Cherry Creek Schools
ABOUT Cherry Creek Schools
53,000
Thank you, Cherry Creek Schools Board of Education! We appreciate your dedication to helping all students discover their Pathway of Purpose and for your countless volunteer hours.
Angela Garland - President Director, District C
As a mother of four children, three of whom are currently enrolled in CCSD, Garland has worked with the District Partnerships for Academically Successful Student Committee, the District Accountability Committee, parent-teacher organizations, and the Cherry Creek Schools Foundation. This experience gives Garland a unique perspective on the most pressing issues related to public education in general and those facing Cherry Creek Schools specifically.
Kelly Bates Director, District D
Bates has served in leadership and volunteer roles in CCSD for more than a decade, providing leadership and chairing a wide variety of events and fundraisers. The recipient of the Wendy DeBell Exceptional Volunteer Award in 2012 and 2014, Bates has been active in CCSD’s bond and budget campaigns as well as in family leadership groups.
Anne Egan
Director, District A
A former education policy advisor with Colorado Gov. Roy Romer, Egan and her family moved to CCSD, where all four of her children went through schools in the district. Egan has been an active member in CCSD organizations ranging from elementary school PTCOs to the Cherry Creek Community Legislative Network.
Kristin Allan - Vice President Director, District E
A parent of two children in the district, Allan began volunteering in their classrooms when her oldest child was in kindergarten. Allan soon took on leadership roles in school and then in district accountability organizations. Her time as chair of the District Accountability Committee and High Plains Elementary School’s Accountability Committee offered the first steps that would ultimately lead to a position on the board. A graduate of the Leadership Cherry Creek program, Allan is also a practicing attorney and small business owner.
Ruthie Knowles Director, District B
A CCSD alum, Knowles attended Eastridge, Prairie, and Overland before attending college and earning a master’s degree in social work. As a parent in the district, Knowles has been involved with district organizations and parent engagement groups to increase parent connection across the Overland feeder and promote more accessible communication to parents.
CURIOUS KIDS: Alarming facts about waking
CuriousKidsisaseriesforchildren ofallages.Ifyouhaveaquestionyou’d likeanexperttoanswer,sendittocuriouskidsus@theconversation.com.
I WAS WONDERING... “Why do I feel better when I wake myself up instead of relying on an alarm?” asks Calleigh H., age 11, from Oklahoma. A neurologist explains the science of a restful night’s sleep.
We’ve all experienced this: You’re in the middle of a lovely dream. Perhaps you’re flying. As you’re soaring through the air, you meet an eagle. The eagle looks at you, opens its beak and – BEEP!
BEEP! BEEP!
Your alarm goes off. Dream over, time to get up. Many people – kids and adults alike –notice that when they wake up naturally from sleep, they feel more alert than if an alarm or another person, like a parent, wakes them up. Why is that?
I’m a neurologist who studies the brain, specifically what happens in the brain when you’re asleep. I also take care of children and adults who don’t sleep well and want to sleep better. My research involves working with parents to help them teach their children good sleep habits.
To understand how to sleep better, and why waking up naturally from sleep helps you feel more alert, you need to start by understanding sleep cycles.
The sleep cycle
The sleep cycle consists of four stages. One of these is REM, which stands for rapid eye movements. The other three are non-REM stages. When you fall asleep, you first go into a state of drowsiness called non-REM Stage 1.
This is followed by deeper stages of sleep, called non-REM stages 2 and 3. Each stage of non-REM is deeper than the one before. Then, about 90 minutes after you first fall asleep, you enter the
fourth stage, which is REM sleep. This is a stage of lighter sleep where you do much of your dreaming. After a few minutes, you return to non-REM sleep again.
These cycles repeat themselves throughout the night, with most people having four to six cycles of non-REM sleep alternating with REM sleep each night. As the night goes on, the cycles contain less non-REM sleep and more REM sleep. This is why it’s important to get enough sleep, so that the body can get enough of both REM sleep and nonREM sleep.
REM vs. non-REM sleep
rally whenever possible.
People can actually train their brains to wake up at a consistent time each day that is a natural stopping point. Brains have an internal 24-hour clock that dictates when you first start to feel sleepy and when you wake up. This is related to our circadian rhythms.
