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Written by: Josh Griffin, Principal Thank you to our students, teachers, staff, and families for a great school year. Throughout the year, we faced many challenges, and frequent changes, and I am so grateful to all of our community members for their respective efforts to make this school year a success. I am particularly grateful to our students and families for maintaining a focus on learning in spite of the challenges associated with the pandemic. On behalf of the D’Evelyn faculty, staff, and administration, I wish you and your family an outstanding summer. I hope that it is a great opportunity to rest, relax, and recharge for our students and families. With the ongoing easing of Covid-19 related restrictions, I hope that you will all enjoy a return to more typical personal, social, and professional activities over the course of the summer. Have a great summer. Thank you to our departing faculty/staff members We have a number of faculty and staff members departing the D’Evelyn community at the conclusion of this school year. I am forever grateful to the following individuals for their service and dedication to D’Evelyn students and families. Please join me in congratulating the following individuals that will be moving on from D’Evelyn to new opportunities and/or retirement. Valerie Schreiber, Financial Secretary Brenna Bushey, Full-Time Guest Teacher Kathy Hays, Registrar/Counseling Secretary Micaela Johnson, 6th Grade Counselor Trevor Zonnefeld, 6th Grade Teacher Tim Schmeckpeper, Assistant Principal Deb Pruit, Math Teacher Terry Carlson, Math Teacher Jennifer Tompkins, English Teacher Pierre Habel, Latin Teacher Whether here for one or two years, or 25 years, these teachers and staff members have made a huge impact in our school community. Thank you for your service! D’Evelyn Construction & Ground Breaking Ceremony This summer, D’Evelyn will undergo significant construction and improvements. Primarily, the Main Office, front entrance, and current instrumental music classroom will be renovated this summer. In addition, the construction of the new sixth grade wing will begin, with completion in Fall 2022 as the established timeline. As a result of the Main Office renovation, our administration and office staff will be working under unique circumstances, and at times, we will be working remotely. Thank you in advance for your patience over the summer. When our office staff is working in the summer, we will maintain office hours from 8 am - 2 pm. D’Evelyn Groundbreaking - New 6th Grade Wing D’Evelyn Jr/Sr High School officially broke ground on its new wing on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. It is scheduled to open August 2022 and will accommodate D’Evelyn’s 6th grade class as well as a new music department. The D’Evelyn Marching Band kicked off the event by playing, “Just Dance”, “Sweet Caroline”, and the D’Evelyn Fight Song.  We have arrived at this point as the result of the hard work, dedication, and contributions of many people. It was great to have a ceremony commemorating the groundbreaking, and to have many influential people in this process represented.  Among the countless individuals that have contributed to the initiation of the 6th grade program and the upcoming construction of the new wing, I am grateful to the following groups and individuals for their dedication to and support of this project.
We were fortunate to be joined at the ceremony by Mr. McMillen, Mr. Cohan, and Ms. Susan Miller (Jeffco Schools Board of Education), and Tim Reed (Executive Director of Facilities for Construction), along with representatives of the Steering Committee and Education Foundation.  Thank you to DEF Board members Ralph Spencer and Kay D’Evelyn Montagne, along with numerous members of the D’Evelyn High School Marching Band, for their participation in literally breaking the ground!   It was an exciting occasion, and one important step in the completion of this important building addition. In addition to more permanent classroom facilities for the D’Evelyn 6th grade students, we will add new classroom space for Art, PE, and Instrumental Music. These are important upgrades and improvements to support both our current and future students.
