Black Lagoon author visits Sand Creek kids
Creator of the Black Lagoon book series, Mike Thaler, visited
with local students at Sand Creek Elementary while in town for the
44th annual Colorado International Reading Association Conference
on Literacy.
Thaler is considered one of the most creative forces in
children’s literature today. He travels throughout the world
helping children and teachers create their own stories, riddles and
books.
Local Farmers Insurance Agent, Todd Kirsch, along with first
grade teacher, Andrea Zeorlin, brought Thaler in to present a
highly interactive assembly featuring cartooning and teaching a
simple riddle making method called Magic Letter Riddles.
Ranch’s Carroll earns spot on dean’s list
Highlands Ranch resident Aidan Carroll, a Northeastern
University student majoring in mechanical engineering, was recently
named to the university’s dean’s list for the fall semester 2010,
which ended in December 2010.
Riggert places on honor roll at Wyoming
Meghan Kathleen Riggert, of Highlands Ranch, was named to the
fall 2010 provost’s honor roll at the University of Wyoming.
Northridge team takes first place in Brain Bowl
The sixth grade Discovery Program team from Northridge
Elementary School in Highlands Ranch took first place at the 2011
Colorado/Wyoming Optimist Brain Bowl – Central Region Tournament
Feb. 5 at Overland High School in Aurora. The team was led by
Deanna Steele and team members include Jarom Edwards, Alex Mickus,
Colin Rardin, Sierra Roth, SunHee Seo and Jack Vasquez.
The Northridge Discovery team competed against twenty sixth
grade teams to earn first place. For more information on the
competition, visit http://www.optimistbrainbowl.org/.
Jessica Whiting earns 4.0 grade-point average
Jessica Whiting, 18, of Highlands Ranch, was recognized as a top
student at Palm Beach Atlantic University, in West Palm Beach, Fla.
At the completion of her fall semester as a freshman, Whiting was
named to the president’s list, which honors students who maintained
a 4.0 grade-point average. Whiting sica is majoring in elementary
education and hopes to return to Colorado after completing her
degree requirements in 2014.
Denver Art Museum to display student work
The following students will have their Gold Key Scholastics
winning artwork displayed through March 11 at the Denver Art
Museum: Laura Trehal of Castle View High School; Conner Cunningham
and McManus Hand of Chaparral High School; Claire Stasiemicz of
Highlands Ranch High School; Jonathan Metheny and Adam Adkins of
Mountain Vista High School; London Nuzman and Connor Hartman of
Ponderosa High School; and Justin Brown, Nicolette Tiongson and
Hailey Rich of ThunderRidge High School.
Acres Green art teacher receives leadership award
Judy Ahlbrecht was awarded the Marion Quin Dix Leadership Award
at the Annual Colorado State Art Educator Conference. This award is
given in recognition of an individual who gives outstanding service
and contributions to the art profession by a state association
officer in the performance and/or development of specific programs,
goals, or activities at the state association level. Ahlbrecht has
served CAEA (Colorado Art Educator Association) directly through
her work as Elementary Representative, ArtSource Content and
Organization and co-chair, and currently serves as secretary. Her
contributions to DCSD include Art Study Team, in-service committee,
curriculum council, and art show committees. Her work at the state
level includes involvement in Think 360: Arts Complete Education
(formerly known as Colorado Alliance for Arts Education).
Rocky Heights chosen as school of character
Rocky Heights Middle School has been chosen as a State School of
Character for the third year in a row. It is one of only three
schools in the state to earn the honor. State Schools of Character
are schools that are deemed to actively promote character
education. This is achieved by practicing a proactive approach to
helping students socially, emotionally, and ethically, in their
development, by teaching them how to do, and be, their best in a
positive atmosphere. At Rocky Heights, the character education
motto is R.O.K.: Respect, Own it, and be Kind. These core values
are at the heart of Rocky Heights’ culture.
Rocky Heights will be recognized in June by the Character
Education Partnership. In addition, Rocky Heights has been selected
for consideration as a National School of Character.
Mountain Ridge wins stock market game
Mountain Ridge Middle School participates in the Stock Market
Game every spring and fall. This fall, Mountain Ridge students took
first and third places in the middle school division. Students win
cash prizes and are also invited to an awards ceremony in May at
the Denver Zoo. The first-place team included Cutler Patierno, Jae
Lee, Gabe Rodriquez, Linsey Stroud, Tyler Cagle, Cameron Desmond,
Zak Fason. The third-place team included Liam Ransom, Brandon
Wildt, Chad Forrest and Jenny Brenner.
Mountain Ridge student joins CU honor band
Celeste Landy auditioned for the University of Colorado Middle
School Honor Band. She sat third chair flute at her Feb. 26 concert
in the University of Colorado’s Mackey Auditorium.
Bear Canyon students complete service projects
The students of Bear Canyon Elementary have been busy
participating in a number of community service projects. In the
past two months, students, classes, groups, and families have
collected more than 70 bags of holiday gifts for the annual
Adopt-a-Family project, donated dozens of coats to local shelters,
collected and sent boxes of comfort items to U.S. Troops overseas,
and brought in more than 1,700 stuffed toys for the Giving Tree
sponsored by Girl Scout Troop 1951. Additionally, a “pajama day”
organized by the school’s student leadership council raised $1,100
for ongoing Haitian relief projects, and donations to the
“Jump-Rope for Heart” program will exceed $4,000.
Northridge Discovery students win Brain Bowl
Jarom Edwards, Alex Mickus, Colin Rardin, Sierra Roth, SunHee
Seo and Jack Vasquez placed first in the Optimist Brain Bowl. The
Northridge Elementary team was among a field of 23 sixth-grade
teams that competed Feb. 5. This all-day event is loosely modeled
after the GE College Bowl television program and questions put
every team member’s expertise to work. Subjects cover knowledge
learned in the classroom and in the community. Brain Bowl is an
academic competition open to middle school students in Colorado and
Wyoming sponsored by the Optimist Club of Colorado and Wyoming.