All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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The Left Hand Valley Courier is featuring each of the nine Niwot High School students who signed National Letters of Intent on the Nov. 13 fall signing day to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. From soccer to track and field, these athletes represent a diverse array of sports and dreams fulfilled. Lucy Connors From her first lacrosse game as a third-grader to committing to play for Bucknell University, Lucy Connors' journey has been marked by hard work,...
Arts Student of the Week Parker Jean Tatic clearly recalls being inspired by the actress Florence Pugh the day she saw Pugh perform Amy in Greta Gerwig's version of "Little Women." "I thought it was really interesting," Tatic said, "how she was portraying Amy. Because in the original movie and the book Amy is a little girl, and even in the musical. But in her version, Pugh played both young Amy and adult Amy. And for some strange reason it stood out to me how she was portraying a younger child,...
The Niwot Community Association (NCA) held its final board meeting of 2024 on Wednesday, Dec. 11. The board reviewed not only updates since the previous meeting in November, but also reflected on their objectives from the past year and welcomed special guest speakers from the Boulder County Sheriff's Office (BCSO). Molly McDonald, program manager of the BCSO Co-Responder Team, along with team members Ashley Partin and Sarah Windholz, spoke to the NCA Board about the services the Team provides....
Janet Gates' wide range of volunteer efforts benefiting the Niwot, Gunbarrel, and surrounding communities have earned her the December Left Hand Laurel. Gates grew up in Gunbarrel, graduated from Niwot High School in 1984, moved out of state, then returned 13 years ago as a single mother with two small children. Immediately in need of a path to support herself and her family, her father suggested that she might start by cleaning people's homes. That led her to start her current business,...
The second in a three-part series on artificial intelligence (AI) and local school systems. Recently, the National Education Policy Center (NEPC) at the University of Colorado referenced a March 5, 2024, policy brief titled "Time for a Pause: Without Effective Public Oversight, AI in Schools Will Do More Harm than Good." The policy brief states that as existing school-focused platforms and applications are updated to include artificial intelligence (AI), the immediate danger facing educators is...
St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) superintendent Don Haddad and several staff members met with approximately 15 Niwot residents, primarily from the Morton Heights subdivision, to present the district's plans for completing a stadium for use by football, soccer, track and other activities at Niwot High School (NHS). The district added lights to the existing football field a few years ago, and also installed artificial turf to replace the sod field, with the goal of creating a full stadium...
Playing alongside No. 4 doubles partner Tyler Chivukula, Oliver "Ollie" Jones enjoyed an impressive final season on the Niwot High School varsity boys tennis team. The two seniors rolled through the regular season, defeating duos from Monarch, Broomfield, Boulder, and Cheyenne Mountain high schools, among others. They then qualified for the Class 4A state individual tournament and nearly advanced to the No. 4 doubles championship match. "We lost in the semis, which was unfortunate, but we...
Prairie Dog Management The annual Prairie Dog Management Public Meeting will be held on Dec. 5, at 5:00 p.m. in the Ron Stewart Parks and Open Space Building, 5201 St. Vrain Road in Longmont. The County Parks and Open Space Department will share how it manages the prairie dog population in open spaces that include agricultural land, including actions taken in 2024. The public is invited to attend and to share comments. This venue is in-person, only. For more information, visit the Parks and...
In a stunning display of technological prowess, the Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools illuminated the night sky on Thursday, Nov. 21 with a mesmerizing drone show featuring 300 synchronized aerial performers. Under the guidance of Drone Performance Team Coordinator Danny Hernandez, students demonstrated their mastery of this cutting-edge technology. Hernandez, now in his second year at the Innovation Center, brings 28 years of experience with the St. Vrain Valley School District...
The arts community is going strong in the St. Vrain Valley School District. With art shows, concerts, and marching band exhibitions, students are presented with an almost endless number of activities in which to participate throughout the year. Color guard is one of them. Anthony Pierro was brought onto the team at Niwot High School this year as the "Pride of Niwot" Cougar Marching Band's new color guard instructor. Color guard is not new to Niwot as it has been a staple of the ensemble for...
