As the temperatures begin to cool, hearts continue to warm as so many young lives are touched through Horizons at Colorado Academy! In these first couple of months of this new school year, I have had the wonderful experience of sharing the outstanding Horizons story with so many supportive constituents of the Horizons program and beyond!

 

In this, my first year, as the new Executive Director of Horizons at Colorado Academy, I am increasingly excited by the sheer number of people who are sincerely interested in Horizons. “What exactly is Horizons and what does it mean to CA?”

 

Horizons is a program embedded within the fabric of Colorado Academy, and it represents CA’s institutional commitment to service! For the past 18 years, Horizons at CA has intentionally reached out to students who attend local Denver Public Schools in order to bridge the opportunity and achievement gaps in the areas of literacy, mathematics and access to cultural enrichment activities that these students would not have access to otherwise.

 

The success of our program is due to the intentionality of competent teaching professionals, innovative instructional practices in the classroom, and the long-lasting relationships that are forged between the students and the adult mentors throughout our program.

 

Each summer, we are able to invite more than 140 public school students to our beautiful campus to share in the wonder and experience of quality education and life experiences that absolutely change lives. Graduates of the Horizons program are 40% more likely to graduate from high school as compared to other public school students in the Denver area. Horizons graduates also enter into college at an increased rate and demonstrate the necessary career readiness skills that we expect in our own CA graduates.

 

In speaking with Horizons graduate Diane Rodriguez regarding her experience in Horizons, she says, “ In all honesty, I owe so much to Horizons. I would have missed so much if I hadn’t participated. Without hesitation, I will help as much as I can.”

 

Diane is a student who continues to give back to Horizons even after completing the program and has been inspired to pursue education as her own career. She is currently serving low-income students in our local Denver Public Schools in an effort to see even more students through to high school and college graduation and into the professional workplace.

 

During this season of Thanksgiving, the students from Horizons at Colorado Academy wish to express their sincere gratitude for making a difference in their lives! We continue to see an increase in literacy and math scores every year, and we are modeling the skills and tools needed for their continued lifelong success.

 

Thank you for making Horizons such a special part of the culture of giving that we experience everyday at CA.