Video Spotlight

---

Letter from the Superintendent

Dear St. Vrain Valley Community,

Thank you for your partnership and support as we continue to celebrate another outstanding year in St. Vrain Valley Schools. I am so proud of the commitment, hard work, ingenuity, and creativity of our students, teachers, and staff that have propelled our students to unprecedented levels of success. 

St. Vrain Valley Schools has achieved the highest on-time graduation rate of any district in the Denver Metro area, and the highest of any district in Colorado with more than 300 graduates. St. Vrain’s Hispanic graduation rate, at 88.3%, is also the highest of any district in the Denver Metro Area. In addition to having the highest graduation rate in the Denver Metro Area, St. Vrain also has the most rigorous graduation requirements at 24.5 credits. St. Vrain also has the lowest dropout rate in the Denver Metro Area at 0.6%.

The investments that have been made across our system for the past decade have been delivering strong returns in academic success and student achievement. For over ten years investments into providing a world-class education to our students have included: 

• high-quality preschool and full-day kindergarten;
• an emphasis on STEM, robotics, and design-thinking in grades PK-12;
• a nationally recognized system for workforce pathways, industry credentials, and cutting-edge career and technical education programs;
• rigorous academic experiences through Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), focus program pathways, concurrent enrollment courses, P-TECH programs (Pathways through Technology Early College High School), and high graduation requirements;
• significant programming and supports to advance early literacy and math skills; 
• expanded school day through our Achievement Acceleration Academy (AAA) after-school program, as well as extended the school year through the month of June through Project Launch; 
• increased opportunities and engagement in athletics, visual and performing arts, and co-curricular programs; 
• expanded technology access for all students, including internet access; 
• and so much more. 

These investments are possible through the strong support of our community and the district’s focus on strategic and conservative fiscal management. This has included debt refinancing, payment structuring, and early debt payoff strategies which have saved taxpayers approximately $82.3 million over the past two decades. This includes $36.8 million saved in December alone, a testament to the district’s conservative financial planning and its dedication to the community’s economic well-being. 

We are grateful for our community’s support and we are committed to using resources in the most fiscally responsible way. Toward this end, as we look to the future and prepare for continued growth, we are engaging our community in dialogue regarding a potential bond initiative on the 2024 ballot. What is unique about this potential bond initiative is that due to existing community investment, strong financial management, and growth in population and economic strength, the 2024 bond will not increase property taxes^*. Bond funds will go toward continued investments that will provide the education that today’s students will need for tomorrow’s jobs and careers, including skilled trades (plumbing, electrical, and construction), computer systems, cybersecurity, healthcare, and more. It will also fund broader and enhanced safety and security measures in school buildings, critical building maintenance and upgrade electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems, provide classroom additions and construction of new school buildings to address overcrowding and future enrollment, and continue the district’s commitment to academic excellence, safety, and accountability. Please look for more information over the next several months as we continue to get feedback from our community and finalize planning.

Our successes today and into the future are what we call our #StVrainStorm – a vortex of achievement, advancement, and infinite potential that encapsulates the strong competitive advantage that St. Vrain Valley Schools provides to our students. Please take a moment to read through the incredible stories and highlights below from our #StVrainStorm of success over the past several months. Thank you for all that you do to support our students, teachers, staff, schools, and community.

Thank you,
Don Haddad, Ed.D.
Superintendent
X (Twitter): @SVVSDSupt

---

Featured Stories

---

In the News

• St. Vrain Valley Schools’ Beth Cerrone receives 2023 High School National Presidential Cybersecurity Award
• Altona Middle School Students Win NASA TechRise Student Challenge
• TrojanTECH Students Learn About Business from Local Entrepreneurs
• SVVSD creating student-led drone performance team
• Erie High School’s Student Government Partners with Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado for a Week of Giving
• SVVSD tops charts for graduation rates
• Niwot Elementary and the Mwebaza Foundation Build Connections Between Colorado and Uganda
• CETC students teach district staff life-saving techniques
• Problem-solving shines at SVVSD’s inaugural ‘Day of AI’ event in Longmont
• SVVSD teacher receives Fulbright US Distinguished Teaching Award
• Hygiene Elementary’s STEAM Fair Inspires Ingenuity
• Main Street celebrates the opening of the print shop
• Middle School Students Engage in St. Vrain Valley Schools’ Theater Day
• Coal Ridge Middle School’s Podcast Inspires Student Engagement
• WTV Unplugged: Behind the Scenes of Westview’s Student-Run TV Channel
• Embracing the Art of Teaching: Elena Russ Inspires Students at Lyons Elementary
• LaunchED Virtual Academy Fosters Strong Teacher-Student Connection in a Fully Online Learning Environment
• SVVSD receives RISE grant for youth apprenticeships
• St. Vrain Virtual High School’s Social and Emotional Learning Curriculum Enhances Community and Well-Being
• Primero Youth Leadership Summit flashes a bright horizon
• Mead High School to Receive National Banner Recognition as Special Olympics Unified Champion School
• SVVSD Honor Band concert: Students pack auditorium in Longmont
• Altona Middle Schools is Strengthening Community Through the Student-Led Store
• Pitch-Perfect: 81 St. Vrain Valley Middle School Students Selected for Colorado All State Middle School Choir
• Niwot High organizes Wish Week for 14-year-old with cystic fibrosis
• Columbine Elementary School is Building Connections Through Parent Engagement
• Longmont High School Students Selected for Colorado All-State Music Ensembles
• Eagle Crest Excels Through Late Start Coding for All
• Ritzenhein receives Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Player of the Year Award
• Longmont Estates Elementary Service Project Club Creates Future Leaders
• Beyond the Bookshelf: Grand View’s Books are Fun Campaign
• Silver Creek Unified bowling team takes 2nd at state
• Swingin’ in Lyons: Three District Jazz Bands Perform at Planet Bluegrass
• Niwot High junior wins bronze award in worldwide AI competition
• Prairie Ridge Elementary Embarks on a Market Journey
• Skyline High School Art Students Connect with Atria Seniors in Special Project
• Olympic gold medalist Valerie Allman returns to alma mater
• Bike Donation Enhances Kindergarten PE at Columbine Elementary School

---

Important Reminders, Events, and Opportunities

Get ready and get engaged with many upcoming opportunities in St. Vrain.

---

Stapp Inspires Educator Highlight

---

^{*Passage of the 2024 bond will not impose any new school district property tax and will not increase the district’s existing annual debt repayment obligation. Based on the current tax formula, it is specifically designed to not increase your existing school district taxes, and may even result in a lowering of existing property taxes, similar to the tax reduction the district made in January 2024.}