December 7, 2016
Volume 2, Issue 2
IN THIS ISSUE
Valley FFA Events ............. 2
Standout Student .............. 2
District calendar ................ 3
Board of Ed calendar ......... 3
Second Quarter .................. 4-5
Closure Information .......... 6
Staying Healthy ................. 7
Weld RE-1 School District
Weld RE-1 School District Newsletter A message from Weld RE-1 Superintendent Don Rangel
Dear Weld County School District RE-1 Community,
On behalf of the Weld County School District RE-1 Board of
Education, we want to thank you for supporting the School District
Bond issue. This investment in our schools located in LaSalle, Gilcrest,
and Platteville will create better learning environments for students to
learn, and for teachers to teach. Ultimately, quality schools help make
solid communities even better.
Each year, staff and parents work hard to provide an exemplary and safe education
to all students, it is our mission. This year for the first time all 6 schools in our district
based on state test results earned the top rating for student growth and achievement. A
school can be assigned one of four plans based on the results of state testing:
Turnaround Plan, Priority Improvement Plan, Improvement Plan or the top rating of
Performance Plan. Five out of our six schools were on an Improvement Plan in 2015,
this year all six schools earned a Performance Plan.
The reason I share these results is that your investment can only make our schools
safer and better learning environments for all. Though our district is moving in a very
positive direction, we have a lot more work to do to achieve the status of exemplary.
Improving the physical aspects of each school will create environments more
conducive to learning.
Some of the work will be harder to see such as improved drainage systems, HVAC
systems, and new roofs. Having been a principal for over two decades I can share that
when these aspects of a school are not working appropriately, or are worn out, it can
negatively impact the teaching and learning environment. Work like new lighting,
carpet, paint, windows, lockers make the environment inviting and help build pride
and improve learning.
In the weeks ahead we will develop a Community Bond Oversight Committee. The
goal of this committee is to receive ongoing updates on the progress of work and
projects. Trust between the school district and our citizens is critical and we want to
find avenues to share that the work being completed matches the work we said the
bond money would be used for. The oversight committee will play a critical role in
helping us stay on track and with communications.
Again, our students are the direct beneficiary of your support to invest in the
schools of our three communities. The Board of Education, Staff, and I cannot thank
you enough.
Respectfully,
Don V. Rangel
Don V. Rangel
Superintendent of Schools
2
What’s new ...
STANDOUT STUDENT: DIEGO GOMEZ, PETE MIRICH ELEMENTARY
Diego Gomez is excited! He is excited about school, about his future and about the
world around him. He has a zest for learning. His teacher describes him as
“intrinsically motivated with a growth mindset.” She also says he works really hard
on all of his school work.
His favorite subject is math. Diego loves math so much he has trouble identifying
his favorite part. “I like four parts of math: subtraction, addition, multiplication and
division,” he said. That love of math will help him in his future. Diego wants to go
into a scientific field when he grows up. He either wants to be a scientist, one who
studies animals in some way, a doctor or a veterinarian.
These fields do not surprise his teacher, as Mrs. Bond describes Diego as “very
caring and loves to help those who need it.” Those characteristics will be an asset to
him in the future. A current dog owner, he is already practicing caring for animals.
He sometimes like to take his dog, Manchas, for walks when the weather permits.
Other times Manchas has a yard to play in.
In his free time Diego has lots of hobbies. He loves music. “I like country, Christian,
Christian Country, a little pop and a little rock music.”
He also likes to read. Currently he is enjoying “The Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series.
Recently, Diego read “The Ugly Truth.”
With his helpful attitude, commitment to hard work and helping others it will not be
long before Dr. Gomez opens up his veterinary or medical practice!
Diego Gomez
Grade: 3rd
Favorite thing about
PMES: “I like everything!”
Favorite ice cream
flavor: Chocolate Banana
Favorite Subject: Math
FFA NEWS
Second quarter brought just as much excitement to Valley High
School’s FFA chapter as first quarter. In October the students hosted
their annual Ag night, where dinner was served to the community.
Then they went to nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana. Not only did
they get to compete, network with other FFA chapters and learn about
agriculture across the state, but they also got to go on some amazing
tours. Students were able to visit they Indy 500, Monsanto, Hawkeye
Breeders and the Indiana Grand. For Halloween they provided a safe
space for students to Trick or Treat at the high school. Finally, in
November they held their annual auction!
3
BOARD OF EDUCATION
The Weld RE-1 Board of Education meets the third Wednesday of each month for
its regular board meeting, and the first Wednesday of each month for Board Work
Sessions (and fifth on months where five Wednesdays occur).
