All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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What do the technology industry and education field have in common? According to Natalie Abshier, both require active listening and negotiation. She believes that her experience as both a business owner and manager will make her a unique candidate for the SVVSD Board of Education. She is currently running for the District F area, which includes Mead and much of Longmont. "I'm a long-time resident in the SVVSD community, and have seen this area grow," said Abshier. "I understand the importance...
Education is in Sarah Hurianek's blood–a number of family members were and are educators, and she has worked in early childhood education for over 20 years. In addition to her on-the job experience, she has been an active member of the Mead community and even graduated from Skyline High School in the St. Vrain Valley School District herself. Her husband Noah Hurianek, also a teacher, grew up in Niwot where both of his parents, Dennis and Nancy Hurianek, were long-time teachers. "Serving as a b...
As a self-proclaimed "serial volunteer and community member," SVVSD Board of Education member Karen Ragland has been involved in the local educational community since 2007. She started in parent groups and other organization committees before being elected to the Board in 2017. Much of her professional background is in mental health counseling, healthcare consulting and project management. Between her professional experience and having a masters in Community Counseling, she brings a diverse set...
Dung Nam Pham is a gifted violinist in Niwot High's orchestra who pours his emotions into his performances. But for the school's orchestra director, Yin-Feng Keynes Chen, the senior's natural talent is just one of the attributes that make him a great musician. "He has been a very dedicated musician in our orchestra program ever since his freshman year," Chen wrote in an email. "Not only is he one of the hardest workers among his peers, his strong passion for high-level music making is quite...
Vocalist Rianna Rickford loves to perform, whether it's in Niwot's prestigious Evenstar choir, or in a theater department musical, such as Cinderella or Little Shop of Horrors. For choir director Laura Roberts, Rickford's dedication to her craft is nothing short of inspiring. "She is probably one of the most improved singers in the choir program," Walters wrote of the senior, who is currently a member of the school's Evenstar choir, and is deeply involved in the fall musical. "She has the...
Niwot community pride was on display during last weekend's homecoming events. Friday afternoon's bright sun and cool temperatures set the stage for the parade, which returned following a pandemic-induced break. Junior Olivia Lacert was watching with friends from just outside 1914 House. "I'm excited to go to a homecoming game and to have the dance this year," she said. "I love dances. Last year we didn't have a lot of school events, so this is pretty cool. The football game is later and I'm...
Niwot High ditched the traditional homecoming king and queen arrangement several years ago, in favor of a more inclusive approach. Now three members of each class represent their grade on the homecoming court, and no one has to get dressed up. For 2021, the students selected were juniors Molly Stokes, Itzel Cordova-Aguirre, and Tharind Bopearachchigedon; freshmen Naveen Bopearachchigedon, Jesus Rosas Fuentes, and Maddie Pearson; sophomores Ben Rauschkolb, Samantha Sessa, and Fred Zorgdrager;...
Thanks to the pandemic and restrictions on school activities, Sreya Karumanchi's year as a junior drum major for the Niwot Marching Band was a bit of a let-down. But dealing with the challenges from the 2020 season also taught her some valuable lessons in leadership that have helped her senior year get off to a great start. "It made me understand the importance of flexibility and long-term growth," the longtime clarinet player said. "I knew that this year would be difficult, just because of the...
Early on the morning of Sept. 12, cyclists flocked to the University of Colorado, Boulder to participate in the Buffalo Bicycle Classic (BBC). In years past, the BBC saw approximately 1,200 riders; in light of COVID, there was a virtual race and a decrease in numbers for the in-person 2020 event. However, this year, co-organizer Jenny Anderson was proud to announce that there were 1,100 riders participating in nine different routes. So, whether participants were seasoned cyclists or so-called...
It's been a week since students, teachers, and staff started the new school year. After the pandemic created an unconventional, some would say difficult, year of learning, returning to full-time, in-person classes throughout the district is something that many parents are grateful for. At the same time, the community is not having the same kind of back-to-school experience as in years past. Students are required to re-acclimate to a more conventional social and learning environment after the...
