8 minute read
ST. THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC CHURCH
The Fall 2022 School of Choice section is a special supplement of Colorado Community Media, publisher of 27 community publications reaching over 350,000 readers every week.
To advertise call: 303-566-4100
Publisher LINDA SHAPLEY Advertising Director ERIN ADDENBROOKE Advertising Sales TERESA ALEXIS RUTH DANIELS MINDY NELON DONNA REARDON Production Manager ERIN FRANKS Advertising Design TOM FILDEY TINA MELTZER
Table of Contents
School Page
ST. THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC CHURCH DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ARVADA WEST HIGH SCHOOL IMAGINE CHOICE CUSTOM HEALTH SOLUTIONS LITTLETON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AIMS COMMUNITY COLLEGE MAPLETON PUBLIC SCHOOLS ST. ANNE’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL RENAISSANCE SECONDARY SCHOOL FREE HORIZON MONTESSORI CONIFER HIGH SCHOOL ROCKY MOUNTAIN ACADEMY OF EVERGREEN HIGHLANDS RANCH HIGH SCHOOL STEM SCHOOL HIGHLANDS RANCH EARLY COLLEGE OF ARVADA SKYVIEW ACADEMY IECRM DORAL ACADEMY BEN FRANKLIN ACADEMY ENGLEWOOD SCHOOLS AMERICAN ACADEMY EVERGREEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL JEFFERSON ACADEMY
STM Catholic Open House
Come see what our Preschool–8th Grade is all about!
♦ Take a Campus Tour & meet teachers and staff members ♦ Visit our technology-equipped labs & classrooms ♦ Receive curriculum and admissions information ♦ Financial assistance available Tuesday, January 17: 6:00PM (Prospective Parent Meeting) Wednesday, February 1: 11:00AM–2:00PM (Open House)
ST. THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Building Futures Together Through Faith & Academic Excellence
We provide a quality Catholic education program for children from preschool to eighth grade.
St. Thomas More Catholic School
St. omas More Catholic School provides a rigorous academic program, with concentration on the core curriculum of math, language arts, social studies, science and religion. In addition, we o er a well-rounded program of music, art, physical education and technology. In the spirit of Catholic tradition, STM Catholic brings the whole person to Jesus Christ, and through excellence in education, prepares our student to serve the Church and community now and in the future.
Academic Excellence
Our students continually rank in the top 10% in the nation on the Iowa Assessment testing and 1.5+ years above grade level. In addition to Core Curriculum of math, language arts, literature, science, social studies and religion, we provide the Second Step program, a social-emotional learning program implemented to address bullying, character development and other communication and acceptance scenarios.
Beyond the Classroom
STM Catholic creates a well-rounded child and encourages students to explore areas of interest beyond the classroom with sports, speech team, student council and chess club to mention a few extracurricular activities. We are dedicated to creating future leaders throughout the community. “STM has provided an education that infuses life into our children daily by forming their minds, souls and character in a nurturing environment of academic ideals, truth, hope and love. We could not be more thankful to be part of the school community here at STM!”
Preschool
In addition, STM Catholic Preschool is available for 2 ½ year-old to 5-year-old children. Our goals are to assist the parent by providing a Catholic environment with developmentally age-appropriate curriculum encompassing cognitive, language skills and ne and gross motor skills as well as self-expression in social, emotional, academic and spiritual domains. e underlying instructional strategy is the use of organized, teacher led activities as well as free play intended to provide opportunities for the child to interact, explore and relate successfully in their environment.
Additional Information
As part of the Archdiocese of Denver, we are a faith-based liberal arts curriculum school with a strong focus on high-quality education for the children entrusted to us. We work closely with the parents as a team to ensure each child is successful in acquiring the knowledge and skills required to best equip them in their pursuit of excellence. We are proud of our 25+ years as a leader in Catholic education, keeping our faith in Jesus Christ in the forefront of our education throughout the students’ time at STM Catholic.
