Dear D51 Families and Colleagues,

The second quarter of the school year is flying by, and it's been a busy week in D51, both inside and outside our schools. This is also a week of celebration and gratitude in our district and community.

Tuesday night was a historic moment for District 51 and Mesa County. Our community came together, voting "Yes!" to 4A and 4B, highlighting their unwavering commitment to our schools and the future of public education. I am deeply grateful to everyone who made this possible—the Board of Education for placing these initiatives on the ballot, campaign co-chairs Curtis Englehart with the Grand Junction Economic Partnership and Karen Troester with Grand Junction Federal Credit Union, campaign manager Jaylen Mosqueira, Dr. Angela Christensen from the D51 Foundation, MVEA, and everyone who contributed to this campaign for their tireless efforts. Thank you to the entire campaign committee and everyone who knocked on doors, made calls, gave presentations, wrote letters, spread the word, displayed signs, and, most importantly, voted! This victory represents more than just dollars. This is an investment in safer, more conducive learning spaces and ensuring our students and staff have the resources they need to continue to thrive. So thank you to everyone who voted and everyone who said YES! to 4A and 4B. Together, we’re building a stronger future for our students and community!

I was also able to join Mesa View Elementary School Principal Stacey Cohen in Washington DC to celebrate the excellent things happening in their school. Mesa View was recently awarded the prestigious National Blue Ribbon School Award, recognizing the school's commitment to academic excellence—specifically in closing student achievement gaps. They were one of just over 300 schools nationwide to receive this award! In addition, Principal Cohen received the Terrel H. Bell Award for her incredible leadership, an accolade reserved for only nine principals nationally who demonstrate exceptional commitment to transforming schools into models of success. This national recognition not only celebrates Principal Cohen’s incredible guidance and leadership but also acknowledges the dedication and hard work of Mesa View’s staff, students, and families, whose unwavering support has been vital to the school’s success. Their collective efforts and belief that every student can continue to push boundaries and shape a brighter future for kids. It was great to see her recognized on the national stage for her leadership, to hear her speak about the great things happening at Mesa View during the panel discussion she was a part of, and to get to accept the National Blue Ribbon School Award alongside her. You can check out some photos from the event here. When you see Principal Cohen or her staff, be sure to congratulate them on this well-deserved achievement!

On top of being able to celebrate the victories and achievement mentioned above, I was able to catch some Fruita Monument High School football action last Friday night. Shoutout to the Wildcats of a hard fought season and for giving it your all on the field! I also was able to stop by GJHS on Friday night to see the premier of the student-made film “Our Time.” GJHS student Cameron Kirkegaard, who is also a student in the film program at CMU Tech, shot and produced a documentary film that interviewed female GJHS alumni from some of the first graduating classes at the old GJHS building. They talked about the struggles that girls faced in school back then as they weren’t allowed to compete in sports and the double standard created for women at the time. The film highlights the progress that has been made and the work that still needs to be done. Shoutout to Cameron on this amazing and powerful work, and shoutout to everyone who helped him along the way.

Last Saturday, our family was able to join our Pear Park Pandas for their Panda Waddle 5K. This annual event is always such a fun chance to get outside, enjoy the beautiful weather, stay active, and support one of our D51 schools. Shoutout to Principal Moore and Mr. Moseley for organizing such a wonderful event, and a shoutout to all the D51 students and families who came out to run and cheer! Saturday night, our family was able to make it out to the Palisade theater to see their production of Little Shop of Horrors. The students did amazing, and Ms. VanBenschoten and Mr. Doty always do such a great job. Thanks for letting me play a small role in the production by being the narrator voice in the opening scene! Such an honor, and so much fun!

I also had the opportunity to meet with my Superintendent Student Advisory Group at Central High School this week. I love these opportunities to connect directly with our students and hear from them. We chatted about how high schoolers feel about elections, how the new smartphone policy is going, whether or not high schoolers are getting enough sleep, and whether or not high schoolers are getting outside enough. Shoutout to my student group for taking the time to hang out with me and share. I want to thank the Board of Education for also engaging with student groups at the high school this year. It will provide valuable information that I know our Board is interested in when making decisions. I also had a lot of fun celebrating students and extracurricular activities at the 2nd Annual GJHS Letter Award Ceremony. You can read more about it below, but I want to shoutout all of our GJHS students for working hard in their extracurricular activities, and shoutout to AD Marsh and Principal Sorensen for recognizing our students. 

To close us out for the week, I want to wish our D51 athletes luck as they head into playoff games! Palisade High School Volleyball will host the regional tournament this Sunday at 10 a.m., while Grand Junction and Fruita Monument Volleyball teams hit the road for their own regional competitions. On the football field, Central High School heads to Colorado Springs for a high-stakes playoff match, and Grand Junction takes on Longmont at Stocker Stadium at 1 p.m. It’s an exciting time for our students, coaches, and teams, who have dedicated so much time and effort to reach this point. Let’s wish them all the best of luck as they compete—your hard work and determination this season have made us proud! Go get 'em, Bulldogs, Tigers, Wildcats, and Warriors!

