Raised in the Rockies - Back to School 2019 Edition

Raised in the Rockies

BACK TO

BOULDER AND BROOMFIELD COUNTIES | AUGUST 2019

SCHOOL 2019

BACK TO SCHOOL CHECKLIST: TIPS TO GET BACK IN THE GROOVE NUTRITION FOR KIDS • BACK TO SCHOOL, BACK TO FUN! 2500 55th St., Suite 210 Boulder, CO 80301

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

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We are

BVSD

Excellence & Equity: Every Student, Every Day

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contents

BACK TO

SCHOOL

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TIPS TO GET BACK IN THE GROOVE BACK-TO-SCHOOL STYLE EDUCATING THE WHOLE CHILD PREPARING FOR THE STAGES OF EDUCATION SPIRITUALITY IN THE CLASSROOM AWESOME AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES A COMMITMENT TO NUTRITIOUS EATING EDUCATIONAL GIVING SUPERINTENDENT LETTERS SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AGES

Raised in the Rockies is a quarterly marketing feature produced by the Boulder Daily Camera, Longmont Times-Call, Broomfield Enterprise and Colorado Hometown Weekly.

For advertising information or questions call 303.473.1400 or visit RaisedintheRockies.com. ©2019 Prairie Mountain Media.

Welcome Back,

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AUGUST 2019

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BACK TO SCHOOL CHECKLIST:

Tips to get back in the groove negative. Doing so will help manage everyone’s expectations and will make the transition from summer to school a whole lot easier.

BY JULIE KAILUS

S

hifting from a soft summer schedule to a more rigid routine when school starts can be challenging – and rewarding. While it can take families some time to get in the school groove, having structure can lead to great productivity,

RAISEDINTHEROCKIES.COM Contributing Writers Brittany Anas, Linda Thorsen Bond Emma Castleberry, Adam Goldstein Sandy Hale, Julie Kailus, Pam Moore, Elise Oberliesen, Miriam Sander, Darren Thornberry Shelley Widhalm, Rhema Zlaten Advertising Features Coordinator/Designer Greg Stone Marketing Consultants Pete Christiansen, Jeanine Fritz Barbara Hunter, Abigail Lance Keith Kratochvil, Billy Magrini Dale Sekular, Francine Wahlgren Advertising Directors Jill Stravolemos, Christine Labozan

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not to mention better overall health and happiness. Here are five ways to ease into the flurry of fall.

RE-ESTABLISH ROUTINES NOW FOR A STRONG START Don’t wait until the last minute to introduce a new routine and expect your child to thrive. Students of all ages need time to adjust. A few weeks before school starts, it’s important to talk about and begin to re-introduce school routines.

This includes gradually moving bedtimes earlier, planning where and when to do homework, and having positive conversations about the importance of getting to school on time and attending regularly. “Easing back into consistent schedules early helps ensure that students will be better prepared when the time comes,” says Johnny Terrell, executive director, student services, St. Vrain Valley School District.

CULTIVATE EMPATHY FOR YOUR CHILD “Back-to-school can feel really overwhelming when there is an emotional mismatch between student and parent,” says Kristina Hyde, a school nurse consultant for Boulder Valley School District. “If your child says he or she is excited for a new experience, celebrate with them. Conversely, if your student seems anxious or worried, avoid overselling how great you think school is going to be for them.” The key, she says, is to listen to what’s on your child’s mind and validate those feelings, positive or

DON’T FORGET PREVENTATIVE CARE While schools handle things like standard screenings for vision and acute care for playground accidents, there’s a lot you can do at home to make sure you’re preventing health concerns from popping up and affecting your child during the day. One of the simplest is teaching and reinforcing routine hygiene that fits appropriately with school schedules. For example, wash those pimple-prone tween faces at night and have teens set an alarm and shower in the morning as a wake-up call. Floss each night and brush with a quick yet effective electric toothbrush twice daily. Keep kids’ water bottles filled before and after school, and consider a reward system for youngsters who are willing to try healthier foods and beverages.

PLAN AHEAD FOR A HEALTHY YEAR “Taking steps to manage the health and well-being of your child can help prevent unexpected illnesses and absences from school,” Terrell says. Schedule yearly medical and dental check-ups now, before the start of school, to ensure that immunization paperwork is up-todate, medications taken at school are in check, and requirements are met for participating in extracurricular activities.

Starting the school year behind or with a lengthy to-do list only adds to the stress of establishing new routines, navigating the social landscape of school, and achieving academic success.

NOURISH DEVELOPING BRAINS AND BODIES What kids put into their bodies every day can greatly impact how they function physically and mentally in and out of school. But each child requires something a little different to get set up for success.

Learn what works for your student. Does your tween get “hangry” if he or she skips a meal? Pack a protein-based school lunch.

Does your toddler need snacks throughout the day rather than one big meal? Ask the teacher about feeding schedules or allowing a “grazing” rule for your child.

Is your grade-schooler heading straight to after-school sports or activities? Plan for proper hydration and fuel with a refillable water bottle and low-sugar energy bars that fit in a backpack.

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Preschool Enrolling Now for the 2019-2020 School Year!

Spark a lifetime of achievement.

BE WHERE IT ALL BEGINS.

Go to https://ece.bvsd.org or call 720-561-5075 AUGUST 2019

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Back-to-

School

Style

Six tips for shopping in Boulder and Broomfield Counties.

BY BRITTANY ANAS

I

t’s back-to-school shopping season, which means in addition to buying school supplies like pencils and notebooks, it’s also time for a wardrobe refresh.

Here are a half-dozen back-to-school shopping tips from local stores that will help your kids earn an A-plus in the style department.

CLASSIC PRINTS, BUT WITH A WILD TWIST “This fall season, we’re seeing classic styles take a walk on the wild side,” says Liz Connor, owner of Pitter Patter, a children’s boutique located at 931 Main St. in downtown Louisville. “Cheetah prints and animal themes are strong influence in our collection.”

Connor is also taking note of a movement to challenge what has traditionally been considered boy or girl-themed prints. For example, she says, expect to find dinosaurs on dresses 8

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and more patterns for boys who, in the past, were limited to sports and vehicle patterns.

FOCUS ON COMFORT One tried and true trend, though, Connor says, is customers want high-quality, comfortable clothing that their children will actually want to wear – something that Pitter Patter focuses on with unique collections of clothing that are fun, durable and comfy.

Customers at Pitter Patter will find quality, time-tested brands like Tea Collection, Hatley and Joules, mixed in with newer ones like Me+Henry, City Mouse, EGG and Pink Chicken.

LET YOUR LITTLE ONE HELP PICK OUT THEIR SCHOOL CLOTHES Pro tip: Wash your child’s first-day-ofschool outfit ahead of time so it has a more worn-in feeling, and doesn’t feel stiff, suggests Connor. Also, let your child try on the outfit before the morning of school. “Life is full of compromises, so it’s common to hear us nudge parents to let their children pick out some part of the outfit,” Connor says. “We believe selfexpression is the best confidence booster for kids.”

FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES WHEN SHOE SHOPPING When your kids are trying on shoes, know this: The best fit is about a finger’s width from the end of the shoe to the tip of the big toe, according to The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Children’s feet can grow up to two sizes within six months, so account for this when you’re buying shoes – but you also don’t want to buy shoes too big because your kids feet can slide around, putting too much pressure on the toes. On the flip side, too tight of shoes can cause blisters, calluses and ingrown nails.

Suffice to say, it’s best to shop for shoes in store than online. The associates at Brown’s Shoe Fit Company, 373 Main St. in Longmont, for example, can help you find the correct size of comfy and stylish shoes for your kids.

Manager Jason Wetzel also suggests children try both shoes on since one fit is usually a little bigger than the other. Also, have socks similar to the socks that will be worn with the shoes when trying on new shoes.

“We see that both New Balance and Keen kids shoes are popular with both kids and parents,” he says. “We have a good selection of styles from both brands.”

Other trends on kid’s shoes include punchy colors, elastic cord laces and tennis shoes with midsole cushioning for added comfort.

For teens, the Taos Women’s Star are stylish, everyday canvas sneakers that come in a variety of earthy tones. For young men, the Ecco Soft 7 Sneaker is a versatile, on-trend leather sneaker.

LOOK FOR ORGANIC FABRICS As parents become more environmentally conscious, they’re moving away from synthetic fibers and opting for children’s clothing that is made with organic cotton or bamboo, explains Sharald Church, store owner of Adornables, located at 661 Fourth Ave. in downtown Longmont.

Organic materials have less of a carbon footprint and don’t use chemicals in the manufacturing process.

SHOP THRIFT STORES Pre-teens and teens who are looking for affordable styles can find a goldmine of unique and vintage goods at local thrift shops. “Everything here is one-of-akind,” says Stefan Becker, the assistant manager at TRU Hospice Thrift Shop, 5565 Arapahoe Ave. in Boulder. Plus, the inventory is constantly changing. Students get 20 percent off with their student IDs, and the store holds 50 percent off sales on clothing and other non-furniture items on the second and fourth Saturday of every month. There’s also a cafe on site, which makes shopping more enjoyable.

BACK TO SCHOOL

BACK TO SCHOOL MUST HAVES

BY ADAM GOLDSTEIN

R

eporting to classes for the beginning of a new school year is a complicated ritual. Whether the student is a first grader beginning their formal academic journey or a high school senior prepping for their final year, the beginning of the school year takes preparation. It’s a delicate balancing act of finding the right clothes, the right books and, of course, the right supplies for academic success. Every student has different needs, but we’ve come up with some local starting points for properly preparing for the 2019-20 school year.

