Elevate Monthly

Dear Laramie County School District 1 community,

Although it may be hard to believe, we are already nearing the end of our first quarter of the 2023-2024 school year. I am very appreciative of everything you do for your students and our teachers. Relationships with our families make a huge difference in children’s educational experience. We cannot do this work without you. Thank you!

Part of this partnership includes providing our families and community members with interesting, relevant information. Last June, we produced our first-ever ELEVATE magazine, which replaced the five-time-a-year Public Schools Chronicle. Because we rarely hear that we communicate with people enough, we decided to augment our annual magazine with this ELEVATE monthly e-letter in a new, more interactive format. We hope you like it!

It is my privilege to serve as your interim superintendent this school year. If you have questions at any time, please feel free to reach out to your school principal or the district office. We are here to support our staff as they serve our students and families.

Sincerely,

Dr. Stephen Newton
Interim Superintendent of Schools

Jessup Elementary has gained international recognition after being named an Apple Distinguished School, making it the 729th school in the world to earn that title and the first school in Wyoming to earn it.

The news came after an arduous selection process. To be eligible for nomination, a school must have an established one-to-one device-to-student ratio, demonstrate innovative use of the Apple Platform, have all school leadership and faculty proficient in the use of iPads or Macs, and have a leadership team that is driving continuous innovation.

After being nominated for the Apple Distinguished School title in April, Jessup had only a few months to complete a video advocating for their school and detailing the above requirements. The video was watched by an international selection committee and the school was officially approved.

Apple Distinguished Schools are given worldwide recognition, opportunities for global collaboration, an expanded leadership capacity, professional learning opportunities and support from Apple.

As the first Apple Distinguished School in the state of Wyoming, Jessup will also set an example and be looked to for guidance by other schools in the region. -Photo & text by Brad White

Having a disability can be challenging, especially for teenagers trying to fit in with their peers. That’s why East High School took the initiative to launch a Best Buddies Club.

“Best Buddies is an [international] inclusive club of friendship that connects kids with disabilities with kids without disabilities, so that we have a more inclusive school,” club member Franni Dobler said.

The journey to launch the club took a couple years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the process that needed to be completed with the international organization. Despite these obstacles, the club officially started at East High last year with more than 20 active members.

Parent adviser Rebecca Millett contacted PALS teacher/faculty adviser LuAnne Cook-Ludwick to pitch the idea of starting the club. Being the parent of a teen with a disability, Millett knew that her son needed a little push to make some friends.

“My inspiration was my son,” Millett said. “We didn’t know anybody when we moved here in 2020 and I was trying to help him make friends.”

Club members meet every Thursday to discuss ideas on how to improve the club, participate in monthly events and go on field trips together.

Millett said, “Part of the core of the program is one-to-one friendship matching. We connect a peer with a disability with a peer without a disability and they can connect outside of school or during lunch.”

Group members expressed the joy that they get from being part of the club and emphasized that they have fun with the friends they have made. Not only do teens with disabilities enjoy being part of the club, but other peers are thrilled to participate.

Dobler said, “I’ve always had a spot in my heart for kids with disabilities. I think it’s a great club to have everybody join and we always have so much fun, it’s always just a blast. We’ve gone ice skating, last year we had a pie event and it’s always lots of fun events.”

Cook-Ludwick said, “This has been an awesome opportunity for East High to expand and get kids more involved. The social aspect of Best Buddies is great, I see a growth in all students.”

East High students interested in joining the Best Buddies Club or parents interested in volunteering can contact Millett at 303-710-6179 or dsmother82@gmail.com. QR codes are placed around the school for easier student registration. For more information, visit https://www.bestbuddies.org.
-Photo & text by Leslie Valencia

Goins Elementary sixth grade students recently visited South High to enjoy a jazz band performance. According to sixth grade teacher Brandy Davis, Goins sixth graders read the book “Bud, Not Buddy,” listened to a jazz song, and discussed why Bud, the book’s main character, enjoyed listening to a jazz band play.

Davis mentioned that experiencing a jazz band performance gives students the opportunity to put themselves in the shoes of the main character.

“In the book, there is a lot of description of what each instrument sounded like when Bud heard it for the first time,” Davis said, “so it was important for our students to hear the instruments played in the band and hear what it must have been like for Bud.”

Goins sixth grade students danced, clapped and were thrilled with the tunes the South High Jazz Band members were playing.

This is the first year that Goins students participated in this activity and she hopes to continue it in the future.

Davis said, “This lesson was supposed to be done over the SmartBoard, but we decided why not actually hear a jazz band play?”

She believes it would be great to open the opportunity up for all sixth grade students in the South Triad next year.

“After the presentation, several students could not stop talking about the trip. Most of them said that their favorite part was hearing the South students showcase their instruments individually,” Davis said.

Sixth grader Jesiah Lara said, “My favorite part was when they played ‘Because I’m Happy.’ I had a lot of fun.”

Davis said the performance turned out to be a great way to connect to the book read in class.

“A lot of our students have never heard an actual band play, especially jazz music, so it was a great opportunity to expose them to something they may not have had the chance to experience before,” she said. -Photo & text by Leslie Valencia

Brightening somebody’s day is one goal that Laramie County School District 1 (LCSD1) art teachers and Meals on Wheels (MOW) have in common. LCSD1 partnered with MOW to decorate the nonprofit organization’s weekend meal bags to make their clients’ days extra special.

