Press Clippings

"West Jefferson Middle School celebrates 50 years", Canyon Courier, January 29, 2025

"Illustrious art at Center for the Arts Evergreen" [teacher Sarah Dignan art in show], Canyon Courier, September 22, 2023

"Falling for her students", Canyon Courier, December 14, 2022 

"West Jefferson Middle School Pinwheel Wall", JPS-TV, September 15, 2022

"Veterans Day activities at area schools" [photos], Canyon Courier, November 18, 2020

"Madison Strong", Canyon Courier, July 15, 2020

"Adapting to the challenge", Canyon Courier, April 29, 2020

"Ideas for changing the world", Canyon Courier, November 6, 2019 

"'He's just the dog'", Canyon Courier, October 16, 2019

"Cream of the chop", Canyon Courier, September 11, 2019

"Interim principal at West Jeff is familiar with the school", Canyon Courier, September 4, 2019

"A World Premiere", Canyon Courier, May 15, 2019

"Will You Be At ConiCon?", JPS-TV, April 9, 2019

"West Jeff’s TSA club teaches students about STEM", Canyon Courier, March 13, 2019

"WJMS students pitch ideas for South Platte Hotel", Canyon Courier, February 27, 2019

"Former West Jeff family filing lawsuit against Jeffco Public Schools", Canyon Courier, February 1, 2019

"What should we do with the South Platte Hotel?", Historically Jeffco, Issue 39, 2018

"'The Ripple Effect'", Canyon Courier, December 19, 2018

"West Jeff Middle honors veterans past and present", Canyon Courier, December 12, 2018

"WJMS students tackle issues as part of Social Change Day", Canyon Courier, November 20, 2018

"WJMS principal Schoenhals making himself at home", Canyon Courier, November 14, 2018

"Science night at WJMS provides interactive fun for students, parents", Canyon Courier, September 12, 2018

"Good for You" [Outdoor Lab bag design PBL], Canyon Courier, June 6, 2018 

"Good for You" [Paul Figlia receives Colorado PTA award], Canyon Courier, May 30, 2018

"West Jefferson Middle School Students Team Up with Weston Snowboards & National Forest Foundation", Jeffco Public Schools' Good News Blog, May 10, 2018

"In their shoes" [Ellis Island simulation], Canyon Courier, May 9, 2018

"West Jefferson Middle School students are charged with creating the perfect bag for Outdoor Lab!", Outdoor Lab Foundation newsletter, May 2018

"Beyond the Backcountry" [video], Weston Snowboards, April 22, 2018

"The Crystal Apple of her eye", Canyon Courier, April 11, 2018 

"West Jefferson Middle School Teacher Receives Jeffco PTA Crystal Apple Award", Jeffco Public Schools' Good News Blog and The Messenger (employee news), April 11, 2018

"Good For You" [BEST Robotics], Canyon Courier, January 31, 2018

"West Jefferson Middle School BEST Robotics Team Advance in Competition", Jeffco Public Schools' Good News Blog and The Messenger  (employee news), December 19, 2017

"Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR. opens at StageDoor Theatre", The Flume, October 28, 2017

"Science rules", Canyon Courier, October 4, 2017

"A Learning Experience" [photos], Canyon Courier, August 23, 2017

"Foothills teachers looking forward to retirement", Canyon Courier, May 31, 2017

"The Green Team is Coming!", JPS-TV, April 21, 2017

"Students escape comfort zones at Outdoor Lab", Canyon Courier, February 15, 2017

"West Jeff students learn energy conservation", Canyon Courier, February 1, 2017

"West Jeff students honor, thank local veterans", Canyon Courier, November 16, 2016

"West Jeff Middle School parents working to beautify school's exterior", Canyon Courier, November 2, 2016

"Electrifying energy conservation underway at Jeffco Public Schools", YourHub supplement to the Denver Post, October 28, 2016

"Science Night proves fun, educational", High Timber Times, September 28, 2016

"Jeffco iPD Mini-Grants: Supporting Collaboration in Schools", The Messenger (Jeffco Public Schools' employee news), February 18, 2016

"Fighting for healthier school food", High Timber Times, January 19, 2016

"A different kind of coach: the role of Jeffco’s instructional coaches", YourHub supplement to the Denver Post, January 15, 2016

"Hour of Code Video Chat With Kevin Systrom" [WJMS TSA students ask the first question at 01:03], Code.org, December 9, 2015

"A hallway for heroes", YourHub supplement to the Denver Post, November 23, 2015

"A Hallway for Heroes", JPS-TV, November 11, 2015

"Students have eyes for science", High Timber Times, September 23, 2015

"Sixth-graders get a warm welcome at West Jeff", High Timber Times, August 18, 2015

"West Jeff students campaign for preservation of Midway House", High Timber Times, June 9, 2015

"Jeffco middle-schooler helping to map out district vision for the future", YourHub supplement to the Denver Post, March 10, 2015

"Jeffco Students Champion Westall Monument", Historically Jeffco 2014, pp. 34-37.

