Center of Focus

December 14^th, 2025

Focus on the Fabulous

The holiday season got off to a wonderful start on Monday night with the Center Band Winter Concert. Students from 5th grade through high school filled the auxiliary gym with festive holiday tunes that had toes tapping and spirits soaring. Elliot Cardoza and Jairo Lino served as Masters of Ceremony and did an outstanding job introducing each performance.

It is truly impressive to reflect on the fact that Mr. Noriega has taught every one of these students how to play their instruments, read music, keep a steady beat, and bring it all together in a high-quality performance. Adding to that accomplishment, Mr. Noriega also writes music and composed arrangements for several of the holiday pieces. It was a fantastic way to start the week.

The music continued Wednesday night with the Haskin Elementary Concert. As always, our students sang beautifully and confidently followed the choreography planned by Mr. Swanson. This festive event is a favorite within our community and a wonderful showcase of the talent and joy our youngest learners bring to the stage. We are incredibly proud of the strong music program in our district, which provides meaningful opportunities for students to learn, grow, and excel in the arts.

On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Secure Rural Schools funding bill, reauthorizing this critical funding source. This is a huge win for rural education and for our district specifically. This is the very legislation we advocated for earlier this year in Washington, DC, and it is rewarding to see those efforts result in positive outcomes for rural public schools and the students we serve.

Also on Tuesday afternoon, the District Accountability Committee (DAC) held its monthly meeting. State law requires all school districts to convene an accountability committee to engage parents, staff, administrators, and community members in advising the school board on important topics such as budgeting, improvement planning, and staff evaluations. We have had strong participation this year and welcome anyone interested in contributing to join this important work.

Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting also served as our annual Organizational Meeting. Kim Duran will continue to serve as Board President, Miguel Rios as Vice President, and Marisa Aguilar as Secretary/Treasurer. Eddie Wilson and Amanda Garcia will serve as Directors. We appreciate our board members’ continued commitment and leadership.

Finally, this week marked the annual Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB) Conference in Colorado Springs. Each year, members of our School Board attend alongside a student leadership team. This year’s theme, The Power of Public Education, highlighted the impact of strong governance and student voice. Board members attended sessions focused on leadership, policy, and current educational issues, while students participated in leadership-focused sessions with peers from across the state. A highlight of the conference was the opportunity for our students to engage directly with our board members, share perspectives, discuss district priorities, and learn how challenges and opportunities compare across districts. We remain committed to listening to and valuing student voice as we move our district forward.

District Ownership Plan at Work

Priority #1 – Curriculum and Instruction

CCSD staff lead rigorous, engaging, collaborative learning experiences in every classroom that align with CCSD Instructional Expectations.

Getting into classrooms is always the best part of my day when I have the opportunity. In Mrs. Najera’s kindergarten class, students were actively working in small groups on letter identification and practicing the sounds each letter makes. In Mrs. Cantello’s first-grade classroom, students were fully engaged with their reading, identifying story plots and discussing different characters. It was wonderful to see our youngest learners so focused, enthusiastic, and growing in their literacy skills.

Environthon students in Ms. Archuleta’s class continued their learning about how trees are measured and managed. Despite the wintry weather, students were able to get outside and engage in meaningful, real-world learning experiences that brought their studies to life.

 Priority #2 – Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR)

CCSD develops hardworking learners who are contributors, problem solvers, effective communicators, and future-ready with the skills needed to succeed.

FFA students in Mrs. Roberts’ class proudly received their official FFA jackets and were happy to pose for a photo. Mrs. Roberts has done an outstanding job launching this brand-new program, providing students with meaningful opportunities to learn more about agriculture and related career pathways.

The FFA program supports student growth by developing leadership, career readiness, and essential life skills through hands-on, experiential learning aligned with Career and Technical Education pathways. Through Supervised Agricultural Experiences, leadership and public speaking opportunities, and exposure to high-demand careers in agriculture, STEM, natural resources, and business, FFA strengthens academic engagement, postsecondary and workforce readiness, and strong community and industry partnerships—benefiting students, schools, and the district as a whole. 

Priority #3 – Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)

CCSD maintains high expectations for student learning and behavior, with structures in place to support the needs of all students.

Ms. Alanis does an outstanding job differentiating instruction and making the curriculum accessible for all students. During my visit, students were engaged in essay writing and demonstrated authentic literacy throughout the lesson as they wrote, presented their work, and received meaningful feedback to strengthen their final products. Ms. Alanis and Mrs. Fransen are also working closely together to implement an effective co-teaching model, providing students with additional support and ensuring they have the tools they need to be successful. 

Priority #4 – Recruitment and Retention (R&R)

CCSD is committed to attracting, training, and retaining highly qualified teachers, knowing that effective educators are the single most important school-based factor in student success.

The R&R team met on Monday to make final preparations for the staff Christmas Celebration that will take place on Thursday, Dec. 18^th.  We are also planning some fun staff events in the new year for our fabulous staff. 

Fast Forward- Spirit Week- Mid Year Finals

Monday, Dec. 15^th- Winter Wonderland- Dress in colors that represent snow, ice, and winter magic- Classroom Visits, CSPC Las Familias, Fire Drill

Tuesday, Dec. 16^th- Mistle Toes- Crazy Sock Day- Special Education Meetings, FSCP Meeting

Wednesday, Dec. 17^th- Ugly Sweater Day- MLT, Staff vs. 5^th, CRSA Statewide Meeting, Admin. Team Meeting, DOT, DHAC

Thursday, Dec. 18^th- Pajama Day- Last Day of Semester, Staff Christmas Celebration, Rye Holiday Basketball Tourney

Friday, Dec. 19^th- Rye Holiday Basketball Tourney, Warrior Classic Grand Junction

Saturday, Dec. 20^th- Warrior Classic, Rye Holiday Tourney

Monday, Dec. 22^nd- Sunday, Jan. 4^th- Christmas Vacation!!! See you in the New Year!