By: Eric McCaslin-Hahn, Assistant Principal, Athletics and Activities Director
Starting this week, our Junior High Track and Soccer seasons are beginning, and D'Evelyn Junior High is fortunate to participate in the City of Lakewood Jeffco Junior High Sports Program. We have a complete track team and soccer team consisting of D'Evelyn students registered for the program. However, the City of Lakewood has been unable to secure coaches for our teams. We are hoping that someone in the D'Evelyn community would be interested in coaching Junior High Soccer or Track this Spring. This is a paid position through the City of Lakewood. The coach can be a teacher, parent, or older sibling, and prior coaching experience is not required. We are searching for responsible adults who can serve as good role models for our students. Please contact Eric McCaslin-Hahn if you are interested in coaching or if you know of someone who might be interested.
By: Greg Kottcamp, Assistant Principal
All new students are expected to take the placement test. Students that do not take the placement test, will be placed no higher than their grade level math course. The Math Placement test will be offered as follows:
If you can not attend on your assigned day, please email [email protected]. The testing will take place at D'Evelyn Jr. Sr. High School, in the cafeteria. We will have staff available at the front entrance to direct students to the cafeteria test location. No RSVP is necessary. Students should bring a couple of pencils, calculators are not allowed. Parents will be directed to the library upstairs for the parent information meeting. Parents should bring their child's Jeffco-issued Chromebook (if the child has one) and know the username and password to log into the computer, as we will be showing parents some important tools. We will also be explaining some of our school systems, communication tips, and counseling support, and end with a Q & A session. Arriving 5-10 minutes early should allow us to get started promptly at 4 pm. Results of the math placement test will be emailed in May, so please do not contact the school before then.
By: Brock Gustafson, Steering Committee Chair
Greetings from the Steering Committee. We are very lucky to be different in many ways at D'Evelyn, but one of the most important differences is a partnership. In a world that is polarized, with almost daily news stories about school districts on one side and parents on the other, D'Evelyn stands as a vision of partnership. Parents, teachers, and administrators come together to make critical decisions on everything from curriculum, textbooks, and budgets to the strategic direction of our school. In that light, I'd like to especially thank four people for their partnership and service in this week's issue of Jaguar Tracks. At the end of this school year, the three-year Steering Committee terms for two parents and one teacher member will end. We are grateful for the years of service and countless hours of investment that Jodi Haller, Jeff London, and Greg Holland have given to the school community. I'd also like to thank Dr. Rob Bishop for his leadership over the last year. He has been a good steward of the school and of the D'Evelyn Philosophy this school year and has been a great partner with the members of Steering. As we look forward to next year, we will welcome four new members to the Steering Committee. Because there were an equal number of applicants to openings, there will be no election this April. In addition to our new Principal, Josh Shapiro who will serve as a member of steering, Keith Beams will join in a teacher capacity for a third term on Steering. Ginger Gee and Jason Nelson will serve as our new parent members. Our candidate bios and application question that we publish for each candidate can be accessed below. We are excited to welcome these new members (two of whom are D'Evelyn grads!) and we are grateful for their service! We will be having a candidate forum following the Accountability meeting on April 11. This is the community's opportunity to ask questions of and hear from our Steering candidates for the next term. If you have any questions or wish to communicate with the Steering Committee, you may email us at [email protected].
By: Ann Lisa Senior & Kristi Gulley, Senior Montage Coordinators
Senior Parents, time to start planning your student's senior montage. A montage is a photo collage of highlights from your senior's life so far. Completed montages will be on display at After Prom, in the counseling office, and at the Senior Banquet. Start collecting photos now for this project. It is a special keepsake for their senior year and a great way to celebrate them. The Senior Montages are due April 21. If you have any questions, please contact the senior montage coordinators, Ann Lisa Senior at [email protected] and Kristi Gulley at [email protected].
By: Tena Harris
Hey D'Evelyn families! Do you own or are you a part of a food business and would like to be involved in After Prom on April 22nd? We would love to work with our local family businesses to solicit donations and/or discounts for the event. Please contact Tena Harris, [email protected], if you are interested.
By: Chris Vollmer, Computer Science Instructor
Inspirit AI is offering an in-person, 30-hour pre-college AI program hosted at D'Evelyn Jr/Sr High School that teaches students in grades 8-12 fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build socially impactful projects such as safe ChatGPT bots, exoplanet search, self-driving car systems, and more! Stanford and MIT graduates in AI will be present in person from July 17-28, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm to teach. Please read more information in the program brochure and apply here. If you cannot attend in person, students may apply to the live online program. Program contact: Jared Greene, [email protected].