NEW BALANCE TRAIL SHOES

Mobility is key for students of any age.

Navigating between the classroom and the playground, running a rugged trail for a high school track team, finding ones way through a crowded middle school hallway – all of these feats are easier with the right kind of shoes. According to Macoi Churchil, who works at Brown’s Shoe Fit Company in Longmont, the New Balance trail series is a popular option. “They’re popular for kids of all ages. It’s a running sneaker with a trail outsole,” he said. “It’s one shoe they can pretty much use for anything.” $49.99-$119.99. Brown’s Shoe Fit Company, 373 Main St., Longmont, 303.776.2920, brownsshoefitcompany.com.

TREK BICYCLE

Physical exercise helps keep a student focused on learning. For those students attending a local neighborhood school who are old enough to get there on their own, a good bike is an excellent way to get around and keep fit at the same time. Trek Bicycles in Boulder is well-known for meeting the needs of every kind of rider, including young cyclists. A bike is a solution for students looking for a healthy, carbon-neutral way to get to school and get around their neighborhood on the weekends. $200-$500, Trek Bicycles, 2626 Baseline Road, Boulder, 303.413.0228, trekbikes.com.

INTERESTING READS

Stoking a love of reading and literacy is key to making any student’s journey through school successful. While most classes offer copies of assigned books, there’s also something to be said for reading a book for pleasure and outside of class. TRU Community Care’s thrift shop offers an option for finding affordable books that also supports a broader community need. TRU’s thrift shop supports its palliative care services, and volunteers at the store are enthusiastic about their work. They’re go-to sources for finding a variety of books, and they do their work with expertise and joy. Prices vary.

TRU Community Care Hospice Thrift Store, 5565 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, 303.604.5353, trucare.org/category/thrift-store.

AUGUST 2019

NOW SERVING JOHNSTOWN, MILLIKEN & LOVELAND!

FUN FOR THEM. PEACE OF MIND FOR YOU. BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CARE FOR K-5TH YMCA Before & After School Care sets out to give kids both smile-inspiring escapades and foundational experiences. Whether it’s getting homework help, exploring science concepts, enjoying outdoor time or creating group art projects, the Y provides a supportive environment that focuses on developing interests and making friends.

Plus, parents enjoy the peace of mind of having a state-licensed program in their child’s school as well as affordable rates and qualified, trained staff.

SCHOOL DAY OFF CAMPS FOR K-8TH Children can join the Y during school days off for field trips, sports, arts and crafts and tons of adventure.

Before & After Care and School Day Off Camps are held at select BVSD and Weld RE-5J schools, the Longmont Y and Big Thompson Elementary.

YMCA INSPIRE PRESCHOOL The Y also offers full- and part-time preschool for ages 2-1/2 to 6 at the Longmont Y. YMCA OF NORTHERN COLORADO Serving the Northern Front Range for 145 Years ymcanoco.org RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

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For 50 years, preparing students to bring their best to the world

P

eople who live in the Boulder County region are known for the value they place on excellence in education; the array of quality school options is part of what makes the Boulder lifestyle notable. For 50 years, Dawson School has been offering students in grades K-12 a unique educational program combining challenging college-preparatory academics, robust athletics and arts programs, and renowned experiential and outdoor education. Does your student want to learn to speak Mandarin?

Study malaria eradication? Start an astronomy club? Score the winning goal? Dawson might be the place for them.

As head of school George P. Moore puts it, “Dawson provides opportunities for each student to specialize and to reach his or her individual potential, while also developing skills that will allow all of our students to meet the challenges of a dynamic and complex world. We want to facilitate each student here finding their spark of purpose.”

Dawson is organized into a Lower, Middle, and Upper School.

From the 10+ hours each week of specials in the Lower School through the 47 sports teams and 20 arts programs in Middle and Upper school, the depth and breadth of Dawson’s program has led to it regularly being voted best in the region. Dawson highlights include a student:faculty ratio of 7:1, average class sizes of 15, an impressive 107-acre campus, an athletics program voted 12th in the state across all divisions, a 100 percent graduation rate, and over $6 million in scholarships offered annually to its 60 graduates.

Moore notes that, “At the core of everything we do is our mission: ‘Dawson School is dedicated to excellence of mind, body, and character. We prepare students, through challenging

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and relevant learning, to become creative, resilient problem-solvers who bring their best to the world.’

We take enormous pride in seeing the amazing work our students do, both inside and outside of the classroom.”

If you ask a student or alumnus what makes Dawson different, they will inevitably single out the relationships that are built with its expert faculty, 72 percent of which have advanced degrees and all of which are enthusiastic leaders in their field. Dawson’s small class sizes ensure that every student is given the personal attention they need to succeed.

Says Moore, “Our faculty is as passionate about helping one student build on something they love as they are helping another push through a special challenge or moving outside of their comfort zone.”

But strong academics are just one piece of developing the whole student. Dawson is committed to the development of character and to the social-emotional wellbeing of its community. Leadership opportunities are offered to all ages, and students are encouraged to design their own. Peer leaders help onboard new students and set the tone in each division.

Student tutors help peers, destigmatizing learning differences.

Staff counselors are on site at all times, allowing students to drop in as needed.

Dawson actively promotes the exchange of diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, and integrates four key virtues – respect, compassion, courage, and integrity – into every aspect of community life. According to Moore, “It is our responsibility to provide a safe and inclusive learning environment for all members of our community, as well as to cultivate in each student the ability to make empathetic, socially responsible decisions.”

Security is a priority at Dawson, as well, with a wide variety of protocols and a full-time security officer to help ensure the safety of its community. Those are necessary steps in today’s world, according to Moore, but “the strength of our relationships with students, the students’ care for one another, and the many layers of support and communication within the Dawson community provide a critical preventative layer of safety.”

The school was founded in 1970 and has grown steadily, now with over 500 students. Certain ideas have been constant through the school’s history, including an emphasis on experiential education. Dawson has built class

trips into its curriculum, and created a hallmark program called Winterim: a 7-10-day experiential learning program that provides K-12 students an opportunity for a “deep dive” into a special topic, culture, or activity. Facultydesigned programs strengthen the regular classroom curriculum with relevant study that bridges the gap between theory and real life. Over 30 different programs were offered in 2019, ranging from studying ethnography and botany in Kauai, avalanche and snow science in Ouray, the country’s judicial system in Washington, D.C., raku ceramics and glassblowing locally, and a cultural exploration of urban and rural Cuba.

In the same way that Dawson invites families to see whether their school is a good fit for each student, Dawson’s college counseling program stresses fit when working with students and their families. Full-time counselors develop close relationships with every student and guide them in a process of self-discovery which emphasizes that “college is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.” Students go on to a wide ranging selection of schools, including Ivy League, public university, research institutions, private colleges; in fact, each fall, representatives from over 150 different colleges and universities travel to Dawson’s campus just to have a chance to meet its upperclassmen.

“We feel Dawson is a great fit for the Boulder region, with its emphasis on education and on helping each young person reach their full potential,” said Moore. “Dawson is honored to be contributing to what makes life in this area wonderful and special.”

Dawson School 10455 Dawson Drive, Lafayette, 303.665.6679, dawsonschool.org

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Raised in the Rockies

EDUCATING THE Encouraging self growth in students.

WHOLE CHILD

BY: MIRIAM SANDER In this article, we highlight two local private schools and one public charter school that offer programming based on a Whole Child Educational model.

T

he “Whole Child Education” model, which has been gaining support over the last few years, is now being actively practiced in schools throughout Colorado, including a number of schools in Boulder and Broomfield Counties. It might be fair to say that “Whole Child Education” is the educational “buzzphrase” of the Year. The Whole Child Educational model is based on the following key ideas. First, for every child to develop to his or her full potential, the child’s school, home and community environments must place equal emphasis on developing the child’s academic skills and his or her social-emotional skills.

Second, young children grow, learn and develop to their fullest potential when they are healthy, safe, engaged, challenged and well-supported. And third, the ideal learning environment depends on a well-cultivated network of positive and supportive relationships between and among students, teachers, school leaders, parents and other community members.

Instead of excessive emphasis on academic achievement in math/science and language arts, as quantified by standardized tests, Whole Child Education emphasizes longterm outcomes, such as capacity to achieve financial and socio-emotional independence as an adult, commitment to ethical and moral behavioral norms, cultural awareness and long-term personal fulfillment.

To highlight local schools that implement

these ideas in their programming, we spoke with Honor Taft, head of school at Friends School; Gunnison Pagnotta, communications director at GOAL Academy and Nina Lopez, head of school at Bixby School. Honor Taft, believes that “Friends School stands out in its focus on Whole Child Education”, seeking the balanced development of each child’s academic and social-emotional skills.

Teachers at Friends School focus on building community all day, every day, and constantly try to ensure that each child feels valued. The school believes that teaching and learning occur best through an ongoing multi-level partnership between students, teachers, family and the larger community. Friends School currently serves approximately 200 students from pre-school through 8th grade.

Guided Online Academic Learning (GOAL) High School Academy is the largest charter school in Colorado, and one of the largest online alternative education schools in the United States, whose mission is simply to “develop productive members of society.” From its inception in 2007, GOAL Academy embraced the Whole Child Educational Model, committing to help disconnected students achieve their full potential by providing high-school level education in a safe, caring, supportive and personalized learning environment.

