Virtual Tour
Altona Middle School’s Mission:
Altona Middle School is a place where each individual student will create their own opportunities through Core, Enrichment, and Extracurricular achievement! Educators, parents and students have an equal responsibility to prepare every Altona student to be a leader and obtain key 21st century skills such as self-reliance and academic competence so they are able to thrive in an increasingly complex world.
Altona Middle School’s Vision:
“The middle level educational program in St. Vrain schools must develop a clear academic focus which prepares students with learning skills to make their high school experience successful. This must be done through all instructional activities. The middle level educational program must be structured in such a way that students who need more basic skill development receive it, even if some content or enrichment opportunities are limited, for those students, in order for this to occur.”
Standards-Based Education:
Our school is a standards-based school. Standards-based education is not a new fad, nor is it a reconstruction of past attempts at educational reform. Standards-based education is a system for teaching and learning that focuses on students becoming proficient in clear, measurable standards. For students and teachers in the day to day teaching-learning process, standards-based education means teaching and learning with the “end in mind”.
Awards and Achievements
Altona Middle School has received:
- Eleven John Irwin Awards of Excellence
- Six Governor’s Distinguished School Awards from the State of Colorado
- Recognized as a 2021 Colorado Trailblazer Schools to Watch
- Finalist for the Colorado Succeeds Prize for Transformational Impact in 2020
- Altona won the Best in Nation Verizon Innovative App Challenge
School Leadership
The Altona Way
| Six Pillars of the Altona Way for staff, students, and stakeholders | ACADEMICS How should we learn? | BEHAVIOR How should we act? | SOCIAL How should we interact? |
| PRIDEWe have a sense of achievement, produce quality work, and take care of our school. | We try our best, we don’t give up, and we learn from our mistakes. | We respect Altona; ourselves, others, the building, and belongings. | We are aware of self and others, and we respect the success of others in our school. |
| INNOVATIONWe consistently have new ideas/methods about how problems can be solved. | We approach problems with an open mind and are willing to listen to other ideas. | We are willing to share and collaborate to solve complex problems in a variety of ways. | We give and receive feedback while reflecting in a respectful and inclusive manner. |
| EXCELLENCEWe are outstanding and exemplary. | We give 100% and respect the learning environment. | We demonstrate outstanding and exemplary character at all times. | We treat others the way we want to be treated. |
| TEAMWORKWe work together as a unit, and all are valued. | We collaborate to support our own learning, and the learning of others. | We respectfully listen and inquire. | We are inclusive. We encourage and empathize with others. |
| GRITWe demonstrate courage, bravery and the ability to persevere. | We do our best first, and will try again if necessary. | We take responsibility and ownership of our actions, and try again. | We advocate for others when necessary and we work together to improve. |
| LEADERSHIPWe strive to inspire, motivate, and influence others to be their best. | We have a growth mindset and we do what is necessary to do our best. | We will lead by example to both set the example and serve others. | We will lead by example and we support others to do their best. |