�鶹����’s 2022 Summer Semester is on!  Parents might find the idea of summer school difficult.  “My student has already gone through a year of school.  Why do they need more?”  This is a reasonable question – summer school often has a negative connotation.  Our summer school programs are not meant to make students or parents feel like they have missed something; instead, we offer additional resources to help students succeed, including themed and athletic day camps, graduation credits, credit recovery, and more.

Academic Programs

Our K-12 summer school program consists of three different formats: one for elementary (grades 1-6), another for junior high (grades 7 and 8), and one for high school students (grades 9-12).

The elementary summer school program consists of daily, one-hour sessions that run from June 27 – July 15.  Each course is designed to set our younger students up for success in the upcoming school year.  Students can join Support for Success in math and/or reading for three weeks of intensive, targeted skill support, or they can join Prep for Success: Vanguard 101 for an overview of grammar, writing, cursive, planner usage, and study and organizational skills. Any of these courses are a great way for new and returning students to prep for a rewarding school year.

At the junior high level, students can join on of two six-week intensive math courses that focus on bringing students to the appropriate level needed to succeed in appropriate math level.  A readiness test is administered at the conclusion of each program to ensure mastery.  High school students can participate in a wide range of courses, including readiness classes, credit recovery classes, and fine arts credit classes.  Classes are currently being offered for math and English readiness, history credit recover, and music and art history fine arts credit.

Enrichment Programs

In addition to academic courses, �鶹���� is also hosting two exciting enrichment programs, Custer’s Art Camp and Theater Camp:

Custer’s Art Camp, taught by Mr. Greg Custer, will help students develop their drawing skills. Students will spend the week developing their draftsmanship skills while having fun and making their own works of art. Students will learn the basic methods of drawing that has made our school one of the most successful drawing programs in the state. This instruction will serve all skill levels from the beginner to advanced artist.

Theater Camp will be taught by Coach Scott, who has written four plays, acted in forty plays, and was Director or Assistant Director on fifteen plays. The camp will include pantomimes, stage direction, how to be successful in auditions, developing improvisation skills, difference between movies and plays, costumes and make-up, principles of Method Acting, introduction to public speaking, and more!

Athletic Programs

In addition to academic and enrichment programs, �鶹���� hosts several sports camps for grade school students.  There are various sports that students can participate in, including lacrosse, cheerleading, and basketball.  In addition, there will be a 6-week SAQ (speed, agility, quickness) Camp that is intended to help students succeed in all athletics. There are age restrictions and specific dates for each sport listed .

Summer sports camps are the perfect complement to our summer school programs!  We encourage any students who have attended our camps before or are interested in sports to attend.

Enroll in Our 2022 Summer Semester

Please visit our for complete course descriptions and details. Registering your child for our Summer Semester is quick and easy.  to enroll your child or children in their selected activities.  Click the program or program you wish to add to your cart.  All of the associated fees with each program are already calculated for you.

Any questions about this program can be directed to our Summer Semester Coordinator, Joe Simboli, at Joseph.Simboli@TheVanguardSchool.com

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Manage your time

administration and teachers work hard to ensure that our students excel in and out of the classroom.  Time management is essential for student-athletes, academically and socially, and mentally. Students must maintain a healthy yet balanced social life. Here are some ways to help you manage your time:

• Set goals
• Create a to-do list
• Prioritize practice
• Stay focused and avoid distractions
• Communicate with your educator

Sports serve an important role in fostering discipline, ethics, leadership, and cultural variety by supporting life skills’ structure and development and our staff aims to assist student-athletes in honing in on those skills to be successful.

Maintain your relationships

Maintain strong contact with crucial people in your everyday life, including your coaches and teachers.  Make connections and work hard to demonstrate that you are 100% committed to academic and athletic achievement. The contacts you make now can aid you in the future by providing you with guidance, prospective references, and professional connections.

Don’t overburden yourself with responsibilities

While there are several responsibilities for you to fulfill, do not overburden yourself. Always prioritize the most urgent need and complete it, even if that means taking a break for the sake of your sanity. Remember that athletics is an extracurricular activity and not the end-all-be-all of your future.  When in doubt, prioritize your academics and communicate with your teachers and coaches accordingly.

