2023-2024 Start and End Times

School Doors Open at

1st Bell

Tardy Bell/ School Day Begins

Last Bell/School Day Ends

CFL

7:25 AM

7:30 am

7:35 AM

3:15 PM

BUE

7:25 AM

7:30 am

7:35 AM

3:15 PM

GVMS

7:35 AM

8:05 am

8:15 AM

4:05 PM

GVHS

7:35 AM

8:05 am

8:15 AM

4:05 PM

Back-to-School Nights/ School Newsletter Links

August 8, 2023: BUE 6:00 PM

August 9, 2023: GVMS 6:00 PM

August 10, 2023: GVHS 6:00 PM

August 11, 2023: CFL 6:00 PM

Bus Routes/Registration

Here are the updated bus routes. Here is a bus registration form. If you want your student to ride the bus, you must fill out this form and return it to your child's school. 

**Please note, students that live in downtown Parachute can now be transported to and from Grand Valley High School. Please make sure to register your student so they can ride the bus instead of walking. These forms will be available during back-to-school nights and sent home with every student as well. 

Free/Reduced Applications

You can find them here (en español aquí). Our District is fortunate to be able to provide free breakfast and lunch for every student, but our ability to continue to do so depends on free and reduced applications. We beg every family to please fill out this application and return it to your child's school. Paper copies will also be available during back-to-school nights, and sent home with every student. 

Student Accident Insurance

Our school/district has selected the Student Insurance Plan from K&K Insurance Group to make reliable coverage available to parents. If you don’t have other insurance, this plan may be a resource to consider. Additionally, even if you have other coverage, this plan can help fill expensive “gaps” caused by deductible and co-pays. Coverage may be purchased at any time during the school year by visiting www.studentinsurance-kk.com. 

K-12 Student Accident Insurance Flyer

2023-2024 Student Accident Coverage

2023-2024 Enrollment

CFL families (PK-1) if you need help enrolling your child, please call (970) 285-5702. Enrollment packets for all other schools can be picked up at the St. John's Admin Building (460 Stone Quarry Road, Battlement Mesa, CO 81635).

2023-2024 Calendar Changes

Garfield 16 families, 

The Garfield 16 school calendar has been restructured for the 2023-2024 school year. The new calendar is above. The major changes are: 

  1. One school week (4 days) was added to the beginning of the school year. 

    • The first day for K-12 students is now August 15, 2023. 

    • The first day for preschool students is now August 22, 2023. 

  2. One school week (4 days) was added to the end of the school year. 

    • The last day for Preschool and K-12 students is now May 30, 2024. 

    • The last day for GVHS Seniors is now May 23, 2024. 

  3. The student day was decreased by an average of 36 minutes. 

  4. The instructional day was decreased by an average of 41 minutes (instructional time does not include recess). 

  5. BUE and CFL will start their day before GVHS and GVMS. Specific start and end times will be announced when bus routes are established. 

  6. Parent/teacher conferences will now be held at all schools. 

  7. Before and after-school childcare for elementary students, along with morning supervision for secondary students, will be developed. Surveys to collect data about the needs of our families will be released soon. 

Why did Garfield 16 implement these changes? 

These changes were developed to increase effective instructional time for all students.

A major concern raised by parents and staff was that the length of the student day was a challenge for most students. In order to decrease the student day, additional student days were added to the school year calendar.

Another concern was the structure of conferences. Parents wanted an opportunity to talk with teachers in a parent/teacher conference setting. The new calendar includes both parent/teacher conferences and student-led conferences.  

The new calendar meets CDE’s instructional hour requirements. It also allows for flexibility when inclement weather necessitates a school closure or two-hour delay. 

What was the process of developing these changes?

Our Superintendent heard concerns from parents and staff during committee meetings. These committees were established at the beginning of the school year, and open to all staff members, parents, and community members. Feedback from all constituents were taken into consideration. Four drafts of proposed calendar changes were developed throughout the process, in order to incorporate feedback from all stakeholders. Once representatives from all parties agreed on a final calendar, a cost analysis was performed. The proposed calendar changes were then discussed with staff at all the schools. The calendar changes were then presented to the Board of Education and the proposed changes were approved. 

What if my student has a previously planned trip, camp, or other obligation based on the previous version of the school calendar?

If you and your family have already planned around the previous 2023-2024 school calendar and your student(s) will be absent at the beginning and/or end of next school year, we will take those previously planned absences into consideration and they will be excused. 

We know this will be an adjustment, and we thank you all for your cooperation and patience.

Change is a challenge for everyone, and it takes time to adjust. We thank you in advance for your cooperation as we move forward in implementing these changes. We are confident that our students, parents, and staff members can work together to ensure “students will be successfully prepared for life in a safe and nurturing environment.”