La Veta Students Shine at Arkansas Valley Regional Science Fair! 🧪✨
Students from La Veta Elementary and Middle School earned multiple awards at the regional fair held at Otero College.
Top Honors:
Evelyn Dutton (4th grade): 1st Place, 3rd–5th grade division + U.S. Air Force Award
Willa Gripka (7th grade): 1st Place, 6th–8th grade division → advancing to Colorado State Science & Engineering Fair
Special Recognitions:
Alexandra Gegechkori (5th) – Association of Women Geoscientists Award
Neo Downs (6th) – RICOH Sustainable Development Award
Dusty Pacheco (4th) – Colorado Soil & Water Conservation Society Award + $20 prize
Other participants: Molly Daniels, Gyda Northrup, Jaydra Goemmer, and Madix Andreatta.
Educator Highlight: Molly Gripka, Science Fair Coordinator, received the Arkansas Valley Science Fair Coordinator Award for her leadership.
La Veta Schools celebrate hands-on learning, critical thinking, and student curiosity! Community members interested in supporting next year’s fair can contact mgripka@lvedu.org.
Jayce Baudino brings so much to the La Veta School community. From his humor to his kindness and willingness to help others, he truly embodies what it means to earn the CLAWSOME Student Award. Jayce stands out not only in the classroom, but also on the court and field. He’s a strong team player, a natural leader, and always keeps people smiling. Thank you for making our school even better!
Gavyn Lard is a very admirable student who gives his best in everything he does. He’s a great listener, consistently makes positive choices, and leads by quiet example. Gavyn is always paying attention and supporting those around him. Whether on the field or the court, he shows up as his genuine, dependable self. Thank you for being such a fantastic part of our school!
Join us April 1st from 4:00–6:30 p.m. at SPACe Gallery for an inspiring evening celebrating our talented student artists! Browse (and buy!) incredible original artwork, enjoy light refreshments, and support young creatives in our community.
Can’t make opening night? The show will be on display through April 11th — come see what our students have created!
🌿 Help Us Green Up Our Libraries! 🌿
The La Veta School District is looking to brighten our library spaces with beautiful house plants, and we’d love the community’s help! If you have a healthy house plant you’re willing to donate (no cactus, please), we would be grateful.
Please bring your plant to the front office to help us create a more welcoming, lively space for our students to read and learn.
🎉 100 DAYS OF SCHOOL – LET'S CELEBRATE! 🎉
Can you believe it?! We are almost at 100 DAYS of school, and we are going BIG to celebrate on Thursday, March 12!
Every Redhawk is invited to bring a 100 Day Project to show off! Get creative and have fun with it! Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
👕 Decorate a shirt, hat, or cape with 100 things — stickers, buttons, patches, you name it!
👑 Make a crown or headband with 100 gems, foam shapes, or stickers
🖼️ Create a poster or collage with 100 drawings, photos, or cutouts
📦 Bring a jar or bag with 100 small items — coins, buttons, rocks, marbles, LEGO pieces
✨ Or dream up your own amazing 100 Day idea!
Here's how each part of the building will be celebrating:
🐣 Elementary— Elementary students will enjoy special 100 Day activities in their classrooms all day, capped off with 100 minutes of non-stop fun from 2:00 – 3:40 p.m. (That's right — exactly 100 minutes! 🎉)
🎒 Junior High — Middle schoolers will kick off the day with special 100 Day activities at breakfast and keep the fun going at lunch!
🦅 High School — Our high schoolers will have special 100 Day activities sprinkled throughout the day!
Start planning your 100 Day project NOW — we can't wait to see what our Redhawks come up with! 🦅
La Veta School Staff Feature:
Brittney Geiser is our High School English teacher and Junior High Cheer Coach, now in her 8th year with the district! She also serves on the Teacher Leadership Team, helping support and strengthen our school community. Her favorite part of being on the Redhawks team is the meaningful relationships she builds with students and colleagues. Outside of school, she loves spending time with her husband and kids—and stays busy creating custom shirts on the side!
All ages are welcome & encouraged to dress up!
📅 Monday, March 2 — I am NOT Going to Get Up Today!
😴 Dress Up: Wear Your Favorite PJs!
📅 Tuesday, March 3 — We Are Thing One & Thing Two
👯 Dress Up: Twin with your bestie or your favorite teacher!
🎒 Elementary After-School Programming, 4:00–5:20 p.m.
📅 Wednesday, March 4 — Fox in Socks
🧦 Dress Up: Wear Your Silliest Socks!
📅 Thursday, March 5 — Oh, the Places You'll Go!
🚀 Dress Up: Dress as what you want to be when you grow up!
📅 Friday, March 6
🤼 La Veta Junior High Wrestling hosts its home tournament — come cheer on our Redhawks!
📅 Saturday, March 7
🏃 HS Track heads to CSU Pueblo for the first meet of the season with Coaches Ron Ortivez and Liz Talafuse.
🤼 JH Wrestling travels to Sierra Grande.
🔭 LOOKING AHEAD
🎉 Thursday, March 12 — 100 Days of School!
We're celebrating across the whole building! Elementary students enjoy 100 Day activities all day, capped off with 100 minutes of non-stop fun from 2:00–3:40 p.m. Junior High kicks things off at breakfast and keeps going at lunch. High School students will have 100 Day surprises throughout the day. We can't wait!
📌 Mark Your Calendars:
- March 16 — Board Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
More info: https://lvk12.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/
- April 18 — FFA Banquet, Awards & Member Auction
- May 20 — Winter Athletic Banquet
- May 23 — Class of 2026 Graduation 🎓
🏆 CELEBRATIONS
Congratulations to our Regional Science Fair participants, led by Mrs. Molly Gripka!
🥇 Evelyn Dutton (Grade 4) — 1st place, grades 3–5, and U.S. Air Force Award
🌱 Dusty Pacheco (Grade 4) — CO Soil & Water Conservation Society Award and $20 prize
🌍 Alexandra Gheghechkori (Grade 5) — Association of Women Geoscientists Award
♻️ Neo Downs (Grade 6) — RICOH Sustainable Development Award
🥇 Willa Gripka (Grade 6) — 1st place, grades 6–8, and advances to State in April!**
Nice work, Redhawks! 🦅
📆 Check the district calendar at www.lvk12.org for all events — schedules are subject to change.
If you haven't had the pleasure of meeting Kathy Coe, read all about her remarkable contributions to the Redhawk team and robust career:
I am serving as a Paraprofessional, Jr. High Coach for Volleyball, Girls' Basketball, and Coed Track. I am also the Student Council Sponsor and am on the Teacher Leadership Team.
This is my second year living in La Veta and working at the school. I moved here in June 2024 after spending most of my life in Texas. Through a former colleague who has lived and visited here for over 60 years, I began spending summers in Cuchara—returning for 15 consecutive years before finally making La Veta my home.
This is my 35th year in education. I worked in Independent Schools in Houston and Austin in various roles for 33 years. I've taught Physical Education, Religious Studies, Health, was a Dean of Students for Grades 9-11 for nine years, and most recently, I was a Middle School Athletic Director for five years.
I love the small-school feel, the town/community support for the School, and the professionalism of my colleagues! I also love working for Dr. Jones and the Administration! It is a hard-working and caring group of people! I also love seeing the students succeed at whatever they are doing! Getting to restart Student Council after a long hiatus is also a privilege! I can't wait to see what its legacy becomes!!!
Outside of school, I am the Chairperson of the Cuchara Chapel Board, and I am also a board member of W.A.A.G. (Wahatoya Animal Advocacy Group) . WAAG helps support La Veta animals by helping keep them at home; WAAG hosts a monthly pet food drive to help families experiencing food insecurity and helps with emergency vet bills so that pet owners can keep their pets at home rather than return them to a shelter or let them loose in the community.
I have two dogs, Raven and Harper, who are both rescues. A friend of mine says she wants to come back in her next life as one of my dogs since they are so spoiled! I love photography and taking deep breaths as I walk my dogs and take in the La Veta landscape! Some days it is hard to believe I really live here!
🤼 Good luck to our La Veta Redhawks wrestlers as they compete at the Class 2A Region 4 Regional Wrestling Tournament!
📍 Where: Monte Vista High School – Monte Vista, CO 📅 When: Friday, February 13 & Saturday, February 14
🎟️ Admission:
Students (K-12) & Senior Citizens: $9 per session / $20 All-Session Pass
Adults: $12 per session / $30 All-Session Pass
Friday action kicks off at 4:00 PM with prelims and quarterfinals. Saturday starts at 8:30 AM and runs through the Championship Finals and Parade of Champions in the afternoon.
The top 4 wrestlers in each weight class punch their ticket to the State Championships! 🏆
We are so proud of the hard work, dedication, and grit these athletes have shown all season. Let's show them some love and support, Redhawk Nation! 💪
Go Redhawks!
Get ready to spark a love of reading! We’re excited to host our Scholastic Book Fair from February 9–11. Students will have opportunities to visit during the school day to explore books and make purchases with their classes.
After-school shopping hours:
• Monday, Feb. 9: 4:00–5:00 PM
• Tuesday, Feb. 10: 4:00–5:00 PM
• Wednesday, Feb. 11: 4:00–6:00 PM
Families may use Scholastic eWallet for cash-free student purchases. To set up eWallet or donate to Share the Fair, visit: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/lavetaelementaryschool
We also accept cash, cards, checks, and Scholastic gift certificates. Every purchase directly benefits La Veta School library programs.
We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating reading together!
Valentine’s Day is all about love—and supporting our school community! ❤️
The Booster Club's Valentine’s Day fundraiser is now open, with sweet gifts that make perfect surprises for friends, family, and classmates. You can purchase using the QR code on the flyer in the email or on the La Veta Boosters Facebook page. Sales available through February 8, 2026.
All proceeds go directly toward supporting our students and school activities.
Thank you for helping our Booster Club make a difference! 💘
📅 THIS WEEK AT LA VETA SCHOOLS
Monday 2/2 – School Board Meeting
More information at: https://lvk12.community.diligentoneplatform.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=163
Tuesday 2/3 –
Elementary After-School Program starts! 4–5:20 p.m. (contact tracy.mccay@lvk12.org)
JH Girls' Basketball @ Sierra Grande, 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday 2/4 –
College Signing Ceremony at 3:30 in the Commons (all students welcome!)
Early Childhood Parent Event at 4:15 | JH Wrestling @ Sierra Grande, 5 p.m.
Thursday 2/5 –
Knowledge Bowl @ ASU
HS Basketball @ Hoehne, 5 p.m. (Varsity)
Friday 2/6
HS Wrestling @ Sierra Grande, 9 a.m.
HS Basketball @ Cheraw, 4 p.m. (Varsity)
Saturday 2/7 –
HS Wrestling @ Crowley County
JH Girls' Basketball vs. Primero, HOME at 11 a.m.
Winterfest Dances:
JH 6:30–8 p.m. & HS 8:30–10 p.m.
COMING UP
❤️ Booster Club Valentine's Goodies on sale this week—delivered Feb. 11!
📚 Book Fair: Feb. 9–11
🎉 Elementary Valentine's Parties: Feb. 11
🚫 NO SCHOOL: Feb. 12 & 17 (President's Day Break)
👨👩👧 Parent-Teacher Conferences: Feb. 17–19
Check district events at www.lvk12.org for updates—schedules can change!
Go Redhawks!
School will begin at 9:50 a.m. Due to anticipated extreme cold, do not drop students off before 9:30 a.m.
Travel safely and please notify the office promptly of any absences at 719-742-6405.
Thank you and stay warm!
Tuesday, January 27
🧠 HS Knowledge Bowl heads to Regionals at Adams State—good luck, Redhawks!
🤼 JH Wrestling travels to Lamar (3:30 p.m.)
Thursday, January 29
🏀 HS Basketball vs. Primero at HOME—4:30 p.m.
Friday & Saturday, January 30–31
🤼 HS Wrestling at the Valley Classic in Center
🏀 JH Girls' Basketball @ Walsenburg—11:00 a.m. Friday
🏀 HS Basketball hosts Springfield—2:00 p.m. Friday
Mark Your Calendars
📅 Parent-Teacher Conferences: Week of February 17
📋 Spring S-CAP Surveys coming soon—families, we want to hear from you!
Schedules are subject to change—visit www.lvk12.org for the latest.
Go Redhawks! ❤️🖤
Due to forecast weather and extreme cold conditions, tonight's scheduled Winterfest dances, Saturday, Jan. 24th, are cancelled. The high school basketball games will be played as scheduled.
Please stay safe and warm.
Thank you
CLAWSOME REDHAWK AWARD
The La Veta Student Council is proud to introduce the CLAWSOME REDHAWK AWARD for the 2026 school year and beyond.
This recognition will be given to one Jr. High and High School student who each live out the CLAWS ideals in their daily school life.
These students will be nominated by and voted on by the Student Council based on the following criteria:
Demonstrates and lives by the C.L.A.W.S. Motto: Community-Leadership-Attitude-Work Ethic-Safety
Is academically eligible
Attends school on a regular basis with no unexcused absences
Student Council Members are not eligible to receive this award.
Please join us in congratulating our first-ever recipients of the CLAWSOME REDHAWK AWARD: representing Jr. High, Kersey Huff and representing Sr. High, Kayden Romero.
La Veta Public Schools - The week ahead!
Report cards hit inboxes today! 🎉 Take a moment to celebrate your student's hard work this fall.
Mark your calendars:
📌 No school for students on Thursday, Feb. 12 & Monday, Feb. 16
📌 Parent-Teacher Conferences: Feb. 17–19
THIS WEEK'S DRESS UP DAYS:
🧦 Monday: Show Us Your Socks!
👔 Tuesday: Teacher-Student Swap
🌴 Wednesday: Let's Get Tropical!
⚪ Thursday: Blizzard Out (Wear White!)
DON'T MISS:
🏀 Tuesday — HS Basketball vs. Walsenburg | 4:30 p.m. (Parents' Night!)
🤼 Thursday — HS Wrestling at Home | 5:00 p.m. (Parents' Night!)
💃 Saturday — JH Dance 6:30–8 p.m. | HS Dance 8:30–10 p.m.
Full schedule & Spring Activities info ➡️ lvk12.org
Go Redhawks! 🔴🦅