An effort to resurrect a Carbondale-centric foundation to support the local schools has yielded a fair amount of success over the last two years. In October of last year, the new Carbondale Education Foundation (CEF) also resurrected the town’s Oktoberfest celebration, taking it on as a primary fundraiser for the organization. The event raised more […]
schools
Posted inNews
School bus safety rules and etiquette
It is a new year, and students are back in school. What better time, then, to refresh our memories on school-bus safety when students are getting on or off — especially now, with winter’s more challenging driving conditions? First, the state law. Drivers in either direction on a road or street must stop no closer […]
Posted inEducation
Aspen Science Center sparks curiosity at Sopris Elementary
This school year, students at Sopris Elementary School in Glenwood Springs have run experiments in building and propulsion engineering, DNA extraction and chemical reactions. They have done this with help from Aspen Science Center (ASC) instructors, who have visited the school throughout the autumn thanks to a funding grant intended to increase fun and accessible […]
Posted inEducation
Carbondale parent questions whether movement activities in schools are adequate
Earlier this summer, a concerned parent reached out to this newspaper to raise their concerns about opportunities for physical activities in Carbondale Middle School (CMS). They asked to remain anonymous because they also work for the school district. “At CMS they have one 20-minute recess after lunch only,” they wrote, compared to a 20-minute midday […]
Posted inColumns
Elevate Your Future: A story of struggle, faith and community
By Antonia Peña I’m originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, and over 25 years ago, I came to the United States with a dream: to find better opportunities for myself and my children. It wasn’t easy to leave behind my country, my people, my roots. Nor was it easy to start from scratch in Parachute with no […]
Posted inEducation
Declining enrollment in Valley schools part of a broader trend; districts planning mitigation
Secondary education schools are experiencing a balloon effect: deflation. Enrollment hasn’t increased dramatically in recent years, but numbers were slowly growing. That is starting to change, and local school districts are preparing for what smaller student numbers will mean moving forward. The Sopris Sun spoke with Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) and Aspen School District […]
Posted inEducation
AI in K-12 education is on the horizon
Technology often outpaces policy, and that’s where we stand with artificial intelligence (AI) in public schools. By the time today’s kindergarteners graduate in 2037, AI literacy will be essential for entering the workforce — ready or not, the technology is already here.In May 2023, a 71-page report from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Spruce Up The Sun 2023
“World Peace,” that’s what we challenged local kids to draw in our 2023 Spruce Up The Sun cover contest, and we think CMS seventh grader Penelope Mathis really captured the theme in her piece “Rice and Milk.” The kids of Carbondale and beyond really responded to this year’s theme of World Peace (La Paz Mundial). […]
Posted inNews, Uncategorized
School board candidate interviews: District D
Over the next three issues, The Sopris Sun will publish responses to questions posed to candidates running for the Roaring Fork School District Board of Education. Jasmin Ramirez is running unopposed for reelection in District D, which includes the northern and western sections of Glenwood Springs. Background and Motivation: I am proud to be a […]
Posted inNews, Uncategorized
Parents fight to save music at CRES
Carbondale is a Colorado Creative District, meaning that it is recognized by the state for making economic and social contributions through the arts. With its art galleries and regular concerts, art and music are part of Carbondale’s DNA. But, the rising cost of living now threatens arts opportunities in local schools. Next year, Crystal River […]