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Written by: Josh Griffin, Principal Class of 2021 Graduation Congratulations to the D’Evelyn Class of 2021! It was a pleasure to recognize these brand new D’Evelyn graduates in our ceremony at Jeffco Stadium on Saturday, May 22nd. I am so proud of these young adults, as they formally exit our school community and move onto the next phases in their lives. The Class of 2021 has been acutely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and I have consistently been impressed by their collective resolve to pursue academic and personal success, all while making the best of the challenging circumstances of the past 14 months. I know that they will continue to thrive as citizens and scholars as they move on to the next chapters in their lives. End of 2020-2021 School Year Best wishes to all D’Evelyn students on a successful conclusion of this school year. I am grateful to all of our students for the determination and resolve they have shown during this school year. I appreciate what they have done to ensure that we stay focused on learning and development. We look forward to a great last week with regular classes on Monday 5/24 and Tuesday 5/25, and Final Exams on Wednesday 5/26 and Thursday 5/27. Final Exam Schedule:  *Lunches will not be served during finals.
*There will be afternoon bus transportation on Wednesday 5/26, but NOT on Thursday 5/27 Honors Coursework Update In the May 17th Steering Committee meeting, with the approval of Jeffco Schools leadership, the D’Evelyn S/C approved the Honors Coursework proposal I presented on May 3rd. If you would like to review the approved proposal, you can do that here. The Honors Coursework plan is the result of the two-year process resulting from the passage of CU-06 and CU-06R by the Steering Committee in May 2019. Below, please find several key points of the adopted plan: · Based upon a thorough course review process completed by D’Evelyn faculty members, 11 D’Evelyn High School courses have been approved to be renamed as “Honors” courses. · These recommendations are based upon the manner in which courses are currently taught - there will be no changes associated with the honors designation next year to the 11 courses · The renaming of courses will occur in the 2021-2022 school year, and as such will be reflected in students schedules for the new school year, and on student transcripts beginning with the 2021-2022 school year · Honors courses will be weighted on a 4.5-point scale · The Honors coursework implementation offers D’Evelyn students a significant increase in access to advanced coursework. · CU-06 and CU-06R have been modified to reflect the upcoming implementation of Honors coursework. · The D’Evelyn Steering Committee will monitor the effectiveness and impact of the implementation of CU-06 and CU-06R going forward The adoption of this updated policy and its implementation represents the conclusion of a lengthy, challenging 2-year period in our school. As principal, I am focused on the successful implementation of this policy, and look forward to putting the tumultuous process towards increasing Honors coursework in our school behind us. As a community, we need students, teachers, staff, and families working together to the best interests of all D’Evelyn students, and I am confident that going forward, we will be able to do that more effectively with this plan in place. Thank you for your continued and ongoing support of D’Evelyn, particularly during this 2020-2021 school year. I wish you and your family the very best in concluding the year. Written by: Josh Griffin, Principal
On Thursday, we bid farewell to the D’Evelyn Class of 2021, as the members concluded their respective D’Evelyn tenures with the last day of in-person learning for the 2020-2021 school year. Please join me in congratulating these outstanding young adults as they quickly approach graduation and move into their postsecondary lives. In addition to their remarkable academic, athletic, and extracurricular achievements over the past six years, the D’Evelyn Class of 2021 is comprised of extraordinary young men and women who have persevered through a challenging past 15 months. This year, we have talked a lot about what has been lost- in-person learning, social opportunities, important rites of passage, athletic and extracurricular opportunities - the list goes on. I am proud of the determination, perseverance, and grit demonstrated by all of our students this year, but particularly our seniors, who sadly had to conclude their high school careers in uncertain and uniquely challenging conditions. These students have worked hard and overcome obstacles rarely encountered by their predecessors. I am both hopeful and optimistic that the trials and tribulations of the Covid-19 pandemic will ultimately have a positive formative impact on our graduates. While the terms and conditions of this recent experience have been difficult, I have admired the skills and temerity developed by our students. I am impressed by our students’ shared sense of resolve, flexibility, and commitment to supporting others during this difficult year. While we have all made sacrifices to account for the Covid-19 pandemic, it is my sincere belief that we will rise stronger both as individuals and as a community. Congratulations to the D’Evelyn Class of 2021. You are an awesome group of young people, a dedicated group of scholars, and great young citizens. I know that, wherever your future may take you, you will be well-prepared to lead happy, fully, and successful lives. I look forward to the many great experiences and successes that lay ahead of each of you. As a community, we look forward to celebrating these outstanding graduates in the D’Evelyn Class of 2021 Graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 22nd. Written by: Josh Griffin, Principal
