By: Keith Beams, D'Evelyn Teacher
The conversation went basically like this: My mom: “There’s a new high school opening up that has strong academics and only includes 7th through 9th grades. It’s called D’Evelyn. You can go there or to Wheatridge.“ Me (in my mind): Only 7th through 9th grades??!! That means I won’t have to deal with older students… I don’t want to be around older students… I’m too awkward to deal with that… Me (out loud): “I’ll take the new school.” Yep, that’s the extent of my 14-year-old decision-making process back in 1994. Look, sometimes we don’t make choices out of any deep set of well-thought-out reasons. Sometimes we just go with a quick decision with faulty logic that feels good to us at the time. Nonetheless, I’m thankful to say that my mom laid out the situation just right to make me jump at D’Evelyn. I think that the most meaningful part of being at D’Evelyn as a student and as a teacher (now for 16ish years) is the sense of belonging to something that I’m proud to fight for. I began at D’Evelyn in the school’s first year (1994) and it was definitely a work in progress. The vision was set, but many of the logistics had to be hammered out. Case in point: our boys soccer team that first fall had all of 11 players (no subs), our uniforms were gray T-shirts that had D’Evelyn written on them in rainbow colors with what may have been black electrical tape numbers on the back, and before our first game we were instructed to bring rakes so that we could rake out the goatheads from the baseball infield that took up a sizeable chunk of one of the corners of the field. But we played; we played hard; and we played proud. D’Evelyn was an outsider underdog even as I was an outsider underdog. At D’Evelyn I could be a part of the school: the soccer team, the musical, the debate team, even though I wasn’t particularly good at any of those things. I still had a place. I had a place in school dances and in the Historic Gaming Club and, wonder-of-wonders, you could be a gamer AND have a social life. I wasn’t lost in the mob; I mattered. D’Evelyn as a school was the same way and we were PROUD to be from D’Evelyn because it was different, because it was challenging, because it welcomed us, and because we had to fight for it. High school was, for me, a long time ago. I’m turning 41 this year and my 20th Class Reunion is in the rear-view mirror. Sometimes something is lost in success and D’Evelyn has had lots of success, year after year after year. I think we begin to feel that success is just a natural neutral process like osmosis - just hang around and it’ll happen. It’s just not true. I wonder if what we’ve lost is that underdog passion, that outsider loyalty for a group that provided belonging, that fierce pride in a unique culture and unique vision. Sometimes we need to spend some time raking out the goatheads, together; something wonderful can happen as we do. I would like to see a way for us to recapture that sense that we are here to play hard and to play proud. I believe that spirit is still here, but it needs to be nurtured. Oh, and mom? Thanks for giving me the choice to come here. Keith Beams D’Evelyn teacher D’Evelyn graduate of 1998 (first class) By: Bethany Ericson, D’Evelyn 6th Grade Teacher
A week before my freshman year of highschool began, I was accepted to D’Evelyn! I was excited, nervous, and a bit bummed to leave my middle school friends behind and attend a school known for its rigorous academic program. I entered the school feeling very alone. There were only four new freshmen in the whole class, and my other classmates already knew each other. I was anxious to see if I would ever belong in this environment that was so new to me. As I began my time at D’Evelyn, I acclimated to the homework load and embraced the challenge of meeting new people. Slowly, I became more involved in the school. I played on the tennis team, joined band and choir, and met different students from multiple grade levels and backgrounds. By my junior year I was surrounded by other students who were striving for excellence as much as I was. We worked hard at our academics, performing arts, and social clubs. We pushed each other to be better scholars, artists, and people. Throughout high school, I learned I would be held accountable for my actions. I developed a strong work ethic to meet the expectations set before me. By graduation, I understood that the school I had been nervous to attend not only welcomed me as a freshman, but also gave me true lifelong friends, valuable experiences, and important academic lessons. Most of all, I realized I found a place where I belonged. After graduating college from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in education, the middle schools I taught at promoted mission statements that didn’t align with mine. I never felt I truly belonged to these schools whose mission statements emphasized academic achievement at the cost of kindness, or emphasized