Well, there’s no easy way to say this, so here it is: I’m leaving Westgate at the end of this school year. I’ll be teaching English and coaching basketball at my neighborhood school, Pomona High School. It’s bittersweet.  

I have the utmost confidence in our high school, our teachers, community, and our students. You are strong beyond measure and the institution is stable and vibrant because of you. It’s the perfect time for me to move on.  

I love Westgate today. I loved it yesterday. I will continue to love Westgate and am proud of my years of joyful service to it. It has been a professionally redeeming experience for me and one I don’t take for granted. I’m leaving entirely to pursue opportunities that Westgate, by virtue of model, geography, and philosophy cannot provide. These are institutional constraints, not failings. Westgate can’t, and shouldn’t, provide a basketball program, and that’s not a failing. Westgate can’t situate itself within my neighborhood a relaxing walk from my back door, which, naturally, isn’t a failing. Finally, since I’m not interested in administration, Westgate can’t offer opportunities for me to grow as a union teacher, which, again, isn’t a failing. I’m content and grateful. You will find me beaming from the front row at the next three graduations. 

As we transition out of this year, we’ll take the time to meet with students and as a community. We’ll circle up, like we always do. Mr. Brinkley and Mr. Cuevas will be here in support, as will Ms. Washington and Mrs. Novak. So will I. Anyone is welcome to email, call, schedule a conference or just drop by if they need anything. I’m still in service. And I’ll probably need a hug.  

Best, 

Micah Sturr 

Weekly Update 5-13-19 

We’re in the home stretch of the year. We only have a few weeks left to get some learning in.  

• Senior grades are due this week. Congrats seniors on an education career well earned. As always, we’re proud of you.  
• Happy Mother’s Day to all of our Westgate moms.  
• Service trips start this week when our seniors travel to Puerto Rico. Next week the Juniors will go to Taos, NM, the sophomores will work at the wolf sanctuary near Ft. Collins, and the freshman will serve locally. Service is a graduation requirement, and we’re honored to perform it. It’s a joy that makes Westgate Westgate.  
• Service panels went beautifully last week. If you missed yours, contact Mr. Sturr.  

A reminder about dress code as the weather gets warmer – we don’t want to see your underwear and make sure to cover anywhere that is traditionally covered with underwear.  

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

Weekly Update 4-22-19 

This week is one of those solid, typical weeks that are the foundation of education. We’ve tested out and are firmly in the semester. Keep at it.  

• The executive director’s address is this Tuesday in the high school from 6:30 to 7:30. There are big plans for the high school and entire school and this address is always a great place to hear where we’ve been and where we’re going.  

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

Weekly Update 4-15-19 

We have our first solid week of the final quarter this week and welcome a return to a typical schedule. We’d like to thank students and families for their flexibility and commitment during standardized testing. Westgate high school students always perform beautifully on these tests and that success reflects on us, so thank you.  

• Juniors will take the CMAS science test this Friday with Mr. Sturr per your agreement with Mrs. Colson.  
• Seniors will have their Puerto Rico informational meeting Monday at 5:00 in Mr. Sturr’s room.  

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

• As a reminder, freshmen can leave campus for lunch this semester if we have a parent consent to leave form. If you haven’t done it yet, ask Mr. Cuevas for one.  

Weekly Update 4-8-19 

Welcome back for fourth quarter! We trust spring break was restful and energizing.

Prom was a huge success last Thursday and we loved to see so many students come and celebrate in the Westgate way. A special thank you to Jordan for the DJ work and to everyone on student leadership for so many hours of planning and set up to make this year such a success.  

This week is testing week in the high school. If you don’t have testing on Tuesday and Wednesday, stay home and work on your college classes.   

• Monday – regular classes 
• Tuesday – SAT for 11th grade  
• Wednesday – PSAT for 9th and 10th 
• Friday – CMAS Science for 11th  

 We’d like to encourage you to add yourself to the mailing list to receive weekly updates for any class your student is currently taking. As the year progresses to a close, content and expectations are, naturally, becoming more rigorous. As is the Westgate way, we will continue our focus on meaningful in-class activities and project-based learning. We encourage you to sign up for our weekly updates to close the communication loop.  
 

Below are links to staff pages for High School Teachers. There, you can choose what specific class updates to receive. 

• Therese Catherine Ellis 

http://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=778945&type=u&pREC_ID=1217767 

• Micah Sturr  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=699659&type=u 

• Jason Brinkley  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=699654&type=u&pREC_ID=1217807 

• Tim Cuevas  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1003088&type=u&pREC_ID=1478771 

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

• As a reminder, freshmen can leave campus for lunch this semester if we have a parent consent to leave form. If you haven’t done it yet, ask Mr. Cuevas for one.  

Weekly Update 3-11-19 

Conferences are right around the corner, and we’d love to see all of you there! They’re the 21 and 22 of this month and you can sign up for a slot here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4DA9AF2AA2FE3-quarter3 

We’d like to encourage you to add yourself to the mailing list to receive weekly updates for any class your student is currently taking. As the year progresses to a close, content and expectations are, naturally, becoming more rigorous. As is the Westgate way, we will continue our focus on meaningful in-class activities and project-based learning. We encourage you to sign up for our weekly updates to close the communication loop.  
 

Below are links to staff pages for High School Teachers. There, you can choose what specific class updates to receive. 

• Therese Catherine Ellis 

http://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=778945&type=u&pREC_ID=1217767 

• Micah Sturr  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=699659&type=u 

• Jason Brinkley  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=699654&type=u&pREC_ID=1217807 

• Tim Cuevas  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1003088&type=u&pREC_ID=1478771 

Prom is coming. Join us for a fantasy dream on the evening of April 4 at Stonebrook Manor. Clear your calendar. A special thanks to our student leadership group for their continued work on this event and to the seniors for voting for the fantasy theme. It will be our best prom yet.  