"Conifer girl walks into the life of Bogart the donkey — and saves it", High Timber Times, October 15, 2014

"For these kids, Outdoor Lab is on target", High Timber Times, October 1, 2014

"They came to America" [Ellis Island simulation], High Timber Times, May 20, 2014

"West Jefferson Middle School students play a part in saving history", YourHub supplement to the Denver Post, May 16, 2014

"April Conifer town meeting serenaded by West Jefferson Middle school choir", The Flume, April 25, 2014

"The middle ground" [School Showcase], High Timber Times, January 28, 2014

"West Jeff students absorb science knowledge like a sponge", High Timber Times, January 21, 2014

"West Jefferson MS students donate winter hats to community", YourHub supplement to the Denver Post, December 20, 2013

"Evergreen artist’s works spans decades", YourHub supplement to the Denver Post, August 29, 2013

"Honoring a monumental act: West Jeff students restoring obelisk", High Timber Times, April 16, 2013

"Gross rational product" [science fair], High Timber Times, January 29, 2013

"West Jeff Middle School recruiting Watch D.O.G.S.", High Timber Times, January 15, 2013

"It's a small world" [Geography Bee], High Timber Times, December 11, 2012

"All it takes is a little imagination" [Destination ImagiNation], High Timber Times, May 8, 2012

"Conifer’s science community helps judge West Jeff science fair projects", High Timber Times, January 24, 2012

"All the school’s a stage... Popular acting class at West Jeff Middle teaches poise, provides emotional outlet", High Timber Times, January 18, 2012

"Early focus - For Marshdale eighth-grader, photography is in his frame", High Timber Times, November 8, 2011

"Safety first - New principal at West Jeff Middle School was a hero in her previous position", High Timber Times, August 29, 2011

"Casting off for retirement: West Jeff’s LaViolette ending 39 years as educator, administrator", High Timber Times, May 31, 2011

"Student mural offers support to Japanese", High Timber Times, May 31, 2011

"West Jeff students add to Conifer’s history with published book" [Gathering Conifer's Stories project], High Timber Times, May 9, 2011

"Middle school poet laureate can 'stop, drop and give 'em a poem'", High Timber Times, May 2, 2011

"West Jeff student wins Sertoma award", High Timber Times, April 11, 2011

"Students under a spell at annual bee", High Timber Times, February 28, 2011

"She has an edge - Conifer seventh-grader keeps her favorite hobby on ice", High Timber Times, February 14, 2011

"He's a wiz with words", High Timber Times, January 18, 2011

"West Jeff students are tops", High Timber Times, December 28, 2010

"Friends in deed", High Timber Times, December 6, 2010

"When learning takes flight", High Timber Times, November 15, 2010

"West Jeff students organize fund-raiser to help friend's family", High Timber Times, November 8, 2010

"Kicking it into middle-school gear", High Timber Times, August 23, 2010

"Sewing some puppy love", High Timber Times, June 1, 2010

"WJMS becomes Ellis Island for a day", High Timber Times, April 26, 2010

"Student storytellers: Members of West Jeff’s gifted and talented class spin yarns about Conifer" [Gathering Conifer's Stories project], High Timber Times, March 29, 2010

"Gathering Conifer's Stories: Eleven students tell their stories", High Timber Times, March 29, 2010

"Scavenger hunting with a technical twist", High Timber Times, March 1, 2010

"The myths of Conifer: West Jeff students seek tall tales about life in the area" [Gathering Conifer's Stories project], High Timber Times, January 11, 2010

"Patterns for life: Sewing, cooking classes prepare students with real-life lessons", High Timber Times, December 21, 2009

"Local mentors help West Jeff students prepare for science fair", High Timber Times, November 17, 2009

"The writing on the wall: West Jeff students create peace mural for world expo", High Timber Times, October 13, 2009

"Pinwheels for peace: West Jeff Middle School students show support for worldwide peace", High Timber Times, September 22, 2009

"West Jeff students collect food for those in need", High Timber Times, November 16, 2008

"New principals bring culture change to West Jeff Middle School", High Timber Times, October 23, 2008

"A tranquil spin", High Timber Times, October 2, 2008

"Middle-schoolers' murals are on the move", High Timber Times, June 12, 2008

"Parents criticize shorter bus boarding time at middle school", High Timber Times, April 10, 2008

"Program urges teens to make better choices", High Timber Times, December 6, 2007

"Making a PACT: Organization educates youths in violence prevention", High Timber Times, December 6, 2007

"Urban cowboys", Rocky Mountain News, January 27, 1997

"Schools’ growing pains", Rocky Mountain News, January 29, 1995

"6th-grade shift to middle schools proposed", The Denver Post, December 5, 1993

"West Jeff is focus of worry", Golden Transcript, February 25, 1993

1970s:

"Scorecard: Obstacle Course", Sports Illustrated, November 8, 1976

"Book Fair to celebrate opening of West Jefferson Junior High", Golden Transcript, May 7, 1974

"Long wait pays off in W. Jeffco school", Golden Transcript, March 21, 1974

"Moving Day; Wrestling [Mountain School Views]", Golden Transcript, March 20, 1974

"Lunch at the Brown Palace [Mountain School Views]", Golden Transcript, October 31, 1973

"Mountain school situation" [illustration], Golden Transcript, October 24, 1973

"Conifer still hunting for new school", Golden Transcript, September 20, 1973

"Gilbertson new WJ Junior principal", Canyon Courier, August 23, 1973

"More delays plague W. Jeffco school", Golden Transcript, August 22, 1973

"W. Jeffco school lag draws fire", Golden Transcript, February 14, 1973

"‘Where’s school?’ asks West Jeffco", Golden Transcript, February 16, 1972

"Conifer well producing, site called excellent", Golden Transcript, December 9, 1971

"Conifer school site could use gusher", Golden Transcript, October 20, 1971

"Conifer elementary school set", Golden Transcript, July 19, 1971

"'Pre-engineered' classrooms: New construction for schools", Golden Transcript, June 24, 1971

"Advisory committees discuss mountain school problems", Golden Transcript, November 20, 1970

"Conifer Junior High overcrowded", Golden Transcript, May 5, 1970

1950s:

"Virginia Linville First Place Winner in County Spelldown", Golden Transcript, March 20, 1958

"Here Are Your R-1 Schools [West Jefferson School]", Golden Transcript, June 6, 1955

"West Jefferson School Dedicated", Golden Transcript, April 21, 1955

"County Children Now Enjoying Full Day School Schedules", Golden Transcript, March 10, 1955