With the beginning of each school year comes the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and to celebrate making new ones. In that spirit, Niwot United Methodist Church (7405 Lookout Rd., Gunbarrel) is hosting a Back-to-School Extravaganza on Sunday, Aug. 29, from 12-3 p.m. Everyone in the community is invited to come enjoy an afternoon of free food, carnival games, crafts, and, most of all, fun, Pastor Emily Kintzel said. "We wanted to do something, especially in light of the last year and a...
Tuesday, Aug. 17, marked the first day of school not only for incoming freshman students, but for nine new teachers at Niwot High School. From new science teachers to a new counselor, the NHS faculty and staff will look a little different this year, and they all seem very excited. "Teaching and inspiring others is something that I have always loved and am looking forward to continuing to do so here," said Nathan Gravelding, who will be joining the science department. A Colorado native, Graveldin...
The school community was hopeful that when they returned to school this fall masks would not be required in SVVSD schools. As it turns out, that won't be the case. Following guidance from Boulder County Public Health through Public Health Order 2021-07, the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) is requiring masking for all students, faculty and staff in grades PK-12 while indoors. The school district did not provide a direct response to the Courier's questions about the decision. Instead,...
This August marks the 36th annual Sunrise Stampede organized by the St.Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation. Founded in 1986, the race was first organized by the Longmont Sunrise Lions Club and sponsored by Mountain Bell as a way to support students. The Education Foundation partnered with the Stampede for the first time in 2016, updating the race route to one that starts and ends at Silver Creek High School. As for the 2021 race, students, families and the planning committee alike seem to...
Boulder Valley's Impact on Education has been around for nearly 40 years, and the Crayons to Calculators program is one of their longest running programs. Since the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) and the St.Vrain Valley School District ( SVVSD) are so close, the St. Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation entered into a partnership and now the program is a joint effort. This is notable because, on average, families spend $75 on school supplies, according to the website. Their goal this...
It's not an "extreme" makeover, but Niwot High is having a little work done before the 2021-22 school year begins. Last month, construction began on the final phase of the school's 2016 bond construction project, which will bring an updated look to the exterior and help newcomers find their way around. "People that come here that aren't familiar with our setup, a lot of times they'll ring the doorbell at the front and ask, 'Is this the gymnasium or where's the baseball field?', or there are gran...
After a school year filled with upended routines, unprecedented challenges, and, above all, uncertainty, 270 students from Niwot High came together on May 29 to mark the end of their high school journeys. For IB programme valedictorian Carter Kruse, graduation was also a chance to reflect on the positives that emerged during the pandemic year, and the importance of connectivity beyond Webex and Zoom. "Without question, our senior year was a memorable one," the future Dartmouth student said...
The following is text of Niwot High Student Council President Benjamin Goff's commencement address: In the years of 2002 or 2003, what would eventually be the Class of 2021 came into the world. We came into radically different circumstances from one another. It led us all here. The last 18 or so years have led to the end of the beginning of the journey which we will spend the rest of our lives on. I'm sure many questions will be asked, some without answers, but perhaps the most crucial will be,...
Carter Kruse didn't set out to get the top grade point average in Niwot High's International Baccalaureate programme this year, but his penchant for hard work and precocious talent for advanced math made that outcome literally inevitable. Nonetheless, he was humbled by the honor, even though it seemed more a function of statistics than anything else. "I am fortunate to be up there simply just because of some of the classes that I took," he said of being named IB valedictorian for 2021. "I took a...
Not many high school students relish the idea of delivering an important speech in front of a large crowd of strangers, but Victoria Isuani isn't like many high school students. When the Niwot senior learned she would have an extra responsibility at the 2021 graduation ceremony, she quickly went to work crafting a message that was "inspirational, but still lighthearted." "The day that my principal told me that I was going to be valedictorian, right away, I started coming up with ideas and I was...
