By: Josh Griffin, Principal
As we wrap up our first week of the 2021-2022 school year, I am so proud of our school community. In our return from both summer break and the challenging 2020-2021 school year, we are off to a great start in our efforts to return to a normal school experience for our students, teachers, staff, and families. While we are just four days into the year, I am very pleased with our start. Thank you to our students - you all adjusted very quickly to our norms and routines as we began the school year. I am grateful to you for your diligence and thoughtfulness as you reacclimate to 100% in-person learning, the standard 6-period school day, and traditional lunch periods. I hope that you enjoyed your first full week of school, and the return to typical learning, athletic, extracurricular, and social activities in our school. Thank you to our teachers and staff. I had occasion to drop-in to approximately 20 classrooms during the course of this week, and the passion, organization, and commitment exhibited in the classrooms was outstanding. Our teachers and staff have made thoughtful, conscientious plans to support our students’ return to school, and I was impressed to see the fruits of their labor. Thank you to our D’Evelyn families. The return to school always calls upon parents and family members to adjust routines and make new plans to support their students. Particularly in this unique school year, I am grateful to you for your continued patience, thoughtfulness, and support for your children, our staff, and our greater school community. All-in-all, we have had an outstanding start to the year, and that is a tribute to our parents and families. As a faculty, staff, and administration, we stand ready to support students that may be struggling with the return to school. As needed, please work directly with your student’s teachers, counselor, support staff, or assigned administrator for additional support. We have enjoyed a great start to the year overall, but I know that individuals may have struggled with the return. If we work together as a team to support a struggling student, the outcome will be far more positive - please do not hesitate to reach out for additional support as needed! My optimism for a great upcoming school year has grown throughout this week. I have observed unique enthusiasm throughout the community for this far more typical year, and look forward to many more great days ahead. This is going to be a great school year! Masks As shared in my School Messenger letter on Monday night, we were surprised to learn of the change in plans for masks in our school. I appreciate the flexibility and accountability to this public health order of our students, staff, and families. I understand that the last minute change can present challenges, but our compliance as a community has been outstanding. As we proceed through the year with this public health order in place, please ensure that your student has at least one mask with them when they arrive at school each day. Based on our observations this week, it may be wise for students to carry a back-up mask as well. For those interested, our school store plans to have masks available again this year for purchase by students and community members. I appreciate your compliance with the mask mandate and your support in encouraging your student(s) to be prepared for school each day with a mask. Back to School Night We look forward to welcoming our D’Evelyn parents/guardians to the 2021 Back to School Night on Thursday, August 26th. We will host a new parent meeting for interested families at 5:30 PM in the auditorium, and a parent meeting for all families at 6 PM in the gym. After the parent meeting in the gym, parents will have a chance to follow the schedule of their child(ren) for six, 10-minute class periods. In these sessions, you will have a chance to meet with your student’s teachers and learn more about their classes and expectations. This is a great opportunity for us to connect (and re-connect) as a community, and will support a sustained strong start to the school year. In order to allow all parents/guardians the opportunity to fully participate in Back to School Night, we ask that families make arrangements for their children to NOT attend the event. This event is designed for parents/guardians, and will be most effective if students do not participate. I look forward to seeing you at Back to School Night. I’ll be walking the halls throughout the evening after my presentation, and will look forward to meeting as many parents as possible. D’Evelyn Dash It is not too late to sign up for the D’Evelyn DASH, held on campus on Saturday, August 28th We encourage our students, families, staff, and community members to participate in this awesome start-of-year community event. It is a great way for our families to gain improved connection within our school community - let’s make this 2021 D’Evelyn DASH the best yet! Your participation will make a big difference in supporting the D’Evelyn Education Foundation, who annually oversees more than $100,000 in commitments to D’Evelyn students and staff. All those interested in participating in this great event can sign up here: https://runsignup.com/Race/CO/Denver/DEvelynDash5K I hope you all have enjoyed a great weekend. Best wishes on an outstanding 2nd week of school starting Monday 8/23. By: Josh Griffin, Principal
