Friday Churn: Time for break, graduation

What’s churning:

Students from Poudre to Pueblo are heading off to Winter Break, that two-week vacation that started today for some – Thursday was the last day for those in districts including Aurora, Adams 12 and Sheridan.

For others in districts such as Jeffco, Denver and Cherry Creek, the break begins after this afternoon’s final bell.

But not all students are coming back in the first week of January. This afternoon in Aurora, 21 students who once dropped out or were kicked out of school – and some who were just really, really close – will receive their diplomas through the district’s “rebound” program. Learn more here.

Two brothers will speak at the 4:30 p.m. graduation ceremony. Richard Jennings is graduating this month and Mike Jennings graduated in May.

“Graduating means everything to me at this point in my life,” Richard Jennings, a former dropout, said. “It means I’m one step closer to pursuing my future plans of attending college and establishing career plans.”

And speaking of graduations, the University of Colorado at Boulder will hold its fall commencement starting at 9:30 a.m. today in the Coors Events Center in Boulder. Check here for more information and a live webcast of the event.

On Sunday, Metro State holds its fall graduation at the Colorado Convention Center, starting at 2 p.m. Graduates total 1,144, the largest fall class in college history and 16 percent larger than last fall’s group. Lt. Gov.-elect Joe Garcia will be the speaker (more information).

What’s on tap:

The State Council for Educator Effectiveness meets from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Department of Education boardroom, 201 E. Colfax Ave. (agenda).

The Adams State College trustees start a two-day meeting on campus in Alamosa, with a business session at 10 a.m. today and winter graduation on Saturday (agenda).

Good reads from elsewhere: