CCIC Update

Dear CCIC families,

I write this update from Helsinki, Finland where the CCIC has just been listed as one of the Top 100 most innovative educational institutions in the world! I am attending this prestigious conference and award ceremony with Jen Perry, CCSD Deputy Superintendent, and Mike Degitis, our very own CCIC math and construction teacher, and we are all thrilled to be able to accept this honor on behalf of all of students and staff of the CCIC as well as our entire community—all of whom should be incredibly proud of the CCIC.

To be included among 100 top innovators, most of whom are at this ceremony, is unbelievably humbling. The work represented here includes innovative schools like the CCIC from across the globe, programs that support children in some of the most conflict-impacted parts of the world, as well as programs that educate young women and girls in parts of the world where exploitation is rampant. These fellow educators are inspiring and will work to inspire our work here at the CCIC for years to come as we expand our work to include hundreds of more students across nine additional pathways by 2026.

Thank you to the entire CCSD community for your continued support, especially in the latest mill and bond election. As you can see in the articles in this newsletter, the work you are supporting at the CCIC is leading educational innovation at a global level and is providing that impact right here in our very own Cherry Creek community. We cannot do this without you and your incredible support, thank you!

Steve Day, Principal CCIC

Thanksgiving Break: Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29

Last Day of CCIC Semester 1 Classes: A Day - Friday, December 13 & B Day - Monday, December 16

Winter Break: Monday, December 23 - Monday, January 6

First Day Semester 2 Classes: Tuesday, January 7

View CCIC 2024-2025 Calendar

Pinning Ceremony for First Semester CNA Students - Wednesday, December 18, 5-6:30 pm

For students taking new classes second semester:

Advanced Health Care Studies: Tuesday, December 17, 5:30-6:30pm @ CCIC

CNA: Wednesday, December 18, 7-8 pm @ CCIC

Details have been sent to students' CCSD emails.

Cherry Creek School District is happy to announce the kick-off of our process for nominating the 2024-2025 Educator of the Year.

If you are interested in nominating an exceptional CCIC educator who represents Cherry Creek’s Future Forward Mission and Vision, please follow the link below to complete the nomination process.

All teachers, special service providers (i.e. counselors, psychologists, social workers, nurses, therapists, etc.) and non-teaching licensed personnel (i.e. deans, instructional coaches, etc.) are eligible to be nominated. The nomination form includes a requirement to upload a 75-100 word written nomination as part of the process.

We are excited to honor our outstanding educators and we hope that you will participate in the nomination process.

Please support CCIC DECA's Canned Food Drive!

Cans can be dropped off in the designated boxes throughout the school through December 6th.

Thank You!

Each year the Retired Employees of Cherry Creek Schools sponsors three $3,000 scholarships for seniors graduating from a CCSD high school. Students may apply for one scholarship across the three categories:

• Merit Scholarship - For students who have demonstrated academic achievement and contribution to school and community.
• Adversity Scholarship - For students who have faced and dealt with physical, mental, emotional, family or financial adversity.
• Career & Technical scholarship - For students who wish to pursue a career, trade or technical education at a community college or a certificate program.

Completed applications are due by February 19, 2025 at 5 PM and include an essay, 1-2 references and a copy of student's transcript.

CCIC offers Certified Nurse Aide in the evenings for students (17 years and older) and adults. The class meets for seven weeks, Mon-Th, 4-7:30 pm at CCIC. The class prepares students for the Colorado State Nurse Aide Certification Exam. Email Darren Knowles (dknowles2@cherrycreekschools.org) or Suzanne Styduhar (sstyduhar@cherrycreekschools.org) to be added to the info list for our 2025 Spring Session.

The Cherry Creek Innovation Campus (CCIC) recently welcomed the Colorado School of Mines Formula SAE team for an inspiring visit that showcased the possibilities of pursuing an engineering degree, a college club, and hands-on experience with Formula-style race cars. Among the team members are William Schimberg, a Grandview High School/CCIC alum, and Anderson Naff, an Eaglecrest High School/CCIC alum. Both former students are a shining examples of how CCIC programs can pave the way to success.

The Mines Formula SAE team designs, builds, and races high-performance cars, blending mechanical engineering principles with real-world applications.

The visit emphasized the seamless integration of hands-on expertise and classroom learning, a hallmark of CCIC’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and pathways at CCIC.

For Brian Manley, CCIC’s Automotive Pathway Lead, the visit was a testament to the potential pathways CCIC can open for students. The Mines team’s presence brought engineering to life for CCIC students, offering a tangible glimpse into their future.

Schimberg’s journey, which included winning state and national SkillsUSA competitions, demonstrates the profound influence of CTE programs.

The visit marked the first collaboration between CCIC and the School of Mines Formula SAE team, with exciting possibilities for future engagement. The team’s emphasis on teamwork, problem-solving, and applied science mirrors the values CCIC instills in its students.

CCIC Business & Hospitality students competed at Colorado DECA Districts earlier this month. Congratulations to the following students who placed in their event and will compete at the

Colorado DECA State Career Development Conference in February.

• Hannah Wussow – Principles of Hospitality and Tourism
• Jaelyn Wilson – Principles of Marketing
• Angela Ocampo – Apparel and Accessories Marketing
• Akshath Krishnan – Business Services Marketing Services
• Lewis Brown & Samantha Brassell – Hospitality Services Team Decision Making

CCIC has expanded its aviation pathway to include Powerplant. This evening class provides the training and qualifications students need to get an aviation mechanic job right after graduation.

The full aviation mechanic pathway is three years: In their first year, students are learning about the basics of aviation maintenance. In their second year, they're learning about the airframe, like flight controls and landing gears. Then in their third year, they can take the newly-offered powerplant class, which is where students learn how aircrafts run.

Dave Williamson, Aviation Pathway Lead, is also one of only four FAA certified designated maintenance examiners in the state of Colorado. With him, students can test for their FAA certifications in the classroom. Those tests include written and oral exams.

Going to a traditional four-year college to become an aviation mechanic could cost up to $60,000. At CCIC, it only costs about $2,500, saving time and money for students participating and also setting them up for success.

Cybersecurity students recently took part in a unique workshop that combined Poetry and Coding—aptly named Codetry! Led by Joe Bowen, the Cybersecurity instructor, and Dr. Julie Patterson, the CCIC English Content Specialist, this innovative module merged the worlds of language and technology. It encouraged students to explore the power of language, the importance of conscious wording, and a deeper appreciation for structure, punctuation, and context. Through collaboration, students crafted their own poems, presenting them with pride. The process of analyzing language and discovering new interpretations made for an engaging and enriching day of learning in Cybersecurity!

Level 2 Construction students have started a new build in the CCIC parking lot. Over the next year-and-a-half, students will build a 3 bedroom, 2 bath double-wide home that will be delivered to the Berthoud Habitat for Humanity site in Spring 2026.

Follow @ccic.infrastructure on Instagram for live updates and to track the progress!

The Hospitality Leadership Experience students hosted their first student networking event with a variety of industry partners from the program. Students had the opportunity to practice their professional skills, advocate for hands-on learning experiences like job shadows or internships, pass out their business cards, and gain confidence in their interpersonal skills. Thank you to all of the industry partners who participated!

Email: sday3@cherrycreekschools.org
Location: 8000 S. Chambers Road
Phone: 720.554.2600