2017 Spring Five Star Journal

Spring 2017 Vol. 16 | No. 3 

www.adams12.org 

COVER: 

Custom desk 

built for student 

P 4 

2016 Bond 

Program 

timeline 

announced 

P 2 

Graduation rates 

on the rise 

P 21 

Boost your nutrition 

with nine tips 

P 6 

Westlake Middle 

student writes for 

Scholastic News 

P 12 

NEW GRADUATION GUIDELINES | PAGE 26

News Journal 

Vol. 16 | No. 3 | Spring 2017 

Connecting you 

to your Five Star Schools 

News Journal 

Communications Services 

1500 E. 128th Ave. 

Thornton, CO 80241 

(720) 972-4156 

www.adams12.org 

Board of Education 

Kathy Plomer 

Laura Mitchell 

Norm Jennings 

Brian Batz 

Jamey Lockley 

Adams 12 Five Star Schools is a caring, inclusive and 

engaging district which exists so the students it serves 

can attain the knowledge and skills necessary to 

pursue the future of their choosing and are equipped 

to navigate and thrive in our rapidly changing world.

FEATURES 

2 Bond Program Timeline 

4 Elementary Student Spotlight 

6 Nutrition Tips 

9 AIPAC Pow-Wow 

11 Budget Update 

12 Middle School Student Spotlight 

14 Unified Basketball Game Schedule 

16 District Crisis Recovery Team 

18 In Memoriam 

21 Graduation Rate 

22 High School Student Spotlight 

25 District Bond Sales 

26 New Graduation Guidelines 

28 Hour of Code 

IN EVERY ISSUE 

1 Board Message 

10 District Calendar 

15 Parent Pointers 

19 Legislative Update 

24 Five Star Notes

BENEFITS THE 

MARCH 11, 2017 | 6-10 PM 

WESTMINSTER MARRIOTT 

7000 Church Ranch Blvd, Westminster, CO 80021 

Our students are tomorrow’s leaders. 

Let’s help them change the world! 

Please join us for a star filled evening fundraising gala on Saturday, March 11, 2017, at the Marriott in 

Westminster. Our Black-Tie optional evening includes a champagne reception, dinner, special auction 

items, and student entertainment. Please support the students and teachers in Adams 12 Five Star 

Schools and the Five Star Education Foundation. 

Ticket information at www.5starfoundation.org 

page 4 | Spring 2017 

Questions? Mary Litwiler at 720-972-4342 or Mary.Litwiler@adams12.org

BOARD MESSAGE 

By Kathy Plomer, President 

Board of Education advocates for our students at the 

state and national level 

Advocacy! 

Part of the job of the Adams 12 Five Star 

Schools Board of Education is to stay current 

and weigh in, when necessary, on policies 

and legislation at the state and national level 

that impact district operations and funding. 

Each year we pass a legislative platform that 

outlines our basic philosophies around governance. 

We distribute this to our legislators 

so they know, in a broad sense, what kinds of 

policies and regulations both help and hurt 

the school district. You can view our board’s 

legislative platform on the district website. 

We also make trips to the Colorado Capitol 

and stay in touch with our legislators during 

the legislative session to provide feedback on 

various bills and proposals. 

Another way we advocate is through our 

membership in the Colorado Association 

of School Boards (CASB). CASB is a statewide 

organization that, among other things, 

advocates at the state level on behalf of 

local school districts. Each year your Board of 

Education sends a representative to be part of 

the legislative priority-setting process. CASB 

then uses those priorities to advocate on 

behalf of local boards of education. 

CASB keeps track of pending legislation that 

impacts school districts and gets local boards 

involved in lobbying efforts. Board members 

from the Five Star District participate in 

lobbying days at the Capitol with CASB and 

have testified on bills during committee 

hearings. 

This year Adams 12 Five Star Schools also 

became active advocating at the national 

level. I had the opportunity to represent 

the board and attend the National School 

Board Association’s Advocacy Institute. The 

Institute was part education and part direct 

lobbying of our congressional members. 

There were 13 members of the Colorado 

delegation that spoke to nearly all of our 

congressional members. We advocated for 

the continued support of the Secure Rural 

Schools Act, the full funding of the Individual 

with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – 

we currently receive only 16 percent of the 

funding we need to educate a Special Education 

student – and school choice. We let 

our elected officials know our commitment 

to offering families choice within the public 

system vs. needing vouchers or privatizing 

education. 

Advocacy is important! It is how we make 

the needs of our students known to the 

decision-makers at the state and national 

level and how we try to get the funding and 

best operational environment to serve our 

students. 

If you’d like to follow the various education 

bills being considered by the legislature, 

Chalkbeat, an online news source covering 

education in Colorado, offers a bill tracker. • 

Five Star Journal | page 1

Bond Program Timeline 

Timeline announced for 

2016 bond program 

Improvements to take place at every 

school, districtwide over the next five years 

Adams 12 Five Star Schools unveiled a timeline in January for the start of districtwide 

improvements as well as school-specific work to be completed over the next five years. 

The Five Star community supported a $350 million school construction bond in November 

2016. The bond program will allow the district to upgrade aging school buildings, relieve 

overcrowding, address programming needs and ensure all district students learn in a safe, 

warm and dry environment. 

The timeline allows parents and community members to find out when to expect improvements 

at schools. 

In developing the timeline, the Five Star District used six primary considerations to determine 

when community-wide and school-by-school investments would take place. 

Deferred Maintenance 

In the first three years, the bond program addresses the most critical of deferred 

maintenance needs throughout the district such as furnaces, roofs and sewer 

systems that are beyond their service life. 

 

Delivery Capacity 

In order to effectively deliver the bond program districtwide, projects will ramp 

up over the next few years as the district uses bond dollars to hire support staff 

such as bond project managers. 

Cost Efficiency 

To maximize bond dollars, the district strategically scheduled projects with 

consideration to project similarity (e.g. roof projects across various schools), 

location, construction timeframe, materials and capacity. 

Overcrowding 

Projects relieving overcrowding in schools may be prioritized in the schedule. 

The construction of a new P-8 school in the Anthem Highlands community and 

an expansion of STEM Lab were prioritized earlier in the bond timeline to alleviate 

school overcrowding. 

page 2 | Spring 2017

Bond Program Timeline 

Programming Needs 

Projects supporting school and district programming needs may be prioritized 

such as Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Early Childhood Education (ECE). 

Balance 

Once drafted, the bond project schedule was reviewed for balance across school 

levels and geographic regions within our district. 

