By: Holly McCollough
I am grateful I attended D’Evelyn because I was offered the privilege of discovering how to learn, a skill few other students gain as a teenager. The first lesson I learned in Life Science as a seventh grader was how to take Cornell-formatted notes. This class also required me to both identify and name the family, genus, and many more characteristics of invertebrates sitting in jars covering the counters of the classroom for the famous invertebrate test. In my English class, I memorized hundreds of Latin and Greek root words. In Geography, I was assigned to write my own tests to better study for exams of maps and weather patterns. Completing 30 math questions per night in Pre-Algebra quickly became a simple routine. When would I, a 13 year old, ever choose to challenge myself to the rigor of these assignments? Never. However, with the support of countless teachers who believed in my ability to succeed, I was able to memorize and apply incredible amounts of knowledge just in seventh grade. Throughout the rest of my time at D’Evelyn, I was continually pushed to learn more than my peers at other schools. My teachers believed that any student could learn advanced material, so they passionately taught extra math lessons, showed “exceptions-to-the-rule” chemistry reactions, and critiqued even the tiniest details of essays so that every student in the building received an education that challenged them to learn something new each day. By prioritizing repetition in each subject, multidisciplinary mastery of both fine arts and mathematical subjects were not only achievable, but normal. D’Evelyn’s culture of excellence proves the words of one of my favorite authors, Malcolm Gladwell: “Practice isn't the thing you do once you're good. It's the thing you do that makes you good.” This culture is not only encouraged by teachers; the students who attend D’Evelyn truly care about learning about the world itself and not just simply getting through the school day. The atmosphere of achievement at D’Evelyn contributes to the success of each student. During all of middle and high school, I was surrounded by other students who lovingly pushed me to do well on my English tests, on the SAT, in sports, in relationships, in my student council work, in music, and more. D’Evelyn students inspire each other to work hard and dream big. I am so thankful that I was encouraged as a teenager to learn more than I even thought was possible for someone my age. I now feel completely capable of researching any topic, whether it be for fun, for business, or for a college paper. Attending D’Evelyn throughout middle and high school provided a low stakes environment to learn efficient studying habits that have carried into college. As a Boettcher Scholar and a member of the President’s Leadership Class at CU Boulder, I have discovered firsthand the power of loving to learn. I know that because of my education and the investment of every teacher at D’Evelyn into my success, I am fully capable of becoming an expert on any topic and using this knowledge to change the world. By: Kylie Williams
Hello! My name is Kylie Williams, and I have made attending D’Evelyn into one of my personality traits over the past six years. I am a current senior, I entered the school from Mount Carbon Elementary school as a seventh grader, and I have participated in over twenty clubs, committees and activities since my enrollment in 2016. While I have always been naturally busy, this year I have quite the extensive list of extracurricular activities. I am the acting Student Body President, Sources of Strength Presentations leader, Tri-M Vice President, D’Evelyn Disguise Improv Troupe leader, Jr. High Play director, Marching Band section leader, a lead role in this year’s musical, cast member in the upcoming Melodrama, and two time Heart of D’Evelyn award winner. I also volunteered at D’Evelyn during our open house nights and orientations, and I find time here and there to volunteer at my local library and work a paid job as well. That’s this year alone, so I find myself quite the active member in our community. Above all these activities, I am a D’Evelyn student, and I do the same math sets and physics tests and term papers as everyone else, which is, hilariously enough, a core trait of the school’s culture. As well as experiencing and surviving the rigorous D’Evelyn lifestyle the last six years, I have also recently had the opportunity to watch my younger sisters attend here. My youngest sister is a current seventh grader who attended D’Evelyn’s first year of offering sixth grade. All three of us have worked through the same core classes and succeeded, while struggling with common issues, like stress or being overwhelmed by the liberal arts curriculum, or individual struggles. Whatever the obstacle may be, we have had a wealth of teacher, peer, and counselor support to help us by whatever means necessary. My favorite activities I have participated in at D’Evelyn have been Marching Band and Musical, most definitely. Marching Band sounds so nerdy, but it's a community of nerds doing what we love, so naturally we all have way too much fun. We are also extraordinarily successful, with us winning state titles all five of my years of attendance. I auditioned and was selected for a leadership role in Marching Band this year and I had the honor of guiding and working with eight other flutists on our show. Over the course of the season, however, I feel like those eight marching members truly taught me more than I could have ever provided them. Band also created a sense of pride in my school and our work ethic that is unparalleled, especially when we traveled out of state, competed in Texas, and broke records. In the Musical I have found and solidified my love of performing and directing that I plan to pursue in college and my career. It has created opportunities and skills that will live with me through my future in the performing industry. The wonderful staff of both of these performing arts made those dreams, ambitions, and life long lessons possible. In middle school I participated in Student Council, National Junior Honor Society, Latin Club, Jr. High Play, and a handful of other activities here and there. Unlike a normal middle school, D’Evelyn’s younger grades are like their title “Jr. High”. It's a small and easier-to-digest version of high school, it prepares its students for the rigor to come. So once they continue into high school, they can handle the essays and the math homework and the stress that eventually ends in a well-earned diploma. Moving into high school, while the classes became harder, more opportunities opened and I was able to break through new ceilings, find new options and friends and new circles to become involved in. I would not go to any other high school if given the chance to change the past. I have loved my experience and friends and learnings, and I know that all of this will be reiterated in my graduation speech in about five months. But I will miss it all nonetheless. By: Kristin Kipp Why D’Evelyn As both a teacher at D’Evelyn and a parent of D’Evelyn students, my answer to the question of “Why D’Evelyn” may surprise you. I could go on and on about the high expectations, rigorous curriculum, dedicated teachers, or amazing extracurriculars, but the real reason I chose D’Evelyn is simpler. It’s about the culture among the student body. I’ve taught in public schools for eighteen years. One of the thorniest issues I’ve faced as an educator is a stigma around being smart. Even bright, curious, motivated students will sometimes hold themselves back to prevent being seen as “too smart” or a “nerd.” It’s maddening for teachers and parents alike, but D’Evelyn is different. I chose D’Evelyn because there’s no stigma about being smart. Within this school, it’s respected to work hard at learning. It’s the norm for students to dedicate themselves to their studies. Students who “geek out” about WWII, studying the violin, or the etymology of a word are not marginalized. They’re a valued part of the culture, and this is part of the reason that students at D’Evelyn excel. Yes, they’re exposed to a rigorous curriculum, steeped in challenging, enduring ideas, but students at D’Evelyn are also surrounded by kids who think like them, who want to learn. Because of the high value placed on learning, every student is able to achieve at a high level. It’s the norm rather than the exception, and it’s not stigmatized. Earlier this year, I received a new D’Evelyn t-shirt. It’s a throwback from a shirt that used to be common among the students years ago. You can see mockup of it below: The back identifies us as the “D’Evelyn Nerd Herd.” Originally the term was intended as an insult, used to taunt D’Evelyn at a sporting event. Instead of being insulted, the student body embraced the name and had shirts made. This is a place where it’s ok to value learning. It’s ok to “geek out,” and it’s ok to be a “nerd.” For this self-proclaimed nerd, that makes it a place I can belong, and it’s why I chose D’Evelyn.
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