Training the brain
How do researchers like me know that a person is in non-REM vs. REM sleep? In the sleep lab, we can tell from their brain waves, eye movements and the tension in their muscles, like in the chin. These are measured by putting sensors called electrodes on the scalp, around the eyes and on the chin.
These electrodes pick up brain activity, which varies from waves that are low in amplitude (the height of the wave) and relatively fast to waves that are high in amplitude (a taller wave) and relatively slow. When we are awake, the height of the waves is low and the waves are relatively fast. In contrast, during sleep, the waves get higher and slower.
Non-REM Stage 3 has the tallest and slowest waves of all the sleep stages. In REM sleep, brain waves are low in amplitude and relatively fast, and the eye movements are rapid, too. People need both non-REM and REM stages for a healthy brain, so they can learn and remember.
Waking up naturally
When you wake up in the morning on your own, it’s usually as you come to the end of whatever stage of sleep you were in. Think of it like getting off the train when it comes to a stop at the station. But when an alarm or someone else wakes you up, it’s like jumping off the train between stops, which can feel jolting. That’s why it’s good to wake up natu-
First, it’s important to go to bed at a consistent time that allows you to get enough sleep. If you stay up too late doing homework or looking at your phone, that can interfere with getting enough sleep and make you dependent on an alarm – or your parents – to wake you up. Other things that can help you fall asleep at a healthy time include getting physical activity during the day and avoiding coffee, soda or other drinks or foods that contain caffeine. Physical activity increases brain chemicals that make it easier to fall asleep, while caffeine does the opposite and keeps you awake.
Second, you need to be aware of light in your environment. Light too late in the evening, including from screens, can interfere with your brain’s production of a chemical called melatonin that promotes sleep. But in the morning when you wake up, you need to be exposed to light.
Morning light helps you synchronize, or align, your circadian rhythms with the outside world and makes it easier to fall asleep at night. The easiest way to do this is to open up your shades or curtains in your room. In the winter, some people use light boxes to simulate sunlight, which helps them align their rhythms.
Benefits of a good night’s sleep
A good sleep routine entails both a consistent bedtime and wake time and regularly getting enough sleep. That usually means 9-11 hours for school-age kids who are not yet teens, and 8-10 hours for teens.
This will help you be at your best to learn at school, boost your mood, help you maintain a healthy weight and promote many other aspects of health.
Thank you to our Cherry Creek Schools Community...
...for investing in our community’s future!
Thanks to the support of our community, the Cherry Creek School District can continue to deliver excellence for our students, staff, and residents. This enduring support is what sets Cherry Creek Schools apart and enables us to consistently bring high-quality teachers, innovative education, in-demand career training, as well as safe and healthy schools. We are grateful for the trust and support of our voters and look forward to engaging our community as we bring these proposed investments to life and grow Cherry Creek excellence for our students, teachers, and community.
2024 Mill Package
• Safety & Security: Protect students and staff by investing in trained security personnel to monitor school buildings
• High-Quality Teachers & Small Class Sizes: Maintain excellence by recruiting, developing, and retaining highquality teachers to support small class sizes and provide the experience and expertise to enhance studentfocused learning and support new academic and career pathways offered throughout our schools
• Preparing for the Future: Expand access to specialized training, internship, apprenticeship opportunities, and post-graduate certifications for students to pursue their Pathway of Purpose
• Student Health: Provide additional mental health and whole wellbeing support for students to learn how to develop resiliency and prepare them for their next stage of life
• Technology: Provide students and staff with updated and secure technology and digital tools
2024 Bond Package
Safety & Security
• Ballistic window film
• Security camera replacement
• Access control system replacement
• Fire alarm upgrades
Innovation
• CCIC 2.0: Expand current Cherry Creek Innovation Campus to accommodate 70% more students and develop/ expand 10 career pathways
• IST 2.0: Renovate IST building on the Prairie/Overland campus to support in-demand career pathways
New Construction/Renovations
• Laredo/Smoky Hill Campus: Rebuild Laredo Middle School to meet student and programmatic needs and update SHHS athletic facilities (Phase I)
• Prairie Middle School/Overland High School Campus: Build a pool; expand central admissions office; and minor renovations at OHS (Phase I)
• Holly Ridge/Holly Hills: Construct one new PreK-5 school to accommodate the two current schools and meet student and programmatic needs
• Cherry Creek K-12 Campus: Begin process to replace aging and deteriorating buildings on the Cherry Creek PreK12 campus (Phase I)
• Renovations to athletic facilities on the east side of the district
Technology
• Classroom display replacement
• Data center & network upgrades
• Enhance iber network
Maintenance
• Updates to athletic facilities on the east side of the district
• Playgrounds
• Roofs and plumbing
• HVAC, electrical, elevators, glazing, flooring, etc.