Three pioneering figures in St. Vrain Valley School District's Innovation Center cybersecurity education program have been awarded the prestigious Superintendent's Excellence in Education Award. Beth Cerrone, Kaylee Crouthamel, and Sienna Arellano were recognized for their outstanding contributions to cybersecurity education and community outreach. The Superintendent's Excellence in Education Award recognizes exceptional contributions to the St. Vrain Valley School District. The recognition...
At the end of each semester many Niwot High School clubs and activities celebrate and recognize their achievements by holding formal banquet events for their members. The "Pride of Niwot" Cougar Marching Band held its fall banquet on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Students were fed a catered spaghetti dinner and, of course, a delicious cake was decorated to the theme of their halftime show, "Night at the Movies." The evening also included a poignant reflection of the semester's events for the whole band....
The Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools is home to a pioneering Aeronautics Program to prepare students for a career in Aviation Engineering and Flight. Three project teams offer high school students rewarding opportunities to expand their skill sets and explore advanced technologies in the area. The Aero, Aeronautical Engineering, and Drone Performance teams, each focus on a specific element of the expansive aeronautics field. High schoolers in the programs are compensated by the...
The Niwot Community Association’s board of directors held its monthly meeting on Nov. 13 at the newly named Niwot Hall. The agenda consisted of a financial report update from the NCA Treasurer, Terry Larsen, the President’s report from David Limbach, and area reports from the area representatives. The directors then addressed the 2024 goals, which were to monitor land use, incorporate a wildfire protection plan, and create and engage on social media platforms. The NCA also hosted Jim Dor...
On Wednesday, Nov. 13, Niwot High School honored nine standout athletes during its Fall Signing Day ceremony. Held in the Commons during lunch, the event celebrated those Cougars committing to continue their athletic and academic careers at the collegiate level. Surrounded by teammates, coaches, family, and friends, the athletes celebrated their accomplishments and looked ahead to the exciting next chapter of their lives. Kianna Butler signed with Metropolitan State University of Denver to play...
Democrats maintained their strong presence in Boulder County as voters made decisions on numerous races and ballot measures in the Nov. 5, 2024, election. From federal representation to local water district measures, residents weighed in on a wide array of candidates and issues. Federal and State Representation Democrat Joe Neguse secured another term as the U.S. Representative for the 2nd Congressional District. At the state level, Kathy Gebhardt won the race for State Board of Education...
The first in a three-part series on artificial intelligence (AI) and local school systems. In March 2024, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) was held up as a trailblazer for its embrace of artificial intelligence (AI) when it unveiled a custom-designed chatbot called Ed for the students. The intent was for Ed to be a personalized assistant who would personalize academic plans. LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho called the tool a “game changer” that would “accelerate learn...
The Niwot Cougars concluded their season winless, ending with an 0-9 record after their final game against the Mead High School Mavericks was canceled by the St. Vrain Valley School District due to weather....
Boulder Open Space and Parks Management (OSPM) announced that two local trails will be closed. A news release regarding the Heatherwood Trail connection to Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat states: "A portion of the Heatherwood Trail at Walden Ponds will be closed for about one month beginning Monday, Nov. 4, for a City of Boulder sewer line project. Visitors will not be able to connect between Heatherwood Trail and the trails at Walden Ponds. #boco_trails" Please see the accompanying map of the...
When Niwot High School sophomore Aidan Coble picks up her trumpet, her passion for the music is immediately evident, which is one reason NHS Director of Bands Wade Hendricks selected her as Arts Student of the Week. "She has a gorgeous tone and vibrancy that comes with experience, attention, and listening to other excellent players," Hendricks said. "She is one talented, dedicated Cougar." This talent has been nurtured all her life by those around her. Coble's entire family is music oriented....
