All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Technical theater has a way of forging bonds between people. When Bri Rivard attended Coal Ridge Middle School, the school did not have a technical theater program, and she had never even heard the term before. Then, her ninth-grade English teacher, Mrs. Myers, recommended technical theater to her. Rivard didn't have many friends at the time, and she thought it would be a great environment for meeting people. Now, Rivard is grateful Myers recommended it to her. "I have met incredible people...
Niwot High School held its annual prom on Saturday, April 5, at Denver's Mile High Station. The event was themed "Midnight in Manhattan," and it combined celebration and elegance in its decor and activities. Hundreds of Niwot students took part, with the majority of upperclassmen in attendance. The celebration kicked off at 8:00 p.m. and ended at 11:00 p.m., and the dance floor was busy throughout the night. Niwot counselor and Student Council advisor Leah Messinger explained that finding...
Ben Gabrielson loves math. Now a senior at Niwot High School, he says his biggest challenge in high school was running out of math classes to take. After exhausting Niwot's math class offerings early in high school, he began taking classes concurrently at Front Range Community College. Last semester, Gilbert finished the classes offered at Front Range and is currently working with Niwot's math teacher, Megan Schlagel, to teach himself discrete mathematics as an independent study. Gabrielson...
Camryn Bell's love of theater stems from the community within it. "Like any other extracurricular," he said, "doing theater is being in a team. It's exhilarating to perform for an audience alongside people who have worked incredibly hard with you for months prior. Putting the work in and getting to share your effort with the world is truly an unmatched feeling." The Niwot High sophomore went into high school with no intention of doing theater. He was more focused on sports, but then he had a...
On Monday, February 24, middle school and high school students from the Boulder County area were excited to present their science projects at the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) Corden Pharma Regional Science Fair at the Boulder Valley School District Education Center. The BVSD Regional Science Fair website explains, "Science fairs allow students the opportunity to research, create, and present while constructing their own ideas through reading informational text, participating in...
Each spring season, Niwot High School presents a musical production ranging from "Mamma Mia" to "Shrek The Musical." This year, "Footloose," written by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie, will be performed for five nights at Niwot High School, beginning April 3. Based on the 1984 film, "Footloose" follows the story of a new senior at Bomont High School (Ren McCormack) who loves to dance, a local preacher (Reverend Shaw Moore) grasping in the face of loss, and a rebellious young girl (Ariel Moore)...
Keynes Chen, Niwot High School's orchestra and mariachi director, has been named Niwot High School's Teacher of the Year by the St. Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation. His recognition comes as no surprise to those familiar with the remarkable growth and success of the school's music program under his leadership. Since starting at NHS in January 2019, Chen has built the school's orchestral music programs into something extraordinary. What began as a small program has grown into three...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is known for its coverage of athletes and arts students at Niwot High School. The Courier also honors an array of students who pursue activities such as community service, robotics, academics, and topics that fall under the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) umbrella. Niwot High School senior Sanjana Kaushik is involved in a myriad of activities at Niwot High School. For example, she immerses herself in instrumental music, playing flute,...
Niwot High School choirs traveled to Orlando, Florida, on Mar. 13 to compete at Festival Disney, an all Disney-produced music competition among middle and high school students across the United States. A mix of Niwot choir members came together to create the unique choir called the Niwot High School Disney Choir. Members of the Treble Choir, Tenor/Bass Choir, Sedalia, Chamber Singers, and Evenstar joined together to form a new and exciting group to compete alongside one another. The group only...
Niwot High School's Math Club is a student organization that supports students who are interested in, excelling in, or struggling in math. Math Club president Katherine Cui, a NHS senior, explained, "Math Club is where students can come to do their math homework, study for math tests, and get help from their peers and a math teacher. Math Club is also where students can come to experience how math can be made fun – especially since it is so many people's least favorite subject." The club had b...
Almost every month, Niwot High School principal Eric Rauschkolb nominates three outstanding students to the Rotary Club of Niwot to be considered as the club’s “Student of the Month.” These students are heavily dedicated to their academics, extra-curriculars, and outside volunteerism. The Rotary Club then decides who has earned the honor of being named as the club’s “Student of the Month.” This past February, the Rotary Club of Niwot named Eliana Henriques as the “Student of the Month.” Henrique...