When Niwot High School principal Eric Rauschkolb told senior Isobel Tuck she was salutatorian, it was a surprise. "I didn't expect it at all," she said. "It was a really big shock, but I was really excited." Tuck has had a fruitful high school career. She laughed saying her freshman year that she was intense about her grades, adding that she wished she had chilled out a little. "Relax...trust the process," she advises current and future students. "One of the things that made me successful was...
Recent graduate Zoe Craven is the Arts Student of the Week. Writes her teacher Laura Collier: Zoe Craven is a very talented Visual Arts student. Her work is skillfully executed and well thought out. It has been a pleasure to watch her and her work mature. I think maybe she has taken nearly every art class we have here at NHS! It is definitely time for her to stretch those wings and fly! I will miss her, but I can't wait to see where she goes next....
Eighth grade graduation is already a celebratory occasion, but for the 93 members of Flagstaff Academy's class of 2021, the May 26 ceremony was also one last chance to celebrate together, after being kept apart for so much of the past year. For co-valedictorian Olivia DeRose, it was also a chance to reflect on some of the unexpected lessons she learned in and out of the classroom. "This year has taught us many things," the future Niwot Cougar said in a speech to her classmates. "Some of these...
Technical-minded Siddartha Bushan never gave much thought to his grades during his four years as a student in Niwot's competitive International Baccalaureate program, so he was mostly surprised but also a little relieved when he learned that he was named the 2021 IB salutatorian. The Courier caught up with him shortly before graduation to hear his thoughts on his four years at Niwot High and what the next four-years has in-store. LHVC: Did you know your class ranking before the announcement?...
By his own admission, Niwot class of 2021 salutatorian James Magee doesn't have the best sense of time management, but he managed to overcome that shortcoming in high school with a good mindset toward his work, his classes, and his school experience in general. The Courier caught up with him on graduation eve to talk about his time as a Cougar and what the next four years have in store as he heads to the University of British Columbia to study math or computer science. LHVC: Obviously, you've...
Anna Enssle is a freshman at Niwot High, but has taken on some challenges that are normally confronted by older students. In an email, Niwot choir Director Laura Walters said that Enssle is an "amazing leader," and has made choir "an incredible place this year." "Anna Enssle is a freshman in Sedalia, one of our auditioned choirs...She is very confident learning and singing her music, has an amazingly positive attitude, and goes above and beyond wherever we need her in class. She has a lovely...
Dark clouds cleared just in time for last Friday's car parade honoring 2021 Niwot High School Graduates. Starting at 7 p.m. a fire truck escorted the lead car with principal Eric Rauschkolb and more than thirty other decorated vehicles that made their way down Niwot Road and 2nd Avenue. The parade was organized by volunteers who wanted to honor the students rather than by the school or the school's booster club. It kicked off at the Niwot High School parking lot, and an hour before start time, g...
If a high school student were to look up the average cost of a four-year college in Colorado, they'd likely find a figure around $8,364 per year for tuition and fees, which works out to just more than $33,000 per year. This figure doesn't include mandatory fees, housing or other estimated costs of post-secondary education. This can be daunting for many students, and especially those who would be first-generation higher education applicants, which often includes a higher percentage of students...
Cathy Carter is passionate about math. She also has a passion for empowering both students and teachers, especially when it comes to understanding it. "Everyone thinks about math slightly differently," she explained. "Part of my goal is to help students realize their ideas are amazing." Math is often seen as something practical; with right and wrong answers; with right and wrong paths to get to those answers. Because of this mentality, students are often discouraged and feel insecure about...
Flagstaff Academy's Elementary and Middle School Visual Arts program is an important component of the K-8th grade public charter school's Core Knowledge Curriculum and one that also provides much joy and inspiration. Now the larger community can enjoy the beautiful artwork Flagstaff Academy students, known as Dragons, have created during this unprecedented school year. In a year when school was online, in-person, and hybrid, one might think art-making might not be a priority and would slow down,...