As we wrap up the fifth week in our 100% in-person learning model, and approach the conclusion of the school year, I am grateful to our students, teachers, staff, and families for continuing to sustain their energy and commitment to learning during this school year. I wish all of our students the very best in the final few weeks of school as we wrap up the 2020-2021 school year. The end of this school year will be very busy and exciting in our community. Please review the following updates, reminders, and announcements as we prepare for the end of the year. Virtual Award Ceremony - May 2021 Congratulations to the D’Evelyn students recognized in our virtual junior high and senior high awards ceremonies this week. This has been a challenging school year in so many ways, and I am proud of our students' hard work, dedication, and perseverance. For those students recognized for excellence in the 2021 virtual awards ceremony, you have exemplified the ideals of scholarship and outstanding citizenship throughout the 2020-2021 school year. Congratulations to these outstanding students! East Parking Lot I expect that by next week, Himmelman Construction will have an ongoing presence in the D’Evelyn East Parking Lot to support their work on additions and renovations at D’Evelyn. These projects will begin this summer. Once the construction crews set up in the parking lot, we know that there will be a notable reduction in parking spaces on the east side of campus, and traffic/congestion for pick-up will be higher. With this in mind, I encourage families to consider using the curb/sidewalk along Nassau Avenue (southside of the school) for both drop-off and pick-up of your students throughout the duration of the school year. We ask that families NOT use the circle drive outside the Main Entrance. Additionally, for extracurricular activities on campus after school hours, I encourage guests to park along Nassau Ave. or in the west parking lot for these events. End of year for the Class of 2021 As shared in School Messenger on the afternoon on Friday, May 7th, we have made the decision to end in-person learning for D’Evelyn seniors on Thursday, May 13th. This decision will increase the odds that members of the Class of 2021 will be able to attend their graduation ceremony on May 22nd. For more information about this change in plans for the end of year for seniors, please review this letter. Please note - there are no changes to the end of year plans for D’Evelyn students in grades 6-11. Health & Safety Reminders Since our return to 100% in-person learning, we have observed an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases within our community, and as a result, a significant increase in the number of individuals placed into quarantine. I understand that placement into quarantine, especially during this very busy and exciting time in our school year, can be disappointing, upsetting, and disruptive for our students and families. With that said, please know that we are obligated to honor guidelines for quarantining as established by Jefferson County Public Health. When we are notified of a positive case, our staff is responsible for identifying exposed individuals that meet the criteria for quarantine and notify those students/families. We have worked as an administrative and health team to provide this information in a timely, straightforward manner, and will continue to reflect upon and revise our approach as needed. It is my expectation that when we are working through the quarantine process, students, teachers, staff, and families are working together to not only honor the guidelines of the quarantine process, but to do so in a respectful, productive manner. I expect our staff to be courteous and respectful in their correspondence, and I expect the same from our students and families. The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted us in many ways, and continues to be disruptive. I know that we can all agree that we are ready to put the Covid-19 pandemic behind us. As we proceed through the pandemic, however, please maintain respectful communication between all parties as we work to keep all D’Evelyn students, staff, and families healthy and safe. Vaccine update - for your consideration in planning for the remainder of the year and the 2021 summer, please note that under current guidelines, fully vaccinated students that are exposed to Covid-19 positive individuals at school are exempt from quarantine. As you consider the vaccine as an option for your student, I hope that this information is helpful in your planning and decision-making. I hope that you all enjoyed a nice weekend. Best wishes on a successful last week of in-person learning for our Class of 2021. We are proud of you and know that a bright future awaits! Written by: Josh Griffin, Principal
