Raised in the Rockies - Fall 2021

Raised AUGUST 2021

back to school WHAT TO EXPECT AS KIDS HEAD BACK TO CLASS IN 2021

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back to school tips for parents

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after-school activities

P.O. Box 19199 Boulder, CO 80308

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BOULDER, BROOMFIELD & SW WELD COUNTIES • • • • •

BOULDER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT ST. VRAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT ADAMS 12 FIVE STAR SCHOOLS PRIVATE & CHARTER SCHOOLS PRESCHOOLS & DAYCARES

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BACK TO SCHOOL

BACK TO COOL Join the Y for a school bus full of fun near you

This fall, it’s time to get back to school, back to yoga, back to soccer leagues and hockey practice, back to routine. The Y is here to make the fall transition a little bit easier (and a lot more fun).

REGISTER NOW FOR YMCA AFTER SCHOOL CARE The YMCA offers after school care and school day off camps in 4 school districts, including programs at the Longmont, Arapahoe and Mapleton Ys. Before school care available at some locations.

Bussing options included.

Many plans include a free family membership making it easy to balance child care and self care. Parents can take a class or get in a workout before picking up their kiddos at after school care.

Financial assistance, CCAP and sibling discounts available.

The Y has something to excite, empower and uplift every member of your family • Sports including soccer, basketball, volleyball and more • Youth hockey and ice skating • Preschool • Swim lessons • In-person and virtual exercise classes for adults and kids • Child care while you work out • Family friendly events

AUGUST 2021

YMCA OF NORTHERN COLORADO ymcanoco.org

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contents

// AUGUST 2021

inside

After an unprecedented year, local schools are excited to welcome students back to the classrooms

Faith-based education can help children understand the larger picture, helping enable them to understand, discuss, and confront global problems for the common future.

When Nature is Your Classroom

How to Navigate Family Feelings About Returning to School

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Early Childhood Education Inclusivity Lifts Up Everyone

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Child Find Offers a Bright Future for Area Kids with Unique Needs

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No Matter the Circumstance, There’s an Education Just Right for You

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5 Tips to Ace College Entry Exams

Taking cues from the wisdom of the ancients

Engaging Minds & Hearts

Choosing a Montessori or Waldorf School – Which one is right for your child?

Our region offers rich after-school activities for kids

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Community-Based Organizations That Can Help Prepare for a New School Year

Healthy After-School Snacks Kids Will Love

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How Does Your Child See the World

Having healthy options available takes a little planning and some easy go-to recipes

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Superintendent Letters

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School Profiles

Raised View the digital edition at RaisedintheRockies.com Raised in the Rockies is a quarterly marketing feature produced by the Boulder Daily Camera, Broomfield Enterprise, Colorado Hometown Weekly and Longmont Times-Call. ©2021 Prairie Mountain Media. All rights reserved.

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For advertising information, call 303.473.1400 or visit RaisedintheRockies.com.

Classical Education

The Fun Doesn’t End When the School Day Does

A crucial step in lifelong learning

Early Childhood Education

Pandemic or not, schools see the benefit of outdoor education

Gear up, breath deeply, and set that alarm

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5 Back to School Tips for Parents

The Difference That Faith Makes

Back to School: What to Expect in 2021

features

Contributing Writers Brittany Anas Rhema Zlaten Sarah Huber Darren Thornberry Adam Goldstein Linda Thorsen Bond Kathleen Duff Pam Moore Luanne Kadlub Julie Kailus Barbra Cohn Emma Castleberry Elise Oberliesen Creative Director, Editor Greg Stone

Marketing Consultants Julie Casper Pete Christiansen Jeanine Fritz Ruth Garfield Rich Hopkins Abigail Lance Keith Kratochvil Billy Magrini Dale Sekular Francine Wahlgren Advertising Directors Jill Stravolemos Christine Labozan

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WELCOME TO OUR SCHOOL! Enrolling Pre-K through High School Call us and come tour our foothills campus We bring the world to our students and our students into the world.

Shining Mountain Waldorf School 999 Violet Avenue, Boulder CO 80304

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BACK TO SCHOOL

What to Expect in 2021

BY BRITTANY ANAS for Raised in the Rockies

T

he coronavirus pandemic disrupted the traditional learning environment, with many schools in and around Boulder County adopting hybrid and distance learning models. Now, students and parents in the area are preparing for a more traditional back-to-school season. The upcoming 20212022 school year may not mean “back to normal” per se, but local districts and private schools are excited to welcome students back, and do so in an in-person learning environment – with, of course, precautions in place.

School districts are continuing to work closely with local health officials, and some details about the upcoming academic year are still being 6 RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

ironed out as the evolving nature of COVID requires flexibility.

For instance, it’s likely masks will be optional for all students in the Boulder Valley School District this fall, but the district, as of press time, was awaiting additional public health guidance before making a final decision.

Still, families should feel comfortable sending their children to school wearing masks if that’s what they’re most comfortable with, says Stephanie Faren, BVSD’s health services director.

“They won’t be the only ones there with masks,” she says.

As the start of a new school year approaches, here’s a brief look at a few local districts and private schools in the region, and how you can set your child up for success in the new year: KEEPING STUDENTS SAFE Throughout the area, school leaders are taking a number of steps to help ease this unprecedented transition and they’ll be consistently communicating public health safety basics, like the

After an unprecedented year, local schools are excited to welcome students back to the classrooms

importance of hand washing and keeping children home if they’re sick.

In addition to ventilation and cleaning practices that have been established, schools are also establishing protocols to keep students and employees healthy and safe.

In St. Vrain Valley School District, there will be directional arrows in elementary, middle and high school hallways to keep traffic flowing and dismissal times will be staggered to help maintain social distancing. The state of Colorado and Boulder County have updated COVID-19 health orders, removing masking requirements in schools. In accordance with this, masks won’t be required in SVVSD schools or buildings, regardless of vaccination status.

However, masks are strongly encouraged for anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated any students and employees may continue to wear masks at their own discretion. Also, students will attend electives on a regular schedule, but there will be less sharing of equipment and materials, according to the district.

BVSD will be encouraging, but not requiring, parents to report their children’s vaccination status to assist with quarantines, if necessary.

At Dawson School, vaccinations are not currently mandated, although the school highly encourages vaccination for those who can. Strategies for ensuring another safe and successful in-person school year include making use of the 107-acre campus to decrease density.

At Prospect Ridge Academy, and as of July 12, face coverings are no longer required in the school building but are encouraged for unvaccinated individuals.

Vaccinations for everyone 12 years and older are encouraged, but not required.

September School will return to a more typical school experience this fall. As always, class sizes are small and the private Boulder school has flexibility.

As schools are adopting plans keeping public health guidance in mind and details haven’t been firmed up as of press time.

Be sure to check with your child’s school directly for up-toBACK TO SCHOOL

AUGUST 2021

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date-information about backto-school policies or follow local school district updates at: • Boulder Valley School District: bvsd.org/ reintroduction St. Vrain School District: svvsd.org/coronavirusinformation

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Adams 12 Five Star Schools: adams12.org

•

TIPS FOR PREPARING FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR To help best prepare your student for the upcoming school year, one of the best things you can do is establish a routine, says George P. Moore, Head of School at Dawson.

Given the many disruptions to our regular educational and social routines and expectations, over the last 18 months, mental and emotional health are even more critical foundations for meaningful learning, Moore says.

“A good routine that includes sleep, nutrition, structure, and healthy, positive

relationships, therefore, should be priorities for all of us as we begin a new school year,” he says.

FOSTERING SOCIALEMOTIONAL LEARNING AT SEPTEMBER SCHOOL September School, a private school in Boulder that fosters diversity and inclusion, views safety and health more broadly than simply preventing an outbreak of COVID at school, says Kelly Molinet, head of school.

“September School approaches the education of adolescents holistically: We value and support their mental and emotional health as highly as we do their academic growth,” she says.

To help foster socialemotional learning, the school has a licensed therapist as well as a cohort of therapy interns from Naropa University who support students as they explore emotional and mental health, coping with stress, and navigating adolescents.

“Our teachers are trained

in trauma-informed care and they seek to educate the whole child: body, mind and spirit,” Molinet says.

The school does lots of movement, community building, and approaches discipline from a restorative justice perspective to support the development of our students.

“And if it’s sunny outside, we take a walk or play together,” Molinet says.

WHAT’S NEW AT SCHOOLS The September School is launching a middle school and will be welcoming 6th, 7th and 8th graders. The school is also expanding its arts curriculum with a new digital art program and will have Visiting Artists in Residence.

At St. Vrain, the third Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program will open this fall. Students enrolled in RaptorTECH at Silver Creek High School earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in cybersecurity

from Front Range Community College and receive significant mentorship and internship support from industry partners including Cisco, Comcast, PEAK Resources, and Seagate Technologies. Students enroll in 9th grade and complete the program in four to six years.

They have mentorship and internship opportunities which can give them a headstart in their careers. Skyline High School and Frederick High School also offer P-TECH programs to students.

Despite a pandemic, Dawson was able to open its new Dawson Center for Innovation last November. The state-ofthe-art, 25,000 square-foot facility houses maker spaces, a woodshop, a metalshop, classrooms and flexible creative spaces.

“We are excited to have every inch humming this year, supporting just what the building was designed to do: facilitate and support the creative inspiration of every student on campus,” Moore says.

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5Back to School Tips for Parents Gear up, breathe deeply, and set that alarm.

BY RHEMA ZLATEN for Raised in the Rockies

T

he start of the 2021 school year is just around the corner.

From refreshing home

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routines to supporting new school routines, local experts shared tips on how to give students the best start possible for the new academic year.

Kate Parker, Vice President of Clinical Care, COO, at Mental Health Partners, emphasized the importance of talking to students about the new school routines after their year (or more) of online learning.

“We are all trying to figure this out,” she said. “It is really important for kids to not expect things to be the same before [they] left pre-COVID. Talk about the worries and the fears...and the excitement.”

#1 START A SCHOOLORIENTED HOME ROUTINE TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE FIRST BELL RINGS

The shuffle of online and hybrid learning last year disrupted the normal routines of families world-wide. Jen Wilger, executive director of the Temple Grandin School, heard many stories of students studying and participating in online classes from couch cushions and bed corners.

Her first recommendation for setting students up for success for the 2021 academic year

BACK TO SCHOOL

#2 ENCOURAGE STRONG STUDY SKILLS AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTION GROWTH

Wilger recommended a gradual introduction for going back to school to help students gain confidence about their new environment.

“Start with driving by the school and playing on the playground, or walking the grounds,” she said.

One of the roots of student anxiety is curiosity about what their new environment will be like. Wilger will even encourage students to come by before the first day and meet new teachers as those teachers are available.

Wilger also emphasized the importance of helping students grow their executive function, or the mental skills people use to organize their behaviors toward a future role.

“In the academic setting, it is things like giving the right response at the right time, like not blurting out in class,” she said. “Some of our students have trouble getting started with work, so we work on helping them start and then having the stamina to persist with a task.”

Wilger also recommended helping students learn how to monitor their environment

AUGUST 2021

as a way to look for how to behave or respond within the classroom, and then also intentionally organizing both their physical space at school and their ideas.

#3 FIND THE BEST SHOE FIT

Different schools will have different expectations for clothing and shoe requirements, so the first step is to check the rules of each institution.

“We find that most of the needs we need to meet can be filled with a good, versatile athletic shoe, something that can go to school, play sports, hit the trails and wear for everyday use,” Jason Wetzel, Managing Member at Brown’s Shoe Fit, said. “We also see a demand for lightweight slip on shoes or slipper type shoes with outdoor soles for some students that attend schools requiring indoor only shoes.”

Brown’s Shoe Fit office administrator Tia Lindholm polled the sales team at the store for their top back to school shoe recommendations.

Combined, the Brown’s Shoe Fit sales team has a total of 185 years of shoe fit experience, and they’ve helped a lot of students in the last 75 years of business. Especially as fall gives way to winter, parents need to consider school requirements.

“Some schools allow their students to wear their boots throughout the day; however, many schools are now requiring their students to change into some kind of indoor only footwear,” Lindholm said.

The most important consideration for choosing new school shoes? Fit, according to the sales team.