Welcome Back! As we look ahead to the start of school on August 17th, I have a great sense of optimism and enthusiasm for the 2021-2022 school year. On Monday, August 9th, we hosted Registration, where 100's of students and families had a chance to connect (or reconnect) with D’Evelyn students and school personnel, and return to our campus. Additionally, this past week, we welcomed back our faculty to begin preparations for the school year. The passion and excitement exhibited over the past few days from students, staff, and families was uplifting and encouraging. I am looking forward to a great school year ahead. Given the impact the pandemic had over the past 18 months in our school community, we understand that it is going to be an adjustment process for our community members in the return to a typical school year. I encourage all parties - students, teachers, staff, and families to maintain open communication and thoughtful teamwork in our shared efforts to ensure the best possible educational experiences for all of our students. Thank you for your partnership in ensuring a successful school year. Our teachers and staff have been hard at work to plan for the return of students on August 17. As we prepare for the year, I encourage students and families to review teacher websites and syllabi, and to begin thoughtful preparations for school year routines as we start the new year. For those interested in reviewing our Jeffco School's Covid-19 protocols, please review last week’s Principally Speaking in the Jaguar Tracks and the Jeffco Schools communication to families that went out on Wednesday afternoon. Below, please find a link with my brief remarks highlighting the key points of our Covid-19 plan as we start the new year. Update regarding Covid-19 protocols Thank you for your partnership as we work to start this new school year on a successful note. We know that the restrictions, limitations, and impediments on our daily school operations are vastly reduced - let’s all work together to ensure that this year is as great as possible for all of our students. The D’Evelyn Education Foundation and the 2021 D’Evelyn DASH We are thrilled to host the 21st annual D’Evelyn DASH, live, in-person, and on-campus on August 28th. The D’Evelyn DASH is an awesome way to kick off the new school year for D’Evelyn students, faculty, staff, and families. In addition to the community 5K/2K walk/run racing options for our community, there will be a high school race featuring nearly 40 area schools, as well as dozens of booths organized by our student clubs, sports teams, sponsors, and organizations. We encourage all D’Evelyn families to participate in this year’s D’Evelyn DASH - it will be a great time! Registration information can be found here: https://runsignup.com/Race/CO/Denver/DEvelynDash5K I am grateful to the volunteers that have worked diligently to organize this great event for our school. The DASH is one of several major annual events organized by the D’Evelyn Education Foundation, an organization responsible for $100,000 - $150,000 per year of funding to support D’Evelyn students, faculty, and staff. In addition to the D’Evelyn DASH, we look forward to your participation and support in the other major fundraising events later this school year: The D’Evelyn Dinner Auction, the D’Evelyn Annual Giving Campaign, and the D’Evelyn Golf Tournament. By participating in or sponsoring the D’Evelyn DASH, you are contributing directly to the 2021-2022 school year budget of the D’Evelyn Education Foundation. This upcoming school year alone, DEF has pledged to fund the following crucial programs in our school: · $15,000 towards college scholarships for members of the D’Evelyn Class of 2022 · $10,000 towards our full weight room renovation, supporting D’Evelyn students in their PE classes and athletic programs · $25,000 towards D’Evelyn Performing Arts programs, including theatre, band, orchestra, and choir · $17,000 towards D’Evelyn athletic programs · $13,000 towards faculty/staff scholarships and recognition events In addition to this year’s specific funding targets, DEF oversees the distribution of over approximately $15,000 in privately funded scholarships and awards, and supports Outdoor Lab tuition assistance, Mock Trial, Steering Committee, Accountability Committee, Junior High Boosters, and Counseling Department programming. Your participation in the DASH provides direct support to DEF and the multitude of student organizations as well as our generous sponsors that will be represented at the DASH. More importantly, it is a great event for our families to attend as we work to return to normalcy with an amazing in-person event to kick-off the new school year. Thank you for your participation in and support of the 2021 D’Evelyn DASH. I look forward to seeing a great turnout of students, families, and staff at this great event! By: Josh Griffin, Principal
