Lunch 12:40 - 1:00 Recess 1:00 - 1:20

1st day of 5th grade REminders


*Bring a water bottle everyday filled with water only, no other beverages are allowed in the classroom.

*Know how you are getting home and if you are meeting siblings, where you will meet up.

*We will have a snack break, so please feel free to bring one to enjoy!

*Bring all of your supplies that you didn't drop off.

Me, my dad, and mom at Badlands National Park 10/21

My brother in law, dad, nephews and me in Big Bend National Park 12/21

My family at Minute Maid Park in Houston TX 6/22

Welcome back to School

Hi! My name is Jessalyn Russell and I am so excited to be your teacher this year!!! We are going to do so many fun things and of course we will learn a lot. I hope you have had a fabulous summer so far.

This will be my 21st year teaching and my 8th year at Gold Rush. I have taught 3rd, 4th and 5th grade at GRE and have taught 5th grade, 5th/6th grade math, 4th grade, 3rd grade and was a Gifted Instructional Teaching-Coach in Arizona. I also coached middle school girls basketball and softball. For 6 summers I also taught English in the Czech Republic with International Needs Network.

Before moving to Colorado I lived in Phoenix for 13 years, but was raised in Northern New Mexico. I am a huge baseball fan and love the Arizona Diamondbacks and dream of visiting every MLB team's home stadium. I love visiting National Parks, and try to go to at least one a year. I enjoy creating and building things and would probably be a contractor if I had to choose another job. I am a rockstar aunt to 2 nephews, 2 bonus nephews, and 2 bonus nieces.

I love reading, musicals, history, math, sewing, crafting, and gardening.

I truly believe that this year is going to be great! I look forward to meeting you all and enjoying a great year.

My education

  • 1998 graduate of Aztec High School in Aztec, NM.

  • 2000 graduate with an AA degree from San Juan College in Farmington, NM.

  • 2002 graduate with a BA in Elementary Education from New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM.

  • I continued my education in Arizona, earning a Structured English Immersion Endorsement, Early Childhood Endorsement and a Gifted Education Endorsement.


My Favorites

Food: Pizza, French Fries, and Gummies

Movie: A League of Their Own and (the original) Karate Kid

Book: To Kill a Mockingbird and the "Killing" series by Bill O'Reilly

Color: Yellow

Drink: Americanos and Bubbly Waters

Sports: Baseball and College Basketball

Fast Food: Chic Fil A, Taco Bell

Singer: Jack Johnson and Mat Kearney

Subject: Math and US History

Teams: Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, Broncos, and U of A Wildcats

Restaurant: Oreganos and Hacienda Colorado

contact info

Email: jlrussell@dcsdk12.org

School Phone Number: 303.387.7700

You can also write a note in your child’s agenda!