Regular board meetings begin at 7 p.m. in the Board Room at the Educational
Services Center at 14827 WCR 42 in Gilcrest, unless otherwise stated. The public
is encouraged to attend these meetings. Work Sessions begin at 6:15 p.m. in the
same place.
January 2017 Su M Tu W Th Fri Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
February 2017 Su M Tu W Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28
WELD RE-1 SCHOOL DISTRICT CALENDAR
Board schedule for second quarter:
Jan. 18— 7 p.m. Board Meeting at Gilcrest Elementary School Library
Feb. 15— 7 p.m. Board Meeting at South Valley Middle School Library
Jan 3—Work Day
Jan 16—Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Feb 13—PD Day
Feb 20—President's Day
The Important Dates
Enero 3—Dia de trabajo para los maestros
Enero 16—Dia de Martin Luther King, Jr
Febrero 13—DP
Febrero 20—Dia de los Presidentes
Los Dias Importantes
4
Second Quarter Happenings
PETE MIRICH
Second quarter has been very
eventful for students at Pete
Mirich Elementary School.
October brought an extra effort
into ending bullying. They did
this by hosting a “Run, Walk,
Roll 5k.” Special guests former
Denver Nuggets player Mark
Randall and current Denver
Nuggets cheerleaders came out
to help. Later in October the
school held a family supper and
movie night to keep the idea of
togetherness on everyone’s
mind. The November Board of
Education meeting was held at
Pete Mirich. During the meeting
students showed off their new
critical thinking skills by hosting
a Socratic discussion, something
they have been studying.
GILCREST
Each morning students at Gilcrest Elementary School
begin the day by running “loops” or laps around the
grassy area in the playground. As the weather turned
colder morning exercise changed up a bit by moving
inside. Second quarter also brought music! First,
second and third graders sang bilingual music in their
program “De Colores: A Celebration of Hispanic
Culture and Heritage.”
Changing leaves, holidays and the end of the semester are just a few of the
things that second quarter brings. For Valley High School second quarter
brought quite a few fun events. In October Valley invited all of the district’s
youngsters over to have a fun and safe night of Halloween festivities at their
annual trick or treat street. They had trick or treating, games and even a
“haunted house.” It was a very successful event with people lined up to get
in most of the night. November brought the theater department’s fall play
“Brighton Beach Memoirs.” The classic Neil Simon tale holds drama,
comedy and everything in between. It is a play that truly showcases the
range of an actor’s skill. The Valley High School players brought the show to
life.
VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Winter Break
December 19, 2016—January 2, 2017
We at Weld County School District RE-1 would like to wish you a very Happy Holiday season!!
5
SOUTH VALLEY
The students at South Valley Middle School got to
think about what it means to be thankful this quarter.
They started with their Veteran’s Day celebration
where they invited veterans from the community to
come and share their experiences, while the students
thanked them for their service. Later, the school
hosted a Thanksgiving dinner complete with pumpkin
pie, where students thought about what they were
thankful for.
Preschoolers, kindergartners and their families
were invited to a potluck dinner and literacy
night second quarter. There they made book
marks, heard a story and got to do several other
fun activities. Platteville Elementary School’s
fifth graders kicked off the holiday season with a
music show in December. A little bit of acting
and a lot of music, the students did a great job!
PLATTEVILLE
NORTH VALLEY
Celebration filled North Valley Middle School second
quarter. The first celebration was for the fall teams as
the school transitioned to winter sports. The second
celebration was for academia. Those students who
held a GPA of 3.25 or higher received recognition.
Finally, North Valley celebrated veterans at the annual
veterans day assembly. Community veterans came out
to be honored and the students thanked them.
6
Winter Has Arrived
7
Staying Healthy
PLEASE
PLACE
STAMP
HERE
Weld County
School District
RE-1 14827 WCR 42, Gilcrest CO 80623
Phone: (970) 737-2403
Fax: (970) 737-2516
The Weld County School District
RE-1 Newsletter is a quarterly,
district-wide newsletter for
students, families and the school
district community.
For questions, comments or
su ggestions for the nex t
installment of the Weld RE-1
newsletter, contact Bonnie
Burcham at (970) 352-7404 ext.
2 7 2 2 , o r e m a i l
Weld RE-1 now has its own Facebook page.
In addition to the school messenger and other traditional communication methods, we’ll be
using Facebook to communicate school closures, board meetings, lunch menus, athletics
and the great things that go on in our schools every day.
If you have something you’d like us to share, send us a message!
Be sure to show your support and “like” Weld RE-1 at www.facebook.com/WeldRE1.
We’re on Facebook!