GOAL Academy’s Communications

Director, Gunnison Pagnotta, suggests that, “because we are not a brick and mortar school – we don’t have buses and routes – there is [opportunity for] more one-onone coach-to-student interaction.” GOAL Academy seeks to provide educational experiences aligned to each child’s unique goals and dreams and to guide each student towards a healthy lifestyle. In 2018, GOAL Academy served more than 4,000 disconnected ‘at-risk’ youth under the age of 21.

Bixby School is organized around the belief that children are unique individuals, each with their own abilities, interests and needs. Bixby School’s “intentional school design” features small class sizes, child-directed schedules, multi-age classes, unique outdoor activities and an emphasis on students learning about themselves and from their student peers, as much as they learn from their teachers about academic subjects. To achieve this, Bixby students have access to multiple teachers and dynamic multi-age peer groups, so they are exposed to a variety of social groups, just like in the “real world.” Nina Lopez, Bixby’s Head of School, captures what is special about Bixby School, saying: “Rather than teach kids what to think, the focus at Bixby is on teaching kids how to think.” Bixby School serves approximately 100 students from pre-school through 5th grade.

Many other local schools are adapting programming to the Whole Child Educational model. In addition, the Colorado State Department of Education has endorsed a Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach and include health and wellness programming in their recommended curricula. For more information visit these websites: cde.state.co.us/healthandwellness/csh_home, wholechildeducation.org/about, and ascd.org/whole-child.aspx.

Help A Precious Child send disadvantaged and displaced children back to school prepared with the tools they need to succeed academically by supporting our Fill A Backpack program!

Learn how you can support Colorado children in need at APreciousChild.org/Fill-A-Backpack | 303.466.4272 AUGUST 2019

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Preparing for the

Stages of Education

information, hours, and drop-off and pick-up expectations. She also says parents can schedule a meeting with the teacher during Parent Orientation to forge a relationship with the teacher from the start. Blankenship emphasizes, “The more parents know in advance, the more comfortable everyone will feel on the first day.”

Transitioning to middle and high school

BY LINDA THORSEN BOND

M Ensuring a successful start to preschool/kindergarten

BY PAM MOORE

S

tarting school for the first time can be anxiety-provoking (for both kids and parents) – but it doesn’t have to be. We talked to the pros to find out how parents can set their kids up for a successful start to preschool or kindergarten.

MAKE LEARNING FUN As parents, we are our children’s first teachers. Although this might seem like a lot of pressure, it’s also an amazing opportunity to present learning as something that can (and should) be fun. According to Lisa Stratton, the Educational Services Manager at TLC Learning Center in Longmont, we can do this by encouraging our kids’ natural curiosity. “For example if your child asks you, ‘How do bats fly in dark caves without bumping into each other?’, help them find the answer online or at the library.” By encouraging your kids to go where their interests take them, says Stratton,“You will be teaching them that learning is fun without them realizing [it].”

ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENCE AT HOME Parents can support the learning process by fostering our kids’ independence with daily tasks. When kids can handle some of

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these basics, teachers have more time to focus on helping them develop academic and social skills. Stratton suggests teaching kids practical skills, like tying shoes, buttoning and unbuttoning clothing, and getting their own drink of water. “These day-to-day life skills and learning how to get along with others are more important at this stage than knowing how to write their ABC’s.”

TALK TO YOUR CHILD Shari Karmen, Therapeutic Services Manager at TLC, recommends parents let their kids know what to expect before school starts. “Let them know they will be making new friends, playing with different toys, having new snacks.” She suggests parents tell their kids what a typical day might look like or even visit the school in advance. “Telling children several times helps them to learn that a change and new routine will be happening. Include who will be picking them up from school so they know that they will see you again.”

Above all, she reminds parents: “Keep the ‘story’ positive and fun!”

oving from grade school to middle school, from middle school to high school, that’s where the real accomplishment takes place. It’s not the daily work that’s so hard, it’s the transitions. Students and parents alike are asking, what can we do right now to get ready?

THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS CHANGE ITSELF First, acknowledge that the biggest change is the movement to independence. Steve Thygesen, middle school principle of Prospect Ridge Academy in Broomfield, explains: “Students go from having one or two teachers with a set schedule to four to six teachers and a varying schedule. That increases anxiety in the short run, but in the long run students gain confidence in their self-efficacy. We’ve found that many kids don’t already have the psychological tool kit to handle that. One of our goals

BE INFORMED As all parents know, kids are masters at picking up on their parents’ emotions; if we’re anxious, they’ll know it, and they may feel it, too. Parents can allay some anxiety by educating themselves.

Shela Blankenship, the Early Childhood Coordinator at St. Vrain Valley Schools, encourages parents to visit the school’s website to learn about program

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is as soon as possible to have them understand they can handle change. In fact, change makes school and their life interesting.”

It’s not just middle school students who have to cope with change, according to Margaret Crespo, area superintendent of Southwest Network, Boulder Valley School District. She said, “Transitions are very similar in both middle school and going into high school. It’s super important for parents and kids to be aware of these transitions. We talk about being prepared six months ahead for sixth grade and nine months ahead for ninth grade. Parents can help your students by preparing so they’ll know where they’re going.”

Honor Taft, head of Friends School in Boulder said, “One of the enormous adjustments in fifth and sixth grade is that students are moving from looking to adults for approval to now looking to their peers. It’s a natural adjustment.

How do we navigate and motivate these students to engage in and enjoy school?

We have to change the motivation toward learning. We know that in elementary grades we guide and shape them toward intrinsic motivation. In middle school that intrinsic motivation is waning. That’s when we find other motivations, such as grades and rewards to help them work in middle school.”

COMMUNICATION IS KEY A key piece for both middle school and high school transitions is for parents to have lots of conversations with their student. Crespo said, “It’s the most important time for communication. This is when parents need to make the shift that comes from being really good listeners and listening to even what’s not being said. Finding ways to connect is key in both transitions. There will be different teachers, different teaching styles and different expectations. Helping prepare for the future might be hard for parents, but the main thing to do is to help their students be flexible with different styles and expectations. Students will begin taking ownership for themselves, and as they learn to do that, they build trust in themselves.”

Thygesen explained, “Parents can prepare their kids by letting them do things on their own. That helps them take on responsibility and gives them confidence. Those are key skills. It’s really exciting to see that although kids may struggle early in middle school, they will soon learn they can do so much themselves. They start showing up on time, being responsible for themselves, and that manifests itself to ‘I can do this.’ Parents can help get their kids ready for that and help them get the ability to accomplish tasks on their own.”

AUGUST 2019

ORGANIZATION Taft said the biggest thing for parents is to guide kids to organize their belongings.

“Students can learn ‘what works for me.’ A binder system, an assignment notebook or and organizing device, how can that student best organize?” she said.

“In elementary school students might have a list of what to do tonight, but in middle school they need to know when an assignment will be due, and they have to learn how to work backwards to see how to get it done. At Friends, children need to have access to a computer at home because in middle school the assignments are posted online, on a website or whatever the class is using for kids to follow. We don’t allow phones in the classrooms but they can be silenced in lockers.”

Crespo said parental knowledge can help. “Knowing your student is the key. Does the student need help with executive function? Do they need help with a calendar or an app that can make a checklist? Help them create a weekly calendar for all the many activities so they can gradually release the level of the parent having to do that.”

point of disequilibrium, that’s when learning happens. It’s a hard thing and it’s uncomfortable, so we want students to feel so safe they will go into that space willingly.”

Crespo emphasized the impact of electives. “Students need to know they’re entering a time of exploration where they will not be not tied to anything. Kids don’t have to specialize in middle and high school. It’s all about exploring, and young people can learn to be flexible and manage stress. They have lots of resources to help them do that.”

One final note to parents: “Often it’s not easy for parents to recognize how school has changed, but it’s not the same as when they went to school,” Crespo said. “Parents can help their student do well, but sometimes it’s hard to realize school is not the same due to technology, systems, structure of days, grading and teaching styles. In middle school and the transition to high school, there are lots of online opportunities, in fact there are super overwhelming opportunities with all different options.”

ACCOUNTABILITY “Students will learn accountability,” Thygesen said. “They’ll learn to say ‘This is on me. I did well because I worked hard, or it didn’t go well because I didn’t prepare.’ Yes, they learn the content, but they become problem solvers and independent learners. Kids will have academic, logistical and social challenges and parents and the school will help them manage the challenges. We love our kids and we want to be sure we’re not taking away their ability to solve problems.”

BY DARREN THORNBERRY

EXPLORATION Taft explained, “We want to have flexibility to what abilities and strengths each student has, and not have the student struck in one track. We want students to get to point when learning happens.

They need to feel safe enough to step out and take a risk. They will go to the

Getting ready for college

W

eeks from now, Colorado’s college freshmen will embark on the journey of a lifetime in their respective colleges and universities. And this year’s high school seniors, while a year away from following in their footsteps, can get cracking now on their plans to make that leap. Here, respected local educators share tips to inspire our students to greatness.

Matt Jenkins, Marketing Specialist, BVSD Community Schools: BE READY FOR YOUR COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS ACT and SAT scores play a big part in getting into your top picks of colleges.

Test prep classes can give you a big leg up not only in knowledge of the subjects in RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

13

Raised in the Rockies the test, but also in test-taking strategies. Knowing what to expect in the exam and tips on narrowing down answer choices can make test day a lot less stressful. Many students are gravitating toward small group prep classes so that they can get more personalized attention to their strengths, weaknesses and personalities.

