GILPIN COUNTY - Parking spots were hard to find and the excitement was palpable as students, parents, and teachers returned for the Gilpin County RE-1 School District Back to School Night on August 11, 2025.

With the school year formally starting on August 13, 2025, the back to school night was a chance for informal introductions between parents and teachers, and reunions between students and friends.

The evening’s format was structured around teachers in their classrooms introducing themselves to parents and students, answering questions about the coming school year. Meanwhile, kids raced up and down the hallways greeting old friends and embracing teachers from previous years.

The Gilpin County Eagles Booster Club (gilpinboosters.com) had a merchandise booth and operated the food stand by the football field.

A kiddie train chugged around the track, and the gym had inflatable bouncy castles where the younger children could burn off some energy.

It was an informal and relaxing way to start the school year. It was also a reminder of the multiple advantages of living in a peaceful land where education is offered as an opportunity for all.

The Gilpin School District website is gilpin.k12.co.us/en-US. There is a Facebook group called Gilpin Parents that is focused on RE-1 affairs.