To view the timeline and find out when improvements will occur, visit www.adams12.org/bond. • 

Long Range Planning Advisory Committee 

moves forward 

In fall 2015, Adams 12 Five Star Schools created a community-led Long Range Planning 

Advisory Committee (LRPAC) to address the district’s facility needs. After the successful 

passage of the 2016 Bond, the committee will continue to meet and broaden its focus: 

• Bond Oversight: The committee will review bond projects on a monthly basis to 

provide oversight on scheduling, budgeting and scope of the 2016 bond program. 

The committee will report to the Board of Education twice a year. 

• Long-Range Planning: Along with bond oversight, the committee will continue to 

provide insight on long-term needs such as boundary changes and updating the 

facilities master plan. 

The LRPAC meets the third Thursday of each month at the district training center. For more 

information, visit www.adams12.org/LRPAC. • 


Elementary Student Spotlight 

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT 

ELEMENTARY 

Andrew and his mom are excited for this new desk built by Eden Oaks designer Freddie Provenzano (right). 

Photos by Melissa Kooi 

Teacher, furniture owner partner to help 

Woodglen student 

Happy-go-lucky and full of energy, kindergartner 

Andrew Luke is always on the go at 

Woodglen Elementary School. 

But, that can sometimes be a challenge. 

Andrew has arthrogryposis, a condition that 

prevents joints from moving as much or are 

stuck in position and the muscles around 

those joints are thin. Because of this, he uses 

a wheelchair, but when he would go from 

one room to another, his wheelchair didn’t 

always hit at the right height to use a desk. 

“I was trying to think of ways I could make 

it easier for him,” said kindergarten teacher 

Melissa Kooi. 

It was seeing a piece of custom furniture 

made by Eden Oaks Designer Woodware, 

a Colorado Springs-based company Kooi 

follows on Facebook, that sparked an 

idea. She called them up and asked about 

building a desk that can adjust in height. 

She spoke with owner Freddie Provenzano. 

Kooi’s call struck a chord with him because 

both of his parents were educators. He was 

touched not only by the connection Kooi has 

with Andrew but also her generosity. 

“I decided in that moment we were just 

going to take care of it,” Provenzano said. 


Just a few weeks later, before students left 

for winter break, Andrew and his class were 

surprised by a visit from Provenzano. Andrew 

said he was excited to see the desk. What 

he didn’t expect was to see his name 

emblazoned in tall black letters across the 

length of the desk. 

“It’s so cool and it goes up and down,” he 

said. “It can go as high as I want and as low 

as I want.” 

The Eden Oaks team also had stuffed 

animals donated so that every student in 

the kindergarten class—not just Andrew— 

received something special that day. 

“I wanted it to be tremendously positive,” 

Provenzano said of delivering the desk to 

Andrew at school. “It was a touching experience.” 

Andrew’s mom, Stacey Vasquez agreed. 

“When (the desk) came I was in tears the 

whole time,” she said. 

In the short time Andrew has had his new 

desk, Kooi said she’s noticed a difference. 

“Andrew really likes his new desk a lot,” she 

said. “It makes him focus more on his work … 

it makes his day more productive, too.” 

Kooi said she was amazed how a simple 

following on Facebook turned into such an 

impact for a student. 

“This was Coloradans taking care of 

Coloradans,” she said. “It’s nice to see that 

people just genuinely care about each other.” 

Andrew said he loves being able to write 

from his desk. 

Five of Provezano’s 15-person team worked 

on the desk. “They all wanted to have a part 

of it,” he said. 

Elementary Student Spotlight 

And meeting Andrew was especially inspiring—his 

intelligence, his sense of humor and 

his happy attitude. 

“It really makes you look at things much 

differently,” Provenzano said. “Andrew really 

opened our eyes up to the possibilities of 

what we can do.” 

He and Andrew are still in touch and are 

hoping to reconnect soon. 

“He really makes you want to be the best 

version of yourself,” Kooi said. 

Provenzano said this has inspired his 

company to do more. In addition to forging 

a new friendship, the custom-furniture owner 

added that they’re open to working with 

other teachers whose students have special 

needs. He encourages any other teachers 

who may also need adaptive furniture for 

students to reach out to Eden Oaks to see 

how they may be able to help. 

That interest in continuing to give didn’t 

come as a surprise to Vasquez or Andrew, 

who said simply: “He’s a nice guy.” • 

Eden Oaks brought a special delivery for Ms. Kooi’s kindergarten class. 


Nutrition Tips 

March is National Nutrition month 

Below are some tips from our Nutrition Services team 

#1 

Prep after you buy 

Slicing your produce right away after buying will save you time down the road. 

You already have a quick, easy snack ready to go! Fruits and veggies are served 

daily in Five Star kitchens, so be sure to fill up. 

#2 

Mix it up 

For older school-age kids, mix dried fruit, unsalted nuts and popcorn in a snack-size 

bag for a quick trail mix. Blend plain fat-free or low-fat yogurt with 100% fruit juice 

and frozen peaches for a tasty smoothie. 

#3 

Milk mustaches all around 

A cup of low-fat or fat-free milk or milk alternative is an easy way to drink a healthy 

snack. The Five Star District serves 100 percent rBST hormone-free milk that makes 

a great low-fat snack. 

#4 

Get on the whole grain train 

When at home, offer whole-wheat breads, popcorn and whole-oat cereals that are 

high in fiber and low in added sugars, saturated fat and sodium. We have you covered 

at school where 100 percent of our snack and menu items are whole-grain rich. 

#5 

Protein machine 

Choose lean protein foods such as low-sodium deli meats or unsalted nuts. Store 

hard-cooked (boiled) eggs in the refrigerator for kids to enjoy any time. A good 

protein snack can energize the day and keep the metabolism churning. 


Nutrition Tips 

#6 

Keep an eye on the size 

Snacks shouldn’t replace a meal, so look for ways to help your kids understand how 

much is enough. Store snack-size bags in the cupboard and use them to control serving 

sizes. Nutrition Services ensures all snacks meet federal “Smart Snack” guidelines that 

limit calories to 200 per snack. 

#7 

Fruits are quick and easy 

Fresh, frozen, dried or canned fruits can be easy “grab-and-go” options that need little 

preparation. Encourage your child(ren) to come back for more fruits and veggies in the 

lunch line as well. 

#8 

Consider convenience 

A single-serving container of low-fat or fat-free yogurt or individually wrapped string 

cheese can be just enough for an after-school snack. Take a look at the Go, Slow, Whoa 

Shopping List to find some great after school snacks. 

#9 

Go for the “Go” 

Keep healthier foods handy so kids avoid cookies, pastries or candies between meals. 