*The reduction in the 2020 bond due to COVID-19 has resulted in $300+ million in deferred and planned maintenance needs currently.
Cherry Creek Schools
Strategic Plan
The Cherry Creek School District is committed to its promise of excellence for every student, every day. We strive to ensure our students can learn and grow in a safe and inclusive environment that empowers them to find their Pathway of Purpose.
Cherry Creek Schools Strategic Plan
GOAL:
Every student will meet benchmarks and we will eliminate disproportionality in literacy by 2030.
Cherry Creek Schools Strategic Plan
The CCSD Strategic Plan outlines three key priorities: 1) Literacy; 2) Health and Wellbeing; and 3) Disproportionality. Each of these strategic objectives will ensure our organization operates in a way that supports our amazing teachers and staff while providing every student with the high-quality education and supportive environment necessary to find their Pathway of Purpose.
Cherry Creek Schools Strategic Plan
The Cherry Creek School is commi ed to its promise of excellence for every student, every day. We strive to ensure our students can learn and grow in a safe and inclusive environment that empowers them to find their Pathway of Purpose.
The Cherry Creek School is commi ed to its promise of excellence for every student, every day. We strive to ensure our students can learn and grow in a safe and inclusive environment that empowers them to find their Pathway of Purpose.
The Cherry Creek School is commi ed to its promise of excellence for every student, every day. We strive to ensure our students can learn and grow in a safe and inclusive environment that empowers them to find their Pathway of Purpose.
GOAL:
Every student will meet benchmarks and we will eliminate disproportionality in literacy by 2030.
Literacy for All
Every student will meet benchmarks and we will eliminate disproportionality in literacy by 2030.
Literacy for All
Every student will meet benchmarks and we will eliminate disproportionality in literacy by 2030.
Literacy for All
Literacy for All
We develop independent and confident readers, writers, communicators, and thinkers by providing every student with authentic and rigorous learning experiences through a structured, culturally responsive, and evidence-based approach to literacy instruction. CCSD believes that high expectations foster college and career readiness, and will ensure students have the skills to compete in today's global, knowledge-based economy.
Health & Wellbeing
We support students and staff in their social, emotional, and physical wellbeing so they can learn, teach, grow, and find their Pathway of Purpose. CCSD believes when the whole wellbeing of students and staff is supported and valued, they can reach their full potential as learners and educators.
foundation of Health & Wellbeing
Disproportionality
Ensure all students thrive regardless of where they are in their learning journey. CCSD believes in providing fair and equitable access to high-quality educational opportunities and seeks to raise the academic achievement and nurture the wellbeing of all students.
The Future of Education is Here: Cherry Creek Innovation Campus (CCIC)
The Cherry Creek Innovation Campus (CCIC) was recognized as one of the top 100 most impactful, innovative programs in the world by HundrED, an international organization dedicated to improving the access and quality of education through recognizing impactful and scalable innovations. The CCIC was one of only 10 institutions named in the United States.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Cherry Creek Innovation Campus was named one of the top 100 most innovative educational institutions in the world, and the only PreK-12 public school district awarded.
“Being recognized as a global leader in education is a testament to the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus and the dedication of our educators and community,” said Christopher Smith, Superintendent of the Cherry Creek School District. “This honor reflects our commitment to providing innovative, real-world learning experiences that prepare students for their Pathway of Purpose in college, career, and beyond.”
