RMParent | September 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020 • RMPARENT.COM

KEEPING

Cool Fall hikes

KIDS ON TRACK WITH ONLINE LEARNING

SPECIAL SECTION

Toddlers, masks and social distancing

Treat yourself with food from a local farm

Rollin’ in to family skating Getting out of the Zoom room

SPECIAL SECTION:

AFTER THE BELL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT RMPARENT

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Fall Lessons Open Now!

Teaching Hunter Jumper lessons to riders of all ages!

Outdoors, Safe, Fun! After-school and Saturday lessons available

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inspirationridingacademy.com What’s NEW at Front Range Classical Ballet?

• Classes by appointment and sign-up only.

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SEPTEMBER 2020

Departments

Special Sections

PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Sit down and eat up—Sharing a meal together brings some calm in the storm

FIRST YEARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Toddlers, masks and social distancing—Children in the age of Covid-19

FAMILY ACTIVITIES . . . . . . . . 10

HARVEST SEASO

N 2020

BOUNTY

Treat yourself with food from a local farm Check out farmers markets and farm stands

Cool fall family hikes—Hit the trail; changing weather, changing scenery

Local Food & Farm Guide

Fresh and Tasty

SUPPORTING LOCAL

YOUR GUIDE

TO

FARMERS MARKETS AND FARM STAND S

FARMS

LEARN AND LIVE . . . . . . . . . . 12

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Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’—Families skate their way to better health, fun and fitness

COMMUNITY NEWS . . . . . . . 14 Family resources—Children’s resource fair, athome learning opportunities, mental health support and more

HEALTHY LIVING . . . . . . . . 16

Getting out of the Zoom room—Find strategies for video conferences, screen exhaustion and isolation

AFTER THE BELL

A DV E RT I

SING SU PPLE

MENT

Discover enrichment programs and activities for the whole family

CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 Events and activities for parents, kids and families

TIME OUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 6 Power’s out!—Rotting food, unwashed laundry, cold showers and no A.C.

Features

School District News GR-E 6 School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Students earn IB diploma, AP scholars

Poudre School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Remote learning, meals for students, mental health support

Thompson School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Support for your child’s well-being, Reduce anxiety and increase socialemotional skills

18 K EEPING KIDS ON TRACK WITH ONLINE LEARNING

Parents are wondering how to navigate online school and having kids at home full time. Set your family up for success by creating some structure. Also, watch for signs of stress in your children.

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perspective perspective

Generosity Sit down and eat up learning, being and doing

Sharing a meal together brings some calm in the storm

A F

young man pandemic, approachedcivil meunrest in a parking ires, drought, and lot yesterday. election politics combine to put us off our and I are staying over game, “My a littlefamily bit. Nothing seems normal there and if we could get five dollars we could or easy right now. We are all a little, or a lot, out getbalance a pizza.with If we could get disrupted ten we could get of uncertainty, routines, two and that would cover us.” cash-flow challenges and on and on.

I had no idea whether was true.

So where might we findhis anstory anchor?

He looked as though he was living rough, Something that is comfortable and familiar? I’d though—gaunt, sunken cheeks, despairing eyes. say look no farther than your dining room table.

Without hesitation, I pulled out my wallet Something as ordinary and necessary as our and handed himsuddenly ten bucks.

I don’t know just why it. He wasn’t daily meals can seem like that safe port inIadid storm. threatening. over imploring.

He just seemed to reallyand need a For manyHe of wasn’t us, COVID-19 has changed our daily routines boost right then and interacting with him right there a couple of feet maybe opened up opportunities to spend more time together. This may, away, I just felt it was a moment. at times, vary between feeling like a blessing or a curse, but it could open It’s not on a mission to give alltogether of our money.

I walkIt the door for that us toI’m purposefully sit down to away dinner every night. and drive by plenty of people who are asking for a little push.

And I’m seems that this might be especially settling for everyone in the household not driven to help others by a sense of guilt or even a feeling of being in these squishy off-balanced times. Just sitting down and asking each lucky how enough and what theseexciting others don’t and so therefore it’s my other the to dayhave wentit and or challenging things came up social obligation to do it.

Nor do I get a big sense of satisfaction.

I have helps us all feel more connected, which is nice when things can seem to a hard time on pinpointing why I feel compelled to help out sometimes, be spinning the edge of control. whether scooping a sidewalk a neighbor push a car, Getting most or all of thefor family involvedorinstopping planningtoand preparing and other times not so much. meals, a couple times a week anyway, can take that connection to the next fall, neighbor of to ours comesusbyalive, withbut hisalso air to compressor level.Every Food is so abasic, not just keeping our identity and blows out our sprinkler lines.

He makes the rounds our the and ties to our family and culture. We can take a minute toin enjoy corner of the neighborhood and gets everyone ready for winter.

Hethe aroma of bread (or better, cookies!) that we mixed up together filling doesn’t ask for anything.

He just does it because he can.

It is not a house. And then we get to eat them! transactional offer in any way.

Food is more than just calories that we need to keep our bodies and Theresa Baer writes month in herAs Learn and Live minds running.

Food is, inthis a way, medicine. the cliché goes,column we are what about teaching children to be generous and to volunteer.

She also offers we eat. By viewing food as nourishment, we might start to make choices, some ideas about where and how.

