Student Spotlight - September 12, 2024
Student Spotlight - September 12, 2024
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 and Adaptability
- Creativity and Risk Taking
- Resiliency and 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 September 12, 2024, the Board recognized students from Next and Transition Services.
Transition Services
Zane Spellman has started off the school year continuing his internship at Lucky to Ride, which started and ran through the summer and into this school year. He’s getting ready to start a new internship at Dirt Coffee. As Zane was preparing for this new internship, he worked at the Transition Services coffee shop. He showed his great PROBLEM-SOLVING and ADAPTABILITY skills when he had to learn all the intricate ways to make coffee. Did you know there are 21 steps involved in making a latte? Zane has memorized each step. In his time at Transition Services, Zane has also showcased CRITICAL THINKING, and the students and staff he interacts with daily can always rely on him to bring humor to any situation. Zane will graduate in May, and we are all looking forward to seeing him continue to thrive this year.
Izaiha Castinado is also in his last year at Transition Services. He is starting his independent job at ARC, and last year had an internship at Lucky to Ride. Over the past few years, Izaiha has developed his RESILIENCY and RISK-TAKING skills, especially when navigating public transportation and RTD. Izaiha is so good at it, he could teach the class better than Transition’s current instructors. He has thrived in building up his self-confidence to become a strong SELF-ADVOCATE and develop his COMMUNICATION skills. Izaiha has made tremendous growth and lives up to the Portrait of an LPS Graduate! We will continue to cheer him on as he works through his final semester and graduates this December.
Next Program
Molly Heubschmann joined the Next program last year, and quickly became an integral part of the Next community, actively engaging and COLLABORATING during lessons and Next Up hours. With her determination and ADAPTABILITY, Molly has already passed and ACADEMICALLY EXCELLED on three out of the four required tests for earning her GED, and she has also earned college credit for her high scores. She recognizes her personal strengths and stays true to her CHARACTER by showing up authentically and clearly ADVOCATING for her goals. She carefully considered possible pathways for herself to pursue, and after weighing her options, chose to further her journey by enrolling in a class at Arapahoe Community College while continuing her studies at EPIC Campus. Her consistent dedication is truly inspiring, and it’s clear she’s on her path to achieve great things.
Josh Sanchez joined the Next program almost exactly one year ago and quickly identified a passion for working in the auto industry. Over the course of the past year, Josh has demonstrated RISK-TAKING by navigating the world of college admissions, working with registrars and getting through all the red tape that goes along with enrolling in the automotive program at Arapahoe Community College. He knew that this would be his opportunity to break into the industry, and Josh took the chance and is now reaping the benefits. He has also demonstrated great CHARACTER over the past year. He is laser-focused on his goals and does not allow for negative distractions. Josh can always be relied upon for honesty and sincerity in everything he does, and he is a model of what an LPS graduate can and should be.