CCIC merges excellence in education with the innovation of industry. Pathways include Aviation, Automotive, Business, Hospitality, IT, Manufacturing, Construction, and Healthcare. The classrooms are the intersection of industry credentials, college credit, professional skills, and industry-grade equipment and standards. By doing this, CCIC connects student interests with labor needs to serve the community.
“We are incredibly honored to receive this international recognition which highlights the vision, passion, and hard work of the entire Cherry Creek community. We are redefining what education looks like and are committed to preparing students with the skills, experience, and confidence they need to excel in the modern world,” said Steve Day, principal of CCIC.
This recognition joins a list of recognitions CCIC has received since opening in 2019, including two Grand Prize winners of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence, Manufacturing Workforce Innovator Award from Colorado Manufacturing Network, and the Quantum Computing Tech Hub K-12 Initiative.
The CCIC provides transformative educational experiences for high school students in 10th through 12th grades throughout the Cherry Creek School District. Recently, the CCSD community approved a mill and bond measure which seeks to double the size and impact of the CCIC in the coming years.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2024, Cherry Creek Schools was named a partner in the Elevate Quantum consortium, a groundbreaking initiative that positions Colorado and the Mountain West at the forefront of quantum computing across the globe.
Through this initiative, Cherry Creek students and staff will have access to multimillion-dollar quantum labs and experts, enhancing the district’s curriculum and workforce development programs.
Cherry Creek Innovation Campus (CCIC) teacher Mike Degitis was surprised on Tuesday with a national $100,000 prize recognizing excellence in skilled trades education. Degitis teaches infrastructure engineering and construction and is one of 25 winners of the 2024 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. The school’s skilled trades program will receive $70,000, and Degitis will receive $30,000.
Addressing Critical Shortages in the Aviation Industry
For the last several decades, the number of pilots and airline mechanics needed to work on planes has been decreasing -- a challenge that the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus is ready to tackle! This year, Cherry Creek Schools expanded its high school program training future aircraft mechanics to a three-year program, giving students the training and qualifications they need to get a job fixing planes right after graduation.
Senior Izzy Mitchell has been learning about engines and mechanics in her coursework. She hopes to be a pilot one day and wants to make sure she not only knows how to fly the planes -- but to understand how they work, as well.
“We bring in real airplanes, real helicopters, real test equipment and we try to teach them the latest and greatest of whatever the industry is seeing at this time,” said Ty McNew, aviation powerplant instructor at the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus.
CCIC students start as sophomores and with every year and every course, they have to pass tests through the FAA to move forward.
“After the third year, the kids will get an FAA endorsement and they’ll have their airframe and powerplant which is the endorsement you need to go work for any airline, air medical, or general aviation,” McNew said.
CCIC Teacher wins Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence
EMPOWERING EDUCATORS
What can $1,200 do for an educator? From creating diverse classroom libraries to implementing mindfulness programs to providing CPR certification, there is no limit to what our educators can do for our students. Thanks to our community, we funded $194,000 of Educator Initiative Grants for the 2024-25 school year!
Colorado teachers spend $656 of their own money on average for classroom supplies.
Supporting Students in Cherry Creek Schools
In the 2024-25 school year, we were able to fund 192 grants at 55 schools for a total of $194,000!
“My 2nd graders were so excited when they found out that things like bananas and apples were conductors of electricity. This experience has fostered curiosity about the ways in which electricity helps fuel our everyday lives.”
-Leslie
Topic, Summit Elementary
Fighting Food Insecurity & Providing Internet Access
We know that addressing students’ basic needs is crucial for their learning, which is why we support initiatives to combat food insecurity and provide internet access. In partnership with SECOR Cares, we hosted mobile market events supplying food, essentials, clothing to families, and funded internet access to keep students connected and ready to learn.
Fast Facts: 2023-24
5 mobile market events for CCSD families
25,000 lbs of food made available
592 families received goods
67 schools received clothing
$24,000 for internet service for students without access
See grants in action!
ENSURING THE ESSENTIALS
“The Foundation has helped tremendously to make a difference for students and families through funding the mobile food markets where families can come to the school and shop for food they need. It helps alleviate the stress of hunger while also allowing families an opportunity to secure the necessary needs of survival for their students.”
