Students get free books
The Douglas County Federation teachers union arranged one donated book for every student at South Ridge Elementary in Castle Rock.
The union worked with the American Federation of Teachers and First Book, a nonprofit organization that donates school materials, to fund books for the children to take home.
Shoes donated to students
Shoes that Fit, a nonprofit group based in California, donated 350 pairs of tennis shoes to Denver Public Schools’ Center for Talent Development.
Denver restaurant Snooze an AM Eatery donated $35,000 and Denver Broncos player Courtland Sutton donated $10,000 to help provide shoes to students in Colorado and four other states. Sutton also spoke to the Denver students about respect and helped deliver the shoes.
High-achieving schools recognized
The Colorado Department of Education recognized dozens of metro-area schools that exceeded expectations on state tests for at least three years with the annual John Irwin awards.
Local winners are:
Adams 12 Five Star Schools: Coyote Ridge Elementary, Hulstrom Options K-8, Meridian Elementary, Prospect Ridge Academy, Silver Creek Elementary, Stargate Charter School, STEM Lab and Thunder Vista P-8
Aurora Public Schools: Aurora Quest K-8
Boulder Valley School District: Bear Creek Elementary, Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies, Boulder Universal, Creekside Elementary at Martin Park, Douglass Elementary, Eisenhower Elementary, Fairview High, Fireside Elementary, Foothill Elementary, High Peaks Elementary, Horizons K-8, Jamestown Elementary, Mesa Elementary, Southern Hills Middle, Summit Middle Charter School and Superior Elementary
Cherry Creek School District: Belleview Elementary, Challenge School, Cherry Creek Charter Academy, Cherry Hills Village Elementary, Cottonwood Creek Elementary, Greenwood Elementary, Heritage Elementary, Homestead Elementary, Rolling Hills Elementary and Willow Creek Elementary
Denver Public Schools: Bromwell Elementary, Carson Elementary, Cory Elementary, Creativity Challenge Community, Denver Language School, Denver School of the Arts, DSST Byers High, DSST Byers Middle, McAuliffe International School, Park Hill School, Polaris Elementary, Slavens K-8, Steck Elementary, Swigert International School and Westerly Creek Elementary
Douglas County School District: Academy Charter School, Bear Canyon Elementary, Ben Franklin Academy, Buffalo Ridge Elementary, Challenge to Excellence Charter School, Coyote Creek Elementary, Gold Rush Elementary, Heritage Elementary, Lone Tree Elementary, North Star Academy, Northridge Elementary, Parker Core Knowledge Charter School, Platte River Charter Academy, Redstone Elementary, Rock Canyon High, Saddle Ranch Elementary, STEM School Highlands Ranch, Stone Mountain Elementary, Summit View Elementary, Timber Trail Elementary and Wildcat Mountain Elementary
Englewood Schools: Englewood Leadership Academy
Jeffco Public Schools: Bergen Valley Intermediate, Bradford K-8 South, Dennison Elementary, D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High, Devinny Elementary, Evergreen High, Evergreen Middle, Fairmount Elementary, Jefferson Academy, Jefferson Academy High, Kendrick Lakes Elementary, Manning Options School, Marshdale Elementary, Meiklejohn Elementary, Mount Carbon Elementary, Parmalee Elementary, Prospect Valley Elementary, Ralston Elementary, Ralston Valley Senior High, Red Rocks Elementary, Rooney Ranch Elementary, Shaffer Elementary, Ute Meadows Elementary, West Woods Elementary, Westridge Elementary and Wilmot Elementary
Littleton Public Schools: Franklin Elementary, Highland Elementary, John Wesley Powell Middle, Littleton Academy, Lois Lenski Elementary, Newton Middle, Peabody Elementary, Sandburg Elementary and Wilder Elementary
Statewide, 174 schools received the awards.