Dear D51 Families and Colleagues,

Happy November, D51! Halloween brought a lot of excitement across District 51 on Thursday, as students celebrated with fun costumes, classroom parties, and school traditions. Central and Palisade High Schools held their beloved Trick-or-Treat nights, where our dedicated community turned out in full costume despite the chilly weather. Festive parades also brought students and families together in celebration. These moments highlight our vibrant D51 community, and I'm grateful for our hardworking staff and supportive families who make these safe, creative celebrations possible. While many schools across the district celebrated Halloween on Thursday, and our elementary and middle schools were off today for staff Elementary Planning and Middle School Inservice, it was still a busy week across the district! 

Last Friday I was able to stop by three of our D51 sporting events. I caught some of the CHS girls volleyball action, ran over to catch some of the CHS football action, and then finished the evening off by catching some of the GJHS vs FMHS soccer action. There is always so much going on in our district, and I’d encourage y’all to get out and support our students during their extracurricular activities! And don’t forget to support the PHS theater program and their production of Little Shop of Horrors this weekend! I can’t wait to see it in person!

This week, we also had a special visit from Governor Polis and Representative Soper. You can read about the visit below, but I wanted to mention how great our staff and students did during these visits. This was an opportunity for our principals, teachers, and students to talk about the positive momentum happening in D51, and it was a great way to get their voice at the table. Shoutout to Principal Sorensen and Principal Cohen and your students and staff for highlighting some of the great things happening in D51. Y’all make me proud to serve our community with you.

Speaking of great things happening in D51, we have a great partnership with CMU and CMU Tech, which creates opportunities for our high school students to take concurrent college courses for free while in high school. I had the opportunity to sit on a panel with the Education Commision of the States on Thursday to share with policymakers from five different states about the work we are doing in D51 with CMU to expand post-secondary pathways for students and showcase the great work happening around Career & Technical Education. It was great to be able to share with other states, and it was a great reminder of the amazing opportunities we provide for our students when we have strong partnerships in the community. Thanks to President Marshall and the team at CMU and CMU Tech for all that y’all do to support D51 students. 

I also had more opportunities this week to get out into the community and share factual information about the D51 bond (4A) and mill levy override (4B) that are on the ballot. I was able to knock on doors in Fruita to talk to our community about the importance of continuing to support our students through the passage of these two no tax increase initiatives, and I was able to present information to the GJ Rotary, as well. I appreciate any opportunity I get to share about the great things happening in D51, and how having Engaged & Supportive Community Partners helps to continue that work. These measures support school maintenance, safety upgrades, technology improvements, and expanding educational programs—building a strong foundation for student success. Thank you to everyone who’s shown interest and engaged with these initiatives. To learn more, please visit our website and check out our informational video for a clear overview of these two ballot measures. You can also click on the links for each school to see the impact these proposals would have across our schools and community. As Election Day approaches, remember that your vote is your voice. Be sure to get out on or before Tuesday and make it count! 

Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in our school district. Together, we’re making a difference in the lives of our students and the future of our community. Together, We Thrive!

National Native American Heritage Month

In District 51, we celebrate National Native American Heritage Month each November, honoring the cultures, traditions, and contributions of Native American communities. The month of November provides us with a great opportunity to learn more about Native American history and the role they play in our nation’s story, especially the Ute Tribe here in Western Colorado. 

This month serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting and preserving the unique traditions, history, and vast knowledge of Native Americans while we collaborate to build a school district where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Let’s use this month to build understanding and strengthen our D51 community!

Dinosaur Ridge Science Club Quiz Bowl
I’m excited to share that, once again, the Grand Junction High School (GJHS) academic team has won the Dinosaur Ridge State Science Quiz Bowl! Competing against 24 top science schools from across Colorado, in a nail-biting finish that came down to two sudden-death tiebreakers, GJHS took home the gold. Read more here.

Fruita Monument High School FFA Students Place at Nationals
Congratulations to Fruita Monument High School FFA students for their outstanding performance at the FFA Nationals in Indianapolis. Read more here.

All-Conference Athletes
Congratulations to our talented softball athletes for an incredible season. A huge shoutout to Central and Fruita Monument for advancing to the state tournament—your determination and teamwork were fun and inspiring to watch this season. Well done to all our athletes for representing our schools with excellence and sportsmanship! Read more here.

Governor Polis Visits District 51
On Monday, we welcomed Governor Jared Polis and Colorado Representative Matt Soper to District 51, where they toured Grand Junction High School and Mesa View Elementary, engaging with students and staff along the way. Read more here.

Fruita Monument High School AP Scholars Awards
Tonight, Fruita Monument High School will proudly recognize the academic achievements of 123 students who have earned the AP Scholar designation in recognition of their exceptional performance on AP exams. Read more here.

District 51 Foundation Receives “Sweet” Treat for D51 Staff
Thanks to an incredibly generous donation from Enstrom Candies, the D51 Foundation kicked off the holiday season by sharing thousands of boxes of Enstrom toffee with teachers and staff across District 51! Read more here.

Central High School Shoe Drive
As the proud Superintendent of D51, it means a lot to me to be able to share the impactful ways our community can come together to support our students and make a positive difference. This year, Central High School is hosting its annual shoe drive fundraiser, asking family, friends, and community members to participate by recycling gently worn, used, and new shoes. Read more here.

D51 Choice Programs
District 51 is committed to providing our families with options in how and where their students receive their education. We offer a wide range of choice programs across our schools to meet the diverse academic needs and interests of our students. These programs provide unique learning opportunities tailored to different levels and areas of focus, allowing families to find the best fit for their children’s educational journey. The application and lottery process for these choice programs is designed to give all interested students access to these specialized options. Learn more about these programs and important upcoming enrollment dates.

Hazardous Weather Reminder
As we head into November and winter weather approaches, we will likely see some storms in the coming months. This is just another reminder to please make sure students are prepared for colder days with proper attire for both school and outdoor play—especially our younger students who still participate in recess during the day. We also want to ensure our families know how to stay informed and up-to-date about potential school delays, early dismissals, or closures. Read more here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Palisade High School Theater Performance
  November 1 and 2, 7 p.m., at Palisade High School
  The Palisade High School Performing Arts Program is excited to present Little Shop of Horrors! Opening on Halloween, it’s a night full of laughs, frights, and unexpected twists! Click here for tickets. If you wear a Halloween costume on October 31, you'll get tickets at half-price!
• Career Center Fall Craft Fair
  November 2, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Career Center Campus
  Start your holiday shopping early! Join us at the Career Center Fall Craft Fair, featuring over 70 vendors, food, fun, and friends.
• Pear Park Panda Waddle
  November 2, 10 a.m., at Long Family Park
• First Lego League Challenge, Qualifying Tournament
  November 16, 12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. at Fruita Monument High School
  Come support our future engineers and celebrate STEM learning as teams from various schools across D51 showcase their robotics and problem-solving skills in underwater-themed challenges. 
• Middle School Options Fair
  November 20, Sessions at 5:30 and 6:15 p.m. at East Middle School
  This event is open to all parents and will provide information on AP, Concurrent Education, and IB options for students.

For more events happening across the district, visit:

• Fall 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