I am absolutely thrilled to kick off the 2026–2027 school year and extend a warm welcome back to all of our new and returning families! I can’t wait to hear all about your summer adventures as we step into another incredible year centered on learning, personal growth, and strong community connections.

Our dedicated staff has been busy preparing our classrooms and is eager to greet everyone in just a few short weeks. A special welcome to our brand-new families—we are so happy you are joining the wonderful Columbine community!

Columbine’s Mission: We believe that through inquiry and problem-based instruction, we build the interdisciplinary connections inspiring students to be creative, empathetic, and critical thinkers. Students are given opportunities to take risks, pursue their interests, and make choices throughout their learning process.

Columbine’s Vision: Columbine is a collaborative STEM community which inspires empathetic and creative problem solvers who positively impact the world around them.

Respectfully,

Julia Cooper, Principal

cooper_julia@svvsd.org

Please join me in welcoming our new Columbine Staff!

We have a collaborative partnership with the P-Teach / pTAP program which fosters relationships between aspiring teachers from our St. Vrain community and mentor teachers at our site. Here are the apprentices working with us this coming school year:
New pTeach apprentices

• Brissa Mendez-Olivas, kinder para

Returning pTeach/pTAP apprentices

• Chelsea Morales, preK para
• Sydney Walker, SPED para
• Rosemary Calvert, SPED para

Help us Celebrate our SVVSD Outstanding Classified Staff Award Recipient: Karen Flores, Attendance Clerk

Our Family Liaison, Laura Colis, is here to help!

She can help you with:

• Access community resources (including help with medicare, food, housing, jobs, etc)
• Free and Reduced Lunch Application
• Submitting school fees
• Getting materials and supplies for school
• Needed technology (internet and student iPads)

Contact: colis_laura@svvsd.org

Backpack Distribution

We have received a generous donation of backpacks. Columbine will be holding backpack distribution on Tuesday, August 11th from 9:00am-3:00pm. We will have the line form at the Main Entrance, and we will continue to hand out backpacks until our supplies run out. Please stop by to pick up your backpack!

School Supply List

• The School Supply List for 2026-2027 in ENGLISH can be found HERE
• The School Supply List for 2026-2027 in SPANISH can be found HERE

Free and Reduced Lunch Forms

Each year, our community participates in completing the district Free and Reduced Lunch form paperwork. We ask that EVERY family completes the form, even if you do not believe that you will qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch Status.

It is easiest to complete this form online: Free & Reduced Meal Application LINK. You can also call Kari Jacobs, Nutrition Services Coordinator, for assistance (303-702-7793). We do have computers in the Main Office for parents to utilize to complete the Free and Reduced Lunch form. Please set up an appointment with the Main Office staff to use the computer or to get assistance with completing the form.

Back to School Night and Class Schedules!

Your student’s teacher will be posted on the front doors of Columbine on Friday, August 14th at 3:00pm. (Note: While we will make every effort not to make changes, this information is subject to change if movement is needed to balance classroom numbers.)

Back to School Night

• Date: Friday, August 14th
• Time: 4:00-6:00pm
• What: Open House Style (Drop in anytime between 4:00-5:00pm to meet your student’s teacher. No formal presentations will be given.)
• Bonus: Stay and socialize for dinner, available from 5:00-6:00pm (hot dogs and chips provided).
• Students are encouraged to bring in school supplies.

Start of the School Day

• On the first day of school, teachers will be out on the playground blacktop to help direct students to their teachers who will have signs with their names on them.
• Starting Monday, August 24–students will be allowed to enter the school building (entering in their designated door–see image below) starting at 8:20am and go directly to their classroom. School starts at 8:30 and instruction will begin in their classrooms shortly after the bell. The tardy bell rings at 8:35. **There will be signs in the front of the school to help kids know where to go as well as staff directing.
• On late start days, students will be able to enter the building at 10:50am and instruction begins at 11:00am with the tardy bell at 11:05am.
• We are serving free breakfast for students in grades K-5 between 8:00-8:20am. If your child will be joining us for breakfast, please have them enter through the front office doors (off Longs Peak Ave.)

