1-Color
January 3, 2014
75 cents Arapahoe County, Colorado | Volume 93, Issue 46 A publication of
englewoodherald.net
Demolition days at high school Walls are coming down on main building By Tom Munds
tmunds@coloradocommunitymedia. com The powerful engine roared to life Dec. 23 as the excavator began knocking down the walls of the Englewood High School building at 3800 S. Logan St. Crashing walls and roof areas announced the visible start of phase 2 of creation of a seventh- through 12th-grade campus on the Englewood High School campus. Crews took out the main school office as they began the demolition. The walls and roof are gone plus the crew removed the door off the school safe to be recycled. The excavator ripped down walls, scooped up massive amounts of debris but also could delicately pull a single length of wire out of the rubble. “That operator is pretty amazing,” Brian
Ewert, school superintendent, said as he watched the operation. “They let me run the excavator to start the demolition. I did two pretty simple operations but I quickly told them it was too complicated and to get me out of there.” Hector Torres, who operates the excavator, said he has been at the controls of the 100,000-pound machine for about five years. “Operating the machine properly, whether it is knocking down a wall or separating pipes from the debris, is hard to learn and takes practice,” he said. “When I started, running the machine was fun but while I still I like the work, each job is pretty much the same.” Ewert said officials at Engineered Demolition, which is doing the work, estimates it will take four to five weeks to clear the site. When the demolition is completed, the only structures remaining from the original high school building will be the auditorium and the field house. Demolition of the main building attracted School continues on Page 4
The excavator operator pulls to remove one of the steel support beams as demolition begins Dec. 23 on the main Englewood HIgh School buildings. Demolition will take four to five weeks and, once the area is cleared, work will begin on Phase Two construction of a seventh- through-12th-grade campus on the site. Photo by Tom Munds
Fitness challenge greets ‘14 By Tom Munds
tmunds@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Sarah Davis checks in and inventories equipment she will be using when the new culinary arts program classes begin in late January. The partial roll-out of the program will offer a total of five classes in two different subjects. Photo by Tom Munds
Culinary arts classes set to begin Two programs attract more than 100 Englewood High School students By Tom Munds
tmunds@coloradocommunitymedia. com Sarah Davis keeps busy receiving and inventorying supplies and equipment as she prepares to teach the new culinary
arts classes that begin later this month at Englewood High School. “This is a partial rollout of our program,” Davis said. “We’ll offer a total of five classes in two different areas, catering and culinary nutrition. We’ll have 20 to 25 students in each of the five classes so there are very few vacancies in the program.” The culinary arts classes that begin Jan. 30 and the cosmetology classes that begin in February at Englewood Middle School are being added to the curriculum to meet the need for a trained workforce.
POSTAL ADDRESS
Printed on recycled newsprint. Please recycle this copy.
Diana Zakhem, district director of student courses, explained in a report that education reforms have brought changes in high school career and technical education. The changes have shifted the focus from the traditional college preparatory curriculum to an educational pathway for all students that can connect high schools with the workforce as well as with colleges. The district document on the new career and technical education program states that experts cited in published reports predict there will 47 million job openings by 2018. The predictions state about a third of those jobs requiring an associate’s degree or certificate, plus just about all job openings will require real-world skills that can be mastered in high school career and technical education programs. Davis said in the fall, the January class subjects will become part of the two-year culinary arts program offered at EHS. “Starting when school resumed after Culinary continues on Page 7
According to the figures posted on statisticbrain.com, 45 percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, and the top 10 resolutions on the list include getting fit, losing weight or both. For the second year, Englewood Parks and Recreation Department has a program designed to help those who resolve to get fit and drop a few pounds called the Biggest Winner Challenge. Last year’s program was successful for Richard Weekly, who won the Biggest Winner contest as he dropped 45 pounds participating in the challenge. The 2014 kickoff party will be held from 8:30 to noon Jan. 11 at the Englewood Recreation Center, 1155 S. Oxford Ave. The party includes health screenings and free fitness classes plus there will be displays by vendors. “The Biggest Winner Challenge is a five-month program designed to give individuals the motivation and the tools to make lifestyle changes needed to shed pounds and get fit,” said Gina Fontaine, fitness and wellness program administrator. There are three age categories, 13 to 17, 18 to 54, and 55 and older. The fee to register before Jan. 6 is $32 for teens and $42 for adults and seniors. After Jan. 6, the fee goes up to $40 for teens and $50 for adults and seniors. Those who take part in the program are eligible to receive rewards of a $100 Visa gift card and one-year passes by being the individuals who achieve the greatest percentage of weight loss in their age categories. Individuals can register for the program at the Englewood Recreation Center. Those who register before Jan. 6 are eligible for a registration-fee discount. The deadline for registration is Jan. 13. For information, e-mail Fontaine at gfontaine@englewoodgov.org.