Flag football will make its Olympic debut in 2028 with both men's and women's divisions competing in Los Angeles for gold. Much closer to home, a local youth co-ed flag football team is excelling by showcasing how popular and exciting this sport has become. The Carolina Panthers are an all 7th grade co-ed team competing in the NoCo 5v5 Flag Football League in the 7th/8th grade division. Games are played all over the northern front range. The majority of teams in the league are male-only, but...
The "Pride Of Niwot" Cougar Marching Band has once again been hard at work this season to put on yet another exceptional halftime show performance. The band has had many opportunities to perform its show, "Night at the Movies," primarily at home football games. The band also had the opportunity to perform at the non-competitive event known as St. Vrain Band Night Oct. 9. This halftime show has featured a medley of Disney-Pixar songs, an arrangement of recognizable tunes from "Pirates of the...
Niwot High School sophomore Ero Tenz made history this fall as a defender on the first-ever varsity girls field hockey team in the Boulder Valley School District. Based out of Boulder High School, the BVSD varsity team supports two players from the St. Vrain Valley School District (Tenz and Erie High School junior Sunny Wolver), which doesn't support a girls field hockey program. The BVSD program had competed only at the sub-varsity level for the past two years. As the lone Niwot student on the...
The annual St. Vrain Valley School District's Band Night was held on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at Longmont High School. Every high school marching band in SVVSD met to build comradery and perform their halftime shows for the other bands. St. Vrain high schools that performed included Lyons (performing "Ex's and Oh's" with the Unified Drumline), Skyline (the music of Santana), Silver Creek (Jackson 5 music), Frederick ("The Macabre"), Mead (Michael Jackson hits), Longmont ("Night of the Living...
Marching bands bring a contagiously high level of energy to football games, parades and other events. Whether the band is in the stands playing pep tunes, or on the field performing the halftime show, the spirit, energy, and musicianship is infectious. However, a seven minute halftime show is the result of countless hours and dedication to perfect that performance. Many of the high schools in the St. Vrain Valley School District consider themselves as "non-competitive" marching bands. However, e...
The St. Vrain Valley School District Innovation Center is at the forefront of shaping the future of education, offering students opportunities to engage with cutting-edge fields such as bioscience, Aeronautics, robotics, music, video arts, and cybersecurity. The center prepares students for the workforce through hands-on learning, professional development, and collaboration with industry leaders. The bioscience curriculum provides students with essential skills in biotechnology, biomedical engineering, and bioconservation. With an increasing...
This is Part 2 in a two-part series regarding public school enrollment in Boulder Valley. Part 1 focused on the Boulder Valley School District. Part 2 focuses on the St. Vrain Valley School District. In its Sept.18, 2024 issue, the Left Hand Valley Courier covered declining enrollment throughout the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD), and how BVSD is helping manage the decline. Nearby, the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) seems to be facing less decline than BVSD though, with an estimated 0.41% decrease having occurred in the past ye...
Niwot High School's cross country teams delivered stellar performances at the St. Vrain Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 21, hosted by Lyons High School. Both the boys and girls teams showcased their depth and talent, securing top finishes across the board in the 5000 meter run. The boys team was led by junior Rocco Culpepper, who claimed first place with an impressive time of 15:29.17. His victory was closely followed by fellow juniors Hunter Robbie, who finished second at...
Niwot High School’s annual homecoming festivities began Monday, Sept. 9, with the highly anticipated pep rally. For the first time, the class of 2025 won the iconic Spirit Stick by being the loudest during the high pressure competition between grade levels. It was a close call between the seniors and sophomores this year. The first day of homecoming events ended with “The Kickoff,” Niwot High School’s Flag Football Tournament, an evening team event attended by students, staff, friends, and fam...
On Aug. 7 at a special meeting, the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) Board of Education unanimously approved placement of a Bond Referendum Question on the Nov. 5, 2024 Ballot in the amount of $739.8 million “to improve safety and security, preserve capital assets, enhance educational space, and address the increase in enrollment” in the district. The district worked hard to ensure that property taxes will not go up if the bond issue passes. How does this happen? The district’s website anticipates the question, and the answer provi...
