I hope you enjoyed a relaxing and fun-filled summer. Our district leadership team has continued working together throughout the past several months, as we prepare for the start of a new school year. A lot has been going on while teachers and students were away on summer break, and it is a pleasure to share these exciting changes and additions.Within each of our Innovation Zones, leaders are working to connect with staff and community members to create the most effective learning environment for our students.The POWER and Sand Creek Zones will host convocation celebrations to start the year. The Sand Creek Zone is laying out leadership action plans for the buildings with three primary goals: all schools will exhibit increased achievement as measured by national, state and local measures; all schools will inform and engage their respective communities through the use of a variety of media; all schools will be safe, efficient and comprised of high performing teams.The Falcon Zone has set a date for its second annual community-wide Innovation Convention. The convention provides another opportunity for Falcon community members to contribute ideas to the zone and building innovation plans. Schools in the Falcon Zone are working to finalize their plans by the end of September.The iConnect Zone is welcoming a new addition with the launch of the District 49 Homeschool Enrichment Program starting Aug. 22. The program will provide curriculum ideas, hands-on group learning and networking opportunities to families across the Colorado Springs area with homeschool students in first through sixth grades. This program aims to benefit home educators and homeschooled students in the Falcon School District 49 community and throughout the wider Pikes Peak Region.Falcon Virtual Academy will be offering a blended model this school year for families in K-12. This will allow access to enrichment on campus on various days at the FVA building. Patriot Learning Center is proud to announce that more than 90 students met graduation requirements over the summer. The school will start a Mastery Model Curriculum in the high school and explore it in some of the middle school classes.The D 49 School to Work Alliance Program has welcomed a new face and settled into a new location. SWAP Specialist Mindy Quinn now joins program coordinator Sarah Melgoza, as they strive to provide youth with the tools they need to be successful in the workplace. SWAP provides training, job interview preparation and other career services to individuals with disabilities, preparing them to succeed at work and live independently. The program partners with area businesses to provide an individualized experience to youth with disabilities. SWAP services are free to youth ages 16-25, who have a disability and live within the boundaries of D 49. The SWAP team recently moved into new offices at Sand Creek High School. Our outstanding staff members have continued to make a significant contribution to our community. During the summer months, our teachers and staff contributed to a recycling fundraiser to help build a new home for an area soldier through Homes for the Troops. Sand Creek High School hosted the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, and staff and students participated in the 24-hour walk and volunteered with set-up for the event, which raised more than $20,000!I continue to be amazed by the work of our staff and students and look forward to further fostering relationships between D 49 and our entire community.
