By: Eric McCaslin-Hahn, Assistant Principal and Activities Director
November is a tough month in the school year. By the end of the month we have endured four grueling months of the school year, and the end of the semester still seems far away. Assignments, grading, and other tasks seem to never end. But then the Thanksgiving Break comes along and gives everyone in the community a chance to step away and see the bigger picture. During this time of year, it’s important to reflect on where we came from, and to give thanks and truly appreciate all that we have here. I know I say this all the time, but it rings true more and more each day: D’Evelyn is a special place! I have seen many different school communities over the years, but D’Evelyn is truly unique. D’Evelyn has found the perfect blend of Academic achievement, strong Athletic and Activity performance, and a nurturing environment that helps students grow and be prepared to be successful in all walks of life after high school. I feel beyond blessed to be part of the D’Evelyn community. With Thanksgiving on Thursday, I wanted to share what I am most thankful for at D’Evelyn. -I’m thankful for the loving and dedicated teachers that spend enormous amounts of time, in and out of school hours, providing our students with the best education possible. -I’m thankful for the students at D’Evelyn. They are the most humble, enthusiastic, and reflective students that I have ever been around. They impress me every day with their commitment to their development, and their courteousness to everyone in the building. -I’m thankful for compassionate and motivated parents and family members. There have been so many times when I have been left in awe when I’ve seen what our families can do when they are given an opportunity to give back. From seeing the army of Marching Band parents at their events, to the parent volunteers at school events, there are so many examples of people working behind the scenes to make the D’Evelyn programming work. -I’m thankful for the staff members at D’Evelyn that help keep the building running every day. The school day couldn’t happen without the heroic work of custodial, food services, and office staff. -I’m thankful for a community that supports and promotes our patriotic and moral beliefs. I’m proud to have our daughter in the D’Evelyn system, knowing that someday she will be a Jaguar. Thank you for letting me be part of D’Evelyn. Even after only a few months, it feels like home. I hope that everyone has a restful and rejuvenating break. Have a blessed Thanksgiving Break! By: Eric McCaslin-Hahn, Assistant Principal and Activities Director
Greetings D’Evelyn Community, Students, staff, and families that come to D’Evelyn and commit to the D’Evelyn program, soon realize what an incredible school we have. From Academic performance, to extracurricular opportunities, and incredible successes after high school; D’Evelyn is the best school in the state of Colorado for a reason. D’Evelyn was founded with the goals of providing a sound liberal arts education and preparing students to be leaders in society after high school. These goals are evident in our success rate after high school and the phenomenal impact our alums have on the places they live. We are all blessed to be part of this wonderful lifelong community. We need to help everyone around us understand why D’Evelyn is consistently rated as the #1 high school in the state of Colorado. The “Why D’Evelyn” campaign will help us spread our mission and vision to the metro area and let everyone know what we really are all about. Each week there will be articles from members of the D’Evelyn community, past and present, that will share their personal stories telling how D’Evelyn has played a significant role in their lives. Once you read their stories you will see why they say, “Once you’re a Jaguar, you’re always a Jaguar.” If you would like to contribute to this campaign, please reach out to Eric McCaslin-Hahn at [email protected] or 303-982-8151. By: Dan Wille, Assistant Principal
My D’Evelyn experience began in 1999 as an incoming 7th grade student attending the Prep School. My parents entered me into the lottery knowing D’Evelyn was quickly earning a reputation as an incredible place for kids to develop their academic prowess. All 4 of my grandparents were educators, 7 of my 9 aunts and uncles were educators, my mom is an educator, and many of my cousins are educators. Needless to say, my family places an enormous value on education. Honestly, I had no idea what I was getting into when my parents asked me if I wanted to go to D’Evelyn instead of my neighborhood middle and high school. They explained it is a school known for its academics and high expectations, and I would probably be the only one from my elementary school to go to D’Evelyn. They made it very clear it would be a challenge. My parents are incredible people and they sensed my hesitation but helped me overcome any anxiety by building me up with encouragement, support, understanding, and love: “ We know you can do it, and we will be here to help you. And you know what, if you dislike it after a semester we can try something else.” I graduated 6 years later, never having the desire to leave D’Evelyn. I then returned in 2014 as a Junior High Social Studies teacher, and now have the pleasure of serving as an Assistant Principal. I came back to the Jaguar family after having a rich experience of professional adventures, world travels, and personal growth. Which leads me to the question I get asked a lot, “why did you come back?” The answer is simple: I believe in this program and know what it can do to help kids reach their full potential. Completion of the D’Evelyn curriculum is an investment that yields incredible opportunities for young individuals. Is it tough? Absolutely. Were there times when I doubted the point of it? Oh yeah. Was I frustrated that my experience was different from the vast majority of other kids my age? You bet. Did it cause me stress and make me lose sleep? Yup. Was it worth it? Without a doubt! Looking back now, I wish I had a time machine where the 2005 Freshmen at Regis University version of myself could go back in time to tell my high school self how lucky I was to be a D’Evelyn Jaguar. Not only does D’Evelyn bestow strong academic abilities in young individuals, it teaches invaluable life lessons. One of which is that resilience, dedication, discipline, integrity, and grit builds confidence enabling D’Evelyn graduates to thrive in any post secondary endeavors. Additionally, compassion, heart, humility, and grace are requisite to interact with others, creating a better world. Knowledge acquired during a student’s D’Evelyn tenure is an invaluable currency graduates get to invest in their interests as they explore life outside of our halls. The skills students develop (analytical reasoning, problem solving, time management, communication, resilience) becomes a toolbox of gifts enabling graduates to succeed in all areas of life. In conclusion, “Why D’Evelyn?” Because D’Evelyn teaches kids lessons inside and outside of the classroom that will benefit them for life. -Dan Wille 2005 D’Evelyn Graduate Current Assistant Principal at D’Evelyn |
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