On behalf of the D’Evelyn faculty, staff, and administration, please accept my heartfelt welcome back to the 2021-2022 school year. As a community, we are thrilled to start the school year with far more typical operations, allowing our students to thrive in classes, athletics, and activities, while enjoying the crucial social experiences associated with junior and senior high school. The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted each of us in many ways, but I know that our students have been particularly hurt by the loss of in-person learning, extracurricular activities, and social events. Our teachers long for the opportunity to work with their students on a typical, in-person learning schedule. As a parent of two young children myself, I am confident that our parents and families are looking forward to the normal routines and structures associated with our school this year. As a community, we have an important opportunity to support the overall wellbeing, learning, and development of D’Evelyn students with our return to more typical operations. In my estimation, we have a “coincidence of wants” among all of our community members - we all collectively look forward to a return to in-person learning, sports, activities, and social experiences for our students, and the great opportunities that will be associated with our in-person plans for the year. In the spirit of this shared objective, I understand that the Jeffco Schools announcement regarding masks and Covid-19 precautions was met with mixed reviews throughout the district school community. I ask that as a community we continue to embrace the policies and expectations established by D’Evelyn and Jeffco Schools to ensure a safe, healthy, and successful school year. As a brief recap, here are the key points of the Jeffco Schools and D’Evelyn plan for the return to in-person learning for our students:
We appreciate the cooperation and understanding of our students, staff, and families in adhering to these mask guidelines. We expect that all community members will honor the established guidelines, whether masks are required or recommended for the respective individual. Perhaps more importantly, I expect the support of all community members in respecting the mask choices of all students and staff in our school. While individuals may be encouraged to wear masks, we will maintain an inclusive, supportive environment where the choices of those in the “recommended” categories are honored and supported. The purpose of these health and safety protocols is to ensure that disruptions to learning for students are minimized throughout the school year. These precautions will reduce the number of students and staff that are quarantined due to exposure to individuals that are Covid-19 positive, and will reduce the likelihood of individuals or large groups of students missing school for extended periods of time. If we continue to maintain an approach based in teamwork and care for others, this school year will be an even greater success. Below this message, please find the exact copy of the district letter outlining Covid-19 protocols for the start of the school year. I sincerely thank you for your support and adherence to these guidelines as we all work together to have a great school year for our students. I wish your student(s) and family the best with the upcoming school year, and look forward to reconnecting with students and families at Registration on August 9th, Prep School on August 16th, and on the first day of school on August 17th. The entire message from Jeffco Schools regarding Covid-19 protocols to start the 2021-2022 school year is included below: Dear Jeffco Public Schools community, We hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer. We look forward to the new school year, which begins August 17. Here are updates regarding our COVID-related health protocols for the 2021-22 school year. First, we must say congratulations Jefferson County! Our residents are currently at a vaccination rate of nearly 74% of people ages 12 and older with at least one COVID vaccine. We exceeded the county vaccination goal of >70%! While this is great progress, we are weighing changing health guidelines for schools and, as of today, national, state, and local guidance is not aligned. As you read the following, please know our primary goal is to keep students in school as much as possible and maintain a consistent learning environment within each classroom. The following goes into effect on your school’s first day of school, which for most is August 17th. On July 29, Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) released an announcement recommending that all people return to wearing masks indoors regardless of vaccination status. JCPH has also indicated to us they will strictly enforce quarantine guidelines for exposure to COVID, and they have the legal authority to do so. They have indicated they will require quarantines for routine classroom exposure for anyone unvaccinated and not wearing a mask. This has major implications for our students age 11 and under, who are not eligible for the vaccination at this time. Quarantines greatly interrupt learning for healthy children. In order to avoid quarantines of numerous students in any one classroom or school who may have been exposed to a positive case, we will require masks for students ages 3 to 11 (generally PK through 6th grade) in all schools while indoors. Once a student becomes fully vaccinated (currently eligible at age 12 or older) masks are recommended, but not required. If a student has a unique need that prohibits them from wearing a mask, families should contact their school as soon as possible to begin the 504 process or secure their medical or religious exemption. For students age 12 and above (generally 7th through 12th grade), masks indoors are