“We also like to get kids in shoes that will give them room to grow, but still remain safe for running and playing,” Lindholm said. “Just like no two children are alike, neither are shoes. Even the same brand of shoe will vary in fit between styles. It is very important that children try on a variety of shoes to see what feels best to them.”

Remember to bring a pair of

was to establish a designated study space.

“Coming out of COVID, that’s important, because their school space has been their bedroom,” Wilger said. “So getting back to a designated space [means having] the supplies you need, and snacks, and a routine for working at a certain time and space with good lighting, and a comfortable chair. Kids kind of want to be independent with their work.”

Parker also recommended getting back to routines like a regular sleep time, and regular meal times. These rhythms will create a sense of normalcy for the whole family. But most importantly?

“Give yourself grace,” Parker said. “There’s no handbook for this.”

socks for trying on new school year shoes, Wetzel added.

The most popular shoes for elementary students tend to be athletic in nature, and Brown’s Shoe Fit’s top sales for these students are brands like New Balance, Keen, Teva, and Saucony. In addition to athletic shoes, middle and high school age students are gravitating to Birkenstock and On Running brands, which tend to be more fashion-oriented, Wetzel said.

#4 SCHEDULE THAT SPORT’S PHYSICAL NOW

Don’t wait to get in: most schools need to see an updated physical before the flurry of fall activities commence.

Some medical offices will offer drop-in days focused solely on sports physicals. Many doctor’s offices are also now offering virtual sports physicals, such as Salud Family Health Centers. They have locations all throughout Northern Colorado and offer affordable care for all ages and income brackets.

#5 HEAD OFF STUDENT ANXIETY

Unfortunately, one by-product of COVID-19 social distancing, is that Colorado has seen a skyrocketing demand for youth mental health services, In May, Children’s Hospital of Colorado declared a state of emergency for youth mental health, including increased suicide attempts.

Parker has also witnessed a 30% increase in youth and adolescents asking for services through Mental Health Partners.

“We have been seeing a huge increase in anxiety and acuity … and eating disorders,” Parker said. “A lot of that is around the unknown and not feeling in control. When we talk about this odd year, it has really impacted how kids develop socially and emotionally, and has somewhat handicapped that.”

The first step to reducing anxiety is normalizing it.

“Call it what it is; anxiety is an emotion, and it is normal to have those worries and fear,” Parker said. “Validate those worries and fears. They may not seem very realistic, but to the child, that’s the reality. So normalize the anxiety, and talk through methods and different ways to mitigate that anxiety.

Ask, does breathing help?

Does this or that help? [Then roleplay] different self-care techniques.”

Around COVID-19 anxiety, Parker recommended feeding students facts. This will help create a sense of safety for them.

“Kids will be wearing masks, and people will be vaccinated,” she said. “So just give them the advice and information from the experts, because they may have some myths that they believe.”

Bonus Tip For Parents: Intentionally gather a support system Parker also feels empathy and concern for the parents and guardians who have shouldered a heavy load with their kids this past year. She emphasized prioritizing both self-care, and prioritizing activities that give life to the whole family, such as bike rides together and exploring the outdoors.

Some ideas for parent support include intentionally seeking out family and friends for conversations about parenting struggles. Parker also recommends self-care practices such as mindfulness, breathing, and exercise.

“Kids are looking to the parents, and they are going to mirror what the parents are doing,” Parker said. “For the parents, identify your own anxiety and your worries and fears. How are you working through those issues? Make sure you aren’t putting your anxieties onto the kids.”

Mental Health Partners will be working with both BVSD and St. Vrain school districts to offer some training and Q&As around student mental health, Parker said. Those events aren’t scheduled yet, but she asked parents to keep an eye out for those events.

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// EDUCATION

How to Navigate Family Feelings About Returning to School Family Features

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hether it’s your child’s first day of kindergarten or the start of middle school, back-to-school season can bring a range of feelings – from worry to excitement – for the entire family. This year may be more emotional as many families spent the better part of the past two school years at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s important to remember that even in the best of times, it’s normal for children to express feelings of sadness, isolation or stress,” said Tyreca Elliott, from KinderCare Learning Centers’ inclusion services team. “Learning how to address those feelings helps us build self-confidence, resilience and independence.

What’s important is the way adults respond to children’s stress. Offering comfort, reassurance and assisting with problem solving will help children learn and grow from stress in a positive way.”

As an added bonus, Elliott said many of the most effective ways to help children learn to navigate their feelings work just as well with adults.

Consider these three tips to help your children (and yourself) manage emotions during the transition back to school.

Plan ahead: The fear of the unknown can be stressful.

Children who aren’t able to clearly articulate their feelings likely won’t be able to make the connection between new, uncertain situations – like going to school and being around other people – and their feelings. Instead they may become overwhelmed

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by emotions, which might look like more meltdowns, clinginess or a variety of other behaviors. Talk with your children about how they feel about going back to school ahead of the first day of class. Ask questions to help them determine why they feel particular feelings when they think about school then work together to solve potential issues. That could mean finding a way to meet your children’s teachers ahead of time, whether virtually or in-person, or practicing introducing themselves to classmates.

Build a consistent routine: Routines can give children (and adults) a sense of security and structure, which in turn make it easier to cope with big emotions like stress and anxiety. Try to stay consistent, and if you need to make adjustments, talk them through with your children. Be sure to mention key milestones

instead of times, particularly if they can’t tell time yet.

Make sure your children have opportunities to ask questions about any changes to routines.

They may need reassurance before they’re ready to face something new.

Create special family moments: As important as routine is, it’s just as important to prioritize quality time together. That could mean a vacation or something as simple as Saturday bike rides or Sunday morning pancakes.

Plan a family outing or special time together to celebrate completing the first week of school. Family rituals and celebrations can give children and adults something to look forward to. Quality time together also helps families build resiliency.

For more tips to navigate back-to-school season, visit kindercare.com.

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TWIN PEAKS CLASSICAL ACADEMY is Longmont’s only Classical school. We are a tuition-free, public, PreK-12 Charter School open to all students. Twin Peaks Charter Academy offers a high quality preschool and kindergarten program ensuring the best start for your child and follows it with the Classical Education Model that prepares all of our students to succeed in college and beyond.

We provide a unique educational niche in the greater Longmont community.

One of the most important parental decisions is choosing a school for your child. Some of the areas that make our school exceptional include: • Character education is essential in developing outstanding students.

Whether at home, school, or in play, we agree on Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship • Smaller class sizes • Elementary students learn to read using phonics-based methodology • Elementary students are taught cursive handwriting • The K-8 curriculum is grounded in Latin, Core Knowledge and Singapore Math • 15 AP Classes • A full slate of enrichment classes: Band, Choir, Orchestra, Art, Technology, P.E. and World Languages • Numerous clubs; Odyssey of the Mind, Student Council, National Junior Honor Society, National Honor Society, Robotics, 100 Mile Club, etc.

• CHSAA certification at the high school level, and full participation in the SVVSD middle school intramural programs. Offerings include Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball, Track and Field and Cross Country • No iPads We believe excessive screen time should not replace great books and great teaching

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VISIT US AT:

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340 South Sunset Street, Longmont, CO 80501

303.772.7286

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// EDUCATION

Early Childhood Education A crucial step in lifelong learning

BY SARAH HUBER for Raised in the Rockies

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Preschool students gather for story time at Off Broadway Preschool of Fine Arts. (Photo: Off Broadway Preschool).

e all learned last year that early childhood education best happens in person.

Yet what makes early education crucial to a child’s emotional, social and mental development, and – for parents who are concerned that their children may have missed out during the pandemic – how can educators help our littlest ones become lifelong, joyful learners?

Patti Gee, director of Treehouse Learning in Louisville, said, first and foremost, students who may have struggled during the pandemic “aren’t ‘behind,’ they are just where they are.” She continued, “A prepared educator will take children where they are and move them forward.

Creating a socially secure and accepting environment is key to getting children to build trusting relationships, and then the lessons with ABCs and 123s come much easier.”

Bethany Moore, director of operations at Off Broadway Preschool of Fine Arts in Boulder, agreed, saying, “We realize that we’ve all been stuck at home.

As a small facility, our focus is on helping each individual grow, engage and feel confident in who they are as little people.”

Since at least 80 percent of the brain is developed by age 6, Gee noted, early childhood education is particularly formative in shaping how children interact with and contribute to their community. She said, “With this in mind, we are actually creating the adults that will be in our world.”

After all, Gee said, social and emotional “skills are not developed in a vacuum.” She explained, “Children learn from and with each other, and the adults give support, guidance and direct instruction to give children the BACK TO SCHOOL

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Early childhood education is ideally driven by the natural curiosity of the child. (Photo: Treehouse Learning).

opportunity to practice these skills. Conflict resolution and mediating disagreements are all part of the learning experience.”

Moore and her colleagues create both student-directed and teacher-directed daily learning opportunities that encourage social and

emotional development.

“Boulder is our playground,” she said. “We walk all over, and wherever we go, we’re talking about rules for walking on the sidewalk, greeting others, and how to pass by people respectfully.” Since Off Broadway Preschool especially celebrates the fine arts, the

majority of lessons, from math to literacy, incorporate art enrichment while inculcating social and emotional skills.

Moore opens the school year with a unit titled “All About Me,” and students learn through play, movement and song, as well as art, “that they are special little humans and

are given confidence as they prepare for kindergarten,” she said.

Gee acknowledged that the earliest years of learning often instill the most fundamental lessons: how to be members of a group, take turns, give, help, make positive choices, complete tasks and show empathy. At Treehouse Learning, infants learn to say “please” and “thank you” with sign language, and for older children, teachers model mealtime conversation, tasting new foods, table setting and cleaning up after oneself.

Finally, early childhood education is ideally driven by the natural curiosity of the child, Gee said. She and her team foster lifelong learning by “offering feedback and acknowledgment and supporting children to be curious and inquisitive.”

She added, “We resist just answering questions, but empower our students to find the answer or figure out the reasoning. And we join in their curiosity.”

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Last year, A Precious Child was able to successfully distribute backpacks to more than 21,000 children across eight-county service areas surrounding the Denver Metro Area.

As a result of the Fill A Backpack program: 89% of caregivers report that their children are more interested in learning.

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A Precious Child | 303.466.4272 | 7051 W. 118th Ave., Broomfield, CO 80020 | APreciousChild.org BACK TO SCHOOL

// EDUCATION

Early Childhood Education: Inclusivity Lifts Up Everyone

BY DARREN THORNBERRY for Raised in the Rockies

Y

Q: WHAT IS INCLUSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION? A: It’s a diverse representation of students and families in our learning environment – the preschool classroom.

“Inclusive” means that a child with a disability and a typically developing child, another that has language needs, others experiencing poverty, ALL kids have the same opportunity to participate in the same learning environment. I strongly believe in the power of that and the value of young kids learning uniqueness by bringing different people together in a single, diverse learning environment. In our district, we staff appropriately for this.

Our staffing model staffs for kids across the spectrum of development and academic needs. Each classroom has an early childhood special education teacher and a paraprofessional, sometimes two. – Kimberly Bloemen, MA, Ed.S, Executive Director, Early Childhood Education, Boulder Valley School District Q: DOES THIS MODEL OF LEARNING POSITIVELY AFFECT KIDS’ FAMILIES? A: According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Division for Early Childhood, early childhood inclusion embodies the values, policies and practices that support the right of every infant

AUGUST 2021

and young child and his or her family, regardless of ability, to participate in a broad range of activities and contexts as full members of families, communities, and society. The desired results of inclusive experiences for children with and without disabilities and their families include a sense of belonging and membership, positive social relationships and friendships, and development and learning to reach their full potential. The defining features of inclusion that can be used to identify high quality early childhood programs and services are access, participation and support. This benefits all students by creating opportunities where students can reach their highest potential from an early age.

We focus on creating a preschool model that creates these experiences for all families to the best extent possible. – Laura Hess, Executive Director of Special Education for St. Vrain Valley Schools Q: DOES INCLUSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION BENEFIT KIDS IN SPECIFIC SITUATIONS OR ALL KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM? A: Inclusive early childhood education is meant to improve outcomes for ALL children, whether they have special needs or are typically developing. At TLC, we carefully cultivate class rosters so that there is a diverse group

ou’ve likely heard of and your child’s preschool probably practices inclusive early childhood education.

