Superintendent's Corner
April 2019

A Message from Dr. Brad Meeks
This month, Steamboat Springs High School senior Eric Casey broke the school’s pole-vaulting record twice , shattering his own personal record in the process. Eric embodies what we are witnessing throughout our district right now—students reaching new heights, setting new standards, and redefining excellence for our entire community. Every month, we feel a tremendous sense of pride as we fill the “Celebrations” section of this newsletter and share accomplishments in real time on our Facebook page. It is wonderful to see our community share this same pride. In addition to Steamboat residents coming out to see students perform in concerts, theater productions, and competitions on the field, hundreds of clicks and comments online regularly recognize our students’, educators', and schools’ hard-earned accomplishments. 

There is another important way you can honor and support our students, educators, and schools in Steamboat. We ask that you consider attending a community forum in the next two weeks to engage in the ongoing discussion about building for the future of the Steamboat Springs School District.

We know that many of you have engaged over the past year or more in discussions regarding long-terms solutions for at- or over-capacity schools. Now, it’s decision time. The goal is for the Board of Education to make decisions on May 20, including what type of new school facility to build (a PK-8 school, 5-8 middle school, or PK-4 replacement elementary school); on which district-owned property the facility will be located (Whistler or Steamboat II); how much funding will be earmarked for priority projects at all district schools; and the total funding the district will need from the community. 

There is a special forum for parents, grandparents, and district volunteers on May 2 at 11:30AM at the Bud Werner Memorial Library. Your opinions matter in this process, and we appreciate you coming out to share them, especially because the decisions made in 2019 will likely shape our community’s education landscape for at least the next decade.  

The full forum schedule is below. Presentations will be posted on buildingforthefuture.ssk12.org.
2019 Community Forums
The Steamboat Springs School District has scheduled the following 2019 community meetings to discuss potential 2019 bond packages.
 
Board of Education Community Forum: April 29, 2019, 6:30PM at Soda Creek Elementary School (220 Park Ave)*

Districtwide Parent, Grandparent, and Volunteer Meeting (co-hosted by district PICs): May 2, 2019, 11:30AM at Bud Werner Memorial Library (1289 Lincoln Ave)

Steamboat II Neighbors Meeting: May 2, 2019, 6:30PM at Anchor Way Church (40650 Anchor Way)

Board of Education Community Forum: May 6, 2019, 8:30AM at Bud Werner Memorial Library (1289 Lincoln Ave)

Board of Education Community Forum: May 11, 2019, 9:00AM at Soda Creek Elementary School (220 Park Ave)*

*Spanish language interpreters will be present
Celebrations!
Optimist Club of Steamboat Springs named Steamboat Springs High School seniors Lucy Wilson and Gretchen Jacobs Teens of the Month for April.
Congrats to Steamboat Senior Eric Casey, who broke the school pole vaulting record (one he set just days before) with a height of 14 feet, 5 inches. Read more

This record was set at a first-ever Steamboat Springs High School-hosted track meet. Read more
Students at Strawberry Park Elementary School worked throughout the autumn to create a 32-foot mural of an aspen forest with parent volunteer Sarah Juschka and art teacher Erin Kreis. Read more
A group of Steamboat Springs Middle School seventh graders took third place in the state and first in our region at the 2018-2019 Colorado Mathematics League competition. Jade Henderson and Connor Frithsen took second in the state for their grade level and Grey Babier took third.
Congratulations to all the Strawberry Park Elementary School students who participated in the Continental Math League this year. Eli Robbins and Bennett Weinheimer tied for first place in the grade 4 contest and Luke Bedell, Arran Flam, and Liam Jernegan tied for first place in the grade 5 contest. Read more
Sotheby's International Realty listed Steamboat Springs School District's "superior schools" among the long list of reasons so many people want to relocate to Steamboat Springs. Read more
Like us on Facebook , and check out our posts for regular updates, news stories, and photos from our schools. 
News & Notes
Calendar of Events
Read recent Steamboat Pilot & Today articles.

Steamboat Springs High School theater students presented “Beauty and the Beast." The production’s cast involved more than 80 students — about a quarter of them middle schoolers — and a crew of about 20. Read more

Part of the master plan to address overcrowding and needed upgrades in Steamboat Springs’ public schools includes adding preschools into the elementary schools. Read more

Thanks to a new Coffee Cart program at Steamboat Springs High School, students have an opportunity to share their feelings around the stress, anxiety and pressure of today’s world over coffee and conversation. Read more

Steamboat Springs City Council directed staff to bring forward an ordinance banning single-use plastic bags and placing a 20-cent fee on paper bags. The bag ban was brought to council by Teen Council, a program that seeks to get high school students engaged in their community. Read more

Former Steamboat Springs High School students Emily Hannah and Lev Tsypin won a prestigious National Science Foundation Fellowship. Read more

Strings School Days, a music education program built by Strings Music Festival brought Yampa Valley students and professional musicians together. Read more

During Autism Awareness month, we were encouraged to appreciate and value the uniqueness and gifts of people on the spectrum. Read more

Teaching our children about consent needs to be an ongoing conversation that evolves as children grow. Read more

Steamboat Springs High School student, Waverly Gebhardt spent her senior year learning important lessons, not all of them confined to a classroom. Read more

In just a few months, Landon Wendler will graduate from Steamboat Springs High School and begin his quest to make the U.S. Ski team. Read more

Cousins, Steamboat Springs High School Junior Lowen Epstein and Battle Mountain Senior Mac Schmidt have been competing against each other since Epstein’s freshman year in lacrosse and football. Read more

Sailors in the news!
The SSSD community forum schedule is listed above

May 1: Board of Education Workshop, Bud Werner Memorial Library. 12:15PM

May 3: Family Movie Night, Strawberry Park Elementary Gym, 6:15PM

May 6: Board of Education Meeting, 4:30PM; Steamboat Springs High School Sailor Luau

May 6 - 16: Steamboat Springs High School AP Testing

May 9: Soda Creek Elementary School 4th Grade Colorado History Play; Steamboat Springs High School Spring Music Concert, 6PM

May 14: Soda Creek & Strawberry Park Elementary School 5th Grade Band Concert, SSHS Auditorium, 6:30PM

May 16: Soda Creek Elementary School Art Show, 4:30PM

May 17: Strawberry Park Elementary School Bike Rodeo

May 18: Steamboat Springs High School Prom; Routt County community cleanup day, 8AM

May 20: Board of Education Meeting, 4:30PM

May 24: Steamboat Springs High School Seniors Last Day of School

May 27: Memorial Day, No School

May 29 - 31: Yampa Valley High School Spring Raft Trip

May 31: Soda Creek Elementary School Bike Rodeo; Yampa Valley High School Graduation, CMC Auditorium

June 1: Steamboat Springs High School Graduation

June 3: Board of Education Meeting, 4:30PM

June 4: Last Day for Students
Teachers play a pivotal role in our children’s lives, inspiring a lifelong love of learning and discovery and making a difference in their well-being and long-term success. Let’s show our thanks and gratitude!