News

Wamsley Elementary first graders brought a busload of holiday cheer to the Hotel Colorado when they visited just before Thanksgiving break. These tiny tree trimmers helped the Hotel Colorado staff fill the halls with Christmas spirit. 

Armed with handmade ornaments resembling tiny, colorful ski hats, glittered pine cones, and clay-crafted snowflakes and candy canes, these holiday helpers transformed two of the hotel’s iconic Christmas trees into dazzling displays of warmth and community spirit. Their thoughtful contributions now sparkle among the more than 60 decorated trees and boughs of holly that fill the hotel, as they have for over 130 years. 

In a powerful step toward civic engagement, this November, Rifle and Coal Ridge High School students swapped their schoolbooks for ballots, serving as election judges across Garfield County. These students, just shy of voting age, got a rare inside look at democracy in action on Tuesday, November 5—greeting voters and witnessing firsthand the importance of each vote. Their participation is part of a renewed effort by Garfield County’s new Clerk and Recorder, Jackie Harmon, who believes they are the future of our democracy.

Harmon spearheaded the effort to involve students this year. 

“The opportunity for student judges has always been available, but as the new Clerk, I felt it was important to get the information out to the schools and students. They are the future of our democracy.” 

In a vibrant burst of color, dance, and tradition, Rifle High School senior Laura Gonzalez transformed her school into a celebration of life and legacy by organizing a Dia de los Muertos event. Determined to bridge cultural gaps and create a welcoming space for everyone in her community, Laura’s passion for sharing the beauty and depth of Mexican culture brought students, families, and friends together to honor ancestors and experience the joy of life, all through the lens of tradition.

Garfield Re-2 Superintendent Heather Grumley has informed the Garfield Re-2 School Board of her intent to retire at the end of the 2024-25 school year.

Grumley will continue as Superintendent through June 30, 2025.

I am honored to write this week’s Board update. Since being seated on the Garfield Re-2 School Board just a few weeks ago, I have learned one thing for certain—I have a lot to learn. My Boardmates have been helpful and supportive, and I am grateful for their warm welcome.

In this meeting we learned about Coal Ridge High School data, Family and Community Partnerships, Academic Achievement data, two way communication platform, policies about vandalism and tobacco, drug and alcohol use and heard great public comment.

On Wednesday, September 11, we convened at the newly renovated Wamsley Elementary, showcasing significant improvements by FCI & JCI, including two new modular buildings for SSN and Preschool, a new roof, new floors, and more. 

Wamsley Elementary showed us they continue to excel in all they are doing! Kathi Señor and Betsy Rice spotlighted literacy and math scores while serving a wide demographic of children. 

We proudly celebrate Wamsley as one of the highest-achieving schools in Re-2 and noted by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) as a Performance School for the second consecutive year. 

Every day in school is critical. 

As a four-day school week, if a Garfield Re-2 student misses just two days a month, that is about 30 hours of math instruction and 60 hours of English Language Arts instruction that they are missing. 

“We know that the best indicator of student success is having a great teacher in front of students. We want all of our students in class if they are healthy,” said Assistant Superintendent Lisa Pierce, who facilitated the concerted effort by the District to support improved attendance.

It seems like we were just celebrating the end of the school year and here we are celebrating the beginning of a new school year! We hope everyone had a fun and safe summer vacation.

With all the summer events including the county fair, the first ever Community Connected Fair, onboarding our new team members, the district opening celebration, and lastly, the 1st day of school, it seems like we blinked in May, and here we are in August. Everyone has hit the ground running and we’re closing out the first week of school.

Even though school wasn’t in session, our teams were still out there providing meals through Meal Monkey, maintaining our building and grounds, providing transportation for summer programs, and Transportation responded to over 500 questions and requests from families before school started - even calling families back on Sundays.

Hudson Parrington wanted to start school on Monday, August 12, like all of the other students in Garfield Re-2.

“I am excited to see my friends again and be with them,” said the newly minted Wamsley Wildcat 5th grader.

When classes at the other nine schools within Garfield Re-2 began on Monday this week, Hudson and his 400 other classmates got an extended summer break while construction crews put the finishing touches on a multi-million dollar summer facelift for the school.

The Garfield Re-2 School District will host the first Community Connected Fair on July 31, 2024 at Coal Ridge High School from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Garfield Re-2 is bringing over 20 community organizations together under one roof for families to learn about, and sign up for educational and athletic programs. Organizations include local city recreation programs, youth football, youth wrestling, One Door, Boy Scouts, youth cheerleading, R.I.D.E and many more.  Families can go to the Garfield Re-2 website (https://www.garfieldre2.net/departments/communications/community-connected-fair) for a complete list of organizations.