Three local educators help us understand it better and how it benefits not just kids in the classroom but their families, too.

of backgrounds and abilities in each classroom. Children with special needs benefit from being in classrooms with typical children and research shows that typical kids who spend their formative years learning alongside peers with disabilities helps improve not only their cognitive outcomes, but their social-emotional growth, as well. Learning to

work with people that are different from oneself is a vital part of human development and we believe that the inclusion model helps all kids foster compassion, empathy, and communication skills that will serve them well as they progress through their academic years and beyond. At TLC, we believe that inclusion is the best way for kids to learn how to be outstanding students AND caring, compassionate members of their community.

We believe that inclusive learning supports our mission statement of nurturing success in ALL children and helping them all reach their fullest potential. - Amy FrenchTroy, Development and Communications Coordinator, TLC Learning Center

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“A mind without instruction can no more bear fruit than can a field, however fertile, without cultivation.”

- Marcus Tullius Cicero

Classical Education

taking cues from the wisdom of the ancients

M education.

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arcus Tullius Cicero knew the value of a well-rounded

BY ADAM GOLDSTEIN for Raised in the Rockies

The ancient Roman philosopher, politician and scholar owed his place in history to his unwavering commitment to learning; Cicero’s achievements as a lawyer, a speaker, a leader and a leading intellectual voice of his time all sprung from studies in a range of subjects.

As Cicero said himself, “A mind without instruction can no more bear fruit than can a field, however fertile, without cultivation.”

More than 2,000 years after Cicero wrote those words, the model of learning that typified his era is alive and well. Across the country, charter schools specializing in a “Classical Education”

model are flourishing. These schools take cues from pedagogical traditions that have their roots in ancient Greece and Rome; simply put, the classical approach seeks to equip students with skills and learning that have been prioritized for millennia.

The Twin Peaks Classical Academy in Longmont specializes in a classical approach to education, with a mission statement that stresses “the foundations of virtue and character,” and “building cultural literacy through a content-rich curriculum in an encouraging environment.”

According to Twin Peaks Director Joseph Mehsling, that curriculum stresses BACK TO SCHOOL

fundamental skills that have been keys to successful learning for the entire course of human history.

“Classical education is what’s worked for thousands of years,” Mehsling said.

“In order to build their knowledge and foundation of facts, students need to be good readers, writers and mathematicians … Broadly speaking, elementary, middle and high school students with a good liberal arts background are going to be able to tackle any topic.”

At Twin Peaks, stressing those fundamentals means learning from the examples of the past. Elementary students have early access to learning Latin, which opens the doors to any of its derivative Romance languages. High school students find the great works of the ancients on their reading lists, epics like Homer’s “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey” and Virgil’s “The Aeneid.”

What’s more, students are encouraged to balance

technology with tactile, timeless skills.

“We’re not Luddites. We have technology. But we reject the one-to-one device model that’s taking the world of education by storm,” Mehsling said. “My belief is that the kinesthetic element in education cannot be undersold.

Technology is a supplementary tool; it’s not the focus of the classroom. We teach cursive in elementary. Students write their essays out by hand before

they get on a computer. Every one of our students has access to lots of books, and those are those child’s books, to write in and highlight.”

Mehsling is quick to add that the purpose of the classical approach isn’t to isolate students from the modern world. Rather, the curriculum at Twin Peaks seeks to equip its students with practical skills that will help them succeed in the modern world with fundamental, proven

skills. This approach doesn’t shy away from looking at the history of Western civilization with a critical eye, he added.

“Classical education celebrates Western civilization, even as it takes responsibility for West civilization. You need to own some of its flaws,” he said. “I think it goes all the way back to the purpose of education … The whole reason we want kids in our building is to seek out truth, beauty and goodness.”

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Learning, socializing and participating in extracurriculars alongside peers with a shared belief system promotes a connectedness that heightens self-esteem, coping skills and advocates less risky behavior. (Photo: Jeff Beaton Holy Family High School.)

The Difference that Faith Makes

For many, coping with the changes in the wake of COVID-19 and seeking to determine how best to respond is a new challenge for not only parents, but also our children.

BY LINDA THORSEN BOND for Raised in the Rockies

T RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

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he COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on every facet of life around the world. For many, coping with the changes in the wake of COVID-19 and seeking to determine how best to respond is a new challenge for not only parents, but also our children.

Faith-based education can help children understand the larger picture, helping enable them to understand, discuss,

and confront global problems for the common future. We sat down with educators from Boulder, Longmont, Erie and Broomfield to get their perspective.

HOLY FAMILY HIGH SCHOOL, BROOMFIELD: PRINCIPAL MATT HAUPTLY “Holy Family students, faculty, and support staff understand that a strong moral compass that is guided by our shared faith has an impact not just in the classroom but the community at large. Learning, BACK TO SCHOOL

AUGUST 2021

Mrs. Marie Lucarelli’s reads during first grade class at Longmont Christian School.

(Photo: Amanda Everett / Longmont Christian School).

self-growth.

We saw first-hand how our day-to-day choices matter as much as – or perhaps even more than – seemingly more significant life choices.

Remaining vigilant and following the safety protocols, even when we were fatigued, allowed us to accomplish something many thought couldn’t be done.”

VISTA RIDGE ACADEMY, ERIE: TEACHING PRINCIPAL SANDY HODGSON “As a faith-based school we believe in and rely on a higher power. We believe God is in control. He has created us with the ability to study, evaluate, and follow best practices. Since we are still in the midst of COVID, Vista Ridge Academy will navigate the pandemic again as we continue our in person learning. It impacts everything we do from our methods of teaching, interactions with other classrooms, campus visitors, and extracurricular activities and programming.

We have been very careful to follow CDPHE and CDC guidelines. Our families have been amazing in their support.

We want to help our students and families realize that things happen that are not within our control; however, we can control our responses to situations. We want students to be able to ask questions,

socializing, and participating in extracurriculars alongside peers with a shared belief system promotes a connectedness that heightens self-esteem, coping skills, and advocates less risky behavior.

Holy Family prides itself on being a community of faith with a commitment to academic excellence and we place the student experience firmly at the center of all our work. Our students are surrounded by people who genuinely care about them. As a result, it is highly empowering, and our students thrive because they feel at home and at ease.

Educating our students is most effectively done in person. For this reason, among many, it was so important that we were 100% in-person to educate our students during the 2020-21 school year.

We made a concerted effort to keep in person learning as normal as possible.

Mental health was the greatest and most compelling reason to return to in-person instruction for the 2020-21 school year. It is as much a priority as their physical wellbeing. Adolescence is a difficult time for everyone, if we separate these kids from their social connections it becomes much more difficult for them. Having our kids in the school building for their education is better for their overall health in the long run.

Being a student during a pandemic can be especially difficult. Our school and college counselors are here to support our students, especially during stressful times.

There were plenty of challenges last school year, but there were also many unexpected blessings. In my 20 years in education, I have never witnessed a student body so happy to walk into the school building each and every day.

Our students thrived academically, socially, artistically, athletically and spiritually by being in-person.

I’m so thankful we were able to boldly live our mission and provide a Catholic learning environment that stresses academic excellence, fosters mutual respect, demands responsibility, and encourages

talk about their fears, and then learn how to respond appropriately. We may not always agree, but we are all worthy of respect. We are teaching our students how to create a plan, be resilient, become stronger, and meet challenges that come their way.

Our mascot is the eagle, and our theme through the pandemic has been to “Protect the Nest.” We want our students, our families, and our community to be intentional in making choices, through the pandemic and beyond, to be inclusive and safe. Our students deserve the best now and moving forward.

They are learning to be great citizens at home, in school, their neighborhood, and the world at large. We hope they are learning how important it is to respect and care for each other. Our core values include Christ Centeredness, Honor, Exploration, Responsibility, Integrity, Service, and Heroism.

We teach and point to these values in all our classes, not just our Bible curriculum. They allow us to realign in academic and social settings. We want students to respect themselves and others, even during times of disagreement.

Vista Ridge Academy is a preschool through 8th grade school supported by two area churches, Boulder Seventhday Adventist Church and Chapel Haven Seventh-day

Adventist Church. We’re owned and operated by the Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Our educational system is one of the largest in the world and it is an honor to take part in the training of future leaders.”

Our mascot is the eagle, and our theme through the pandemic has been to “Protect the Nest.” We want our students, our families, and our community to be intentional in making choices, especially through the pandemic, to keep everyone safe. Our students deserve the best now and moving forward. We want them to be great citizens at home, in school, their neighborhood, and the world at large. We hope they are learning through the pandemic how important it is to respect and care for each other.”

LONGMONT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, LONGMONT: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAVE STOECKER “Because of the pandemic, people no longer have as many social connections and there is a record-setting number of overdoses, depression, and suicide. The foundation of our thinking that has stood the test of time is challenged.

Surveys of people aged 1835 show that only one in five has a sense of purpose.

When you look at that and what undergirds our life plan, RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

21

Class scavenger hunt at Vista Ridge Academy promotes teamwork. (Photo:Vista Ridge Academy).

of scholarship: resilience, accountability, craftsmanship, curiosity, courage and collaboration. Every morning in their ‘crew’ or groups the students will learn how their faith should influence everything they do. The idea is to build in those habits from the youngest ages so the students are helping their fellow classmates, being more collaborative, and serving their community. In age-appropriate ways they become in charge of their flight, not just passengers.

If you look at the history of the United States it went from being founded on Christian principles to being almost anti-Christian. We mean to communicate that we’re going to live out Christ’s vision for us in the marketplace, standing for truth in a loving way. That was the commandment, stand firm in the faith but be loving, compassionate, effective and well educated.

People need to understand that we are not insular in this world. Suicide, gender concerns, our students experience these because we are not in a Christian bubble.

When kids are questioning, we try to have a safe space, so they can come to us and have age-appropriate conversations.

We are not judgmental, but we believe we have a source for solid answers to help them.”

you realize that the Christian worldview allows us to offer a place to hang things on, like coat hooks.

Students wonder, ‘Why should we care for others, what do we hang that on, what is the big picture, look at things?’

Human beings are created in the image of God, and we have a purpose or calling. As a faith-based school, we can help students deal with the big issues and items because our faith says there is a purpose behind it all. We can discuss in an age-appropriate way any topic and relate that to the academic subjects like science and math. We can allow kids to bring up their doubts and questions. We can teach them how to think rather than what to think, how to process and think for themselves. I’m in my fifth year as E.D. and when I came in, we talked about increasing the academic rigor.

We are concerned with the whole idea of identity, purpose and gifting. We’re teaching students to think critically and globally.

At Longmont Christian we are looking at the habits of scholarship and character in an intentional way. Starting with the youngest students we’re exploring the habits of character: compassion, gratitude, integrity, reflection and self-value. In addition, we’re studying the habits 22 RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

SACRED HEART OF JESUS SCHOOL, BOULDER: SCHOOL.SHJBOULDER.ORG/ “We offer a Christ-centered Sacred Heart of Jesus School education focusing on character, virtues and servicemindedness.

Sacred Heart of Jesus School challenges each of our students to strive for their highest personal best spiritually, intellectually, socially and physically. High academic standards, expert instruction and supportive programs such as the Learning Center and Homework Club ensure that our students not only succeed, but they also flourish. As an educational community, we embrace global learning through problemsolving, communication, critical thinking, creativity and responsible citizenship.

Established in 1900, we are Boulder’s oldest private school and one of the most-enduring educational institutions in the area. We are the HEART of Boulder. Prayer, religious education and growth in the Catholic faith are fundamental to teaching and learning at SHJS. Students participate in programs of formation with their peers, parents and with the whole school community.”

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We believe schools should not only help students develop the skills and habits for future success, but should also awaken their curiosity, expand their view of the world, and empower local, regional, and global communities.

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// EDUCATION

Child Find Offers Bright Future for Area Kids with Unique Needs

BY KATHLEEN DUFF for Raised in the Rockies

Y

oung children with unique challenges have a bright future in our region, thanks to the Child Find program.

Child Find is a mandate developed through the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act that requires all states to create plans to ensure that children with individual needs are matched with available public education services to help them thrive.

