NES anniversary: The principal’s view

Niwot Elementary School will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this weekend with an open house and guest speakers.

The event starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 8, with guest speakers starting at 11:30.

Included on the roster of speakers are Principal Nancy Pitz, Superintendent Don Haddad and board of education member Debbie Lammers, a Niwot resident.

Pitz has been at the helm of NES for the last four years, and said that she’s excited about the anniversary.

“It’s really neat to be a small part of the 50 years of tradition in Niwot,” Pitz said. “There’s just so much history in not only the town, but the school and the entire community. It’s fun to play a role in that.”

There are close to 500 students between pre-school and fifth grade, which means a team effort is the focus at NES.

“I’d love to highlight that our students, staff and parents — the community as a whole — are amazingly supportive of what we do at our school. It really takes a village, and we have so many different partnerships to make it happen for these students.”

Pitz added that the staff works hard, and even though the student-to-teacher ratio is much higher now, they still provide a great education.

“We have such amazing teachers,” Pitz said. “No matter the size of the classroom, they do amazing work. Our staff is excellent, if you put them in any situation, they’re amazing.”

The history is rich in Niwot, and Pitz and others are hoping the event will draw a lot of alumni.

“We just hope everyone can come out and help celebrate a special day for Niwot Elementary,” Pitz said. “It really is a special thing. What we’re really about is that partnership between our students, their family and our staff. That’s really important to us.”

A Facebook page called Niwot Elementary Alumni Group has gathered plenty of old photos and memories leading up to Saturday’s event.

Pitz said that the school’s commitment to Niwot and their students is a testament to the town itself.

“What makes Niwot Elementary so great is that we have a fantastic mix of students, staff and community,” Pitz said. “When you put all of that together, our students are going to benefit.”