The idea is to help children to be starting with planning and shopping, that make us feel better and healthier. aware of needs and to understand they, have Plenty of others’ nutrition information is out there,that so I’m notthemselves, going to suggest something to offer.

Scott’s 3 Steps to Healthier Eating beyond saying that it seems the closer is for them, really allthe of us, to healthful not just do food The is togoal it’s original, natural form, more it isgenerosity for you. as an activity that we have come to understand as something that And there’s no place like a farm stand or a farmers marketwe toshould get that do because we’re lucky enough to have something and those other kind of fresh, straight-off-the-vine fare. In our Bounty Special Section people are struggling.

Where headed this for how our this month, we highlight somewe’re local really farmers and letwith them tellisyou children to see people who are just like they are, who just want to be they’re adapting to the new rules, what they have to offer you, and how happy just as they do and who don’t want to feel bad just as they don’t shopping locally supports the economy right here where we live. We have wantgathered to. We want beyond the them usStands feelings. don’t And just also a list to of get Farmers Markets and and Farm in We the area. drop money can Virtual and walk by. WeMarket, stop. We talk you and can engage with finally, check in outa the Farmers where support people who are just like local farmers, artisans andus. other small businesses.

In the end, we want to be generosity, not just do generosity, though Bon appetite, the path Scottto being generosity, it seems, lies through the path of doing generosity.

‘Tis the season, Scott

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OCTOBER 2019 • Volume 24, Issue 6 SEPTEMBER 2020 • Volume 25, Issue 4 PUBLISHER Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 PUBLISHER scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 EDITOR scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 EDITOR kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 CREATIVE DIRECTOR kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com Emily Zaynard CREATIVE DIRECTOR emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com Emily Zaynard ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 DISTRIBUTION MANAGER greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Susan Hartig DISTRIBUTION MANAGER susan.rmpublishing@gmail.com Susan Harting susan.rmpublishing@gmail.com COVER PHOTO

Cheri Schonfeld, Courtesy of COVER PHOTO Sky’s Open Design - skysopendesign.com istockphoto.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Theresa Theresa Baer, Baer, Lea Lea Hanson, Hanson, Katie Katie Harris, Harris Lynn U.Scott Nichols Lynn U. Nichols, Titterington

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLISHING PO Box 740 Fort Collins, CO 80522 Voice 221-9210 • Fax 221-8556 editor@rockymountainpub.com www.RMParent.com Rocky Mountain Mountain Parent Parent magazine magazine is is published published Rocky monthly by

by Rocky Rocky Mountain Mountain Publishing, Publishing, Inc. Inc. monthly Publication of this paper does notnot consitute an enPublication of this paper does constitute dorsement of the products or services advertised. an endorsement of the products or services RMP reservesRMP the right to refuse anyto advertiseadvertised. reserves the right refuse ment for any reason. expressed by any advertisement forThe anyopinions reason. The opinions contributors do notornecessarily expressed or bywriters contributors writers do reflect not the opinions ofthe Rocky Mountain Publishing. necessarily reflect opinions of Rocky Mountain ©2019 Rocky Mountain Publishing, All rights Publishing. ©2020 Rocky MountainInc. Publishing, reserved.

Reproduction express written Inc. All rights reserved. without Reproduction without is prohibited. express permission written permission is prohibited.

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS: OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS:

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first years Toddlers, masks and social distancing Children in the age of Covid-19

LY NN U. NICHOLS

S

ocial distancing, mask wearing and being stuck at home are hard for all of us, but even harder for little ones who can’t fully grasp what’s going on. How do you explain to toddlers that they can’t play in their favorite ball pit, hug their best friend or that they have to wear a mask? As with everything, as parents, we do the best we can.

It may be tempting to blow off social distancing and mask wearing completely—labeling it simply too hard.

Before you do, consider this: babies under age one are more susceptible to severe sickness from COVID-19, thanks to their immature immune systems and narrower airways. Protecting other little ones, as well as older people, means it’s a good idea to give it your best try.

MASKS AND TODDLERS Masks can seem scary to babies and toddlers. They can’t see a reassuring smile behind a mask, and voices can sound muffled. Like disappearing with peek-a-boo, babies don’t understand that they are still fully there when they put on a mask. Help your child get used to wearing a mask by starting slow and being patient. Try these tips to ease the process:

• Let your toddler watch you put on a mask and appear relaxed and comfortable.

• Ease in with play. At first, encourage your toddler to put a mask on her favorite doll or stuffed animal, playing up the fact that she is taking good care of her doll and keeping it from getting sick. Eventually, you can ask her to wear a mask like her doll does.

• Celebrate the mask wearing, even if it is only a few seconds at first.

• Set a few simple ground rules. Tell toddlers when you expect them to wear their mask and when they can take the mask off.

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•G ive a simple explanation on why you need a mask, such as: It’s what we do to keep germs away.

•G et him involved in making his mask.

Maybe use his favorite old t-shirt or a plain white cloth that he can decorate with fabric paint. Or let him pick one out that he likes.

SOCIAL DISTANCING WITH LITTLE ONES Since toddlers are impulsive and excitable, asking them to stay six feet away from a friend is expecting the impossible. Replace play dates with FaceTime check-ins to keep little ones connected. Some parents are opting to allow a small inner circle of one or two families deemed “safe”—those who take social distancing and mask wearing as seriously as your family does. Yet you have to consider exposure—does the child’s parents go in an office or work from home? How about your family?

