A Word From the Superintendent

Don Haddad, Ed.D. Superintendent

Table of Contents

Superintendent's

Message

Highly Talented

Educators

Pathways For Success

Grants Awarded

AT&T/svvsd

hackathon

REd hawk Nationally

recognized

Page 2

Page 3

Pages 4 - 5

Pages 6 - 7

Page 8

Page 8

New Schools

within the district

Page 9

Fiscal Excellence &Performance

Page 10

Community resources

& Awards

Page 11

Dear St. Vrain Resident,

Thanks to a supportive community, highly qualified and committed teachers and staff, and engaged

parents, the entire family of St. Vrain Valley Schools is experiencing enormous success.

As Superintendent of Schools, I am especially proud of the work being done to expand high-rigor

instructional programming throughout the 53 schools that comprise our comprehensive PreK-12 system.

Some noteworthy achievements include:

• District Race to the Top Federal Grant Winner: One of 16 winners nationwide ($16,600,000)

• Invest in Innovation (i3) Federal Grant Winner: Top score application of 1,700 applicants ($3,600,000)

• Legacy Foundation Advanced Placement Grant ($300,000)

• District named 2012 ‘Large Business of the Year’ by Longmont Chamber of Commerce

• Highest 3rd grade reading scores in our district’s history for the past three years

• Numerous John Irwin School of Excellence Awards (Colorado’s top 8 percent high performing schools)

• Several Colorado Trailblazer ‘School to Watch’ Awards

• Numerous Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Awards

• Winner - Several Colorado Principal of the Year Awards for district principals

Our entire community benefits significantly when we work together to build and maintain a strong

system of public schools.

I hope you enjoy learning about some of the many successes of St. Vrain Valley Schools described in

the following pages. We are proud of our accomplishments, and we are grateful for your ongoing and

generous support.

Take care, and have a wonderful summer.

Sincerely,

Don Haddad, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Connect with Don HaddadEmail: haddad_don@svvsd.orgPhone: (303) 682 - 7205Twitter: @SVVSDsupt

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Highly TalentedEducators

The Foundation of our success...

The majority of our licensed staff have either a master’s degree, Ph.D. or are pursuing advanced graduate degrees.

SVVSD Home of Teaching Excellence

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Skyline High School’s nationally recognized Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM) Academy is designed to prepare students for the 21st century workforce. The STEM Academy is an

innovative, technology-based curriculum where students learn to collaboratively solve problems through real-world projects.

Students have the opportunity to interact with professional scientists and engineers, and collaborate with local businesses and industry through job shadowing and internships.

Pathways For success

science, Technology, engineering & Math (sTeM)

Beginning Fall 2013, the Medical & BioScience Academy at Longmont High School will offer rigorous college-preparatory curricula that prepare students for admission to post-secondary programs in medicine, research and allied health sciences.

Medical & Bioscience academy (MBsa)

St. Vrain continues to expand its PK-12 focus school opportunities, offering competitive and innovative 21st century learning. These high-rigor programs enhance academic achievement and provide families an array of choices at all grade levels.

www.svvsd.org/success/#/stemread more at

www.svvsd.org/success/#/mbsaread more at

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Niwot High School offers the IB Diploma Programme, a rigorous course of study designed to meet the academic needs of highly motivated students and promote international understanding.

IB students earn both a standard diploma and an IB diploma. Some students enter college with more than 24 college credits. Niwot High has a 90% IB diploma rate and is recognized worldwide.

Created in 2009, The Silver Creek Leadership Academy (SCLA) is where tomorrow’s leaders are students today.

Using a curriculum designed by teachers and administrators, and in collaboration with local business leaders, the coursework is relevant and focused.

science, Technology, engineering & Math (sTeM)

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Leadership

Valarie AllmanSilver Creek, SCLA Senior

www.svvsd.org/success/#/leadershipread more at

Honors, AP, Pre-AP, CU Succeed,

Gifted & Talented & other

Advanced Academic programs

Schools following curriculum

based on IB Primary Years,

IB Middle Years and the IB

Diploma Programme

Science, Technology,

Engineering & Math (STEM),

MESA, Science & Inquiry

Schools following the basic

curriculum guidelines set by the

Core Knowledge Foundation

SVVSD’s standard, high-rigor and

comprehensive curriculum

World Languages, Career &

Technical, Montessori, Extra

Curricular Engagement, and more

All SVVSD schools have an

emphasis in technology.

