August 2022

Dear LPS Families and Community Members:

As the summer winds down and the first day of school approaches, I want to share with you some highlights of the upcoming school year. Each represents the way this community supports its schools and leaves a legacy of excellence for students today and students well into the future.

Thanks to this community’s passage of a bond election in 2018, LPS continues to replace its aging facilities with new schools. 

• Gudy Gaskill Elementary School, which serves the former Highland, Twain and Franklin communities, will welcome students for the first time on August 17. This is a beautiful, modern school that will provide an improved learning environment and opportunities for our students for decades to come. 
• If you’ve driven by the new Newton Middle School lately, you have probably noticed quite a bit of activity at the corner of Colorado Boulevard and Arapahoe Road. The former Newton Middle School came down and will soon be replaced by the LPS Junior Stadium. Supply chain issues and worker shortages delayed the project last year, but we are back on track and hope to have the Junior Stadium ready for use by spring 2023.
• Work continues at the former Highland Elementary School campus to transform it into a centrally located, robust, preschool-specific early childhood education center to serve LPS families with preschool-aged children in 2023. 
• Construction of the brand new Little Raven Elementary School has started on the Ralph Moody campus. Littleton Raven will open for East and Ralph Moody students in the fall of 2023. 
• Work also continues at the EPIC (Explorative Pathways for Innovative Careers) Campus, located across the street from Littleton High School, which will also open for students in the fall of 2023. The EPIC Campus is an opportunity for students to experience hands-on learning using state-of-the-art technology and innovative processes. 
• We continue to make improvements at our school entrances to secure vestibules for safety and security.
• New furniture that provides flexibility for student learning continues to be placed in schools throughout the district. Professional development for instructional staff related to this new furniture and flexible learning spaces continues to be provided.

The LPS budget is in better shape right now than it has been in about a decade. This is due to this community’s passage of a $12 million mill levy override in November 2020 and also due to the Colorado legislature’s decision to withhold less of the funding owed to Colorado public schools for the second year in a row. Together, these revenue increases help ensure LPS can continue to provide the things our community values most: excellent teachers, quality programs, and a variety of support systems for all students.

In March 2022, LPS Board of Education members participated in a strategic planning retreat. They deepened their understanding of the values, beliefs and history of LPS, dove into the current work priorities and needs of the district, and developed a set of priorities for LPS for the future. The Board discussed these priorities during its May 12 meeting, and more information will be shared this fall.

Last April, I announced my retirement effective June 30, 2023. During the June 9 Board meeting, the Board discussed its tentative timeline for hiring a new superintendent for the 2023–2024 school year. Community input will be a major component of the process beginning this fall. We will share details of the process every step of the way.

Thank you for supporting our outstanding teachers, paraprofessionals, principals, bus drivers, nutrition services workers, custodians, office staff, security personnel, operations crews, Board of Education members, and all those who support the important work of teaching and learning. LPS continues to be a destination district for families because this community supports its schools. The legacy of excellence built here in LPS is strong, widely known and respected, and worth preserving for future generations. Thank you for all of the ways in which you contribute to it. 

I am excited for the start of another fantastic school year. We look forward to continuing the important work of teaching and learning, addressing learning loss and meeting the needs of all students. We can’t wait to see you in August!

Warm regards,

Brian Ewert
Superintendent

Healthy Hearts and Minds: Helping Your Child Have a Great Start to the School Year

As your family prepares for a return to school this fall, it is important to remember the "other" three Rs that help kids be successful at school:

Relationships. Ask your child about their connections with peers and teachers, and support their efforts to make new friendships. Check in regularly to see how things are going.

Routines. Discuss and practice school routines like bedtimes, waking up, homework times, and screen time expectations. Don't forget that all kids need a good mixture of playtime, downtime, and family time to be healthy.

Regulation. All kids need reminders about how to self-regulate, especially when it comes to the challenges of social relationships, academic stress, family issues, and their own mental health. Talk with your child about ways to calm down, how to manage stress, and how to ask for help.

All LPS schools and programs have mental health providers to support students. If you need support, please communicate with your child's teacher or reach out directly to the school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker. For additional parenting resources, see the Family Resource Guide on the LPS website.

During its regularly scheduled meeting on June 9, 2022, the Board of Education approved the budget for the 2022–2023 school year.

The LPS budget is in better shape right now than it has been in about a decade due to a variety of factors. 