Alex Williams joined the Niwot High theater tech crew as a freshman, hoping to learn more about stage lighting and design. Four years later, not only has "Goose" become a lighting "wizard," according to faculty stage manager Jason Watkins, but also an indispensable member of the crew who won't be easy to replace. "I have known Goose for three years, and it has been extremely wonderful to see him progress in that time," Watkins said in an email. "He is my right hand man this year. Being an...
Nancy Pitz, (left) Niwot Elementary School, happily accepts coffees for the teachers that Pat Murphy of Niwot Real Estate brought to the school May 6. Old Oak Coffeehouse and wiNot Coffee made the treats that Murphy brought to the school to show the teachers appreciation for all their hard work, which has been exceptionally challenging during Covid....
For Niwot High band director Wade Hendricks, students like Jacob Pennington don't come around very often. Both a talented musician and gifted student, the junior is both a role model to his fellow bandmates and a delight to have in class. "[Jacob] has lent his abilities to our groups on both trumpet and piano, jumping in and doing whatever is asked of him," Hendricks said in an email. "He is a fantastic soloist and has a great ear, analyzing chords and harmonies before I can figure them...
The "Little Shop of Horrors" has been a big place of opportunity for performers at Niwot High this spring. Students are movie stars instead of theater stars for their grand finale, something they wouldn't have experienced if not for the pandemic. Because of restrictions on crowds and singing together, the production was filmed and will be streamed online May 7 and 8. "They'd say lights, camera, action. It was so much fun. It was a super cool experience," said senior Fiona Benson who plays one...
Junior Nguyen Pham is a talented student in Niwot High's IB art program who prefers to let her artistry do the talking. She is currently enrolled in a 3-D design course at the school, where she has worked with everything from metal and plaster, to wood and clay. Last month, one of her sculptures was featured in St. Vrain Unframed student art show, a virtual showcase of the most interesting student artwork from schools around the district. Pham's submission resulted from an assignment to create...
Niwot Elementary's Jessica Easley says she has an amazing job. Her passion for teaching and dedication to her students earned her Teacher of the Year for her school, an award she's won multiple times in her career. "It is a tremendous honor to have been chosen for this award," Easley wrote in an email after being honored at the Tribute to Teachers celebration on Friday night. "I am very grateful. I have taught for 26 years, most of them in Niwot. I love my job and my students. I am excited to...
It's not every teen who can find an emergency bandmate in their house, let alone one who can play Zimbabwean music. When Niwot High senior Noah Randall couldn't play in-person with his band during the pandemic, he would say, "Hey Mom, can you play with me?" It makes sense since she is the one who introduced him to music from Zimbabwe. She saw a band in Boulder and decided to take lessons on the marimba, an instrument similar to a xylophone. Randall was in elementary school at the time and had...
Niwot freshman Juliette Molina has been appearing on stage since age seven, but when the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled live performances in 2020, the accomplished singer and actor decided to broaden her creative horizons. Over the past several months, she has been writing, directing, and starring in a one-woman film called "Passion Project," about a student who is struggling to choose a path in life. "My character is in high school, and all of her friends know what they want to do for college,...
The Flagstaff Academy Board of Directors announced that following an extensive hiring process which included a review of feedback from stakeholders, Mrs. Katie Gustafson has officially been hired as executive principal of Flagstaff Academy. According to the school, Mrs. Gustafson has been a dedicated employee of Flagstaff Academy for the past 10 years. During that time, she has held the roles of Middle School social studies teacher, Assistant Principal, positive behavior iIntervention and...
It's always a great honor to be named a finalist for Teacher of the Year, but this year's group earned recognition in a pandemic year that brought unforeseen challenges to them, students and schools. Their principals praised them for finding new and creative ways to engage and support students, while adapting to teaching virtually or in socially distanced and masked classrooms. Each St. Vrain Valley School District has three finalists and will eventually have a winner chosen from their school...
