Greeley-Evans School District 6 has selected Adolfson and Peterson Construction as the general contractor for building the new Greeley West High School, pending the approval of the Board of Education in January.

The architectural firm working on the design of the new school and site is Hord Coplan Macht of Denver. Contractors and architects were asked to bid as design/build teams for the design and construction of Greeley West. Six contractor/architect teams submitted bids for the Greeley West project. Three teams were interviewed.

“We are confident in the team Adolfson and Peterson Construction and Hord Coplan Macht has put together for Greeley West High School,” said Superintendent Dr. Deirdre Pilch. “We have talked to other organizations and school districts who have worked with these two firms, and they have received great reviews. Their bid was within our budget and we are excited to get this project started.”

The total contract amount has yet to be determined and will be based on the site and building design.  The proposal fell within projected budget of $107-$112 million. The capacity of Greeley West will be increased from 1,000 to 1,800 with the new building.

Construction on the site could begin early this spring, with a projected completion date of August 2022. The new school will be constructed on the Greeley West site while students continue to attend the existing school.  A significant component of the design/build team’s presentation centered around the safety of students while on an occupied campus.  Adolfson and Peterson has extensive experience with this type of construction project, most recently completing the University of Northern Colorado Commons.  Adolfson and Peterson is a family-owned company that is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and has a regional office in Denver that will be managing the Greeley West project.

Greeley West High School is the first large project to be funded through the successful 2019 bond issue. District 6 voters approved the $395 million bond issue by a margin of 52.6 percent for (12,919 votes) to 47.4 percent against (11,642 votes).

A Greeley West Design Advisory Group - composed of Greeley West staff, students, parents and community members - will begin meeting in January to provide input into the design of the school

District 6 has also selected RLH Engineers as the owner’s representative that will serve as the project manager for the construction projects that will be funded through the November 2019 bond issue. The Board of Education approved the contract for RLH Engineers at its Monday, December 9 meeting.

Bids for other projects will be requested in the coming months. The next projected slated for construction is the expansion of McAuliffe STEM Academy K-8 and Chappelow K-8 Arts Magnet.

District 6 will also begin accepting applications for a Bond Oversight Committee in January. Additional communication will be sent out when the application process for that committee is open.

Greeley Central High School Junior Hailey Termeer is collecting winter clothing that will be distributed to students in December.

Hailey said she has struggled with poverty most of her life, and she knows many of her fellow students have similar challenges. She is organizing the clothing drive as a community service project.

“Not having enough money to have nice clothes, or the right shoes, was a huge struggle for me,” Hailey said. “I want to ensure that children today will not have to endure the struggles I experienced. Looking around Greeley and simply just driving around town, most of the children walking to school don’t have appropriate clothing for Colorado’s inclement weather, and it simply breaks my heart.”

Hailey has organized the clothing drive and has drop locations at several schools in District 6. A majority of these clothes will be distributed to families at an event at Greeley Central High School the evening of December 16.

New clothes are preferred, but very gently used, clean coats will also be accepted if they are in very good condition. Here are the items most needed.

• Coats, new or very near new
• New hats, gloves, scarves and mittens
• New winter boots
• New warm winter socks

In addition to collection boxes at Greeley Central and some school sites, there will be a drop box beginning Monday, November 18 in the first floor lobby of the Administration Building, 1025 9^th Avenue. Clothing can be dropped off between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. before December 11.

A Greeley-Evans School District 6 apprenticeship program has become the first in the state of Colorado to become a Registered Apprenticeship Program through the United States Department of Labor.

The District 6 Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Program in partnership with Vestas Blades America in Windsor has been selected as a National Registered Apprenticeship, becoming the first of its kind in Colorado.

“We are proud to have the first nationally registered apprenticeship program in the state of Colorado,” said Superintendent Dr. Deirdre Pilch. “We are working hard in District 6 to give our students a variety of opportunities to explore careers before they graduate. We are providing training and certifications that will allow many of our students to directly enter the workforce when they graduate. It’s good for our students and it’s good for our local employers.”

“We commend Weld County School District 6 for choosing the registered apprenticeship method of training as a means of increasing the skill level of employees,” said Cynthia S. McLain, state director of the U. S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship. “Thank you for all your hard work in bringing this program to registration.”

In addition, students in the apprenticeship program can earn credits in science while on the job. Pending approval of the District Curriculum Council, apprentices will have the opportunity to earn science elective credit while pursuing their career pathway.