GET REAL WORLD SKILLS Find ways to gain knowledge beyond your school’s core curriculum. BVSD Lifelong

Learning will be offering a career-based coding class that offers project-based training on current trends. While you learn storytelling, level design, and general development principles, you will also gain problem solving abilities and expand your creativity.

Stefanie Esposito, director of college counseling, Dawson School: IDENTIFY YOUR RESOURCES Your orientation will likely

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provide you with good information about what resources exist on your campus, but begin thinking about your particular needs now. If you see a therapist or specialist regularly at home, start now to find out who you will see when you’re at college. If you receive learning accommodations at school, make sure to contact the academic support office at your college, to find out how to access those accommodations at college.

PRACTICE LIFE SKILLS Can you do your laundry?

Sweep or vacuum the floor?

Cook yourself a simple, nutritious meal? Address an envelope? Write a professional email? Live on a budget? If not, start learning how to do these things now.

Dawson’s college counseling staff has built relationships with representatives at schools around the world, and each fall, representatives from over 150 different colleges and universities travel to Dawson’s

campus to have a chance to meet its upperclassmen.

Colorado Community College System: CONSIDER CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION The Colorado Community College System is on a mission: To ensure student and local program success through leadership, collaboration, and a commitment to a shared vision and provide secondary and post-secondary students knowledge and skills for employment and/ or transition to further education. The goal is to provide quality educational programs emphasizing core academic content, workplace competencies, and technical skills, and seamless transition to further education or employment and better prepare students to meet the challenges of the workforce and emerging occupations.

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Prospect Ridge Academy, a K-12 public charter school in the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district, offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum with a strong math and science focus.

- Small Learning Community - Core Knowledge Curriculum - Full and Half Day Kindergarten (AM/PM) - Clubs and Activities - Modern Facility - K-5 Before/Afterschool MESA Program - Competitive MS/HS Athletics (22 sports) and ES Intramurals (5 sports) - Service Learning & Character Education Learn more on our website: www.prospectridgeacademy.org 14

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Raised in the Rockies Bringing spirituality into the classroom

BY SHELLEY WIDHALM

A

ttending a religious school goes beyond studying the Bible to bringing spirituality into everything from the classroom to sports.

Vista Ridge Academy in Erie is a small, holistic Christian school founded more than 100 years ago for grades preschool to eighth. The school teaches biblical principles and moral values, follows a core knowledge curriculum and uses textbooks written from a Christian perspective.

“That spiritual component helps them to realize that there is a standard that we are called to live by with our fellow man, whether it’s in your neighborhood, community and country or the world,” said Sandy Hodgson, a teaching principal who teaches fifth and sixth grade. “We want them to be successful academically, but we also want them to be involved citizens in the community in which they live and work.”

The school encourages students to think creatively and critically, problemsolve, collaborate and develop character according to the school’s core values, outlined in the acronym CHERISH for Christ-centered, honor, exploration,

responsibility, integrity, service and heroism.

Every Monday, there is a morning assembly focused on one of the core values through object lessons that use biblical characters, historical figures and presentday life situations. The week concludes with a Friday Chapel bringing in pastoral staff from two nearby Seventh-day Adventist Churches. Each day, there also are short worship devotionals, along with impromptu prayer as students see fit.

The school’s Christ-centered approach continues after class in school sports and co-ed games with sister schools, incorporating prayer and the core values into practices and games.

“When we look at our helping to create good, solid characters with our core values, then that tends to lends itself for exploration, learning and being responsible,” Hodges said.

Holy Family High School is a Catholic school in Broomfield founded nearly 100 years ago and governed by the Archdiocese of Denver.

“Our focus is on bringing our students to Christ to make them disciples for Christ in all their studies and the careers they pursue,” said Brittany Storgaard, a

theology and Spanish teacher. “Our core curriculum is finding Christ in all things.

Our absolute mission is to be saints in heaven.”

Spirituality is integrated into the classes, sports and extra-curricular activities at the school in formal and informal ways. The school follows the liturgy of the Catholic church with daily masses, monthly schoolwide and individual grade masses, and semester masses for subject classes, plus there are multiple Christ-centered retreats for students.

“We try to keep Christ integrated in everything we do whether it’s explicitly spiritual or not,” Storgaard said.

The school day opens with prayer broadcast on the intercom; every class begins with prayer; and there are opportunities for personal prayer with students and staff as the need arises.

Sports practices and matches also begin and end with prayer, and players become role models of practicing their faith. The school has various service clubs focused on providing community service while also bringing Christ to the community.

“Whatever we’re teaching about, the subject we’re presenting, it’s all an expression of god’s word,” Storgaard said.

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Raised in the Rockies

Awesome after-school activities for kids

BY JULIE KAILUS

S

chool is nearly here. But with fresh fall schedules come the all-important after-school window. Kids need time to blow off steam after class, and parents want to know their children are safe and cared for while they sneak in a few more hours of work.

Luckily, Boulder County is loaded with dynamic afterschool activities, programs, and clubs for grade-schoolers.

Here are a few that should be on your radar.

CLIMB TIME ABC Kids Climbing was voted top after-school program last year. The youth rock climbing

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gym has classes for ages 4 to 19 aimed at all abilities. They range from fundamentals classes for youngsters to a 12week program to give budding climbers a comprehensive skill set to begin their climbing career.

After that Team ABC is the place to soar. The competitive climbing crew is filled with national- and world-champion climbers, record-holding alumni, and a very experienced coaching staff.

“With an ever-evolving curriculum and exciting climbing games, we keep young climbers engaged,” ABC Kids Climbing Manager Kara Caputo says. “Our programs are designed to grow with the kids as they increase in age and ability, and our passionate instructors are eager to share their knowledge and skills with the next generation of the local climbing community.”

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GYM NINJAS Airborne Gymnastics and Dance is an indoor wonderland for bouncy boys and girls with lots of energy to expend. The gym’s most popular class is Academy.

It’s designed for kids who want to get more serious about gymnastics. But there are plenty of paths available within the ongoing program.

“Although we boast one of the best gymnastics teams in the state, our class program is actually much larger and more popular because every student can thrive and learn regardless of natural ability,” says General Manager Micah Gaiter.

There are also classes specifically for ninja training, trampoline and tumbling, and dance. Dance programs are divided by genres, age and ability. “We offer so many different types of classes that every kid is able to come

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in and have a great time exercising and practicing their growth mindset by learning a new activity,” says Gaiter.

MUSICAL MINDS HB Woodsongs has been a beacon in Boulder since 1971.

For kids who want to take an interest in instruments further, the music store offers private instruction during after-school and evening hours.

“Our shop is Boulder’s only local and independent source for school music rentals. We also provide support with instrument repair services,” says Owner Shawn Cupolo.

Ukulele, a small guitar-like instrument that’s simpler for little hands to navigate, is one of the most well liked lessons. But there are lots instruments to choose from for a school requirement or hobby. They include a wide range of guitar styles, as well as unique instruments such as the harmonica, dulcimer and Brazilian percussion.

And HB Woodsongs instructors are top notch. “As a longstanding hub for the music community, we have excellent instructors, from local performing musicians to

Grammy-winning artists, who are well regarded within their fields,” Cupolo says.

Y ME The YMCA has a reputation for engaging youth activities.

Awesome after-school Y programs range from free play and homework help to STEM and art projects. All foster critical social interaction and peer connection, according to Andra Coberly Webster, communications director for YMCA of Northern Colorado.

The YMCA runs convenient after-school programs at 14 elementary schools throughout Boulder Valley School District, as well as at the Longmont Y, Milliken Elementary, Pioneer Ridge Elementary and Big Thompson Elementary.

“Our after-school programs are not just a safe space for kids to hang out while their parents work,” Coberly Webster says. “They help kids learn to solve problems, work toward common goals, make new friends, and try, fail and try again at new activities.”

The YMCA’s focus is on developing the whole child, not just delivering childcare.

“We have a Character Counts program that rewards our children for exhibiting respect, responsibility, honesty and caring,” Coberly Webster says.

“They are growing, learning, and becoming good people.

We truly believe that.”

To explore the times and fees for these after-school options for your child, start online at airbornegym.com, hbwoodsongs.com, abckidsclimbing.com and ymcanoco.com.

BOULDER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT 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 an infant-toddler or preschool aged child, or you are a parent of a child attending private or home school, and you suspect your child may have a disability or is exhibiting delays in his/her development, and you are a resident of the Boulder Valley School District, 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.

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

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Raised in the Rockies

A commitment to

Nutritious Eating

BY SANDY HALE

C

Photo: School Food Project/Boulder Valley School District.

oming into the new school year, Boulder Valley, St. Vrain and Adams 12 Five Star school districts are primed and ready to serve nutritious and delicious meals and snacks to keep children energized throughout the day.

Stephen Menyhart, food services operations manager and registered dietitian for the Boulder Valley school district, says, “Educational programs are offered throughout the school year to teach healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime. There are farm field trips, chef demos and parent/ child cooking classes.”

A survey is sent to parents each spring for their help in choosing new food items.

As part of the BVSD community outreach, the public is invited to a “Taste of the BVSD” on Saturday, Oct. 19 to taste new dishes and snacks that will be on this year’s menu offerings.

An exciting, eagerly awaited feature

in “Taste of BVSD” is the Iron Chef Competition, now in its eleventh year.

Students in kindergarten through the 5th grade compete in teams of two to make their own recipe for an original, healthy after school snack. Entries are judged on the basis of creativity, taste and appearance.

Last year’s winning team proudly presented a whole wheat tortilla with strawberry cream cheese, topped with dried cranberries and a drizzle of honey.

