Updates & Resources for Our Community
In this issue:

  • COVID-19 Update
  • State Testing Update
  • Connect with Board Members
  • Mental Health Matters
  • Middle School Registration
  • Pirate Youth Sports Are Back
  • Good News Stories
COVID-19 Update
Arapahoe County Moves to Level Blue

After meeting the required health metrics over the past seven days, Arapahoe County moved to Level Blue on Sunday March 14. This level further reopens the County’s economy by allowing many area businesses to expand their capacities.

Health experts warn that we must continue to use transmission mitigation techniques such as mask wearing, washing hands, social distancing and avoiding large gatherings in order to not see another spike in disease transmission. These measures are important until a higher percentage of our population is vaccinated -- especially since there is a potential for variants to spread more easily.

Thank you to everyone for doing your part to ensure our community stays healthy and our schools stay open.

Spring Break and Travel

Though COVID numbers around the country have gone down since our highest peak in January, they are still at the same level as the summer peak we saw last July. The CDC is still discouraging travel as staying home is the best way to ensure you will not be exposed to or spread COVID-19. 

If traveling for spring break, CDC recommends getting a COVID-19 test one to three days before travel and keeping a copy of your test results with you, in case it’s needed. You shouldn’t travel if you test positive for COVID-19. It would be safest to quarantine for 5 days after your return, and seek a COVID-19 PCR test after day 5. 

The CDC also recommends that you check travel restrictions before you go and continue to take safety measures such as wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, staying at least six feet away from others, and washing your hands.

Current Schools/Cohorts on Rolling Remote:
  • Ms. Amber Reyes and Ms. Ann-Marie's part-day morning class at Englewood ECE, returning Tuesday, March 30
  • Colorado's Finest Salon and Spa Academy, returning Tuesday March 30
State Testing Update for In-Person Students
Recently, our state officials passed a bill (HB21-1125) which will direct the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to submit a request to the U.S. Department of Education to partially waive state assessment requirements for this school year. Specifically, the state is asking for a waiver to scale back the federally mandated end-of-year assessments, reducing the number of tests students would take. The one-year changes are being requested due to the unique circumstances of the school year caused by the global pandemic.
 
If the waiver is approved, in-person students would only be expected to take one subject of the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) assessments; our in-person students in grades 3, 5, and 7 would be expected to take the English Language Arts assessments, while our in-person students in grades 4, 6, and 8 would be expected to take the Math assessments. Additionally, if approved, the waiver would suspend all science CMAS assessments for the 2020-2021 school year. 
 
The waiver would not change the expectations of our in-person students in grades 9, 10, and 11 to participate in the PSAT/SAT assessments.
 
As of now, because the waiver has yet to be approved or denied, we are moving forward with plans to administer all CMAS and PSAT/SAT assessments as required by law. We will begin with the assessments that have been approved in the signed legislation, and move on to the others, if applicable. If there is a change based on an approved waiver, we will adjust our plans accordingly and communicate those changes. As always, families have the option of opting their students out of these assessments whether the waiver is approved or not.
 
If you have any questions, please contact your school's administrator.
Connect with Board Members
The Englewood Schools Board of Education would like to connect with community stakeholders to ensure the Board is aware of and advocating for the community's wants and needs. Please answer the one-minute poll below to let us know the best way for the Board to connect with you.
Mental Health Matters
During these challenging times, we know that parents and caregivers may need some extra mental health support. In this section, we will provide resources that families can access in order to support their mental wellbeing.

The Worrier's Guide to Getting Better Sleep
If you find yourself worrying at night instead of sleeping, these techniques may help you.
If speaking to someone would help, please reach out. AllHealth Network provides several supports.

  • To speak with someone in the Colorado Spirit Program about stress related to the pandemic, please call 720-707-6789 or visit the webpage at www.allhealthnetwork.org/Colorado-Spirit
  • If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and are in need of immediate assistance, please call the Colorado Crisis Hotline at 1-844-493-8255 (TALK) or text TALK to 38255.
Middle School Registration
Registration for 7th grade has begun. All students should have been shown a registration video during one of their 6th grade classes and have access to the registration materials. We would like all Elective choices entered into CAMPUS by students as soon as possible. We look forward to meeting all of our new 7th graders. We hope to have a move up day (a day where all 7th graders can come to EMS to meet teachers and tour the school) in May but we are still waiting to see if we can do that in person. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Tama Wood, EMS/ELA/eLearning counselor at tama_wood@engschools.net. 
Pirate Youth Sports are Back
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Pirate Youth Sports are back and offering a spring soccer season, flag football, lacrosse, t-ball, rec basketball and more! Read more about the sports seasons and how to register by clicking below.
Good News Stories
Thank You Operations, Maintenance and Transportation Staff

The Englewood Schools Operations, Maintenance and Transportation (OMT) team worked tirelessly on Sunday, March 14 and Monday, March 15, clearing feet of heavy snow from the districts' parking lots, sidewalks and buses so that students and staff members could return safely to in-person school on Tuesday, March 16. Thank you, OMT for your hard work!
Kindness Week at EHS

The week of March 8-12, EHS participated in a Kindness Challenge organized by the EHS counselors. The week included many activities aimed at focusing on kindness, including a Kindness Spirit Week where each day students and staff members dressed according to a theme. Additionally, each seminar class created a poster that students signed to pledge to take on the Kindness Challenge. Students wrote kind messages on sticky notes and stuck them on a "Words of Kindness" board in the hall for all to read. Students then wrote their names on hearts if they completed acts of kindness. Those students who completed a minimum of 10 kind acts received a treat bag.

The counseling team wanted to take on the Great Kindness Challenge at EHS so that students could have an opportunity to participate in acts of kindness as well as notice when others have been kind to them. The counselors hope this week helped students feel a sense of belonging and helped create a positive school climate.
Congratulations to the EHS Boys Basketball Team

Congratulations to the Englewood High School boys basketball team who had an amazing season! After winning their conference championship and posting a record of 14-1, the team moved on to the 3A Elite Eight round of state playoffs for the first time since 1993.

In the playoffs, the team won their first game against Resurrection Christian, but lost in the second round against St. Mary's.

The team showed so much heart and determination this season. We are proud of you!
Swedish Medical Center Food Drive

Swedish Hospital conducted a food drive to support Englewood families over spring break. Over 100 bags of food will be distributed to our students and families this week. Thank you to our partners at Swedish!
High Expectations ~ Accountability ~ Integrity ~ Respect ~ Community
4101 S. Bannock St.
Englewood, CO 80110
303-761-7050