strongly recommended for unvaccinated students, and recommended for vaccinated students in alignment with the guidance from JCPH. Our schools and buildings are mask-friendly environments. Families should be aware they may be contacted by JCPH for the purpose of quarantine if their student is unvaccinated, unmasked, and exposed to COVID. We strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to get the vaccine as soon as possible and if not vaccinated to consistently wear a mask while in school. Do keep in mind, these protocols could change and become more relaxed or restrictive, depending on COVID conditions in our community throughout the school year. While recognizing our number one priority is student health and safety, we also want to maximize in-person learning to the greatest extent by minimizing COVID quarantines and keeping schools open. We will revisit this decision if the case count in our county reduces to 35/100,000 per CDPHE current guidelines and/or the vaccine becomes available for children under age 12. The case count is currently at 77/100,000, an increase of 300% in the last 11 days, so we are not trending in a good direction. In order to also ensure the health and safety of our staff, and avoid staff quarantines that greatly affect our ability to effectively operate schools and the district, all Jeffco Public Schools staff (all schools and departments) will be required to notify the district of their vaccination status by August 16 through our online system in our Employee Self Service (ESS). If a staff member is unvaccinated, they are required to wear a mask indoors at any of our district facilities. It is recommended that vaccinated staff also wear a mask in alignment with the guidance from JCPH. Visitors and volunteers will be welcome at our schools; however, all visitors will be required to wear masks while in our buildings. Our primary goal in making this decision is to maintain an uninterrupted in-person learning experience for our students. We simply cannot take the risk of extensive quarantines and fluctuating attendance which will keep so many healthy students out of school. Again, this decision will be revisited as we observe improvements in our case counts and vaccination status within the county. We are hopeful that a vaccine will be available for all of our students very soon. In addition, we need to be flexible this school year. Changes to operations may occur over time based on county case rates, school-based outbreaks, number of quarantines, and any public health order that may come from our county, state, or federal government. Each Charter school will be communicating their individual specific mask protocols to Charter students and families. SUMMARY • Jeffco Public Schools is strongly encouraging, but not requiring, staff and students to get the COVID-19 vaccination. Those who are fully vaccinated (14 days from their last dose) will not need to be quarantined if exposed. JCPH-hosted vaccine locations can be found here and throughout our county. • Masks are required for students ages 3-11 (generally grades PK-6), unless the student is fully vaccinated (currently eligible to receive a vaccine at age 12 or older). • For students age 12 and above (generally 7th through 12th grade), masks indoors are strongly recommended for unvaccinated students, and recommended for vaccinated students in alignment with the guidance from JCPH. • Staff are required to notify the district of their vaccination status by August 16. Masks are required for unvaccinated staff and recommended for vaccinated staff. • Masks are required for all individuals on school buses under federal order. • Masks are required for all visitors and volunteers in school buildings regardless of vaccination status. • We will continue frequent hand washing and cleaning. • Individuals are encouraged to remain at least 3 feet away from non-household contacts when possible. • Continue to self-monitor using our self-screening tool. Anyone experiencing symptoms should stay home. • When outbreaks occur, Jeffco Public Schools will work with JCPH to determine the appropriate response. This could include masks indoors, additional distancing, testing, contact tracing, and quarantining. • Jeffco Public Schools encourages use of outdoor spaces and fresh air ventilation, such as opening windows and use of box fans. We have made significant improvement over the past year and continuing through this year on our building ventilation systems. More information is available here. Those interested in a 100% online learning environment for 2021-22 may consider attending the Jeffco Remote Learning Program. The enrollment period closes at noon on Thursday, August 12. We will have more updates on other back-to-school components soon, and will communicate with you via our Community Update, social media, and on our website. Please know, there continue to be many moving parts, including expected guidance from CDPHE, following the CDC's announcement earlier this week and then follow up announcements from Jefferson County Public Health. Please stay tuned. Thank you for your continued partnership. We encourage everyone to listen to the recommendations from Jefferson County Public Health so that we can bend the curve downward before school starts. We are #BetterTogether, Jeffco! Jeffco Public Schools 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.
