The Student Spotlight segment of each Board meeting celebrates a student or a group of students who are living out the Portrait of an LPS Graduate, which highlights the life skills each LPS graduate should have. Tomorrow’s workers will succeed by constantly adapting to the changing world around them, and today’s students must begin by learning and developing life skills - where every student should be well-adjusted, thriving, and balanced.

Additionally, students will develop skills in:

• Communication
• Global/Cultural Awareness
• Character
• Critical Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Adaptability
• Creativity
• Risk-Taking
• Resiliency
• Collaboration
• Self Advocacy
• All surrounding Rigorous and Relevant Academic Skills

LPS strives to implement opportunities to grow these skills at every level of education and recognize students of all ages. At their regularly scheduled meeting on April 25, 2024, the Board recognized groups of students from Lenski Elementary School, Euclid Middle School, and Centennial Academy of Fine Arts Education during the Student Spotlight.

Lenski Elementary School
Student-led clubs are a great way to foster leadership and teamwork skills among students of all ages and backgrounds. They can help students explore their interests, passions, and talents, as well as develop valuable social and emotional competencies.

The traits outlined in Littleton Public Schools' Portrait of a Graduate seamlessly align with the activities and objectives of Lenski’s student-led Green Team. Critical Thinking is fostered as students analyze environmental issues and propose solutions. Collaboration thrives as members work together to plan and execute projects like habitat restoration or community clean-ups. Effective Communication skills are honed as students advocate for environmental causes within their school and broader community. Creativity is sparked as students devise innovative ways to promote sustainability and conservation. Citizenship is cultivated as students actively engage in environmental stewardship, demonstrating their responsibility towards the planet and school community. Lastly, Character development occurs as students face challenges with resilience and empathy, learning the importance of perseverance and compassion in their efforts to protect and preserve the environment - which can often come with “red tape” and many roadblocks - especially as school-aged children. Through the Lenski Green Team, these ECO STARS embody the ideals of the Portrait of a Graduate, becoming well-rounded individuals equipped for success in the 21st century.

Lenski’s ECO STARS are:

• Halle Bontrager
• Leilah Briney
• Cora Conrad
• Anna Fann 
• Kayley Freed
• Mira Gavan 
• Emma Lancaster
• Lila Loftis
• Lyla Logan
• Kensi O’Rourke
• Ellie Richardson
• Sophia Schultz
• Ella Barton
• Lily Sieck
• Megan Turner
• Paxton Lynes
• Coline Daragon 
• Quinn Carlman
• Eleanor Court
• Taylor Kurtenbach
• Lucy Harris
• Rylan Heberer-Troman
• Beatrice Dunn

Thank you all for your hard work and dedication to the Green Team at Lenski!

Euclid Middle School
Students recognized from Euclid are part of the Latinos in Action class, which focuses on leadership in the school and greater community, personal development, and cultural awareness.

Seventh grader Allison Garrido is an incredibly strong Communicator and Problem Solver. She has taken extra initiative in event planning this year for Latinos in Action, becoming the expert for food, finance, and inventory. She is a Self-Advocate while also honoring the views and opinions of others. She is open to Collaborating and working with her peers, and she connects well with them. She values Cultural Awareness and works to grow perspectives in herself and others at Euclid.

Seventh grader Corbin Patino is a Critical Thinker who approaches each challenge with an open mind and a willingness to work hard. He is Adaptable in any situation. He is flexible in working with groups yet knows when it is time to take charge and lead. He is a Resilient worker who isn’t afraid of a challenge and Collaborates well with all of his peers in a variety of settings while maintaining a calm and mature attitude that is inspiring for his classmates and the larger school community.

Eighth grader Aslhy Tavera Rodriguez demonstrates the concept of Collaboration in all she does for Euclid. She works as a bridge between many social and cultural groups to connect her classmates and other students in the school. Aslhy exemplifies Character by remaining true to herself while also honoring others. She demonstrates the value of building community through her authentic actions in caring about other people and assisting them in many ways, especially when she sees an opportunity to interpret English and Spanish languages. This connection with others builds a Global and Cultural Awareness for those in her Latinos in Action class and well beyond into the larger school community.

Eighth grader Landon Yogues demonstrates the concepts of Creativity and Risk-Taking that LPS values in its students. He shows us how to step outside our comfort zone, collaborate with others, and grow our communication skills. He brings new and creative ideas to the class, including a Spanish spelling bee, which the Latinos in Action class is very excited about. Landon has grown as a leader through his Creative ideas and willingness to Take Risks in order to better himself and his school.

Centennial Academy of Fine Arts Education
Mark Salgado displays many traits of the LPS Graduate, but especially his Academic Skills. He is an excellent student and is often observed thanking his teachers for teaching him. He is an invaluable member of the Centennial community, as he regularly builds others up and encourages his peers. Mark has also shown discipline and excellence outside the classroom, winning the state title in Muay Thai, which is a form of full-contact Thai martial arts. With so many things to be proud of, you will never hear him brag because Mark is very humble. Principal Dan Cuoco said, “I am confident Mark will have a positive impact in whatever he chooses to do.”

McKenzie Cline is always watching and listening. She’s looking for rule adjustments and idea refinements. She’s searching for ways to fill gaps in the needs of her peers. For example, if a student doesn’t have a snack, McKenzie asks adults to help her Problem Solve by finding snacks that could be donated or purchased with school money. She doesn’t like ants having access to her lunch bag if it sits outside at recess, so she found an unused container big enough to hold everyone’s lunch bag, and she volunteers to haul it (with help) out to recess each day. Centennial’s kindergarteners are getting ready to perform their first musical about hats, and McKenzie suggested that her 5th grade peers all wear hats to school on the day of the performance to show support for their younger peers. McKenzie is always an advocate for positive change.

Duncan Wood exemplifies the Portrait of a Graduate trait of Global/Cultural Awareness. Earlier this year, he was the first student to plan, draft, and create a multimedia presentation focused on Hanukkah. He then used his Communication skills to convey to his teachers why his classmates needed to know about this important celebration. With teacher approval, Duncan shared his presentation with around sixty peers, taught them how to use a dreidel and introduced them to chocolate gelt for the first time. Not only is Duncan well-liked and philanthropic, he is also the prop master for his upcoming art class performance of Krazy Kamp. You can usually find him either onstage in the role of Jay, the camp cook, or out on the soccer field kicking the ball with his friends.

Keenan Neumann is a great friend to others and is a model of resiliency. He extended these skills to his social life as well, encouraging his friends and leading by example in making good choices. Part of that resiliency played out during his recovery from a torn ACL that happened while he was playing lacrosse. Principal Dan Cuoco said, “I am confident Keenan will come through physically stronger than before and will be an example for the rest of us on how to overcome adversity.”