Dear D51 Families and Colleagues,

There are only 55 school days until our first high school graduation of 2025 and just over 60 days until the school year wraps up! The year is definitely flying by. Let’s take a moment to celebrate the great work we’ve all done so far and the amazing things happening across our district!

I was able to attend the Student of the Quarter Luncheon this week. I love this opportunity to celebrate our students because it involves teachers and staff bragging about their students in front of proud family members, and it involves our Engaged & Supportive Community Partners at Colorado Mesa University & Alpine Bank who provide $500 scholarships to each of the students! You can read more about it below. I was also able to make it out to Independence Academy Charter School to watch students present their National History Day projects! The students did a great job! Shoutout to Mr. Stanfield and the IACS teachers and staff for a great event! I also had fun cheering on our CHS and PHS girls and boys basketball teams as they faced off last night. Be sure to catch the basketball action tonight at both GJHS and FMHS!

I also want to highlight the incredible accomplishments of all of our student athletes who competed at State last week. It was great seeing the results come in. I want to give a HUGE shoutout to our D51 Phoenix girls wrestling team! Their hard work, dedication, and perseverance paid off in a big way at the state competition where they brought home a well-deserved STATE CHAMPIONSHIP! These girls have worked so hard all season, and this victory is a testament to the strength and resilience of our student-athletes. Also, shout out to their dedicated coaches, families, and school communities for all the support and encouragement. And shoutout to Fruita Monument High School’s Tatum Williams for bringing home an individual wrestling STATE CHAMPIONSHIP as well! What a great story, and way to represent FMHS and D51. You can read more about our student athletes who made All-Conference Teams below, too. 

All-Conference Athletes
Congratulations to our outstanding D51 girls' swim team members, our D51 boys wrestling, and the Phoenix girls’ wrestlers who earned All-Conference honors and state titles! Read more here.

Career & College Readiness Public Safety Career Tours
This week, our Career & College Readiness Department gave students a hands-on opportunity to explore careers in public safety, connecting them with professionals in law enforcement, fire safety, emergency response, and more. Read more here.

February Student of the Quarter Luncheon
On Tuesday, we hosted our February Student of the Quarter Luncheon, recognizing students for their leadership, hard work, and character. Read more here.

Leadership D51 Class – Prepared & Supported Staff
We hosted our third Leadership D51 class on Wednesday, covering the Focus Area of Prepared & Supported Staff from our three-year, community-driven strategic plan. Read more here.

FMHS Students Celebrate FFA Week with "Tractor Day"
This morning, Fruita Monument High School students drove to campus in style for “Drive Your Tractor to School Day” to celebrate FFA Week. Read more here.

D51 Foundation Partners with Elevate Kids
The D51 Foundation is excited to partner with Elevate Kids for their 4th Annual Fun Run on April 6, 2025 at Las Colonias Park. This is a fantastic way for D51 families and supporters to get outside, stay active, and have fun—all while supporting our PE programs! Sign up for a 10K, 5K, or 2.5K run or walk along the beautiful Colorado River, with proceeds benefiting the PE program at the school of your choice. Register by February 28 for a discounted rate. Click here for more information and to register.

Board of Education Recap
On February 18, 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

• 50th Year Celebration of GJHS Girls Basketball
  February 21, 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. at Grand Junction High School
  This year marks an incredible milestone—50 years of girls' basketball at Grand Junction High School. Join us during the halftime show tonight to congratulate the past and present GJHS players on this achievement!
• FMHS Hall of Fame Ceremony
  February 21, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. at Fruita Monument High School
  Join us at halftime during the FMHS vs. Montrose boys basketball game as we celebrate the 2025 FMHS Hall of Fame inductees!
• Central High School Jazz Cluster Concert
  February 25, 6 p.m. at Central High School
  Join our CHS Jazz Band as they welcome middle school jazz bands for special performances, with the CHS Jazz Band playing between sets!
• Mesa County Public Safety Fair
  February 26 and 27, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Mesa Mall
  The free 2025 Mesa County Safety Fair will feature hands-on and live safety demonstrations from local organizations, including public utilities, fire departments, law enforcement, medical facilities, and more.
• Palisade High School Bands Spaghetti Dinner
  February 28, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Palisade High School
  Join us for a delicious spaghetti dinner while enjoying live music from our talented PHS Bands. Get tickets here.
• Curriculum Open Houses
  Join us for two opportunities to review and provide feedback on upcoming instructional resources for 12th-grade English Language Arts and 4th-grade Social Studies before the final adoption recommendations are made.
  • High School ELA Resource, March 3, 4:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. at R-5 High School
  • 4th Grade Social Studies Resource, March 3, 4:30 p.m. -7 p.m. at R-5 High School
• Spring Musicals
  • Central High School Spring Musical - Anastasia
    March 6 and 7, 7 p.m., and March 8, 1 p.m. & 7 p.m., at Central High School
    Purchase tickets here.
  • Fruita Monument High School Spring Musical - Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka
    March 6, 7, and 8, 7 p.m. at Fruita Monument High School
    Purchase tickets here.
  • Grand Junction High School Spring Musical - Jekyll & Hyde
    February 28, 7 p.m., March 1, 1 p.m. & 7 p.m., March 7, 7 p.m. and March 8th, 1 p.m. & 7 p.m. at Grand Junction High School
    Purchase tickets here.
  • Palisade High School Spring Musical - You Can’t Get There from Here
    March 6, 7, and 8, 7 p.m. at Palisade High School
    Purchase tickets here.
• FMHS Music Department's Annual Chili Dinner and Silent Auction
  March 11, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Fruita Monument High School
  Support the FMHS Department through a fun night of live music, chili and desserts, and a silent auction. Click here for more information.

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