Welcome to 2023! The Elementary School is rocking and rolling in the New Year. We have some new faces and events to share with you!
Over the past few months, we have added some new faces to the staff that works with our littlest Bobcats. First, Mrs. Johnston resigned in December to pursue a family opportunity in Northern Colorado. Mrs. Branch, former Assistant Principal, has been moved into the Principal Position. Branch has 30 years’ experience in education. She began her career as a Special Education teacher, and coach in New Mexico. After teaching and coaching for 11 years, she earned her master’s degree at the University of New Mexico and embarked upon 17 years in educational administration and leadership, working primarily as a principal. Before she retired from New Mexico, she took on the task of turning around three schools that were in need of improvement. She then retired from the New Mexico schools and moved to Ignacio to pursue a second career in Colorado. Mrs. Branch is quite excited to be a principal again and looks forward to helping staff and students make Ignacio Elementary into the school to attend in Southwestern Colorado.
Welcome back, Mr. Karl Herr. Herr has joined our Bobcat staff as the Interim Assistant Principal. Mr. Herr is a former principal at Ignacio Elementary School. He served for eight years before returning seven years ago. Many of your older children likely remember him as principal. He has agreed to help the school until the end of the year. We are happy to welcome him to our team.
Welcome to several teachers and classified staff as well. Mrs. Teresa Lewis is our new reading interventionist and works in the Title Program helping struggling students with reading and math. Ms. Kamry Chewing has joined us as a long-term substitute in Mrs. Zafar’s class while she is out on maternity leave. Mrs. Chewing graduated from Fort Lewis College in December as a certified teacher and has completed practicum hours in Ignacio. Mrs. Jorgina Herrera is a new para-professional working mostly in kindergarten and 1st grades. Mr. John Branch is our new Bobcat Habitat Supervisor and helps students needing to take a break and refocus on school.
The time between Winter Break and Spring Break is focused on students mastering academic content in preparation for the next grade level, CMAS testing in April, and End of the Year tests. Currently we are assessing students in Middle of the Year (MOY) tests with STAR Reading, STAR Math, and DIBELS. We are already seeing tremendous growth with our students this year. Your child’s teacher will share the MOY data with you at parent teacher conferences in February. In the meantime, teachers continuously check to ensure their students are learning what is taught.
Our students have been reading up a storm this year! They have already reached over eight million words read and are on track to read 25 million by the end of the school year. Keep reading Bobcats!
Ignacio Elementary has re-established our student council! Thanks to our sponsors, Ms. Ellen Young, Ms. Lee, and Mrs. Pepper, the Student Council is busy planning events and giving students a voice at the school. In December, the Student Council held a new sock drive. Thank you to all who donated socks! The socks were distributed to those in need in our community. Currently, the Student Council is selling candy grams. The Valentine Grams will be delivered on Valentine’s Day. You can purchase a gram in the office through Feb. 12. Grams cost $1 each or you can get six for $5. Send one to an Ignacio student or staff member.
Colorado Universal Pre-K is on its way to Ignacio! This new initiative will provide free, quality Pre-K to all four-year-olds in Ignacio. The district is working with IELP to establish a program for all four-year-olds to begin in August 2023. We are currently identifying all families that will have a four-year-old as of August 1 that would like to participate in the program. All four-year-olds qualify for a half day program at no cost. We predict most four-year-olds will qualify for a full day free program with qualifying additional factors.
If you have a child that will be four years old by Aug. 1, 2023, PLEASE call IELP or the Elementary School to get on a list for updates as we get more information available. You can show your interest by filling out a simple form at this website: https://upk.colorado.gov/. If you have questions or need help filling out your application, please call the Ignacio Elementary School or ILEP.