Keep in mind that the more people you allow in, the more likely your child (and your family) will get sick. In general, you can lessen your risk by keeping activities

outdoors, seeing the fewest people possible and gathering for a short time rather than a long one. The best idea is to limit socializing within your own household of family members.

If you are worried that a slow down in social interactions will harm your baby or your toddler’s development, know that they will be just fine as long as one person continues to engage, play and interact with them socially.

Don’t forget to take care of yourself to keep your own stress under control.

Consider asking someone to read a book to your toddler virtually every day at a set time while you take a moment to do a few exercises, check your social media or simply close your eyes and relax.

A bonus of these crazy times is a whole generation of little ones will be experts at proper hand washing.

Another is that they may be receiving more parent time than usual, thanks to more parents working from home.

If those silver linings are not enough, know that we will get through this, and remember—kids are resilient.

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family activities

Cool fall family hikes

Hit the trail—changing weather, changing scenery KATIE HARRIS

E

scape to one of these woodsy hiking locales for fresh air, exercise, and a break from city life!

BOBCAT RIDGE NATURAL AREA

10184 West County Road 32C, Loveland

For a beautiful getaway that’s close to the city but feels remote, visit Bobcat Ridge, just outside of Masonville.

Fragrant Ponderosa Pines against a backdrop of red rock cliffs make this a popular destination for hikers, cyclists and equestrians. The fairly flat, 3-mile out-and-back hike to the area’s pioneer homestead cabin is a popular trip for families with small children, while the 4-mile round trip Valley Loop Trail is a beautiful, moderately easy trail which ventures out of the meadow and into the forest. The Power Line and Ginny Trails have higher difficulty ratings and are best for families with older kids.

Learn more about Bobcat Ridge and find a trail map at www.fcgov.com/ naturalareas/finder/bobcat.

HERMIT PARK OPEN SPACE 17 Hermit Park Rd, Estes Park

Stands of golden quaking aspen and 360-degree mountain views make Hermit Park, two miles southeast of Estes Park, a must-see. Older kids will enjoy hiking the 1.7 miles up to Kruger Rock to look out at Estes Park below, or taking the longer but flatter route to Homestead Meadows via the 5.1-mile Limber Pine Trail, to explore homesteads from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Families with younger children will enjoy perusing the over 1300 acres Hermit Park has to offer through connecting trails without traveling too far from the main road. A popular choice is taking Limber Pine Trail through the forest until you reach the first fork, where you can take Moose Meadow Trail back to the road—a 10

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2.8-mile round trip route. For more information and a trail map visit www. larimer.org/naturalresources/parks/ hermit-park.

climb! For details and a trail map visit www.larimer.org/naturalresources/parks/ horsetooth-mountain.

HORSETOOTH MOUNTAIN OPEN SPACE

RAMSAY-SHOCKEY OPEN SPACE

Where spring boasts brilliant wildflowers, autumn boasts golden brush reflecting off the lake and a peacefulness that you don’t find during the spring and summer seasons. The Horsetooth Falls trail, typically bustling in spring when the falls are at their strongest, is often quieter this time of year when they’re merely a trickle. But the falls aren’t the only draw to this 2.4-mile out-and-back trail. Views of the city, opportunities for wildlife sightings and the chance to climb around behind and below the falls and pool provide plenty of allure year round. For a slightly more difficult, 4.2mile out-and-back climb with steeper elevations, give Horsetooth Rock Trail a try. The views from the top are worth the

Don’t let the climbing switchback highway deter you from visiting the beautiful and serene Pinewood Reservoir and surrounding Ramsay-Shockey Open Space. A well-kept secret until recent years, the area has become popular with hikers, kayakers, equestrians and campers.

A favorite trail for families, the Shoshone Trail is a 2.4-mile loop featuring a moderate elevation climb into the woods followed by a downhill trek to the lake, where hikers can dip their feet in. Those seeking a longer day on the trail can travel south at the fork onto the Besant Point Trail, which brings the total distance to four miles. Visit www.larimer.org/ naturalresources/parks/ramsay-shockey to learn more and download a map.

4200 W. County Road 38 E, Fort Collins

Pole Hill Rd, Loveland

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learn and live

Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’

Families skate their way to fun and fitness this fall THERESA BAER

I

f you haven’t been on skates in a while (decades perhaps?), give it a go. Skating offers families a way to keep all ages fit and having fun.

THE GEAR It’s important to have the correct size skates and high socks to avoid blisters.

To save money, keep an eye out for used skates at garage sales or online at sites such as Craigslist, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace or Nextdoor. For new skates, look to sporting goods retailers or departments stores, where prices start at about $30, and some are even adjustable to accommodate fast-growing feet. Don’t forget the safety gear: bike helmet, wrist guards, and knee/elbow pads.

TEACHING KIDS TO SKATE Children as young as three may be ready to skate. Some experts say it is best to start younger children with traditional quad roller skates as they’re well balanced, provide good stability and are easy to learn to maneuver and stop. Inline skates (AKA roller blades) easily attain higher speeds and are better for rough or uneven surfaces as they have better shock absorbers.