Every Boulder Valley and St. Vrain school now features a complete salad bar of fruits and vegetables. Many of the cooked dishes are made from scratch with ingredients from local sources. There are Western Slope peaches and Rocky Ford cantaloupe.

For parents who may have unpleasant memories of their own school lunch experiences Menyhart promises a pleasant surprise. He invites parents to come have lunch with their child on any day, at a nominal fee, and see how things have changed.

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BACK TO SCHOOL

He says that his own personal reward working in food services in the Boulder Valley school district is knowing that his own children are eating well and staying healthy and happy at school. He hopes that when he asks them in the evening, “What was the best part of your day at school?� they will answer, “LUNCH.�

With the new all-day kindergarten, Menyhart looks forward to the opportunity to serve healthy meals to a new group of students at an earlier age.

Another valuable source for information on healthy eating for kids is the St. Vrain Valley School District website. Shelley Allen is the director of nutrition and warehouse Services at St. Vrain Valley School District.

She highlights the importance of eating a good breakfast to set children up for success throughout the day. She says, “Kids need the right foods to fuel their brain and body at the beginning of each day. Good breakfast choices include eggs, cheese, yogurt, fresh fruit, nuts and whole grains plus milk.�

Allen says that St. Vrain has its own gardens and farmers’ market. Money earned at the market goes back to the school wellness programs. St. Vrain Birthday Bundles are available, complete with catered fruit trays and birthday favors.

Recommended after school snacks include cut up cucumbers and zucchini to dip in flavored yogurt.

Child Find: Helping ensure all students are successful in their education

BY EMMA CASTLEBERRY All school districts are legally mandated to provide services through Child Find, a program that identifies young students who may have developmental delays that require educational support. “The Child Find program is important because our focus is on ensuring that all students are successful in their education,� says Laura Gold, special education coordinator for the St. Vrain Valley School District. “Child Find aims to identify any services or needs for students to grow and be successful at an early age.�

If a young child is not meeting typical developmental milestones, or someone is concerned about the child’s growth or learning, Child Find provides 30 to 60 minute screenings using play-based activities that are designed to look at the whole child. The evaluation is used to determine if there is a significant delay or if there is a need for early intervention or special education

services. Infants and toddlers from birth to five years old are eligible for the evaluations, which are of no cost to the parents. “These programs help parents find out if their young children are on track,� says Dennis Rastatter, executive director of BVSD Special Education. “Then, if needed, the programs can connect families with appropriate services early in the child’s life. There are Child Find Offices at each school district and a child needs to be evaluated in the school district in which they reside.�

For children birth to three years of age, Child Find teams partner with local Early Intervention Colorado programs who provide service coordination and eligibility determination. Children three to five years old are evaluated as part of the preschool special education process.“Child Find really does a great job at setting a strong foundation and relationship with our families,� says Gold.

AUGUST 2019

RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

19

Raised in the Rockies

EDUCATIONAL

BY RHEMA ZLATEN

GIVING

B

oulder and Broomfield Counties are home to many different thriving communities, and several organizations exist to help to support the nearly 63,000 youth under the age of 18 that live here. Also according to the United States Census Bureau, in 2017, 94.6 percent of the population in Boulder County over the age of 18 has obtained an education level of high school graduate or higher. It takes a lot of united community effort to achieve such a high education success rate.

Allison Billings, the executive director of Louisville-based nonprofit Impact On Education, observes the barriers that many students face in achieving a high education level.

“We are the one of the most highly educated communities in the country,” Billings said. “I think that is something to be really proud of. But that is also coupled with a place where low income students don’t have the same outcomes, and that is really shameful. We have enough resources in the community to serve all students

20

RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

well … There’s just no reason for the gap.

It’s a public education system. We should be serving all students well and preparing them for success.”

The focus of Impact On Education is to empower all students. One of their biggest programs is “Crayons to Calculators,” an annual school supply drive that distributes new backpacks and other back-to-school items for over 11,000 students in need in both the Boulder Valley and St. Vrain school districts. For the program, schools request needs, and then Impact On Education and the Education Foundation for the St. Vrain Valley work to fill those needs directly through the schools. The point is to be discreet and honoring in helping the youth who need a bit of a leg

up to successfully thrive in school.

Impact On Education also works with preschool children who live in Boulder Housing Partners communities by sending educators to those neighborhoods to help each Pre-K student learn the skills they will need to succeed in kindergarten. Impact On Education also offers funding for teachers in Boulder County who want to experiment with new teaching techniques.

Teachers of all grade levels can apply for innovation grants in the fall that are usually awarded in the spring. And this year, there will be additional focused funding for music educators through a partnership with Pathways to Jazz.

“These funds are used throughout the year for a variety of individual needs to help students reach achievements, like homework clubs, SAT prep classes and paying for sports fees, among other needs,” Billings said. “The administrators are closest to the students and they know who needs what. So these grants help offset costs for students who need the help.”

Another active non-profit organization meeting the needs of students is A Precious Child, based in Broomfield. They work

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to provide resources and opportunities for children in need, with a focus on promoting security and self-reliance for kids who experience instability in their homes. Director of Development Alissa M. Trumbull expressed why all children need to be supported.

“First thing, kids can’t help their circumstances,” Trumbull said. “So whatever we can do to support them to make sure they have the tools that they need to be successful as kids and go on to be productive members of the community as adults. That is important to us. We work on creating normal for kids who have tumultuous times. We want to help kids feel secure and supported.”

A Precious Child supports eight Denver Metro counties including Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson and Weld. They identify families who need support, from supplying basic needs to helping families navigate the local resources available for their children. They also provide opportunities and resources for kids in need to maximize opportunities for academic growth and access to extracurricular activities. A Precious Child’s next big donation drive is the giveSPORTS equipment drive, a partnership with the Denver-metro community at large to collect new and gently used sports gear and scholarship

funds. Last year 10,400 children from the metro area were supported through the giveSPORTS program. All equipment will be collected from 9 a.m to 12 p.m on Sept.

7 at the giveSPORTS Equipment Drive at the Pepsi Center in Denver. There will be first and second place prizes awarded to individuals and/or groups who collect the most donated equipment. Last year, the sports equipment drive filled an entire semitruck. This year, A Precious Child wants to beat that record, Trumbull said.

Boulder County government also offers many different programs to support all levels of youth, from healthy baby growth to grade school and high school needs. Boulder County Public Health Communications and Marketing Manager Chana Goussetis said that the main mission of their department is to partner with the community to meet needs.

“For example, one of the most significant needs we see among our children and youth is support for mental health, including substance use prevention and intervention,” Goussetis said. “In response, we are partnering with school districts to help identify and meet the mental health needs of the children and youth in our communities by identifying practices and programs that have been shown to work, identifying funding sources for new or enhanced programming, and working

towards policy change at the state level.”

They will also work directly with youth to help amplify their voices for decisionmakers, such as their Youth Advocating for Change group which empowers LGBTQ+ students to work with school districts and implement trainings and policies to reduce bullying.

“The best ways our communities can support school-aged children and teens is to build a community that values, supports and respects our children and youth,” Goussetis said.

This rich child and student support stems from supporting school policies for safe, inclusive and healthy environments.

In these environments, there needs to be positive climates that address both protective and risk factors for all students, as well as points of contact for recognizing children and youth signs of crisis (and responding appropriately).

One of the best places to begin for families needing resources to help their children succeed is the student’s school.

“My message to families in need: use the schools as a resource,” Billings said.

“They know how to help you. They can be a good touchpoint. They are provided with resources to help. Thankfully, we are this community with such great resources and nobody should be hungry or without a home.”

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Raised in the Rockies FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT | BOULDER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT Welcome back!

A

s a new school year begins, we are excited to welcome students back to Boulder Valley classrooms.

We hope that everyone had a safe and relaxing Summer Break – filled with fun and memory-making moments, as well as learning opportunities.

As you may know this is my second year in the Boulder Valley School District and I couldn’t be more proud to be the superintendent of such an outstanding organization.

BVSD is Accredited with Distinction by the Colorado Department of Education, 22 of our schools were recognized

by CDE last year for their academic performance and perennially our high schools are ranked amongst the best in the country. In fact, three BVSD schools made the U.S. News and World Report’s Best U.S. High Schools ranking and four of our schools were in the top 21 of Niche’s 2019 Best Public High Schools in Colorado.

While this is certainly a lot to be proud of, BVSD has room to grow and improve.

Last year, as I was visiting

Rob Anderson, Superintendent every school, meeting students and teachers in the classroom and gathering with parents, they shared a lot of great feedback about how we can get even better.

In some cases, we have been able to take immediate action, improving communication and engagement with families, moving high schools to a later start time, implementing fullday kindergarten and beginning the restructuring of our budget process and evaluating district initiatives. Our goal is to ensure that we are looking at each program’s effectiveness and investing in programs that provide us the greatest return on our investment – so

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Instead of implementing one size fits all district mandates and measures, the goal will be to provide the supports needed for the challenges faced by actual students in their specific communities. By customizing the way that we support our schools, BVSD will become more a more nimble and responsive school district.

We also know that we cannot do this alone.

Student success is dependent on highly-effective teachers and leaders in every school and every classroom. Just as important is the involvement of our families and the partnerships that we create with our community. We will be looking to work closely with local governmental agencies, nonprofits and businesses to ensure our students have access to all of the support and opportunities they need to thrive, regardless of what they want to do after school.

Boulder Valley is an amazing place. I believe by building upon BVSD’s outstanding history of excellence, equity and working together– we can continue to provide a great place for all students to learn.