The Five Star District Snack Carts are being revamped to always include healthier 

“Go” snacks. Be sure to make a “Go” of your snacks and encourage your kiddos to 

do the same. www.adams12.org/go-slow-whoa 


Five Star 5K 

for Wellness 

May 6, 2017 

Adams County Regional Park 

9755 Henderson Road, Brighton, CO 80601 

8:00 am Run Only (Chip Timed) $25 

8:05 am Run/Walk (Untimed) $20 

9:00 am Kids Fun Run (1.5 Miles) FREE 

Register now! 

http://tinyurl.com/fivestar5k 

All funds raised go towards enhancing wellness programs 

in district schools and to further improve the health of our 

students, staff and community. 

Adams 12 Five Star Schools

AIPAC Pow-Wow 

AIPAC hosts 8th Annual 

Pow-Wow 

Event draws more than 500 

The American Indian Parent Advisory 

Committee (AIPAC) hosted the 8th Annual 

Pow-Wow on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017. Hosted 

by the parent committee in conjunction with 

Adams 12 Five Star Schools, the event drew 

over 500 community members from the Front 

Range and beyond. 

The Pow-Wow is a gathering to connect 

American-Indian families through traditions 

and dance. From live music to food and 

dances to ceremonies, the gathering is a time 

of celebration and affirmation of American- 

Indian culture. 

“We gather together to honor our culture 

for those who can’t get home to practice their 

traditions” explained Phil Gover, the Native 

American Youth Advocate for Adams 12 Five 

Star Schools. “But the event is a fun celebration 

for all. Whether native or not, the event 

is about respecting each other’s cultures 

and traditions.” 

Aside from organizing the event, the Five 

Star District plays a key role in the activities. 

Five Star students are featured as dancers and 

leaders. Each year the Adams 12 Princess is 

selected who becomes the spokesperson for 

the committee and the Five Star community. 

This year, Elizabeth Standing Bear Light in the 

Lodge, fifth grader at North Star Elementary, 

Elizabeth Standing Bear Light in the Lodge from North Star Elementary 

was named the new Princess. 

was honored with the role. 

“The Pow-Wow is one event but all year we 

are educating the next generation on how 

to be leaders within our traditions and our 

larger community,” Gover said. “I’m proud 

of our student leaders and hope others will 

come see our culture in action at future 

events.” 

AIPAC will host its annual graduation 

dinner on April 21, 6:30 to 8 p.m. For more 

information, visit www.adams12.org/AIPAC.• 


Plan now for the next school year 

Adams 12 Five Star Schools 

1500 East 128 th Avenue 

Thornton, CO 80241 

SCHOOL CALENDAR– 2017-2018* 

JULY 2017 F First Day of School for Students 

JANUARY 2018 

S M T W T F S FS-August 16, 2017 6 th morning; 7 th -8 th afternoon; 9 th ONLY 

S M T W T F S 

FE-August 16, 2017 ALL Elementary K-5 and K-8 Report 

1 1 2 3 4 5 6 

FS-August 17, 2017 ALL Students K-12 Report 

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7 B 9 10 11 A 13 

L Last Day of School for All Students 

29 10 11 12 13 14 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 

May 24, 2018 

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 

A Elementary Assessment Days 

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 28 29 30 31 

September 5, 2017; January 12, 2018 

30 31 

May 4, 2018 

AUGUST 2017 

W Elementary School Work Days (No School for K-5 Students) 

FEBRUARY 2018 

S M T W T F S October 12 , 2017 

S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 February 14, 2018; May 11, 2018* potential snow day make up 

1 2 3 

6 7 8 9 I D 12 D Teacher Duty Days (No School for All Students) 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

13 D I FS/FE FS 18 19 August 11, and 14, 2017 

11 12 13 W B I 17 

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 December 22, 2017 

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 

27 28 29 30 31 May 25, 2018 

25 26 27 28 

C Teacher Comp Day – All Schools (No School for All Students) 

SEPTEMBER 2017 November 20, 2017 

MARCH 2018 

S M T W T F S I District In-service Days – All Schools (No School for All Students) S M T W T F S 

1 2 

August 10, and 15, 2017; February 16, 2018 

1 2 3 

3 4 A 6 7 8 9 B In-Common Release Days – K-8 (No School for K-8 Students) 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

October 13 , 2017 

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 11 12 13 14 15 Q 17 

January 8, 2018; February 15, 2018; April 2, 2018 

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 

Q Quarters Days 

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 

Oct.13 , 2017 42 days 

Dec.21 , 2017 43 days 

OCTOBER 2017 

Mar. 16, 2018 47 days 

May 24, 2018 44 days 

APRIL 2018 

S M T W T F S Pupil Count Window ............................ September 25 – October 9, 2017 S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

Calendar Information 

1 B 3 4 5 6 7 

B/ 

8 9 10 11 W 14 Registration of New Students .............. Please Contact Your Local School 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 

Q 

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 School Year Starts, K-9 ................................................... August 16 , 2017 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 

School Year Starts, All Students Report ......................... August 17 , 2017 

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 

Labor Day .................................................................. September 4, 2017 

29 30 31 Elem. Assessment Days ........... Sept.5, 2017; Jan.12, 2018; May 4, 2018 29 30 

Dist. In-Svc. No School-All Students ...... Aug.10, 15 , 2017; Feb. 16, 2018 

NOVEMBER 2017 Elementary Work Days ........ Oct.5, 2017; Feb. 14, 2018; May 11* , 2018 

MAY 2018 

S M T W T F S In-Comm. Rel. Days, K-8 ....... Oct. 13, 2017; Jan. 8, Feb. 15, Apr. 2, 2018 S M T W T F S 

1 2 3 4 Veterans’ Day Observed ........................................... November 10, 2017 

1 2 3 A 5 

Teacher Comp Day-No School ................................. November 20 , 2017 

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 6 7 8 9 10 W* 12 

Thanksgiving Break .............................................. November 20-24, 2017 

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 End of First Semester ............................................... December 21, 2017 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 

19 C 21 22 23 24 25 Teacher Duty Day-No School-All Students ................ December 22, 2017 20 21 22 23 Q D 26 

26 27 28 29 30 Winter Break ................................. December 25, 2017- January 5, 2018 27 28 29 30 31 

High School In-Common Release Day ..............................January 8, 2018 

S M 

DECEMBER 2017 All Students Return..........................................................January 9, 2018 

JUNE 2018 

Martin Luther King Day..................................................January 15, 2018 

T W T F S S M T W T F S 

Presidents’ Day ............................................................February 19, 2018 

1 2 Spring Break ................................................................ March26-30 2018 

1 2 

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Last Day for Students......................................................... May 24 , 2018 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Teacher Duty Day ............................................................... May 25, 2018 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 

Memorial Day ..................................................................... May 28, 2018 

17 18 19 20 Q D 23 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 

31 

BASE CLOSED ...................................................... August 7-11, 2017 

SUMMER BASE OPEN - ............................... May 31–August 4, 2017 

BASE OPEN ..................................... August 14, 2017 A.M. and P.M. 


