Dear D51 Families and Colleagues,

As we head into Thanksgiving break, I want to start from a place of gratitude. I’m grateful for the hard work of our teachers and staff, the dedication our students show as they continue working toward a strong finish, and the partnership and support of our families across the district. Whether you're teaching in a classroom, transporting students to and from school on a bus, preparing healthy meals, maintaining our buildings, supporting student wellness, or serving behind the scenes, your work matters, and it makes a difference every day! Thank y’all for showing up with commitment, care, and a passion for serving our students. I hope the upcoming week brings rest, connection, and time with the people who mean the most to you. Speaking of gratitude, check out this powerful video that students at Fruita Monument High School put together to share what they are grateful for. But be ready to have your heartstrings tugged! Great job, FMHS!

Last weekend was jam packed with great events happening across D51! On Saturday morning, I was able to join the Central High School choir and theater students and staff for their 1st Annual Break A Leg 5k to support their fine arts programs! Costumes were encouraged, so I rocked my Buc-ee’s Beaver onesie, which proved not to be breathable for a 5k! Shoutout to Mr. Coronado, Ms. Trujillo, and their students for putting on a fun event! I was also able to make it to Stocker Stadium to cheer on our Palisade Bulldog Football Team as they won their first round playoff game, and I was able to make it to the cheer and dance regional held at GJHS. Shoutout to our student athletes for all of their hard work, and make sure to head out to Stocker tomorrow at 1 p.m. to cheer on our Bulldogs in the second round! I finished off a busy Saturday emceeing the FIRST LEGO League Competition held at FMHS. This is such a cool event, and it’s so much fun to see the excitement on the faces of our D51 students as they compete in robotics and coding competitions. Shoutout to Aaron Funk and everyone who made this event a huge success!

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