For any age, learning to skate should start by learning how to fall–it’s going to happen–and by teaching your children to bend their knees and gently fall to the side, you hopefully will save them some pain. To skate, have your child bend her knees and squat slightly to prevent toppling over and practice walking in the skates on carpet or grass. Her feet should be shoulder width apart to help maintain balance and prevent tripping on the wheels. Then, have your child roll in the skates while holding your hand and when she feels confident in rolling, explain how to pick up her feet one at a time and step in a diagonal direction (heels together and toes pointed outward like the letter V) to propel themselves forward. After

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Gear up for safety’s sake!

Falls are inevitable. To avoid the hospital emergency room and brain injuries, properly fitted helmets are mandatory while knee and elbow pads and wrist guards are highly recommended. Visit www.helmets.org/fit to learn proper helmet use.

gaining confidence, they can then push off with her feet for longer glides, shifting her weight to each leg. Don’t overlook teaching how to use the brakes!

WHERE TO GO Your neighborhood sidewalk, garage or driveway will likely provide a level concrete surface to get started. You can also visit a skate rink. Rollerland Skate Center at 324 South Link Lane in Fort Collins provides a smooth, level indoor surface, lively music and challenging games–plus a snack bar and indoor playground if you need a treat to motivate beginners. You can bring your own skates or rent their inline or roller skates, as well as Skate Mate wheeled trainer tools to help new skaters from falling. They also offer lessons for all

skill levels. Check their website at www. rollerlandskatecenter.com for open skate times and deals. The YMCA of the Rockies at Estes Park Center, 2515 Tunnel Road, also has a free rink that is open during the fall, spring and winter months. Roller skates are provided or you can bring your own. Learn more at www.ymcarockies.org/ activities/roller-skating.

As skills are mastered, check out the many trails around northern Colorado.

To find those best suited for skating, visit www.traillink.com/stateactivity/coinline-skating-trails. Please be cautious and respectful about passing pedestrians and watch for bikers to avoid collisions.

Remember that skating can be frustrating for beginners. Encourage your kids and keep it fun, trying for short periods of times. Think of motivating kids to try again when they fall by setting goals and celebrating even the smallest victories. It’s all about getting out for some fun exercise and togetherness.

Please check indoor spaces for COVID-19 restrictions and requirements.

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community news Family resources

Children’s resource fair, at-home opportunities, mental health support and more THERESA BAER

970-221-5551, 7 days a week.

North Range Behavioral Health in Greeley also offers a no-cost telehealth therapy appointment for Weld County residents who are not currently enrolled in services. Access this confidential mental health support for you or loved ones by calling 970-347-2120 and mention “North Range Cares.”

If you are in crisis, call SummitStone Crisis Line, 970-4944200; Colorado Crisis Services, 1-844493-8255 (or text “TALK” to 38255), or call 911.

FCMOD CONTINUES TO OFFER ATHOME DISCOVERY BOXES Supplement your at-home learning through engaging museum offerings.

The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery (FCMoD) reopened this summer for on-site discovery but also continues to offer virtual programs, workshops and livestream events, in addition to exciting hands-on home Discovery Boxes, delivered straight to you!

The museum’s Discovery Boxes are designed for two different age groups, (ages 3–6 and 7–11) and filled with a combination of books, toys, science experiments, learning challenges, guided explorations and educational activities, featuring themes ranging from ecosystem science, to space exploration, to time travel adventure.

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Visit www.fcmod.org/programs to learn more and reserve your Discovery Box (with sibling kit add-on, if desired) today.

FREE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THOSE FEELING OVERWHELMED In stressful moments, it’s normal for feel anxious, angry, sad, exhausted and overwhelmed. If current events have you feeling any of these and you need to talk, you have options. The Health District of Northern Larimer County offers a noncrisis COVID-19 emotional support line for Larimer County where Behavioral Health Specialists offer COVID support services seven days a week via phone or video conference at no charge. They are also available to help with other mental health or substance use concerns. If you need someone to talk to, call

VIRTUAL KIDS COOKING CLASSES The Cooking Studio Fort Collins offers an at-home cooking experience for kids ages 9–15 where the kids can make desserts or even an entire family dinner with live coaching from a chef via video conference. Kids receive step-by-step instructions, chef tips and tricks and ask questions as they go because the chef is live in your kitchen. In September, the 60–90 minute video conferences take place at 1pm on Tuesdays for dessert classes and Thursdays at 4pm for dinner classes, with classes beginning at $15 per person. View the details and register online at www.the-cooking-studio.com/ kids-classes.

CHILDREN IN NEED FAMILY RESOURCE FAIR Homeward Alliance hosts quarterly resource fairs for children and families experiencing homelessness or are near homelessness. On Saturday, September 12 from 9am to noon they will distribute children’s clothing and supplies and have community agencies on hand to offer a variety of supportive services and information at the Northside Aztlan Community Center, 112 East Willow Street in Fort Collins. If you are in need of supplies or services, contact

info@homewardalliance.org. To learn more, or if you would like to donate to the winter resource fair that will take place on Saturday, December 5, please visit www.homewardalliance.org/events.

SAVE THE DATE FOR GREELEY’S CLEAN-UP WEEKEND Greeley’s annual Clean-up Weekend allows residents to dispose of or recycle unwanted items. The event takes place October 2-3 from 8am to 5pm each day, rain or shine. Bring everything to one of three drop sites designated for hazardous waste, yard waste and other household debris. Computers and electronics will not be collected.