Utilize your resources

Keep an open line of communication with your teachers, they are your best and most valuable resource.  At �鶹����, teachers have office hours for helping students after school, and there are many opportunities for one-on-one tutoring, just inquire at the front office!

In addition, some sports teams provide academic support in study groups and tutoring. There are also many programs outside of school that may help you achieve your goals. Don’t be afraid to ask your parent/guardian to help you seek out support when you need it.

�鶹����: Helping you win in life!

At �鶹����, we believe that having the chance to participate in a range of athletic programs and extracurricular activities is an important component of a student’s scholastic experience.  Participation in such activities is a privilege that comes with obligations to the school, the activity, other students, and the athletes themselves. For more information about our athletic and student-support programs, please email us at info@TheVanguardSchool.com.

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�鶹���� offers several before and after-school opportunities for students of all ages!

Before and After School Sports, Clubs, and Activities

�鶹���� has numerous opportunities to engage students outside of the classroom. Many of our 7-12^th grade students participate in , such as soccer, basketball, cross-country, tennis, and much more. Sports are known to help students adapt better to their environments and through participation, students can form lasting friendships.

Since not all students are interested in sports, we also have many leadership opportunities, that students are encouraged to explore. Students can flex their creative muscles through the fine arts (choir and theatre) or join the biology club. High school students may also contact a teacher or administrator about starting their own after-school club – the options are only as limited as out students’ imaginations!

Before and After School Activities for Innovation Learning

For K-6 students, �鶹���� hosts the program for before and after-school care. This program helps develop more well-rounded students through project-based learning, play-based discovery, physical fitness, and much more. The program works with your child to develop vital innovative problem-solving skills. Innovation Learning also offers their program during school breaks and teacher workdays at an additional cost.

All elementary (K-6) students are welcome to enroll and there is a cost to apply. for more information and to apply today!

After School Study Hall in the Library

Junior high and high school students are always welcome to attend study hall in the high school library until 5:00 P.M. Study hall allows students to catch up on their school work and the library is the perfect place, as it’s a quiet, studious environment.

Our after-school study hall will be offered Monday-Friday during the 2021-2022 school year free-of-charge. Students to do need to sign up to attend. For more information, please contact the high school front desk at (719) 471-1999 x200.

Parental Support for Before and After School Activities

We understand that parents are busy! However, it is important that parents actively engage with their students, both with their school work and their activities. A supportive environment means demonstrating enthusiasm for all of your child’s efforts and accomplishments. Ask about their day and actively listen to their responses. This encourages the student to give their best work and participate at all levels in their school work.

Interested in �鶹����?

Interested in enrolling your child at �鶹���� and taking part in our before and after-school activities? Visit our website, , or email us at info@TheVanguardSchool.com for more information!

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – �鶹���� easily defeated the La Junta Tigers by a score of 76-40 on Tuesday, Feb. 25.

�鶹���� was lead in scoring by Alexis Garcia who scored 18 points while also collecting five rebounds and four assists. Cortney Arrasmith recorded a double-double, scoring 10 points and collecting 11 rebounds.

La Junta was lead in scoring by Sierra Reisch who scored 20 points, while also collecting seven rebounds and one assist. Raini Tafoya had a good night, recording nine points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Both teams will stay at home in their next contest, with �鶹���� hosting Manitou Springs and La Junta taking on Colorado Springs Christian.

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Colorado Springs Christian was solid from downtown, drilling eight treys but ultimately lost 69-48 against �鶹���� on Thursday.

�鶹���� was lead in scoring by Dominique Clifford who accounted for 22 points while also recording 14 rebounds and six assists. Joseph Padilla had a solid night, recording 17 points, two rebounds and two assists.

Colorado Springs Christian was paced in scoring by Caleb Stockton who scored 14 points, while also recording six rebounds and six assists. Josh Erickson had a solid night, recording 10 points, nine rebounds and two assists.

�鶹���� will stay home and play Salida, while Colorado Springs Christian will travel to play Ellicott.

This story was created with technology provided by . Information accurate as of publication and will update as more data is available.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Vanguard High School seniors are ready to re-write last year’s agonizing loss in the 3A state title game.

“All they’ve been talking about is getting back,” head coach Joe Wetters said.

Nearly a year removed from an 80-68 championship defeat to Manual, the Coursers have a re-loaded roster with experienced seniors and promising underclassmen. Leading the charge is guard Dominique Clifford, one of the top-ranked high school prospects in the state of Colorado.

“We have the experience now from doing it last year,” Clifford said Thursday at practice. “We talk about just playing hard every game, taking every game seriously. We just have to stay focused mentally, up until we get to playoffs where every game is goring to be tough.”

Clifford and the Coursers have locked in early, starting the season 11-1 with a 7-0 league record at the midpoint of the year. Part of Vanguard’s success is the chemistry in the starting lineup. Point guard Joe Padilla grew up with Clifford, and the two players know each other’s tendencies from their years of experience.

I’ve known [Clifford] since kindergarten,” Padilla said. “He’s my best friend.”

They can read each other’s minds,” coach Wetters says. “They can give each other that brotherly love. I think they look to each other in times of frustration or stress, and they can see that…’you know we’ll get through this, we’ve been doing this since we’ve 5 years old.'”

Clifford is already committed to play collegiate basketball at Colorado, but his focus is on ending his high school career back in Denver, with a different trophy in his hand.

“I have business to take care of first. But I think I’m ready to play at that level.”

The Coursers next game is at Florence High School on Friday, Jan. 31st.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Vanguard High School basketball teams have high expectations for the remainder of the 2020 season.

The Coursers boys and girls basketballs squads are both 8-1 to start their season, and are ranked in the top 5 in the state in the latest CHSAA RPI rankings. The girls team continues to overachieve, winning two of their three league games despite just one senior and two juniors on the varsity roster. Despite the youth, the girls insists the team is clicking, and are hoping the momentum can lead to a deep run in February and March.

“We all like playing with each other,” Coursers senior Cortney Arrasmith said Thursday at practice. “We have some talented players, we get along well. We have good coaches, we work hard, and it’s paying off.”

The Coursers boys and girls teams will travel to La Junta for their next game. The girls game starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, while the boys play later at 7:00 p.m.

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During the Vanguard boys basketball’s historic run to the state championship game last year, it became clear that Vanguard’s Dominique “Nique” Clifford was destined for Division I basketball.

It was only a matter of where.

Friday, Clifford announced his commitment to the University of Colorado through a two-part video series on Twitter.

“I would like to start off by saying thank you to everyone who has been on this journey with me,” Clifford said in his commitment video. “I could not have done it without the help and support from my mom, dad, grandparents, teachers, friends, coaches, teammates and trainers.”

Since he was a kid Clifford had dreamed of playing basketball at UCLA, but when and offer didn’t come he chose the next best thing — to play the Bruins twice a year.

“I think God has a plan for everyone so I think getting to play them is just as good — I’ll just have to show them what they missed,” Clifford said.

He said he’s excited about the freedom of college life, and transitioning to a much bigger school and program than Class 3A Vanguard.

“Basketball wise it’s going to be a lot different with the competition levels, but it’s been my goal all my life. I’ll be ready for it when the time comes,” Clifford said.

His time might come earlier than typical recruits, as Clifford said CU coaches hopes he will have an immediate impact on the team as a freshman.

“They see me playing combo guard and they honestly think I could take them to the next level as a program,” Clifford said. “Of course it all has to be earned, but it’s the big time and big goals for me so I’m on the grind to prove them right.”

In three varsity seasons at Vanguard, Clifford has averaged 14.5 points per game, including a career-high double-double average of 18.9 points and 11.3 rebounds as a junior.

His junior season, in which he helped the Coursers to the Class 3A state championship game, was sparked by a 5-inch growth spurt in the off season. His height, 6 feet, 5 inches, quickness and flair made him one of the most dangerous shooting guards in the state.

He has received 11 Division I offers, including from Stanford, Denver, Northern Colorado, Colorado State and Wyoming. He went on official visits to CU, CSU and Wyoming in the last month.

Clifford said it was a touch decision between Wyoming, CSU, Stanford and CU, but chose to go on official visits at certain schools because of the connection he felt with the coaches.

“All of the places I visited were super nice, but Colorado had the best campus, and on my visit I just felt at home,” Clifford said. “It really just hit different than other schools.”

