School & District News » Happy Summer!

Happy Summer!

 

June 1, 2026



Dear Fort Lewis Mesa Families,

 

The final bells have rung,

Our hallways are now still, 

We packed up our classrooms, 

It is time to chill!

 

Let’s take a moment or two,

To reflect on our year,

Our students grew in so many ways,

Academically, socially & emotionally, to be clear.

 

The students worked very hard,

Our staff did too,

As did our parents,

We couldn’t do it without you!

 

We are empathetic collaborators,

A solid team,

Day by day working together,

Each going after our dream.

 

Thank you for your unwavering partnership,

Your dedication to FLME,

We are better together here,

We are a strong community!

 

Happy Summer! Get Outside! Read Books! Have Fun!

(Principal Imel wrote this without AI)

 

Planning Ahead-Fall 2026 Dates to Save

  • Thursday, August 20 @ 8am-1pm: FLME Fall Check In
  • Monday, August 24 @ 8:30am-10:30am: FLME Meet the Teacher
  • Tuesday, August 25 @ 7:25am: Welcome Back! First Day of School!

*DON’T FORGET to register your student/s for the 26-27 school year. Register here.

 

FLME Library Updates

So much is happening at Fort Lewis Mesa Library this summer and it all starts the first week of June! Read on for more information, or email [email protected] with questions.

 

  • Monday Movie Matinees will take place at 1 pm on Mondays in June and July. Bring your own seating or pillows and enjoy a film in the gym on the big screen. It's a great way to beat the summer heat!

 

  • STEAMsters Maker Club continues on Tuesdays from 2-3:30 pm throughout June and July. Come create something amazing! Register at the Library.

 

  • Summer Reading Program for children aged 0-12 kicks off on Wednesday, June 3 at 9 am, and runs on Wednesdays through July 8. Come to one or all programs, but track your reading throughout the program to be entered for prizes! 

 

  • The annual Bike Rodeo takes place Thursday, June 4 at 9 am. Don't miss your chance to catch up on bike safety, ride the obstacle course, get fitted for a new bike helmet, and learn some tricks with Durango Devo! 
    • Don't have a bike? Bikes will be available for use. 
    • Is your bike a mess? Bring it! Our bike mechanic can get it up to speed for you!

 

  • Teen and Adult Summer Reading Program kicks off on Saturday, June 6 at 2 pm. Get a free book, your reading log, and weekly Bingo, and make an "artifact" out of clay! And, YES, our graduating fifth graders are invited to our teen programs!

 

  • Paint & Pepperoni on Wednesday, June 10 at 5:30 pm is just for teens! Create an acrylic painting while munching on pizza with your friends! The class is limited to the first 20 teens. Call 970-425-5610, ext. 1 to register.

 

  • Pokemon Club will be on Fridays in June and July at 1 pm for kids in 2nd through 5th grades. Must be able to read. Watch for more information. 

 

  • Tabletop Game Society for teens 6-12th grades will move to 4 pm on Fridays in June and July. Watch for more information and join the fun!

 

Durango School District Summer Workbooks

As we wrap up another incredible school year, I want to share a brief update regarding our 2026 Summer Bridge Program. This year, we intentionally redesigned the program to align closely with our core reading (OG+) and math instruction, giving our students a wonderful way to review and solidify everything they've learned with you throughout the year.

 

Summer Workbook Details for Exiting K-5 Students

All students leaving grades K-5 will receive 2 books to take home:

  1. Literacy Foundations: This book reviews the reading and writing skills learned throughout the year.
  2. Enigmath Problem Solving: This book is designed to engage students in meaningful problem-solving tasks aligned to grade-level math standards.

 

  • The main goal of these books is solidifying skills and encouraging a smooth transfer of learning over the summer. 
  • We want to keep students excited and motivated. Students can earn wonderful prizes at our community checkpoints throughout the summer for completing sections of their Literacy Foundations book. If they return both books back to their school office in the fall, they will be entered into a raffle!

 

Checkpoint Dates

Visit us during our Summer Bridge Checkpoints. You can stop by the District Office, Monday-Thursday, 8am-4pm (281 Sawyer Drive, Suite 100 in Bodo) during the following weeks:

 

  • Checkpoint #1: Week of June 15th
  • Checkpoint #2: Week of July 13th
  • Checkpoint #3: Week of August 10th 

 

Social Media: Summer & Beyond

Another local school shared the information below and given its relevance to our lives, I want to share it too. Knowing that our students have access to devices and often social media, we want to partner with you to ensure our students are safe, supported, and developmentally ready for these platforms. Here is some information around this:

 

🚸 Age Matters

Most social media platforms, including Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok, have a minimum age requirement of 13 years old. This guideline is not arbitrary—it aligns with what we know about child development:

  • Younger students are still developing impulse control and decision-making skills (executive functioning).
  • They may struggle to interpret tone, intent, and social nuance online.
  • They are more vulnerable to peer pressure and emotional reactions.
  • Online conflicts can quickly escalate, especially without adult support.

Given this, these platforms are not recommended for students under 13.

 

💡 How Families Can Help

We encourage families to take an active role in supporting safe technology use:

  1. Delay access when possible
  • Waiting until your child is developmentally ready (13+) can prevent many challenges.
  1. Set clear expectations
  • Create family rules around:
    • When and where devices can be used
    • Who your child can communicate with
    • What respectful communication looks like
  1. Monitor and stay involved
  • Know your child’s usernames and passwords
  • Periodically review messages and activity
  • Keep devices in shared family spaces when possible
  1. Keep communication open
  • Let your child know they can come to you if something feels uncomfortable or confusing online.

🔗 Helpful Resources for Families

 

🤝 Partnering Together

Our goal is to support students in building healthy relationships, both in person and online. By working together, we can help reduce conflict, protect student well-being, and ensure that technology is used in a safe and positive way. If you have questions or would like support navigating social media with your child, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

 

Stay Safe! Have Fun! Go Play!

 

See you in August!

 

Principal Imel