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ISSUE 15 - SUMMER 2022
MISSION COMPLETE FOR CLASS OF 2022 Known as a “generation of learners”, Westminster and Hidden Lake High School graduates from the class of 2022 received their diplomas in May, becoming the first class to begin education careers in the district’s WPS Competency Based System (CBS). Students who began their education in WPS as kindergarten students wore green cords to mark the occasion. Superintendent Pam Swanson spoke of the value CBS brought to their education, reminding students that during their time in Westminster Public Schools they learned that education is about more than just memorization and test taking. “You learned that understanding content and mastering subject matter counts not only in the classroom but in life,” Swanson told the graduates. For the first time since the COVID-19, the graduates were able to celebrate the occasion in familiar surroundings with WHS students graduating at the First Bank Center in Broomfield and Hidden Lake holding their ceremony at Ranum Middle School.
CONGRATULATIONS! WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF ALL YOU HAVE
TOP TEN GRADUATES
ACCOMPLISHED AND WISH YOU THE VERY BEST IN ALL YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS! This year saw the start of a new tradition at WHS. The top ten graduates joined administration for brunch and Voodoo Doughnuts where students shared their education journey and talked about what it takes to come out on top. Hear their stories in their own words: Mywps.org/whstopten
#WHEREEDUCATIONISPERSONAL All students are unique individuals with different talents and different educational and life journeys. CBS prepares students for the day AFTER graduation. On May 26, 2022, the last class of 8th-grade students at Ranum Middle School celebrated their continuation ceremony. Principal Shannon Willy was also honored as she retired at the end of the school year.
WHS Senior Awards Night Sees Students’ Hard Work Rewarded
2022-23 School Year to Begin August 15, 2022 Students will return to classrooms on Monday, August 15. Visit mywps.org/calendars to see calendars.
Kira Fikes, Poised to Change the World
The success of WHS students was on full display during the WHS Senior Awards Ceremony on May 19. Almost $400,000 in scholarships was awarded to remarkable students! Family and friends filled the theater to cheer on the students and honor their hard work. The bulk of the scholarships was awarded by the Westminster Public Schools Foundation, with still others coming from the Westminster Rotary Foundation as well as individual sponsors. Learn more: Mywps.org/whsseniorawards
Thank you, Westminster Public School Foundation and partners, for your generosity.
This summer, we are focusing on the exciting transformation of ‘Ranum Reimagined.’ This extensive renovation project is transforming the historic building into a state-of-the-art multi-purpose campus offering expanded Career Technical Education (CTE) programs for students. The campus will provide an opportunity for students to begin work on post-secondary careers while still in high school. The campus will also continue to serve as the home for the Westy Futures and Westy Juniors Athletic Program allowing students full access to the high-quality indoor and outdoor athletic facilities on the Ranum campus. Learn more at mywps.org/ranumreimagined.
After overcoming a series of serious challenges, Kira Fikes has her eye on the future and plans to help others through medicine. She knew she was an adept learner, but with the obstacles she faced, finishing high school seemed impossible. She eventually enrolled in Hidden Lake High School and graduated early due to her optimism and grit. “She is such an amazing kid and I was lucky to have her in my class,” said HLHS social studies teacher Douglas Kurzawski. “Kira was a student who came to HLHS and exemplified what our school is about. She is so passionate about different topics and would always be willing to speak up during our Civics class.” She believes in speaking up about what matters and her creative writing entry for Celebrating Excellence! won her the grand prize and an Oculus Prime headset. After an assignment in which Kira wrote a letter to Congressman Ed Perlmutter about the opioid crisis, she had the opportunity to meet the veteran politician who promptly encouraged her to run for office. Kira graduated this year and is heading off to Wingate University in North Carolina to study pre-med with the help of a significant scholarship. She is eager to get back to the East Coast, and to help people through medicine. Be inspired by her incredible story: Mywps.org/kirafikes
WHS Drone Soccer Team Places 2nd at State Competition In just their first year in competition, the WHS Drone Soccer team placed 2nd in the State Competition and 2nd in the National Qualifying Competition. Drone Soccer is the only educational robotics competition that is also an international team sport sanctioned by the World Air Sports Federation. Opposing teams fly RC quadcopter drones in protective cages designed for full-contact gameplay as they ram and block each other in midair. Students must build, program, and repair professional-grade drones while learning valuable skills toward high-paying aerospace careers.