Niwot High School senior Shefali Joshi thrives at the crossroads of creativity and innovation. One of her proudest high school achievements is pursuing an IB diploma. She said, "I'm really proud of how I stuck through the IB program even though it was hard at times. I really enjoyed the classes that were offered, even though there was a lot of extra work that goes into them." One such extra project is the Creativity, Art, and Service (CAS) project all IB diploma candidates are required to comple...
Niwot High School freshman Khai Dang-Lee grew interested in art when their mother showed Dang-Lee her own old sketches. "She is an amazing artist and seeing her beautiful work inspired me to make my own," Dang-Lee said. "It was around fourth grade, the beginning of COVID. I loved art class at Eisenhower Elementary. It was mostly very short fun projects, but it was my favorite class then. At Manhattan Middle School art was more advanced, and we had longer projects. Sixth grade is when I started...
During her freshman and sophomore years, Niwot High School senior Olivia DeRose was a member of the Chamber Singers Choir, and she was a member of the Evenstar Choir her sophomore and senior years. She is a part of the theater program at NHS and she has been in every musical since her freshman year, including "Footloose" this year. According to Laura Walters, the NHS Choir Director, DeRose has been a strong member of Niwot choirs for four years. "She has been in Chamber Singers and Evenstar,...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is known for its coverage of athletes and arts students at Niwot High School. The Courier also honors an array of students who pursue activities such as community service, robotics, academics, and topics that fall under the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) umbrella. Niwot High School senior Emma Ortiz's classmates and teachers consistently describe her as a "bright light" within NHS. They say her positivity can be felt from miles away....
On Tuesday, March 4, the Niwot High School Jazz Bands took over the stage for "An Evening of Jazz" at Nissi's in Lafayette to headline for the bands' "Spectacle 2025: An Evening of Big Band Sounds" concert. Under the direction of Wade Hendricks, both the Left Hand Jazz Ensemble and Niwot All-Stars performed a full set of recognizable tunes for the crowd. The Left Hand Jazz Ensemble featured Noah Barrios, Ayden Carter, Ben Enticott, Alaan Foster, Finn Graeden, Athil Henderson, Hikaru Johnson,...
In a big theater production, there are so many moving parts-props, actors, sound-that the theater technicians are never surprised when something unexpected happens. Niwot High School senior Maddie Myers knows, especially after the first show and the last show, the relief of getting through the production without too many surprises. She also remembers many stressful moments in the show where things weren't going quite as planned. That was the case during a November 2024 NHS performance of...
Allie Dahlstrom's interest in art began by seeing other students' projects on display around the school. She finds that for her, creativity and inspiration only grow when looking at other people's artwork. "Allie has been working with clay this entire school year and her skill level has progressed extremely quickly," said Niwot High School teacher Michael Rees, who selected Dahlstrom as Arts Student of the Week. "I have loved all of the art classes I have been able to take at NHS," Dahlstrom sai...
Although Oliver Sitja Sichel's main instrument is the clarinet, he can also play piccolo clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, oboe, and saxophone. "But I'm best at clarinet," Sichel confessed. "I learned to play in sixth grade by playing it through school and then I just kept on playing. What got me interested in clarinet was school. It was the instrument I was assigned in sixth grade and music has always interested me. So, it only made sense for me to continue with it." Wade Hendricks, the Director...
Katelin VonFeldt, a junior at Niwot High School, and Kayla Evans, a senior at Erie High School, were among 20 high school student teams nationwide selected to present at NASA's Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop, held on Jan. 28-31 in Galveston, Texas. This marked the first time high school students were invited to participate in the conference, which focuses on biomedical research related to human spaceflight. Von Feldt and Evans presented their innovations regarding the mental...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is known for its coverage of athletes and arts students at Niwot High School. The Courier also honors an array of students who pursue activities such as community service, robotics, academics, and topics that fall under the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) umbrella. Niwot High School senior Claire Jensen strives to be a positive force and role model for those at Niwot High School, whether they be students or teachers. Through her...
According to arts educator Crystal Hinds, Arabella Snyder took the Niwot High School Art Department by storm, taking as many classes each semester as her schedule allowed from the start of her freshman year. "She is dedicated, full of energy, helpful and respectful," Hinds said. "She is a natural born leader and has taken a directing position in the student run Art Club. Ara will always volunteer for more art related activities, and fund raising for various causes." Hinds selected Snyder as Arts...
