Curriculum

Language Arts

Gold Rush believes that students across grades K-5 should be taught critical thinking strategies that will prepare them for the 21st Century. Gold Rush educators also believe that each child should be instructed at his or her instructional level. Teachers across grades K-5 use a readers' and writers' workshop to achieve these goals. Students are taught mini lessons that push them to think at high levels. In reading, teachers reference national reading expert Stephanie Harvey's Comprehension Toolkit to explicitly teach students the following research-based reading comprehension strategies: monitoring comprehension, activating and connecting prior knowledge, asking questions, inferring and visualizing, determining importance and summarizing and synthesizing. Teachers utilize Lucy Calkins' Units of Study when instructing students on how to write informational, narrative and persuasive pieces. Students apply the strategies taught in instructional level texts that have been identified through assessments or in their own writing. Classroom teachers set individualized goals with each student and provide personalized feedback during the independent time of the workshop. Workshops conclude by having students reflect, share and celebrate what they learned and tried during the workshop.

Math

Gold Rush believes that students need to think critically and problem solve in math. Gold Rush also believes that it is important to teach students the reasoning and concepts behind algorithms and how to solve problems accurately and efficiently. Students are taught multiple ways to solve problems, and students are asked to explain their thinking and defend their approach and answer. The school's professional learning specialist and classroom teachers provide math enrichment and support for students based on their unique learning needs.

Science

Students explore science through the process of inquiry. Inquiry allows students' questions to drive the exploration of grade level units. Students generate questions about the world around them as they engage in hands on experiments and investigations.

Social Studies

In the area of social studies, students learn how history has influenced the world today. Students also explore what can be learned from the past and how they can demonstrate civic responsibility. In several grade levels, social studies is integrated into other content areas. Students in grades two through five, for example, write persuasive and informational pieces exploring the following social studies concepts: influential citizens, how the five strands of social studies are evident in Colorado history and societal changes over time.

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In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0127.

Outside Agencies

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS

Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).