*Subject to Revision 

Approved December 15, 2016

Budget Update for the 

2017-18 School Year 

Superintendent Gdowksi explains 

budget challenges for next year 

On Feb. 23, 2017, Superintendent Chris 

Gdowski outlined factors contributing 

to budget challenges for the 2017-18 school 

year. Some readers may be surprised to learn 

we face this budget challenge, as many 

believe public schools are receiving significant 

revenue from marijuana sales. Others 

may believe our $350 million bond, which 

passed in November, would help us operate 

our schools. Unfortunately neither of these 

beliefs are accurate. 

In reality, our budget is shaped by our 

state’s continued reductions in K-12 funding, 

including: 

1. Declines in state funding due to the 

Negative Factor 

2. Adjustments to the Gallagher amendment 

resulting in a reduction of residential tax 

rates, which in turn sends less funding to 

school districts 

3. Senate Bill 061, which would reallocate 

funding to charter schools 

Budget Update 

We have mitigated some of the bite of 

these ongoing state funding reductions 

by using money from the district’s savings 

account, which we commonly refer to as “fund 

balance” or “reserves.” In the 2012-13 school 

year we had about $46 million in our reserves. 

We have drawn from the reserves consistently 

over the past five years to offset state 

funding cuts so that we can have competitive 

salaries and benefits to neighboring school 

districts and to invest in programming to 

improve student achievement. These expenditures 

have been targeted at addressing the 

district’s most critical needs and have helped 

us improve the academic achievement of 

students to a level that has elevated the 

district’s state accountability rating to 

Performance status. 

We are no longer able to use reserve funds 

to help subsidize our operations, as our fund 

balance has declined by 40 percent over 

the past five years and is now sitting at the 

minimum levels required by state law and 

board of education policy. 

The Bottom Line 

Given the reduced revenues outlined above 

which equal a $3.6 million decrease, and an 

anticipated $10 million increase in expenditures 

for such things as increased health 

care costs, covering one-time dollars used 

to balance the current year (2016-2017) 

budget and compensation, Adams 12 Five 

Star Schools may experience a $13.8 million 

shortfall for next fiscal year. 

Where can I find more information about 

these legislative issues? 

How are other districts dealing with state 

revenue cuts? 

What are next steps in the budget process? 

Read Superintendent Gdowski’s complete 

letter for detailed information on budget 

concerns and next steps. • 


Middle School Student Spotlight 


MIDDLE SCHOOL 

Scholastic News Kids Press Corps website profiles Westlake Middle student. 

Westlake Middle student reports for Scholastic 

News Kids Press Corps 

Seventh-grader just one of almost 40 student reporters worldwide 

With curiosity and an interest in writing, Jacob McNab will represent his classmates at 

Westlake Middle School—and Colorado—as a member of the Scholastic News Kids Press 

Corps this school year. 

The 12-year-old heard about the opportunity to apply to be a kid reporter from his social 

studies teacher, Danielle Mawhir. He has always liked writing and thought this would be a 

chance to learn more, think creatively and introduce people from around the country to what’s 

going on in Colorado. 

“I saw it and writing has interested me. I thought it might be cool to become a Scholastic 

reporter so I applied,” the seventh-grader said. 


Middle School Student Spotlight 

The Scholastic News Kids Press Corps is a 

group of almost 40 student reporters, ranging 

in age from 10 to 14, from across the country 

and around the world. They create “news for 

kids, by kids,” and cover topics that range from 

breaking news to entertainment and sports 

events from their hometowns and on the 

national stage. 

He has not yet published his first piece for 

Scholastic, but he has a number of ideas in the 

works. He’s most interested in articles about 

business and sports, so readers can expect to 

see stories from McNab about young entrepreneurs 

and examples of students making 

physical fitness and sports part of their lives. 

His sample article to apply to Scholastic 

focused on Santa’s Little Hackers, an annual 

toy drive put on by Westminster-based nonprofit 

MaxMods. 

“They modify toys so kids with special needs 

can use them,” McNab said, adding that the 

toys are then sent across the country and the 

world. 

McNab is excited to be representing not 

just Westlake but all of Colorado. 

“It means a lot and I’m proud of it,” he said. 

“It makes me feel good because it tells me I’m 

a good writer.” 

It’s also a great opportunity to learn outside 

of the classroom, says his mom Becky McNab. 

“I think as a parent what a phenomenal 

program for leadership and social skills and 

talking to a variety of different people … and 

just really working on those interpersonal 

relationships,” she said. 

Jacob McNab hopes to start his own business 

one day, such as a restaurant, and feels 

that working on skills like writing will help 

him in the long run. 

“I think it will help me become a better writer 

and get better feedback,” he said. “It will also 

help with being more creative and having 

better ideas for the future.” 

He’s even generated some media interest 

of his own as Colorado’s Scholastic kid 

reporter, talking to KBCO’s Robynn Hart and 

Good Day Colorado’s Meagan O’Halloran 

and Kirk Yuhnke. 

“It was nerve-wracking at the beginning,” 

he said of being on the other side of the 

microphone. 

One lesson he’s learned so far? “Getting in 

touch (with people for stories) can be hard.” 

Mom Becky McNab says she’s also seen him 

learn not to sit back on the sidelines and wait 

for an opportunity. He has taken initiative 

by not only applying to be a kid reporter 

but pitching articles to make the most of his 

experience. 

“I think those are life-long skills,” she said. 

“I feel like in today’s world social skills are 

such an important part of having a job and 

connecting with people around you. I think 

that’s a great opportunity to foster some of 

those skills in a lot of different environments 

and settings.” 

Read articles from Scholastic 

News Kids Press Corps reporters at 

kpcnotebook.scholastic.com. • 


Unified Basketball 

Unified Basketball Game Schedule 

Friday, March 10 Northglenn @ Legacy 3:30 

Mountain Range @ Horizon 3:30 

Thornton 

BYE 

Tuesday, March 14 Horizon @ Legacy 3:30 

Thornton @ Northglenn 3:30 

Mountain Range 

BYE 

Thursday, March 16 Horizon @ Thornton 3:30 

Legacy @ Mountain Range 3:30 

Northglenn 

BYE 

Tuesday, March 21 Mountain Range @ Northglenn 3:30 

Legacy @ Thornton 3:30 

Horizon 

BYE 

Thursday, March 23 Thornton @ Mountain Range 3:30 

Northglenn @ Horizon 3:30 

Legacy 

BYE 


PARENT POINTERS 

Preparing students for testing 

March and April mark the time when state tests, as well as Academic Placement (AP) and International 

Baccaulareate (IB) tests take place. 