By: Jenna Spendlove, DEF Executive Director
The D'Evelyn Education Foundation (DEF) is looking for parent volunteers to help with the important work of supporting the activities of the Foundation. Our organization is based on service to our community and is run entirely by parent volunteers. As you may know, DEF provides financial support for programs that enhance the opportunities and resources available to D'Evelyn students and encourages the development of a community that fosters learning and achievement inside and outside the classroom. Crucial Positions Needed:
More details about volunteer opportunities can be found HERE. The current officers filling these positions are willing to help train the new volunteers to ensure a smooth transition. Please contact Jenna Spendlove, Executive Director for more information and/or with questions via email at [email protected]. 
By: Chris Davis, 6th Grade Teacher and MathCounts Coach
Congratulations to the D'Evelyn mathletes who participated in the MathCounts state competition on March 18. Four students competed as a team: Hanbei Bao, Owen Vonne, Sheena Wu, and Justin Wang. Johnson Zhu competed as an individual. Unfortunately, team captain Mariel Bochner was unable to attend due to illness. Overall, the team placed 11th and won the Best Sportsmanship Award. Congratulations Jags! Congratulations to 6th grader Chloe Drachenberg, 7th grader Scarlett Baker, and 8th grader Christian Swenson. Their artwork is on display at the Jeffco Administration Center as part of the Equity & Excellence Art Show. This show features artwork made as a result of studying other cultures during Art class. Go check out their artwork - it will be on display until April 4th. The Jeffco Administration Center is located at 1829 Denver West Drive, Building # 27, Golden, CO. Building hours are Monday through Friday, 9 am - 5 pm Congratulations Jag Artists!
Congratulation to Spencer Shelden for qualifying for the State Meet with his fantastic diving performance at the March 10th meet. 
March 27
March 28
March 29
March 30
March 31 - Jeffco PTA Scholarship applications are due April 1
April 2 - DriveSafe Scholarship applications are due April 3
April 4
April 5
April 6 - Math Placement Testing - Last Names H-O, 4 pm in the cafeteria April 7 - Jamin B Wilson Excellence in Education Award Nomination forms due in Counseling Office by 3:00 p.m. April 8 - Melodrama, 7 pm April 11
April 12
April 17 - April 21 - Spirit Week April 18 - DEF Board Meeting, in the Library 6:00 - 8:00 pm April 20 - Junior High Play April 21
April 22
By: Dr. Rob Bishop, Principal
I want to wish all students and their families the very best in whatever you have planned for spring break. D’Evelyn students work hard and dedicate a great deal of their time and effort to their academic studies. Breaks like the upcoming week-long spring break are for students to relax, refresh, and have fun. I hope that it is a great opportunity for all D’Evelyn community members to enjoy valuable time with family and friends. I am looking forward to an exciting, rewarding, and enriching final eight weeks of the school year upon your return. By now you have heard that Josh Sapiro has been selected to be the D’Evelyn principal starting next year. In the coming months leading up to the end of the school year, I will be meeting with Mr. Shapiro and working with him for a smooth transition of leadership. This may include a message from him in this space from time to time. For this week, I am pleased to turn the remainder of this Principally Speaking over to Mr. Shapiro for his introduction to the D’Evelyn community.
Hello D'Evelyn Community,
Over the past two evenings, I have had the privilege of attending the Orchestra and Band concerts. Dr. Theis and Mr. Franklin led our students through challenging and inspiring pieces. Their dedication to our students is apparent through the level of musicianship that was on display both nights. On Saturday, I enjoyed cheering on the Girls Basketball Team as they played the Championship game at the Coliseum. The team worked hard to get to the final game–it was an exciting event to attend, and I want to congratulate the team and coaches on a tremendous season. Our school is one of dedication and excellence, on the part of staff, students, families, and community members. It is evident not only during concerts and on the court, but above all in the classroom. When I was able to visit a few classrooms prior to my interview, I found myself admiring the craft of teachers and the engagement of our students. The thread of deep engagement and dedication weaves through all aspects of the student experience at D’Evelyn Jr./Sr. High. In the coming weeks and months, I will be a regular presence at the school. I look forward to meeting with various members of the D’Evelyn community and attending events and meetings whenever possible. I’m eager to hear from all stakeholders as I begin to make the shift toward being at D’Evelyn full-time this summer. Please feel free to reach out to me as I make this transition; I want you to know that I value all members of our special community. I feel honored to have been selected to be your principal. Thank you for your trust and your belief in me. Not only as principal but also as a D’Evelyn parent of two students, I look forward to many years of carrying out our school’s philosophy and traditions in giving our students a “solid liberal arts education.” Go Jags!!! Josh Shapiro [email protected]
By: Cynthia Shelden, DEF Scholarship Committee Chair
The Jamin B. Wilson Fund is a charitable fund established within the D’Evelyn Education Foundation for the purpose of improving public education by recognizing and rewarding individuals who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to inspiring belief in the importance of education and learning, encouraging good citizenship and personal responsibility, and fostering high standards of achievement in learning among the young people in our public schools. The $3000 award may be made to any individual who has demonstrated success in fulfilling the purpose of the award. Nominations may be made by any person, including supervisors, colleagues, students, or other citizens in the community knowledgeable about the individual’s contribution to the education of students at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School.
