Durango School District 9-R
Durango School District 9-R
Families/Community Schools Faculty/Staff Curriculum Employment Administration Board of Education

Escalante Middle School
141 Baker Lane
Durango, Colorado 81303
(970) 247-9490 phone
(970) 385-1194 fax

Located in South Durango just of U.S. Highways 160 and 550

Enrollment: 469

Amy Kendziorski, Principal
akendziorski@durango.k12.co.us

Tim Arnold, Assistant Principal
tarnold@durango.k12.co.us

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G.A.S.P.





Relevant Links
  • Current Events
  • School Calendar
  • April Newsletter
  • Escalante Parent Organization
  • Escalante Staff Directory
  • Spanish Literacy Web Resource
  • K12 Planet
  • History Day Resources~!
  • Click Each Team!

    Upcoming MESA Meetings!
    Each Meeting will be from 3:40 – 5 p.m.
    in Ms. Nielsen’s room # 10.


    Weds. 4/30
    Weds. 5/7

    Congratulations to the following Escalante Students on
    their accomplishments at the Regional Science Fair!

    Rachel Rodri - 2nd place in Behavioral and Social Sciences Kiwanis award
    Nathan Langford - 2nd place in Physics da Vinci award
    Heather Piccoli - 3rd place in Consumer Sciences
    Claudia Marron - Honorable Mention in Botany
    Erin Mull - Honorable Mention in Chemistry
    Angela Grogan - Honorable Mention in Microbiology
    Joe Wayne - Honorable Mention in Physics

    Congratulations to all 87 Escalante 8th graders who
    earned their way to the Regional History Day competition
    sponsored by Fort Lewis College. The following Escalante students
    earned the right to compete at the State History Day competition
    on May 3rd at the Auraria Campus in Denver:

    James Ouellette - 1st place Historical Papers
    DJ Moore, Alyssa Gomez, Deme McCoy, Jenni Fischer- 2nd Place
    Group Performance
    Katie Salka, Andi Salafia, Casey Patten, Dannah Casto,
    Dorrian Casto- 1st Place Group Performance
    James Triola - 3rd place Website
    Ryan Mull, David Thorsby- 1st place Website
    Jennifer Mason- 1st place Individual Documentary
    Will Jernigan, Curtis Eggleston- 1st place Group Documentary
    Brad Rosten - 3rd place Individual Exhibit
    Tavis Anderson, Josh Lanus - Tie 3rd place Group Exhibit
    Dillon Irwin, Matt Simonsen - Tie 3rd place Group Exhibit
    Ashley Hitchell, Megan Piccoli - 2nd place Group Exhibit
    Ciara Smith, CourtneyMcAnear - 1st place Group Exhibit

    Hi Mom!

    Student Data and PLC
  • Chancery SMS
  • ESAP
  • Alpine Achievement


  • Building Utilities
  • School Dude
    (Click here if you don't
    know your account info)
  • Cayden Chumley and Ian Doughty
    2008 Four Corners Classic Team Roping

    Congratulations to the 6th Grade Purple People Eaters: Destination Imagination Champions!!!


    February 7th: Journey Through Our Cultural Heritage visits the
    Cortez Cultural Center and meets Sam Sandovaland and Pete Montoya

    On The Go: healthy eating for busy kids

    Between your own hectic schedule and your teen's whirlwind of activities, finding time for nutritious food can be a challenge. Here is a way to make sure healthy eating doesn't go out the door when your child does. Take food along! Encourage your youngster to take from food home when she or he is going to games or other activities. She will be less tempted to buy the high-fat, high-sugar snacks usually offered. For example, she could carry fresh fruit (apples, kiwi, plums, grapes), bags of trail mix (combine whole-grain cereal, nuts, and raisins), or baby carrots. Teen Food and Fitness
    See Escalante in Google Earth


    MIT's Scratch



    Map of Durango schools and academic resources


  • State accredited, award-winning Media Center
  • Colorado and Durango School District 9-R accreditation
  • "High" academic performance rating in the Colorado Department of Education's State Accountability Report
  • Grant-funded Learning Center for at risk students
  • School-wide bully-proofing and incentive programs
  • Reading, writing, mathematics, geography, science, and history are all taught using the team approach. We meet students' individual learning needs by challenging our instruction to address each students' learning style, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. We use online and computer-based instruction, individualizing reading programs , and student learning groups based on similar academic abilities. Escalante offers a challenging array of exploratory courses, including keyboarding, art, technology, foreign language, band, orchestra, choir, PE, health, interpersonal skills, and computer instruction.
    Escalante Teachers and Staff
    The staff includes 37 licensed and highly qualified teachers, many with masters' degrees and beyond. All staff members have been trained in interdisciplinary instruction, literacy strategies, and middle-school-level instruction. Escalante has a complete support staff of principals, counselors, librarians, physical education instructors, computer, art, band, choir, orchestra, music appreciation, foreign language, family and consumer studies, resource, special education, gifted and talented and technology-lab teachers. Secretaries, custodians, health aides, instructional aides, cooks, a Parent Partner and School Resource Officer complete out school staff.
    Special Activities / Opportunities for students:
    Each team teaches interdisciplinary units on river studies, Worlds Fair, History Day, multicultural issues, and more. We offer a full sports program for seventh and eighth grade students: football, basketball, wrestling, volleyball, and track. Students also have ready access to two computer labs, three computer mini-labs, state-of-the-art audio/visual capabilities, national and international videoconferencing, technology lab, science labs, media center, classroom computers, and computer-aided learning facilities.
    Special Services:
    Escalante is nestled against the Animas River below the Purple Cliffs. The campus includes athletic fields, nature study trails next to the Animas River, outdoor learning and physical education facilities. Our classrooms have been designed in clusters to create grade-level learning teams with our students. Each team area has its own technology and classroom support.

    Enrichment programs include independent Study (our gifted-and-talented program), Exploratory Challenge, Destination Imagination, Speech and Debate, Drama, Outdoor Adventure Club, Journey Through Our Heritage (an Exploration of the history and cultures of the people of the Southwest), Invention Convention, and Knowledge Bowl. Programs for special student needs include individualized curriculum, and advanced math, extended learning, resource services, special education, and an English-language learners program.
    Behavior Expectations:
    Because there are many students at Escalante Middle School, it is necessary to have guidelines that allow productive learning to occur. The following rights are based on common sense, Courtesy, consideration of safety, and respect for the rights of others.
  • The right to a positive learning environment: Everyone has the responsibility and the right to learn, and no one has the right to interfere with the learning of others. Students have the obligation to be prepared to learn. This includes being as school regularly and on time and completing assignments.
  • The right to be respected: Teachers' and students' dignity, welfare,and material possessions shallbe respected.
  • The right to learn in a safe environment: Fighting, threatening behavior, and possession of any type of weapon will not be tolerated. Drugs, tobacco, and alcohol are not allowed in school.


  • Consequences: Good behavior will be recognized with special recognition and privileges. If you chooses to ignore behavior expectations, there will be consequences for your behavior. If students choose to ignore behavior expectations, teachers will...
  • Work with students to modify behaviors.
  • Contact parents and counselors.
  • Meet with students, parents, counselors, and administrators to develop behavior plans.


  • If misbehavior continues, or in cases of serious infractions, the student will be referred to the administration. (please see the Parent/Student Handbook 2005-2006 for full explanations and definitions)


    Student Data and PLC
  • Chancery SMS
  • Alpine Achievement
  • ESAP


  • Building Utilities
  • School Dude


  • Odds and Ends
  • Pictures
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