West Leadership Academy

Connecting Students to College Success.

Welcome to our New Acting Principal – Don Roy

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Dear West Leadership Staff, Students and Families,
 
On December 18, 2020, we announced that Dr. Boris Costa-Guerra will be the new principal of West Middle School that will open in the 2021-2022 school year. Toward that end, Dr. Costa-Guerra is transitioning now to a Year-0 principal role so that he can work with the new school design team, the staff, students and families to plan for the new school launch. 
As Dr. Costa-Guerra transitioned off his current role with West Leadership Academy, we were due to have Grant Varveris be the acting principal of West Leadership Academy for the second semester. During the winter break, Mr. Varveris was offered a permanent principal position in Chicago Public Schools to start immediately which he was not anticipating. Though timing is not ideal, we support this change as that is where his family lives. We are thankful for his leadership in Denver Public Schools and for his support of WLA over the last few months.  
We are also excited to announce that former DPS principal Don Roy  will be the acting principal of West Leadership Academy for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. Mr. Roy will work closely with Dr. Costa-Guerra and the school leadership team and myself, to ensure a smooth transition for the second semester to carry on the WLA mission, vision, values and instructional improvement priorities through June 2020.
 
Mr. Roy is a retired Denver Public Schools principal. He served in multiple principal roles such as the principal at Hill Middle School and Henry Middle School prior to retiring. He has recently served as Shared Campus Manager for DPS working with multiple schools that share a common campus similar to the West campus. He is extremely excited and honored to be working with West Leadership Academy students, staff and community, and he is committed to making this final semester a positive and smooth one through the end of the school year.
 
Please join me in welcoming Mr. Roy! 
 
Sincerely,
 
Nicole Veltzé
Northwest Regional Instructional Superintendent
 
Dori Claunch
Northwest Operational Superintendent

 

West Facebook Pages

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The West campus is back! Please follow our new Facebook pages for West Middle School and West High School for the latest news on the West reunification, information on enrollment at these schools, updates on curriculum, messages from leadership, and more.

¡El campus de West está aquí de nuevo! Les pedimos que visiten las páginas de Facebook de la Escuela Secundaria West y de la Escuela Preparatoria West para conocer las novedades de la reunificación de West, obtener información sobre las inscripciones en estas escuelas, actualizarse sobre el plan de estudios, leer mensajes del equipo de liderazgo y más.

Updated Remote Learning Bell Schedule

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Updated 12/19/2020

Our bell schedule has been updated for Semester 2 to add consistency and to be compatible with our transportation schedule as we prepare to return to in-person learning.  We hope to return to school at the end of January, Tuesday through Friday.  Mondays will continue to be remote-learning days even after we return to school.

This schedule is effective January 5th, 2021 (the first day of Semester 2).

Middle School

7:45 – 8:31 Period 1
8:34 – 9:20 Period 2
9:23 – 10:09 Period 3
10:12 – 10:58 Period 4
11:01 – 11:47 Period 5
11:50 – 12:35 Lunch
12:35 – 1:10 Advisory
1:13 – 1:59 Period 8
2:02 – 2:48 Period 9

High School

7:45 – 8:20 Advisory
8:23 – 9:09 Period 2
9:12 – 9:58 Period 3
10:01 – 10:47 Period 4
10:50 – 11:36 Period 5
11:36 – 12:21 Lunch
12:21 – 1:07 Period 7
1:10 – 1:56 Period 8
1:59 – 2:45 Period 9

 

Candidate Virtual Presentations & Community Feedback Survey

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Hello West staff, families and students!

The West Leadership Board of Advisors (WLA BOA) and the West Early College School Accountability Committee (WEC SAC) has recommended Dr. Boris Costa-Guerra as the sole finalist for the West Middle School principal position and Mia Martinez-Lopez as the sole finalist for the West High School principal position.

Please watch the videos below to learn more about each of our finalist candidates and submit feedback survey HERE after watching.