Here are some tips to prepare students to showcase their learning: 

Talk with your child about testing 

Stress is common among students taking assessments. To help relieve any anxiety, it is 

important to provide students with a positive outlook by assuring them that a test will not 

determine their overall academic success. 

Get some sleep, and be sure to eat 

By helping your student get a good night’s sleep and eat a quality breakfast before test days, 

research shows that students are more likely to succeed academically. This is an easy way to 

ensure your student is energized for the day ahead. 

Ask for teacher help 

Work with your child’s teacher to determine areas to work on and improve. By receiving some 

direction from teachers, students can study more effectively. 

Read Five Power Moves for Supporting your Child Academically; a great resource provided 

by bealearninghero.org. This article helps parents support their students academically. 

Some of the helpful tips include: what parents can do to get their child ready for school, 

what apps and games help support student learning and how to get the most out of parentteacher 

conferences. 

For more information on Colorado state testing, see the Colorado Department of Education 

Parent Guide. • 


District Crisis Recovery Team 

The Five Star Schools Crisis Recovery Team accepts a School Safety and Response recognition award on Feb. 23, 2017 at the National School Psychologist 

Conference in San Antonio, Texas. 

District Crisis Recovery Team supports 

schools in need 

Trained staff helps families and schools return to learning 

Adams 12 Five Star Schools supports the short- and long-term recovery of students, staff and 

schools after a crisis or traumatic event through a District Crisis Recovery Team (DCRT). Started in 

2005, the DCRT is an on-call team of current professional mental health employees from the Five 

Star District. The team is made up of social workers, school psychologists and counselors who 

offer extensive experience in crisis recovery. 

Led by Sarah Hunter, the Suicide Prevention/Intervention and Crisis Response Specialist for Adams 

12 Five Star Schools, the DCRT provides different types of supports to students, families and 

schools including individual crisis counseling and school-wide emergency response. 

No matter the crisis, the DCRT is ready to provide the support needed for each unique case. 

“One crisis-response model will not fully solve each issue,” Hunter explained. “We have a 

structure of best practice in a crisis, but we don’t implement a cookie-cutter response to every 

situation. Our response is unique but the support for kids is the same.” 

The DCRT responds to crisis needs throughout the district and is on-call for emergencies as 

needed. If a student or family is in need of support, the family is encouraged to do the following: 


• Start with your child’s school or your 

school’s counselor, social worker or 

psychologist. 

• Safe2Tell provides a safe and easy way to 

anonymously report information about 

anything that is a concern to school or 

community safety. To report a safety 

concern please call 1-877-542-SAFE 

(7233) or visit safe2tell.org. 

• If a student is struggling or sees worrisome 

behavior in another student, the Suicide 

Prevention LifeLine is a free service to 

anyone in need: 1-800-273-TALK or 

www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. 

• Colorado Crisis Services also has phone 

and online support for students as well as 

a walk-in center at the old St. Anthony’s 

North hospital: 1-844-493-TALK or 

www.coloradocrisisservices.org. 

The DCRT also provides training for middle 

and high school students on how to support 

struggling friends called “Signs of Suicide” 

or SOS. The SOS curriculum teaches the ACT 

acronym, “Acknowledge-Care-Tell” as a way 

to encourage kids to tell trusting adults when 

they see worrisome behavior. 

Ultimately, the DCRT partners with families 

and schools on the road to recovery. 

“Our role is to help families and schools 

develop a process of recovery that best fits the 

needs of the affected community,” explained 

Hunter. “It is our honor to do what we can to 

help return communities to learning as soon 

as possible.” • 

District Crisis Recovery Team 

Adams 12 Five Star Schools District Crisis 

Recovery Team utilizes the PREPaRE 

model for crisis training and response. 

PREPaRE is a model established by the 

National Association of School Psychologists 

using information from the U.S. 

Department of Education, Homeland 

Security and the National Incident 

Management System (NIMS). 

P 

R 

EPa 

R 

E 

Prevent and PREPaRE for 

psychological trauma 

Reaffirm physical health 

and perceptions of 

security and safety 

Evaluate psychological 

trauma risk 

Provide interventions 

and 

Respond to 

psychological needs 

Examine the effectiveness 

of crisis prevention and 

intervention 


In Memoriam 

Robert Max Willsey 

1935-2017 

We honor former board member and longtime 

Adams 12 Five Star Schools employee and 

volunteer Robert Max Willsey who passed away 

Jan. 31, 2017. Mr. Willsey began in the Five Star 

District as a teacher and football, wrestling and 

track coach at Merritt Hutton High School, now 

Thornton High School, in 1961. His 50-year career 

with the district was as a teacher at Northglenn 

High School, assistant principal at South Huron Jr. 

High School, principal at Pecos Jr. High School, principal at Thornton High School, District 

Athletic Director, and Driver’s Education teacher and consultant. He was devoted to the 

students of the Five Star District and a staunch advocate of sports as a vehicle to academic 

success. After retiring he continued his service as a volunteer working tirelessly for the district 

Athletic Department and serving as a director for the Adams 12 Five Star Schools Board of 

Education from November 2007 - 2015. 

Mr. Willsey’s passion for sports is renowned and rivaled only by his academic legacy. At Pecos 

Jr. High he started a core program that combined English and Social Studies, he implemented 

a math program that provided students new experiences and skills according to their abilities, 

and initiated a drop-out prevention program that encouraged students to return and finish the 

year through communication with their parents. At Thornton High School he developed the 

DECA Lunch Program to encourage students to stay on campus, implemented the International 

Baccalaureate Diploma Program, created a Career Center in the school library for students and 

established a Teacher Center that provided staff development. At Northglenn High School he 

was the first head coach in football, wrestling and track, started the first weightlifting program 

and designed the crimson and gold letter jacket. Mr. Willsey’s dedication to students and 

athletes was recognized by the Colorado Athletic Directors Association which honored him as 

the 2015 Outstanding School Board Member of the Year. 