Contrabassoonist Roger Soren of the Colorado Symphony leads his Osher Lifelong Learning Institute symphony class. Registration for OLLI’s winter term opens in November, with classes beginning on Jan. 9. PHOTO COURTESY OF OLLI
Curiosity never retires
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute woos older adults back to class
BY CANDY PETROFSKY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Curiosity never retires. And that’s why so many older adults are now back in class — decades after graduating — thanks to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Denver.
“OLLI has been around now for 25 years in the Denver metro,” said Jacqueline Wyant, executive director of OLLI at DU. “Not only are we the best kept secret in town, offering the most affordable continuing education on seven convenient campuses, our senior students, or OLLI members, don’t do homework, there are no pop quizzes and the only grades they get are A’s for effort.”
A CliffsNotes rundown of OLLI
OLLI at DU is an adult learning membership program designed for inquiring adults, age 50 and better, who wish to pursue lifelong learning in a relaxed, non-competitive atmosphere, states OLLI’s website. Thanks to the generosity of The Bernard Osher Foundation and many community grants, the classes are affordable. OLLI at DU joins a network of more than 120 institutes nationwide that are helping mature learners fi nd personal fulfi llment.
“Basically, OLLI at DU offers members more than 170 different classes to choose from, spread out over three, eight-week terms — fall, winter and spring. OLLI members may elect to learn online or in-person. And our teachers are just as fascinating as the array of subjects we offer,” Wyant said.
Think peers teaching peers. The teachers, also known as facilitators, may be former school faculty members, community and civic leaders, independent scholars and even retired professionals such as doctors or lawyers. Essentially anyone who has a deep passion and knowledge about a hobby, skill or topic is welcome to teach a class, provided that OLLI standards are met.
OLLI members come from all walks of life, but everyone has the same common three goals: to stay engaged, stay active and make positive connections.
“I’m a retired lawyer and I was looking for something to keep the synapses clicking,” said OLLI member Larry Bass. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I have to tell you the teachers were very wellprepared, and it’s been a worthwhile experience.”
The cornucopia of classes OLLI offers is ample — history, music, political science, writing, literature, philosophy, science, sports, religion, global issues, public affairs, fi lm classes, nuclear power and bridge classes. There are even courses on sex and intimacy.
“I think anybody, and I mean anybody, can fi nd a class at OLLI they’ll enjoy,” said OLLI member Suzy McKeever.
OLLI students may choose from four different memberships. The annual membership — only available in the fall — costs $400 per year and offers unlimited inperson and online courses during the fall, winter and spring terms, provided space is available. A one-term membership costs $140 for unlimited courses online and in-person, with the same space caveat. There may be additional costs for required class materials.
“We also offer an introductory membership for fi rst time students (at) $50 per class,” Wyant said. “Lastly, we offer a facilitator membership. OLLI facilitators are unpaid volunteers who are given access to the complete catalog of courses and webinars, and pay no term membership fee.”
Wyant highly recommends the individual workshops and webinars — which cost $15 each — to supplement an education or stay active between terms. She added there is an upcoming webinar on infl uential women that features wonderful speakers.
‘Do the math’
McKeever said anyone who still needs convincing should “do the math.”
“The price is fantastic,” McKeever said. “I sign up for the term membership and usually take three or four classes at a time. I mean, how can you beat it?”
OLLI memberships also include opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities, such as trips to museums, wine and cheese socials and theater nights. OLLI also offers a slew of clubs — hiking and photography, for example — to encourage deeper connections outside of class.
“OLLI did an amazing job pivoting during the pandemic by transitioning to all online classes,” said OLLI facilitator Paul Simon.
Today, however, more and more people are attending in person, he added.
“Just to be able to keep learning and expand your mind is just so rewarding,” Simon said.
OLLI members are also rewarded with discounts at DU and area restaurants.
“My favorite part? I love OLLI just for the joy of learning and being with people my own age,” Wyant said.
And — there’s no homework.
