[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6334399,"mediaKeyId","2295924-ed437aaa779bb75394aa36721ce21062","parentId",2295924,"title","Teacher named Denver Nuggets ‘Most Valuable Teacher’; students announce Wish Week fundraiser and competition wins","audioSeconds",785,"startMs",333000,"endMs",1118000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2295924-ed437aaa779bb75394aa36721ce21062&start=333&end=1118","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2295924-ed437aaa779bb75394aa36721ce21062/thumbnail_333000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6334399/Colorado/Teacher-named-Denver-Nuggets-Most-Valuable-Teacher-students-announce-Wish-Week-fundraiser-and-competition-wins","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334399-379518000106e651d493f5607ecd3679/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135365&Signature=lYFtwtx~GrYJ7WeMr4vhC7UAPgUflukW63~zjcKq6vQGo3tJa0toNKlxB-KIa5Jhpis8g7Ic9wfE~0TmKOVbuZ02GJvIBQjK7OqbtSFL9TVI9NIzx3g3O2g7grVrQBvRL-2eH-9WhIba-KsX1F1-i-dRhFTNUfxfNpYDJ5DY6ObsYy4eZPXJ8kEojpfSxKyRFI8t21Mh~qICkeRJrw564ed-iiLkJHaeye0kkYYLbDCrx-H~LY5QWD-x6EDuWyUeo0QdAHUbG6VQC3BQdLBMl0z7IymMy~~gUSwfgRIi~sAI~tFoy4hKF0BUT66~1OQikgcSSAJ~XR5-EMICWabwGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Westminster Public Schools","date","2025-02-11T23:13:28Z","article","Steve Saunders and Orchard Park principal Josh White joined the Board on Feb. 11 to recognize Orchard Park Academy teacher Melissa Garcia, who was named the Denver Nuggets’ Most Valuable Teacher for February and received a $2,000 grant and game seats for four.

The recognition matters to the district as it highlights outreach and resources for classroom programs: Garcia said the $2,000 will support her drone soccer program, which she runs after school and has grown through fundraising and volunteer time. Josh White praised Garcia’s dedication, saying she “goes above and beyond for all of our students.”

Separately, student ambassador Anna Lopez reported on Westminster High School’s Wish Week, scheduled Feb. 24–28, a fundraiser supporting Make‑A‑Wish Colorado. Lopez said the district has raised more than $20,000 over the past four years for Wish Week. This year’s Wish Week features spirit days, a Skate City Toy Story event, a dodgeball tournament (Feb. 26, $3 fan admission), pancakes and pajamas day with a culinary‑class pancake sale (Feb. 27), and a 5K walk/run on Saturday, March 1 at 8:45 a.m. Entry fees Lopez gave: $5 with a WPS ID and $10 without. She also noted event fundraisers at local restaurants (Culver’s share‑night) and vendors (Kona Ice and Traveling Tom’s Coffee on Feb. 26 and Feb. 28).

Lopez introduced the student chosen by Wish Week, a child named Edwin, and listed his background and interests shared with the board to highlight the fundraiser’s beneficiaries. The student ambassador also reported that five FBLA students qualified for state competition and that football and girls soccer tryouts are scheduled later in February.

No formal board action was taken on recognitions or the student report; the items were presented for acknowledgement and information.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 11, 2025 WPS Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Orchard Park Academy teacher Melissa Garcia was named the Denver Nuggets’ Most Valuable Teacher for February and received a $2,000 grant and game seats for four; student ambassador Anna Lopez outlined Wish Week fundraising events for Make‑A‑Wish Colorado.","taxTitle","Westminster Public Schools, School Districts , Colorado","taxId",38363,"location","Colorado","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6334404,"WEA asks Westminster board to restore two missing elementary planning days in 2025-26 calendar",155,2145000,2300000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2295924-ed437aaa779bb75394aa36721ce21062&start=2145&end=2300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2295924-ed437aaa779bb75394aa36721ce21062/thumbnail_2145000.jpg","/articles/6334404/Colorado/WEA-asks-Westminster-board-to-restore-two-missing-elementary-planning-days-in-2025-26-calendar","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334404-71c17c93f150ca7b699989e802bf4c30/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135365&Signature=QA18q830m8KS2Ot64ITZ-gsIiyWJezI6Y7VGpT7soeGTAzZ~nTOpR51Rv77vlJXJK6nw8j7wSm6aZexgPBNXXfLJMzyTUMjiCH2usg6lXi5K-U9gut3nIwdhjjkwz5zqSMB7KzzOl6e62GV4hbXX7Vl~4rmPlayqzTpG1l2L-wr6PNH5A5EhetIJXKkIWjxeDcfvx5FCWTU1ucdawWoQpdDoNBMJ5WEC8zoSU0IX0bOZ9RgKlsUKpXxoH6E3qLT5XvdvU5zhbahVTz-ftcRLPmiL2qwlUI7dNnp1yXi8Xlk-lRiqIG-F5R2OeXz-X-ai42BK3wwGtQ-opKu~gx4ffw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Melissa Duran, identified at the meeting as representing WEA, addressed the Board of Education during public comment on Feb. 11 and asked the board to add two planning days that she says are missing from the district’s proposed 2025–26 calendar.

