
Good News Bulletin
May 9, 2024

EHS juniors train intensely to be search-and-rescue volunteers
When most high school students think about the lost and found, misplaced hoodies and water bottles come to mind.
But for Elizabeth High School juniors Ben Hicks and Mikinley Way, it means they can be called out of school at any time to don custom gear, jump into their specialized vehicle, and save the day like a superhero.
As part of the Arapahoe Rescue Patrol, they find people lost in the wilderness of Colorado.
The volunteer search-and-rescue team has provided “free search, rescue and emergency services for the citizens of Colorado’s front range and throughout all of Colorado since 1957,” according to the patrol’s website.
The patrol is technically under the jurisdiction of the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office but is 100% run by high-schoolers, of which there are currently about 40, Mikinley said.
Teens become eligible to join once they are in high school. They attend rigorous training and work their way up through an established command hierarchy.
On a snowy day earlier this spring, Mikinley and Ben made a recruiting presentation to EHS students, starting in the library and explaining what the team does. They led interested classmates outside to show them the specialized ARP pickup truck loaded with rescue gear.
Each new member receives more than 100 hours of initial training, including 24 hours of classroom time and two 48-hour, intensive search-and-rescue skill-building weekends in the wilderness. Basic 1 and Basic 2, as they’re known, present new patrol members with challenges they can rely upon when the situations are real. They start on a Friday evening and put in 18- to 20-hour days the subsequent Saturday and Sunday.
“We're doing 15-plus miles on our feet – with packs – in a day,” Ben said.
Running Creek GT students learn from professional artist
Running Creek Elementary gifted and talented students were visited last Friday by professional artist Tyler Aiello from Eurekus. The artist led them in a creative exercise with a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) focus. After they were finished learning while doing, they had a fun creation to take home with them.
Thanks to Michael Seefried for the photos and information.
Artists honored at Board of Education meeting
Top artists from each school were honored by the Elizabeth School District Board of Education at Monday's meeting.
Their art was judged Best in Show at the Elizabeth School District Art Show, which opened on April 29. The works were on display in the EHS lobby and online.
All of the award-winning art can be seen on the art show website. The art show was sponsored by Air Academy Credit Union and Craft Industries.
Awards, including cash prizes, were presented at a ceremony on May 2, and the Best in Show winners were invited to the board meeting along with their art teachers, where President Rhonda Olsen presented artist with a certificate and showed the works to each attending member of the board. The presentation can be seen here. Singing Hills award winner Sean Kelly was unable to attend because he had a baseball game, but the other three top winners are shown below.
Annemarie Heirendt
Hailey Madsen
Lenore Vault
Singing Hills fourth graders share bios of Bottle Buddies
The number of "people" in fourth grade at Singing Hills Elementary School doubled on Wednesday, as each student brought their Bottle Buddy with them.
Teachers Ashlyn Crossland, Kaitlyn DeCristino and Lynn Strobel coordinated the month-long project in which their students each chose and read a biography of a significant living or historical person, created a report, and designed a doll-sized version of that person -- with the body of each consisting of an empty two-liter bottle. The students put significant effort into making their Bottle Buddy accurately reflect the likeness of their chosen person.
All day Wednesday, students took turns at the front of their respective classrooms to present what they had learned about such luminaries as Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Leonardo DaVinci, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Lebron James, Stan Lee, Taylor Swift and many more.
Elizabeth teachers are deeply appreciated
Tuesday was National Teacher Appreciation Day, and as the district motto says, “Students are at the heart of everything we do” – and the best way to help students is to continuously support the faculty and staff who ensure they have the best learning environment possible.
Teacher appreciation is a daily event in Elizabeth, especially this year with the new convocation event at the beginning of the school year; improvements in curriculum support and professional development; pay raises and an innovative new structure which empowers teachers to control their wage growth; improvements to the buildings where they work; additional security measures and staff; improvements to support staff pay; and, today, treats for every building to once again show how much faculty and staff are appreciated.
If it weren’t so awkwardly worded, we could add a secondary district motto: “Teachers are at the heart of the heart of everything we do!”