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that our precious resources (both taxpayer dollars and educator time) are laser-focused on things that we know are improving outcomes for students.

In fact, this summer our team has been hard at work – reorganizing our instructional team and preparing BVSD’s new Strategic Plan for roll out this fall. Both aim to better serve the needs of our schools, teachers and, most importantly, our students.

While BVSD is truly outstanding – a leader in the state and beyond – we are striving to be the very best school district in the country.

As a district, we will not be satisfied until each and every one of our students is performing at their fullpotential. For far too long, BVSD has struggled to close our achievement gap. That is why our new strategic plan aims to reduce disparities in achievement, while simultaneously focusing on ensuring that all students benefit from challenging and relevant education opportunities and are empowered with the skills necessary for post-graduate success.

With these goals in mind, we have created regional networks within BVSD designed specifically to support schools and communities based on their unique needs.

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Raised in the Rockies FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT | ST. VRAIN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT Continuing to advance excellence across our community

S

t. Vrain Valley Schools is accelerating into the new academic year with tremendous momentum as we continue to advance highquality learning for all of our students. With so much to celebrate from the past year, the 2019-2020 school year promises to be an even greater moment in St. Vrain’s history.

As our students today are entering a complex, highly competitive workforce, unlike anything previous generations have experienced, it is essential that we provide them with the knowledge, skill, ingenuity, confidence, and capacity to advance and compete on a global scale. Toward this end, St. Vrain Valley Schools has transformed and advanced our education system to one which is characterized by extremely rigorous academics, including among the highest graduation requirements in the state, region, and nation, as well as a strategic, by design systemic approach to ensuring our students are engaged in complex problem solving, creative thinking, innovation, teamwork, and other critically important, essential skills. As our world is changing and accelerating at exponential rates due to unprecedented technological developments, it is imperative that we as an education system, continue to advance accordingly.

Don Haddad, Superintendent LEARNING NEVER ENDS For many in St. Vrain, the fall is not a beginning, but a continuation of the extensive learning that takes place all year. This summer, every school in our community was full of activity, including advanced learning opportunities, robust co-curricular activities and construction projects that support growth and enhance the quality and safety of our schools.

In addition to hosting over 60 high-quality academic programs and summer camps for our students, focused on STEM, innovation, literacy, technology, music, athletics, theater, financial literacy, computer science, cyber security and more, we extended the school year through the month of June to provide additional reading and literacy instruction for approximately 2,000 students in our early grades.

Additionally, hundreds of students attended our Innovation Academy for a

Smarter Planet. In partnership with mentors from IBM and the University of Colorado, students entering first through sixth grade worked on highly interactive, complex community-related issues.

Students problem-solved and prototyped ideas designed to strengthen our community and make our world a better place.

Just as our students were highly engaged in numerous summer programs, our teachers and staff were focused on professional development designed to bolster their knowledge and skills. Over 2,000 teachers and staff enrolled in more than 100 courses offered in St. Vrain over the summer, emphasizing collaboration and accelerating student achievement through high-quality instruction.

Education in St. Vrain never stops. The opportunity to engage in personal growth and learning throughout the year is giving our students, teachers and staff a strong, competitive advantage that will empower our collective success.

ADVANCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS We have so much to celebrate across our schools – none of which would be possible without the unwavering support of our community, including our parents, teachers and staff, business owners, elected officials and everyone who champions public education. It is through our strong partnerships that we are transforming public education for our children and our

community’s future.

Our forward thinking 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, incredible opportunities across our globe.

Across St. Vrain Valley Schools, we are taking public education by St. VrainStorm – our shared passion and commitment to advancing academic excellence and student success. Follow our #StVrainStorm hashtag on Twitter to see the outstanding achievements of our students, teachers, staff, and school.

Additionally, this fall I will be scheduling our annual open forums in each of our areas to share the many successes we have experienced and also to discuss our bold vision for continuing to advance public education in our community, state and nation. I hope to see everyone at one of these events so that we can personally thank you for everything that you do to support our students and schools. Together we are building a stronger future for our children and for Colorado.

Sincerely, Don Haddad, Ed.D. Superintendent St. Vrain Valley School District

34 yrs

AUGUST 2019

RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

23

GET THE SCORE.

Knights, Eagles, Panthers, Trojans, Coyotes, Warriors, Cougars, Pumas, Tigers, Lions – no matter which high school team or sport you follow, you’ll find scores, in-depth coverage and more at BoCoPreps.com.

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RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

BACK TO SCHOOL

Raised in the Rockies FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT | ADAMS 12 FIVE STAR SCHOOLS

Building on Five Star success ELEVATING student success in the Five Star District.

“M

y teacher helped me even though I wasn’t good at writing. She helped me succeed by helping me add more details. I felt successful because she guided me through writing.

I think the best thing about school is that teachers always give us a chance.”

Focus on Students. This is what I’m reminded of as I read this story that a student shared with me recently. As part of Adams 12 Five Star Schools’ new strategic plan, ELEVATE, we encourage students, parents, staff and members of the Five Star community to share their stories of strength about the district.

More than 7,000 people participated in our strategic planning process. The yearlong engagement process to discover our community-driven strategic plan started with building upon what we do well. Participants were asked to tell a story when the district, school or staff member did right by a student. Thousands of stories were synthesized into five core strengths of the district which reveal who we are and who we want to continue to be. We collectively determined that in Adams 12 Five Star Schools, we Care, Collaborate, Engage, Empower and Focus on Students.

FIVE STAR PROUD These strengths and the stories that bring them to life demonstrate that we have much to celebrate and be #FiveStarProud. Here are just a few highlights.

Our students have demonstrated the greatest sustained academic growth over the past four years when compared to other school districts in Colorado serving 10,000 or more students.

The district’s graduation rate of 84.3 percent exceeds the AUGUST 2019

Chris Gdowski, Superintendent state average, and the Hispanic graduation rate has jumped from 69.4 percent in 2014 to 80.7 percent in 2018.

This celebration also extends beyond academic achievements.

More than 30 school renovation projects are underway this summer as part of the voter-approved 2016 Bond Program. These projects include investments in safety and security, critical building repairs, playground upgrades, and improvements to schools’ arts, music and physical education programs.

Over 240 parents and community members have graduated from our year-long Five Star Leadership Academy.

Graduates of the academy represent more than 70 percent of membership on district-wide committees such as our District Accountability Committee.

ELEVATE AND THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR We are hiring more than 150 employees in support of investments our community prioritized through ELEVATE and the November 2018 passage of Ballot Issue 5C, a $27 million mill levy override.

One of the most significant areas of investment is in class size relief and the expansion of course options at the secondary level. We are hiring more than 50 teachers for next school year to address class sizes that are above target levels in elementary schools and to provide class size relief

and/or more course options aligned to specific school needs at the middle and high school levels.

In support of the diverse learning needs of our students, we are adding academic interventionists at our elementary and K-8 schools.

These interventionists will work directly with students in accelerating their learning in literacy and math.

Beginning this school year, we will add social emotional learning specialists in all of our elementary, middle and K-8 schools. This is a new position that will support student growth in social-emotional competencies. At the high school level, we will provide additional counselors to better support the individual needs of our students.

SEE YOU SOON All of these successes and opportunities were made possible through our staff, students, parents and community members committing to partner and collaborate with one another.

We look forward to making your child’s 2019-2020 school year their best one yet. We are extremely thankful for the partnership and mutual trust we have with our community and are excited to build upon our collective stories of strength in the year ahead.

See you in August!

Sincerely, Chris Gdowski, Superintendent Adams 12 Five Star Schools

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Raised in the Rockies

SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT Boulder Valley Waldorf School

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 though social-emotional 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.”

Grades Served: Preschool to 5th grade Address: 4760 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder Phone: 303.494.7508 Website: bixbyschool.org Head of School: Nina Lopez Enrollment: 25 preschool; 60 kindergarten to 5th grade

SUCCESS

BEGINS HERE

Capacity: 40 preschool; 85 kindergarten to 5th grade Annual Tuition: Preschool program is $2020/month (Three and four-day options available); K-5 school day program is $2139/month (full day extended program for PS-5 also available).

Daily Schedule: Bixby’s regular school day for K-5 students is 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. each day.

Preschool program hours are 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. The school also offers extended day options for preschool through 5th grade families from 7:15 a.m. until 5:45 p.m., including drop-in care.

Open House/Visitation: Open Houses on Aug. 2 (Preschool Only), Oct. 17 and Nov. 7.

Visit website for more upcoming open house dates and times.

To schedule a tour, e-mail: admissions@bixbyschool.org.

NO COST PRESCHOOL* *for qualified students

• Preschool programs for 3 and 4-year-olds • Two, three, and four half-day programs • Tuition, Special Education, and Colorado Preschool Program spots • Wraparound childcare available in some locations

Boulder Valley Waldorf School will celebrate 100 Years of Waldorf Education this September with a big Golden Harvest Celebration. Formerly Shepherd Valley Waldorf, the school has opened an additional kindergarten school on its 38 acres in Niwot and gone to a sensible tuition model, according to Ruth Godberfforde, Director of Advancement. She said, “We have a holistic, developmentallybased, and arts-integrated education based on the age and ability of children. For little ones, the program is play-based with lots of time outdoor in nature, developmental movement, crafts, and social things they do together like preparing daily snack. When they’re ready for first grade, in addition to literacy, science, and math, they also learn two world languages, movement and music. In third grade they start learning strings instruments and in fifth begins choir and the option for learning band instruments. As the children

continue in the upper grades, their thematic learning blocks are studied in greater depth. We’re continuing the good work in a more intellectual way.”