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! Written by: Josh Griffin, Principal
The first week back in the 100% in-person learning model was a great success. It was both refreshing and energizing to see so many students back in school together, enjoying learning and social opportunities on campus. Thank you to the students, teachers, staff, and families for all of your efforts to make the first full week of 100% in-person learning go so well. I am excited that the last several weeks of the 2020-2021 school year will include these greater in-person learning, athletic, extracurricular, and social opportunities for our students. In this upcoming week, D’Evelyn 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students have an important opportunity to demonstrate their learning by way of the scheduled PSAT and SAT tests. The SAT is an important assessment for the college application process, and I am glad we are able to offer our 9th and 10th grade students the opportunity to prepare for the SAT in the future by completing the PSAT. Good luck to the D’Evelyn juniors on the SAT on Tuesday, April 13th. All students in grades 6 - 10 and 12 will participate in synchronous, remote classes on that day. For details on the test administration for SAT, juniors should review this information as provided by Mr. Wille, our D’Evelyn School Assessment Coordinator. Good luck to the D’Evelyn freshmen and sophomores on the PSAT 9 and 10 on Friday, April 16th. All students in grades 6 - 8 and 11 - 12 will have a typical Friday, with asynchronous, remote learning opportunities as provided by their teachers on that day. Details on the test administration for 9th and 10th grade students can be found here. At D’Evelyn, we are fortunate to have enjoyed a rich tradition of outstanding performance on many standardized tests, including the SAT and PSAT. For the past 19 years of statewide administration, D’Evelyn juniors have earned the highest average ACT or SAT scores in the state among all public, non charter schools in Colorado. We recognize that this level of sustained achievement is a great reflection of the hard work and dedication of D’Evelyn students and teachers over many years. The D’Evelyn liberal arts curriculum supports the development of the knowledge and skills necessary to support student success on these nationally-normed standardized tests. While we do not teach specifically to these tests, we are confident that the broad-based, content-rich curriculum our students experience over their years at D’Evelyn is a great foundation for them as they complete their assessments. We wish all students in grades 9, 10, and 11 the very best as they complete the SAT and PSAT next week. Written by: Josh Griffin, Principal
We are excited to welcome back our students for 100% in-person learning on Monday, April 5th. This is an important opportunity for us to restore normalcy and improved learning and social opportunities for our students throughout the duration of this school year. With the excitement associated with the return to in-person learning, we also need to maintain our adherence to important health and safety guidelines to discourage the spread of Covid-19. By doing so, we provide our school the best possible chance of maximizing in-person learning opportunities and increasingly typical operations going forward. Please note that we will continue to follow the same bell schedule, with three class periods and 7th hour each day. Students will continue to either attend lunch/7th hour in the building or from lunch, based upon their choice as we have documented in our Infinite Campus system. Several important reminders/updates for students and families as we prepare to return to greater in-person learning on April 5th: Health Screening starts at home - Students and staff members that are feeling sick or show signs of Covid-19 symptoms should stay home from school. As they are able, students at home can participate in class virtually, a valuable support for students that are not feeling well. Health Screening will continue at D’Evelyn as students/staff arrive - Upon arrival, all students and staff will have their temperatures taken, and be asked health screening questions regarding Covid-19 symptoms. Students with fevers or symptoms of Covid-19 will need to return home. Health Screening throughout the day - If students or staff become ill during the course of the school day, they should report the illness to our Health Aid in the Main Office so that we can make arrangements for ill students and staff to return home for the day until the illness has subsided. Students & staff will continue to wear masks throughout the school day. Students & staff should continue to place an emphasis on frequent hand washing Classrooms will be sanitized between classes - teachers will continue to clean/sanitize desks and surfaces in their classrooms between class periods. Assigned Lunch Areas - for students staying at school for lunch, we will have assigned areas based upon grade level. We will encourage and support outdoor lunch as the weather permits. We ask that students leaving school after the third block do so promptly each day. Staggered arrival and designated pick-up/drop-off locations - To support our process for welcoming students to school, we ask families/students to adhere to the established drop-off schedule and designated pick-up locations outlined in my Jaguar Tracks article last week (linked here for your reference). Additionally, we ask that parents/families pick up students promptly at the conclusion of the 3rd block or 7th hour each day, depending on the student’s chosen schedule. We look forward to the opportunity to welcome back our students for 100% in-person learning. I know that we will have an exciting conclusion to the school year, with many opportunities for continued academic, extracurricular, and social experiences for our students. Written by: Josh Griffin, Principal