West High School Finalist Candidate Video – Mia Martinez-Lopez

West Middle School Finalist Candidate Video – Dr. Boris Costa-Guerra –

DIRECTIONS:

  1. As you watch the presentation, take notes of the strengths and the considerations for each candidate.
  2. To submit your feedback for each candidate CLICK HERE
    • OR call Katie Patterson from the Office of Family & Community Engagement at 303-503-8040 to submit via phone for ENGLISH.
  3. Please submit your input by Thursday, December 17, 2020 @ 8 a.m.

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¡Saludos, familias y estudiantes de West!

El Consejo de Asesores de la Academia West Leadership (WLA BOA, por su sigla en inglés) y el Comité de Responsabilidad de West Early College (WEC SAC, por su sigla en inglés) han recomendado al Dr. Boris Costa-Guerra como único finalista para el puesto de director de la Escuela Secundaria West (West Middle School) y a Mia Martinez-Lopez como única finalista para el puesto de directora de la Escuela Preparatoria West (West High School).

Escucha el audio en español o miren los videos en inglés a continuación para obtener más información sobre los candidatos finalistas y escriban sus comentarios AQUI después.

West High School  – Mia Martinez-Lopez – ESCUCHA EL AUDIO EN ESPAÑOL AQUI

West Middle School – Dr. Boris Costa-Guerra – ESCUCHA EL AUDIO EN ESPAÑOL AQUI

Próximos pasos para la comunidad:

  1. A medida que vean las presentaciones, tomen notas de las fortalezas y las consideraciones de cada candidato.
  2. Presenten sus comentarios sobre cada candidato AQUÍ
    • o llamen Eloy Castro de la Oficina de Enlaces Familiares y Comunitarios al 303-594-7117
  3. Envíen sus comentarios, a más tardar, el jueves, 17 de diciembre de 2020, a las 8am.

HeART of West Student Art Show

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This show encompasses student work from the fall semester of 2020.  Despite the obstacles we faced with remote learning, the arts are alive and well at West!  The work in this show was created by students enrolled in Sculpture, Ceramics, Jewelry, AP 3-D Art, Digital Photography, and Project-Based Learning classes.  Thank you to Ms. RoHa for putting this show together!

Finals Week: 12/14 – 12/17

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We know you have been working incredibly hard, so we are excited to celebrate the knowledge you have gained this semester!

Middle School

Middle School final exams will occur during regular class times.  Middle School students should follow the regular schedule Monday through Thursday, no school on Friday.

High School

  • Be on time for all your finals
  • Be prepared for all your finals
  • Reach out to your teacher(s) for any individual questions you may have
  • Check here frequently for updates

High School Finals Schedule:

Monday, December 14th
8:30-10:00- Period 2 Finals
10:04-11:34- Period 3 Finals
11:38-1:08- Period 4 Finals

Tuesday, December 15th
8:30-10:00- Period 5 Finals
10:04-11:34- Period 7 Finals

Wednesday, December 16th
8:30-10:00- Period 8 Finals
10:04-11:34- Period 9 Finals

*Please reach out to your teachers if needed.

Sabemos que han estado trabajando increíblemente duro, así que estamos emocionados de celebrar el conocimiento que has adquirido este semestre.

Escuela Secundaria

Exámenes Finales de Escuela Secundaria  se llevarán a cabo durante el horario de clases regulares.  Estudiantes de Escuela Secundaria  deberán de seguir el  regular schedule Lunes al Jueves, No habrá escuela el viernes.

Escuela Preparatoria

  • Llegar a tiempo para todas tus Finales
  • Estar Preparado para todas tus Finales
  • Póngase en contacto con sus maestros para cualquier pregunta individual que pudieras tener.
  • Consulte aquí con frecuencia para actualizaciones
  • Estudiantes de Preparatoria: Asegúrese de seguir el programa a continuación:

Lunes, 14 de Diciembre
8:30-10:00- Periodo 2 Finales
10:04-11:34- Periodo 3 Finales
11:38-1:08- Periodo 4 Finales

Martes, 15 de Diciembre
8:30-10:00- Periodo 5 Finales
10:04-11:34- Periodo 7 Finales

Miércoles, 16 de Diciembre
8:30-10:00- Periodo 8 Finales
10:04-11:34- Periodo 9 Finales

*Por favor póngase en contacto con su maestro si es necesario.

