Center of Focus

March 8, 2026

 Focus on the Fabulous

District Ownership Plan at Work

Our District Ownership work is grounded in the belief that everyone in our district shares responsibility for our success. This past week, that spirit was evident in many ways across our schools.

First, Tayler Kriss took the initiative to write a grant for classroom supplies and equipment. His grant was successfully funded for $1,000, allowing him to bring additional resources into his classroom to better support student learning. Great work, Mr. Kriss!

In a similar spirit of initiative, John Noriega took on a side project to secure donations from community organizations for new music stands. Through his efforts, Mr. Noriega raised $1,200, which will help strengthen and expand our music program. Thank you, Mr. Noriega, for your dedication to our students and the arts.

Mr. Hawkins and Mr. King also went above and beyond to prepare our baseball field for the season. After the town installed a new sprinkler system, the field was left with significant trenches and ruts. Andy and Cameron spent all day Wednesday and Thursday moving sod and dirt to get the field playable in time for our first home game. Their hard work ensures our athletes have a safe and ready field.

Another great example of teamwork took place on Thursday afternoon as we hosted our annual Middle School Knowledge Bowl Meet. Mr. Guerrero coordinated an outstanding competition, and many students and staff members pitched in to make the event a success. Our 8th-grade team finished 5th, and our 7th-grade team took 1st. Way to go, Vikings!

We are also incredibly proud of both of our Viking basketball teams for advancing to the Sweet 16 in the state tournament. Our Lady Vikings had an exciting win against Byers on Friday to advance, before facing the top-ranked Merino on Saturday. Although their season ended there, the girls showed tremendous heart, determination, and sportsmanship throughout the tournament.

Our boys team also had an impressive run, defeating Custer County 47–40 on Friday night. On Saturday, they battled hard against Sanford and, despite a strong effort, came up just short. Both teams represented our district with pride, and we are extremely proud of their accomplishments this season.

Finally, our middle school wrestling team continues to build momentum. This past weekend they competed in Fort Garland, showcasing the strength of a talented and determined young team. The future looks bright as these athletes continue to develop and find success on the mat.

This week was a great reminder of what District Ownership looks like in action-staff, students, and community members all stepping up, supporting one another, and working together to make Center Schools a great place for our students.

 Priority #1- Curriculum and Instruction

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

Ms. Lane’s 4th graders were hard at work in learning stations, focusing on perfecting the writing process while strengthening their paragraph structure and content. In Mrs. Soden’s 1st grade class, students were learning about horizontal and vertical lines and using those elements to create artwork inspired by a famous artist. She also shared some of the older students’ pieces, and they are truly impressive!

Our high school art students have also been showcasing their creativity by decorating two cranes that will be displayed along the main thoroughfare through Monte Vista, proudly representing our district. A special thanks to Ms. Alfson for once again sponsoring a crane for our district.

Meanwhile, the first graders in Mrs. Stilly’s class were busy constructing leprechaun traps and writing about how they planned to trick the little green visitors into their clever creations. It’s always fun to see creativity and writing come together in such engaging ways!

Mr. Logan has been doing a fantastic job keeping our elementary students active and engaged during PE. He utilizes a variety of effective management strategies that keep students focused, learning, and moving throughout the class period. During my visit, students checked their heart rates and compared their resting rate to their rate after running a few laps. It was great to see them actively connecting physical activity with an understanding of how exercise impacts their bodies.

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.

Our staff continues to provide students with incredible learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom, helping bring learning to life in a variety of settings.

Our high school science students recently participated in the Envirothon, an environmental science competition in which students work in teams to test their knowledge in areas such as wildlife, forestry, soils, aquatic ecology, and current environmental issues. The competition challenges students to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills while learning about natural resource conservation and environmental stewardship. It’s a great opportunity for students to connect classroom learning to real-world environmental challenges.

Mrs. Roberts also welcomed FFA leaders from Sargent to visit her classes and facilitate leadership activities for our students. These experiences provided valuable opportunities for students to build communication, teamwork, and leadership skills while connecting with fellow students involved in agriculture and leadership organizations.

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

The secondary staff is making a concerted effort to address missing assignments through the ZAP process.  Teachers are working to hold students accountable and ensure that all assignments are turned in, so that a zero doesn’t negatively affect a student's overall grade.  Great work going the extra mile with our students!

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)

Our district was proudly represented again this year at the annual Colorado Educator Recruitment Fair (CERF) in Colorado Springs. A big thank you to Lindsay and Martina for making the trek over the snowy mountain pass to support our recruitment efforts and help showcase the opportunities available in our district.

Fast Forward-

Monday, March 9^th- Resource Fair Planning

Tuesday, March 10^th- Spring Class Photo Day, Superintendents Advisory Council, CDE Monthly Superintendent Meeting, District Accountability, BOE Meeting

Wednesday, March 11^th-  CRSA Statewide Weekly Meeting, Opportunity Coalition, Career Exploration Fair, CEC Insurance Renewal Meeting, MS & HS Device Inspections

Thursday, March 12^th- Weekly Superintendent PLC, Weekly OAC Meeting, Thirsty Thursday

Friday, March 13^th –CHS Track @ Bayfield Invitational

Saturday, March 14^th- CHS Baseball vs. Hoehne

March 16^th- 20^th- Spring Break