Shelton Elementary School is an amazing school located in the quaint neighborhood of Heritage Dells in Golden. Shelton has one of the most breathtaking views of any school here in Jefferson County. Students enjoy sitting outside in the shade in our new Outdoor Learning Area, playing soccer on our vast soccer field, jump roping or playing hoops or hopscotch on our blacktop. Sometimes, students just enjoy talking while they stroll around the outside perimeter of our soccer field. Regardless of what students are doing, they enjoy the great outdoors of Shelton Elementary.
On the average, we enroll about 460 students, kindergarten through fifth grade. We are proud to say we are a very diverse school both socioeconomically and ethnically. Our numbers vary from year to year, but we usually have around 17 different languages spoken, 22 countries represented and about 85 students who have English as their second language. Shelton hosts a center-based program supporting students with Autism and a morning and afternoon preschool. In addition, we have about 50-60 students on Advanced Learning Plans. Our staff works hard to differentiate for all students, and we do a great job!
We truly have one of the most beautiful campuses in Jeffco and certainly one of the biggest and most beautiful community gardens as well. Each grade level has a plot in our garden where teachers integrate curriculum and Project Based Learning activities. Cultivating the love of learning is what we do best at Shelton. Various grade levels participate in PBL’s throughout the year as well.
Having an active PTSA who support our students in many ways is important, and Shelton has just that. We start our year with the Shelton Jamboree where families enjoyed free food, face-painting and bouncy houses. It is a great way to meet new families and friends. PTSA supports our Math & Science Night, Donuts for Dads, Muffins for Moms, International Night, Coyote Chase, Golden Gallup, Talent Show, Sock Hop, Spelling Bee, Geography Bee . . . and many more. Our Silent Auction helps to raise money for STEM and Technology. Our PTSA helps support our technology needs and has graciously supported our Computer Lab year after year. Shelton’s PTSA brings our community together and helps highlight the wonderful things students are accomplishing. The Science and Engineering Fair has become one of the biggest and most participated in events at Shelton, and albeit, bigger than any school in Jeffco with about 160 participants annually. That is quite a feat!
Shelton is fortunate to offer Band and Orchestra to our 5th graders and Coyote Choir to our 3rd through 5th graders. Our Art, Music, and PE teachers work collaboratively to offer grade level programs for all students where the entire grade level performs and sings. Students are also excited that new this year, pottery will be available as PTSA purchased two pottery wheels. Shelton is one of the few elementary schools to have such a luxury.
Shelton has a close partnership with Colorado School of Mines, City of Golden, Golden Schools Foundation and Golden High School. Often times you will find volunteers reading, writing or working on math with students in the classroom or around the building. In addition, we have a strong Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program. Thanks to all the dads, grandpas and father-figures who help out regularly and keep our school safe and secure.
Regularly, teachers meet in PLC’s (Professional Learning Communities). During PLC’s, grade level teachers meet once a week for 70 minutes. During this time, teachers share their expertise and work collaboratively to improve their teaching skills to ultimately improve student performance. One of the highest effect sizes on student learning is collective teacher efficacy, and PLC’s provide one of the ways teachers collaborate. PLC’s are a cultural shift in regards to its purpose, use of assessments and response to student needs. We are always asking - What do we want students to know and be able to do? How will we know if they learned it? What will we do if they have not learned it? What will we do when students have learned it? Collective efficacy is the number one factor in determining student success.
We are working on revamping our library to make it more collaborative and engaging. Mrs. Maggie Chesser, our new Digital Teacher Librarian, won a $2,000 grant from Voya Financial to purchase two 3D printers for our school. Students are excited to begin using them. In addition, we applied for another grant for $10,000 to complete our library remodel and purchase more robotics and STEM activities for all students. Our mobile Makerspace is almost ready to use. We are still in the process of collecting a variety of materials to make a mobile STEAM cart (with robots, coding and hands-on lessons) and a Stop-Motion movie cart.
Five times a year we have service-based learning days where students help our school and their community. Our first Service-Based Learning project was in September, and we called it Shelton Beautification Day. All grade levels worked together to make Shelton a beautiful place to learn and grow. We have four more service-based learning days this year: November – honoring our Veterans, February – being heart healthy and wise, March – helping spread kindness in our community and April - helping our earth. Students look forward to these days and being civic and globally minded.
Shelton is a restorative school where we focus on building community with staff, students and families. Weekly, every classroom has community circles. Informal conferences are facilitated by staff as they work with students to resolve conflict and repair harm. It is important that we educate the whole child.
Shelton is an amazing place to work and learn. As a staff, we take our school mission and vision very seriously. We work endlessly to equip and inspire our students to be active and engaged citizens and know how important it is for students to learn skills for the 21st Century – collaboration, critical thinking, communication and creativity. We take collective ownership for all of our students’ learning and know it takes a team . . . Team Shelton!
Shelton is a place where we make sure every student thrives socially, emotionally and academically. And, it’s a place where your child is welcomed, safe and loved.