Robert Max Willsey was preceded in death by his daughter Laura Lyn and survived by his 

sons Robert Willsey and Beau Willsey, all graduates of Thornton High School. Adams 12 Five 

Star Schools pays tribute to Max Willsey whose leadership and passion for students and 

athletics will live on in the Five Star District. • 


LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 

Several bills aim to change state testing for 

ninth-graders 

Bill with most support would replace current state test with college readiness exam 

Momentum in the Colorado legislature seems to be building for a bill that would replace the 

state’s current ninth-grade language arts and math testing with a college readiness exam such 

as the PSAT 8/9. 

Lawmakers passed major testing legislation in 2015 that reduced use of the Colorado Measures 

of Academic Success testing in high school. (The state system uses the PARCC language arts and 

math tests.) 

But ninth-grade testing remained on the schedule, despite a push by some legislators, school 

districts and advocacy groups to eliminate it. Other education groups have fought to maintain 

the tests, arguing they’re integral to the state’s academic growth model and school accountability 

system. Those groups have had a powerful ally in Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper. 

Federal law requires only one year of high school testing, but Colorado has long had ninthgrade 

tests. 

Students opting out of high school tests are part of the issue in Colorado. Only 61 percent of 

10th-graders took PARCC tests in 2015, but participation jumped to 88 percent in 2016 after 

the state switched to PSAT 10. Ninth grade participation on PARCC tests was only 73 percent 

in 2016. 

Ninth-grade testing surfaced again shortly after the 2017 legislative session convened with 

bills that proposed eliminating the requirement or making it optional for districts. But a bipartisan 

measure introduced Feb. 10 looks like it may have the backing, and the Governor’s support, 

to pass. House Bill 17-1181 was approved 13-0 on Feb. 13 by the House Education Committee. 

The bill requires the new ninth-grade tests to be aligned with the 10th-grade assessment (PSAT 

10) and the 11th-grade test, which will be the SAT starting this spring. 

Three other testing bills have died in committee: 

Senate Bill 17-101 would have allowed school districts to choose from two sets of college 

readiness tests and administer the first one in either ninth or 10th grade. Killed Feb. 16. 

House Bill 17-1117 would have repealed state requirements for ninth-grade language arts 

and math tests and for social studies tests currently given on a sample schedule. Killed Feb. 13. 

House Bill 17-1062 proposed to make ninth- and 10th-grade tests, and social studies tests, 

optional for school districts. Killed Feb. 13. • 


GRADUATION 2017 

Northglenn High School 

May 15 | 2 pm 

CU Events Center 

Thornton High School 

May 15 | 7 pm 


Legacy High School 

May 16 | 2 pm 


Horizon High School 

May 17 | 2 pm 


Mountain Range High School 

May 17 | 7 pm 


Vantage Point High School 

May 23 | 12 pm 

Macky Auditorium at CU 

Pathways 

May 23 | 6 pm 

Macky Auditorium at CU 

Westgate Community School 

May 30 | 6 pm 

Mountain Range Auditorium

Graduation rates continue to rise 

Rates demonstrating academic success across the district 

Graduation Rate 

In January 2017, the Colorado Department of Education released graduation rates for districts 

across the state. For the second straight year, Five Star students have surpassed the statewide 

graduation rate, demonstrating a trend of upward academic growth over the past decade. 

Additionally, the state released performance ratings for schools and districts in fall 2016 and 

for the first time the Five Star District has been accredited as a Performance District. Not only 

does the performance rating highlight districtwide academic progress, it also signifies gains 

for schools across the district. A total of 15 schools moved into a higher category in their state 

performance rating. 

With such academic gains, it is no surprise that four-year graduation rates continue to increase 

year-over-year. The 2016 Class holds a four-year graduation rate of 80.6 percent, surpassing the 

state average of 78.9 percent, making it the highest graduation rate in recent memory and up 

nearly 7 percent since 2014. 

Additional Graduation Rate Celebrations: 

• The number of English Language Learners who graduate in 

four years is up 10 percent since 2014. 

• Nearly 11 percent more students on the free/reduced lunch 

program graduate in four years than in 2014. 

• 10.2 percent more students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) 

are graduating in four years than in 2014. 

• Finally, the number of minority students graduating in four years 

is up 5.4 percent since in 2014. 

Not only are graduation rates increasing, but other factors that signify student success 

are on the move. The Class of 2016 saw a drop-out rate lower than previous years, down 

to 1.7 percent from 3 percent. In addition, average ACT scores are the highest the Five Star 

District has ever seen at 19.6. 

“This data is evidence that we are moving in a positive direction; making strides toward 

the goal that all students, regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status, have equal 

opportunity to achieve at high levels and be college and career ready,” Superintendent 

Chris Gdowski said. “But we’re not done here; we look forward to more gains and continued 

success in the future.” • 


High School Student Spotlight 


HIGH SCHOOL 

Luis Gallegos, second from the left, with his quartet and the mayor of Thornton. 

Thornton High School student heading to MIT 

Senior reflects on past and prepares for future 

Is there anything Luis Gallegos cannot do? His resume looks like a template for success: 

full IB Diploma candidate, state orchestra performer and recognized as an outstanding 

student by the Colorado Association of Bilingual Educators. It’s no wonder he just accepted 

a full-ride scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, otherwise known as MIT. 

Yes, that one. 

“Luis is an incredible young man with a diversified talent base,” said Jennifer Skrobela, 

principal at Thornton High School. “He has brought so much to our school community, from 

academics to the arts, and he will be missed.” 


High School Student Spotlight 

Early Beginnings 

Gallegos first arrived in Adams 12 Five Star 

Schools in the second grade at Federal Heights 

Elementary. He attended Century Middle and 

is finishing at Thornton High School. One of 

his fondest memories comes from his time at 

Federal Heights when his teacher, Mr. Jason 

Soukup, challenged him to set goals. 

“One day, we were talking about test scores 

and Mr. Soukup talked about how we each 

should set goals on how to improve,” Gallegos 

said. “He mentioned we should set goals that 

seem unattainable, that those who do will 

grow more than those who only set small 

realistic goals.” 

From that moment, Gallegos started 

setting what—at the time—seemed like 

unrealistic goals in everything he would do, 

aiming high as a way to challenge himself. 

“I always aim really high, even though at 

the time it may seem unattainable,” he said. 

This concept has shaped me as an individual 

and really helped me get to where I am today 

and where I plan to go in the future.” 

Mr. Soukup was impressed with Gallegos’ 

work ethic and problem-solving mindset. 

“No matter what situation was presented to 

him, he was always up for the challenge and 

perceived every obstacle as an opportunity 

to learn and excel,” Soukup said. “He was a 

tireless worker and learner who truly looked 

at each and every day as an opportunity to 

excel and achieve at the highest level.” 