• The Colorado legislature’s decision to withhold less of the funding owed to Colorado public schools for the second year in a row in the form of the Budget Stabilization Factor (also known as the Negative Factor). For the 2022–2023 school year, the legislature will withhold $4.7 million, which is an improvement over the $9 million withheld for school year 2021–2022 and $16.7 million withheld for 2020–2021. Since 2009, the Colorado legislature has withheld a cumulative $161.5 million from LPS, shortchanging an entire generation of this community’s children of the education funding owed to them through Amendment 23.
• This community's support in the passage of a $12 million mill levy override in November 2020. This allows the district to collect roughly $12 million annually to continue to attract and retain quality teachers, maintain counselors and mental health support, and expand programming such as career tech–the very things the LPS community says it values most in its schools.

The LPS Finance Team wins national awards every year for its outstanding budgeting and accounting practices. This team prioritizes budgeting in order to provide the things our community values most: excellent teachers, quality programs, and a variety of support systems for all students. Learn more about the budgeting process on the financial transparency page of the district’s website.

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Thank you to LPS voters for the opportunity to make exciting improvements throughout Littleton Public Schools! Investment in our educational infrastructure enables us to provide all students with the best possible opportunities and experiences.

Gudy Gaskill Elementary School
This year, Littleton Public Schools is excited to open Gudy Gaskill Elementary School as part of the 2018 bond project approved by LPS voters. Thanks to the voters for approving this work and to the outstanding program managers, contractors, and construction companies who have been working so diligently to make sure this building would be open for school this year. There will be some landscaping projects that might not be completed for a few weeks after the start of school, but the building is ready for students! It will be great to watch students learn and grow in this state-of-the-art elementary school!

LPS Junior Stadium
The LPS Junior Stadium, which will be located on the corner of Arapahoe Road and Colorado Boulevard, will provide the district with an additional lighted field and track with spectator seating for both school and community sports teams to use. The construction of the Junior Stadium is underway and is scheduled to be completed in spring 2023, in time for fall sports! Fun fact: the mountains in the end zones of the turf reflect the actual topography of our view of the mountains from the Front Range!

Demolition of the old Newton Middle school was completed over the summer, which was followed by soil imports and site grading to get the site ready for the construction of the Junior Stadium and surrounding grounds. Construction is underway and on schedule! Check out a time-lapse video of the demolition:

The Village at Highland
With the opening of Gudy Gaskill Elementary School, the Highland building is now solely an early childhood education center: The Village at Highland. Ongoing renovation construction to transform the remainder of the building to early childhood specifications is scheduled to be completed in 2023, and The Village at Highland will become the district’s sole robust early childhood education center in the fall of 2023. This decision was made by the Board of Education at their May 27, 2021 meeting. A centrally located, dedicated early childhood education center will allow LPS to keep and enhance the quality Village preschool model and robust programs our youngest learners deserve, while also meeting stringent federal and state requirements for both indoor and outdoor learning spaces.

The Village at Highland, along with the LPS Foundation, applied for grants for added play equipment and outdoor learning spaces. On Wednesday, August 3, it was announced that the grant for The Village Outdoor Gathering Space was approved, and the benefactor would prefer to remain anonymous. This grant totals $348,887! They were very impressed with the grant and are excited to support such and important and impactful opportunity for our youngest learners and the surrounding community. 

COMING SOON!

Explorative Pathways for Innovative Careers (EPIC) Campus
What if you could graduate from high school with your industry certification to immediately start your career? If college is your plan, what if you could start your freshman year with credits for courses you took in high school that qualified for concurrent enrollment? 

What if you could reach your goals sooner than you thought by being part of a program where you can pursue career-focused pathways?

That’s exactly what you can do at the Littleton Public Schools Explorative Pathways for Innovative Careers "EPIC" Campus. EPIC Campus will be opening to LPS high school students in August 2023, and it will provide opportunities for students to experience hands-on learning using state-of-the-art technology and innovative processes. 

Educational pathways aligned to industry standards will focus on the following areas: 

• Aerospace

• Business and Entrepreneurship

• Computer Sciences

• Construction Trades

• Health Science

• Natural Resources 

The learning experiences at the EPIC Campus will give students the opportunity to earn content credit required for graduation, industry certifications, free concurrent enrollment for college courses, and work-based learning. 

Located in the heart of Littleton, the EPIC Campus is sure to be in high demand by a variety of students as they explore career options. LPS transportation will be provided to and from the home high school. Check out some frequently asked questions to learn more!

Little Raven Elementary School
Thanks to LPS voters’ approval of the $298 million bond and the district’s receipt of premium bond dollars, the 2018 bond program includes construction of a third new elementary school. Named by the Board of Education at their December 9, 2021 meeting, Little Raven Elementary School will open in the fall of 2023 and will serve the East and Ralph Moody elementary school communities in a state-of-the-art facility located on the old Ralph Moody campus. The new school will provide appropriate space for small and large group instruction, creativity, and innovation. It will include new playgrounds, playing fields, and parking to serve the neighborhood.