Drop off and Pick up Locations

*Please note: this is a change from the past since railroad construction will be done on Atwood and 6th streets thus closing that area around the end of August.

First day of school grades 1-5

Tuesday August 18th. All students will meet on the back playground blacktop (where we have dinner at Back to School Night) for this first week of school. Teachers will have signs with their names on them to help students find their way.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten Assessment Days

• Please call the office to sign up for a kindergarten assessment times.
• Options: Monday, August 17th 9-11am or 1-3pm OR Tuesday, August 18th 9-11am or 1-3pm

First Day of School for Kindergarten

• Thursday, August 20th
• Students will line up with their teacher in the front of the building by 8:20am (Door near Atwood and Longs Peak). **There will be signs in the front of the school to help kids know where to go and well as staff directing.

Preschool

• The first day of Preschool is Monday, August 24th
• Students will need to be signed in near the preschool playground between 8:20-8:30.
• Parents must sign students in and out.

Parent Guidebook:

• Columbine Parent Guidebook 2026/2027

Fees

Student iPad Insurance: $25 – Pay in Infinite Campus

• The iPad insurance fee will be reduced or waived for students eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the federal poverty income guidelines and homeless students as defined by McKinney-Vento.
• Read more about the LTP Student iPad Insurance Program

MATERIALS FEE OF $10 FOR GRADES K-5

• This fee will be maintained by your child’s school to purchase the following: school-specific and/or hard to find consumable and nonstandard classroom materials such as school planners and project-based three ring binders.
• By utilizing a fee, individual or specific school needs can be honored, costs are reduced by bulk purchase, and efficiency is met for items some schools may use and some may not.

Registration for the 26-27 School Year

If you will have a preschooler, kindergartner, or will be open enrolling at Columbine for the 2026-2027 school year, you will need to complete an enrollment application online. Please contact the Main Office if you have any questions.

***It is important to complete your child’s immunization paperwork and to turn this form in to the office. The state requires that schools have this completed paperwork on file for each student.***

Important Dates Coming Up

• Tuesday, August 11th
  • Backpack Distribution begins at 9:00am
• Friday, August 14th
  • 3:00pm Student Class Lists posted on outside windows in front
  • 4:00-6:00pm Back to School Night. 4:00-5:00 open house–meet teachers in their classrooms, then join us for dinner and socialize from 5:00-6:00pm. We are providing dinner: hot dogs and chips.
• Monday, August 17th
  • Kindergarten Assessments 9-11am and 1-3pm
• Tuesday, August 18th
  • First day of school for grades 1-5
  • Kindergarten Assessments 9-11am and 1-3pm
• Thursday, August 20th
  • First Day of Kindergarten
• Monday, August 24
  • First Day of Preschool

Interested in Volunteering?

If you want to volunteer this year at Columbine, please complete the following volunteer training. You will not be able to volunteer until this training is complete and we would LOVE to have you! Click the button above.

Reminders for Families

• Please remind your students they are not allowed to use electronic devices to call you during school hours. We would like them to come to the office to call parents, if necessary. This will help us to provide the right amount of support for your student. All cell phones need to be kept off or on silent during school hours and be in their backpacks.
• If at any time you need to get a hold of your student, please call the front office and we will contact your student during school hours.
• If you are picking up your student during school hours, you must present a photo ID. Please remember to report your child’s absence or tardiness to 303-776-2840 or email: floresmiranda_ana @svvsd.org
• Our office staff is always available to answer your questions- 303-776-2840
  • Yvonne Lopez, Principal’s Secretary, lopez_yvonne@svvsd.org
  • Karen Flores Miranda, Registrar/Attendance Clerk, floresmiranda_ana@svvsd.org
  • Lupe Aguilera, Health Clerk, aguilera_maria@svvsd.org
  • Laura Colis, Family Liaison, colis_laura@svvsd.org

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