-Sara Khatib, CCSD Interventions Teacher
1,100 CCSD students experienced unstable housing in 2023-24.
SUPPORTING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH
4 in 10 U.S. students felt persistently sad or hopeless in the 2023-24 school year.
-Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 2021
CCSF Mental Health Student Support Fund
We understand the critical role mental health plays in our students’ wellbeing and success. In 2021, we launched the Student Mental Health Support Fund to provide essential services to those who lacked access to critical care. This year, CCSF has allocated $40,000 to support student mental health, reinforcing our commitment to nurturing the whole wellbeing of our students and providing equitable access to support.
• Helped more than 100 students get specialized care that otherwise would have been inaccessible, resulting in improvements in their mental health, academic performance, and attendance.
• Funded bilingual therapists to help non-English speaking students and their families, to help ensure they received culturally appropriate care and better communication with school staff.
• Partnered with Judi’s House to continue funding group therapy and support for students dealing with grief and trauma, helping them cope and remain engaged with school.
Partnered with Servicios De La Raza to fund Newcomer Art Therapy groups to help middle and high school students cope with the trauma of coming into a new country and cultivating a safe school environment. 73% of participating students reported an improvement in understanding their feelings, themselves, and their families.
“Without this support from the Foundation, low-income people like me wouldn’t even get a chance to get outside therapy for my child. Without counseling, I’d be under a lot of stress from this issue, so there would be a vicious cycle.”
–Student Support Fund Recipient Parent
COMBATTING VIOLENCE AND CULTIVATING COMMUNITY
Cherry Creek Schools Leadership Academy
In March 2022, CCSD students faced a tragic wave of violence. In response, CCSF partnered with the district to launch the Leadership Academy, aiming to break cycles of violence and empower students as community leaders. Now in its third year, this yearlong program reengages students with education and their community, working to prevent youth violence through a grassroots approach.
• 143 students completed the program or continued through three cohorts since 2022.
• $1 million+ in additional community investments to expand the program.
• 19 Community Liaisons hired to support student engagement and relationship-building.
• 90% attendance rate (on average).
• Positive behavioral outcomes, including decrease in behavioral incidents, an increase in credits earned, and a slight increase in attendance during the school year.
“It was 100% worth it. I would do it over and over again if I’m given the opportunity. This has truly impacted my life in such a positive way. I believe my voice is important and I deserve to pursue being on stage giving a lecture at an Ivy League university.”
–Leana Gafar, Leadership Academy participant
Enrich Your Child’s Education with Aurora’s Cultural
Arts Programs
The city of Aurora Library and Cultural Services Department offers year-round classes in art, music, dance and theater Winter registration is now open! Families, schools and community groups can choose from a variety of options tailored to their needs Programs are adaptable by grade level, ensuring students of all ages have a meaningful and engaging experience Registration for spring 2025 classes and summer camps opens Jan 29, 2025
Theatre for the Family
at the Aurora Fox
Looking for a fun family night out his holiday season? EBENEZER SCROOGE’S BIG AURORA FOX CHRISTMAS SHOW! opens at the Aurora Fox Arts Center Nov 30 and runs through Dec 29 In this fastpaced, imaginative production, five talented women play dozens of roles to bring the world’s most famous holiday tale to life Perfect for all ages, this wacky Dickens mashup promises a night of laughter and holiday magic the whole family will love
The Aurora Fox Arts Center presents Foxlight Theatre Lab, a four-week, production-centered summer intensive designed for students in grades 8–12 This program provides teens handson theater experience in an inspiring environment and combines fun with learning. Registration for auditions opens early 2025
at the Aurora History Museum
History is fun and interactive with something for the whole family at the Aurora History Museum & Historic Sites! Enjoy a family visit to the Aurora History Museum in a journey through the stories of Aurora The museum offers three to four concurrent exhibitions, including the award-winning exhibit “Mosaic of Cultures: Aurora’s Nepali Community,” open through April 2025 You can also ride the iconic Trolley Trailer 610 or participate in the dozens of fun education programs! School field trips of the museum and the DeLaney Homestead Historic District are also available Admission to the museum is always free, some programs are offered at affordable cost