As the sun shines bright we hope this news letter finds you all enjoying your summer break filled with relaxation and fun adventures.

Wednesday night during our school board meeting we were able to talk about great
achievements that are shaping our journey at Garfield Re-2. This year has been particularly significant as we've made strides in several areas.

 The Garfield Re-2 School District is pleased to announce that it received a Building Exceptional Schools Today (BEST) grant in the amount of $583,086. The grant will be used to support a $1.8 million dollar infrastructure improvement project at Wamsley that includes a new roof, two new boilers, new windows and several new exterior doors. 

At the May 22, 2024 school board meeting, the Board unanimously voted to approve an overall six-percent raise for teachers and staff amounting to a $2.573 million investment in Garfield Re-2 employees for the 2024-25 school year. The pay raise includes a four-percent increase to the base rate of all teaching and classified positions as well as provide a two-percent step increase, bringing the total increase to six percent overall. Administrators will not see an increase to their base rate of pay, and will receive the two-percent increase in salary for the next school year.

Thank you to everyone who attended our board meeting on April 25 at the District Office/Learning Opportunities Center. Our “Shine the Light” this week was with our Nutrition Services Department. I cannot say enough good things about this department. The total food volume is hard to comprehend and appreciate until you see the numbers. Since the beginning of school, our team has served almost 400,000 meals to students and staff. The one person who is designated to the warehouse has single-handedly moved over 600,000 pounds of food. We are always looking to utilize local sources of food wherever we can and continue to look for even more sources. I would like to thank everyone in the nutrition services department for all their hard work in making sure every student who wants fed gets fed.

Riverside Middle School eighth graders began their journey to become money management magicians through a program that introduces financial literacy to elementary and middle school students across the Garfield Re-2 School District. From decoding the mysteries of taxes to unlocking the secrets of paying for college and even mastering the art of reading a pay stub, this program is like a treasure map for young learners. The Carbondale-based non-profit Youthentity partners with Garfield Re-2 to equip future leaders with the financial smarts they need in the future.

The sizzle in the pan was electrifying.

Brendan Larsen drizzled a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, and sriracha over a concoction of rice and fresh heating on a single electric burner. The wafting aromas immediately transformed the RMS Family and Consumer Science classroom into your favorite Chinese take-out restaurant.

“I love to cook,” explained the Rifle Middle School eighth-grader as his spoon expertly darts through the rice to keep it from burning and mixing all of the elements into the fried rice it will soon become. I help my dad every day with cooking. We like to cook many different things, like spaghetti and any type of meat, and I love making fried rice.”

The Garfield Re-2 Board of Education approved the academic calendar for the 2024-25 school year during its March 13, 2024 meeting. The two-year adoption is similar to the current calendar.

School will begin for students in Garfield Re-2 schools—serving Rifle, Silt, and New Castle—on August 12. All staff will return on August 5, and new staff will report on July 29. Winter break will begin on December 23 and last until January 6, 2025. 

Having a baby is expensive. Beyond the cost of the hospital and caregivers, the day-to-day expenses of diapers and formula can be taxing for growing families.

Simone Maness is hoping to provide some relief.

“I wanted to do a service project that I thought would help the community,” said the Rifle High School freshman. After connecting with the Garfield Re-2 Family Resource Center, One Door,  the idea of a baby supply drive was born.

Wamsley Elementary pre-schooler Gustavo Menchaca helped to build the future last week.

Last week, 5-year-old Gustavo and his classmates participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new preschool and affective needs classrooms. With his small shovel and oversized protective gear, Gustavo moved a lot of dirt.

After a four-year hiatus, Coal Ridge High School's Titan Technos made a comeback at this year’s FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech competition.

The Titan Technos took to the competition field at Coal Ridge High School last weekend proudly showcasing their sleek robot, equipped with four wide-tires and Titan Blue wheel trim. The mechanical arms were poised for action, the controllers in hand, and the Titans were eager to make their triumphant return to the world of robotics.

Last weekend, Alexis Bahena performed as part of the prestigious All State Jazz Choir. All State performing groups are made up of students from the entire state of Colorado. To be a member in one of the All State Jazz Choirs, students must place in the top 48 scores overall, and those 48 students will then be divided into 3 different jazz choirs with 16 members each.

In the face of adversity, the human spirit has an uncanny ability to shine its brightest. Kathryn Senor Elementary student Asher Bourquin is a remarkable young man who, at just one-year-old, embarked on a journey that would test his resilience. Six years later, he finds himself in the position to give back, with a little help from his Garfield Re-2 family.