According to a recent report issued by the Colorado Department of Education in October of 2023, there were 1,800 fewer students enrolled in Colorado Public Schools than in 2022. School districts across the state have been facing declining enrollment issues, with some, like Denver Public Schools, expecting upwards of an 8% decline in students in the next five years. Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) is projected to lose 1,700 students over the next 5 years based on reports from 2022-2023. In response, it has created a Long Range Advisory...
Niwot High School's homecoming football game against the Skyview Campus Wolverines on Friday, Sept. 13 ended in a narrow 14-6 loss for the Cougars, leaving them 0-3 on the season. The game was filled with moments of grit and determination, but the Cougars were unable to capitalize on key opportunities as they fought through turnovers and a tough Skyview defense. Before kickoff, the Stapp family was honored by St. Vrain Valley School District Superintendent Don Haddad for their longstanding...
Niwot High School’s boys cross country team showed its strength at the RE-1J District Meet on Sept. 4, securing the top nine positions in a performance that set the stage for a promising season. It is a rare occasion where the boys team claimed spots one through nine, making it an historic moment for the team and the course itself, with some of the fastest times ever recorded. Leading the team was Rocco Culpepper, who took first place in the 5000 meter run with a time of 15:36.38, followed by Hunter Robbie, who finished close to Culpepper w...
The Niwot High School boys soccer team beat Prairie View High School 2-0 at home on Wednesday bumping their record to 4-1. The Cougars and their solid defense once again left their opponent scoreless, posting shutouts in the last three games. Seniors Gavin Engtrakul and Jay Scharfe each scored a goal in the second half, bringing their combined season total to four goals. After a scoreless first half, Engtrakul set up Scharfe for the first goal of the game, and junior Quinn Brady set up...
The St. Vrain for the Brain 5k will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 9 a.m. at Niwot High School to benefit the National Brain Tumor Society. The St. Vrain for the Brain 5k encourages participants of all levels, either in person or virtually. Participants can register as a team, or as an individual, or simply donate to support another participant or team. So far, $4,100 has been raised toward the fundraising goal of $5,000 with a week and a half left before the race. The 5k race runs along the b...
Teresa Ewing's circuitous path to becoming a Niwot High School computer science teacher is unique and inspiring. She initially had a career in engineering, earning a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Colorado. Ewing started working as a software intern at NORAD in Colorado Springs but then took a position with a Finnish company, Vaisala, where she worked in wind-profiling radars, allowing her the exciting opportunity to install radars around the world....
Funded by St. Vrain Valley School District, a new digital scoreboard has been installed as the next step in the master plan for Niwot High School. The scoreboard was named in memory of Art Stapp, who passed away in 2023 and was a strong sponsor of Niwot High School and its programs. The field has been named the Art Stapp Sports Complex. "We have a world class school in so many ways," said principal Eric Rauschkolb, "and we love that we can bring our facilities up to date to reflect our...
"The ability to play a musical instrument gives people a way to express their feelings at a depth that goes beyond any words," said Arts Student of the Week Evan Green. "Music can fill you with excitement, sadness, anticipation, calmness, or any other emotion, which makes it exhilarating to play and listen to. Additionally, playing an instrument lets you sculpt the music into expressing what you want to express." As a student at Niwot High School, Green says his experience with music has been bo...
Students in the St. Vrain Valley School District are provided with countless opportunities for success and engagement through innovative programing. Being a part of that community is enriching and SVVSD wants you to know why. On Saturday Sept. 7 at 10 a.m., SVVSD will hold its first ever Public Education Parade starting at Roosevelt Park and continuing down Main Street in Longmont. The parade will celebrate the elementary, middle and high school programs and achievements in the district. "This...