The program applies to kids from birth to age 21. All children, including those who are homeschooled or in private schools or without homes or migrants are eligible for the program.

Kids who may be struggling in areas such as academics,

communication, motor skills, social and emotional aspects and/or hearing and vision can be evaluated and matched with services that best address their needs. Child Find programs can start evaluating kids as early as infancy, with an emphasis on identifying children ages 0 to 5.

“Early intervention is the goal,” explained Michelle Brenner, executive director of special education at Boulder Valley School District. “The earlier we get to kids, the more their needs are remediated, often at that earlier level. And they may not need services later on.”

Once evaluated through a multi-disciplinary approach, an Individualized Education Program is developed to address each child’s needs to ensure they receive help in their specific area.

“When you are in a family and you know that something is going on (with a child) but you don’t know what it is, it can be stressful,” Brenner said.

The district’s veteran Child Find Team “does a really nice job of making parents feel welcome, accepted and understood. …

They really wrap around them and help families know what they can do to help them.”

Laura Gold, Child Find and Frederick feeder coordinator for St. Vrain Valley School District, echoed the importance of contacting and evaluating children at a young age.

“Child Find is very wellreceived in the district. The mission and purpose is all around early intervention for those students who need it so we can provide really great services that, hopefully, are only needed for a short amount of

time,” she explained.

Gold said Child Find is enhanced through community involvement. In the St. Vrain Valley School District, about 90 percent of the referrals to Child Find for birth to age 3 come from doctors.

She said Shela Blankinship, the district preschool coordinator, has done a good job in building partnerships with private preschools. In turn, community partners will reach out if children’s needs can be better met through Child Find.

“The students identified in Child Find receive services in our robust preschool program so they are even more prepared for their education beginning in Kindergarten,” Gold added.

For information visit ece.BVSD.org or svvsd.org and search for Child Find.

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Engaging Minds & Hearts Choosing a Montessori or Waldorf School Which one is right for your child?

BY PAM MOORE for Raised in the Rockies

I

f you’re considering a Waldorf or Montessori school, there’s a good chance you believe children thrive when they have control over their learning environment. You probably also believe your child’s emotional development is just as important as, if not more important than their academic progress. Not sure which model would be best for your child? We talked to experts to help you understand where the two educational philosophies overlap, how they diverge, and what that means for your kids.

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A student at Jarrow Montessori creates a bead chain. (Photo: Jarrow Montessori).

PHILOSOPHY Both Montessori and Waldorf schools share a deep respect for each child as an individual and are committed to fostering both academics and socialemotional learning. Both institutions allow each child to take an active role in determining their curriculum and the pace at which they move through it.

Waldorf education sees imaginative play as the primary means through which children learn. According to Lori Ann Kran, PhD, Pedagogical Director of Boulder’s Shining Mountain Waldorf School, “We argue that early childhood students learn best through imitation in a welcoming, natural environment that focuses on free, imaginative play.”

Waldorf schools are known for their focus on using natural materials. Kran says, “In early childhood classrooms, all materials are made out of natural materials such as wood, silk, cotton. Toys tend to be open-ended and able to adapt to the child’s BACK TO SCHOOL

imagination. Hence, a log can become a seat or table, a ship, or a part of a fort.”

Montessori schools, on the other hand, focus on giving children the chance to learn through practical experiences in mixed-age classrooms.

Says Gavin Green, director of admissions at Jarrow Montessori School in Boulder, “Each classroom is filled with developmentally appropriate activities that encourage children to interact with specific learning materials.”

As Harry Donahue, the Head of School at Boulder’s Mountain Shadows Montessori School explains, the hallmarks of Montessori education include the development of “respect for the environment, self and others, as well as a moral responsibility to society.”

CURRICULUM According to Kran, Waldorf holds that children in grades one through eight learn best “when all subjects – academic,

artistic, athletic and social— are brought ‘artistically,’ so that students’ imaginative, emotional lives are activated and engaged.” This is why teachers pair math concepts with rhythmic movement for students in grades one through four; Kran explains, “Research acknowledges that younger students learn math best through movement.”

Similarly, Waldorf reading and writing curricula are rooted in what Kran calls a holistic and artistic approach.

“Beginning in first grade we tell rich stories and later histories so that students actively develop the capacity to think sequentially,” she says.

“Waldorf students begin to see themselves as authors early on because they are, with the ‘guidance of their teachers, creating their own writings and ‘textbooks, which we call main lesson books.”

By focusing on “will forces” or imitation in the early years, Kran says Waldorf helps lay the foundation for critical

thinking when children reach high school, “so that they graduate ready to ask new questions and to enter their futures feeling empowered and competent.”

Montessori academics, on the other hand, give children “three-dimensional manipulative materials designed specifically for Montessori. These allow all lessons to be concrete and for children to be able to work with the materials,” says Green.

Montessori introduces academic concepts early, says Green. “The early years (birth through age six) are a critical time to set a strong foundation, so Montessori starts early with the academic curriculum, although presented in developmentally appropriate ways with concrete materials.”

Green describes a preliteracy learning tool called a sandpaper letter, a flat square featuring a letter made of sandpaper. Kids learn the phonetic sound of the letter as

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BEGINS HERE

they trace it with their finger, later progressing to tracing the letter with their finger in a sand table.

Other Montessori-specific materials include miniature brooms, mops and dishrags.

Green says using child-size materials to clean up their own spills helps preschoolers develop their capacity to take care of themselves and their environment: It also sets the stage for them to take on a role such as plant waterer or door holder in their classroom once they turn six.

Whether you choose Montessori or Waldorf, you can be sure your child will be challenged in a way that meets them where they are and engages both their minds and their hearts.

HAVE QUESTIONS? Learn more at: shiningmountainwaldorf.org, jarrow.org or mountainshadows.org.

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8th grade students at Friends School visit Moab. (Photo: Friends School).

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BACK TO SCHOOL

When NATURE is your classroom Pandemic or not, schools see the benefits of outdoor education

BY SARAH HUBER for Raised in the Rockies

W

hile outdoor education has always played a leading role at Bixby School, Friends School and Flagstaff Academy, all located in Boulder County, after a pandemic year of learning outside by necessity, these schools are more committed than ever to immersing students in studies far beyond the four walls of a classroom.

Friends School director of admissions Melanie Leggett explained, “We’ve always prioritized outdoor education, but now we’ve seen just how much we can do outside. Our kids were perfectly happy to be outside all day.”

Leggett isn’t exaggerating.

Students at Bixby School and Friends School studied, ate

Taking students into the real world, the living world, to study and learn has immense benefits . (Photo: Flagstaff Academy).

and played outdoors from the start to end of most 2020 to 2021 school days, as the schools shifted education outdoors “98 percent of the time,” said Leggett, to keep classes in-person. Bixby head of school Nina Lopez said, “We learned, students and teachers, that we’re adaptable

and can do hard things. We bought tents, built platforms, put down rugs and brought out chairs.” Teachers rewrote curricula to take advantage of the outdoor environment – such as an ornithology unit for first graders and for fifth graders, learning math by designing raised garden

beds – and reminded students to dress for the weather and pack hearty snacks. “We added more periods of rest into our day since it can be tiring to be outside, and over and over again, we saw the benefits of outdoor education,” Leggett said.

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a public charter school in the St. Vrain Valley School District, students returned from remote learning as soon as was safely feasible, and the outdoor education celebrated at the school from its first days attained new urgency.

“Even with masks and social distancing, when students were able to get their hands dirty and plant seeds, that was connective and healing,” said Lisa Trank-Greene, communications coordinator at Flagstaff Academy. “There was a specialness to the outdoor space.”

Flagstaff’s natural classroom includes a geodesic dome greenhouse featuring an aquaponic system for growing plants. As at Friends School and Bixby, Flagstaff students tend and harvest organic vegetables and seed pollinatorfriendly plants and native grasses. Trank-Greene said, “It’s one thing to be in a science lab and another to be able to be out finding birds or looking at microorganisms in streams. We’re taking our students into the real world,

Students at Friends School study nature from the boardwalk. (Photo: Friends School).

the living world, to study and learn.”

Going forward, Bixby School, Friends School and Flagstaff Academy intend to

keep the focus on outdoor learning in high gear. Bixby has prioritized building bat boxes and beehives, and Friends School is moving physical

Flagstaff’s natural classroom includes a geodesic dome greenhouse. (Photo: Flagstaff Academy).

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Outdoor class circle. (Photo: Friends School).

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education classes permanently outdoors. “We live in Colorado with so many days of sun, so why not?” Leggett said. “Our parents and kids loved outdoor

BACK TO SCHOOL

PE.” Indeed, for Bixby, Friends and Flagstaff, last year’s forced dependency on outside classrooms reemphasized the worth of a vibrant outdoor education program. “We already loved recess and field trips,” Leggett said. “Now we saw the value of even more time outdoors. We saw the physical benefits of our kids feeling reenergized and more self-regulated outdoors and having greater focus, and it’s safe to say we’ll be outdoors next year even more than we used to be.”

Lopez noted, “This was a reminder that learning doesn’t just happen in our brain but is a whole-body experience.

Being outdoors opened up new ways for our kids to see the relevance of what we’re learning and more importantly, to direct their learning and to spark their curiosity. We know that kids learn better when they’re moving and outside.”

Lopez added that as Bixby has reflected on the past year and how the pandemic has

exacerbated inequities, they’re hoping to welcome more students to Bixby-style outdoor education with a significant increase in tuition support.

What remains the same for Bixby School, Friends School and Flagstaff Academy is their longstanding commitment to the wonders of outdoor education. “We believe that if kids experience the outdoors, they will learn to love the outdoors and go on to take care of it,” Leggett said.

“We are building the next generation of environmental stewards.”

Trank-Greene concurred: “We believe we are helping to create tomorrow’s ethical leaders of the world, and part of being an ethical leader means not only aiming for my own success but to succeed in relationship with our interconnected world. We are responsible for this planet that is our home, and it’s important to us that our students learn this from an early age.”

Boulder Valley School District is engaged in Child Find Boulder Valley School District wants to locate children ages birth to 21 with disabilities who live within district boundaries as part of Child Find.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a child with a disability means a child evaluated and determined eligible for early intervention services (birth to 3) or special education and related services (age 3 to 21) in accordance with IDEA under the following categories: Hearing Impairment, Including Deafness, Multiple Disabilities, Deaf-Blindness, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, Developmental Delay, Serious Emotional Disability, Intellectual Disability, Specific Learning Disability, Speech or Language Impairment, or Visual Impairment, Including Blindness.

If you have a child/student that you suspect may have a disability, and one of the following applies: • An infant-toddler or preschool aged child and live within the BVSD attendance area, or • A school-age student (K-12) attending a private school that is located within the BVSD attendance area, or • A school-age student (K-12) you are homeschooling and live within the BVSD attendance area, please contact Child Find at:

Boulder Valley School District 6500 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, CO 80303 (720) 561-5078 Para Información en Español, llame (720) 561-5267 If your child is already enrolled and is attending one of the Boulder Valley School sites, then talk to your child’s teacher or school administrator about your concerns regarding your child’s development, or that you suspect your child may have a disability.

AUGUST 2021

For Further Information: www.bvsd.org/childfind RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

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GOAL High School graduate. (Photo: GOAL High School).

No Matter the Circumstance, There’s an Education Just Right for You

H

omelessness.

Teen parenthood.

Bullying. Boredom.

These are just a few of the many reasons students sometimes find it difficult to attend and graduate from a traditional brick-and-mortar high school.

But that doesn’t mean a high school degree is impossible.

GOAL High School, founded in 1997 as a charter school in Pueblo, has experienced exponential growth ever since and is now a blended school — meaning it offers both online and in-person instruction — serving thousands of students ages 16-21 throughout Colorado.

This year, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, GOAL graduated about 1,200 students, and enrollment this fall is expected to be about 5,500.

GOAL welcomes all students, but especially at-risk kids whose life circumstances often overshadow their need to finish school.

30 RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

Jaime Porterfield of Pueblo knows all too well how life’s curve balls can throw a student off course. Her home life was unstable and she dropped out of high school her junior year while working 12- and 16-hour shifts at a call center to save enough money for her own apartment. Going to school and working long hours at the same time just didn’t work.