Her request matters because, she said, the planning days are a contractual entitlement and provide time for elementary teachers to meet with families, plan with colleagues and prepare instruction—activities she said support student outcomes.

Duran said the contract guarantees four elementary planning days “that will be evenly distributed through the school year.” She told the board the proposed calendar is again missing two of those days and that the district has not followed the contract language since the 2021 school year. She said when planning days were scheduled in prior years, teachers used the time to meet families who work evenings, to plan with coworkers, and to do work that otherwise falls to evenings and weekends when the days are omitted.

Duran urged the board to review earlier calendars she previously provided, compare available instructional hours and recommend where two planning days should be added to the 2025–26 calendar to comply with the contract and support teachers and families.

Board members did not take immediate action during the meeting; staff noted the calendar committee and administration will continue to review the proposed calendar and related contractual questions.","A representative from WEA urged the board to add two elementary planning days to the proposed 2025–26 calendar, citing a contract requirement for four planning days evenly distributed across the school year and stressing the impact on teachers' ability to meet families and plan instruction.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6334409,"Westminster Public Schools reports mixed midyear gains; district flags early literacy and elementary math concerns",1683,2321000,4004000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2295924-ed437aaa779bb75394aa36721ce21062&start=2321&end=4004","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2295924-ed437aaa779bb75394aa36721ce21062/thumbnail_2321000.jpg","/articles/6334409/Colorado/Westminster-Public-Schools-reports-mixed-midyear-gains-district-flags-early-literacy-and-elementary-math-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334409-09789f98a7ec51ff1e681d09ea83df99/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135365&Signature=KXr0dc7w8zsyUXKERSrw5gK-GXle-l9NhFWwSfsMTSRDQW0J6dHFkgjr7zreL~5YPzTD85fR2G8hht2mN2abB-rqKtcivvKAS0~B~AjWFsOIAjDBaQYEa0Nnfne13mNgXmbbMbVV~2-A3vNvGQKzYRwOrb2RPA~Tx7oY14wYwsuJ5hpaEPwitQhRxsZva-nsqp62EsdCEyW4tdkNYc035KM~k4GuqmFoqdrM9Bhubpy1Cotzsgs23WBNjN-CverQp1hDvF8KJOFou0sEyqt5lvugfUUBcWZrP8mjGM4xRGnr8GB7pod8K06TCluQ8pYVUhfQhD4rFUTTbLWO9J1BGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Doctor Bridal Cassina presented Westminster Public Schools’ midyear assessment data on Feb. 11, outlining student performance and growth from the beginning to the middle of the 2024–25 school year using Renaissance Star and DIBELS assessments.

The presentation matters because the midyear results guide intervention planning, curriculum pacing and staffing decisions ahead of end-of-year testing and next year’s scheduling.

At the district level, early literacy (K–2) showed limited improvement: 31% of students met the district benchmark (50th percentile), unchanged from last year, while the district median growth percentile declined from 40 to 36 with kindergarten showing the largest drop. In grades 3–5, the percentage meeting benchmark rose from 27% to 33%, while median growth dipped slightly from 50 to 49. Secondary reading results were more pronounced: grades 6–8 rose from 18% to 32% meeting benchmark, and grades 9–10 increased from 11% to 34%, with median growth in grades 9–10 improving from 41 to 45.

In math, the picture was mixed. Elementary median growth (grades 1–5) fell from 45 to 43; the share of students at or above benchmark declined across elementary grades, with first grade showing the steepest drop. Secondary math (grades 6–10) median growth declined from 46 to 43, though the percentage meeting benchmark for grades 6–10 rose from 25% to 29%, driven by gains in grades 7–9.

Cassina said the district is exploring several explanations rather than attributing change to a single cause. She noted the district’s recent shift toward structured literacy—an approach emphasizing phonemic awareness and explicit phonics instruction—may strengthen decoding skills but not immediately lift assessments that also measure comprehension and fluency. She told the board: “Learning is the constant and time is the variable,” describing the district’s competency-based approach that allows extended timelines for students who need them.

Board members asked how to reconcile declines in median growth percentiles with increases in benchmark rates. Cassina explained the difference: percent‑at‑benchmark measures proficiency relative to grade-level expectations while median growth percentile compares a cohort’s change to national peers; the two measures can move differently if many students near benchmark advance above it while those further behind do not accelerate enough.

Discussion also focused on the K–8 structural model and the fifth‑to‑sixth grade transition. Staff said the move to K–8 reduced the enrollment “5–6 bleed” but raised concerns about instructional continuity: a single middle‑level teacher in smaller K–8 schools can create capacity and collaboration challenges. Staff reported they are reviewing master schedules, licensure mixes and hiring practices so that secondary‑licensed teachers focus on 7–8 while licensed K–6 teachers support 5–6 to ease the transition.