NEW TEACHING AND LEARNING TOOLS zSpace: A New Kind of Learning in WPS Shaw Heights Middle School took the lead in piloting the use of zSpace and it will s o o n a p p e a r in middle school classrooms a c ro s s t h e d i s t r i c t . Te a c h e r s a n d students say they can’t get enough of it. They are raving about this interactive learning tool that converts a classroom into a virtual world of learning that redefines a hands-on experience. The platform can be used for all kinds of instruction, but it is an especially powerful tool for science students. Wa t c h t h e v i d e o t o l e a r n m o re : Mywps.org/zspace
Students and staff in WPS now have free access to Canva design software The program enables users to choose from thousands of templates to produce amazing high-quality projects. Some students have already begun using this program to complete assignments and encourage community engagement — from student council to softball tryouts. Accessing this program early in their academic careers encourages creativity in how students think about solving problems and presenting solutions while providing the opportunity to build skills in a tool that is used in colleges and industry. Teachers can create lesson plans, schedules, worksheets, and interactive presentations. They can even assign and accept projects from individual students, create work groups, and collaborate across subjects and schools to share resources and ideas. Canva can also make communicating with parents and the community at large easier by scheduling and automating posts and announcements to publish directly to social media platforms. We are excited to see what new collaborations arise from this exciting opportunity!
JOHN E. FLYNN A MARZANO ACADEMY When doors open for the 2022-23 school year, students will be greeted by their new Principal, Dr. Justin Adcock, formally Assistant Principal at Orchard Park Academy. He replaces Dr. Kosena, who is now the Director of Teaching and Learning for WPS. John E. Flynn A Marzano Academy is the first High Reliability Certified School in the country. A High Reliability School is a designation available to schools that master five levels of performance where all students learn the content and skills they need for success in college, careers, and beyond. Noted educator Robert Marzano has worked closely with the district to build the Academy. One of the district’s goals is to make every school in WPS a High Reliability Certified School.
U.S. Department of Education Secretary Cindy Marten visited John E. Flynn A Marzano Academy in the spring to see first-hand how WPS used Covid-19 relief dollars to make up for lost learning because of the pandemic and to understand how the district is meeting the mental health needs of students. Marten learned of the importance the district places on a positive environment and the need for students and staff to focus on caring for one another. She told students she was inspired and that she would love to take them with her to Washington, D.C. to share their story.
“The students’ enthusiasm for learning inspires me,” Adcock added. “I am so honored to be joining one of the best schools in the country. Go Falcons!”
WPS CELEBRATES EXCELLENCE
Supported by a record number of entries, the 2021-22 Celebrating Excellence! Awards were handed out in a fun-filled virtual event on April 28 that highlighted the diverse talents and interests of students and staff in WPS. This year’s competition celebrated everything from singing and gymnastics to science and creative writing. There were also some major surprises. One student showed her motorcycle racing skills, while another demonstrated his trick roping skills — even standing on a horse as he performed. Our virtual Celebrating Excellence! competition is a remarkable example of how we learned to adapt to the pandemic and successfully engage a whole new group of learners. Students who would never dream of standing before a live audience felt comfortable competing virtually. It required a lot of work by organizers and judges, but it was so worth it and we will continue it for years to come. If you have a moment, watch the very humorous and engaging awards ceremony. You will be glad that you did. Mywps.org/celebratingexcellence.
WHAT IS COMPETENCY BASED SYSTEM (CBS)? Westminster Public Schools prides itself on offering a learning environment Where Education is Personal. That means that every child’s education is built around what works best for the individual student and incorporates our CBS where students advance to the next learning level only when they have shown mastery, or understanding, of a learning topic. CBS does away with social promotion by requiring students to fully engage in their learning. Learn more at cbswps.org
I hope you are having a wonderful and relaxing summer break. We look forward to the return of staff and students in August when everyone will be rested and reenergized for a brand-new school year. Sincerely, Dr. Pamela Swanson, Superintendent, and the WPS Board of Education
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