FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
New Summit Charter Academy
Nikki Reichert
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
719-749-4012
eichert@newsummitcharter.org" style="text-decoration-line: none;">nikki.reichert@newsummitcharter.org

New Summit Charter Academy Kindergarten Class Spreads Kindness Across the Country

Colorado Springs, CO – Mrs. Lucero’s kindergarten class at New Summit Charter Academy is proving that kindness knows no boundaries. As part of a nationwide educational initiative known as “Hearts Around the USA,” students are collecting valentines, postcards, and letters from all 50 states—and beyond—to demonstrate that kindness happens everywhere.

The project, traditionally held around Valentine’s Day, encourages classrooms to receive mail from across the country and place a heart sticker on a map for each state represented. As letters arrive, students proudly mark the corresponding state and display the cards, turning their classroom into a vibrant showcase of connection and community.

Mrs. Lucero thoughtfully tied the activity into New Summit’s schoolwide Kindness Challenge, helping her young learners see that acts of kindness extend far beyond their hometown. “We want our students to understand that kindness isn’t just something we practice at school—it’s something people share all over the country and the world,” said Mrs. Lucero. “Each card we receive is a reminder that we’re connected.”

To expand the project's reach, Mrs. Lucero shared the initiative in a national Kindergarten Facebook group. Families and classrooms from across the country responded enthusiastically. When participants provided their contact information, Mrs. Lucero’s class sent valentines in return—creating a two-way exchange of goodwill and learning.

In addition to reinforcing social-emotional learning, the project supports academic goals by helping students learn about geography, state names, and map skills in an engaging and meaningful way. Each new letter sparks discussions about different states, landmarks, and communities, turning every delivery into a teachable moment.

New Summit Charter Academy is proud of Mrs. Lucero and her kindergarten students for embracing this opportunity to combine learning with compassion. Through small acts of kindness, these young learners are building connections that stretch across the nation—one heart at a time.

Prepare for an amazing night of entertainment provided by our own CIVA Raven Talents!

Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Friday, March 13, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 1:30 PM & 7:00 PM

Get your ticket online at https://civaarts.ludus.com/index.php or at the door. 

For immediate release. Colorado Springs, Colo.

Coronado High School hosted the FIRST Robotics Pikes Peak Regional from March 5–8, welcoming 33 teams from across the United States and three international teams, including two from Chinese Taipei and one from Mexico.

During the four-day competition, students designed and operated robots to complete engineering challenges, scoring points by launching game pieces into a hub and climbing a tower structure.

Coronado’s robotics team, “Cougars Gone Wired,” earned 5th place overall and received the Excellence in Engineering Award for outstanding robot design and engineering.

In addition, team mentor Ryan Knight received the Woodie Flowers Finalist Award, honoring mentors who demonstrate exceptional dedication and leadership in guiding students.

The event brought together hundreds of students, mentors, and volunteers to celebrate innovation, teamwork, and hands-on STEM learning.

Colorado Springs, Colo. – On March 23 and 24, Silver Key will welcome community members for a two-day Champions Week event in support of its Meals on Wheels program and broader elder nutrition efforts. Volunteers from across the Pikes Peak region will help prepare and deliver nutritious meals to local elders, shining a light on the growing issues of elder hunger and isolation.

Champions Week aligns with national efforts led by Meals on Wheels America to raise awareness and advocate for stronger support of elder nutrition programs. Locally, Silver Key’s Meals on Wheels program delivers more than a meal—it provides safety checks, social connection and reassurance to older adults who wish to age independently at home.

“Champions Week is about showing our elders that they are valued and not forgotten,” said Jason DeaBueno, President & CEO of Silver Key. “When volunteers step into our kitchens and onto delivery routes, they see firsthand how essential these meals and visits are. It’s nutrition, yes—but it’s also connection, dignity and independence.”

In addition to preparing Meals on Wheels, volunteers will also help prepare nutritious food for Silver Key’s Connections Café, expanding the impact of Champions Week to elders who gather for affordable community meals and fellowship. Silver Key’s food pantry is another vital way older adults access the groceries and supplemental nutrition they need to remain healthy and independent.

Meeting Growing Needs

As food and fuel costs rise, so does demand for home-delivered meals and other nutrition services. National advocates are urging Congress to increase funding for the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program and protect critical supports such as Medicare and Medicaid home and community-based services, SNAP and community block grants that help sustain local programs.

There is also growing momentum behind “Food Is Medicine” initiatives to expand access to medically tailored meals and address social isolation through coordinated national strategies.

“These policies directly affect whether an elder in Colorado Springs receives a warm meal, access to groceries or a welcoming place to gather,” DeaBueno added.

Media are invited to attend Champions Week on March 23 or 24 to capture volunteers in action and speak with staff about the impact of Meals on Wheels and Silver Key’s broader nutrition programs in our community.

To learn more about volunteering, donating or advocating for elder nutrition, visit www.silverkey.org or www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

For immediate release and press invitation: 

Colorado Springs has a new educational STAR in town. The state-of-the-art Digistar Interactive Planetarium System and STEM Room at Mitchell High School reopen with a ribbon-cutting on Monday, March 9, 2026, from 4:00-5:30 pm. Join Superintendent Michael Gaal, Principal George Smith, School Board representatives, and local students as they celebrate the grand return of Colorado Springs’ ONLY Public High School Planetarium. District and school-based investment in Mitchell High School has created yet another opportunity to provide Peak Experiences across D11 and the entire city for all students, Kindergarten through college.

Though the planetarium's capabilities lend themselves strongly toward science instruction, the space can be used for much more. Recently, the planetarium was used in a Trigonometry class to better understand sine and cosine waves by studying the movement of the planets around the sun. Other cross-curricular opportunities include studying the Greek constellations and Chinese asterisms in a Mythology class or using the stars to navigate as runners on the underground railroad in a U.S. History class. Students can share tall tales under the stars and around an artificial campfire in an English class or even sing songs around it while the dome echoes their voices in a Choir class. 

The Colorado Springs School District 11 invites the press to the out-of-this-world grand reopening of the Mitchell High School Interactive Planetarium System on Monday, March 9, 2026, from 4:00-5:30 pm. 

Media Contact:

Valerie Jordan, Project Manager

VALERIE.JORDAN@d11.org

719-328-6608