Board Votes to Reunify West

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11/20/2020

Hello West Leadership Academy,

We are pleased to announce that the DPS Board of Education has approved reunifying West Early College and West Leadership Academy. West Middle School and West High School will open to serve students for the 2021-22 school year. This resolution was signed Thursday, November 19 during the Board of Education meeting.

The West community has advocated for the return of West High School for many years. Throughout the summer of and into the fall of the 2020-21 school year, West Early College and West Leadership Academy staff, students, families, and alumni were surveyed and interviewed regarding the reunification. As a result of this broad community feedback, the Student Voice and Leadership team developed a plan to reunify the schools.

Our goal in this reunification is to offer the best aspects of both schools with strong concurrent enrollment, career education, biliteracy, and student leadership and development opportunities. Students can choose to enroll at the new West Middle and High Schools as one of their choice options through SchoolChoice.

We will be in touch in the coming weeks with more information on how to be involved. Go Cowboys!

Sincerely,

Dr. Boris Costa-Guerra
Interim Principal
West Leadership Academy

20 de noviembre del 2020

Estimada comunidad de West Leadership Academy:

Nos complace anunciar que el Consejo de Educación de DPS ha aprobado la reunificación de West Early College y la Academia West Leadership. La Escuela Secundaria West y la Escuela Preparatoria West abrirán sus puertas para servir a los estudiantes durante el año escolar 2021-22. Esta resolución se firmó el jueves, 19 de noviembre, durante la reunión del Consejo de Educación.

La comunidad de West ha abogado por el regreso de la Escuela Preparatoria West durante muchos años. Durante el verano y hasta el otoño del año escolar 2020-21, se entrevistó al personal escolar, los estudiantes, las familias y los exalumnos de West Early College y la Academia West Leadership sobre la reunificación. Como resultado de estos amplios comentarios de la comunidad, el equipo de opinión y liderazgo estudiantil creó un plan para reunificar las escuelas.

La meta de esta reunificación es ofrecer los mejores aspectos de ambas escuelas con inscripciones simultáneas sólidas, educación profesional, lectoescritura bilingüe y oportunidades de liderazgo y desarrollo estudiantil. Los estudiantes pueden optar por inscribirse en la nueva Escuela Secundaria o Preparatoria West a través de EscojoMiEscuela.

Nos mantendremos en contacto en las próximas semanas para brindarles más información sobre cómo participar. ¡Vamos, vaqueros!

Sinceramente,

Dr. Boris Costa-Guerra
Director
West Leadership Academy

Día de los Muertos

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Day of the Dead originated several thousand years ago with the Aztec, Toltec, and other Nahua people, who considered mourning the dead disrespectful. For these pre-Hispanic cultures, death was a natural phase in life’s long continuum.

One of the most beautiful aspects of this celebration is that the dead are still members of our communities/families and we can keep them alive through memory and stories by honoring and remembering these people through an altar. Think of this site as a sort of Memorial for those we want to honor and remember.

The centerpiece of this celebration is an altar, or ofrenda, built in private homes and cemeteries. These aren’t altars for worshiping but for remembering.  Similar to Memorials they are filled with items such as flowers, candles, photographs and other personal items that remind us of the individual.

On altars there are “offerings” meant to welcome spirits back to the realm of the living to add comfort to the deceased.  In traditional Day of the Dead altars you will find water to quench thirst after the long journey, food, family photos, and a candle for each dead relative. Marigolds are the main flowers used to decorate the altar. The smoke from copal incense, made from tree resin, transmits praise and prayers and purifies the area around the altar.

Thank you to Ms. RoHa for compiling photos of ofrendas from the WLA community and creating this slideshow!

Contact Us

West Leadership Academy
951 Elati St.
Denver, CO 80204
Main Phone # 720-423-5460