Denver, CO
A day at Denver’s Valdez Elementary with 2 newly arrived migrant students
Fourth graders streamed one at a time through the playground door at Denver’s Valdez Elementary, a snaking jumble of energy and untied shoelaces.
Most bounded up the stairs to their classrooms. Only a few stopped to give a quick side hug to the staff member who was squinting in the sun and holding the door. Two of the huggers were Jesus and Leiker, who arrived in Denver from Venezuela a few months ago.
The boys, ages 9 and 10, are among the more than 38,000 migrants who have come to Denver in the past year after fleeing political and economic crises in their home countries.
Some of the new arrivals are families with children like Jesus and Leiker. Denver Public Schools has enrolled more than 3,200 of these young people since the start of the school year.
A majority arrived after the October cutoff date that determines how much per-student funding DPS gets from the state, creating a financial shortfall for the state’s largest district and causing schools to scramble for resources.
But not all schools. The new students are concentrated in a couple dozen of DPS’ more than 200 schools, which the district has been calling hotspots. The main reason is because the schools offer specialized instruction in both English and Spanish.
Valdez, also known as Escuela Valdez, has a longstanding dual language program. It’s also right up the street from a city-run shelter inside a Quality Inn, which Principal Jessica Buckley said everyone simply calls “The Quality.” Valdez, which had about 400 students last year, has welcomed more than 100 new students in the past few months.
Jesus and Leiker met at The Quality, where both of their families were staying, and became fast friends. They say they are like brothers: “Somos como hermanos.”
This is what one school day looked like recently for Jesus and Leiker, whose last names Chalkbeat is withholding to protect their identities as they navigate life in a new country.
Read the full report from our partners at Chalkbeat Colorado.
Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.
Denver, CO
Denver defense delivers as Broncos edge Raiders to keep NFL’s best record
Denver’s defense bailed out the Broncos in a 10-7 squeaker over the reeling Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night, sacking Geno Smith six times to atone for spotty performances on offense and special teams.
The Broncos (8-2) own the league’s best record, but they didn’t look anything like it on a windy night in the Rocky Mountains.
They barely outplayed the Raiders (2-7), who just traded away top receiver Jakobi Meyers, in winning for the seventh straight time overall and extending their NFL-best home winning streak to 10.
Wil Lutz’s 32-yard field goal with five seconds left in the third quarter broke a 7-7 tie and followed JL Skinner’s block of AJ Cole’s punt, setting up Denver’s struggling offense at the Las Vegas 12.
The Broncos lost two yards on three plays and Lutz, who was way short on a 59-yarder earlier in the third quarter, nailed it through the wind to give Denver their first lead.
Cornerback Kyu Blue Kelly’s interception set up the Raiders at the Denver 45-yard line in the waning minutes, but Daniel Carlson was wide right on a 48-yard field-goal try with 4:26 remaining that would have tied it.
The Broncos chewed up the rest of the clock with a methodical drive at last and ending up taking kneel-downs in victory formation inside the Raiders 20-yard line after Las Vegas ran out of timeouts.
The game was a typical Thursday night flag-fest with neither team able to get into an offensive rhythm and a steady stream of players – including Smith – retreating to the sidelines and the blue tent to have injuries checked out.
The Broncos’ trend of slow starts continued as they managed just six yards in six first-quarter snaps and trailed 7-0 after allowing Ashton Jeanty’s four-yard touchdown run.
The Broncos finally got a first down on their fifth possession when JK Dobbins scampered for a 13-yard gain on first down. Four plays later, Bo Nix found Troy Franklin for an 11-yard touchdown to tie it at 7-7.
Denver had 116 yards in the first half, two more than Las Vegas. Denver’s defense tallied five first-half sacks. The Broncos have 46 so far this season. That’s the most through 10 games by any team since at least 1990.
The Broncos again made several miscues on special teams, and rookie Jeremy Crawshaw shanked three first-half punts, which traveled 30, 36 and 38 yards. Skinner made up for that by blocking Cole’s punt with his facemask.
Denver, CO
Things to Do In And Around Denver This Weekend – 11/6-11/9 – 303 Magazine
Where: The Brighton – A NPU Venue 3403 Brighton Boulevard Denver, CO 80216
Cost: $35+
The Lowdown:
Western fashion continues to be a significant and evolving trend in the US.
Picture this: the energy of the crowd, the buzz of excitement in the air, and the spotlight shining bright on you as you showcase your most fabulous Western attire, complete with cowboy boots, wide-brimmed hats, denim, fringe, and turquoise accents.
Denver, CO
Greeley police searching for missing Denver woman 2 months after disappearance
DENVER (KDVR) — Officials are looking for any information about a Denver woman who was last seen in Greeley more than two months ago.
The family of Margarita Castillo-Perez, 26, reported her missing on Sept. 5, but her last known location was in Greeley more than a week before on Aug. 28, according to the Greeley Police Department.
Police said they do not know why she was in Greeley and that she has “associates” in both Denver and Littleton.
Her social media accounts are inactive, and she does not have any vehicles associated with her.
Anyone who sees Castillo-Perez should contact their local law enforcement agency, police said, and anyone with information on her whereabouts can contact the Greeley Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit at 970-350-9603.
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