I hope that all D’Evelyn students, teachers, staff, and families have an outstanding Spring Break during the upcoming week. Spring Break is an important opportunity for rest, relaxation, and time with loved ones. We know that D’Evelyn students have been working diligently this semester, and I am confident that a break to recharge will support a successful conclusion of the semester. For our teachers and staff, this is an important opportunity to at least briefly step away from work and relax. Finally, we are so grateful for the ongoing support and care of our families, as you all have contributed greatly to the success of this chaotic year. I hope that you all will have more time to spend with your children and families. When we return to school on April 5th, D’Evelyn will be different in ways we haven’t seen since March 2020. We are thrilled to welcome back our in-person students for daily learning Monday - Thursday each week. I am confident that this increase of in-person learning opportunities will support our students personally, academically, and socially. I expect an increase in enthusiasm and engagement forthcoming for our students, and I know that our faculty is excited to see students more frequently in the building. With the significant increase in the number of students in the building each day, as a community, we need to remain focused on important health and safety expectations. It is important that we take appropriate steps and precautions to avoid greater spread of Covid-19 with the return of students to 100% in-person learning. While the proximity of students and teachers will decrease due to the larger number of students in the building, it is important that we honor expectations with masks, continued (albeit limited) social distancing, appropriate hand washing, and health screening. I appreciate the partnership of our parents and families throughout this school year as we have navigated the litany of challenges and limitations associated with the pandemic. As we proceed to the final stretch of this semester, thank you for your continued support in educating and encouraging your child(ren) to sustain the very positive momentum we have established in our school for honoring health and safety guidelines of the time. It is my most sincere hope that you are enjoying (or have enjoyed) the Spring Break. I look forward to the return to school on April 5th with great enthusiasm in the knowledge that we will be a lot closer to normal school operations than we have been in over a year. Thank you for your continued support of our school! Written by: Josh Griffin, Principal
With just one more week of school prior to a well-deserved Spring Break, I hope that this message finds you and your family doing well. As has been the case this semester, we have many important updates/reminders to share with D’Evelyn families, and I hope that you will find the following materials helpful in your planning for next week, next month, and the 2021-2022 school year. CMAS Testing As we have shared in the past few weeks, the week of March 22nd will be an important week of CMAS testing for our students in grades 6-8. In addition to Mr. Wille’s School Messengers he has distributed to our families over the past few weeks, you can review the CMAS schedule in his February 21st Jaguar Tracks article linked to our Jaguar Tracks Administration page. Good luck to our students completing CMAS testing and thank you for giving your best effort on these assessments in the upcoming week. Spring Break Our 2021 Spring Break runs from March 29 - April 2. Especially this year, the break will be an important opportunity for our students, teachers, staff, and families to rest, relax, and enjoy some time off of school. It is my sincere hope that you and your family enjoy a restful and fun Spring Break, finding yourselves recharged for a strong last two months of the 2020-2021 school year. April 5th - 100% in-person learning We are excited to welcome our students back to 100% in-person learning on April 5, 2021. One area where we will need support from students and families is in pick-up and drop-off. Because of the increase in the number of students attending school each day, we will need to return to our scheduled arrival times by family. Below, please find our schedule for drop-off for all days of in-person learning for the duration of this school year. We are grateful to our students and families for your commitment to this schedule, as we expect to be welcoming and health screening more than twice as many students each day as we have been throughout this school year. Thank you in advance for your compliance with this drop-off schedule. Assigned Morning Drop-Off Locations In order to honor health/safety guidelines, and provide time for health screening all students and staff entering the building each day, we will follow these assigned morning drop-off plans: · West Parking Lot Parking & Drop Off is reserved for: o student drivers o students riding with student drivers o 6th grade students riding with older students or in “6th grade only cars” · South Parking Lot (Main Entrance) Drop Off is reserved for: o School bus drop off · East Parking Lot Drop Off is reserved for: o Parents, family, carpool drop off Assigned Drop-Off Times We will have assigned arrival windows for students based upon the first letter of last name as follows: · 7:00 - 7:10 am, students with last names starting with A - Haz · 7:10 - 7:20 am, students with last names starting with He - Pit · 7:20 - 7:30 am, students with last names starting with Pos - Z Students riding in carpools or with student drivers should arrive and enter the school during the assigned time period of the last name of the driver of the car. Assigned Dismissal We will have two dismissal times for students