Center of Focus

May 11, 2026

Focus on the Fabulous

Congratulations again to our SLV Educator of the Year, Norma Slade, and our Support Staff of the Year, Agnes Salazar.  These ladies were honored at the annual SLV Educator Banquet.  You are amazing ladies, and we are fortunate to have you in our district. 

We are nearing the end of the school year and preparing for graduation and the next steps. Our seniors have been especially busy completing final assignments, organizing portfolios, and preparing for their Exit Interviews. Last Wednesday, we held our Senior Showcase, where students proudly presented their portfolios to family members and staff members. It was impressive to see the accomplishments our students have achieved, the projects they have completed, and the service they have provided throughout their high school careers. The event was a celebration of their growth and hard work.

A special thank you to Mrs. Rounds and Miss Paiz for coordinating the showcase, and to all the staff members who stayed after school to support students and provide valuable feedback on their work.

Our middle school students also participated in a meaningful learning experience during Thursday’s ICAP Day with the Reality Store activity. Thank you to Ms. Alanis for organizing the materials and helping make this event possible. During the activity, students were assigned a “monthly income” based on their GPA and then worked through real-life financial scenarios that required them to budget their money and make important life decisions. The Reality Store gives students a valuable glimpse into adulthood and helps them understand the connection between education, effort, and future opportunities. It’s a powerful real-world lesson that leaves a lasting impact.

Thursday afternoon also featured our Second Annual Author and Art Show. Student artwork filled the library, showcasing our students' creativity and talent, while our local authors shared their writing with families and guests. It was a great event that highlighted the many gifts and talents within our schools. Thank you to Mrs. Soden, Mrs. Hintz, and everyone else who helped organize, set up, and support the event, making it a success.

We also proudly hosted our Second Annual Triple D Track Meet this year. Our beautiful blue track looked outstanding, and our athletes competed at high levels throughout the event. Hosting a track meet of this size takes a tremendous amount of planning, teamwork, and effort. A huge thank you goes out to Coaches Vigil and Martinez, Athletic Director Sperandio, and everyone else who helped make the event run so smoothly. Your hard work showcased our district in a first-class manner, and we truly have one of the nicest track facilities in the Valley!

Congratulations to our CHS Baseball team for finishing the season with some big wins! 

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.  

Kindergarteners are getting ready to be promoted to first grade, 5th graders are preparing to become middle schoolers, 8th graders are moving up to high school, and our Seniors are getting ready to enter the real world! There are a lot of exciting transitions taking place this part of the year!

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 focus at Center Schools is to equip our students with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful!  Cristian Badachi demonstrated characteristics of our Viking Profile as he enlisted in the Army National Guard this weekend.  He is a hardworking, future-ready student, empowered with the skills necessary to meet and handle the challenges of today’s world.  We are extremely proud of Cristian for this accomplishment and for his commitment to serving our country.  We wish him the very best as he begins this important journey. 

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.

Thursday was a busy day.  We hosted the Day in the District for the three superintendent finalists.  It was great to see the level of community and staff involvement in this event.  I think this speaks volumes of the partnerships that we have established with our community.  Everyone had the opportunity to participate and make their voices heard, and that’s what it’s all about. 

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.

We are starting to post open positions and we already have received a number of applications.  Again, this is evidence of the strong culture we’ve built in our district and the ability that we now have to attract high quality staff!  The R&R team has worked hard over the last four years to accomplish this goal. 

Fast Forward-

Monday, May 11^th- National School Nurses’ Week, Butterfly Release, EOY Band Concert

Tuesday, May 12^th- Superintendent Advisory Council, CDE Monthly Superintendent Meeting, District Accountability Committee, Regular Board Meeting

Wednesday, May 13^th-  CRSA Statewide Weekly Meeting, Opportunity Coalition, SPED Meetings, CoP, Empowering Youth Voice, Health Insurance Meeting- HR

Thursday, May 14^th- Health Fair, IOG Meeting, State Track @ Jeffco

Friday, May 15^th- State Track @ Jeffco

Monday, May 18^th- CHS Day Awards- Auditorium

Tuesday, May 19^th- Senior Exit Interviews, CHS Evening Awards- 6:00 pm- Auditorium

Thursday, May 21^st- 5^th Grade Continuation- Auditorium @ 2:00 pm, Senior/Kindergarten Walk @ 3:00 pm, CHS Athletic Banquet- Commons @ 6:00 pm