The Bourquin family's world was turned upside down a week after Asher's first birthday when he was diagnosed with an exceptionally rare and cancerous brain tumor known as Atypical Rhabdoid Tumor (ATRT). The road ahead was filled with medical procedures. In that challenging year, Asher underwent three brain surgeries and faced the relentless battle of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, each step requiring courage from this young warrior. His journey was not one traveled alone; it was a collective effort by his family, friends, and an entire medical team. 

Garfield Re-2 School District student enrollment continues to increase, despite the State seeing the lowest overall PK-12 enrollment levels since 2013.

The District added 124 students or 2.66% over last year, continuing a steady increase in students following the 2020-21 low of 4,526 as the nation emerged from COVID restrictions and online learning. According to the Colorado Department of Education, Garfield Re-2 is one of 65 Districts reporting flat or increased student enrollment.

Students around the Garfield Re-2 School District participated in a student-led Wish

Week to fundraise for Make-A-Wish Colorado, featuring Asher, a 7- year-old wish kid

from New Castle who was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Asher is in second grade at

Kathryn Senor Elementary School, a feeder school for Coal Ridge High School. Asher’s

wish to go to Walt Disney World Resorts was granted in 2022. Asher, his family, and his

entire second-grade class participated in an all-school assembly Coal Ridge High

School on Thursday.

The students of the Rifle High School Choir Program have been putting in incredible efforts throughout this school year, and their hard work has paid off with an invitation to perform January 25, 2024, at the State Music Convention. This is an extraordinary honor not only for Rifle HIgh School but also for the entire community of Rifle. It's a testament to the exceptional talent and hard work of our RHS choir students.

The State Music Convention is a highly prestigious event where choirs from all over the state audition for a limited number of performance slots. In a typical year, only 16-17 choirs are selected to participate. Our Varsity choir, categorized as SATB (High School Mixed Choir), will deliver a captivating 25-minute concert at The Broadmoor. The Colorado Music Educators Association (CMEA) music council, responsible for evaluating anonymous electronic submissions, chose our Varsity choir to represent the High School Mixed category.

Coal Ridge High School, like most schools, has a tradition of fostering excellence and community leadership among its students and staff. Coal Ridge has State championships, Boettcher Scholars, and the staff nurtures the next generation of community leaders. Beyond these accolades, the school's commitment to well-rounded education shines through during the holiday season.

The heart of this exceptional holiday spirit is the Titan "Needs Tree," a heartwarming initiative that began approximately six years ago, inspired by the vision of the Athletic Director's Captain's Council. Recognizing that high school students can be hesitant to ask for help, the school decided to create a needs-based program, rather than a traditional gift-giving activity.

RIFLE, CO – On December 13, 2023, the Garfield Re-2 School Board met  a regular board meeting. Prior to conducting the regularly scheduled agenda, the board approved an amendment to add a restructuring of the Board.

Board President Tony May, who was the-elected to the post at the November 29, 2023 Special School Board Meeting called for the reorganization.

The art of fencing has often served as a dance of steel and strategy, captivating audiences on the silver screen for generations. From the swashbuckling duels of Errol Flynn in "The Adventures of Robin Hood" to the high-stakes clashes of Inigo Montoya and the Dread Pirate Roberts in "The Princess Bride,"  audiences have been thrilled with powerful moments of swordplay that have left us longing for adventure. Beyond the dazzling choreography and dramatic flair seen on television and in the movies, fencing is a sport steeped in tradition, technique, and a rich history that extends far beyond the realm of make-believe. 

Rifle High School may seem a pedestrian venue for such climatic efforts, but last weekend, fencers from around the state and region clashed their foils and épées as RHS hosted a small, regional fencing tournament. 

Spaghetti holds a special place in the heart of Colton Niederwerder, a fifth-grader at Highland Elementary - it’s one of his favorite meals. His excitement to share his love of spaghetti with those less fortunate than himself is palpable.

Colton is a member of the Highland Elementary Student Council, a group of third, fourth and fifth graders who make a difference in their community. About once a month, the Highland student council members come together to prepare a meal at Lift-UP's Extended Table, hosted at the United Methodist Presbyterian Church.

CONGRATULATIONS Rifle Bears on the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BID. GREAT NEWS. . .CHSAA has informed us this weekends state game against Delta has been moved to Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction at 1 pm, Saturday November 25th. As we get more details we will share.

The Coal Ridge Soccer team finished an amazing season, falling just short of the Colorado State Championship.

Zion Williams and Alexis Serna earned 2A/3A WSL All-Conference first team with Derick Centeno earning Honorable Mention.

Congratulations TITANS!!