To make matters even more difficult, she was without shelter for about two weeks, sometimes sleeping in strangers’ backyards and afraid she would be discovered by the homeowners.

After two weeks of nowhere to call home, she was determined to get her diploma and get her life back on track.

“GOAL High School saved my life,” she said. She was provided with resources needed to thrive both as a student and in her day-to-day life.

Today she’s an academic coach at GOAL in Pueblo where she’s in daily contact with students, many going through what she has

BY LUANNE KADLUB for Raised in the Rockies

experienced. She also offers tutoring and checks in with the parents or grandparents.

“I wanted to provide the same hope I was given, to really help people through those tough times,” Porterfield said.

Her advice to students experiencing challenges is to connect with GOAL. “There is definitely opportunity here. They can still get their education and overcome obstacles at the same time.”

GOAL High School has 36 drop-in centers throughout the state where students can get whatever kind of help they need, whether it’s related to academics, social and emotional needs, or needing shelter. They also provide transportation to and from the centers.

In addition to a full staff of teachers, principals and others, GOAL has social workers who work exclusively with students, said Gunnison Pagnotta, communications coordinator for GOAL High School.

“Sometimes our demographic studies lead us more toward at-risk kids.

We do home visits, whatever it takes to keep students engaged. If there’s no front door (when visits to the family home are made) or the house is condemned, then we know there are bigger issues and we don’t need to bother about course work,” Pagnotta said.

At-risk students aren’t the only ones who can benefit from blended classes, however.

“We have other students who had been sitting in brick-and-mortar classrooms bored to tears, ready to go to college.”

GOAL makes that possible through partnerships with the state’s colleges and universities that allow those students to take college-level classes before graduating high school.

To ensure classwork gets done, every student is provided with a laptop and T-Mobile hot spots. Also, GOAL is one of only 500 Microsoft Showcase Schools in the world and the only online alternative education campus to be recognized for its commitment to using technology to engage students in creative ways “It’s all about education, innovation and educational transformation,” Pagnotta said.

“And it’s important to us to keep the personal touch in it, because we know that’s what works.”

In addition, GOAL students have the opportunity to play sports and participate in other extracurricular activities, such as Future Farmers of America, at nearby public schools.

And though GOAL is for students 16-21, it does allow students older than that to pursue their diplomas provided they at one time took classes through GOAL. This past year 27 students over age 21 were among graduates.

Students and parents interested in learning more about GOAL High School and/ or to enroll for the upcoming school year can visit GOAL High School’s website at goalac.org or by calling 1.877.776.4624. To hear Jaime Porterfield’s story in her own words, go to youtube/ SbtEhXrDdSY. BACK TO SCHOOL

// EDUCATION

5 Tips to Ace College Entry Exams prep on areas you would like to improve before the real thing.

Family Features

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REGISTER EARLY To allow yourself as much flexibility as possible, taking college entrance exams during your junior year of high school is encouraged. If you don’t get an ideal score, you can refine

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(Photo: Getty Images).

your approach and retake the exam with a better idea of what to expect.

TAKE A PRACTICE TEST Any test prep plan should start with a practice SAT or ACT exam. Taking practice tests under realistic conditions can help you gain a better understanding of the content of the test, improve your time management and help combat test anxiety. You can use your practice test as a baseline to set goals and focus the rest of your

ecause most colleges and universities require applicants to submit ACT or SAT results as part of admissions consideration, prepping for the test itself can be a critical component of that process.

While it can oftentimes be hard to deal with the anxiety that comes with a rigorous test meant to show your mastery of certain subjects and concepts, such as reading and mathematics, consider these test prep tips to help boost your score while simultaneously lowering stress.

SIGN UP FOR A PREP COURSE If you find studying on your own difficult or not as successful as you’d hoped, a prep course can put you through the paces and hold you accountable. Complete with homework and in-class practice, prep classes can range from small groups to larger classes taught by test experts.

Some school districts even offer after-school programs dedicated to ACT or SAT prep.

GATHER SUPPLIES To help reduce test day stress, gather everything you’ll need the night before. Check the list of banned items – cellphones aren’t permitted – to make sure you don’t accidentally bring something you’re not allowed to have. Ensure your bag is packed with

your admission ticket, valid photo identification, several sharpened pencils with erasers, an approved calculator (with fresh batteries) and a watch, if allowed.

GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP AND EAT BREAKFAST While it can be tempting to stay up late the night before the test to cram, you’re likely to perform better with a full night’s sleep. Sleep is important for retention, and eating a balanced breakfast before heading out the door can aid in your ability to focus. To make your morning easier, prep breakfast before bed to keep an early morning from starting even earlier.

Remember, the college admissions process involves more than just test scores. Visit eLivingtoday.com for more education tips and information.

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// HEALTH

Community-Based Organizations Can Help Your Child and Family Prepare for a New School Year

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While exciting, going back to school this year will be different. (Photo: A Precious Child),

oing back to school this year will be different. The cumulative effects of being isolated and removed from a traditional educational environment is having lasting effects for many kids, families and caregivers.

Luckily the topic of mental health is no longer so taboo.

One in every four people in America has experienced mental health challenges, including episodic depression, anxiety, suicide ideation or chronic serious mental illness, in their lifetime.

“We all have stress. We all feel overwhelmed, defeated, or at least confused from time to time with our strong

emotions,” says Longmontbased Licensed Professional Counselor Chandra LontzSmith at Genuine Heart Counseling. “We all get hijacked by an inner critic, a tendency toward perfectionism or general self-absorption, all of which makes completion or cooperation difficult — and all of which are the groundwork of mental health.”

CONNECTING WITH KIDS THROUGH COMMUNITY Just as there’s a sense of community when people feel they are not alone in their struggles, there’s a wellestablished local support network ready to jump into action to help us all navigate

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303.443.0511 3900 Orange Court Boulder, CO BACK TO SCHOOL

our way back to a healthy school year.

Mental Health Partners (MHP) is one local nonprofit that provides access to expert mental health and substance use care, regardless of ability to pay. For almost 60 years, MHP has served Boulder County through trained therapists, traditional talk therapy, and personalized whole-person care plans to support learning, development and personal growth.

“In addition to therapeutic programs, we focus on community outreach and education to help people realize it’s okay to have a problem and get help with dealing with it,” says Marketing Coordinator Elizabeth Willacker. “We raise awareness about mental illness and suicide, educate the public about how to get care, and provide timely information and support to encourage wellness and self-care.”

One of MHP’s newest programs is Kid Connects in the Neighborhood, which offers resources, screenings, referrals and more for children cared for by family, friends or neighbors.

HELPING CHILDREN REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL Broomfield’s A Precious Child, which receives referrals from over 550 agency partners, offers what it calls cradleto-career support. “We help break the cycle of poverty by reducing socioeconomic inequalities, connecting clients with needed resources, services, opportunities and educational support,” says Marketing Director Danica

families who need to utilize their income to pay for necessary expenses like rent, utilities and insurance.”

Dalton Risner at A Precious Child’s 2021 giveSports skills camp.

(Photo: A Precious Child).

De Jong. “Once approved, we provide wrap-around services and even emotional support to many people who come in lost, anxious and overwhelmed.”

Programs range from Basics 4 Babies, which includes everything from formula to diapers for newborns, infants and toddlers, to the giveSPORTS program, which connects kids in need with new or gently used sports equipment and awards scholarships to help pay for participation fees, uniforms and equipment.

The impacts are visceral.

The organization recently worked with a couple who had to cash in their 401K in order to provide for the seven grandchildren currently in their custody. A Precious Child’s Resource Center allowed the caregivers to shop for all of the children free of charge.

“They went to school feeling confident and inline with their peers in their new clothes and new backpacks filled with supplies,” De Jong says.

“This relieves a lot of stress and anxiety for a number of

Open enrollment begins November 1, 2021

ONE-ON-ONE THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT For some children who have anxiety around returning to school, a one-on-one approach may be the best approach to easing back into the learning environment.

Lontz-Smith specializes in a child-directed model called Synergetic Play Therapy, which supports kids in their own language: play. She says the process can help children decrease anxiety, withdrawal and aggressive behaviors, as well as increase empathy, confidence and cooperation. She also works in Hand in Hand Parenting, a parenting model that supports connection, relationship, regulation, emotional expression and authenticity.

Lontz-Smith helped a variety of families during a very challenging year filled with COVID vaccines, masks, and mixed messages; personal experiences with illness and loss; and political and racial unrest and violence.

“It makes sense to have feelings of agitation, impatience, fear, anger, anxiety and apprehension or to notice trouble sleeping, trouble eating, or tendencies toward coping strategies like drinking, eating, sleeping or TV,” she says. “Our systems are trying to manage a lot!”

HEALTHCARE EDUCATION FOR ALL Managing healthcare is another element of getting

back to a “new normal” come a new school year. Benefits in Action is a community organization focused on tackling this challenging element of our society.

They assist Coloradans in understanding, access and utilization of healthcare.

There are several Benefits in Action programs that families can participate in leading up to this school year, including a mental wellness program called Connectedness.

“There is no judgment. We are all in different places with mental health, and it does not determine your worth,” says Ron DeVries, lead benefit navigator at Benefits in Action.

“Our Connectedness program focuses on the mental wellness of isolated individuals by calling weekly to connect.”

SNAP application and recertification, as well as a food delivery program are other helpful supports. For some families Benefits in Action has been a primary source of food. Healthcare enrollment is another key area.

DeVries says the organization can assist with enrolling in Connect for Health Colorado insurance and for some large families or those with lower income, Child Health Plan+ for the kids while the parents choose a health insurance plan.

As they say, “It takes a village.” And when it comes to helping children, caregivers and families get back to school in wellness the village is here to support anyone in need. Don’t hesitate to reach out to these diverse local organizations to learn how they can assist your family moving forward this fall.

Benefits in Action can also assist with SNAP, Medicaid, and Medicare applications

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Visit our website or call us for an appointment.

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How Does Your Child SEE the World?

Dr. Jane Woford gives a pediatric eye exam.

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(Photo: Eye Care Center of Northern Colorado).

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s children grow, their eyes change quickly. Careful attention to a child’s eye health can help catch problems early, while their eyes are still developing.

A child can have 20/20 vision and still experience vision issues. Each eye might have perfect vision, but not work well together to create a clear picture.

That was the case with Boulder parent Emily Cooper’s son. (name has been changed at her request.) “David had always passed the pediatrician’s eye tests, but he failed the standard school vision test in second grade. We went to see Dr. Jeff Berger, an optometrist at Carbon Valley Eye Care, and learned that David had a muscle focusing engagement problem. Although he was always placed in his class’ highest reading group, he complained to us that reading was a challenge for him. He was using his ‘smarts’ to compensate for not being able to process information that was coming into the left eye. We did vision therapy and by the middle of second grade he was wearing glasses to help the muscle,” Cooper said.

BY BARBRA COHN for Raised in the Rockies

David finished vision therapy last year and is entering fifth grade with a contact lens in one eye. “He is still a reluctant reader, but Dr. Berger did a series of reading comprehension and IQ tests and his scores improved drastically,” Cooper added.

SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD MAY HAVE EYE OR VISION PROBLEMS The American Optometric Association recommends that children get their first eye exam between six and twelve months of age, the second exam around three years of age, and the third exam before kindergarten. In accordance with Colorado state guidelines, students new to the school district, at selected grade levels, and by teacher referral, are screened in the fall for vision and hearing. Appropriate referrals are then made to the parent/ guardian. But ultimately, parents need to be vigilant for possible vision problems.

According to Dr. Jane Wolford of the Eye Care Center of Northern Colorado, headaches and reluctance to read, a family history of prescription glasses or eye muscle surgery are indications that your BACK TO SCHOOL

Dr. Berman provides vision therapy to patients as young as six months, but the bulk of his patients are in third to fourth grade. “When functional vision issues are left untreated a child’s ability to read, have good balance and coordination, and play sports can be affected. Vision therapy, similar to physical therapy, aims to help patients obtain information better

by performing visual exercises that help improve eye movement control and eye coordination,” Berman said.

So have your child start the year off with all the tools they need to process information easily with good vision, in order to avoid frustration at school and sports.