Grades Served: Preschool to 8th Grade Address: 6500 W. Dry Creek Pkwy., Niwot Phone: 303.652.0130 Website: bvwaldorf.org Principal: D. Hindes Enrollment: 170 Capacity: 190 Annual Tuition: $10,650 Daily Schedule: 8:05 a.m. to 3:05 p.m.

Open House/Visitation: Daily Tours - call to schedule; Oct. 10, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Nov. 7 3:30-5:30 p.m., Jan. 23,3:30-5:30 p.m., Feb. 27th 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Dawson School

Dawson School is a community of students, faculty, and families who are passionate about education. The region’s premier K-12 independent school, Dawson offers challenging college-preparatory academics, robust athletics and arts programs, and renowned outdoor and experiential education. Dawson graduates are young men and women who achieve their individual potential, savor life, and meet the challenges of the world.

The school features small class sizes, exceptional faculty, a 107-acre campus, 100 percent graduation rate, leadership and character education, integrated technology education in K-12, after-school care/Homework Club at no charge, 10 hours of specials weekly in grades K-4, an involved parent community, and a nearly 50-year history of success.

Grades served: Kindergarten through 12th grade Address: 10455 Dawson Drive, Lafayette, CO 80026 Phone: 303.665.6679 Website: dawsonschool.org Head of school: George P. Moore Enrollment: 520 Capacity: 540 Annual tuition: Kindergarten-2nd: $20,950; 3rd-4th; $24,930; 5th-8th, $26,525, 9th-12th, $27,200 Daily schedule: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Open house/visitation: Friday & Saturday, Oct. 11 & 12, 10 a.m. start. RSVP or arrange private campus tour: dawsonschool.org/visit

svvsd.org/preschool • 303-702-7815

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RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

BACK TO SCHOOL

Raised in the Rockies Friends School

FLAGSTAFF ACADEMY

Founded in 2005, Flagstaff Academy, an award-winning preschool through eighth grade public charter school, is an academically rigorous school with a Core Knowledge foundation and strong focus on science and technology Named a 2019 National and Colorado Trailblazer School to Watch, the school focuses on the individual learner, subject mastery grouping, progressive levels of difficulty and ongoing assessment for advancement. The preschool has a Colorado Shines Level Five Quality Rating, the highest a preschool can receive. Flagstaff Academy offers inquiry-based science, robotics, computer programming, integrated technology, a greenhouse classroom, and the leading Restorative Practice program in the region provides a strong focus on character development and ethical leadership. Spanish is offered as a foreign language starting in third grade, with French

as a Middle School elective, and a robust arts program including music, band and art integrating technology round out Flagstaff Academy’s one-of-a-kind educational environment.

Grades Served: Preschool, K-8th Grade Address: 2040 Miller Drive, Longmont Phone: 303.651.7900 Website: flagstaffacademy.org Executive Director: Wayne Granger Enrollment: 930 Capacity: N/A Annual Tuition: N/A Daily Schedule: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Open House/Visitation: Call 303.651.7900 for a tour

Friends School values all learners. The school is a creative, challenging, safe environment where every student in preschool through 8th grade is seen, known and loved. Small class sizes allow the school to know each student fully for who they are, meet them where they are as learners, and help them to know themselves and set their own path. Friends students are academically challenged and prepared to enter the world as thoughtful, kind, genuine, self-advocating, confident, and empathetic citizens. A strong balance of rich academic and social emotional curriculum with an emphasis on character development allows graduates to successfully transition into any high school environment.

ACIS accredited and NAIS member.

Grades served: Preschool-8th grade Addresses: South Campus (Preschool & Elementary) 5465 Pennsylvania Ave., Boulder, CO 80303; North Campus (Middle School & Teacher Prep Program) 3800 Kalmia Ave., Boulder

Phone: 303.499.1999 Website: friendsschoolboulder.org Principal: Honor Taft Enrollment: 200 Capacity: 200 Annual tuition: See website for sliding scale based on family income; financial aid available Daily schedule: Preschool half-day programs; K-5 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. (1:30 p.m. Friday dismissal); after-school care and enrichment classes available; Middle School, 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Open houses/visitation: Preschool parent information meetings: Oct. 18, Nov. 20, Jan. 28, Feb. 12. Kindergarten/ Elementary parent information meetings: Oct. 22 (Open House), Nov. 13, Jan 23 (Open House).

Middle School parent information meetings: Oct. 29 (Open House), Nov. 15, Dec. 5, Jan. 28 (Open House), Feb. 20. RSVP to admissions@friendsschoolboulder. org and to schedule individual tour and class observation for first through eighth grade.

2019 School

Supply Drive www.CrayonsToCalculators.org

 98% of the graduating class of 2019 are proceeding      

onto college or the military and were awarded over $16 million in merit-based scholarships 42 Honors and AP classes / 31 clubs and organizations 3 Guidance and 3 College counselors Active Apostolic and Campus Ministry programs where students participate in school masses, spiritual retreats, mission trips and service Comprehensive Fine and Performing Arts Programs 20 competitive sports teams * Varsity Girls Swimming - New This Year 34,000 Sq. Ft. addition for the 2019-20 school year  6 new classrooms including a STEM/Robotics Lab  New Auxiliary Gym  New Fitness Center, Locker Rooms  Larger Music Room  New Cafeteria

www.holyfamilyhs.com 303-410-1411

AUGUST 2019

RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

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Raised in the Rockies Holy Family High School

GOAL ACADEMY

GOAL Academy High School is a free pubic high school that offers students the opportunity to access their curriculum online with the option of visiting dropin centers for one-on-one help.

GOAL offers three tracks for students bound for college, the military, and technical trades.

“At GOAL High School, we are changing the world one graduate at a time,” says CEO Dr. Constance Jones. “We are an alternative high school serving students across the state of Colorado. Our approach leverages multiple resources to develop highly personalized learning pathways designed to reengage disconnected youth with learning.”

Grades Served: 9th to 12th grade Address: 1600 Hover Road, Longmont Phone: 877.776.4625 Website: goalac.org Principal/Director: Debbie Rose, President of Board of Directors Enrollment: Visit website Annual Tuition: Call for details Daily Schedule: Flexible Open House/Visitation: Office is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

PROSPECT RIDGE ACADEMY

Prospect Ridge Academy aims to shape academic, social and ethical leaders. As a Five Star charter school, Prospect Ridge offers a rigorous K-12 education with an emphasis on math and science. Teachers at Prospect Ridge utilize Core Knowledge Sequence and college preparatory programming to equip students with the skills to engage in lifelong learning and to succeed beyond graduation.

Outside of the classroom, students participate in athletics to develop social and physical abilities. Prospect Ridge prides itself on its strong community partnerships. Students engage with community partners through character education and service learning programs, building connections and strong citizenship ties that last a lifetime.

Holy Family High School is a Catholic College Preparatory High School located in Broomfield, Colorado. The school’s Athletic and Fine Performing Arts programs emphasize faith formation, sportsmanship, creativity and teamwork, with a goal of accomplishing a well-rounded individual. The admissions team at Holy Family said, “We have had another strong year in admissions for the upcoming school year and are excited to be able to continue to offer Catholic education to any student who desires it and who can be successful within our academically rigorous curriculum.

Holy Family High School is a community of parents, faculty and staff, administrators, students, alumni, friends and benefactors, all striving together to accomplish their common purpose; to build a community

dedicated to excellence in education of the whole person; spirit, mind, and body, and to service through our faith.”

Grades Served: 9th to 12th grade Address: 5195 W. 144th Ave., Broomfield Phone: 303.410.1411 Website: holyfamilyhs.com Principal: Matt Hauptly Capacity: 800 Annual Tuition: Affiliated Catholic: $11,690 Unaffiliated Catholics and Non-Catholic Rate: $13,620 Daily Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:55 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.

Open House/Visitation: Sat., Oct. 27, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

SonShine Daycare & Preschool

Grades Served: K to 12th Address: 2555 Preble Creek Parkway, Broomfield Phone: 720-399-0300 Website: prospectridgeacademy.org President: Adam DiGiacomo Enrollment: 436 Capacity: 436 Annual Tuition: Call for details Daily Schedule: Call for details Open House/Visitation: Call to schedule a visit.

SCHOOL MUSIC RENTALS

SonShine Daycare and Preschool serves children in four classrooms, organized by age. Each classroom focuses on age-appropriate development goals, with a consistent focus on fostering a religious connection with God. Located within the LifeBridge Christian Church, SonShine Daycare and Preschool offers an education that is deeply rooted in Christian belief.

“The children are surrounded by a Christian atmosphere of love and respect,” says Director Cathy Stoecker. “It is our intention to develop a program that challenges your child, builds self-esteem, respect for others and prepares them socially, emotionally, academically and spiritually for the upcoming challenges that face them through life.”

Grades Served: Preschool (2-1/2 to 7 years) Address: 10345 Ute Hwy, Longmont Phone: 303.776.5897, 303.776.2927, ext. 213 Website: svvsd.org/about/ departments/preschool Principal/Director: Cathy Stoecker, Director Kellie Brown, Assistant Director Enrollment: Visit website Capacity: 90 Annual Tuition: Call for details.

Daily Schedule: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Open House/Visitation: Call 303.776.5897 to schedule a tour.

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BACK TO SCHOOL

Raised in the Rockies TLC Learning Center

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.

