Week in Review

Happy Friday!

It’s hard to believe that Fall Break is already just over a week away! This is a very busy (and fulfilling) time of year with parent-teacher conferences, activities and athletics, homecoming and more. My husband and I have enjoyed attending some high school football games over the past few weeks. It's such a fun time of year!

We are so excited to announce that our two newest elementary schools have been named! Opening in August 2027 will be Echo Bluffs Elementary School (formerly known as Elementary School 50) in Lone Tree, and Blue Sky Elementary School (formerly known as Elementary School 51) in Sterling Ranch! Thank you to these school communities for their input into the naming process. This week, Echo Bluffs Elementary held a beam signing and topping out ceremony. Check out the video from that exciting event below in this newsletter.

Election day is right around the corner. Ballots are being mailed out today. Be sure to check your voter registration status (or register to vote if you haven’t already) at GoVoteColorado.gov.

It looks like we could (finally!) have some cooler, more fall-like weather next week. I am certainly looking forward to that especially as we inch closer to Fall Break.

2027 Apple Awards Nominations

The end of September means it's time for Apple Award nominations. Be sure to nominate a DCSD teacher or staff member who is making a difference in the lives of kids. Apple Awards winners will be celebrated during a gala in March. Being nominated for an Apple Awards is a true honor for our educators. Learn more and nominate at www.foundationdcs.org/aa-nominations by October 26!

Weather Delays and Closures

With the changing of the seasons, it’s a good time for a refresher on how our school district handles school delays and closures in the case of inclement weather (assuming we actually get snow this year!). Be sure to review this page of our website to learn how we call a delay or closure and how soon you can expect to be notified when a delay or closure is determined. This is also a good time to make sure you are signed up to receive emergency messaging from our school district so that you are notified right away in the case of a school delay or closure.

How to Receive Emergency Messages from DCSD

Log into the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and click on the “person” icon in the top right-hand corner of the page. Navigate to “Contact Preferences” and review your contact information. If you see an incorrect phone number or email, please update it in Infinite Campus, or contact the registrar at your child’s school to request an update.

Homecoming season has kicked off for many of our high schools. I wish our high school students incredible experiences and memories that will last a lifetime. Please join me in reminding DCSD’s teens to be safe during homecoming whether that’s this weekend or in the weeks to come. We love each of our students and care deeply about their well-being both in and out of the classroom.

Mill Levy Override - Factual Information

Did you know there is a ton of factual information about DCSD’s funding measure (5A - Mill Levy Override) at www.dcsdk12.org/funding? There you can find social-media friendly infographics, the full MLO plan, and Frequently Asked Questions. Be sure to visit this website for all of the information you need to make an informed decision. You can even find information about how to register to vote or update your voter registration.

Professional Development Day

Just a reminder that Monday, September 21, is a Professional Development Day for most of our schools, which means there is no school for students. If your child attends a DCSD charter school, please check their academic calendar as their PD days may be different. Even with the short week, our Friday late start will still take place on Friday, September 25.

Professional Development days are incredibly important to our teachers and staff as these days provide them the time needed to further refine their skills, connect with peers to share best practices, and set and achieve goals for the year. All of this leads to better learning outcomes and experiences for our 62,000 students. Thank you, as always, for your understanding of our need to provide these days to our educators and staff each year.

While this warm weather won’t let us forget that technically it’s still summer, fall is in full swing in our schools. We have high schools gearing up for homecoming events and games, and choirs are practicing for upcoming concerts. It’s so much fun to see our students, staff and families enjoying these types of important milestone events.

Remembering September 11, 2001

Today marks 25 years since the 9/11 attacks occurred. Like many of you I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing on that terrible day (I was eight months pregnant). I remember the heartbreak, the heroism, the eerily silent skies and the way our country came together in solidarity.

I hope you will join me in remembering and paying tribute to the victims, including many courageous first responders and everyday citizens who made the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of others.

Thank you to our amazing first responders here in Douglas County and across the nation. You can find information and resources directly from the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York at www.911memorial.org.

Students from the Rock Canyon High School Fire Science program participated in the 9/11 memorial climb at Red Rocks. See the full story below.

The 2026-2027 school year is in full swing and our school hallways are once again filled with energy and excitement. The start of school also means our streets, sidewalks and crosswalks are busier as students and families make their way to and from school each day. We need your partnership to keep our kids safe.

Please review these critical traffic safety reminders, especially during the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up hours. Keep in mind that schools start 45 minutes later on Fridays for Professional Learning Communities time, which means our students are traveling to school a bit later than normal. Be sure to pay close attention to those flashing school zone signs.

• Watch for Children: Young children can be unpredictable and are often hard to see. Please stay hyper-aware near neighborhoods, parks and school zones.

• Stop for School Buses: Red flashing lights and an extended stop arm mean cars in both directions must come to a complete stop. Please do not pass a stopped school bus. Learn more about school bus safety.

• Yield to Pedestrians: Always stop for students and families in crosswalks. Obey all directions from our school crossing guards.

• Eliminate Distractions: Put your phone away and keep your eyes completely on the road. A single second of distraction can make a lifetime of difference.

• Slow Down: Speed limits drop significantly in school zones for a reason. Please budget an extra five minutes for your morning commute so you don't feel rushed.

• Follow Car-line Rules: Please follow your school’s car-line and parking rules as those are also created to keep our students, families and staff safe.

Let's work together to ensure every student arrives at school and returns home safely each day. Thank you for your continued support, vigilance and commitment to our community's children.

The school year is in full swing. Our schools are in the midst of many milestone events such as back to school nights, fun runs, and so much more. Many of our high schools are already hosting athletics for fall sports. My husband and I are looking forward to attending upcoming high school sporting events in the coming weeks! (Now we just need some fall football weather!)

Earlier this week, the DCSD Board of Education voted unanimously for staff’s recommendation to place a $54 million Mill Levy Override on the November 2026 ballot (see the press release).

If approved by voters, the 2026 MLO would enable DCSD to:

• Retain and attract top-quality teachers and staff by providing salaries that are more competitive with neighboring school districts and better keep pace with inflation.

• Increase and maintain school security support, including school resource officers.

• Reduce student waitlists for Career and Technical Education programming, including the trades.

• Restore student programming such as instrumental music in elementary schools.

There would also be investments in specialized student programming, core curricular resources, and athletics and activities (i.e. Unified sports) - see the detailed plan here.

The Board also unanimously adopted a compensation resolution that will automatically trigger if the MLO passes. Under this resolution, if the MLO passes, school district teachers and staff would receive a pay increase (4% for teachers and staff) paid retroactively back to July 1, 2026.

To learn more about how additional funding would benefit our schools and our students, visit funding.dcsdk12.org.