SYMPTOMS THAT MAY INDICATE A NEED FOR VISION THERAPY • • • •

Visual exercises help improve eye movement control and eye coordinaton. (Photo: Carbon Valley Eye Care).

child may have a vision problem. “Poor school performance or school performance that doesn’t correlate to intelligence is also a sign that your child should be seen by an eye care specialist,” she said. “When a child is too young to read the eye charts we have many objective tests that will test a child’s vision,” Wolford added.

Dr. Wolford refers patients who have learning-related vision problems to optometrists who specialize in determining how well the eyes and brain work together to process what is seen.

• • •

• Sits close to the TV • Headaches from reading or homework • Good word reader, but poor reading comprehension • Poor handwriting • Blurred vision when transitioning from far to near vision • Homework takes a long time or is highly frustrating • Short attention span for schoolwork or reading

(List courtesy: Carbon Valley Eye Care)

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•

Reading issues Poor attention span in school Frequent mistakes Difficulty doing and completing schoolwork Skips words or lines when reading Rubs eyes when reading or doing near work Closes one eye with reading or near work Holds reading material close to face or tilts head or paper

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Production Company Dance Centre.

YMCA of Northern Colorado.

ABC Kids Climbing.

Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids.

The Fun Doesn’t End When the School Day Does!

Our region offers rich after-school activities for kids

Photos courtesy of Production Company Dance Centre, ABC Kids Climbing, YMCA of Northern Colorado, Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids

S

chool offers engagement and social interaction for your child. If they have to head home to a quiet house with television as their only company, it can be a bummer for them when the bell rings at 3 p.m. Even if they’re happy to get out of their desks and off the school 36 RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

grounds, children still crave the fun and excitement of the school environment. Plus, the work day usually doesn’t end at 3 p.m., leaving many parents scrambling to find some fun for their kiddo after classes are over.

Most families face this dilemma in the afternoon hours, and that’s why our region has an amazing calendar of after school activities for students. Check out these educational, enriching after school programs for schoolaged students in the Boulder and Northern Colorado area.

From rock climbing to dance

BY EMMA CASTLEBERRY for Raised in the Rockies

to music, there’s something for every little mind in our diverse community.

YMCA OF NORTHERN COLORADO The YMCA of Northern Colorado provides after school programs within the Mapleton YMCA in Boulder, the Arapahoe YMCA in Lafayette, and the Longmont YMCA. These in-house programs feature clubs, swim time, swim lessons, sports and, at the Arapahoe YMCA, ice skating! In the Boulder Valley and Saint Vrain Valley School Districts, the YMCA even

provides transportation from schools to the centers. “During after school care, students enjoy homework help, active play, STEM projects, SEL lessons, cooking and nutrition activities and team building fun,” says Julia Capnerhurst, executive director of school age programs and day camp for the YMCA of Northern Colorado.

The YMCA also provides after school programming on-site at schools throughout Thompson and Weld RE-5J school districts.

One in three children in these programs are on CCAP state assistance or YMCA BACK TO SCHOOL

ABC KIDS CLIMBING ABC Kids Climbing offers after school rock climbing programs for children ages 4 to 19, including introductory classes and 10- to 12-week comprehensive programs.

“After school activities are a great way for kids to have fun, make new friends, and continue learning and challenging themselves in a very natural way – through play,” says Chris Hampson, director of recreation programs at ABC Kids Climbing. “Climbing helps kids learn body awareness, build strength, and develop healthy exercise habits. Our programs are designed to grow with the kids as they increase in age and ability, and there are always new challenges.”

For more information, visit abckidsboulder.com.

COLORADO CONSERVATORY OF DANCE Classes at the Colorado Conservatory of Dance (CCD) are available to ages 1 and up, with a focus on accessible, inclusive dance education.

“We actively create a bodysafe environment where dancers can love their own physical form and engage with themselves as artists in a vulnerable and authentic way,” says Julia Wilkinson Manley, artistic director at CCD. Classes include ballet technique, somatics, jazz, modern, contemporary, pas de deux and more. CCD also has a program called Dance Expressions, which uses a specifically designed, adaptive curriculum to provide children of all abilities with a therapeutic and fun dance experience. Their Accelerate!

AUGUST 2021

“After school activities are a great way for kids to have fun, make new friends, and continue learning and challenging themselves in a very natural way – through play.” program is specifically designed to teach new dancers ages 9+ the critical fundamentals of ballet and/or jazz, so that after a year of training, they are able to integrate into the CCD’s intermediate program.

For more information, visit ccdance.org.

HB WOODSONGS Music lessons are another great way to spend the after-school hours. Local Boulder music shop HB Woodsongs offers private music lessons both in-person in their studios as well as virtually, depending on the teacher. “HB Woodsongs provides resources for students to succeed in school music programs, including instrument rentals, private music lessons for all ages, and books and supplies,” says Shawn Cupolo, co-owner of HB Woodsongs.

“Private music lessons can help students who are in school band or orchestra classes thrive, by supplementing their musical knowledge and technique, as well as building their confidence. One-on-one music lessons can provide more individualized attention that students might not be able to get in larger music classes.”

For more information visit hbwoodsongs.com.

PRODUCTION COMPANY DANCE CENTRE Production Company Dance Centre offers year-round registration for Longmont dance classes in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop, children’s creative movement, and acro/tumbling for children 2 and up. “Our dance studio is a place where lifelong friendships are formed, work ethic and dedication are developed, and special memories are made,” says Stephanie Odenbach, PCDC Artistic Director. “PCDC is unique in that it is the only local YPAD certified dance

financial assistance. “That ensures that our programs are equitable and in reach for all families, no matter their income and financial situation,” says Capnerhurst. “It helps kids bridge the achievement gap by giving them a positive, supportive, uplifting place to go while their parents or guardians are working or looking for work.”For more information, visit ymcanoco. org/toddler-to-teen.

studio. YPAD stands for Youth Protection Advocates In Dance and it is an educational training to protect and develop healthy, happy dancers. PCDC staff is background checked, CPR/First Aid certified, and trained in injury prevention, risk management in the dance environment, social media safety, developmentally appropriate artistry, and conflict resolution.” For more information, visit productioncompanydance.com.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN THEATRE FOR KIDS Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids offers a series of after school classes twice a year, once in the fall and once in the winter. Students meet one

day each week for 8 to 10 weeks and end with a final presentation for family and friends. Classes for students from kindergarten to 4th grade include Creative Play and Movement, Musical Revues, Acting, and Character Play.

The topics become more sophisticated for 4th through 9th graders, with classes like Scene and Script Study, Improvisation, and Audition Preparation. “These classes provide a way for students to connect with themselves and others,” says executive director Barry Freniere. “They emphasize the creative process and nurture imagination, which can be translated to other artistic and life endeavors.

The ensemble or group nature of these classes foster teambuilding and communication skills in a safe, inclusive learning environment where self-expression, collaboration, and growth are promoted.”

For more information visit theaterforkids.net.

Holy Family High School

Educating the Whole Person: Spirit, Mind & Body

46 Honors and

19 Average

AP Courses

Class Size

85%

20 Athletic

Faculty with Advanced Degrees Archdiocesan Catholic School that welcomes students of all faiths.

Programs 5195 W. 144th Ave Broomfield, CO 80023 303-410-1411 holyfamilyhs.com

11:1 Student to

Faculty Ratio

99%

Class of 2021 attending 2- or 4year college Arts Program includes visual arts, choir, band, orchestra, and theater.

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3 INGREDIENT PECAN COCOA PROTEIN BARS

Provided by Pam Vagnieres

Ingredients • 8 to 10 medjool dates • 2 cups pecans (raw or lightly toasted for 12 minutes at 300º • 3 tablespoons cocoa or raw cacao powder • A few drops of water

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Fun Fact: Did you know?

Medjool dates are considered a superfood packed with antioxidants and high fiber – which helps with digestion.

ENERGY NUGGETS

Provided by Debbie Steinbock

Ingredients • ½ cup almond butter • ½ cup tahini • ¼ cup ground pumpkin seeds • ¼ cup ground flax seeds • ¼ cup unsweetened dried fruit--cranberries, apricots, strawberries, or cherries • 1 T protein powder • ¼ cup brown rice syrup, shredded coconut flakes (or raw cacao, chia seeds)

W

hen famished kids arrive home from school, finding healthy snacks is the first priority, followed by sports practice and homework.

Having healthy options available takes a little planning and some easy go-to recipes.

To make it easier on you, we talked to local nutrition professionals to get the dish on healthy snack ideas.

Pairing protein with snacks is a great way to help kids eat healthier while keeping their bellies full, says Pam Vagnieres MS, MNT, CSCS nutritionist and exercise physiologist with Nutri-Physique in Louisville.

“One of my big nutrition things is that kids have protein at every snack because it keeps their brain and body calm. If kids eat Goldfish or a box of raisins without protein, they may have a blood sugar spike.”

Apples or bananas with peanut butter makes up a tasty snack that’s easy to prepare.

Almond butter and seed butters work well too.

“I like to sprinkle cinnamon on the apples.

It’s like a sweet treat and also works with pears,” she said.

For children with nut allergies, Vagnieres

suggested sun butter, which is sunflower seed butter. A 16 oz container runs about six bucks at local grocery stores like Natural Grocers.

Eating in season is the way to go says Debbie Steinbock, HHC, holistic health & nutrition counselor with Mindful Nutrition, part of Mindful Family Medicine, in Boulder.

Think peaches and melons in late summer and apples in the fall. Assembling fruit kabobs is a fun activity for younger kids, Steinbock said. And by keeping it colorful, it looks and tastes better. She suggests adding fruits like pineapple, melon, kiwi, strawberries and grapes. Consider cubed cheese to adds protein.

Keeping hard boiled eggs in the frig is an easy snack that goes well with crackers and veggies. Steinbeck suggests portioning out after school snacks in small containers.

This timesaver makes it easy for kids to find healthy snacks on the go.

“Take a pint of hummus and portion it into plastic containers with cut up mixed veggies,” she said.

Leftovers make great snack too. Steinbeck takes leftover rice and turns it into rice pudding.

“Just add some milk of your choice, a full fat coconut milk or almond milk, a mild sweetener like maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and make it on the stovetop,” she said. Cook on a medium heat until it thickens. Can add granola or raisins.

BY ELISE OBERLIESEN for Raised in the Rockies

Healthy Afterschool Snacks Kids Will Love

Directions Pit and rinse dates. Toss all ingredients into a food processor. Spread the batter until batter onto 8 x 8 inch pan. Use a rolling pin or glass to smooth out the batter. Cut into one-inch bars. Store in refrigerator. More recipes on Pam’s website – nutriphysique.net/cookbooks.

Directions Combine all the ingredients except the coconut flakes and mix together. Roll into balls and coat with shredded coconut.

Store in refrigerator.

BACK TO SCHOOL

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT // BOULDER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

All together for all students – more important now than ever before

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AUGUST 2021

that schools with the biggest challenges can better meet their students’ needs.

This effort is not easy, but it is necessary to ensure every last student succeeds.

Ultimately that is our goal – and something that we take incredibly seriously.

I love the sense of possibility that comes with the beginning Rob Anderson These efforts perfectly dovetail with our All Together For All Students Strategic Plan, which aims to Ignite a love of learning in every student, Equip them with the knowledge and skills that will help to make them successful and give them the opportunities and connections so that they can Soar after high school in the college or career pathway of their choice.

Two years ago we went out to our community and listened closely. The feedback we received, along with student data, highlighted for us our opportunities to grow and improve.

In short – to achieve excellence for every student, we must focus on equity first.

Over the past couple years, our extraordinary educators have been working to break down institutional barriers that have kept BVSD from eliminating our significant achievement gap that has persisted for years for our students of color, emerging bilinguals and students with special needs.

We have reworked our discipline system to address disproportionality, reviewed our curriculum and teaching practices to ensure they are culturally responsive and we are working to hire more teachers of color, so that our schools better reflect the diversity that we see in our community. Finally, we are providing funding needed so

elcome Back, BVSD! We are excited to greet our students as they return to class this fall.

Over the past year, we have all been reminded of the importance of our schools and the essential role they play in the lives of our students, families and communities. As shown during the pandemic, schools provided far more than reading, writing and arithmetic. They were the center of our community, providing critical support that students and families depend on, not to mention key relationships our kids need to be happy and healthy.