Vestas currently hosts 26 District 6 apprentices. These students are mentored and training while earning a paycheck. They are also given the opportunity to advance to other manufacturing positions.

A celebration of this achievement will be held Friday, November 15 from 5-6:30 p.m. at Greeley Central High School, 1515 14^th Avenue. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to gstinar@greeleyschools.org. 

Greeley-Evans School District 6 is now taking applications for students who want to attend a school that is outside their boundary area.

Any parent or guardian interested in enrolling their child in a school outside their home boundary for the 2020-21 school year must apply during the open enrollment period, which is Nov. 1, 2019, thorough Dec. 20, 2019. While District 6 is able to accommodate most open enrollment requests, it may not be able to approve requests for enrollment into schools, specific grade levels or special programs that are at or above capacity or cannot fulfill the specific needs of the student.

Parents will be notified via email of their student(s) open enrollment status prior to February 1, 2020. Parents have until March 27, 2020 to accept or deny an offer.

Students currently open-enrolled are eligible to stay at their current school through the highest grade offered at that school and do not need to apply yearly. All students approved for open enrollment to a school outside their home boundary, regardless of programming needs, will not be provided District transportation services to or from school.

Some District 6 schools are fully open-enrolled schools and do not have traditional boundaries. These are Chappelow Arts Magnet (K-8), Fred Tjardes School of Innovation (K-8), Early College Academy (9-12) and middle grades at Winograd K-8 (6-8). Families wishing to attend any of these schools must fill out an open enrollment application.

Students transitioning from one school level to another will automatically be enrolled into their home boundary school for 2020-21 unless a new open enrollment application is submitted and approved. This includes:

• 5th grade to 6th grade (except K-8 schools)
• 8th grade to 9th grade

Some District 6 charter schools have separate processes, policies and timelines. Contact the school directly for more information.

The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA), which regulates eligibility for school sports and activities, places some restrictions on students' athletic eligibility if they transfer schools during high school. Students who transfer schools without a bona fide family move or hardship waiver will lose 365 days of varsity eligibility in any sport they participated in at their previous school. Parents and students should make themselves aware of the CHSAA transfer rules before applying for open enrollment.

Also, students approved for open enrollment to a school outside their home boundary, regardless of programming needs, will not be provided District 6 transportation services.

All open enrollment applications are online this year. More information can be found at www.greeleyschools.org/openenrollment.

Most District 6 schools are also hosting events where families and students can get more information about the school, its programs and opportunities for students. Here is a list of open enrollment activities:

Centennial Elementary School, 1400 37^th Street, Evans

• Muffins with McDowell and Mueller, 7:30 – 8:30 a.m., November 7
• Visit after school program, 3:10-4:30 p.m., November 12
• Bagel Breakfast with Principals, 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m., November 18
• School tours will be given as requested

Dos Rios Elementary School, 2201 34^th Street, Evans

• School tours and open house, 4-5 p.m., November 7

Heiman Elementary School, 3500 Palermo Avenue, Evans

• Open house and school tours, 4:30-5:30 p.m., November 12 (PTO meeting following)

Jackson Elementary School, 2002 25^th Street, Greeley

• Open house and school tours, 4:30-5:30 p.m., November 12 (PTO meeting following)

Madison Elementary School, 500 24^th Street, Greeley

• Pastries for Parents, 7:30-7:55 a.m. and 7:45-8:15 a.m., November 15
• English classes for Parents, Tuesdays and Thursdays
• Santa and Mrs. Claus at Madison, 1:15-3 p.m., December 19
• School tours will be given as requested

Maplewood Elementary School, 1201 21^st Avenue, Greeley

• Cultural Literacy Night, 5 p.m., November 12

Meeker Elementary School, 2221 28^th Avenue, Greeley

• Donuts with the Administrative Team, 7-8 a.m., November 7
• The Leader in Me Showcase Hour, 9-10 a.m., November 12
• Makerspace Activities, various times throughout the day, November 15
• School tours will be given as requested

Monfort Elementary School, 2101 47^th Avenue, Greeley

• Coffee with the Principals, 7:30-8:30 a.m., November 13
• Monfort Open House and Tours, 3:30-4:30 p.m., November 13

Scott Elementary School, 3000 13^th Street, Greeley

• PTO Meeting, 6:30-7:30 p.m., November 5
• School tours will be given as requested

Shawsheen Elementary School, 4020 West 7^th Street, Greeley

• Coffee and Pastries with the Administration, 7:45-8:15 a.m., November 12
• Soda and Snacks with the Administration, Counselors and Instructional Coach, 5:30-6:30 p.m., November 12
• School tours will be given as requested

Bella Romero Academy K-8, 614 East 20^th Street and 1400 East 20^th Street, Greeley

• School Tours at the K-3 and 4-8 Campuses, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., November 21 (Families can schedule a time at the school.)