US News & World Report Top High Schools - 2021 D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School was recognized this week as the #1 public high school in Colorado and #67 in the United States by US News & World Report. Congratulations are in order for D’Evelyn students, faculty, staff, and families - you all play an important role in the success of our school in these rankings. In addition to the rich liberal arts curriculum and school philosophy outlined in the D’Evelyn Founding Document, the hard work and dedication of our students, faculty, and staff, and support and engagement of D’Evelyn parents and families are all integral in the success of our school. These rankings are based upon college readiness, math and reading performance, underserved student performance, AP test participation and performance, and graduation rates. To view the national rankings and learn more about the selection methodology, please visit the US News & World Report website. National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 3 - May 7, 2021 This upcoming week, we recognize our teachers at D’Evelyn, and around the county, state, and nation, in the 2021 National Teacher Appreciation Week. Please join me in thanking and recognizing our outstanding teachers this upcoming week. We will honor our teachers throughout the week in school, but encourage students and families to reach out to thank teachers throughout the course of the week as well. We are fortunate to have a knowledgeable, dedicated, and passionate group of teachers, committed to providing a rich liberal arts education to all D’Evelyn students. I am grateful to our teachers particularly this year, as they have navigated the challenges associated with the Covid-19 with determination and perseverance during this difficult season in our lives. AP Exams Good luck to D’Evelyn students completing AP exams between Monday, May 3 and Tuesday, May 18. We know that you have worked hard all year and prepared diligently for these exams. Best wishes on a successful performance on these important year-end assessments. Covid-19 Updates This is a republished version of a letter sent via School Messenger to all families on Friday, April 30th. In the past four weeks since we returned to the 100% in-person learning model, we have seen an increase in the number of students testing positive for Covid-19, and as a result, a significant increase in the number of students placed in quarantine due to exposure to individuals that test positive for Covid-19. The end of the school year is an exciting, important, and busy time in all ways for our students, teachers, and community members. We have important final weeks of school, spring sports, end-of-year musical performances, AP examinations, and important events for our seniors, the most important being Graduation. We know that missed time in school, athletics, extracurricular activities, and important rites of passage have a negative impact on our students. Nonetheless, we are still working within the quarantine model as established by the school district. With the health and interests of our students, staff, and community members in mind, we want to be able to provide full access to all important events in our school in the month of May. Based upon my observations of the Covid-19 pandemic, its impact on our schools, and the quarantine process, one of the most important, impactful ways our students, staff, and families can help us in this endeavor is to stay home when exhibiting any symptoms of Covid-19. We understand the challenge of missing school days or important events, but by doing so when exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19, I expect that in the long run, students will miss fewer events. This school year, we have the benefit of a remote learning option available for students to utilize on days when they are sick or not feeling well. This is an important support available for students that makes it easier to miss school for one or more days. Thank you for your partnership and support as we seek to end this challenging school year on a positive note for all of our students. Throughout the course of this pandemic, our students, teachers, and families have been engaged, supportive, and flexible - I appreciate you all greatly. Further, I am grateful for your continued vigilance in ensuring students are staying home when they feel or show signs of any of Covid-19. Written by: Josh Griffin, Principal
I hope that the past week went well for your student and family, and that our juniors and seniors had a great time at Prom on Saturday. I am thrilled that we were able to offer this opportunity to our students and grateful to the parent volunteers, students, and school staff responsible for making this event a great success. As has been custom of late, I have a number of updates for our community in today’s Principally Speaking. Thank you for your thoughtful review of these updates. 