Tiger Talk

Welcome to the first edition of Hayden School District's newsletter from our district office, Tiger Talk. Each month I'll highlight work we are engaged in district-wide, and share ways that our community can get involved. Tiger Talk isn't meant to replace the newsletters and communication that you receive from your child's school, but as we implement district-wide initiatives, seek input or assistance with particular issues, or share our "why" behind something new, this is a place we will use to communicate things from a district perspective. I hope that you will find this beneficial, and as we move forward please let me know ways we can improve this tool.

Welcome Back Tigers Families and Community,

As we kick off a new school year, I am excited to share the work we are doing to make this year exceptional for our students. Our commitment to building Habits of Excellence is at the forefront of everything we do across all three schools, as we continue to align our efforts with our Learner Profile. We are developing key habits that will empower our students to be critical thinkers, collaborative team members, and responsible citizens. These habits will not only shape academic success but also prepare students for life beyond the classroom.

A major focus this year for our teachers and building administrators is on maximizing the effective use of time, both in and out of the classroom. Whether it's ensuring that instructional minutes are used fully to engage students in learning, or helping students learn how to manage their time wisely, we are dedicated to creating a learning environment where every moment counts. Time is one of the most valuable resources we have, and we are working to make sure our students are using it in ways that support their growth and development.

In addition, we are continuing to refine and improve our instruction and feedback processes. High-quality instruction, paired with meaningful and timely feedback, is essential for student progress. Our educators are engaged in ongoing professional development, ensuring that they are equipped with the best strategies to meet the diverse needs of our learners. By prioritizing continuous improvement in these areas, we are striving to create a culture of excellence, intergrity, and innovation in all that we do.

I look forward to the year ahead and the many successes we will celebrate together as a district. Let's make it a great year, Tigers!

Sincerely,

Eric Owen

Superintendent

Consistent attendance in school is critical for academic achievement and overall student development. Regular attendance ensures that students do not miss valuable instruction time, classroom discussions, and hands-on learning experiences that build a strong educational foundation. When students attend school consistently, they are more likely to grasp new concepts, build essential skills, and stay on track academically. Research has shown a direct link between consistent attendance and higher student performance, as students who regularly attend class are more likely to excel in the classroom, on assessments, and develop the critical thinking skills needed for future success.

In the state of Colorado, excused absences are carefully defined by the law to protect both students' educational progress and families’ needs. According to Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S. 22-33-104), excused absences include illness, injury, death of an immediate family member, family emergencies, and medical appointments. Other reasons, such as religious observances or court appearances, may also be excused when deemed necessary by the school administration. At Hayden School District we have in past years excused student absences for a number of reasons that fall outside of state law and our own board policy. This year we are going to be aligned with policy when recording student absences. We realize that there are reasons students need to be gone from school and we want to work with our families, but when 18% of our students are categorized as "Chronically Absent" for the last school year, I want to bring it to the forefront. I ask parents and guardians to notify schools promptly about student absences to minimize any unnecessary academic disruption and to ensure students stay up-to-date with their coursework.

Chronic absenteeism, even when excused, can disrupt student learning and make it difficult for students to catch up with their peers. In the State of Colorado, Chronic Absenteeism is defined as 10% or more of the scheduled school days regardless of whether the days are excused or unexcused. The link between consistent attendance and student learning cannot be overstated: regular classroom participation not only reinforces knowledge but also fosters essential social skills, teamwork, and responsibility. When students attend class regularly, they remain engaged with the curriculum, allowing teachers to identify areas where they may need extra support. Parents, educators, and the community must work together to prioritize attendance and ensure that all students have the opportunity to thrive.

Over the summer the Board of Education implemented policy IK focusing on Academic Achievement. In conjunction with this new policy adoption, and in an effort to improve the feedback given during the learning process, teachers are moving toward using proficiency scales to provide students and parents a clearer understanding of where the student is the learning process in demonstrating mastery of the content standards. At the elementary school this year, Hayden Valley Elementary is also piloting a new report card format that will use proficiency scales to communicate student progress toward standards taught throughout the quarter. We are excited to be able to share where students are in their understanding of subject matter, and where the next step in their learning needs to be.

For those of you unfamiliar, proficiency scale grading offers a more accurate and comprehensive assessment of student learning compared to traditional letter grades. Instead of summarizing a student’s entire performance into a single letter (A-F), proficiency scales break down specific learning goals, based on grade-level or content area standards, into levels such as "Beginning," "Developing," "Proficient," and "Advanced." This system allows for a more nuanced evaluation of how well a student understands the material. Students can receive targeted feedback on their progress for each learning objective, which enables both teachers and students to focus on areas needing improvement. It fosters a clearer understanding of what students know and what they still need to learn, promoting a more accurate reflection of their learning journey.

For parents, proficiency scales offer more detailed and actionable feedback compared to traditional grades. While an “A” or “B” may indicate general success, it does not specify the student's strengths or areas for growth. Proficiency scales, on the other hand, provide transparency by showing where the student stands on individual skills or knowledge areas, and more tightly align to proficiency levels on our standardized assessments (MAPS, CMAS, PSAT, SAT...). This ongoing, formative feedback helps parents to better understand their child’s academic progress and supports more informed conversations between parents, teachers, and students throughout the learning process. As a result, both students and parents are more engaged in setting realistic goals for improvement and long-term success. We look forward to receiving feedback throughout the year from parents and students regarding how proficiency scale grading has impacted student learning.

This past summer, Mr. Wattles, Hayden School District's Board President, and I reached out to the community through a letter to share the open positions that we still had throughout the district, and to determine if there were rental housing options available in Hayden for HSD staff. I was amazed at the number of responses we had from the Hayden community. We received so many rental options that we have begun to compile a spreadsheet on rental options in the event we have a need in the future. Our request for community members interested in teaching at HSD resulted in new staff joining our team this year as teachers, long-term substitutes, and paraeducators from right here in Hayden. Thank you to our community for your support!

As our school year has started, we have found that we continue to be in need of paraeducators, especially at the secondary level (middle school and high school). These educators often support our students who need individualized or small-group support with their learning. Paraeducators work in conjunction with, and under the guidance of, our special education teachers to provide that necessary support for students. We would love to have people looking for full-time work to join our team, but we would be able to work with someone that may only be able to work a half-day or quarter-day schedule. If you have an interest in making a difference to a student by supporting them in their learning, please go on to our webite at www.haydenschools.org, or contact Hayden School District by phone at (970) 276-3864.

Hayden School District is fortunate to have wonderful facilities and equipment thanks to the support of our community. I want families to be able to use our outdoor areas outside of our school day, and I ask for your help in maintaining them. These areas, including our playgrounds, athletic fields, and outdoor seating spaces, are valuable resources for everyone. To keep them safe, clean, and enjoyable for all, we encourage you to use them with care, respect the equipment, and clean up or return items to the way you found them. I live within a few blocks of the school, and when I come to the office on the weekends it makes me happy to see children playing on the playground, or families with young ones enjoying our small playground. We have had some issues around vandalism and intentional destruction of equipment, and I am hoping that by bringing it to everyone's attention it will prevent issues from occuring in the future. Our working together ensures these spaces remain in excellent condition for students, families, and all members of our community to enjoy.

HSD takes pride in offering well-maintained facilities and appreciate your cooperation in helping us to preserve them. If you notice any damage or maintenance needs, please don’t hesitate to contact the school so we can address issues promptly. Thank you for your continued support in helping us keep our outdoor spaces safe, welcoming, and enjoyable for everyone.