Identification is required and all loads must be secured with a tarp. View the flyer at www.greeleycalendar.com for drop sites and details/costs of acceptable items for each location.

NOCO URBAN HOMESTEAD TOUR Get inspired and educate your children about a self-sustainable lifestyle that includes growing your own produce, raising backyard chickens, ducks, bees, fruit trees, greenhouses, re-purposed garden structures and more. The seventh annual NoCo Urban Homestead Tour takes place Saturday, September 12 with featured homestead locations in

Fort Collins and Loveland and benefits the Gardens on Spring Creek and Loveland Youth Gardeners. A variety of start times are available with tickets $20 for adults and children ages 12 and up, $5 for children ages 5–11, and free for children ages 4 and under, and can be reserved online at www.fcgov. com/gardens/noco-urban-homesteadtour. With an anticipated average of 30 minutes per homestead, the full tour should take four hours to complete, plus transportation time. Regardless of start time, the tour ends at 2pm.

CELEBRATE NOCO’S SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS WITH 3-DAY VIRTUAL EVENT Help celebrate 20 years of the Sustainable Living Association’s initiatives to educate on and support environmental, social and economic justice in northern Colorado. A free 3-day virtual event will take place September 18 through 20 from 9am until 7pm daily and include: Tips and action items to help people incorporate more sustainable practices into their work and home lives • Virtual coffee chats and happy hours where community members will discuss what sustainability issues are most important to them and how we can help to meet those needs

• Fun, educational activities such as a self-guided bicycle scavenger hunt that will direct community members to area businesses in a hunt to find all the clues

Learn more online at www. sustainablelivingassociation.org/events/ sustainable-solutions or call 970213-9107.

KIDS MUSIC DAY INSPIRES FAMILIES TO PLAY MUSIC Keep Music Alive is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the value of music to inspire more kids and adults to reap the educational, social and therapeutic benefits of playing music. Next month, Keep Music Alive will celebrate the 5th Annual Kids Music Day on October 2 by partnering with nearly 1,000 music schools, music stores and other music organizations to hold special events and promotions that benefit children playing music. This year, several virtual musical experiences for parents and their children will be available. Locally, on Saturday, October 5, Guitar Center in Fort Collins at 813 East Harmony Road will offer free onsite jumpstart music lessons in their various instrument offerings.

Visit www.KeepMusicAlive.org and www.KidsMusicDay.org for more information.

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healthy living

Getting out of the Zoom room

Strategies for video conferences, screen exhaustion and isolation LEA HANSON

W

ith most businesses shifting to working from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic, those in-person meetings have now been replaced with virtual conferencing, and platforms like Zoom are soaring in popularity. Yet, the drawbacks of video conferencing are slowly starting to outweigh its advantages. Virtual meetings that were once glorified for keeping us connected are now viewed by many as a growing source of pain, frustration, and contempt. But why?

On the surface, it’s easy to dismiss just how taxing a virtual meeting can actually be. After all, it’s refreshing to participate in a video conference from the comfort of home or to sleep in knowing you can join your 8:30am sync at the last minute.

Nonetheless, spending so much time in video chats can take its toll.

The following are some of the negative effects of video conferencing (and the strategies to overcome them).

SCREEN EXHAUSTION When your days are filled with back-toback virtual meetings, constant emails, and all the other remote-work tasks associated with a laptop, eye strain becomes a risk.

Digital eye strain can also cause headaches and soreness in the neck and shoulders.

If you happen to use multiple screens at a time, your likelihood of suffering from digital eye strain only increases.

To prevent the onset of screen exhaustion, try this: • Position yourself at an arm’s distance from the laptop screen • Take breaks; actually step away from digital devices • Wear blue-light blocking glasses, those that absorb 90 to 99 percent of blue light • Use pen and paper to observe and take notes

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PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION Video conferencing often involves a greater degree of physicality than we might experience in the span of a comparable in-person meeting with our co-workers. We want to be seen as an active meeting participant, and there is an underlying expectation to keep your camera settings (and your smiling face) on. For those times you are on camera, you can avoid feeling self-conscious by:

• Adjusting your video settings and camera position beforehand • Ensuring the lighting in your room (and your mic’s sound quality) is good • Removing anything that’s distracting from camera view

ISOLATION LEADING TO SOCIAL ANXIETY Obviously, the office isn’t just a place where people congregate to complete work tasks. It’s also where doorway conversations, shared lunch hours, and after-hours events occur. Relating with co-workers is crucial for your mental wellbeing and also promotes productivity.

Fortunately, there are a variety of team-building activities to help build trust, increase collaboration, and inspire

solidarity among coworkers despite physical separation:

• Organize the occasional online bingo game, check for online group activities/games • Inspire friendly competition and test knowledge with a random trivia generator • Dedicate a weekly virtual meeting for non-work topic conversations

COMMUNICATION DISSONANCE Virtual meetings emulate in-person conversations, but they lack the feel of genuine face-to-face interaction we often take for granted.

The technical difficulties inherent to virtual meetings are another form of communication dissonance that can result in fatigue. These problems that can be avoided by:

• Muting your mic when you’re not talking to prevent interference • Closing other applications that use the webcam to avoid conflict

Remember to try to keep your meetings short, get moving between conferences and have a comfortable place to work.