2021-2022 Remote Learning Due to the lack of interest, we will not be able to offer and sustain a remote-only option for D’Evelyn students in the 2021-2022 school year. We appreciate the feedback provided by our families. Next week, we will reach out to the families that expressed interest in a remote-only option for the 2021-2022 school year to formally notify them of the decision. Most importantly, we will work with families to determine the best next steps on a case-by-case basis. We appreciate your support and engagement in our process with remote learning this year, but we are unable to sustain the remote option for our students going forward. On a positive note, we now understand that there is robust and substantial interest in 100% in-person learning from nearly all of our families for next year. We are thrilled to have that level of support, trust, and commitment from our families. Honors Course Review As prescribed by Jeffco Schools administration during the 2019-2020 school year, we are wrapping up the Honors Course Review process for those courses recommended for the Honors designation. In the May 3rd Steering Committee meeting, I will provide a presentation of the recommendation for the Honors Course Review Committee, and on May 4th, I plan to present to the Jeffco Schools leadership team, as outlined in the process established by Chief of Schools, Kristopher Schuh, in the 2019-2020 school year. The Honors Course Review process has been lengthy and at times divisive. I am optimistic that we will reach a solid conclusion that will best support the educational outcomes and interests of all D’Evelyn students. I am grateful for the engagement and patience that has been demonstrated by our students, families, and faculty/staff during this lengthy process, and I look forward to a final determination for our school community entering the 2021-2022 school year. For those interested in the updates regarding Honors coursework at D’Evelyn, I encourage you to virtually attend the May 3rd Steering Committee meeting, which begins at 4:30 pm. Links for streaming the meeting can be accessed via the D’Evelyn Steering Committee website. DEF Annual Campaign The D’Evelyn Education Foundation is currently engaged in the second round of the annual campaign for this school year. DEF annually invests substantial funds to support the learning, athletic, and extracurricular endeavors of our students, as well as scholarships for D’Evelyn students and teachers. In just over three weeks, the DEF will honor the members of the Class of 2021 with over $20,000 in scholarships/awards to support them in their postgraduate studies. DEF is a crucial organization in support of the interests and wellbeing of D’Evelyn students. I ask current and former D’Evelyn families to consider supporting the campaign this year, which specifically supports the building improvements, athletic & extracurricular programs, and scholarship funds that directly support D’Evelyn students, teachers, and staff. It is easy to donate online at this link, and no donation is too small! Please consider this opportunity to support D’Evelyn students! Final Exams for 6 - 11 for the 2nd semester 2020-2021 We have adjusted our 2020-2021 second semester final exams schedule to account for the unique needs of this school year. This year, D’Evelyn students (excluding the Class of 2021 who will have already graduated) will complete final exams on Wednesday, May 26th (periods 6, 5, and 4) and Thursday, May 27th (periods 3, 2, and 1). Thursday, May 27th will be the last day of school for all students in grades 6 - 11. For 6th grade students, please note that the 6th grade team is designing a unique finals week schedule for those students. The 6th grade teacher team will communicate directly with students and families about plans for final exams. Written by: Josh Griffin, Principal
SAT & PSAT Thank you and congratulations to the D’Evelyn juniors, sophomores, and freshmen for the successful completion of the SAT and PSAT exams this week. We appreciate your commitment to success on these exams and look forward to receiving results in the next few weeks! 2021-2022 remote learning As shared via School Messenger on Tuesday, April 13th with our community, and in an email correspondence with all incoming families, we are offering D’Evelyn families considering remote only learning for their child(ren) in the 2021-2022 school year one last opportunity to share that interest with D’Evelyn administration. If you are interested in remote-only learning next year, please complete the following survey. Please note that at this time, due to very limited interest, it is unlikely that we will be able to offer remote-only classes next school year. If you are NOT interested in remote-only classes for your student next year, please do not complete this survey. Link to the 2021-2022 remote learning survey Please submit your response by Monday morning, April 19th. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your student’s assigned administrator or counselor Building Addition Update On April 8th, the Jeffco Schools Board of Education approved the funding for the D’Evelyn 6th grade building addition. We are thrilled with this news, and grateful to the Jeffco Schools administration and Board of Education for their support with the addition of the new D’Evelyn 6th grade program and supporting facilities. Construction will likely begin in early May 2021, with the intention that the new facility is open and ready to support student learning in August 2022. Please note that the east parking lot at D’Evelyn will be impacted with higher traffic and more vehicles at the outset of the construction. I will update the community as I am able regarding this; however, I expect that the construction firm will begin setting up around the first full week of May. I hope that the past weekend and upcoming week are great for you and your families. Best wishes to the juniors and seniors on a great Prom this upcoming weekend! |
AuthorJosh Griffin, Principal Archives
May 2021
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