October at Golden View

A LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL

October 2025

Dear Friend of Golden View Classical Academy,

Over Fall Intermission, some 7th, 8th, and 9th Grade students traveled to Washington, D.C. as part of a biennial school trip. Despite the annoyances of a federal government shutdown, students were able to see some of the great monuments, museums, and memories of our nation. One particularly interesting and meaningful experience was a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. While all students were able to visit, four students were selected based on an internal essay contest to lay a wreath at the Tomb as part of their ceremony. It is a high honor for a civilian, and one our students took very seriously.

I want to share with you two of the winning entries in that writing competition. A classical education like the one they are receiving is meant to clarify moral principles and reveal a level of gravity behind our interests that merits heightened attention. I think that spirit and purpose is on display here, and I share them with you in the hopes that you see it as well.

Essay 1

I would like to lay the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier because the experience would connect to both my past relatives and my personal life in several ways. Because I have past relatives in the armed forces, I would like to be able to honor each for the different things that they did. First, my great aunt Nancy was a combat nurse in the Bosnian genocide, who did critical care and helped to save the lives of indigenous people, civilians, soldiers, and others too. I interviewed her and she told me what she thinks the Tomb the Unknown Soldiers means. She said, “Soldiers may be gone, but in our hearts we still have them.” I think that it is a very important and true quote and I believe that is why I would be laying the wreath and why I want to honor my veteran relations, dead or living. Second, my great grandfather, Frank Allen, flew into China with supplies and food to help save them from genocide in World War II. Finally, my other great grandfather, Frank Brautigam, was on a war boat as part of the invading forces in Okinawa. While neither of the Franks are alive today, I still want to remember them because again, “Soldiers may be gone, but in our hearts we still have them,” and I wish to remember them for their bravery and dedication.

Laying the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier would not only honor my past relatives, but would help me as a person to strengthen and grow in character. First, the experience would set a higher standard as a way to act. It would remind me to behave like someone who is deserving of laying the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I would feel more compelled to act in a way that demonstrates that I recognize the hardships and sacrifices that American soldiers made. Next, being able to honor and respect veterans and our dead warriors would really show me what sets them apart. That is the fact that they were willing to die in combat to save their country, their friends, and their family. It is something that should be looked up to and respected. And last, recognizing such courage and sacrifice would lead me to try and mimic their heroic behavior in some fashion in my day to day life. Veterans and soldiers set great examples of ways to act in just simple ways: doing the right thing and not the easy thing, following instructions and rules, and having the courage to do what is difficult, and like my great aunt Nancy and my great grandfathers, noble.

Essay 2

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier represents the sacrifices made in our country. The soldiers thought their war was bigger than themselves, and their families, and even their own lives. They fought so our country would be able to pursue good.

Having the incredible honor of laying the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier would not be significant to me because of relatives that have served, but because the virtues displayed and practiced by the soldiers are the same virtues Golden View has taught me to practice today. These are our core virtues. The soldiers obviously showed courage and justice, but one that is less obvious that stands out to me is friendship. Just as my friends support each other, care for each other, and protect each other, the soldiers supported, cared for, and protected each other and our country.

This opportunity would be impactful to me because I feel lucky to understand how much these heroic soldiers sacrificed and I feel grateful that I have the ability to pursue good and have freedom because of them.

I am very proud of these students and the others who participated, and hope you are as well.

Sincerely,

Dr. Garrow

Principal, Golden View Classical Academy

CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHT

People who don’t teach Kindergarten or who don’t have a Kindergarten student may not understand how much learning takes place over the academic year. Most Kindergarten students come to school knowing how to “draw” a picture of their name, with little understanding of correct letter formation or that the letters in their name are symbols for individual sounds that are put together to make the word that is their name. During the first month of school, Kindergarten students learn just 6 phonograms. They learn their sounds and the correct ways to write them and they learn how to blend them together to make words. By the end of the first semester, they have learned the first 26 phonograms and begin to read leveled readers. By the end of the Kindergarten year, the students have learned 45 phonograms. They are able to write dictated sentences of 10-12 words and they write about the things they are learning using their knowledge of spelling rules.

Children’s literature is rich and the curriculum at Golden View covers Aesop’s Fables, Fairy Tales, and American Tall Tales. The students will write personal tall tales after studying the stories of Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, and others. They will write true sentences about themselves, exaggerate the sentences, write them with their best handwriting and correct spelling, illustrate the sentences, and read their tall tale to the whole class as part of our Anchor Feast.

In History class, the students learn about the seven continents, Native Americans, the Mount Rushmore presidents, and American symbols. In Science class, they learn about their five senses, materials and motion, and the needs of plants and animals.

Math in Kindergarten begins with learning to count and write numbers to five and by the end of Kindergarten the students are able to add and subtract within 10 and they understand place value to 100. It is truly remarkable to watch a Kindergarten student evolve and learn throughout the year.

From Mrs. Hermanson, Kindergarten Teacher

ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHT

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) proudly supports this cause and encourages its member schools to show their support by wearing pink throughout the month.

Golden View joined the movement in style with our very own Pink Out Game! Every Upper School student who attended received a free pink shirt. Our Varsity Team sported custom pink jerseys designed by the team captains themselves throughout October.

We’re happy to support a meaningful cause -- and it was also a fun excuse to wear pink!

We are greateful to our generous sponsors for making the pink shirts and custom jerseys possible!

From Mr. Gilmore, Athletic Director

NEW AND NOTEWORTHY

Board Meeting

The November Board Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19th at 5:30pm in the Bailey Heritage Library. You can find meeting agendas on Diligent Community prior to the meeting.

Enrollment

If you or a family you know is interested in enrolling at Golden View Classical Academy, please send them to our enrollment page.