1-Color
May 15, 2014 Douglas County, Colorado | Volume 13, Issue 17 A publication of
lonetreevoice.net
School district talks up reforms ‘Innovation Summit’ set for three days in June By Jane Reuter
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Fire explorers got an opportunity to practice their firefighting skills on a real fire May 10 at Centennial Airport as more than 100 local public safety youth explorers took part in a mock disaster exercise. The daylong exercise, co-hosted by South Metro Fire Rescue Authority, the Arapahoe County Sherriff’s Office, Learning for Life and other partner agencies, was designed to put the explorers’ skills to the test.
EXERCISE HEATS UP More than 100 law enforcement and fire explorers got the chance to practice their skills during a mock disaster exercise May 10 at Centennial Airport. The day-long event, cohosted by South Metro Fire Rescue Authority, the Arapahoe County Sherriff’s Office, Learning for Life and other partner agencies, took area youths interested in public safety careers out of the classroom and into a simulated terrorism-related airplane crash. Volunteer actors took on the roles of injured passengers, bystanders, witnesses and media. Conducted under the close supervision of public safety professionals, explorers conducted live firefighting, patient treatment and triage, witness interviews and crime scene investigation. Explorers meet regularly throughout the year with their host public safety agency to gain hands-on training and to learn more about careers in law enforcement and firefighting.
PHOTOS BY DEBORAH GRIGSBY SMITH/CENTENNIAL AIRPORT
Learning from actual first responders, cadets from the South Metro Fire Rescue Authority Fire Explorer program attend to an “injured passenger” during a mock disaster exercise May 10 at Centennial Airport. More than 100 public safety youth explorers took part in the day-long exercise that simulated a terrorism-involved airplane crash. Volunteer actors played roles as passengers, witnesses and media.
The Douglas County School District will open its doors to those in the education world curious about its reform efforts during a summer Innovation Summit. The event is planned from June 18-20. Sessions will take place in district schools. “This is not going to be your average experience,” Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen said on a promotional video for the event on DCSD’s website. “This is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to collaborate on the transformation, the reinvention of American education, that we all know is best for our kids.” The Innovation Summit is described as a way for attendees to “Get everything you need to spark change within your school district,” according to the website. “We will share best practices from actual implementation by teachers and leaders for kids. You’ll collaborate with teachers who have reinvented their classrooms and teaching for the 21st century, uncover changes that have put millions of dollars into the classroom, work alongside staff who have reinvented professional pay in education, and receive authentic feedback on your ideas and your work.” Reforms continues on Page 7
Newest Jaguar a 9-year-old girl Softball teams adopt Parker child inflicted with brain tumor By Jim Benton
jbenton@coloradocommunitymedia.com Sammi Starkey has a new family. Starkey, a 9-year-old Parker girl who recently had surgery to have a grapefruitsized brain tumor removed, has been adopted by the Rock Canyon High School and the Douglas County Jaguars summer unified softball teams through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation. She is the 498th child suffering through the grief of having a pediatric brain tumor to be adopted and the first to become part of a Colorado high school team. Others Colorado teams that have adopted children through FoJ include Colorado State University women’s basketball, CSU football, Air Force women’s volleyball, AFA football and the University of Denver’s women’s lacrosse. The organization was founded in 2005; a year after 9-year-old Jaclyn Murphy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Through chance events, Jaclyn was connected and later adopted as an honorary member of Northwestern’s women’s lacrosse team. The Wildcats won their first of seven consecutive Division I national
championships that season. Jaclyn Murphy, now a sophomore at Marist College, wanted other children with pediatric brain tumors to have similar experiences of having the support and friendship of others by being honorary team members. She and her father Denis created the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation and the story has been documented on HBO. Sammi Starkey was introduced to Denis Murphy and members of the Rock Canyon softball team as well as the DC Jaguars club team during a May 8 ceremony. She and her younger sister Brooklyn received gifts that included Rock Canyon and DC Jaguars paraphernalia. Chris Starkey, his wife Christina and their son Zach, a student at Chaparral, were also at the event. “I just wanted them to make sure this wasn’t a one game thing,” said Rock Canyon coach Debbie Kortbawi. “It was a life thing that they were going to adopt this young lady for their lives. I mean even when they go on to college I want them to keep in touch. “Both the DC Jaguars and Rock Canyon adopted her. We wanted to keep her involved as much as we can. Since I have some girls that kind of cross over it would be easy and she wouldn’t have to meet a bunch of new girls.” There is a waiting list for teams to adopt children and the kids are paired by geographically. While many kids that are part of the program go up to thrive, Murphy
Sammi Starkey, behind the trophy, and her younger sister Brooklyn, to her left, gather with members of the Rock Canyon/DC Jaguar softball teams during her adoption May 8 through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation. Courtesy photo pointed out that JoF has lost over 100 kids. “Every day that Sammi, Brooklyn and Zach can come to Rock Canyon and see a game, it takes their minds off the beast,” said Murphy. “It’s life changing. That’s why we are focused on the quality of life and what can we do for today. Right now our mission is about quality of life. “I don’t see logos or teams. What I see are 20 to 30 student athletes that will give Sammi love, support and friendship. There’s no radiation treatment or drug more powerful
than the love, support and friendship that she will attain.” The tumor removed from Sammi was Softball continues on Page 7
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