Center of Focus

April 27th, 2025

Focus on the Fabulous- Vikings in Action

Tuesday was an eventful and historic day for Center Schools! We held our first official track meet on our brand-new track and field. We proudly dedicated and named the track after three special coaches: Dave Furukawa, Dale Beiriger, and Dennis Schoenfelder, known affectionately as the "Triple D’s."

The 3-D’s have a long and proud history of supporting Center’s student-athletes, both on and off the track:

Dennis SchoenfelderSince 1993, Dennis Schoenfelder has been the backbone of Center Track and Field, helping to build the program with a focus on resilience, teamwork, and opportunity. As part of the 3-D coaching team, his athletes consistently excelled, earning him the 2004 Colorado High School Coach of the Year Award. His greatest pride has always been helping students achieve more than they thought possible.

Dave FurukawaBeginning in 1985, Dave Furukawa shaped Center’s Track and Cross Country programs with loyalty and humility. A key member of the 3-D team, he spent 25 years strengthening Center’s running tradition before stepping into the head coach role in 2022. His lasting impact can be seen in the spirit and success of Center’s athletes today.

Dale BeirigerWith a passion for the sport and technical mastery, Dale Beiriger elevated Center Track and Field after joining the 3-D coaching team in 1996. A former collegiate pole vaulter, Dale guided athletes to state titles in vault and throwing events, helping lead Center to a 2005 state runner-up finish. His influence remains a cornerstone of the program’s ongoing success.

Center students and athletes have benefitted tremendously from the love, commitment, and leadership of these three incredible individuals.

We are thrilled to honor their hard work and dedication by naming the Triple D Track after them! Our athletes looked fantastic and honored them by competing successfully at the Triple D Meet!

Saturday was another busy and exciting day with the Car Show, Kermes, and a baseball doubleheader! It was a beautiful day for baseball, and our boys played with heart, demonstrating great sportsmanship throughout both games. We are proud of their efforts on and off the field.

We also received exciting news from the state!The State Finance Unit recognized Betty Salazar, our Finance Director, and our entire district team for their outstanding work on the annual audit and related requirements.

The state shared that completing the audit is no small task and commended the department for its excellent performance. The report was positive, with no findings and no issues noted.

Way to go, team!

District Ownership Plan at Work

Priority #1 – Curriculum and Instruction

Goal: CCSD staff lead rigorous, engaging, collaborative learning experiences that align with CCSD Instructional Expectations in every classroom.

Priority #2 – Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR)

Goal: CCSD develops hard-working learners who are contributors, problem solvers, effective communicators, and empowered to thrive in today’s world.

The 3rd Annual C-Town Car Show was held on Saturday and was another fantastic success! This event served as a capstone project for our talented juniors, Alejandro Puentes, Yuliana Majalca, and Camila Carrasco, who coordinated every aspect of the event.

Thanks to their hard work and leadership, the show had a great turnout, featuring over 50 cars, prizes, delicious food, and live music. It was a wonderful day of fun and community spirit, enjoyed by all who attended!

Priority #3 – Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)

Goal: Maintain high expectations for student learning and behavior, with structures in place to support all students’ academic and behavioral needs.

As part of our ongoing MTSS work, we continue to focus on strengthening the partnership between families, the community, and our schools. A vital part of this effort is our Parents Involved in Center Schools (PICS) team.

The PICS team holds bi-weekly meetings throughout the year to support families — particularly our Spanish-speaking families — and to foster stronger connections with our district.

On Saturday, PICS hosted the annual Kermes Festival, a vibrant cultural celebration featuring performances, music, delicious food, and kite flying! It was a joyful event designed for the whole family, bringing our community together in a meaningful and festive way.

Priority #4 – Recruitment and Retention (R&R)

Goal: Recruit, train, and retain highly qualified teachers—because effective educators are the single most important school-based factor in student success.

One of the goals of our Recruitment and Retention (R&R) work is to positively promote public education and our school district- and our team has been hard at work sharing the good news about all the amazing things happening at Center Schools!

Christy Mikeljack has created a beautiful Center Scrapbook capturing the highlights and events that have been published in our local newspapers. To date, we’ve had 26 articles featuring Center Schools in either the Valley Courier or the Center Dispatch!

A big thank you to the R&R team for all their efforts in spreading positivity and shining a light on the great work happening across our district!

Fast Forward

Calendar Dates- We are getting into all the activities and events associated with the end of the year.  Make sure to get these dates on your calendar! 

Monday, April 28th-  CHS Track Meet @ Rye- reschedule due to weather, Kingspan Review-Spencer Architect, Safe Talk Training

Tuesday, April 29th- Preventing Team Violence Team Meeting, District Admin. Meeting- EOY Responsibilities

Wednesday, April 30th-  Rural Alliance Advocacy, Opportunity Coalition, Finance Act- Senate Education Comm., Secondary Rockies Trip, Haskin EOY Spring Concert- 6:00 pm- Main Gym

Thursday, May 1st- Early Release-ICAP/PLC, CHS Knowledge Bowl- ASU, Center School OAC Weekly Meeting

Friday, May 2nd- CHS Track-Cinco de Mayo Meet @ Walsenburg

Saturday, May 3rd- CHS Baseball vs. Trinidad

Monday, May 5th- Cinco de Mayo, CHS Testing Incentive Day- Dunk Tank

Tuesday, May 6th- CHS Academic Awards @ 6:00 pm- Auditorium

Wednesday, May 7th- CNA Pinning @ 6:30 pm- Auditorium

Thursday, May 8th- NHS Induction- Auditorium

Saturday, May 10th- Prom- 7:30 pm- Main Gym, Commons

Monday, May 12th- End of Year Band Concert- 6:30- 7:30 pm- Aux Gym

Tuesday, May 13th- HS Day Awards- 8-10 am- Auditorium

Wednesday, May 14th- Senior Walk-11:15 am, Senior Exit Interviews- 9-11 am

Thursday, May 15th- 5th Grade Continuation-1:30-3:00 pm- Auditorium, Author Art Show- 5-7 pm

Monday, May 19th- Athletic Awards Ceremony

Tuesday, May 20th- Kindergarten Graduation

Wednesday, May 21st- MS Awards- 8-10 am, 8th Grade Continuation- 7:00 pm

Thursday, May 22nd- Preschool Graduation @6:00 pm- Auditorium- Haskin Field Day, CHS Graduation Practice

Saturday, May 24th - CHS Graduation- 10 am- Main Gym