11500 Cherry Drive
Thornton, CO 80233
Phone: 720.972.5300
http://www.cherry.adams12.org/
UC Denver Site Professor: Marilyn McIntyre, Marilyn.Mcintyre@ucdenver.edu
Site Coordinator: Jennifer Harvey, jennifer.harvey@adams12.org
Principal: Tina Hepp, tina.hepp@adams12.org
Cherry Drive Elementary is a medium sized school of 530 students nestled in a north central corner of Adams 12 Five Star Schools. The school celebrated its twenty-ninth birthday by becoming a Professional Development School, as a result of a staff-approval vote of over 90%. Now, in our second year we continue to build our program in the school with the help of our staff, principal David Knapp, and the community.
Cherry Drive has a positive and dynamic relationship with its community. Students' families are involved in assisting in the classrooms, conducting fundraisers, and participating in evening functions, such as Curriculum Night, Author's Night, Celebration of Learning, Parent Conferences, and a Pumpkin Run. This relationship is key to student success and being a favorable link in the larger community.
Cherry Drive offers a variety of in-school and extra curricular activities to meet and extend student's learning. Four years ago we formed challenge classrooms in grades 3-5 to meet the needs of our students who would benefit from a rigorous, project-based curriculum. We also offer many after-school activities including Robotics, Students Council, Art Club, Super Six School News, and Choir. Last year our Robotics team won the Judges Award for outstanding performance at the regional competition and will compete again next month. Cherry Drive also had three teams receive awards in the regional Destination Imagination competition, with two teams going on to the state competition.
Last spring our teacher candidates completed a very exciting Legacy Project. They worked together with the school to launch a school-wide author study of Mark Ludy, a successful local author. The project included purchasing a set of Mark's books for each grade level and writing lesson plans to go along with each book. Mark Ludy spent an entire day with us, inspiring and encouraging our students to be readers and writers who follow their dreams. Needless to say, our school was buzzing with excitement.
Our goal is to continue to partner teacher candidates and clinical teachers, school coaches and the site team coaches, and our administration with the district and the university. With the positive relationship we've developed we plan to set targets for more collaboration, growth, and opportunities for our students and staff.