Center of Focus

January 24, 2026

Focus on the Fabulous

Winter Fest was a blast!

A huge thank you to Miss Hays and the Student Council for putting together a fun-filled week of dress-up days and activities to celebrate the season. Our students showed up in a big way, and we love the creativity and support of our parents and families, who help make these days extra special.

Monday was Anything But a Backpack day, and it delivered! We saw suitcases galore, a grocery cart, coolers, all kinds of bags and satchels, and even a few bindles roaming the halls.

Tuesday was Crazy Hair Day, and our families' artistic talent was definitely impressive. Some of our girls sported laundry lines, babies, ramen noodles, and silverware in their hair, while several of our boys rocked mohawks, bold colors, and creative designs. A couple of staff members had to sit this one out… due to having no hair at all! 😄

Wednesday brought an Old West vibe, with cowgirls and cowboys roaming the halls,

and Thursday had us dreaming of warmer weather as we celebrated Hawaiian Day.

Aloha, everyone!

The pep assembly was a great celebration, and Thursday night brought an unexpected, but exciting, change of plans.

We had the opportunity to host our basketball games against Sargent after they experienced a gas leak and were unable to play at home. Thank you to Mr. Sperandio and Mr. Hawkins for being such great neighbors and for shifting gears so quickly. With support from Chris and his team, the gyms were set up for a full-house competition-and it was well worth it.

All of our teams played hard, with action-packed games that came down to the final buzzer. While the girls fell short against a tough opponent, they competed well. Both the boys’ JV and Varsity teams pulled out wins, way to go, Blue! Keep up the hard work and great play!

At Thursday evening’s Special Board Meeting, the Board of Education approved our Financial Audit and Revised Budget. We are proud to report another clean audit with no findings. Thank you to our team, Betty, Raul, and Roseann, for their hard work in making the process smooth and efficient. Betty has been recognized at the state level for her oversight of district finances, and we truly appreciate all she does to keep the district fiscally sound.

Great work, team!

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.  

I had the opportunity to visit several classrooms last week and observe some great instruction at both the kindergarten and middle school levels. In every classroom I visited, Mrs. Villagomez, Mrs. Najera, and Mrs. Banning were focused on literacy and language development, including syllabication, phonemic awareness, and letter names and sounds.

Teachers were actively engaged with students, providing targeted instruction and meaningful support to meet student needs. With 36 days of instruction remaining before we begin state assessments, our mid-year scores are looking solid overall.

Our first-grade students had the opportunity to take an exciting trip to Adams State and visit the planetarium. Mrs. Stillwagon, Mrs. Cantello, and Mrs. Enquist are giving our young Vikings some awesome real-world experiences! What a great opportunity for our students!

Let’s stay focused, intentional, and committed to excellence in all we do- every day!

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.

Students in Ms. Wendy’s CNA and medical pathways classes were busy suturing bananas this past week! Our high school students are gaining hands-on, real-world experience in the medical field through the variety of courses we offer, building skills, earning certifications, and opening doors to meaningful opportunities after high school.

While our high schoolers are preparing for the real world of work, some of our youngest Vikings were doing the same in their own way. Our early learners explored different careers and proudly dressed up as professionals in fields they’re already dreaming about.

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.

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.

Fast Forward-

Monday, Jan. 26^th- PICs Meeting

Tuesday, Jan. 27^th- CHS Knowledge Bowl, EARRS Team Meeting, DHAC, MS Girls Basketball @ Sierra Grande, C-Team Basketball vs. Lake City,

Wednesday, Jan. 28^th – CRSA Statewide Meeting, Opportunity Coalition, Final Inspection of Phase 1- Additions Project, Fire Evacuation Drill, CHS Basketball vs. Custer County

Thursday, Jan. 29^th- OAC Meeting, CHS Girls’ Wrestling @ Monte, Skoglund Girls’ Basketball @ OMS, C-Team @ Centauri

Friday, Jan. 30^th- Valley Classic

Saturday, Jan. 31^st- Valley Classic