November at Golden View

A LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL

November 2022

Dear Friend of Golden View Classical Academy,

One of my favorite parts of our Veterans Day celebration at Golden View is the letters that students write and which we display for veterans to read. The messages are glowing and warm, and the drawings are…vivid. They always earn smiles and chuckles among the veterans who attend, and are a favorite of staff. But this year something different happened - two things in fact, and both of them take the cake.

I had the pleasure of meeting a man by the name of Grandpa Gilbert this year, as he came to visit his great grandchildren for Veterans Day. They took turns pushing his wheelchair, each of them beaming to be with him, not to show him off as a World War II veteran, but to take pride in him as their own. It was beautiful. They were so proud of him, and so proud for him to meet their friends. You see, it wasn’t just meeting Grandpa Gilbert that was so special, but seeing the looks of his great grandchildren, who no doubt at this stage do not yet understand the trials he and his generation faced, chest squared and shoulders back. They know he is special, and know that when we take time to honor him, they get some credit for being with him and part of his story. Thank you, Gilbert, for your service. And thank you to you too, Grace (4th Grade), Abigail (3rd Grade) and Ozzie (Kindergarten), for helping us honor him.

Something similar happened with many of our Grammar School classes. This year, we asked veterans to visit individual classes and answer questions students had about their service. The most interesting thing was that they didn’t really have questions; they had stories, stories about their aunts and uncles, their parents and grandparents, who were veterans, too. This is a remarkable fact. These students wanted to participate with the veterans who came to share their stories; they wanted to be included, and wanted their loved ones to be included, in whatever it was that Veterans Day was celebrating, not to outshine or deprive them of an honor that is theirs, but to augment and magnify it.

What exactly are we celebrating and honoring when we take time out of our day to do something special? Veterans Day celebrates those who served in our armed forces, in any capacity. But it is also for everyone else, all of us, and especially our youngest, to participate in that honor as well, to see themselves as part of a story that is still being told, to celebrate the reason our fellow citizens are in the armed forces at all - to sustain a free and flourishing republic.

Thank you, veterans, for your service, for coming to Golden View to celebrate with us, and for teaching our students that they, like you, are part of the American story.

Sincerely,

Dr. Garrow

Principal, Golden View Classical Academy

Postscript: After writing this, but before sending it out, we were notified that Grandpa Gilbert J. Herrera, B Company 194 GIR and 17th AB Division, 1st Battalion, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, passed away over the Thanksgiving holiday. He celebrated his last Veterans Day with his great grandchildren at their school and with their friends. For us here it is a reminder that it’s never too late to thank a veteran.

CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHT

In 3rd Grade, students discover the physical world through a variety of methods. Science class is guided through experiments and investigations. These are done in groups, allowing students to cultivate scientific discussions and hone problem solving skills with their science partners. Students also learn to keep detailed science journals, focusing on the importance of documenting information and answering questions thoroughly. The curriculum allows students to read about scientific concepts, building their vocabulary base and knowledge of the content. Reading skills are also worked on during this time, allowing students to see the importance of fluency and comprehension as they study other subjects.

Currently, 3rd Grade students are studying habitats and changes of organisms. This unit draws us outside of the classroom, studying organisms first hand and documenting our discoveries. We have also been participating in class discussions about adaptations and the advantages and disadvantages these provide to various organisms.

From Mrs. Caucutt, Third Grade teacher at Golden View

ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHT

The tide shifts quickly in volleyball. With a few good volleys, a team can erase a big lead and come from behind to win. In order to do this, players need to work together and be resilient. Easier said than done. To develop the camaraderie and the ability to never give up, players need to devote years to understanding and playing the game. At Golden View, students get an introduction to volleyball in Fitness classes, but they get a solid opportunity to begin honing their skills in the 5th and 6th Grade club. At that level, there are a lot of missed serves, stumbles, and big falls, but they learn to pick themselves up and try again. Without all of those failures, it would not be possible to improve and be ready for the next step, which is Middle School Volleyball. The middle school team puts all of their hard work to the test as they compete against other Jeffco area schools. There can be a lot of missed plays and miscommunications, so they spend more time learning the ins and outs of the game including how to communicate and work together more effectively. By the time students reach High School, they are ready to compete at a high level, but more importantly, they have learned how to work well with others and never give up.

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

Apply for Enrollment

Applications for our 2023-2024 lottery are now open! You can apply here. Any applications received between November 1, 2022 and January 31, 2023 will go into our lottery pool. We will begin sending offers and announcing waitlists in early February 2023.

Board Meeting

The December Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 14 at 5:30pm in the Bailey Heritage Library. You can find meeting agendas on BoardDocs prior to the meeting.

End of Year Giving

We are so grateful for the generosity of our school community. Thank you! If you are interested in making an end of year gift to Golden View, you may do so here.