These schools feature the

latest equipment or online

coursework

Rigorous Academics Enhanced

through the Arts, Visual &

Performing Arts (VPA)

Schools focused on developing

team building, collaboration

and business skills

www.svvsd.org/success/#/allman

View Valarie’s video profile at

St. Vrain Focus School Programming

Advanced

International Baccalaureate

Science / Math

Core Knowledge

High-Rigor District Curriculum

Additional Options

Technology

Arts

Leadership

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Awarded Over $20 Million in grants

In December 2012, St. Vrain won $16.6 million in Race to the Top funds. The U.S. Department of Education chose 16 districts nationwide; St. Vrain was the only district in Colorado honored. According to U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, “Race to the Top grantees have shown tremendous leadership through developing plans that will transform the learning environment and enable students to receive a personalized, world-class education.”

Race to the Top grant

Cecilia MuñozAssistant to the PresidentDirector of White House Domestic Policy

www.svvsd.org/success/#/rtttread more at

Partnership - U.s. Department of education

Cecilia MuñozU.S. Department of Education

www.svvsd.org/success/#/munozView more photos from Cecilia Muñoz’s visit

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Awarded Over $20 Million in grants

In 2010, St. Vrain won a $3.6 million Invest in Innovation (i3) development grant with the highest score nationwide on its application.

The grant focuses on expanding programs for at-risk students in seven schools. This includes augmenting the school year at four elementary schools, targeting math students in selected middle schools and fully implementing the STEM Academy at Skyline High.

Invest in Innovation (i3) grant

Regina Renaldi is a dynamic force behind St. Vrain’s push to close the

achievement gap. She has spent her career focusing on school reform. Renaldi focuses on high need student populations, literacy and English Language Learning. She has been instrumental in securing SVVSD’s $20 million in federal grants. Her passion for school improvement is unrelenting.

ReginaRenaldi

Assistant Superintendent of Priority Programs

Pete Lorenzen

Patty Quiñones spent five years leading change at Skyline High School before recently being

tapped to direct the Race to the Top grant programs. The transition to her new post will allow her to impact numerous schools.

“The opportunity to bring cutting-edge innovation at Skyline through the STEM and VPA Academies was exciting,” said Quiñones. “I look forward to continuing my work on a larger scale to create student innovators at all levels in the district.”

Patty Quinones

Executive Director of Innovation Programs

www.svvsd.org/success/#/i3read more at

Partnerships IBM & University of Colorado Boulder

IBM Colorado Senior Executive

Jacquelyn F. Sullivan, Ph.D.Associate Dean, CU BoulderCollege of Engineering

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AT&T/SVVSD hackathon

In December of 2012, silver Creek High school hosted the nation’s very first high school invitational mobile apps ‘hackathon’. The event was sponsored by aT&T and a number of other state and national corporate partners.

Hackathon – /haka, thän/ an event in which computer programmers and others involved in software development, including graphic designers, interface designers and project managers, collaborate intensively on software projects.

REd HAwk's National Grant

Movement and exercise are more than activities at Red Hawk Elementary. These are foundational elements of the school’s culture. Because of this philosophy, Red Hawk has received an abundance of local and national recognition.

In June of 2012, the Active Schools Acceleration Project (ASAP), an initiative of Childhood Obesity 180, announced Red Hawk Elementary as a national ‘Innovation Competition Winner’ and a recipient of a $100K grant.

at Red Hawk, our rigorous academic environment is enhanced by our movement program, resulting in higher achievement

and a strong school community.

