineering and manufacturing problems. The new equipment features integrated computer aided manufacturing (CAM) software and allows for mass production of parts instead of lone pieces.


Read more about this exciting pathway here.

Resources

Check out the newest edition of our Culturally and Linguistically Diverse family newsletter.

Upcoming Events

7/20-22: HMS Back to School Registration

7/21-22: SCHS Back to School Registration

7/30: SRES Open House 3-5pm

8/2: First day for K, 6th and 9th Grade Students | HMS Open House 4:30-6:30pm

8/3: Official first day of school for all students