“What stands out most about Dominique is his personality,” said Vanguard coach Joe Wetters in the commitment video. “He’s a fearless leader and very intelligent on the basketball court. I think what separates him most is his ability as a lead guard to put himself in position to make the team better, and that’s what he’s good at.”

Clifford is listed as a four-star recruit and ranked No. 83 nationally on 247 sports among the top 2020 basketball recruits.

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The two coaches on the court at Thursday’s 3A Tri-Peaks volleyball match between Vanguard and St. Mary’s may have only recently returned to girls’ volleyball, but their resumes speak for themselves.

With more than 500 combined match wins and 10 state championships, David Barkley and Andrew Soeldner returned this season after taking time off from girls’ volleyball.

Barkley retired from coaching in January 2018, after 15 seasons and six state championships with Cheyenne Mountain. But after about a year away from the court, he was approached by a family friend about the opening at St. Mary’s.

Barkley initially said no.

“Not unless there is an opening in the English department,” Barkley told Nancy Kellick, the Pirates’ C-team coach and mother of junior middle Jillian Kellick.

Two days later, one opened up.

“It wasn’t forced, it was a real opening, so I applied,” Barkley said. “I coach for the same reason wherever I am. These are some great kids, they work so hard and I’m happy to be here. We’re having fun, we smile and we play the game.”

There was an air of excitement on the team when it was announced last spring that Barkley would be joining the coaching staff.

“I thought it was a blessing. I was so excited the bar was set really, really high and he has met that and even more,” said senior libero Sarah Connors. “He knows his stuff and really wants us to succeed. He really knows how to get us at our full potential.”

St. Mary’s came away with a 3-0 sweep over Vanguard, defeating the Coursers 25-20, 25-17, 25-12.

Seneca Hackley had seven kills for the Pirates and Jillian Kellick had five. St. Mary’s racked up 21 aces against Vanguard, led by Rachel Wilcox and Connors with seven each.

Soeldner, on the other hand, was busy coaching the Vanguard boys’ team to four straight state championships and a near-perfect 92-2 record.

“Several players from the varsity team from last year actively sought me out and wrote me a letter imploring me to come back to coach them,” Soeldner told the Gazette in Vanguard’s preseason questionnaire. “I hope to live up to their expectations.”

Soeldner, an engineer, is already bringing a different coaching technique to the girls’ team that has proven successful on the boys’ side the past four years.

“It’s a different game,” Soeldner said. “It’s been a little bit of an adjustment and getting back into gear for me.”

His coaching, which relies heavily on analytical film review, angles, velocity and energy, is so in-depth that he even wears a mic on the sideline to analyze his own coaching.

“At first they were kind of snickering a little bit, and telling me that nobody has ever explained it like that before, it makes a lot of sense,” Soeldner said. “I think they’re finding value in that, and my coaches as well.”

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As the school year gets closer, elite wing Dominique Clifford’s recruitment is starting to wind down.

The No. 4 as of now player in the state took to twitter on Tuesday evening to announce his list of schools that have offered him.

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— otn_nique (@NiqueOtn) 

Making the cut for one of the state’s best prospect were the region’s top universities: University of Colorado, Colorado State, Wyoming, Air Force, Denver University, Metro State and Nebraska and also had an offer from Pac-12 school Stanford.

After being a state runner-up last season for �鶹����, Clifford’s status grew as he picked up big school after big school heading into the grassroots season with the Colorado Miners, who also had a successful offseason.

Clifford averaged 18.9 points, 11.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists in his junior season while also shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc as well. He also made the 3A All-State First-Team as a Junior.

Clifford is a versatile forward that’s quickly become one of the more productive all-around players in the state.

He has great size and strength and he will only continue to get bigger and stronger. He has a long wingspan, possesses tremendous athleticism and a solid first step with elite leaping ability. What he added to his game this year was becoming a more dynamic offensive player as he was already a talented defender. He is able to fill up the stat sheet in every possible way and this was his coming out year.

Next year will be his to dominate as I expect him to be the favorite as the 3A player of the year.

Clifford will have to narrow down his schools a bit more soon, but with a major senior year coming up and offers already from some of the top schools in and out of state it is expected that Clifford will add even more division I schools to the mix and whatever school that gets him is getting a gym rat with one of the highest ceilings that Colorado has to offer.

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