By Mr. Griffin, Principal
On Monday, December 3rd, members of the Dennison/D’Evelyn 6th Grade Task Force presented to interested community members about their proposal for addressing 6th grade offerings between the two schools. A recording of the Dennison/D’Evelyn 6th Grade presentation is available for your review.  The Task Force was comprised of administrators, parents, and teachers from both schools, as well as Jeffco Schools community superintendents responsible for supporting each school.
 
During a collaborative process that began in the Fall of 2017, Task Force members discussed and deliberated on an array of issues to reach their ultimate recommendation.  Based upon those deliberations, the Task Force recommends the following transition and timeline for 6th grade between Dennison and D’Evelyn.

• For the 2019-2020 school year, there will be no changes to the grade enrolled at either Dennison or D’Evelyn
• For the 2020-2021 school year, both Dennison and D’Evelyn will offer 6th grade classes
• For the 2021-2022 school year, Dennison Elementary will become a K-5 program, and D’Evelyn will become a 6-12 program

 
This conclusion was reached by the Task Force, but also in consideration of the community survey shared with families, faculty, and staff from both schools in the Fall of 2018.  While the feedback in the survey showed mixed results, it was clear that both communities are sincerely committed to sustaining a strong K-12 academic program between the two schools and ensuring excellent academic opportunities for our 6th grade students.
 
The Task Force reached the conclusion to support the aforementioned proposal, in the interest of maintaining the quality option school programs offered at Dennison and D’Evelyn.  The Task Force acknowledged that Dennison Elementary is an amazing school with outstanding student achievement for many years.  In addition, the Task Force considered changes in enrollment trends at both Dennison and D’Evelyn, as well as the value of minimizing transitions between different schools for students in 5th-8th grade.  
 
The D’Evelyn stakeholders are committed a thoughtful, collaborative approach to developing the specifics our new 6th grade program, and will work closely with Dennison administrators, faculty, and community members to ensure that we start an excellent 6th grade program at D’Evelyn.  The Task Force and D’Evelyn Steering Committee have supported and approved the content shared in the presentation on December 3rd, which provides an overview for how D’Evelyn plans to meet the academic, personal, and social-emotional needs of our new 6th graders.  
 
To clarify any questions or concerns regarding the enrollment and lottery process, please note that throughout this proposed transition, students that complete their elementary career at Dennison will continue to be granted automatic enrollment at D’Evelyn.  
            
The Jeffco Schools Board of Education will consider the proposal in January/February 2019 and have the ultimate authority to approve the proposal.  The proposal includes a request for additional construction of new classroom space for 6th graders at D’Evelyn.  The design of the building and program will be dedicated to ensuring that 6th grade students have a structured, supportive environment that meets their academic, developmental, and social emotional needs.
 
To learn more about the proposal, we encourage you to watch the presentation from Monday, December 3rd night.  As more information is developed, and opportunities for community engagement arise, the D’Evelyn administration is committed to providing timely updates to all community members.

The weeks between Thanksgiving and Winter Break offer D’Evelyn students, faculty, staff, and families many opportunities to attend extracurricular events to support our students.  While it is a busy time of the school year, it is also an important time for us to come together as a community and celebrate the great achievements of our students. Please join me and our administration in attending the various upcoming student events.
 
The D’Evelyn Winter Sports competitive season began this week.  The boys’ and girls’ basketball teams have already participated in their first tournaments, and the girls swim & dive team had their first meet over the weekend.  There are many more competitions for all three programs between now and Winter Break.

• Boys’ basketball team hosts defending 4A state champion Longmont High School on Tuesday 12/4 at 7 pm.
  
• Girls’ basketball team is hosting its own tournament Wednesday 12/5, Friday 12/7, and Saturday 12/8.
  
• Girls’ swim & dive team will have its second meet of the season on Friday 12/7 at 4 pm at the Ridge.
  

 
For families interested in keeping tabs on the schedules and other happenings of D’Evelyn athletic programs, there are several valuable online resources available for your access.
 
The D’Evelyn Athletic Calendar captures information on competitions for all programs at all levels in the
school.  You can access this calendar through the school website, or the Jeffco Sports
Calendar.
 
D’Evelyn teams, along with other programs in Colorado, utilize MaxPreps to organize and publish pertinent
information about their programs.  You can visit the D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School landing page to get more information on all our programs on MaxPreps.
 
Additionally, D’Evelyn performers have many opportunities to show their talent and skills on the stage in the next few weeks.  I hope that many of you had the chance to see our state champion D’Evelyn Marching Band perform during the 9News Parade of Lights last weekend.  For those looking for even more opportunities to watch D’Evelyn musicians shine, we have plenty of performances in store.
 
On Thursday, December 6th, the D’Evelyn junior high instrumental and vocal musicians will put on their 2018 holiday concert in the Auditorium at 7 pm.  We are fortunate to have such strong musical programs for junior high students, and it is an annual highlight to watch both groups of students come together to perform for the holidays.
 
