Dear D51 Families and Colleagues,

I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable long weekend with family and friends. The weather was beautiful, and I hope it gave you the chance to connect with others face-to-face, embracing our "More Social, Less Media" motto outside of the classroom, too. Let's keep making the most of our time together!

On Saturday, I was able to get out to the trails in Fruita and cheer on our D51 cross country teams! The weather was perfect, and our D51 students ran incredibly well…including a 1st place finish from Hank at Palisade High School! Congrats to all of the student athletes who raced, and shoutout to the families and staff who were there to cheer them on.

I was also able to join students, families, and staff on Tuesday for the Student of the Quarter Luncheon. You can read more about it below, and see the names of the students who were honored. Shoutout to CMU and Alpine Bank for sponsoring these luncheons and for providing scholarships to our students being recognized! I always love hearing the staff brag about our D51 students at this event.

In addition, we were excited to kick off the third cohort of our Leadership D51 program on Wednesday, welcoming a fantastic group of community leaders and stakeholders who are eager to engage, learn, and support our district’s mission. I was able to present on our D51 Strategic Plan and the progress we have made, and cohort members were able to engage with district and school leaders through small group discussions to ask questions and hear more about the inner workings of D51. This cohort marks another step forward in building strong partnerships and fostering leadership in our community. You can read more about this event below. 

On Thursday, I was able to swing by the stadium to watch and cheer on our D51 high school bands and color guards as they competed in the Colorado Bandmasters State Qualifying Marching Band Festival. The students performed so well, and it was great to see all of the supporters out cheering them on. Shoutout to the directors and everyone who supports our student performers. You can read more about it below. I was also able to swing by Handlebar last night to grab a burger with proceeds going to support our student athletes on the Grand Valley Youth Cycling Team! Good luck at the State Championships in Glenwood this weekend!

Today, I got to hang out with the students and staff in the Palisade Drama Dept. I’m excited to see their production of Little Shop of Horrors at the end of the month. There might be a surprise hidden in there. You can purchase tix online, now. Speaking of theater, I’ll be joining Central High School students, staff, and families tonight at the CHS Theater production of A Midsummer Nights Dream! There is still time to buy tix for tonight’s show at 7 p.m., or you can catch their final show tomorrow! It’s important to support the arts in D51, and our students and staff work so hard to put these productions together. Shoutout to all of our D51 theater kids for all that y’all do and for providing us with top notch entertainment! 

As we move into the second quarter of the academic year, I want to encourage everyone to stay engaged, continue working hard, and keep supporting our students and schools. The momentum we've built in the first quarter is just the beginning, and together, we can continue moving toward an even more successful school year. Let’s keep up the great work! #TogetherWeThrive

Mesa View Principal Named Recipient of National Terrel H. Bell Award
I’m excited and incredibly proud to announce that Mesa View Elementary Principal Stacey Cohen has been honored as one of only nine recipients nationwide of the 2024 Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership. Read more here.

All-Conference and All-State Athletes
As we wrap up some of our fall sports, I want to give a big shoutout to our incredible student-athletes. Each season, they dedicate countless hours to honing their skills, putting in tremendous time and effort both on and off the field. While several sports will continue in the coming weeks, I want to especially recognize our boys' golf athletes for their outstanding achievements this season. It was fun to watch all their hard work and commitment pay off! Read more here.

Student of the Quarter Luncheon
On Tuesday, we hosted our first Student of the Quarter Luncheon for the 2024-25 school year, celebrating and recognizing exceptional D51 8th and 12th-grade students. This event, which is hosted every quarter of the academic year, highlights those who excel academically and demonstrate outstanding leadership among their peers and in their buildings. Read more here.

Leadership D51 Kicks Off Third Cohort
On Wednesday, we kicked off the first session of our 2024-25 Leadership D51 class, and we’re excited to collaborate with this group of community and organizational leaders. Together, we’ll dive into our three-year, community-driven Strategic Plan and explore the inner workings of district operations. We will plan and strategize how to better support our students and staff, as well as engage with our families and community partners. Read more here.

GJHS Video Club
Students from the Grand Junction High School Video Club met this week with a few special guests. Read more here.

Colorado Bandmasters State Qualifying Marching Band Festival
The Colorado Bandmasters State Qualifying Marching Band Festival took place in Grand Junction this week, bringing together some of the best high school marching bands from across the state. Read more here.

District 51 Foundation JOY Celebration
The District 51 Foundation held another JOY Celebration last night, an opportunity to welcome our staff and their families to the Sweet River Walk! A big thank you to Monument Health for sponsoring this fantastic event and to all of our amazing D51 staff who joined us for a fun-filled evening of connection and camaraderie. Read more here.

Welcome Our New Safety and Security Officer
District 51 is committed to keeping safety a top priority, and we’re excited to announce the hiring of Andy Means as our new Safety and Security Director. A safe learning environment is crucial for students to thrive both academically and personally. Andy and his team will continue to work closely with our schools, staff, and local law enforcement to foster safe and supportive learning environments for all students and staff. You can read more about Andy in the spotlight below.

Board of Education Meeting Recap
On October 15, the Board of Education held a Business Meeting in the Harry Butler Board Room. For highlights from the meeting, click here. To view a recording of the meeting, click here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Central High School Fall Theater Production
  Friday, October 18, and Saturday, October 19, 7 p.m. at Central High School
  Central High School proudly presents *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*, a timeless Shakespearean comedy filled with magic, mischief, and romance. Get your tickets here and join us for an evening of unforgettable performances!
• Central High School Building Tours
  October 19, from 9 to 10 a.m. at Central High School
  District 51 invites the community to tour Central High School to see areas in need of improvement and learn how the bond dollars, if approved, would be used for repairs and renovations. This tour will offer a chance to understand the school's current needs.
• Orchard Mesa Middle School Challenge Program Meetings
  Thursday, November 7, and Tuesday, November 12, 5 p.m. at OMMS
  The Challenge Program at Orchard Mesa Middle School is for academically gifted students. Join us for an informational meeting to learn about the program, application process, and ask questions. Open to students and parents interested in applying next year.

For more events happening across the district, visit:

• Athletics Schedule
• District Upcoming Events

If you have good news to share with us, we'd love to highlight your program, event, story, and more. Please share it with our communications department by emailing communicate@d51schools.org.

Dr. Brian Hill
District 51 Superintendent