– Cyrus Weinberger, Red Hawk elementary Principal

$100K – active schools acceleration Project (asaP)

www.svvsd.org/success/#/redhawkread more at

www.svvsd.org/success/#/hackread more at

www.svvsd.org/success/#/hackView a gallery of Hackathon photos

www.svvsd.org/success/#/redhawkSee Red Hawk students in action at

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Spark! Discovery Preschool

High Quality Preschool Now Offered District-wide

New Schools

Loma Linda Elementary, Spangler Elementary and Heritage Middle will combine to become one new school, Timberline PK-8. Remodeling has continued throughout the 2012-2013 school year. The renovations were paid for from the voter approved bond in 2008. In the Carbon Valley area, Thunder Valley K-8 will open this fall in the former Frederick High building.

St. Vrain families enjoy preschool programs in neighborhood elementary schools. Learn more by visiting www.svvsd.org/preschool or by calling the district’s Early Childhood Office at 303-702-7815.

Opening Fall 2013, Spark! Discovery Preschool will provide families in the Carbon Valley with a comprehensive early learning program enhanced by Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

This ground breaking program will offer a safe, nurturing and creative environment, while integrating traditional and innovative project-based learning.

First sTeM Preschool & PK-8 and K-8 schools

www.svvsd.org/success/#/newschoolsread more at

www.svvsd.org/success/#/preschoolread more at

Timberline PK-8

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Soaring PERFORMANCE

Fiscal Excellence

In November 2012, the Longmont Chamber of Commerce named St. Vrain Valley Schools as ‘Large Business of the Year’.

This distinction is especially relevant since it was chosen by our business leaders. The award recognizes the district’s achievements, fiscal responsibility, as well as collaboration from the Board of Education, administrative team, teachers, staff, parents, elected officials and community.

‘Large Business of the Year’ Longmont Chamber of Commerce

excellence in Financial Reporting

St. Vrain is committed to both academic excellence and fiscal excellence. St. Vrain’s financial practices continue to earn positive reviews.

• For the 9th consecutive year, the district’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) has been recognized by two international organizations for its excellence in financial reporting.

• Moody’s rates the district financial management practices as ‘Aa2’, the highest rating in the district’s history.

Third grade reading scores are upSt. Vrain is reaping the benefits of early learning programs and outstanding teachers. We have incorporated high-quality preschool and full-day kindergarten in every one of the district’s 26 elementary schools. This has contributed significantly to our students achieving the highest 3rd grade reading scores in the history of the district.

Schools ‘Accredited with Distinction’Numerous St. Vrain schools are ‘Accredited with Distinction’. Based on recommendations from the state performance framework, schools must meet 80% of the criteria. The framework considers academic achievement, academic growth, academic growth gaps, post-secondary education, and workforce readiness.

www.svvsd.org/success/#/performread more at

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svvsd awards

State-Level Awards

National-Level Awards

International-Level Awards

Community resources

St. Vrain enjoys the resources of hundreds of volunteers. Parents, grandparents, business partners, community members and student mentors all impact our schools.

This year, the district created a unique opportunity for senior homeowners. The program helped lessen the impact that the mill levy increase had on our senior community and disabled homeowners.

Thousands of hours were invested by both seniors and other volunteers, benefiting every school in the district.

Volunteers supporting sVVsD

Carolyn Storz, Parent & Grassroots St. Vrain Advocate

www.svvsd.org/success/#/communityread more at

“As a parent, I find that parental involvement and stakeholder input are integral parts of the SVVSD culture. Families are heard when they reach out with suggestions and questions.”

• John Irwin School of Excellence Awards

Honor to state’s top 8 percent of schools for academic

achievement

• Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Awards

For demonstrating exceptional student growth

• Colorado Trailblazer ‘School to Watch’ Awards

State and national program identifying high-performing

middle schools

• Colorado Principal of the Year Awards

Multiple winners

• Boettcher Scholars - Numerous winners

• Race to the Top Federal Grant

Multimillion-dollar grant winner

• i3 - Invest in Innovation Grant

Winner of prestigious national award

• Active School Acceleration Project - ASAP

National winner

• US News & World Report and Newsweek

Top-ranked high schools

• SpringBoard National Demonstration School

Three-year award winner

• National Merit Scholars - Numerous winners

• St. Vrain IB (International Baccalaureate)

Recognized for scores that exceed IB world average

• Odyssey of the Mind World Finals

Numerous qualifying teams over the years

Our district, schools, principals and students have earned numerous achievements.

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