Chappelow Arts Magnet K-8, 2001 34^th Street, Greeley

• School tours will be given as requested

Fred Tjardes School of Innovation, 717 6^th Street, Greeley

• Museum Night: Student Learning Showcase, 4:30-6 p.m., November 1
• School tours will be given as requested

McAuliffe STEM Academy K-8. 600 51^st Avenue, Greeley

• Coffee and Pastries with the Administration, 8:45-9:15 a.m., November 13
• School Tours, 9:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m., November 13
• School tours will be given as requested

Salida del Sol Charter Academy, 111 East 26^th Street, Greeley

• Informational Breakfast with Administrators and Counselors, 7:30-8:30 a.m., November 12
• Open House/Meet the Teachers, 3-4:30 p.m., November 18
• School tours will be given by appointment

Winograd K-8, 320 North 71^st Avenue, Greeley

• Coffee and Pastries with Administration, Counselors and Instructional Coach,  7- 8:30 a.m., November 19
• Soda and Snacks with Administration, Counselors and Instructional Coach, 5-6 p.m., December 5
• School tours will be given as requested

Brentwood Middle School, 2600 24^th Avenue Court, Greeley

• Coffee and Pastries with Administration and Counselors, 7:30-8:15 a.m., November 19
• School tours will be given as requested

Franklin Middle School, 818 35^th Avenue, Greeley

• Breakfast with Principals and Counselors, 7:30-8:30 a.m., November 14
• Breakfast with Principals and Counselors, 7:30-8:30 a.m., December 4
• School tours will be given as requested

Heath Middle School, 2223 16^th Street, Greeley

• Breakfast with Administrators and Counselors, 7-8 a.m., November 14
• Afternoon Tea with Administrators and Counselors, 4:30-5:30 p.m., November 21

Prairie Heights Middle School, 3737 65^th Avenue, Evans

• Open House/Meet the Teachers, 3-4 p.m., November 8
• Breakfast with the Principal, 7:30 -8:15 a.m., November 12
• Breakfast with Administration, 7:30-8:15 a.m., December 3
• School tours as requested

Greeley Central High School, 1515 14^th Avenue, Greeley

• Parent and Families Breakfast and Tour, 8-9:45 a.m., November 21

Greeley West High School, 2401 35^th Avenue, Greeley

• Program Showcase/Open Enrollment Tours, 6-7 p.m., November 6
• Tours and shadowing experiences; set up through counseling or International Baccalaureate Office

Northridge High School, 100 71^st Avenue, Greeley

• Breakfast with Principals and Counselors, 7:30-8:30 a.m., November 19
• Programs Showcase Night, 5-7 p.m., December 4
• School tours given as requested

Early College Academy, 5590 West 11^th Street, Greeley

• Middle School and K-8 visits, November 2-20
• Open House, 6 p.m., November 20, for eighth grade parents and students

Union Colony K-12, 1051 29^th Street Road, Evans and 2000 Clubhouse Drive, Greeley

• Elementary School Open House, 6 p.m., December 11
• Program Showcase, Preparatory School, 6 p.m., December 18
• School tours given as requested, by appointment

Greeley-Evans School District 6 is celebrating National School Lunch Week Oct. 14-18, including special menu items, celebrity servers, events for students and discounted adult meals at each school.

The week’s meals will feature healthy options, more locally-sourced fruits and vegetables, and some special chef recipes including tamale pie, boneless chicken wings and a tropical punch slush. Adults can get a meal for $2 all week long.

National School Lunch Week is sponsored by the School Nutrition Association. More than 14,000 meals are served each day in Greeley-Evans School District 6. To view a cool video about National School Lunch Week featuring Jackson Elementary School PE teacher Jioni Reliford, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYcZ0t5b0O8&feature=youtu.be..