The Niwot High School gymnastics team is kicking off this season with exuberance and optimism for both its new and returning talent. Led by Coach Marisa Purcell, who is entering her ninth year with the team, and Assistant Coach Maddi York, the gymnasts are freshly prepared to compete. After landing in fourth place at last season's 4A state meet by less than half of a point from a position in second, the gymnasts are bringing an ambitious attitude. Senior Maeve Flentie has challenged herself on...
As school begins again in full swing, so do the various fall sports, notably cross country. The Niwot High School cross country team recently geared up for the season's first invitational at Mountain Vista High School, a large Class 5A school in Highlands Ranch last Saturday, Aug. 24. This event was the first real test of the team's rigorous summer training program, and the athletes were met with a hot, but manageable environment, as temperatures ranged from a high of 90º to a low of 84º t...
Rock & Rails drew a large crowd on Aug.15 to see the opening act, Charted Territory, followed by the headliner, FACE Vocal Band. "FACE always draws a large crowd, including many fans from out of town," said Biff Warren, co-manager of Rock & Rails. "Many came early to set up chairs near the stage, and were treated to music from Charted Territory, the opening band, which included Mike Pierce and Katie Warren, who performed earlier this summer at Rock & Rails with the Niwot Community Semi-Marching...
12 Niwot High School graduate Hanna Sandoff has made it full-circle, and is now a first grade teacher at Niwot Elementary School. Not only was Sandoff a NHS graduate, she also spent her fifth grade year at NES. "I naturally care very deeply for the people around me and teaching is a profession where you get to build long lasting relationships and make a small amount of positive change in the world," Sandoff said. "I like teaching because it is my little drop of goodness." Sandoff has known...
Niwot High School's Cougar Marching Band (#PrideOfNiwot) completed its 2024 summer band camp on Aug. 6, accomplishing a tremendous amount of work. Thanks to the dedication of students and flexibility with some unexpected heat and smoke, there is no doubt that the marching band at NHS will have another successful season. This year's halftime field show is "Night at the Movies" where the band will be performing three pieces - "Pixar Favorites" (a medley of famous songs from Disney-Pixar movies...
The Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools, is dedicated to sparking ideas and skills in students across the school district. Within the Innovation Center, specific programs allow high school students to research, learn, and innovate while being mentored on a given subject. These "Project Teams" range from robotics to aeronautics, giving students work-based experience in their field of interest. Each team's goal is different, but they all work toward building contacts, experience, and...
Niwot High School graduate and traditional salutatorian Violet Oliver made NHS history in her four years as a Niwot student. Not only did she earn her high school diploma with flying colors, she also received an Associate's Degree in Engineering at the same time. During her senior year, Oliver took all of her classes at Front Range Community College, which will result in a reduction of over a year of school towards getting her bachelor's degree. Apart from Oliver's impressive achievement of...
Founded in 2005 as an after-school club at Silver Creek High School, Up-A-Creek Robotics has evolved from humble beginnings into a renowned institution at the forefront of STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and competitive robotics. For two decades, this organization has been a place of inspiration, nurturing the talents of countless students and sharpening the future of engineering and technology. Up-A-Creek Robotics, also known as FRC (FIRST Robotics...
Soon after the conclusion of Niwot High School girls basketball's 2023-24 season, the Denver office of the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) received a claim accusing the program of violating Title IX regulations. Enacted in 1972, Title IX prohibits any educational institution that receives federal funding from discriminating on the basis of sex. The law covers all programs and activities, but it has commonly been associated with ensuring equal treatment of male and...
The Erie High School boys lacrosse team capped an extraordinary season by clinching the state championship, an impressive milestone marking the program's first-ever state title. Led by Coach Nick Mandia, who was named the Class 4A Northern Coach of the Year, the team showcased its dominance, ending the season with a stellar 15-3 overall record and a perfect 5-0 conference record, finishing first in the 4A Northern League. The Tigers' triumphant journey culminated in a commanding 14-6 victory...
