Student Highlights

Student Council Speak with Mayor Waid

Mayor Mike Waid spoke to student council this week about the importance of serving as a leader in one’s community.  Mr. Waid shared our responsibility to contribute and to make our communities better.  He then helped student council representatives plan events for our week of kindness in February.

Troops Thank Students for Candy Donations

Troops sent Gold Rush students a thank you card for the Halloween candy that they donated this fall.  They were so appreciative of the treats!

Students Continue to Enjoy Digger Dash Contributions

Students were excited about the new art materials that they received this week.  They will continue to use other artists’ work as models and inspiration as they create new pieces.

Click here to see Gold Rush students’ artwork created already this year.

Students were also excited to continue to create music using the new drums also purchased with Digger Dash funds.  We thank our families and the PTO for these materials!  They have already gone to great use!

Parent Teacher Conference Sign Up

Parent teacher conferences are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate your child’s growth this year.  Gold Rush will hold conferences on February 18 and 26 from 4:00-8:00 PM.  Click here for information on how to sign up via the online conference scheduler link on the GRE homepage.

Order Your Yearbooks Through March 1

Order your Yearbook today!  Here’s how: 

* Click here to log on to RevTrak

* Select Elementary Schools, E- L, Gold Rush Elementary

* Go to Additional Items.

Click on Parent Portal to see if you already ordered a yearbook in the fall.

Mark Your Calendar 

·      February 5 – SAC Meeting @ 5:00-7:00 PM

·      February 6 – Sock Hop

·      February 12 - Valentine’s Day Parties (See Classroom Newsletters)

·      February 13 – No School for Students – Teacher Work Day

·      February 18 & 26^th – Parent Teacher Conferences

·      February 19 – Special’s Program Rossi & Graham 6:15PM

  Woolums, Murray Close & M. Lewis 7:15PM

·      March 5- Special’s Program Pearne & McMillan 6:15PM

                           Steckler & Martino 7:15PM

New Instruments Arrive!

Students were excited to create music with our new instruments purchased with Digger Dash funds.  Fifth grade students composed their own cannon and performed their piece with a partner using the new drums.  Third graders practiced collaboration as they performed music as an ensemble.  We thank our families and the PTO for our instruments!

Responding to Reading

Students in grades K-5 are working on writing about what they read.  Students are learning how to communicate their understanding of a text, evaluate a piece of literature and support their opinions using evidence from the text.  Writing about reading also allows students to practice articulating how they are using the higher level thinking strategies, such as determining importance, questioning, inferring and synthesizing, to help them better understand what they read.  Several of our older students are using technology, including Edmodo and Google docs, to respond electronically.  We are proud of all of our students’ hard work!  

Town Hall Meeting: Future Capital Needs for the District

The District is hosting a local town hall meeting on Thursday, January 29, at 7:00 PM at Legend High School to discuss the capital needs for the District.  Capital needs include building repairs, maintenance and restructuring due to overcrowding. Presenters will share several options for funding, all of which directly impact our schools.  I strongly encourage you to get informed and provide your feedback to the District.   Click here for additional event details and here for the presentation.

Battle of the Books

Students in grades 3-5 competed in the school level competition of Battle of the Books.  Participants read several new stories and tested their understanding of these texts.  While only some teams will advance to the next round at the Parker Library, we congratulate all students!

Order Your Yearbooks Through March 1

Order your Yearbook today!  Here’s how: 

* Click here to log on to RevTrak

* Select Elementary Schools, E- L, Gold Rush Elementary

* Go to Additional Items.

Click on Parent Portal to see if you already ordered a yearbook in the fall.

Pre-Registration For the 2015-2016 School Year

Please complete the following pre-registration form for the 2015-2016 school year by clicking here.  Your information helps in the planning for the coming school year. 

Mark Your Calendar 

·      February 5 – SAC Meeting @ 5:00-7:00 PM

·      February 6 – Sock Hop

·      February 18 & 26^th – Parent Teacher Conferences

Community Events

·       January 10-25 - National Western Stock Show

Save up to $6 per ticket PLUS up to $4.50 in service charges- purchase tickets online using the promotional code DOUGCO

·       January 31 - Denver Nuggets Night- purchase tickets online!

·       March 6 - Colorado Mammoth Night- purchase tickets online!

Tickets are just $15 and there are NO taxes or fees through this offer. The first 200 tickets purchased will be upgraded to the lower level. Visit www.mammothtix.com/douglascounty and select your school.

Student Highlights

Students are excited to learn how to convey their thinking as they write in a new genre.  Students in second through fifth grade are starting informational/exploratory writing, which requires them to use concepts, facts and definitions to write about a topic.  Students learn to write in a variety of different content areas throughout this unit.  In second grade, for instance, students learn to write like scientists.  Third graders will use nonfiction resources to teach others about a topic.  Fourth and fifth graders will write like historians and learn how to craft a thesis.  On Friday teams will further define instruction for these upcoming units.

Teacher Work Day: Focus on World Class Outcomes

Douglas County incorporates the following four elements when designing curriculum: World Class Outcomes, Content, 21^st Century Skills and 4cs.   Teachers will spend part of their professional development day examining World Class Outcomes.   World Class Outcomes are guiding learning goals that ensure learning opportunities promote critical thinking.  Some of the outcomes, for example, involve students in the process of inquiry.  Others require students evaluate, appraise and analyze.  Teachers will reflect on how our current instructional practices align to these outcomes and brainstorm additional ways to push students to think at high levels.  I look forward to sharing our work in the other areas (content, 21^st century skills and the 4cs) in future posts.

Parent University

·      Click here for upcoming courses through Parent University.

Pre-Registration Form: 2015-2016 School Year

·      Please complete the following pre-registration form for the 2015-2016 school year by clicking here.  Your information helps in the planning for the coming school year. 

Mark Your Calendar  

·      January 16 – No School – Teacher Training

·      January  19 – No School – Martin Luther King Day

·      January 26 – SAC Meeting @ 5:00-7:00 PM

New Climbing Wall

Students were excited to see the new climbing wall was installed over winter break!  The climbing wall was one of several items purchased for art, music and physical education with Digger Dash funds.  Mrs. Gray’s class was the first to climb, as they were the highest fundraising class.  The remainder of our classes will begin climbing in the next two weeks.  We thank the PTO, students and families for making this possible!  

Spelling Bee

We are proud of our students who participated in the spelling bee.  Students completed the final school round Friday afternoon.  We are pleased to announce that Tanner will move on the represent Gold Rush at the District level. 

Pre-Registration Form: 2015-2016 School Year

Please complete the following pre-registration form for the 2015-2016 school year by clicking here.  Your information helps in the planning for the coming school year. 

Mark Your Calendar  

·      January 13 – PTO Meeting @ 6:30-7:30 PM

·      January 14 – 6^th Grade Orientation @ CIMS

·      January 16 – No School – Teacher Training

·      January  19 – No School – Martin Luther King Day

·      January 26 – SAC Meeting @ 5:00-7:00 PM

Additional Information

* Click here for information regarding Douglas County Pre-school Registration.