Completed nomination forms must be received in the D’Evelyn Jr/Sr High School Counseling Office no later than 3:00 p.m. on April 7, 2023.
By: Eric McCaslin-Hahn, Assistant Principal, Athletics and Activities Director
Jeffco has implemented a cashless ticketing system for Athletic events. Attendees will need to purchase tickets online and show the QR code at schools and stadiums. Online ticketing is provided by HomeTown Ticketing. D'Evelyn tickets can be purchased online or from the HomeTown App. Student Athletic passes will continue to be accepted. 10 Game/Event Punch Passes may be used to admit multiple individuals to a single event, or they may be used at a variety of events throughout the spring season. Any unused games/events on a Punch Pass at the end of the spring season will not roll over to the 2023-2024 school year. Punch Passes are only accepted at Jeffco events.
By: Ratna Gupta, Mock Trial Coach
D'Evelyn participated in the Colorado High School Mock Trial Competition at the Jefferson County courthouse on March 3-4, 2023, along with 24 teams from across Colorado who had won their regional competitions. The competition consisted of four challenging and intense rounds, with numerous awards and the opportunity to advance to the national competition at stake. Overall, D'Evelyn came in 6th place and was awarded the highly coveted Professionalism Award, which is given to only one team out of the 24 competing. This award is particularly special because it recognizes the team's exemplary professionalism and behavior towards others, not just within the courtroom but also in their interactions with others. The team, known as the "JAYHAWKS" at the competition, earned this esteemed award. In addition, there were several individual awards given out. Mathias Bauer was awarded the Best Overall Attorney in the entire competition and placed third as a defense attorney. Tony Adams placed 5th out of 24 for his portrayal of Blake Katsopolis, and Diya Gupta placed third overall out of 24 for her role as Avery Gladstone, a defense expert witness. Congratulations to the entire D'Evelyn Mock Trial team, including the parents and coaches, for a successful season! The Mock Trial will resume in October 2023, and any student is welcome to join, even students from other schools who do not have a mock trial program.
March 13
March 14
March 15
March 16
March 17
March 27 - Career Speaker - Alicia Olson, Marketing and Communications, 7th hour in the counseling department March 28 - SAT Prep Course offered through Mindfish, 1:45 to 3:15 pm in the Counseling office March 29
March 30
March 31 - Jeffco PTA Scholarship applications are due April 1 - Dennison Eagle Community PTA Scholarship applications are due April 2 - DriveSafe Scholarship applications are due April 3 - Steering Committee Meeting, 4:30 pm April 4
April 7 - Jamin B Wilson Excellence in Education Award Nomination forms due in Counseling Office by 3:00 p.m. April 5
April 6 - Math Placement Testing - Last Names H-O April 8 - Melodrama, 7 pm April 11
By: Dr. Rob Bishop, Principal
The first weeks of March in any school year is always filled with transitions. On both the Senior High School and Junior High School fronts, we have nearly completed the task of registering our current students and welcoming our newest families to D’Evelyn. While course selection for the next school year gives us a small peek into next year, we are reminded that there is much more to happen this school year. This is marked by many recent events these past weeks and yet another transition of sports seasons from winter to spring. I want to extend a huge thank you and job well done to our Student Council for conducting several school-wide events during Wish Week. I especially want to recognize the entire student body and the D’Evelyn Community for the generosity displayed by raising over $20,000.00 to support our Make-A-Wish kid, Luka. Your generosity will help Luka’s wish to surf the waves of Hawaii come true. My congratulations to all student-athletes who have competed this winter season in cheerleading, boys and girls basketball, and girls swimming and diving. An added shout-out to our girls basketball team who will be competing this week in the 4A State Basketball Final Four. Catch the Lady Jags in action at the Denver Coliseum on Thursday, March 9 with an 11:00 a.m. tipoff. You can catch the action of spring sports (boys volleyball, baseball, boys swimming and diving, girls soccer, girls tennis, girls golf, and girls and boys track and field) as these seasons have just begun. Best of luck to all spring sports student-athletes! We have been just as busy with many other activities and events, including a fabulous stage production of the musical Amelie. The performances by our student actors, vocalists, and instrumentalists were outstanding. And the production and tech