On Tuesday, December 11th and Wednesday, December 12th, the D’Evelyn senior high instrumental and vocal musicians will perform their 2018 holiday concert in the Auditorium at 7 pm.  Our high school musicians have been working diligently to offer an outstanding holiday performance.
 
Please join other members of the D’Evelyn community in support and recognition of these hard-working, talented students.  We are fortunate to have rich and robust athletic and extracurricular opportunities for D’Evelyn students, both in junior and senior high school.  
 
Thank you for your ongoing support of D’Evelyn students.  I am personally immensely grateful for the opportunity to lead this great school and look forward to seeing many of these events in the upcoming weeks.

I am encouraged and impressed by the positive impact that Rachel’s Challenge has already made in the D’Evelyn community, and I look forward to witnessing the short-term and long-term benefits of this powerful program.
 
As the leader of the school, I felt challenged along with the students, faculty, staff, and families that participated in the Rachel’s Challenge events over the course of the week.  It gave me an opportunity to reflect on areas of my own life, both personal and professional, where I can pay additional attention and dedicate extra energy towards positive interactions with everyone in my life - family, friends, colleagues, and D’Evelyn students and families.
 
With that in mind, I accept the five components of Rachel’s Challenge, as follows:

1. Look for the best in others
2. Dream Big
3. Choose positive influences
4. Speak with kindness
5. Start my own chain reaction of goodness

There are many ways that I can incorporate these important actions into my daily life and work, and I look forward to the continued opportunities to do so.  It is my sincere belief that with all individual community members focused on these positive daily actions, our community will continue to grow stronger, and more supportive and engaging for all.
 
One important distinction that our Rachel’s Challenge presenter made really struck me.  He noted that while in the pursuit of Rachel’s Challenge, it is important to know that the challenge is not about being perfect all the time.  Considering the essential function of our school - to support the development of the hearts and minds of D’Evelyn students - I found that statement to be particularly empowering and uplifting.
 
D’Evelyn students are the future leaders of our communities - they are future parents, spouses, partners, workers, business owners, church members, and politicians.  As a school community, and as outlined in the D’Evelyn Founding Document, it is our shared responsibility to help our students grow up to contribute positively to their communities in the future, no matter what that future holds.  
 
Please join me and the D’Evelyn faculty, staff, and administration, and discuss Rachel’s Challenge as a family, taking the opportunity to start your own chain reaction.  We are all working to encourage, support, celebrate, and at times, correct, our students in their pursuit of an excellent education that will prepare them for a happy, full, and enriching life.  I am confident that the message of Rachel’s Challenge provides our students the proper foundation to consider the power and magnitude of their individual daily words and actions.

I am honored to share with you that we will be hosting Rachel’s Challenge on Wednesday, October 24th and Thursday, October 25th at D’Evelyn.  Rachel’s Challenge is an organization started in memory of Rachel Scott, the first victim in the tragic Columbine shooting in 1999. In honor of Rachel’s life, Rachel’s Challenge was organized with a mission of “awakening individual transformation and promoting safer, more connected schools”, and the vision of seeing “a school free from harassment, bullying, and violence where teachers are free to teach, and students are awakened to learn.”

Each year, Rachel’s Challenge visits more than 1,200 schools and reaches 1.5 million people.  The program is designed to encourage all community members to engage in random acts of kindness and compassion.  We are fortunate to have this great resource available to all D’Evelyn students, faculty, staff, and families on October 24th and October 25th.

On October 24th, all D’Evelyn students & faculty will engage in the Rachel’s Challenge assembly in our Main Gymnasium.  The assembly will replace the time generally allocated for 7th hour, and we will follow a modified bell schedule throughout the day.  On October 25th, during 7th hour, student leaders and faculty/staff members will have a chance to receive additional leadership training.

Additionally, on October 25th, D’Evelyn students, staff, and families are invited to attend the Rachel’s Challenge Community Event presentation at D’Evelyn at 6:30 pm, so that they can learn more about this important message and begin to act throughout our school community.  We encourage interested families to attend this community event to learn more about the program.

To learn more about Rachel’s Challenge, I encourage you to visit their website.

The D’Evelyn Founding Document states, “All students, staff and parents will be expected to maintain a behavior standard that demonstrates respect for authority, others, and self. Responsibility, honesty, self-control, kindness and fairness will be encouraged and expected.”  There is an important message within this statement - D’Evelyn was designed to help prepare students for life, to be good people, hard workers, and contributing members in their respective communities. It is my sincere belief that the message and actionable elements of Rachel’s Challenge will very much help both students and adults in the D’Evelyn community embrace the importance of kindness and compassion in their life.

Thank you for your support of this important event.  I appreciate you talking with your children about this program and emphasizing your support that our students attend this event with attention and an open mind.  As an administration, we are confident that this training can be a great starting point in building an even stronger, more supportive community at D’Evelyn.