Thanks to our generous community, the LPS Foundation experienced a banner school year in 2021–2022. We funded more teacher grants than ever before, provided science kits to students in all LPS schools and gave more than $85,000 to serve the mental health needs of students. There is more work to be done, yet we are hopeful that the foundation we have built will hae a lasting imact.

Who We Are
Our mission is to raise funds to support each LPS student's unique path to success. Even in a thriving school district like LPS, school budgets have gaps. With the help of donors, we fill those gaps by funding thoughtful opportunities that foster academic, physical and emotional development for students.

Started in 1991 and governed by a board of directors, we are a registered 501(c)3 organization in sound financial condition.

What We Do
Our giving focuses on six areas: Innovation and Education Technology, Career Exploration, Mental Health Resources, Educator Support, Health and Wellness, and Crisis Relief.

During the 2021–2022 school year, we gave nearly $500,000 to LPS, impacting each of our neighborhood schools. The wide range of projects we supported include everything from STEM makerspaces, emergency therapy sessions for students in crisis, to more than $113,000 in teacher grants which allowed educators to elevate their students' learning experiences and inspire creativity and innovation. Many more stories of impact can be found by visiting our website.

How to Get Involved
There are many great opportunities to support students through the LPS Foundation. You can attend our special events including The Stride (this year it's on October 30--mark your calendars!), Tee Up for LPS Golf Tournament, the Spirit Celebration and sports night fundraisers. You can also participate in Colorado Gives Day and our other giving campaigns. We also need volunteers throughout the year.

Follow the LPS Foundation on social media!

For more information and to learn about how you can get involved, visit our website or email LPSFInfo[at]lps.k12.co[dot]us.

Paying for Meals Returns for the 2022–2023 School Year
For the past two years, the USDA provided school waivers that allowed all students to have free meals at school. Now there's a return to families paying for meals, as USDA did not have authority to renew those waivers. Meal prices can be found on the Meal Information page of the Nutrition Services website. LPS encourages everyone to apply to see if they qualify for free and reduced price meal benefits. You can learn more on the Nutrition Services website, and you can apply here: English / Español

Families who qualify for either free or reduced price meal benefits may also receive B-EBT benefits and have access to other waived fees within the district. Additionally, any family who qualifies for either free or reduced price meals will eat for free, as the state of Colorado is covering the difference in cost.

Our Menus
Did you know that we have over 25 scratch-made recipes on our menus? While the 2020–2021 menu had a few more packaged items due to COVID, we are excited to be going back to scratch with many of our recipes. We are proud to say our meals are taste-tested and kid-approved. We incorporate local ingredients, whole grains, and the colors of the rainbow in our fruits and vegetable choices. Menus can be found at www.lpsnutrition.com.

Our Online Menu and Payment Portal
Do you want to see what your student is eating? Do you want to add money to their account for them to pick up one of our nutritionally regulated Smart Snacks? Head over to family.titank12.com or download the Titan Family Connect app to check out their purchasing activity, see menus, and apply for free and reduced lunch.

Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT)
The P-EBT program was created as part of the U.S. government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Summer P-EBT benefits are intended to provide assistance over the summer months to any student who qualifies for free- and reduced-price meals. Families are required to submit a 2021–2022 free and reduced application to qualify for these benefits. Specific application deadline dates will be forthcoming. Applications can be filled out at family.titank12.com. 

Follow LPS Nutrition Services on social media!

For more information, call 303.347.336 or visit www.lpsnutrition.com

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The LPS class of 2022 graduated during the third week of May, and the ceremonies had a palpable feeling of accomplishment. This was well-earned, as the class of 2022 earned over $60 million in scholarships for their post-secondary education, and includes:

• 1 Boettcher Scholar

• 2 Boettcher Scholar Finalists

• 4 Daniels Fund Scholars

• 8 National Merit Scholar Finalists

• 17 National Merit Commended Scholars

• 1 National Merit Hispanic Recognition Scholar

• 4 US Military Academy Appointments Offered

• 5 US Presidential Scholar Candidates

• 27 International Baccalaureate Diploma Graduates

• 31 STEM Certificate Recipients

• 140 Seal of Biliteracy Endorsements

• Over $60 million in scholarships

Check out these slideshows from graduations

Arapahoe High School

Heritage High School

Littleton High School

Options High School

Congratulations to the Class of 2022! May your futures be bright and filled with wonderful opportunities!