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

• As a reminder, freshmen can leave campus for lunch this semester if we have a parent consent to leave form. If you haven’t done it yet, ask Mr. Cuevas for one.  

Weekly Update 3-4-19 

We’d like to encourage you to add yourself to the mailing list to receive weekly updates for any class your student is currently taking. As the year progresses to a close, content and expectations are, naturally, becoming more rigorous. As is the Westgate way, we will continue our focus on meaningful in-class activities and project-based learning. We encourage you to sign up for our weekly updates to close the communication loop.  
 

Below are links to staff pages for High School Teachers. There, you can choose what specific class updates to receive. 

• Therese Catherine Ellis 

http://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=778945&type=u&pREC_ID=1217767 

• Micah Sturr  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=699659&type=u 

• Jason Brinkley  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=699654&type=u&pREC_ID=1217807 

• Tim Cuevas  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1003088&type=u&pREC_ID=1478771 

Prom is coming. Join us for a fantasy dream on the evening of April 4 at Stonebrook Manor. Clear your calendar. A special thanks to our student leadership group for their continued work on this event and to the seniors for voting for the fantasy theme. It will be our best prom yet.  

The semester is a few weeks in, and teachers are posting grades every week. Be sure to check your grades weekly so you don’t get behind. Similarly, if you’re doing well, pat yourself on the back and keep at it.  

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

• As a reminder, freshmen can leave campus for lunch this semester if we have a parent consent to leave form. If you haven’t done it yet, ask Mr. Cuevas for one.  

Weekly Update 2-25-19 

If you want to attend charter advocacy day at the capitol this year, be sure to get your applications to Mr. Sturr this week. It’s a great way to flex your civic muscles, represent Westgate, and interact with your elected leaders.     

A reminder that food and drink, cell phones, and outside technology are not allowed in classrooms at Westgate.  

Prom is coming. Join us for a fantasy dream on the evening of April 4 at Stonebrook Manor. Clear your calendar. A special thanks to our student leadership group for their continued work on this event and to the seniors for voting for the fantasy theme. It will be our best prom yet. Expect tickets in late February.   

The semester is more than a quarter of the way done, and teachers are posting grades every week. Be sure to check your grades weekly so you don’t get behind. Similarly, if you’re doing well, pat yourself on the back and keep at it.  

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

• As a reminder, freshmen can leave campus for lunch this semester if we have a parent consent to leave form. If you haven’t done it yet, ask Mr. Cuevas for one.  

Weekly Update 2-19-19 

It’s a short week this week thanks to President’s Day. To celebrate: Four presidents of the United States have won the Nobel Peace Prize – Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama.   

Prom is coming. Join us for a fantasy dream on the evening of April 4 at Stonebrook Manor. Clear your calendar. A special thanks to our student leadership group for their continued work on this event and to the seniors for voting for the fantasy theme. It will be our best prom yet. Expect tickets in late February.   

The semester is a few weeks in, and teachers are posting grades every week. Be sure to check your grades weekly so you don’t get behind. Similarly, if you’re doing well, pat yourself on the back and keep at it.  

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

• As a reminder, freshmen can leave campus for lunch this semester if we have a parent consent to leave form. If you haven’t done it yet, ask Mr. Cuevas for one.  

Weekly Update 2-11-19 

This is kindness week at Westgate and the high school will be making and distributing kindness cards on the 14th. It is an annual tradition for the high school and we always have a great time spreading kindness to our neighbors.  

A reminder that we don't have school this Friday or next Monday. 

Prom is coming. Join us for a fantasy dream on the evening of April 4 at Stonebrook Manor. Clear your calendar. A special thanks to our student leadership group for their continued work on this event and to the seniors for voting for the fantasy theme. It will be our best prom yet. Expect tickets in late February.   

The semester is a few weeks in, and teachers are posting grades every week. Be sure to check your grades weekly so you don’t get behind. Similarly, if you’re doing well, pat yourself on the back and keep at it.  

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

• As a reminder, freshmen can leave campus for lunch this semester if we have a parent consent to leave form. If you haven’t done it yet, ask Mr. Cuevas for one.  

Weekly Update 2-4-19 

The semester is a few weeks in, and teachers are posting grades every week. Be sure to check your grades weekly so you don’t get behind. Similarly, if you’re doing well, pat yourself on the back and keep at it.  

Prom is coming. Join us for a fantasy dream on the evening of April 4 at Stonebrook Manor. Clear your calendar. A special thanks to our student leadership group for their continued work on this event and to the seniors for voting for the fantasy theme. It will be our best prom yet. Expect tickets in February.     

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

• As a reminder, freshmen can leave campus for lunch this semester if we have a parent consent to leave form. If you haven’t done it yet, ask Mr. Cuevas for one.  

Weekly Update 1-28-19 

 Prom is coming. Join us for a fantasy dream on the evening of April 4 at Stonebrook Manor. Clear your calendar. A special thanks to our student leadership group for their continued work on this event and to the seniors for voting for the fantasy theme. It will be our best prom yet. Expect tickets in February.     

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

• As a reminder, freshmen can leave campus for lunch this semester if we have a parent consent to leave form. If you haven’t done it yet, ask Mr. Cuevas for one. 

Weekly Update 1-22-19 

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others? -- MLK  

We’re back to the daily grind. Front Range classes start this week and the schedule will be a typical one.  

A hearty thanks to everyone who made last week our best start week ever in the high school. Successes like last week happen because everyone is on board and committed. Thanks students and families.  

• As a reminder, freshmen can leave campus for lunch this semester if we have a parent consent to leave form. If you haven’t done it yet, ask Mr. Quevas for one.