Straight from the Superintendent
Dear Manitou Springs Staff and Families,
I hope this message finds you well as we are about to embrace spring. I want to extend my gratitude to each of you for trusting our district with your learners. Your support inspires us every day to strive for excellence on behalf of all students.
Looking ahead, I am excited to share that our district is considering a bond initiative in November 2025, pending Board of Education approval. Once developed, the proposal will be designed to address several important priorities:
• Deferred Maintenance: Ensuring our facilities are safe and well-maintained.
• School Safety Enhancements: Investing in measures to further secure our learning environments.
• ADA Accessibility Improvements: Enhancing accessibility to meet the diverse needs of all our students.
• Modernizing Learning Spaces: Updating our classrooms and common areas to support innovative teaching and learning.
Opportunities for parents, staff, and community members to provide input regarding a potential bond initiative exist, including membership on the bond steering committee. We meet every other Wednesday. Please contact me if you are interested in getting involved. We will provide more detailed information as the plans progress, and I encourage you to stay tuned for updates.
As we approach spring break, I hope you enjoy a well-deserved rest and time with your loved ones. Upon returning from break, our learners will participate in spring state testing—a critical step in supporting our students' academic growth.
Thank you once again for your ongoing support and trust in Manitou Springs School District 14. Together, we are building a brighter future for our learners.
Warm regards,
Superintendent of Schools
Manitou Springs School District 14
Abby Reeves & Kara Donegan, MSHS
Mr. Cameron Jones and Mr. Paul Bonner recognized two wrestlers from the high school girls wrestling team at the March 6th Board of Education meeting. Abby Reeves is a 3-time state qualifier, has placed 2 times at state, had 34 wins this season, and place 2nd at state. Kara Donegan is a 3-time state qualifier, had 30 wins this season, and placed 4th at state. Mr. Jones also thanked the coaches for the many hours that they put in to create a successful program. We are proud of you Abby and Kara!
Maddie Goldman, MSES
Maddie Goldman was celebrated for unwavering dedication to her students' success, going above and beyond to ensure meaningful learning experiences. "She seeks feedback from her colleagues and admin to better her teaching practices and is willing to give feedback to others when needed", said Carolyn Leyes, Principal at MSES. Congratulations Ms. Goldman!
Published Students, MSMS
Creative Communication, a writing contest by poeticpower.com, encourages students all across the nation to enter their poetry contest to be published along with money, prizes and more. Out of the thousands that entered, 19 students from Manitou Middle were invited to be nationally published. Thank you to Mrs. Mia DiSantis, as well, for providing students this opportunity!
Manitou Springs Middle School
MSMS students performed "The Curse of the Cobra's Kiss" at the end of February. What a great performance, showcasing the hard work and talent of the students. With colorful costumes and expressive acting, every aspect of the production reflected their dedication. The play was a wonderful showcase of creativity and teamwork, bringing this story to life on stage. Great work to all of the students and staff that made this such a success!
Manitou Springs High School
MSHS celebrated Mustang Strong Day, an annual tradition where they were able to facilitate 51 classes for students that were centered around health and wellness, life skills, and building connections beyond the classroom! They hosted the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Healing Hounds Therapy Dogs, Flying Pig Farm, Manitou Pool, Gingersnap Rescue Petting Zoo, and MSSD Nutrition Services. Other classes students participated in included World Travel and Cooking, SAT Prep, Video Game Design, Basic Car Maintenance, and so many more!
Ute Pass Elementary School
Last week, UPES hosted a Spaghetti and Stories literacy night as a part of Read Across America week. Every child got to pick out a new book, students enjoyed a read aloud from Principal Waldo, and staff and families came together for a big spaghetti dinner; what a great way to foster community! Thank you for hosting such a fun family event to celebrate a love for reading!
Manitou Springs Elementary School
MSES hosted Read Across Manitou last week. Much of the week was surprise visits from local community members to read to classes, including KOAA's Diane Derby. Students also visited the Manitou Springs Library with special Dr. Seuss lunch readings. Staff involved families by sending home a reading tic-tac-toe board full of fun literacy challenges to do together. Thank you to everyone that helps our students foster a love for reading!
Experience the Manitou Advantage
Spread the word about the incredible opportunities at Manitou Springs School District! The Choice Window is open. If you know a family that is looking for their next school, be sure to tell them about our strong relationships, enriching programs, and our close-knit community! Whether they're a new family or looking for a change, now is the time to join a district where students thrive, are academically challenged and where they can make lasting connections.
For more information, visit the "Enrollment" section on our website.
Z Pass Bus Program
We are excited to announce that our district has implemented the Z Pass program for all regular bus routes. This innovative system is designed to enhance student safety and improve our transportation tracking capabilities.
The Z Pass program allows students to scan their badges when boarding and exiting from school buses. This will enable our schools to monitor student movements more effectively.
If you have any questions or concerns about the Z Pass program, please feel free to reach out to Dale Fuchs, Manitou Springs School District Transportation Director at dfuchs@mssd14.org or 719-685-2231.
Thank you for your support as we implement this important initiative to enhance our students' safety.
Interested in working at MSSD14?
Do you know someone ready to make a difference in a positive learning environment? We are looking for individuals focused on students, people and organizational success. Explore our employment opportunities on our website or contact our Human Resources Specialist, Erika Warren, at ewarren@mssd14.org for more information.
The Manitou Springs High School has begun celebrating the Class of 2025. Students can submit their photo along with their post-secondary plans to be recognized on social media. Students are celebrated for their commitment to a career, college, trade school, or enlistment in the military. If you have a senior that knows what's next, use the button below to submit your plans so that we can honor you!