I couldn’t be more proud of the employees of the Boulder Valley School District.

Our teachers and staff truly stepped up during this difficult time, finding new ways to teach, serving more than 2.2 million meals, hand delivering technology and supplies and going out of their way to ensure that every kid felt loved and supported. You can learn more about these heroic efforts at bvsd.org/ covid-response In BVSD, we know that it takes all of us working together to ensure all students learn and grow. That was certainly true during this crisis. We are grateful for the partnership we had with parents, caregivers and community members. While we look forward to returning to some sense of normalcy, we must build upon the deeper relationships that were forged during this time of need.

Knowing that every student was impacted in very different ways, our work continues. We are wrapping up an extended Summer Learning session that served a record number of students and will continue to provide additional academic and social-emotional support for our students this school year and beyond.

of each new school year – and I look forward to seeing not only what our students, but we as a school district can achieve when we are #AllTogetherForAllStudents.

Sincerely, Rob Anderson Superintendent Boulder Valley School District

Auditioning Now for 2021-22 Season!

Full scale, Broadwayquality productions Professional, technique-based classes A safe, inclusive youth theatre community and more!

Programming for Ages 6-18

AAPA is the conservatory division of Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids.

www.ActorsAcademyCO.com 303-245-8150 www.theaterforkids.net RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

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FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT // ST. VRAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Continuing to advance excellence across our community

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t. Vrain Valley Schools is accelerating into the new academic year with tremendous momentum as we advance high-quality learning for all of our students. As our community continues to move forward, I want to recognize our students, teachers, staff, families, and community partners for your outstanding dedication to excellence. I also want to acknowledge the significant challenges that our entire community has faced and thank you sincerely for your unwavering support and commitment to the well-being of everyone throughout our schools.

Additionally, we have much to celebrate as we look ahead to August and beyond, with the opening of the new Highlands Elementary in Erie,

Don Haddad welcoming the first cohort of students to our new P-TECH program in cybersecurity at Silver Creek High, implementing new academic programs that will extend and advance student learning, and so much more.

All of this begins as we also celebrate many successes from the past year, including: a summer of learning with thousands of students engaged

Angie Payne Photography

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in our extended school year program and many STEM and engineering summer camps; rising graduation rates; numerous individual and team state athletic championships; many honors in our music and art programs; students earning thousands of college credits through Advanced Placement, concurrent enrollment, and International Baccalaureate, as well as many certifications in advanced manufacturing and other high-growth industries; winning numerous competitive grants totalling approximately 18 million over the past four years; and so much more. Additionally, our operations team has been engaged in numerous projects to continually improve our learning environments, including many safety upgrades, adding a new classroom wing at Frederick High, and continuing construction on our new district-wide aquatics facility.

Our success would not be possible without the strong support of our community. As we look to the future, student, family, and community voices will influence and shape the opportunities that will advance our students. To this end, I look forward to hosting several community town hall meetings in September to engage in dialogue regarding important topics such as student achievement and success for every student, school safety, district finances, and other significant topics of importance for our community. Please look for dates and additional information in the coming

weeks.

I believe that public education is one of the most important institutions within our society, serving as the foundation to our economy, public safety and national security, public health, and so much more. Our students are entering a complex, highlycompetitive workforce, unlike anything previous generations have experienced, and it is essential that we provide them with the knowledge, ingenuity, confidence, capacity, and leadership to compete on a global scale. Our forwardthinking approach of providing a strong academic foundation, bolstered significantly with robust innovation, will provide our students the quality of education that ensures a strong competitive advantage, one which will open doors to numerous opportunities across our world.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve a community who shares a deep commitment to the advancement of our public schools. I hope to see everyone at one of our upcoming community meetings so that I can personally thank you for everything that you do to support our students.

Together, we are building a stronger future for our children, our community, Colorado, our nation, and our world.

Sincerely, Don Haddad Superintendent St. Vrain Valley Schools

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WE WILL FIGHT, FIGHT FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!

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>>

Visit BuffZone.com for all the latest Buffs news and highlights.

BACK TO SCHOOL

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT // ADAMS 12 FIVE STAR SCHOOLS

“The best view comes after the hardest climb.”

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Student achievement

• Raise achievement levels for all students and close existing achievement gaps

• Increase graduation rate while increasing academic rigor

• Outperform peer districts Climate & culture

• Students, parents and staff take pride in and feel connected to the district’s positive culture Social-emotional well-being

• Know every student by name, strength and need

Adams 12 Five Star Schools is proud to be rated a Performance District for the sixth straight year and to have experienced the greatest academic growth over this time period as compared to peer districts. But we know the work is far from done,

AUGUST 2021

Chris Gdowski and we look forward to building upon this success in the school year ahead.

Priority investments for the 2021-2022 school year

We’re making several critical investments for the 20212022 school year in support of our three goals.

Peer connections and social enrichment

Reconnecting students to one another and to their school communities is an important foundational step for our students to be ready to immerse themselves in their academic pursuits for the 2021-2022 school year.

About 1,900 elementary students and 400 middle school students across 35 schools in the district participated in summer programming this year to help students reconnect. Our Summer Explores program provided multiple activities and field trips including on-site workshops with Mad Science and Imagine Arts; week-long camps at the Museum of Nature and Science, History Colorado and Young Ameritowne; Night at the Denver Zoo for families; and a Learn and Swim program at Water World.

Accelerated learning

There is ample data at the district, state and national level that shows the past year had a noticeable impact on learning for some students.

s we prepare to embark on the 2021-2022 school year, this phrase is fitting for many reasons.

Just ask someone who has climbed one of Colorado’s 14ers. Chances are they’ll have plenty of stories to tell about the views from the summit, as well as the ups and downs of their journey to get there.

Closer to home, our students and staff in the Five Star District are on their own expedition so to speak. The guidepost for their journey is ELEVATE. It’s our strategic plan which outlines how we live out our mission of engaging and inspiring all students to innovate, achieve and succeed in a safe environment by ensuring high-quality instruction in every classroom, every day.

Our community identified three goals for elevating student success:

Our teachers will maximize their time with students, using effective and efficient lessons to accelerate learning for each student, based on their abilities and needs.

In support of this, for the 2021-2022 school year, we are reducing elementary class sizes to better support individualized, differentiated instruction for students; making our math/literacy interventionists fulltime so they can provide individualized and small group intervention to elementary students with the greatest learning gaps; expanding staffing support for students with moderate to more significant disabilities; and increasing summer school opportunities for students to earn course credits.

Technology integration

The pandemic accelerated our deployment of student computing devices and for 2021-2022, the budget includes a significant purchase of devices to replace obsolete equipment, as well as purchase new online instructional materials to support a balanced, “justright” use of 1:1 technology throughout all levels and content areas. I can’t wait to welcome our students back to school in August. Enjoy the remaining weeks of summer vacation with family and friends!

Sincerely, Chris Gdowski Superintendent Adams 12 Five Star Schools

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Private, Charter & Preschool Spotlight

Grades served: Preschool through 5th grade Address: 4760 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder Phone: 303.494.7508 Website: bixbyschool.org

Holy Family High School Holy Family High School offers a Catholic learning environment that stresses academic excellence, fosters mutual respect, demands responsibility and encourages selfgrowth. Holy Family is a Catholic, archdiocesan, college preparatory, co-educational high school. We are a school grounded in Catholic traditions that warmly welcomes students of all faiths. Holy Family students are unique. They are scholars, athletes, actors, and volunteers who grow into confident and compassionate leaders. If you are seeking a school that will provide you with high quality academic opportunities while focusing on spiritual and personal growth, Holy Family is the place for you!

Grades served: 9th through 12th grade Address: 5195 West 144th Ave., Broomfield Phone: 303.410.1411 Website: holyfamilyhs.com RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

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Boulder Valley School District Early Childhood Education Boulder Valley School District’s integrated preschool program welcomes children who qualify for the Colorado Preschool Program, Special Education, or who pay tuition, all in one classroom. Children learn through play. Our classrooms are set up as centers of discovery, and the children’s curiosity directs their learning. Teachers facilitate the children’s experiences while making sure they feel nurtured and safe.

Grades Served: Preschool Address: Various locations Phone: 720.561.5075 Website: bvsd.org/parentsstudents/enrollment/preschool

Jarrow Montessori School Jarrow is Boulder’s premier Montessori school serving children 18 months through 6th grade.

Located on a beautiful three acres in the heart of North Boulder, Its program combines strong academics, enrichment activities, and a socialemotional curriculum based on proven Montessori experiential learning methods that stimulate critical thinking and lifelong curiosity.

The school inspires children to love learning in classrooms that promote respect, responsibility, and independence. The Montessori method provides a carefully prepared environment, rich in learning materials and experiences. Students are grouped in mixed-age classes, which allows them to interact with other children on a variety of social and intellectual levels.

Grades served: 18 mo. to 6th grade Address: 3900 Orange Ct, Boulder Phone: 303.443.0511 Website:.jarrow.org

Bixby School Nina Lopez, head of Bixby School, said, “The pursuit of creative thinking is what makes Bixby so unique.

Creative thinking is about opening your brain and your curiosity to all kinds of input, relishing the idea of not knowing and being passionate about finding out ‘the why.’ At Bixby, we fuel creative thinking through socialemotional and academic learning. We customize learning experiences, offer small class sizes and take learning outside to our beautiful three acres.

We empower students to grow as individuals, develop their unique gifts and become prepared to make meaningful contributions to the world.”

Dawson School Dawson School is the Boulder County region’s leading independent, collegepreparatory school for students in grades K-12 and is located in Lafayette, Colorado. Dawson offers challenging academics, robust arts and athletics programs, and renowned outdoor and experiential education. The school is committed to the development of character and to the social-emotional wellbeing of our community. Dawson actively promotes and embraces the exchange of diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds through curricular design, community involvement, and the integration of our four virtues - respect, compassion, courage, and integrity - into every aspect of community life.

Grades served: K through 12th grade Address: 10455 Dawson Drive, Lafayette Phone: (303) 665-6679 Website: dawsonschool.org

La Petite Academy La Petite Academy offers nurturing care and early education for infants to school-age students. With STEM learning, science, technology, engineering and math are part of everything the school does in the classroom. Its exclusive School Readiness Pathway prepares each child for elementary school, with customized curriculum. Plus, the school’s Grow Fit® initiative ensures the complete well-being of your growing child through nutritious eating and physical fitness. Following CDC guidance, it maintains a healthy, safe environment – giving parents peace of mind. And it keeps families connected with livestreaming video and real-time mobile updates.

Grades served: Infant through Jr. Kindergarten; After school age program Address: 380 S. McCaslin Blvd., Louisville Phone: 303.673.9333 Website: lapetite.com BACK TO SCHOOL

Private, Charter & Preschool Spotlight

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Flagstaff Academy Flagstaff Academy, an award-winning preschool through eighth grade public charter school, is an academically rigorous school with a Core Knowledge foundation and a strong focus on science and technology.

The school focuses on the individual learner, subject mastery grouping, progressive levels of difficulty, and ongoing assessment for advancement.

The school offers inquiry-based science, robotics, computer programming, integrated technology, a greenhouse classroom, and the leading Restorative Practices program in the region providing a strong focus on character development and ethical leadership. Spanish is offered as a foreign language starting in third grade and a robust arts program includes music, band, and artintegrating technology.

Grades served: Preschool, K-8th Grade Address: 2040 Miller Drive, Longmont Phone: 303.651.7900 Website: flagstaffacademy.org

Friends School Friends School values all learners. Its creative, academically-challenging, safe environment allows every student to be seen, known and loved. Small class sizes allow it to meet each student where they are as learners, and help them to know themselves and set their own path. The school’s purpose and values influence everything they do, from how it teaches math and the way it schedules classes to the kinds of activities students engage in at recess and how it plans learning spaces.

Friends students enter the world as prepared, thoughtful, kind, genuine, self-advocating, confident and empathetic citizens.