Graduation and completion data were also shared. The district 4‑year graduation rate for 2024 was 68.6% (down slightly from 69.7% in 2023); extended completion rates remain higher (5‑year 77.3%, 6‑year 81.3%). Westminster High School’s 4‑year rate decreased to 84.5%, with extended rates at 91% (5‑year) and 90.2% (6‑year). Hidden Lake, the district’s alternative campus, posted a higher 6‑year completion rate (64.1%) despite a lower 4‑year rate, illustrating the district’s emphasis on multiple timelines for competency attainment.

Cassina and other staff said the district will continue targeted interventions, refine instructional pacing and work with instructional coaches to align day‑to‑day teaching to both decoding and broader literacy skills. They signaled ongoing monitoring and follow‑up to board members’ questions and asked for continued focus on early numeracy supports and middle‑level transitions.

Board members did not take a formal vote on the report; staff committed to return with additional analysis and recommended strategies later in the semester.","District staff presented midyear Renaissance Star and DIBELS results showing proficiency gains in several grade bands but declines in median growth percentiles and early elementary math. Board members pressed for causes and next steps; staff highlighted the shift to structured literacy and K–8 transitions as areas under review.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6334395,"Board approves agenda, minutes, personnel report and receives first reading of two policies",3905,266000,4171000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2295924-ed437aaa779bb75394aa36721ce21062&start=266&end=4171","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2295924-ed437aaa779bb75394aa36721ce21062/thumbnail_266000.jpg","/articles/6334395/Colorado/Board-approves-agenda-minutes-personnel-report-and-receives-first-reading-of-two-policies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334395-1b506695f1b943b86cfaaa355383f84a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135365&Signature=AFKVbdcKoshCkG23bOhoNf8LPk-yUqZHI1GqbqiTcBjoYbmZ6Anl4C~VGNn912bwAZcaEuoyfc~ogte1rtsR6iKMOmgatDZRvEcSRYpRh6Q475fzdus-9NpXgPZGnyGnhjPLJ-LPW-NrpsseUbJHux~BdljKuyDBvomy9RhDdje-ltQYd~FSU1tU2QSuhElVR~TMF6kgfiuRy1gxBwFY6r3QwhxZCiAUOCJRYnfHgGcGtdXahHnEiDSyT5Wu4bGrcleBkuN0pxS1QYR-M42x0jEgrnPYKj4axuP3OIxJl4YQIEgQsJguV94Q1fSloFlOKluIMFQbNDIqXUDDY-1N3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Westminster Public Schools Board of Education met Feb. 11 and approved routine business items and procedural policy steps by roll call votes.

These actions formalize the board’s meeting procedures and move two policy revisions to a second reading for final consideration.

Votes recorded in the meeting transcript:

1) Approval of the Feb. 11 agenda — Motion to approve the proposed agenda was made and seconded; roll call recorded votes of Aye from Mr. Martin, Miss Martinez, Miss Murphy, Mr. Arecchio and Miss Janos (identified in the transcript); the motion passed.

2) Approval of meeting minutes (dates as read into the record) — Motion and second were offered; roll call recorded Aye votes from Mr. Martin, Miss Martinez, Miss Murphy, Mr. Arecchio and Miss Yanez (transcript uses both spellings); the motion passed.

3) Personnel matters (items 2.03 0 and 5) — Mr. Kirk Laday read the personnel report and moved approval; a second was recorded and a roll call recorded Aye votes from board members (Mr. Martin, Miss Martinez, Miss Murphy, Mr. Arecchio, Miss Yanos). The motion passed.

4) First reading of revised policies FF (naming facilities) and GBEBA (employee dress code) — A board member moved to receive the revisions for first reading and to refer them for a second reading and adoption at the next regular meeting; a second was recorded. Roll call votes were recorded as Aye from Mr. Martin, Miss Martinez, Miss Murphy, Mr. Arecchio and Miss Dianos. The motion passed and the policies will be returned for a second reading at the next business meeting.

No motions failed or were tabled in the recorded portion of the meeting. The board’s meeting notices and next regular meeting date (Feb. 25, 2025 at 5 p.m. in the Westminster High School lecture hall) were announced at adjournment.","At its Feb. 11 meeting the Westminster Public Schools Board of Education approved the meeting agenda, approved prior minutes, voted to approve personnel matters and received for first reading revisions to policies FF (naming facilities) and GBEBA (employee dress code) to be referred for second reading and adoption.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Teacher named Denver Nuggets ‘Most Valuable Teacher’; students announce Wish Week fundraiser and competition wins

WEA asks Westminster board to restore two missing elementary planning days in 2025-26 calendar

Westminster Public Schools reports mixed midyear gains; district flags early literacy and elementary math concerns

Board approves agenda, minutes, personnel report and receives first reading of two policies