Upcoming Events
May 6-10 – National Teacher Appreciation Week
May 9 – EHS Pops Choir Concert, 7 p.m.
May 17 – Last Day of School for Seniors
May 17 – Graduation Rehearsal and Changing of the Guard, 12:30 p.m.
May 18 – National Speech Pathologist Appreciation Day
May 20 – Board of Education Meeting, 6 p.m.
May 23 – Last Day of School
May 25 – EHS Graduation, 10 a.m.
Building Community
Mini-golf tournament set for Wednesday inside EHS
The EHS Girls and Boys Golf Programs are combining to bring back the miniature golf tournament with an 18-hole course running through the high school building.
The tournament runs from 4:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 15.
Prizes will be given to the winning teams, and participants can get a team photo as well as concessions at the event. Players are encouraged to bring their own putter but they do not have to as putters will be provided too.
The cost is $20 for a two-person team and $30 per family. Call 303-646-4616, extension 1619 to schedule a tee time. Walk-ins are welcome too. Proceeds go to both golf teams.
The teams are also selling golf swag:
- Golf quarter zips (men’s) and full zips (women’s) are in.
- Red with a full-color embroidered Elizabeth Cardinal Logo
- Currently a full range of sizes in both styles: $50 each
- Titleist Tour Softs Golf Balls: $40 a dozen
- Titleist Tour Speed Golf Balls: $40 a dozen
- EHS golf towels: $10 each
The golf program accepts cash, checks (made out to EHS Athletics) or Venmo (EHSGOLF24 last four 3185).
Support local athletes: Sign up for Independence Day 5K Fun Run/Walk
Registration is open for the Independence Day 5K Fun Run/Walk on July 4, a partnership of the Elizabeth Cardinal Club and Elizabeth Park and Recreation District.
The Elizabeth Cardinal Club is a nonprofit organization focused on raising funds to support scholarship opportunities for student athletes continuing their education beyond high school. Registration opens June 1 at ElizabethPR.com.
The day of the race will include a free pancake breakfast provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Check-in runs from 7:15-7:45 a.m, and the race starts at 8 a.m. at Evans Park. Prizes will be given to the top three runners in each division.
Pre-registration fees (June 1-26):
- $30 for adults (includes t-shirt and swag bag)
- $20 for children 12 and under
- $100 for a family four-pack
Day-of registration fees:
- $40 for adults
- $25 for children 12 and under
- $120 for a family four-pack
No refunds will be given. For those unable to attend, registration constitutes a tax-deductible donation to the Elizabeth Cardinal Club.
Elizabeth Education Foundation corner
The Elizabeth Education Foundation partners with Elizabeth School District in numerous ways throughout the year to support students and teachers. This volunteer-led, independent fundraising foundation provides scholarships for graduating seniors, classroom grants for teachers, and the STARS Awards for outstanding citizenship among students.
Learn more about the EEF at its website.
Food truck fundraiser at EHS track & field meet May 11
EEF has arranged for a trio of food trucks to be on site at the EHS multi-district track and field meet on May 11:
- Catalina's Tacos
- The Chaotic Kitchen
- Kona Ice
The food trucks will set up around 10 a.m., and Catalina's and The Chaotic Kitchen will have a limited breakfast menu in addition to lunch items. The food trucks will stay until approximately 3 p.m. and each will donate a percentage of their proceeds to the EEF.
Catch this Rockies ticket special before it's too late
The Colorado Rockies are partnering again this year with the Elizabeth Education Foundation to offer a pair of games that will benefit Elizabeth Schools.
The Elizabeth days at the ballpark are Saturday, May 11, for a 6:10 p.m. first pitch versus the 2023 World Series Champion Texas Rangers and Sunday, May 26, for a 1:10 p.m. game versus the Philadelphia Phillies.
By visiting Rockies.com/ELIZABETH to buy tickets, a portion of each tickets sold will be donated to the EEF. Seats available at that link for the Elizabeth fundraiser start at $16 each.
The sections that have been reserved for these ticket sales will be released for public sale 10 days before each of ESD's games, so if families, groups or teams want to be able to get a block of seats together, make sure to get tickets before the public release date!