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Keeping kids on track with online learning Create structure with a schedule, home classroom and breaks Lynn U Nichols

W

ith Fort Collins and Loveland schools moving to full online learning through early to mid-October, and the choice of online or in-school learning in Greeley and Windsor schools, parents had to do some fast planning for the start of school. School during a pandemic is a grand social experiment, and everyone is learning as they go along.

Some parents found solutions on their own, like organizing learning pods (also called pandemic pods). These small groups of kids learn together at one family’s house, with one parent or tutor supervising as they complete their school district’s virtual learning. Others have gone as far as renting out a space and hiring a teacher of their own.

Parents feel it’s a way to create 18

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stability in an ever-changing school environment. In Fort Collins, the Pandemic Pods — Northern Colorado Facebook group has over 2000 members, with parents matching up their kids by school and grade to ensure they are on the same schedule.

Many parents are sticking with the district’s plan of delayed in-person school, putting socialization over the worry of COVID-19. Yet, there will likely be future shutdowns, requiring a shift back to online learning when positive cases occur.

The hardest part of attending school online is that it feels optional.

Yet, attendance and grade standards remain the same. With so many moving parts, the details of keeping kids on track with online learning has

fallen down the list behind simple logistics. Here are some tips, gathered from teachers and parents, to help your kids succeed with online school.

TREAT ONLINE SCHOOL LIKE REAL SCHOOL Remind kids that even though it doesn’t feel like it, online school is actual school with the same consequence for skipping a homework assignment or missing class. Have your child log in weekly or biweekly to their school’s online grading system to ensure they are keeping up with assignments. If your child is sick or late, contact the school to excuse them.

Setting clear expectations—even having your kids sign a contract on what you expect from them during

Watch for signs of stress in your kids

Just like with adults, kids are feeling a low level of stress with this pandemic. Tack on having to adapt to online schooling, missing friends and classmates, and spending more time at home, kids stress can exacerbate. If you are seeing any of these warning signs from the American Psychological Association consistently, call a school counselor or another mental health professional.

• Acting irritable or moody • Withdrawing from activities that used to give pleasure • Expressing worries • Complaining more than usual about school • Crying • Displaying surprising fearful reactions • Clinging to a parent or teacher • Sleeping too much or too little • Eating too much or too little

regular school day routine as much as possible. That means breakfast, school time, after school activities, dinner and bedtime all remain the same. Of course, modify the daily schedule to meet your needs. The point is having a schedule and sticking with it.

“After having our boys ‘in school’ all day last spring, we’ve decided to put tighter bookends on it this fall to keep them motivated,” says Demetrios Godenitz, a Fort Collins father of two boys, one in elementary, one in middle.

“At our house, school is from 8:30am to 11:30am. We fill in the rest of the day with other enriching activities.”

He finds that replacing the word ‘if ’ with ‘when’ helps to keep his boys on track with learning tasks.

“We might say, ‘When you finish this math sheet, we’ll ride our bikes around the neighborhood,’ rather than, ‘If you finish…’ because in the word ‘if ’ is an inherent choice,” he adds.

If it helps, don’t hesitate to use a timer to give a set start and end to a task. Believe it or not, kids thrive with structure and replacing a wall clock with a ticking hand with a timer to signify the end of one class and the start of another might be just what your child needs. Share your schedule with your child’s teacher so they can help reinforce it when needed.

ESTABLISH A CLASSROOM AT HOME “Having a personal workspace, complete with desk, chair, lamp and learning supplies, helps school feel more real for kids,” says Kari Kielsa, a seasoned elementary teacher.

Pick a quiet spot that’s off the beaten track, like a spare bedroom or corner of a living room or rec room.

Set it up as a new space, not just the kitchen table.

online school—is helpful. Kids are used to rules at school, so don’t hesitate to give them some.

KEEP A TIGHT SCHEDULE, DOWN TO THE BELL You may not need an actual bell, but structure is key. Try to mimic the

ENCOURAGE KIDS TO INTERACT DURING VIRTUAL CLASS AND WITH TEACHERS Watching school unfold on a screen feels fake and surreal. Getting kids to interact breaks the spell. While a good chunk of online learning is listening to a prerecorded lesson by a teacher, some teachers hold live lessons. When that happens, challenge your kids to virtually

raise their hands and participate.

The same goes for when they have a question. Most teachers have established live office hours. If your kids are stuck on an assignment, or simply want to connect with their teacher, have them tune in and speak up.

As with regular school, encouraging kids to take the lead with questions and even grade disputes (with you biting your tongue in the background) is incredibly vital to their success as they age. Being comfortable talking to adults goes a long way with high school teachers, college professors and future bosses.

GET KIDS UP AND MOVING DURING BREAKS When planning your day, don’t forget recess. The attention span of the average first grader is six to 20 minutes, jumping to 24 to 36 minutes for sixth graders.

In school, kids get to blow off steam by chatting with friends, running around at recess, or heading down the hall to the library or lunch.

Simulate these breaks as much as possible at home. Maybe lunch is outside on a patio having a Facetime session with a few friends. Possibly gym is creating an obstacle course or exercise stations in the backyard or living room. Do your best to get them off the computer during breaks to give their bodies, eyes, and brains a break from the screen.