Challenging Himself 

Aside from academic goals, Gallegos has 

pushed himself musically in the orchestra 

as a violin player. Since the 10th grade, 

Gallegos has been selected to participate 

in the competitive All-State Orchestra. As a 

freshman, he helped start a string quartet for 

fun. The group has flourished and now plays 

for events throughout the community. 

Playing an instrument has helped Gallegos 

grow individually and with friendships. He 

hopes to continue to play while attending 

MIT to grow as a musician and provide an 

opportunity for friendships. 

The Future 

Gallegos is undecided on a major but 

will likely choose chemical engineering 

or chemistry and is considering a medical 

career. Without the Five Star Schools 

community, Gallegos does not believe he 

would be heading to MIT. 

“People I’ve been surrounded by, not only 

the students but also the teachers, have 

inspired me,” Gallegos explained. “I’ve met 

so many amazing people that have pushed 

me to reach for and achieve my best. They’ve 

pushed me to set really high goals, not just 

realistic goals.” 

With a bright future ahead of him, 

Gallegos will not quickly forget his experience 

in Adams 12 Five Star Schools. 

“I will miss how everyone—teachers, staff 

and fellow students—is so caring. Everyone 

really wants everyone to be successful,” 

Gallegos said. • 


FIVE STAR NOTES 

Share your news 

Help Adams 12 Five Star Schools spread the word about the great things happening across 

the district. With nearly 40,000 students across five cities in 57 schools, we need your help in sharing 

the exciting events, initiatives and success stories happening at your child’s school. 

Is your child’s class participating in a unique program or initiative? Is 

your child’s teacher receiving an award? The district wants to hear these 

good news stories to best promote our Five Star Schools and student 

success with the entire community. For more information and to submit 

your good news story, visit www.adams12.org/share-your-news. • 

Look for this image 

on the website 

Be the first to know. 

Receive priority alerts 

on your cell phone. 

Text “YES” to 68453 * 

With this free service * * , you will receive text 

messages notifying you of safety alerts or 

other important information impacting the 

Adams 12 Five Star Schools system. 

You can opt-out from alerts at any time. 

Reply with HELP if you need assistance. 

Your privacy is important. Your information will not be sold or provided to third parties. *Your cell phone number must be up-to-date 

in your Infinite Campus profile. **Message and/or data rates may apply.

District Bond Sales 

District bond sales 

give Mountain Range 

students real-life 

economics lesson 

Students see bond market in action, 

take knowledge back to classroom 

The passage of the Adams 12 Five Star 

Schools’ $350 million school construction 

bond on Nov. 8, 2016 provided a unique 

opportunity for a group of Mountain Range 

High School business students. 

The district completed its first sale of general 

obligation bonds on Dec. 1, 2016. The 

initial sale of $285 million will fund the first 

phase of the bond program that will invest 

in every student, every school and every 

community. 

Mountain Range High School general 

business and accounting students, as well 

as students from the school’s investment 

club, joined Superintendent Chris Gdowski 

for the sale of bonds at the offices of Butler 

Snow in downtown Denver. 

For the students, the opportunity to 

observe the public sale of district bonds 

was an opportunity to watch the live bond 

market in action; understand timing of rates; 

and how supply and demand affect bond 

pricing. Mountain Range business teacher 

Hilary Wimmer called it “a super exciting” 

opportunity for students. 

“Typically students will do simulated stock 

challenges where they are dealing with 

virtual companies and virtual currency,” 

she said. 

Wimmer added that the bond sale 

expanded students’ view of how the market 

functions. 

“Normally in classes, they only deal with 

stocks and not bonds,” she said. “As investors 

that’s not an accurate representation of an 

investment mix.” 

Watching the real market function was 

underscored for students by the fact that 

the sale of these bonds will have a positive 

impact on the school and district where 

they learn. Wimmer said it added a “personal 

touch” to the process. 

“[It] means so much more and helps them 

learn at a deeper level than virtual simulated 

investment scenarios,” she said. 

The learning didn’t end after investors had 

scooped up the remaining district bonds. 

Armed with new understanding and confidence, 

students plan to build their own 

investment portfolios during the second 

semester and create a budget based off 

short-, mid- and long-term investment plans. 

The bonds sold in December will be paid 

off over the next 20 years and principal will 

be retired at various points during that time 

span. The remaining $65 million of the 2016 

voter-approved bond program will be sold 

in the next two to three years. 

Visit www.adam12.org/bond to learn more 

about the district’s bond program. • 


Graduation Guidelines 

New graduation 

guidelines coming 

for the Class of 2021 

and beyond 

New guidelines scheduled to be 

adopted May 2017 

In 2013, the State Board of Education adopted 

the Colorado Graduation Guidelines. 

As a result, all Colorado school districts 

are to adopt revisions to local graduation 

requirements that meet or exceed the state 

guidelines beginning with the Class of 2021. 

There are two components to the new 

guidelines: revised credit requirements and 

added competency requirements (levels of 

performance students must meet) including 

a capstone opportunity for students. To ensure 

multiple stakeholders are involved in the 

development of the new guidelines, the Adams 

12 Five Star Schools Board of Education 

tasked district leadership with establishing a 

Graduation Guidelines Committee. 

Janette Walters, Executive Director of 

Secondary Schools, and Tammy Lawrence, 

Director of Counseling, lead the committee 

comprised of various district stakeholders 

including school and district staff members, 

students and parents; as well as a military 

representative and members of the district 

leadership team. 

“The committee has compared peer district 

credit requirements, higher education 

admissions requirements, as well as student 

interest and post-secondary readiness data,” 

Walters said. 

After participating in nine meetings from 

March 2016 through January 2017, the committee 

prepared three graduation guidelines 

options. Each of the options was created with 

a specific focus in mind, ranging from more 

student choice to a guaranteed high school 

experience. 

All three options, along with the data 

reviewed by the committee, were presented 

to the board during its regular meeting 

held at Thornton High School on Feb. 1, 2017. 

Students, parents and school staff will have 

additional opportunities to learn about 

the three options and provide feedback 

during multiple public engagement sessions 

throughout the spring semester. 

“The committee has worked hard to develop 

the three options; we’re excited to present 

each of them to our families and listen to 

their feedback,” Lawrence said. 

The following two events are dedicated to 

parents and students: 

• March 14, 2017 at Northglenn High 

School, Start time: 6 p.m. 

• April 5, 2017 at Mountain Range High 

School, Start time: 6 p.m. 

To conclude the engagement sessions, 

parents will be asked to complete a short 

survey regarding the advantages and 

challenges to each of the options. The 

survey will also allow participants to rank the 

options based on preference. Staff will have 

an opportunity to participate in the very 


Graduation Guidelines 

same engagement process over the course of 11 engagement sessions taking place at all five 

comprehensive high schools in the Five Star District. 