The St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) has once again achieved the highest graduation rate among large metro-area districts in Colorado, reaching an impressive 94.3% for the 2023-2024 school year. This milestone reflects the district's longstanding commitment to providing high-quality education and comprehensive support systems that keep students engaged and on track for graduation. Superintendent Don Haddad attributes this success to a combination of early childhood education, rigorous...
When Arts Student of the Week Maddox Wilson performed as Constantine Bouc in the Niwot High School fall play, "Murder on the Orient Express," he learned that the role required a French accent. "He is Belgian, so I had to learn a French accent, which was super fun. The amount of lines I had to learn was also a challenge," said Wilson. "Bouc is definitely my favorite character of all those I have performed so far. He is the owner of the train company, and he is quite the character." But Wilson is...
Niwot High School is holding its Fourth Annual Wish Week from Feb. 3 through Feb. 8. NHS has partnered with Make A Wish Colorado to help bring the week to life for one of its amazing Wish Kids. Donations can be made at Niwot Wish Week 2025 Donations or visit https://wish.org/colorado. Schools across the U.S. host Wish Weeks in which students and community members are invited to unite around a child with a critical illness and raise funds for the Make-A-Wish organization. The nonprofit strives...
The St. Vrain Valley School District Honor Choir performance took place on Monday, Jan. 27, at Erie High School. The students practiced the full day before performing in the concert at 7 p.m. that night. "This is a special event every year where the top students from each of our district high schools are selected to come together to perform." Laura Walters, the Niwot High School Choir Director, said about the preparation for the performance. "The students auditioned in November. This year 63...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is known for its coverage of athletes and arts students at Niwot High School. The Courier also honors an array of students who pursue activities such as community service, robotics, academics, and topics that fall under the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) umbrella. Niwot High School senior Sofia Burks has spent her four years at Niwot making a difference. Whether it be for her peers, locals, or those in need, she's striven to make an impa...
The Annual Speech and Debate State Tournament was hosted by Niwot High School on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. The competition began after school on Friday at 4:30 p.m. and lasted until 10 p.m. On Saturday, events resumed at 7:30 a.m. and concluded at around 6 p.m., followed by the announcement of winners. Before the competition, the Cougars spent time practicing their speeches and supporting one another. Sophomore Zailey Lawrence described the preparation process, saying, "The prep process can vary...
Watershed School's Bowl-a-Thon was held on Thursday, Jan. 23, the Watershed School in Gunbarrel. The event hosted a collection of local potters and students who used pottery wheels to throw over 60 bowls for their upcoming Second Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser. Empty Bowls events were initiated by artists in 1990 to raise money for food-related charities in local communities and are still occurring around the globe. They invite people to purchase a ticket to attend the event where they choose a...
According to Niwot High School student Paris Blue, art is emotion put into visual form. "You can see how someone's feeling," Blue said, "and you can feel it too, when you see it. It's the visual representation of someone's mood, instead of words." Art educator Crystal Hinds selected Blue as Arts Student of the Week. "Paris has been a shining light in the art department," Hinds said. "Her unwavering humor and sunny disposition lifts even the darkest of spirits. She has always put her best foot...
In the spring of 2008, a group of passionate parent leaders gathered with St. Vrain Valley School District administrators to address critical school funding challenges. From this pivotal moment, a transformative idea emerged—creating a program that would deeply engage community members in understanding the intricate workings of public education. This vision became https://www.svvsd.org/about/distr...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is known for its coverage of athletes and arts students at Niwot High School. The Courier also honors an array of students who pursue activities such as community service, robotics, academics, and topics that fall under the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) umbrella. Niwot High School senior Katherine Cui has been complimented in many ways by Niwot High School staff and students, but the one thing that every person emphasizes is Cui's...
This year Katie Liddell was selected as one of two alto saxophone players to join the Colorado All-State Jazz Band, which will perform on Feb. 1 at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. Niwot High School Band director Wade Hendricks, who selected Liddell as Arts Student of the Week, said, "This is a massive achievement showing Katie's supreme dedication to her instrument and the study of jazz. The fact that she earned first chair means that she is, essentially, the State Champion of Jazz...
Use of cell phones in schools is a big topic across the nation. The St. Vrain Valley School District manages the issue by giving each of its schools autonomy in cell phone regulation.As a member of the SVVSD, Niwot High School has recently developed a school-wide expectation. Cell phone policies vary significantly among teachers, classrooms, schools, and school districts. For example, Boulder Valley School District announced a complete cell phone ban during school hours for all students last...
The Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools is home to an innovative Entrepreneurship Team that equips students with entrepreneurial skills and real-world experience. Through its student-led initiatives, the program, managed by Hannah McDonald, fosters creativity, problem-solving, and professional growth, preparing participants to tackle the challenges of the modern economy with confidence. The Entrepreneurship Team engages high school students in various dynamic projects that challenge...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is known for its coverage of athletes and arts students at Niwot High School (NHS). The Courier also honors an array of students who choose to pursue activities such as community service, robotics, academics, and topics that fall under the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) umbrella. Meleah Perez, a Niwot High School senior, is not only an outstanding student academically, but friends and teachers have labeled her as an incredibly positive...
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. Mahuiztli Martinez's soccer journey began when she was just four years old. Encouraged by her mother who put her in cleats for the first time, she stepped onto the...
A team of high schoolers are working to elevate inclusion across the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD). They are the members of the Accessibility Project Team of the SVVSD Innovation Center (IC). The IC houses 24 project teams, each offering learners career preparation, local involvement, and compensation. The Accessibility Team was launched in autumn of 2023. Longmont High School senior Anya Wieder started the group after observing that opportunity was often limited for her peers with di...
At the age of eight, Mai Vu, Program Manager for the St. Vrain Valley Schools Innovation Center's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Program, landed in Washington, D.C., from Vietnam. She recalled the stark contrast of arriving there in February, dressed in flip-flops and a dress, her first taste of the United States. Her father chose D.C. as it seemed like a safe haven from the looming threat of communism in Vietnam. Her educational journey included graduating from the University of Maryland and...
Niwot High School junior Sam Popma has always been interested in art, but what has inspired him has changed over time. Currently, Popma enjoys working with metals and making music. "I think it's living in Colorado--the mountains are so beautiful," he said. "I incorporate designs into my work a lot. So having inspiration like that is helpful." Art has been a part of Popma's life from an early age. He remembers visiting the Crackpots ceramics studio in Longmont with his parents when he was young,...
Luca Cherian, a sixth grade student attending Dawson School in Lafayette, won first place in the grade 6-9 category at the Longmont Chorale's Youth Vocal Competition held on Oct. 26 at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Longmont. The competition is open to local students in grades 6-12 and is separated into two categories: grades 6-9 and grades 10-12. Cherian won first place in the grade 6-9 category. The second and third-place winners in this division were Etta McCurdy from Westlake Middle Schoo...
After watching Niwot High School's first-ever Unified Theater production, "Descendants: The Musical" last year, Sophie Hayes was inspired to help and become a part of something she felt was so special. The Unified Theater program brings together students with and without special needs through theater, and Hayes wanted to get involved. "Everybody showed passion in their roles," Hayes said, "and I was so impressed with how the Unified kids showed up and did their parts, that I wanted to be...
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 "Pride of Niwot" Cougar Marching Band and Silver Creek High School Marching Band once again marched and performed together in the Longmont Lights Parade on Dec. 14 as the re-formed "Ni-Creek-Wot" combined marching band. Band members refer to this particular parade as their "crossover episode" as students from both schools make new friends, see old friends, and dress up in outrageous holiday lights with ugly sweaters. Together they performed "Feliz Navidad" down Main Street in Longmont....
The third annual Niwot High School Art Show began Dec. 6, with winners announced on Dec. 11, and an awards ceremony on Dec. 12. The NHS Art Show was sponsored by the Niwot High School Music, Performance, and Art division of the Niwot Boosters Club. The Art Show coincided with the winter concert series, featuring the NHS bands, choirs, orchestras, and the Mariachi Ensemble. This year, a separate Art Gala event on Dec. 9 was dedicated specifically to showcasing the NHS and feeder schools'...
When Tula Baker accepted the role as understudy for Princess Natalia Dragomiroff in Niwot High School's November 2024 production, "Murder on the Orient Express," she knew it would require her to perform with a Russian accent. An important character from the book by Agatha Christie, Dragomiroff is an elderly Russian aristocrat who fled to Europe from Russia with her husband. Baker's teacher, Amanda Foust, was impressed by the way Baker embraced the role. "Within weeks of being cast," Foust said,...
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...