ENCOURAGE KIDS TO CONNECT WITH FRIENDS AND CLASSMATES This is a weird time to be a kid. Social distancing and staying at home are the opposite of regular school life for kids.

Half the learning and value of actual school is social interaction.

“I wouldn’t want to be a little person right now, would you?”

Godenitz says.

Do whatever you can to keep your kids connected to their peers. Plan regular play dates with a few select friends, hold outside get togethers at a local park, or help kids set up online study groups with classmates.

Your kids will learn, grow and thrive, despite this pandemic.

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| AFTER THE BELL

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Welcome one and Welcome one and all!

Dance with us! all! Dance with us! camaraderie of sharing class heals us fromoffeelings isolation. camaraderie sharingofclass heals us from feelings of isolation.

FRCBA has responded to this crisis with flexibility and conscientious FRCBA has responded to this crisis effortflexibility to keep all ofconscientious our dancers with and

Feed your soul, Feed your soul, build up your build up your body, and lighten body, and lighten your spirit! your spirit!

970.980.8425 3501 S. Mason Street 970.980.8425 Unit 1,S.Fort Collins 3501 Mason Street www.FRCBallet.com Unit 1, Fort Collins www.FRCBallet.com

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6 | RMPARENT

| AFTER THE BELL

do so again if necessary.

As SaferZoom lessons and is prepared to at-Home orders took effect, FRCBA do so again if necessary. As Saferadapted offering group at-Homeby orders tooksmall effect, FRCBA classes, privates andsmall semi-privates adapted by offering group with “mask required” as classes, privates and options semi-privates well “mask optional” classes with as “mask required” options as for unable to adequately wellthose as “mask optional” classes exercise masks on. Zoom for thosewith unable to adequately lessons for on. those who exercisecontinue with masks Zoom need to stay home, Facebook lessons continue forand those who classes remain available for all who need to stay home, and Facebook care to use them.

As coronavirus classes remain available for all who conditions FRCBA will care to use change, them. As coronavirus continue tochange, adapt and offerwill the conditions FRCBA best it can all ofand our offer students! continue toto adapt the best it can to all of our students!

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2020 NoCo Farmers Markets Because of Covid-19 dates might change, please check websites for updates.

Berthoud Local Farmers Market Fickel Park in downtown Berthoud Saturdays, 9am–Noon, June 20–Sept. 26 http://berthoudlocal.org Drake Road Farmers Market 802 W. Drake Rd., Fort Collins (weather permitting) Saturdays, 9am–1pm, April 18–Sept. 26 www.drakeroadfarmersmarket.com Erie Farmers Market Briggs Street between Wells and Moffatt, Erie Thursdays, 5–8pm, May 21–Sept. 10 www.realfarmersmarketco.com Estes Valley Farmers Market Visitor Center, 500 Big Thompson Ave. Thursdays, 8am–1pm, June–Sept. www.facebook.com/EstesValleyFarmersMarket Farmers Market at Fairgrounds Park 700 S. Railroad Ave., Loveland Sundays, 9am–1pm, June 7–Sept. 27 www.cityofloveland.org/farmersmarket

Fort Collins Farmers Market 1001 E. Harmony Rd. in front of Ace Hardware (rain or shine) Sundays, 10am–2pm, May 24–mid-Nov. Wednesdays, 10am–2pm, June 17–Sept. www.fortcollinsfm.com

Fort Collins Winter Farmers Market Opera Galleria, 145 N. College Ave., Fort Collins 2nd & 4th Saturdays, 9am–1pm Jan. 11–April 11 www.focomarket.org Greeley Farmers’ Market Union Pacific Depot, 902 7th Ave. Saturdays, 8am–Noon, May 16–Oct. 31 www.greeleygov.com/fm

Loveland East Farmer’s Market at Jax 950 E Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland Tuesdays, 9am–1pm, June 2–mid-Oct. www.facebook.com/Loveland-East-FarmersMarket-at-Jax-183999268919957 Timnath Sunday Market 138 Main St., Timnath First Sundays, 10am–4pm, May–Oct. www.coloradofeedandgrain.com/sundaymarket

Greeley Winter Farmers’ Market Zoe’s, 715 10th St., Greeley 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 9am–Noon, Nov.–April www.greeleygov.com/fm

Virtual Farmers Market Order online Sundays, 8amWednesdays, 6pm Delivery Saturdays Noon-4pm or Pick up Saturdays Noon-2pm www.nocovirtualfarmersmarket.com

Johnstown Milliken Farmers Market Charlotte St. and Parish Ave., Johnstown Fridays, 4–8pm, June–Oct. www.johnstownmillikenchamber.com

Windsor Farmers Market Boardwalk Park, 110 5th St., Windsor Saturdays, 9am–1pm, June 20–Sept. 12 www.windsorgov.com/FarmersMarket

FARM STANDS Anders Farm 8443 US Hwy. 8, Fort Lupton www.facebook.com/RAndersFarm/ Bartels Farm 3424 E. Douglas Rd., Fort Collins www.thebartelsfarm.com Desiderata Ranch 4617 CR 2, Berthoud http://desiderataranch.org/ Garden Sweet 719 W. Willox Ln., Fort Collins www.gardensweet.com Green Dog Farm Fort Collins www.greendogfarmcsa.com

Larimer County Farmers Market 200 S. Oak St., Fort Collins Saturdays, 9am–1pm, May 23–Oct. 31 www.larimercountyfarmersmarket.org

Please check websites for updates on hours and COVID-19 requirement changes.