MOW distributes about 900 meals every Friday. To deliver every meal with a decorated bag, they need as many LCSD1 classrooms and community members as possible to assist.

Students and anyone helping decorate the bags can draw, add a special message, use stickers, or add any type of art to give life to the paper bag that will be filled with a meal for those in need. The MOW mission is to support the independence, health and well-being of individuals and pets living in Laramie County by providing meals and safety checks.

Rhianna Brand, events and program coordinator at MOW, stated that the program is here to help anyone in need and that those who want to receive meals can call the office to start the process. She mentioned that they need as many bags as possible to continue with the decorated weekend meal bags project.

“Every Friday, we have meals that go out and we need bags to be decorated. We would like this to be an ongoing project.” Brand said.

According to Brand, participating in activities like this helps children understand what MOW is and makes them aware that the program is available in case they or their family are struggling and need assistance from the program. Brand also stated that it is essential to encourage children to volunteer from an early age.

“It is important for kiddos to learn how to volunteer. Thinking about someone else, having that kindhearted spirit and compassion for others, [volunteering] needs to start at a young age to get them excited about making a difference in people’s lives,” Brand said.

About eight LCSD1 art classrooms have signed up to decorate the weekend meal bags and MOW invites all LCSD1 teachers, no matter what subject they teach, to sign up.

LCSD1 Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator Dan Holroyd mentioned that LCSD1 is always looking for ways to give back to the community.

“What we are trying to do as a district is to always involve our community and give back, and this is a good way for our students to give back,” Holroyd said.

Holroyd added that one of the purposes of art is to be presented.

“If there is a certain type of drawing or picture that teachers want the kids to create, this is something they can do to meet that standard,” Holroyd said.

All paper bags are provided and delivered by MOW. LCSD1 teachers interested in helping decorate the weekend meal bags can contact Holroyd at dan.holroyd@laramie1.org. Community members interested in volunteering are encouraged to contact Brand at 635-5542, ext. 105 or email her at rbrand@mealsonwheelsofcheyenne.com. -Photo & text by Leslie Valencia

This year, in addition to traditional summer school, Laramie County School District 1 expanded learning opportunities to include registration-based academies. Nearly 1,500 students took advantage of traditional offerings to help fill in learning gaps and catch up on missed coursework. Almost 140 students participated in optional summer academies, which provided them with innovative, hands-on learning experiences using the integration of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities. For example, during the sixth through eighth grade Coding and Robotics academy, students learned how to code and program advanced NAO robots. They celebrated their accomplishments during a presentation party at the end of the session. To see the students in action, check out the video below.

Laramie County School District 1's Parent Engagement & Educational Partnerships with Schools (PEEPS) program is offering a free, six-week "Parenting the Love and Logic Way" course Oct. 16-Nov. 20. The sessions will be held every Monday from 6-7:30 p.m., at Fairview Elementary, 2801 E. 10th St. Love and Logic is a way of working with children that puts parents back in control, teaches children to be responsible and prepares young people to live in the real world. Dinner and childcare will be provided. Register here to attend.

At the request of parents, guardians and community members, a new informational landing page is now available on the Laramie County School District 1 website.

The page provides one location to look for information. Everything from academic support and transportation to calendars and weather closure guidelines, is just a click away on the new landing page.

Resources were developed with a committee consisting of parents and guardians who provided feedback on what they would like to see. The page is available by clicking the Parent Info button on the homepage of the district website, www.laramie1.org.

Additionally, community members who are interested in finding out more about the district’s new elementary sports program, Elevate Athletics, may do so by clicking the link on the district’s homepage under Featured Items.

The new Elevate Athletics page contains information about flag football, basketball, volleyball and track, including program overviews and schedules.

LCSD1 elementary flag football players will have the opportunity to show off their teamwork and football skills in the first ever Elevate Athletics Pro Bowl culminating event.

Central Triad schools (Davis, Freedom, Gilchrist, Hobbs, Jessup, Miller and Prairie Wind) will play at Central High on Tuesday, Oct. 17. East Triad schools (Alta Vista, Anderson, Baggs, Buffalo Ridge, Dildine, Henderson and Saddle Ridge) will play at East High on Wednesday, Oct. 18. South Triad schools (Afflerbach, Arp, Bain, Cole, Fairview, Goins, Pioneer Park, Rossman and Sunrise) will play at South High on Thursday, Oct. 19.

All events will take place from approximately 9:20 a.m.-1:15 p.m. on their respective days with

four 30-minute Go-Rounds and an all-triad game of Sharks and Minnows at the end. For more information, contact your school.

The next Elevate Athletics offering will be basketball, which will run from Oct. 30-Dec. 7.

Laramie County School District 1 will be hosting town hall meetings to provide information and answer questions about the district’s kindergarten through eighth grade Eureka Math Squared pilot program. The meetings are scheduled as follows:

· Monday, Oct. 30, 5:15-6 p.m., LCSD1 Administration Building, 2810 House Ave. room 306.

· Wednesday, Nov. 1, 5:15-6 p.m., LCSD1 Administration Building, 2810 House Ave. room 306.

• Oct. 25 - Early Release, Elementary Only, Teacher Planning (12:15 p.m., Meadowlark, 12:05 p.m.)
• Oct 26-27 - No School, Elementary Only, Elementary Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Oct. 26 - Early Release, Secondary Only, Teacher Planning (11:15 a.m.) - Secondary Evening Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Oct. 27 - No School Secondary & Elementary) Secondary Conferences - (8 a.m.-11 a.m.)