STEAM Featured Story: LaunchED Lift Off!

A collection of links to the Balloon projects

Our 2nd Annual LaunchED Lift Off K-12 Design Challenge is inspired by the balloon festivals around our beautiful state of Colorado.  Students learned the physics behind how hot air balloons rise and fly in our blue skies. They then created their own unique hot air balloon designs that they thought people would be excited to see at a hot air balloon festival.

Students learned about the concept of buoyancy and how the hot air inside the hot air balloon is less dense than the air surrounding it which allows them to float in the air. The pilots follow airstreams to travel longer distances.

1st Grader Natalia – showed creativity by drawing a whole hot air balloon festival

a picture of a balloon project

3rd Grader Liam – showed creativity and attention to detail in his raccoon hot air balloon design

a picture of a balloon project

7th Grader Annalicia created a hot air balloon festival scene with her favorite characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas. So creative!

a picture of a balloon project

4th Grader Flabio – created space themed hot air balloons to represent LaunchED at a hot air balloon festival!

a picture of a balloon project

Recent News

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Apr 29, 2026

St. Vrain Valley Schools Earns National Recognition as a Best Community for Music Education for Sixth Consecutive Year

St. Vrain Valley Schools has been recognized by the NAMM Foundation as one of the nation’s Best Communities for Music Education, marking the district’s sixth consecutive year receiving this prestigious honor. This national designation celebrates school districts that demonstrate exceptional commitment to ensuring all students have access to high-quality music education as part of a...<br><a title="St. Vrain Valley Schools Earns National Recognition as a Best Community for Music Education for Sixth Consecutive Year" href="https://www.svvsd.org/2026/04/29/st-vrain-valley-schools-earns-national-recognition-as-a-best-community-for-music-education-for-sixth-consecutive-year/" class="button read-more-link"><span class="sr-only">St. Vrain Valley Schools Earns National Recognition as a Best Community for Music Education for Sixth Consecutive Year </span>Read More</a>

Mar 23, 2026

Student Leaders Experience Government in Action at the Colorado State Capitol

On March 13, student leaders from across St. Vrain Valley Schools stepped beyond the classroom and into the heart of Colorado’s legislative process. As members of the district’s Student Advisory Council—a group of high school students representing their schools and helping inform district decisions—these students traveled to the Colorado State Capitol for a firsthand look...<br><a title="Student Leaders Experience Government in Action at the Colorado State Capitol" href="https://www.svvsd.org/2026/03/23/student-leaders-experience-government-in-action-at-the-colorado-state-capitol/" class="button read-more-link"><span class="sr-only">Student Leaders Experience Government in Action at the Colorado State Capitol </span>Read More</a>

Mar 25, 2026

ParentSquare: Our New District Communication Tool

St. Vrain Valley Schools will begin using ParentSquare, a new district communication tool that allows families to receive notifications based on their preferences. St. Vrain’s communications team will pilot ParentSquare for the remainder of the school year with the plan to expand access to schools at the start of the new school year. We’re excited...<br><a title="ParentSquare: Our New District Communication Tool" href="https://www.svvsd.org/2026/03/11/parentsquare-our-new-district-communication-tool/" class="button read-more-link"><span class="sr-only">ParentSquare: Our New District Communication Tool </span>Read More</a>

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