crew saw to all the details that made each performance go off without a hitch. Congratulations and thank you to all involved! Don’t miss our series of Junior High and Senior High school band and orchestra concerts this week (see the school calendar for dates and times). Our Speech and Debate team, Mock Trial team, MathCounts team, Forensics team, Winter Guard, and students participating in vocal and instrumental honor ensembles have all represented D’Evelyn high school proudly and impressively. Your commitment to these co-curricular activities is noticed and appreciated. As you can see, it's been a winter full of events and activities and all participating students have represented our school competitively and proudly. Stay tuned as we enter the spring season I am sure more success and accomplishments are to come. A Note From Our Girls Head Basketball Coach - Chris Olson Starting way back in November, 359 high school girls basketball teams dreamed of playing the final week of the season and making it to the Final Four. In six classifications, only 24 teams will fulfill that dream, and the Jags are thrilled to be 1 of them! For only the 3rd time in school history, D'Evelyn girls basketball will play for a chance to go to the state championship game. This team has been phenomenal all year and is playing great at the right time of the year. Help us keep it going by supporting us next Thursday, March 9, at 11 am at the Denver Coliseum, when we play the #3 seeded University Bulldogs. We'd love to have you in person - it was awesome to see so many former and future players and their families at the Great 8! Even positive energy watching on the NFHSNetwork helps. Tickets and parking passes can be purchased here. Thanks, as always, for your support. GO JAGS!!
By: Eric McCaslin-Hahn, Assistant Principal, Athletics and Activities Director
Seniors and Senior Families, we are three months away from Graduation and the end of the D’Evelyn journey for the Class of 2023. This is an exciting time for all involved, but also a stressful one. D’Evelyn wants to make sure that everyone is on the same page and has all of their questions answered before we go into Spring Break. On Tuesday, March 14th at 7:00 pm in the D’Evelyn Auditorium, a mandatory Senior parent meeting will be held. During this meeting, we will cover information about Senior events throughout the rest of the school year. This includes but is not limited to: Senior Banquet, Senior Finals, Baccalaureate, Prom, After Prom, and Graduation. Additionally, the Senior Contract will be distributed and reviewed. We want to make sure that everyone enjoys the end of their time at D’Evelyn, and we have learned in the past that having a Senior Contract is the best way to ensure that everyone in the D’Evelyn community has a good spring. We look forward to seeing all of you in the Auditorium on Tuesday, March 14th. If you have any questions before this meeting, please reach out to Assistant Principal Eric McCaslin-Hahn ([email protected])
By: Eric McCaslin-Hahn, Assistant Principal, Athletics and Activities Director
Reserve your seats at the Senior Banquet ASAP! On Wednesday, May 17th the D’Evelyn Class of 2023 will have their Senior Banquet at the Denver Marriott West. The festivities will start at 6:00 pm. During the evening we will celebrate Senior awards, scholarships, musical performances, and speeches by Seniors and D’Evelyn Staff. Dinner will be served for all in attendance. Because of limited space, each Senior will be able to purchase a ticket for themselves, and 2 parents/guardians. Tickets are $35 each. Extra tickets are not available. To purchase your tickets, please contact D’Evelyn’s Financial Secretary, Nader Sheikhan: 303-982-1894. If you have any questions about the evening, please contact Beth Raczynski: 303-982-1890. Seniors should be receiving an invitation in their Social Studies class.
By: Wendi Graper, DEF After Prom Chair
Senior Parents, we are currently searching for a volunteer to coordinate the Senior Montage project. The project involves creating a photo collage of highlights from the students' lives and will require tasks such as sending out communications, creating an electronic slide show and hanging the montages at their designated display location. Detailed instructions and samples will be provided to you. If you are interested in assisting with this particular project or have any questions, please email [email protected].
March 6
March 7
March 8
March 9
March 10
March 11
March 13 - Career Speaker: Ms. Violet Minnella, Technology Sales (Cybersecurity and telecommunications) March 14
March 15
March 17
March 28 - SAT Prep Course offered through Mindfish, 1:45 to 3:15 pm in the Counseling office March 29 - SAT Review Sessions with Mrs. Weber, during 7th hour March 30
March 31 - Jeffco PTA Scholarship applications are due |