each day as follows: · Students doing 7th Hour and Lunch at home will be dismissed at 12:15 · Students having lunch and 7th Hour at School will be dismissed at 2:30 Pick up locations will mirror drop-off. Student drivers leave the west parking lot, busses will pick up and depart the south lot, and parent/family/carpool pick-up will be in the east lot. 2021-2022 plans Thank you to our families that shared their level of interest in the 100% remote-learning model for the 2021-2022 school year. Earlier this week, we sent a direct communication to all families that completed the survey indicating that due to the very low interest in a remote-only option for the 2021-2022 school year, it is unlikely that we will be able to offer that option for D’Evelyn students next year. For those families that did not receive the direct email, you can view the content of the letter here. As outlined in the letter, due to the low interest in remote-only learning among current and incoming D’Evelyn students for the 2021-2022 school year, it is unlikely that we will be able to offer this program. Nonetheless, we will do one last community outreach in April to ensure that we have an accurate picture of the interest in remote learning for next year. I encourage families that were considering remote-only in 2021-2022 to begin considering their possible options for next year in the event that D’Evelyn does not offer 100% remote learning for students. As noted in the letter, it is my hope that with increasingly positive news regarding the Covid-19 pandemic and vaccine distribution, more of our students will continue to feel comfortable attending school in person next year. I will provide additional updates on our plans for 2021-2022 in upcoming Steering Committee meetings, including the April 5th meeting. In the event that you have concerns or wish to discuss options further, please contact your child’s assigned counselor or administrator. Thank you for your continued and ongoing support during this school year. I am grateful for the steady dedication and support of our students and families. Written by: Josh Griffin, Principal
At the time of this writing, I am looking at weather forecasts calling for 15-to-25 inches of snow in the metro area and western foothills over the weekend. Regardless of the total volume of snow, I hope that you and your family have enjoyed a relaxing, fun, safe, and healthy weekend to the greatest extent possible given the weather forecast. The operations and planning at D’Evelyn are not slowing down with the weather. I hope that the following updates are helpful for you and your family as we quickly move into the last few months of the 2020-2021 school year. CMAS Testing We will be administering CMAS English Language Arts (ELA) and Math testing for junior high students Monday, March 22nd - Thursday, March 25th. As outlined in Mr. Wille’s CMAS schedules, 6th and 7th grade students will complete CMAS ELA on Monday, March 22nd and CMAS Math on Thursday, March 25th. 8th grade students will complete CMAS ELA on Tuesday, March 23rd and CMAS Math on Wednesday, March 24th. From Monday, March 22nd - Thursday, March 25th, students that are NOT completing CMAS tests each day will be participating in remote, synchronous learning in accordance with our established bell schedule. We wish our students the best as they complete these assessments prior to Spring Break. Return to 100% in-person learning on April 5, 2021 We are excited to welcome back our students to 100% in-person learning on Monday, April 5th, the first day after Spring Break. Thank you to the families that completed the change in learning model preference as we prepare for the transition to 100% in-person learning. As a reminder, we will continue the 100% remote option for students throughout this school year. We expect our students to have great enthusiasm and engagement upon a return to a more typical school experience starting on April 5th. However, we are asking for the partnership among our students, teachers, staff, and families, as we know that at times adolescent enthusiasm and health/safety guidelines (including social distancing) do not always correlate. As we prepare for our larger student population in attendance each day, I appreciate all the support that our D’Evelyn parents and families can provide in encouraging responsible, respectful behavior when students are in school and at school events. As we move closer to the official transition back to 100% in-person learning, we will share important details and information regarding our health and safety plans and precautions with our community. 100% remote option for 2021-2022 We are continuing to work and refine the plans for our remote-only option for D’Evelyn students next year. Thank you to those families that completed our remote only survey to let us know that you are considering the remote-only option for next year. This will be helpful in our planning as we proceed with important staffing and course selection decisions. I am grateful for your thoughtful consideration of this important issue for your child(ren). For those interested in learning more about our final plans for this program, I plan to present them to the Steering Committee in the April 5th meeting, which can be attended virtually via Google Meetings. For more information about accessing Steering Committee meetings, please visit the Steering Committee website. After the April 5th meeting, I will share an update more broadly with our community regarding these plans, and ask for a more formal commitment from families seeking the 100% remote option for their students. I hope that you all have enjoyed the weekend. I look forward to the next few weeks going well as we head towards a very well-deserved Spring Break for our students, teachers, staff, and families. |
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