kindness at the cost of academic achievement. While these are worthy values to strive for, I needed to find a school that balanced both. My experience taught me that D’Evelyn balances both values well, and once I learned that D’Evelyn was adding a 6th grade program, I jumped at the opportunity! It is a joy to teach at a school that aligns with values which mirror my own. As the Founding Document states, I know “that all students, not just an elite group, should be held to rigorous academic and behavioral standards, and that all students can achieve in a challenging program.” As a student and now as a teacher, I believe in this mission statement, and I belong to it. It is an honor to teach students of families who also believe this and who strive to be their best each day. This is why I choose D’Evelyn: it is a supportive community that helps students achieve in a challenging program. It trains students in the work ethic they need to succeed not only in college, but in their future careers, relationships, and other aspects of life. The lessons I learned, people I met, and the activities I did set me up for success in life, and perhaps even more importantly, gave me a place where I belong. Bethany Ericson D’Evelyn Class of 2008 Current D’Evelyn 6th Grade Teacher By: Millicent Boemper
When I first found out that I was accepted into D’Evelyn, I was ecstatic. Twelve-year-old me was eager to attend a new school with new friends and a clean slate. I immediately jumped into every activity I could, from playing the clarinet in band and participating in the Girl’s Mentoring club to supporting my peers by serving as a representative on the Junior High Student Council. Once I reached High School, my interests pivoted completely. I decided that it was time to try something new. I have always had an interest in cheerleading, and I thought it would be a fun activity to try alongside my academics. I tried out for the team and immediately fell in love with the activity and knew I had to be a member. The sport is the embodiment of the leadership, school spirit, and talent at D’Evelyn and being able to represent the cheer team for the past four years has been an honor. Through the cheer team, I have made tons of connections within the student body, as well as with staff, coaches and members, and just as many connections outside of the school. I believe that without the cheer team at D’Evelyn, I would not have the interpersonal connections that I do today. These connections have led to many opportunities including performing at the National Cheerleading Competition in Disney World amongst many other competitions, cheering alongside our champion marching band in the 9News Denver Parade of Lights, supporting our athletes in and out of the game day environment, and planning our school’s annual Sadie Hawkins dance. These are just a few of the opportunities I have received through the cheer program at D’Evelyn. If you were to ask any student here, they would list a ton of unique events they have participated in through the school’s programs. There are many aspects to D’Evelyn, but my favorite part is the support. Every sport and activity is supported by the entirety of the student body and the staff has an immense amount of spirit in support of every student. As a leader of the cheer team, supporting my peers is extremely important to me. I believe that every sport and activity should be cheered on (even if I cannot be there to ruffle my poms at every event). I am thankful for this positive and encouraging environment that makes D’Evelyn such a special school, and the reason I continue to stay so involved is because of this support. D’Evelyn has the ability to maintain such supportive connections between students because of the special environment inside the student body. I can confidently say that although everyone has their own friend groups, there are not really “cliques” among the students. D’Evelyn has fairly small classes, and I credit this to why everyone is so friendly with one another. Also, teachers and staff encourage participation and collaboration with peers, and because of this, each student gets to know their classmates very well. I chose D’Evelyn in seventh grade knowing nothing about it, but I am so glad I did. The past six years at D’Evelyn have helped me to grow as a student, and as an athlete, but most importantly as a person. I am not going to ramble about the academics, because you already know about the advanced curriculum and bearing workload- which I know I will be even more thankful for as I head off to college this Fall. Instead I am going to reiterate that what makes D’Evelyn such a special school are the students and staff that keep the school going with constant school spirit and support. I am thankful for being able to represent D’Evelyn for the past six years, and I am truly proud to be a Jaguar. Millicent Boemper Class of 2022 |
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