From The Principal

March 29, 2024

Dear Heritage Families,

I hope this message finds you well and that you enjoyed a restful and rejuvenating spring break with your loved ones. Welcome back to the final stretch of the 2023-2024 school year! As we dive into the month of March, there are exciting and important updates to share with our wonderful school community.

Welcome Back from Spring Break:

I trust that each of you had the opportunity to recharge and spend quality time with family and friends during the week-long spring break. It's always refreshing to see our students return with renewed energy and enthusiasm for learning. We are ready for a productive and fulfilling end to the school year.

Auction:

It’s time for our annual spring auction on April 12th at the Lone Tree Golf Course! We are so excited for this new venue and all of the amazing auction items. It is such a fun way to mingle with staff and teachers and parents! Remember to purchase your tickets now! Buy yours today! We appreciate our community and are so thankful for your support!

CMAS State Testing Reminder:

As we gear up for the remaining weeks of the academic year, it's crucial to remind everyone that CMAS (Colorado Measures of Academic Success) state testing is just around the corner for our 3rd-6th grade students. They have been diligently preparing for these assessments, and we have confidence in their abilities to showcase the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout the year.

Testing dates are posted on our website and can be accessed through this link. We encourage parents and guardians to ensure that students are well-rested and have a nutritious breakfast on testing days. Your continued support at home plays a significant role in helping our students succeed during this assessment period.

Apple Awards:

Tomorrow evening, Heritage Elementary will proudly honor our two Apple Award nominees during the 2024 DCSD Apple Award ceremony. Sandy Boynton, an EA IV in our Moderate Needs department, represents our classified staff, while Katie DiPetro, a first-grade teacher, represents our certified staff. We celebrate these remarkable women and are thrilled to have them as ambassadors for Heritage Elementary!

Countdown to the End of the School Year:

Can you believe it? There are only eight weeks left in the 2023-2024 school year! It's incredible how time flies, and we want to make every moment count. Our students and teachers have accomplished so much together, and there's still more to achieve in the coming weeks. Let's continue to work collaboratively to make these last weeks memorable and successful for everyone.

As always, I want to express my gratitude for the ongoing support from our dedicated parents, teachers, and staff. Together, we create a vibrant and nurturing learning environment for our students.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Let's make these final weeks of the school year memorable and full of achievement!

Wishing you a fantastic April and a successful end to the school year!

Sincerely,

Katie Lawson

Principal, Heritage Elementary

In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0127.

Outside Agencies

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS

Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).

From The Principal

Heritage Elementary School