March 10, 2016
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CAUCUS COMPLETE
Jeffco voters joined the rest of the state in caucusing last week. Read about it on PAGE 7.
Fire at eatery worries staff School House employees fear for livelihoods amid temporary shutdown “See, you know English really well,” Annie Bryson, second-grade dual language teacher told, from left, Cristobal Nara-Rios, Damian Ontiveros Gutierrez and Christian Rodriguez. The Foster Elementary students were learning about the use of the silent ‘e’ in English grammar while playing checkers. Photos by Crystal Anderson
‘Do you want us to answer in English or Spanish?’ Two-thirds of Foster’s students participate in dual-language program By Crystal Anderson canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com Ask Foster Elementary School’s second-grade students about their charity projects, and the response can be surprising. “Do you want us to answer in English or Spanish?” said Madi Hiester. Her three classmates, Mateo Acosta, Arvada: America GonArvada K-8 (7th and zales and Arody 8th grades) Rodriguez, seconded the Foster Elementary question. (kindergarten - 6th Six weeks grades) ago, Hiester and Edgewater: her 54 dualEdgewater Elementary language classSchool mates split into Lumberg Elementary groups of native School Spanish and English speakLakewood: ers to research Molholm Elementary area nonprofSchool its, learning Stein Elementary how economic School factors — scarcity, opportunity costs, and goods versus services — affect business. The groups were tasked with researching and writing their projects in English, then presenting to the class and Foster’s Parent Teacher Association in Spanish. “I like that we got to speak and write in a different language,” Acosta said of his research project on the Arvada Community Food Bank. “It’s important because we get to learn about a different language and we can use it to become better people.” Working collaboratively with their classmates, Hiester said she made more friends, and was able to speak, read and write in Spanish. Most important, however, was learning that they can make a difference. “It’s important because every kid, per-
JEFFCO DUAL LANGUAGE SCHOOLS:
While discussing their assignment on tornadoes in English and Spanish, Aldrik Castillo, left, and Santana Rena write a summary in English. Rena just moved to the United States from Mexico.
IN THEIR WORDS “I can do things I haven’t done before, like write an SCR (short constructive response) in Spanish and understand it.” Mateo Acosta “You can learn both English and Spanish and you can make friends in religion, in Spanish and in English a lot more. I’ve learned more English and I now understand more English, especially in time, weather and other things.” Arody Rodriguez
son, animal, living thing can get help,” she said. “I learned that anyone can help anyone at any time and that you can help kids by helping Ralston House. And I’m very happy we could do that.” Foster, in Arvada, is one of the Jeffco district’s six elementary schools offering dual-language programming. Jeffco Schools has 1,170 students enrolled in those programs, which focus on teaching students English and Spanish. Based on the most recent demographics available from the district, there are 307 Hispanic students at Foster. Roughly 40 percent are native Spanish speakers, or speak both Spanish and English.
“It’s hard to collaborate at first, but then we make friends. So in the future, if you were talking to a Mexican person, and you need to speak Spanish, you can because you know both languages.” America Gonzalez “Being in an English class and a Spanish class I can make more friends and learn more in my future. In the future you may need to talk Spanish, and now you can.” Madi Hiester
“The need comes from the community,” said Catherine Baldwin, the district’s director of dual language programming. “These areas wanted to make sure their children were getting a bilingual education, so when they graduate they’re both bilingual and biliterate in English and Spanish.” At Foster, students have the option of enrolling in a dual-language course beginning in kindergarten. This year, 300 students — two-thirds of the school — enrolled. The program began the fall of 2004 with a Kindergarten/1st grade class. A new grade was added each year. Bilingual continues on Page 5
By Crystal Anderson Canderson@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Two weeks ago, a small kitchen fire closed School House Kitchen and Libations, leaving bar manager Andy Busold and his staff temporarily unemployed and wondering ”How long can we hang in there?” “We have a really tight-knit staff, and we miss being together doing what we love,” Busold said. “The things that frighten me are the loss of employees in this whole process — it’s hard not knowing how long we’re going to be out of work and it’s scary.” Many questions remain unanswered after an early morning structure fire damaged the restaurant in Olde Town at 5660 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. on Feb. 20, including when the restaurant will reopen and how long it can sustain the closure. “My biggest concern is my employees,” School House owner Scott Spears said. “This affects their livelihoods. We’re trying to do everything we can to ensure they keep their jobs and are stable.” The fire started at 1 a.m. in the School House kitchen behind the restaurant’s pizza oven, just above the stairwell that leads to the second floor, Spears said. No exact cause has been identified, but Spears said he suspects the original wiring in the walls sparked the fire. “We were there when the fire department showed up trying to figure out where the fire was,” he said. “Because it was in the walls, we couldn’t tell that it was a fire.”
Fire continues on Page 5
A MOSQUE NEAR YOU Places of worship in metro area foster community and faith for Muslims. See PAGE 12.
THE FINAL FOUR Ralston Valley earns its first-ever trip to the round of four in the state basketball tournament. Read more about the Mustangs’ ride on PAGE 18.