August 4, 2026

Dear Cheyenne Mountain School District 12 Families, Staff, and Community Members,

Welcome to the 2026-27 school year!

As we prepare to welcome our students back to school, I hope the summer months have provided each of you opportunities to spend time with family and friends, recharge, and enjoy all that makes our community and Colorado such a special place to call home.

There is always something exciting about the beginning of a new school year. Our classrooms and hallways once again come alive with students and staff, athletic fields and stages filled with activity, and we are reminded of the extraordinary privilege we share in helping young people learn, grow, and discover who they are becoming.

This year is especially meaningful as we continue bringing to life the shared mission, vision, and core values developed with the input of our students, staff, families, and community. Our mission, Inspiring Passion through Learning, reflects both the simplicity and significance of our work. We want every student to experience learning that sparks curiosity, develops confidence, and opens doors to future possibilities.

Our core values remind us how we accomplish that work: People come first. Educational excellence. Tradition fuels innovation. Safety is foundational. These values honor much of what has defined Cheyenne Mountain for generations while challenging us to continually grow and improve for the students we serve today and those who will follow.

Building upon this foundation, we are also excited to launch our newly adopted Attributes of a Graduate throughout the District this year. Developed through extensive engagement with students, educators, families, alumni, and community members, these attributes describe our collective aspiration for every Cheyenne Mountain graduate: to become a Dynamic Thinker, Purposeful Contributor, Intentional Communicator, Principled Citizen, and Empowered Individual.

While academic knowledge will always remain at the heart of an exceptional education, we know preparing students for their futures requires even more. It means helping young people think critically, communicate effectively, act with integrity, contribute to something larger than themselves, and develop the confidence and self-awareness necessary to shape their own paths. Our Attributes of a Graduate will help us more intentionally connect these important skills and dispositions to the outstanding learning experiences already occurring throughout our schools.

At the same time, our longstanding District commitments remain steadfast: providing exceptional teaching and learning, supporting student and staff wellbeing, and maintaining safe and secure learning environments. Whether in our classrooms, on our stages, across our athletic fields, or throughout the many activities and experiences available to students, we will continue striving to provide the highest level of academic, artistic, and athletic opportunities while recognizing and supporting each student's unique journey.

None of this work happens without partnership. The tradition of excellence that distinguishes Cheyenne Mountain has been built across generations by extraordinary educators and staff, engaged families, dedicated students, and a community that deeply values its schools. I remain incredibly grateful for the trust you place in us and for the many ways you support our students and staff.

To our returning families and staff, welcome back. To those joining Cheyenne Mountain for the first time, we are delighted to have you as part of our community.

I look forward to all that we will accomplish together and wish each of you an outstanding 2026-27 school year!

My best,

David

Dr. David J. Peak

Superintendent

Cheyenne Mountain School District 12

Cheyenne Mountain School District 12
1775 LaClede Street
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80905
Voice: 719-475-6100
Fax: 719-475-6106
Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Fri. 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m