Thursday, April 22, is Earth Day, which is celebrated around the world as an opportunity to focus on taking care of our planet, and all of her inhabitants. The theme for this year's Earth Day is how together we have the power to "restore our Earth." At Flagstaff Academy, there are many activities happening that nurture the idea that together everyone in our school community can make a difference in restoring our Earth. The school's kindergarten "Dragons" will be learning about the "3 Rs."...
Teyha Laughlin has excelled in Niwot High's visual arts classes, but was hoping to expand her creative horizons during her senior year. So under the mentorship of art teacher Beth Collier, she has pursued an independent study that has taken her art in exciting new directions. "Teyha is a senior now, and she has been in one or another of my art classes every year since she was a freshman," Collier wrote about the talented portrait artist. "She is creative, funny, and such a hardworking student. I...
Even when Niwot sophomore Audrey Asbury was a child, she loved music and would run around the house singing. At age five, her mother signed her up for a theater summer camp and she's been performing ever since. "Theater is one of the most important aspects of my life, it doesn't only bring me joy, but the arts allow me to bring joy to the people around me," she said. Asbury's come a long way from that summer camp years ago. Now, she's involved in Niwot's theater, has participated at Thescon and...
Niwot sophomore Morgan Lane was a curious kindergartener the first time she heard someone play the violin. "We had show-and-tell, and one of my friends brought their violin and played "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" for the class," she recalled. "And I thought it was the coolest thing. So I went home and begged my parents to let me play." That was nearly a decade ago, and Lane has been working her way toward virtuoso status ever since. Today, she is a member of two orchestral groups at Niwot...
Niwot senior Maya Beauvineau has a strong connection to the outdoors. From maintaining her chicken coop to participating with Nederland's Nordic Ski Team to being one of the leaders for Niwot High's Environmental Club, much of her time is spent outside. When it came time to consider how she might marry creativity to action and service, it was an easy decision for her--she'd go outside, then she only had to figure out where to go from there. "I initially was planning on doing a food rescue...
By Jocelyn Rowley When it comes to art, Noah Randall doesn't limit himself to one mode of expression. "I really like exploring almost any way that I can express myself," the Niwot senior said. "I mainly do it through music, but I've found other outlets like drawing and painting. Even jewelry and poetry, just anything I can get my hands on that I can express myself through, I at least give it a try." The senior is currently enrolled in Niwot's advanced drawing and painting class, but outside the...
The Niwot High School Education Foundation is gearing up for its annual online auction, and thanks to robust support from sponsors, it should be an exciting one for potential bidders, according to the group's president Mako Shimoda. "This year, everybody's been so generous, knowing that we've been unable to do our normal fundraising," she said, noting that there are donations from businesses in Niwot, Longmont, and Boulder. "So we have a fair amount of items-lots of various restaurant gift...
Niwot students in the IB program are expected to spend 18 months on their CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) projects. That may seem daunting to future students, but according to senior Hannah Ferrero, "Some of the most challenging experiences can lead to the most satisfying feeling." She and her partner, fellow senior Eleanor Born, teamed up to work on CAS together and were very excited about the finished project. "When brainstorming for my CAS project, NOLS came to mind right away," said Born...
On April 6, Niwot Elementary School and the Mwebaza Foundation are hosting a fundraiser at Chipotle on Ken Pratt Boulevard in Longmont. From 4 - 8 p.m. Swing by and grab a burrito, bowl, or tacos and Chipotle will donate 33% of its sales to Mwebaza. Make sure to tell the staff you're there to support Mwebaza Foundation and show the attached flyer. Mwebaza Foundation is a local Niwot non-profit that connects schools in Colorado with schools in Uganda for cross-cultural exchanges and service...
Niwot senior MacKenzie Demmel seems pleased to have participated in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program and her advice to those considering the program is to just try it. "I know that IB might seem daunting, but it really is the best path you can choose," she said. "It forces you to have a very involved and active high school experience, and you'll be surprised by how much you can accomplish when you have things like CAS [creativity, action, service] to push you." CAS adds a unique...