Grades Served: Preschool (3 to 4 years) Address: Various Phone: 303.702.7815

Website: svvsd.org/preschool Principal/Director: Shela Blankinship Enrollment: Visit website Annual Tuition: Starting at $1665/year for two half-day classes per week.

Daily Schedule: Varies per school, offering both AM and PM sessions of approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes. Limited full day options are available for qualifying families (CPP).

Options for before and after school beginning at 7 a.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m. at certain locations.

Open House/Visitation: For tours and information, contact your school of interest directly.

TWIN PEAKS CHARTER ACADEMY

Twin Peaks Charter Academy provides students with a rigorous education and the foundations of virtue and character, while building cultural literacy through a content-rich curriculum in an encouraging environment.

The school’s vision is every student who earns a degree from Twin Peaks Charter Academy is a good and productive citizen, matriculated and prepared to graduate from a four-year university. Twin Peaks is a public, school of choice in the St. Vrain Valley School District, conveniently located in Longmont. The school is governed by engaged and passionate parents and is the longest operating charter school

YMCA INSPIRE SCHOOL

At YMCA Inspire Preschool for ages 2-1/2 to 6, we know that children learn best through meaningful, handson experiences. Our talented teachers deliver daily lessons that allow for exploration and individualized learning opportunities for every child.

By supporting your child’s academic, social and emotional well-being, they will be set up for a lifetime of learning success.

Grades Served: Preschool AUGUST 2019

At TLC Learning Center, you will find diverse classrooms like no other in Boulder County.

“Typical kids (no identified special need) and children with special needs (identified developmental delays or disabilities) learn, play and grow side by side,” says TLC Executive Director Matt Eldred.

“All kids benefit from diverse classrooms and TLC Learning Center children are not only academically prepared for kindergarten, but have also gained social-emotional skills that will help them throughout life in relating and working with others, negotiating challenging situations with peers, exhibiting real empathy for those who are different from them, and finding the strength to stand up for those who may not be able to defend themselves. These are life skills that go well beyond the classroom.”

Grades Served: Early Care & Preschool (8 weeks to 6 years) Address: 611 Korte Parkway, Longmont Phone: 303.776.7417 Website: learningwithtlc.org Executive Director: Matt Eldred Enrollment: Shared during tour Capacity: 110 Annual Tuition: Monthly tuition varies based on two, three or five-day enrollment and age of child.

Daily Schedule: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., class programming starts at 9 a.m.

Open House/Visitation: Tours are offered weekly.

Call 303.776.7417.

VISTA RIDGE ACADEMY in the St. Vrain Valley School District.

Grades Served: K to 12th Address: 340 S. Sunset St., Longmont Phone: 303.772.7286 Website: twinpeakscharter.org President: Regina Casey Enrollment: N/A Capacity: N/A Annual Tuition: Call for details Daily Schedule: Call for details Open House/Visitation: Open House/Visitation: Grades K-5 tours: Wednesdays at 10 a.m.; Grades 6-12 tours: Wednesdays at 9 a.m.

Address: 950 Lashley St, Longmont Phone: 720.652.4720 Website: …ymcainspirepreschool.org President: N/A Enrollment: N/A Capacity: N/A Annual Tuition: Two days per week: $458 per month; Three days per week: $655 per month; Five days per week: $926 per month Daily Schedule: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Open House/Visitation: Call for details

Vista Ridge Academy provides wholistic Christ-centered elementary education, encouraging children to think creatively and critically, problem-solve and explore, collaborate with others, and develop strong character in accordance with our core values.

The school’s mission is to be the first choice for Christian education in the north Denver metropolitan area, creating strong student and community engagement and a reputation for excellence in academic achievement and personal growth.

Grades Served: Preschool to 8th Grade Address: 3100 Ridge View

Drive, Erie Phone: 303.828.4944 Website: vistaridge.org Principal: Sandy Hodgson Enrollment: 86 Capacity: N/A Annual Tuition: $5,700-$7,400 Daily Schedule: Call for details.

Open House/Visitation: Call for a tour.

W I S D O M B E G I N S I N WO N D E R

303.652.0130 bvwaldorf.org RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

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Raised in the Rockies

Learning opportunities for all ages Tapping into interests and endeavors.

BY ELISE OBERLIESEN

A

dmittedly, Boulder County has no shortage of learning opportunities for all ages. Thanks to the University of Colorado, it sets the stage for a thriving education base for the K-12 crowd. If you’re on the hunt for fun activities outside the traditional classroom, we’ve got the list for you. Classes span the creative spectrum to physical activities and science-based stuff sure to stimulate growing minds.

FISKE PLANETARIUM Fiske offers year-round public programming with numerous ways for K-12 students and teachers to get involved, says Briana Ingermann, education programs manager, with Fiske Planetarium.

During the school year, she said they offer private showings with a film and live discussions. “We have live trained presenters with our shows and labs, so when K-12 schools come here, we can work with teachers and ask them how we can augment what they are doing in the classroom,” Ingermann said.

For the most part, these are usually one time visits, she said, but staff can also work directly with teachers and school districts to provide a more custom and engaging learning project.

With one example, Ingermann said they worked with a group of students who were tasked with conjuring up what it would be like to live on planet Mars, which is far different from Planet Hollywood.

“Students sent their questions to us … then we brought our portable “inflatable dome” planetarium to their school,” she said. The project spanned two weeks.

“We were the content experts that co-developed the teachers’ astronomy curriculum.” Ingermann said that project took about two months of pre-planning with teachers.

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS — BOULDER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT BVSD Community Schools offers several enrichment and educational programs for kids and teens–based on student interest.

School Aged Care (K-7) program offers learning and enrichment activities divided into specific categories, including: creative, connective, quiet time, discovery and STEM activities. “It’s structured learning broken into learning zones and is very 30 RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

Photo: BVSD Lifelong Learning.

social and organized,” said Matt Jenkins, marketing specialist with Community Schools.

In the Lifelong Learning programs, classes run from five weeks to an entire semester, said Jenkins. “It could be a chess class or cross country running. Many families use these classes throughout the semester.”

Community Schools also works with local ranches where students learn how to ride horses. Goat care and creative obstacle courses is another class. These programs are offered through Lifelong Learning.

“We want to provide enrichment for kids, it gives kids something to do without grades and homework, it helps them grow in their creatively … it’s a subject kids choose, whether it’s something new or a subject they are passionate about,” Jenkins said.

CU SCIENCE DISCOVERY CU Science Discovery, the K-12 STEM outreach division of CU Boulder’s Continuing Education. Offers numerous vibrant, inspiring opportunities in a format designed to accommodate the school year. From after-school programs that last roughly one hour to homeschool enrichment to single or multi-day programs offered on days off and during holiday breaks, there is something for every learner. Programs are offered across a broad spectrum of STEM topics, from robotics, engineering and biology, to citizen science, drone pilot training and winter ecology, to name a few.

“We develop exciting programs that complement and extend what kids are learning in the classroom in a very tactile, engaging way,” says Maggie Warren, CU Science Discovery marketing manager.

“Our programs utilize project-based learning designed to encourage exploration and creativity within each participant.”

For older students, one particularly unique offering is CU Science Discovery’s popular Teen Science Café. Open to the public, this monthly event offers a meaningful, informal way for teens to connect with CU scientists. “It’s a unique opportunity for teens,” Warren says. “Each month, a featured scientist delivers a small talk and accompanying activity on a topic of the students’ choosing. The teens then get to engage and ask questions, hearing about the scientist’s career path and learning about their research or field of study.”

4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH CSU EXTENSION Want your student to learn valuable life skills like responsibility, leadership, citizenship? How about communication, and record keeping? 4-H just might be the thing.

“The biggest thing is that we teach life skill development and the hook to get kids involved is to offer these fun projects,” Brenda Kwang, an extension agent with 4-H Youth Development/Livestock & Animals, Boulder County with CSU Extension, in Longmont.

Students between the ages of 5 to 18 years of age choose from a laundry list of fun projects – not just the farming kind.

The programs range from vet science, computers and electricity, to sport fishing, archery and cake decorating, said Kwang.

“We emphasize being in a group and having fun learning by doing … kids may not know how to build a rocket but they learn along-side the volunteers,“ Kwang said.

BACK TO SCHOOL

FROM BUILDING ROBOT S

FROM DISCOVERING A FAVORIT E SP ECIES

TO LAUNCHING SATELLITES.

TO AFFECTING CLIMATE CHANGE.

FROM LEADING T HE T EAM

TO RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

OPEN HOUSE OCTOBER 11 & 12

RSVP at dawsonschool.org/Visit

FROM LOOKING FOR ANSWERS

TO DIAGNOSING DISEASES. Preparing students to bring their best to the world.

AUGUST 2019

dawsonschool.org

RAISED IN THE ROCKIES

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Welcome Back As excitement builds for the 2019-2020 school year, we would like to sincerely thank everyone throughout our community for your tremendous support. Together, we are providing our children with an outstanding education and strong competitive advantage as they compete at the highest level in an ever changing global economy. – Don Haddad, Ed. D., Superintendent

Students accelerate their learning through our rigorous and robust instructional programming and co-curricular activities that empower student advancement through choice and opportunity.

As one of the fastest growing and most innovative school districts in the nation, we are excited about our new schools and facility improvements made possible because of the great support of our community.

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Supported by a 2-gigibit fiberoptic internet connection, all schools are equipped with iPads, Chromebooks and other cutting-edge technologies designed to enhance student learning.

BACK TO SCHOOL