Centennial Citizen 012722

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Week of January 27, 2022

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An edition of the Littleton Independent A publication of

VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 10

City promotes senior events amid virus surge Gatherings are partnerships with other local entities BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As the delta variant and the even more contagious omicron version of the coronavirus have spread in the

past few months, the city’s Centennial Active Seniors program has promoted in-person events intended for older adults, and at least some of them have been held indoors. While current public health orders and guidelines that apply to Arapahoe County generally haven’t restricted in-person gatherings, record-high numbers of new daily COVID-19 cases in recent weeks may make public interactions riskier for older adults.

“Join the Centennial Prime Timers for happy hour at Citron Bistro,” said one Centennial Active Seniors newsletter, highlighting a Jan. 19 event at a restaurant. Prime Timers is part of the Rotary Club of Centennial. “Currently, most of the programs and activities that the city shares with residents through (Centennial Active Seniors) communications are hosted by community and civic organizations, such as Arapahoe

Libraries, the Prime Timers group sponsored by the Rotary Club of Centennial, and the South Suburban Parks and Recreation District,” said Allison Wittern, city spokesperson. The Centennial Active Seniors events program is an effort by the Centennial Senior Commission, a group that advises the Centennial City Council on matters affecting seniors. SEE SENIORS, P8

Creek district sends admins to fill staff shortages Former school

board member talks diversity, mental health

High-level staff serving as substitute teachers amid COVID surge BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As school districts grapple with staffing shortages due to a surge in COVID-19 cases amid the omicron variant’s spread, Cherry Creek School District has sent district staff to schools to help anywhere possible, the district said in a news release. “Our goal is to keep schools open for in-person learning, and we are doing everything possible to make that happen,” Superintendent Christopher Smith, who has covered classes at several schools this month, said in the news release. “This is an ‘all hands on deck’ moment for the district. We are fortunate to have people at every level willing to jump in and help out so that kids can stay in school.” The Cherry Creek School District in early January warned families to prepare for possible disruptions to school during coming weeks, including classroom or whole-school SEE SCHOOLS, P6

Karen Fisher looks back on service to Cherry Creek after end of term BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

District administrators and support staff are entering classrooms to serve as substitute teachers and paraprofessionals to help keep schools in the Cherry Creek School District open. COURTESY OF CHERRY CREEK SCHOOL DISTRICT

INSIDE: CALENDAR: PAGE 9 | VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | SPORTS: PAGE 15

Mental health has persisted as a top-discussed issue in Cherry Creek School District in the past few years, and former school board President Karen Fisher knows solutions will take more effort from the district and beyond. “Our community is in a mental health crisis, and we know that if students are not OK mentally, they cannot focus on learning,” Fisher Fisher wrote to the Centennial Citizen. “A small portion of the (district’s) 2020 bond was allocated to building a SEE FISHER, P23

MILE HIGH TEA

Where to go when it’s tea time in the Queen City P12


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