The committee will meet again on April 18, 2017 to review stakeholder feedback. Once consensus 

is reached, the committee will present to the Adams 12 Five Star Schools Board of 

Education for their review. The finalized graduation guidelines will be adopted in May 2017. • 

In early February, Mountain Range Clay Club 

participated in the Empty Bowl fundraiser for 

the Food Bank of the Rockies. The Mudworks 

Ceramics students created ceramic bowls for 

guests to choose to use for their food and to 

keep as a reminder that there are always empty 

bowls in the world. There were two different 

events; a chili cook-off for staff where the bowls 

cost $10, and an event for students with bowls 

costing $5 with unlimited popcorn. This year, 

they raised $340 to support hungry families of 

Colorado. 


Support K-12 Computer Science 

Support Hour of Code K-12 Computer Science 

Support 

Support 

Education in Colorado 

Education K-12 

K-12 in Colorado Computer 

Computer 

Science 

Science 

Computer science drives job growth and innovation throughout 

Education 

Education 

in 

in 

Colorado 

Colorado 

our economy and society. Computing occupations are the 

Computer science drives job growth and innovation throughout 

number 1 source of all new wages in the U.S. and make 

our economy and society. Computing occupations are the 

up two-thirds of all projected new jobs in STEM fields, making 

number Computer 1 science source drives of all job new growth wages and in innovation the U.S. and throughout make 

Computer Science science drives one of job the growth most in-demand innovation college throughout degrees. 

up our two-thirds economy and of all society. projected Computing new jobs occupations in STEM fields, are making the 

And our economy computing and is used society. all around Computing us and occupations in virtually are every 

Computer number 1 Science source one of all of the new most wages in-demand the U.S. college and degrees. the make 

field. number It’s 1 foundational source of knowledge new wages that all students the U.S. need. and make But 

And up two-thirds computing of is all used projected all around new us jobs and in STEM in virtually fields, every making 

up computer two-thirds science of all is projected marginalized new jobs throughout STEM education. fields, making Fewer 

field. Computer It’s foundational Science one knowledge of the most that in-demand all students college need. degrees. But 

And Computer than half of Science U.S. schools one of offer the most any computer in-demand science college courses 

computer computing science is used is marginalized all around us throughout virtually education. every degrees. Fewer 

field. And and computing only 8% of is STEM used graduates all around study us and it. We in virtually need to every improve 

than half It’s foundational of U.S. schools knowledge offer any that computer all students science need. courses But 

field. access It’s for foundational all students, knowledge including that groups all students who have need. traditionally 

and computer only 8% science of STEM is marginalized graduates study throughout it. We need education. to improve Fewer But 

been computer underrepresented. 

access than half for of science all U.S. students, schools is marginalized including offer any groups throughout computer who science education. have traditionally 

courses Fewer 

been and than only half underrepresented. 

8% of U.S. of STEM schools graduates offer any study computer it. We need science to improve courses 

access and only for 8% all of students, STEM graduates including study groups it. We who need have to traditionally 

improve 

been access underrepresented. 

for all students, including groups who have traditionally 

been underrepresented. 

Computer science in Colorado 




Colorado currently has 13,517 open computing jobs (2.8 times the average demand rate in Colorado). 

The average salary for a computing occupation in CO is $95,050, which is significantly higher than the 

Colorado currently has 13,517 open computing jobs (2.8 times the average demand rate in Colorado). 

average salary in the state ($51,180). The existing open jobs alone represent a $1,284,790,850 

The average salary for a computing occupation in CO is $95,050, which is significantly higher than the 

opportunity in terms of annual salaries. 

average Colorado salary currently in the has state 13,517 ($51,180). open computing The existing jobs open (2.8 jobs times alone the represent average a demand $1,284,790,850 rate in Colorado). 

Colorado currently had only 668 has 13,517 computer open science computing graduates jobs (2.8 in 2014; times only the 14% average were demand female. 

opportunity The average salary in terms for of a annual computing salaries. occupation CO is $95,050, which is significantly higher rate in than Colorado). the 

average The Only average 780 high salary school for a students computing in occupation Colorado took in CO the is AP $95,050, Computer which Science is significantly exam in 2016; higher only than 19% the were 

Colorado salary had only in the 668 state computer ($51,180). science The existing graduates open in jobs 2014; alone only represent 14% were a $1,284,790,850 

female. 

opportunity average female; only salary 92 in students the state were ($51,180). Hispanic The or existing Latino; only open 14 jobs students alone were represent Black; a only $1,284,790,850 

2 students were Native 

Only 780 high in school terms of students annual salaries. in Colorado took the AP Computer Science exam in 2016; only 19% were 

opportunity American or Alaska in terms Native; of annual only 3 salaries. students were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. 

female; Colorado only had 92 only students 668 computer were Hispanic science or Latino; graduates only 14 in students 2014; only were 14% Black; were only female. 2 students were Native 

Colorado Only 53 schools had only in 668 CO computer (14% of CO science schools graduates with AP programs) in 2014; offered only 14% the were AP Computer female. Science course in 

American Only 780 or high Alaska school Native; students only 3 students in Colorado were took Native the AP Hawaiian Computer or Pacific Science Islander. exam in 2016; only 19% were 

2015-2016. 

female; 780 high There school are fewer students AP exams in Colorado taken in took computer the AP science Computer than Science in any exam other in STEM 2016; subject only 19% area. 

Only 53 only schools 92 students in CO (14% were of Hispanic CO schools or Latino; with AP only programs) 14 students offered were the Black; AP Computer only 2 students Science were course Native were in 

American 2015-2016. female; only or There Alaska 92 students are Native; fewer were only AP Hispanic exams 3 students taken or Latino; were computer Native only 14 Hawaiian science students or than were Pacific in Black; any Islander. other only STEM 2 Source: students subject Hour of were Code, area. Native code.org 

American Only 53 schools or Alaska in Native; CO (14% only of 3 CO students schools were with AP Native programs) Hawaiian offered or Pacific the AP Islander. Computer Science course in 

2015-2016. Only 53 schools There in are CO fewer (14% AP of exams CO schools taken with in computer AP programs) science offered than in the any AP other Computer STEM Science subject course area. in 

2015-2016. There are fewer AP exams taken in computer science than in any other STEM subject area. 

Adams 12 Five Star Schools Hour of Code participants: 

DEC 5-9, 

2016 


11,828 

students 

231 

teachers 

36 

schools

2017 Spring Five Star Journal

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