Dear Westminster Public Schools Community,

 

Last week I shared about the priorities for Westminster Public Schools with the Westminster Chamber of Commerce and thought you might be interested in what I had to share.

 

In short, these first few of months have been busy and very productive.

 

Topping the list was the opening of the Iver C. Ranum Campus in August and the ribbon cutting ceremony in September. Phase one is only the beginning with bigger and better opportunities ahead. This week we hosted an open house at Ranum to allow the community to learn about the campus.

 

During a visit to Colorado STEM Academy this month we briefed Governor Jared Polis about Ranum and he plans to visit when his schedule allows. This project is all about partnerships and we are expanding them every day.

 

This issue of What’s up WPS provides a detailed look at our “Less Stress with WPS” campaign which is designed to help our students and staff access mental health support through the district and Human Resources department. We believe this approach will not only provide for healthier, happy people, but increase the retention of staff. I am very pleased with the positive feedback received so far.

 

We just concluded our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month with our strongest effort yet to recognize the cultural diversity within WPS. Among the highlights, a video profile of our efforts by the Colorado Department of Education.

 

We have also created a Newcomer Task Force to better support our newly arrived students while also aligning our resources with existing students. We believe we are finding the right balance. It is important we get this right and have great input and expertise from across the district.

 

Finally, I hope you enjoy the pictures, video, and write up about this year’s District Showcase. Not only were we able to inform parents about what is happening in their schools, but we were able to expose students to all the opportunities and possibilities available at the high school. As always, the costumes and candy made for a fun night. It takes a lot of work to pull the Showcase together and I want thank everyone involved for their hard work.

 

As we head into the holiday season, I encourage everyone to find that important balance between work, play, and of course learning.

Superintendent of Schools