First Generation College Week
First Generation College Week is dedicated to recognizing and supporting students who are the first in their families to attend college. This week is a powerful reminder of the opportunities education can unlock. District 51 is grateful for our Engaged & Supportive Community Partners at Colorado Mesa University and CMU Tech. Through our strong partnership with them, we are able to offer programs like concurrent enrollment and a range of Robust & Aligned Options that offer our D51 students college-level courses and career pathways that meet diverse academic needs while still in high school. This collaboration helps students explore higher education early, build essential skills, and earn credits that prepare them for bright futures. Shoutout to CMU/CMU Tech for your continued support and collaboration to ensure that every D51 student has access and opportunity to become a successful, contributing member of our community.

M.E.S.A. Club Competition
This week, our M.E.S.A. Club hosted an engaging Cybersecurity Competition at Mount Garfield Middle School, bringing together talented middle school teams from across District 51 to compete. In this fast-paced event, students took on the roles of computers and routers in a simulated network setup, working to send and decode encrypted messages provided by the judges. Read more here.

GJHS Letter Ceremony
On Monday night, I enjoyed joining our Grand Junction Tigers in their new auditorium for the 2nd Annual Letter Ceremony—a great celebration of student dedication and talent. Read more here.

Intermountain Healthcare Program for D51 High School Students
On Tuesday, over 70 high school students and our Counselor Alignment Team took an exciting trip to Intermountain Healthcare at St. Mary’s Hospital to explore a variety of careers in the healthcare field. Read more here.

Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class
This week, we hosted the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class for Education Day, where they learned about and explored all things education in D51. This class is a vital program that fosters leadership skills and community engagement among individuals in Mesa County. Read more here.

Central High School STEM: Will it Float?
This week, Central High School’s STEM students participated in a beloved tradition in their Principles of Manufacturing class: designing and building life-sized plywood boats. As a dedicated STEM school, Central High School emphasizes problem-solving across all classes, and this hands-on project is a great example, especially in the world of Tech Ed. Read more here.

Battle of the Cats
Who roars louder? The “Battle of the Cats” brought out the best of Grand Junction and Fruita Monument High Schools this week, as teachers hit the court for a second year of spirited competition, pitting our GJHS Tigers against our FMHS Wildcats. Read more here.

Mesa View Elementary Career Day
This afternoon, Mesa View Elementary held its second Career Day of the year, and it was a fantastic experience for young learners! These Career Days are part of an ongoing initiative to spark students' curiosity about future careers and opportunities throughout the year. Read more here. 

“More Social/Less Media” - Tech Tips from D51 Student Services Department
Each month, our Student Services Department will share ways for students and families to bring our “More Social, Less Media” motto into daily life. This November, they’re spotlighting “Tech Apnea”—the tendency to hold your breath or breathe shallowly while scrolling or gaming, which affects around 80% of us. Read more here.

CMU Donates Tickets to Neil Degrasso to D51 Students
I want to give a huge shoutout to our Engaged & Supportive Community Partners at Colorado Mesa University, who recently donated tickets to a special event featuring Neil deGrasse Tyson at their new Asteria Theater. Thanks to this generous gift, one deserving student and one dedicated staff member from each of our D51 high schools were selected by their school administrators to attend this exciting experience. CMU’s continued support and partnership make a meaningful difference for our students and staff, and we’re fortunate to work alongside such a community-focused institution. So much of what we accomplish at D51 is thanks to collaboration with our amazing community partners, and CMU exemplifies the power of these connections. Thank you, President Marshall and CMU, for continuing to invest in our students' and educators’ growth and in the success and future of Mesa County!

Fruitvale Elementary Playground and Park Survey
Fruitvale Elementary is inviting the community to participate in a survey that will help shape the vision for a reimagined “Fruitvale Wellness Park.” This exciting project aims to redesign the playground and surrounding park space to better serve the needs of Fruitvale Elementary students during school hours and provide a welcoming, accessible space for the entire community when school is not in session. To encourage participation, survey respondents will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $100 VISA gift card, with five winners selected each Friday until the survey closes on November 21. The survey is available in both English and Spanish. Make your voice heard and be a part of this community-driven initiative!

D51 Choice Programs
Reminder: District 51 offers a variety of choice programs to meet diverse student needs and interests, giving families options in how and where students learn. 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.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Veterans Day
  November 11, 2024
  We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all veterans for their service, bravery, and dedication. Thank you for the sacrifices you’ve made to protect our freedoms.
• Grand Junction High School Theater Performance: She Kills Monsters
  November 15, 7 p.m., and November 16, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the GJHS Performing Arts Center
• 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. Information will be available in both English and Spanish.
• Board of Education Meeting Date Change
  Now happening November 19, 5 p.m. at R-5 High School - Harry Butler Board Room
  Please note that the date for our upcoming Board of Education meeting has been changed from November 12 to November 19. We appreciate your understanding.

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