Grades served: Preschool-8th Grade Address: South Campus (Preschool & Elementary School) 5465 Pennsylvania Ave.; North Campus (Middle School & Teacher Preparation Program) 3800 Kalmia Ave., Boulder Phone: 303.499.1999 Website: friendsschoolboulder.org

GOAL High School GOAL High School is not only the largest high school in Colorado, it is also the premier model of blendedonline learning. Goal’s mission is to develop productive members of society. Doing so in line with its vision to ensure an environment which is personalized, caring and supportive is what every parent and student desires. Goal is a free performance rated high school which partners with Microsoft and Lenovo to provide cutting edge technology. Its 36 student drop-in centers statewide provide for excellent, safe socialdistancing environments so students can get the face-to-face support they need both academically and in the social-emotional realm.

Grades served: 9th to 12th grade Address: 1600 Hover St., Longmont Phone: 877.776.4625 Website: goalac.org

It’s that time of year again! iEs esa fecha del año otra vez!

Schedule your school or sport physical today!

We have the COVID vaccine for your entire family. ¡Programe hoy su examen físico para la escuela o los deportes! Tenemos la vacuna contra COVID para toda la familia.

220 E. Rogers Road Longmont, CO 80501

(303) MYSALUD (303) 697-2583

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saludclinic.org AUGUST 2021

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Private, Charter & Preschool Spotlight

Longmont Christian School Longmont Christian School is the premiere private school in Boulder County offering Pre-K through 12th grade and concurrent enrollment coursework through Colorado Christian University. The school’s mission is to provide a community of educators, students and parents committed to excellence in academics, service and biblical truth. As a college preparatory school, all coursework and extracurricular activities are designed and implemented with the goal of helping students graduate and enter collegiate studies. An education from Longmont Christian School opens doors to the future for every child who calls its campus home during their educational journey.

Grades served: Pre-K through 12th grade Address: 1440 Collyer St., Longmont Phone: 303.776.3254 Website: longmontchristian.org

Mountain Shadows Montessori School Mountain Shadows Montessori School was founded in 1976 as a private, non-profit school. It has grown from a small classroom of 14 children operating in a rented church facility to a campus situated on 7-1/2 acres in beautiful Boulder. The school offers a comprehensive, accredited Montessori education of the highest quality to students ages 12 months through 6th grade. Mountain Shadows Montessori School is one of two Association Montessori International (AMI) schools accredited school in the state of Colorado. The AMI affiliation gives credibility to our school’s status within the educational community as a whole as well as the global Montessori community, and it confirms a rigorous support of the Montessori principles that are put into practice at the school.

Off Broadway Preschool At Off Broadway Preschool of Fine Arts in Boulder they value the uniqueness of childhood and each child. It strives to provide developmentally appropriate programming in a safe, clean and creatively stimulating environment. Ample time is given for children to explore a diverse, yet balanced curriculum through selfdirected play experiences within the context of a structured daily schedule.

In addition to this, children and teachers gather together several times each day for large and small group learning enrichment times. Though the school provides access to all areas of curriculum, its focus is in the creative arts –music, visual art and movement.

Grades served: Pre-K - 6th grade Address: 4154 63rd St., Boulder Phone: 303.530.5353 Website: mountainshadows.org

Grades served: Preschool Address: 1235 Pine St., Boulder Phone: 303.800.0324 Website: offbroadwaypreschool.org

Grades served: Preschool through 12th grade Address: 999 Violet Ave., Boulder Phone: 303.444.7697 Website: shiningmountainwaldorf.org 44 RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

Grades served: Preschool Address: Various locations Phone: 303.702.7815 Website: svvsd.org/preschool

St. Vrain Valley Preschool Program The St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) offers a preschool program with locations available in Longmont, Niwot, Lyons, Mead and Erie, as well as the Spark! Discovery Preschool serving families in the Carbon Valley Area. Registration continues for tuition based programs with opportunities for tuition assistance through Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) and scholarships. The program is free for children who qualify for Special Education Services. “Families can rest assured that their children will be loved and cared for by educated teaching staff who work hard at helping each individual student reach their highest potential,” says Director Shela Blankinship.

Shining Mountain Waldorf School True education is much more than simply imparting information. Love.

Awe. Devotion. Compassion. Trust.

The ability to recognize beauty; to discriminate between right and wrong; to carry out a chosen course of action.

These are the qualities consciously cultivated at Shining Mountain Waldorf School from early childhood through adolescence. Shining Mountain’s wellrounded academic curriculum, enlivened by the arts, music, movement and world languages, provides a learning environment that fosters creativity and healthy social interactions. Today’s students will become tomorrow’s initiators of cultural progress. We believe that a lifelong love of learning and a curiosity to ask deep questions are vital to this process.

Temple Grandin School Temple Grandin School provides a dynamic, strengths-based learning environment for neurodiverse students in grades 6-12. Our comprehensive socio-academic program serves students who are intellectually curious, and who benefit from small classes with integrated social and executive function support.

We provide: Full academic program aligned with Colorado Academic Standards Staff-student ratio 1:3 with classes of 4-8 students Schoolwide positive behavior support program Social communication coaching embedded throughout the school day Individualized enrichment activities Student-centered transition planning Grades served: 6-12 Address: 3131 Indian Road, Boulder Phone: 303.554.7363 Website: templegrandinschool.org BACK TO SCHOOL

Private, Charter & Preschool Spotlight

Prospect Ridge Academy Founded in 2010, Prospect Ridge Academy is a Kindergarten through 12th grade public charter school in the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district with a vision to create academic, social and ethical leaders. The school is committed to providing a comprehensive foundation that includes rigorous coursework, social and physical development through athletics, and character education in a disciplined environment. Expectations are set high for Prospect Ridge Academy students, as they are inspired and motivated to achieve their full potential and become lifelong learners. Students are accomplished academically, and excel in athletics and arts.

Grades Served: Kindergarten through 12th grade Address: 2555 Preble Creek Parkway, Broomfield Phone: 720.399.0300 Website: prospectridgeacademy.org

Discover

Sacred Heart of Jesus School Located in the heart of Boulder, Sacred Heart of Jesus School is celebrating 120 years of excellence in academics, athletics and the arts. The school seeks to inspire its students, in partnership with their families, to be thoughtful, moral and compassionate leaders. From offering each preschooler Universal Assessment Screenings to sending 7th graders to the Catalina Island Marine Institute, Sacred Heart of Jesus School is dedicated to providing a nurturing and experiential environment that cultivates engaged, life-long learners.

Grades served: Preschool through 8th grade Address: 1317 Mapleton Ave., Boulder Phone: 303.447.2362 Website: school.shjboulder.org

September School For more than 40 years, September School has been one of the most progressive schools in Boulder, providing relationship-based education, learning and achievement opportunities in academic and personal growth for students in grades 6 through 12. While other schools in Boulder focus exclusively on academics, September School values social and emotional learning in addition to traditional academic growth. When students are empowered to collaborate, support and understand themselves and the diversity around them, there is an inherent desire to want to learn.

September School fosters this desire as part of a well-rounded learning and growing experience.

Grades served: 6th to 12th grade Address: 96 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder Phone: 303.443.9933 Website: septemberschool.org

2022 Enrolling K–12

Prospect Ridge Academy A TUITION-FREE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL IN ADAMS 12 FIVE STAR SCHOOLS.

Attend an Enrollment Session - Tuesday, November 16, 2021 - Saturday, December 4, 2021 - Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Go online to reserve your spot.

ProspectRidgeAcademy.org

AUGUST 2021

2555 Preble Creek Pkwy, Broomfield, CO 80023

Designed in partnership with PRA High School Digital Arts 2 students 2021.

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Private, Charter & Preschool Spotlight

TLC Learning Center TLC Learning Center is an early childhood education center for infants, toddlers, and preschool children with an on-site pediatric therapy center located in Longmont. TLC’s classrooms prepare every child for kindergarten through literacy and STEM focused curriculum. The school develops positive social-emotional behavior in every child, creating a holistic learning environment that focuses on the whole child. In addition to cognitive and social-emotional development, TLC preschool students participate in YogaKids and Young Athletes for fine and gross motor skill development. TLC won the 2017 Young Athletes Program of the Year in Colorado.

Treehouse Learning Treehouse Learning is a privately owned early childhood education program serving infants, toddlers, preschoolers and Kindergartners in the Louisville and Lafayette area of East Boulder County since 1997.

Through the years, we have earned a reputation for highest quality child care that is worthy of the trust and confidence placed in us each day.

Treehouse Learning’s mission is to provide a safe, stimulating environment to support early learning experiences and support healthy social emotional growth. The school believes that children deserve excellent care and nurturing in the company of experienced and trained early care professionals.

Twin Peaks Classical Academy Twin Peaks Classical Academy is Longmont’s only Classical school.

It is a tuition-free, public, PreK-12 Charter School open to all students.

It provides an academically rigorous environment that encourages students to seek truth, beauty, and goodness in both their acquisition of knowledge and their development of character. The academy offers a high quality preschool and kindergarten program ensuring the best start for your child and follows it with the Classical Education Model that prepares all of its students to succeed in college and beyond. Twin Peaks Classical Academy provides a unique educational niche to the greater Longmont community.

Grades served: 8 weeks old through Preschool Address: 611 Korte Pkwy, Longmont Phone: 303.776.7417 Website: learningwithtlc.org

Grades served: Preschool Address: 175 N. 96th St., Louisville Phone: 303.666.1950 Website: treehouselearning.com

Grades served: PreK through 12th grade Address: 340 S. Sunset St., Longmont Phone: 303.772.7286 Website: twinpeakscharter.org

Vista Ridge Academy Vista Ridge Academy is a fully accredited Preschool through 8th Grade Christian school located in Erie. The school’s Christ-centered community and personally attentive teaching philosophy ensure students grow in mind, body and spirit as they learn and lead together. Vista Ridge Academy is part of the Adventist education system, one of the largest Christian educational systems in the world, which emphasizes a wholistic approach to educating students academically, physically and spiritually – according to its core values. At Vista Ridge Academy, its commitment to excellence is demonstrated in an environment that shares God’s love in a real and personal way and teaches students about a life-long and spiritfilled relationship with Jesus Christ.

Watershed School Watershed is an innovative, independent school serving grades 6 through 12 in Boulder. Watershed engages students in learning that really matters by applying math, science, the arts, humanities and more to real-world challenges.

Whether tackling big, heady questions or smaller, personal curiosities, Watershed’s interdisciplinary teaching approach gives students purpose and focus. At Watershed, students learn by going off campus, working with experts and creating solutions to every day problems. Instead of memorizing answers for standardized tests, students might learn economics by starting a small business or master algebra by solving an engineering problem. Along the way, they’re part of a close-knit community that allows them to be who they are.

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Grades served: Preschool Address: 950 Lashley St., Longmont; 165 Settler Way, Johnstown Phone: 303.664.5455 ext. 4700 Website: ymcainspirepreschool.org

Grades served: 6th to 12th grade Address: 1661 Alpine Ave., Boulder Phone: 303.440.7520 Website: watershedschool.org

Grades served: Preschool - 8th grade Address: 3100 Ridge View Dr., Erie Phone: 303.828.4944 Website: vistaridge.org

YMCA Inspire Preschool At YMCA Inspire Preschool, children enjoy meaningful, hands-on experiences that help them learn, grow and thrive. Daily lessons and themed projects allow for exploration and individualized learning opportunities for every child. By supporting students’ academic, social and emotional well-being, Y teachers help children ages 2-1/2 to 6 begin a lifetime love of discovery. Students enjoy weekly swimming, playtime on the playground, gym and bike park, sports activities and hands-on education on the Y’s farm. The preschool utilizes Creative Curriculum, the same program used by local school districts. Inspire Preschool offers full-day/part-day and full-time/part-time options. Preschool families receive a free YMCA family membership.

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OPEN HOUSE

FRI. & SAT., OCTOBER 15 & 16, 10:00 A.M. Info at dawsonschool.org/OpenHouse

Preparing students to bring their best to the world.

AUGUST 2021

dawsonschool.org

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Welcome to the 2021-2022

School Year

EMPOWERED LEARNING FOR A STRONG COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

Across St. Vrain Valley Schools, we are advancing public education for our community, state, and nation. St. Vrain prepares students for their future by giving them a strong competitive advantage that will empower their success in a complex globalized economy.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

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#StVrainStorm @SVVSD

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