Happy Heart Farm 2820 W. Elizabeth St., Fort Collins www.happyheartfarmcsa.com Hazel Dell Mushrooms 3925 E. CR 32 (Carpenter Rd.) Fort Collins www.hazeldellmushrooms.com Heritage Lavender 4809 Foothills Dr., Berthoud www.heritagelavender.com Hoffman Farms, LLC 3545 W. 0 St., Greeley www.hoffmanproduce.com

Jessup Farm Artisan Village Pop-Up Farm Stand 1957 Jessup Dr., Fort Collins www.jessupfarm.com Jodar Farms 5100 E. CR 48, Fort Collins www.jodarfarms.com Long Shadow Farm 101 Bothun Rd., Berthoud www.longshadowfarm.wixsite. com/longshadow Native Hill Farm 2100 W. CR 54G, Fort Collins www.nativehillfarm.com Ollin Farms 8627 N. 95th St., Longmont www.ollinfarms.com

On the Vine at Richmond Farms 3611 Richmond Dr., Fort Collins www.onthevineatrichmondfarms.com Papa Joe’s Honey 4855 W. Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland www.facebook.com/ PapaJoesLocalHoney Sunny Daze 901 S. CR 5, Fort Collins www.sunnydazegardens.com Tigges Farm 12404 CR 64½, Greeley www.tiggesfarm.com

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Fr es h

AND

Tasty Treat yourself when you support local farmers

Scott Titterington

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AS WE HEAD INTO TOWN after a walk in the Cache la Poudre Canyon, my wife, Kristin spots a small sign nailed to a post that says “Eggs.”

“We need eggs,” she says.

I turn around and pull into the farm. In a shed sits a cooler full of egg cartons and a can to put money in.

Today I select the duck eggs, next time I’m going to try the turkey eggs.

“You won’t find that at the grocery store,” I say as we continue home.

We had pulled into Native Hill’s farm stand earlier and loaded up on fresh kale, red leaf romaine, some garlic scapes (hadn’t ever seen those before) and a couple of cucumbers.

It’s always a treat to see what fresh, healthful produce is available when you visit a farm stand or a farmers market.

Plus, you have an opportunity to talk directly to the folks who are planting, growing and harvesting your food.

Small businesses have been hit hard

by Covid-19 and associated restrictions, especially small farmers and ranchers who not only sell directly to consumers but also supply struggling restaurants in the area. At the same time, the greater food supply chain has been disrupted and shoppers are looking beyond their habitual sources for sustenance.

Now is a particularly good time to stretch a little and discover the great resources we have right here in our northern Colorado backyard when it comes to tasty local produce and meat.

CHANGING TIMES

“We felt like the world turned upside down overnight but we are thankful that we just happened to build a new farm stand onsite and that people are really coming out to get great food and support a local farm business,” says Nic Koontz, owner of Native Hill Farm

along with his wife Katie Slota, about the COVID-19 challenges. “We, as a team, love feeding our community good food and cultivating a community around that good food, along with connection to place.”

Connection to place might mean appreciating and supporting our community, the environment, really everything that makes this home to each and everyone of us.

SHORT SUPPLY CHAIN

“Food grown close to home has many benefits over food trucked or flown in from far away. Local food is super

fresh, offers a huge variety, is the highest quality, and has taste that is unparalleled,” says Katie Slota on the Native Hill website.

Aaron Rice, owner of Jodar farms could not agree more.

“One of the biggest reasons to buy local is that it shortens the supply chain,” Rice says. “And you can’t beat the opportunity to speak to the people who are actually raising the animals.”

Jodar Farms specializes in pastureraised pork and poultry, along with egg sales. At the farm, visitors can learn about the quality lifestyle of the animals raised on the farm and beyond.

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“It’s super important to us to have an animal slaughtered humanely and with compassion,” Aaron says, “and it makes a heck of a difference in the quality of the meat if they’re not all stressed out.”

More and more people are paying attention to where their food comes from and how it is raised and processed.

ALL SEASON OFFERINGS

Many local producers offer their goods

Shop local… virtually

throughout the year with products changing with the seasons. Check out websites to see what they offer. And if you’re quick, you might just get your name in for a Thanksgiving turkey at Jodar Farms.

Gailmarie Kimmel, founder of Be Local Northern Colorado and co-founder of Winter Farmers Market sums it all up like this: “It’s a great time to be supporting our local farmers. They are always essential workers

Support local artisans, farmers and small businesses Are you looking for fresh farm-to-table food, locally produced health products, handmade gifts and art from area artists? Shop away on the NOCO Virtual Farmers Market website. With a few clicks you can order a variety of goods that will be delivered to your doorstep.

In March, with COVID-19 closures looming, Alexa Vasquez launched a Facebook group to help hers and other small businesses survive and serve the local community. It took off and now features a slick website with 67 local vendors and counting.

“Our customers tell us they are grateful and happy for what we are doing and they want to continue to support and shop local,” Vasquez says. “We love our work, take it seriously and are proud to be the first Virtual Farmers Market to appear in Colorado.”

As the seasons change, so will the products, produce and services they offer.

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but perhaps we are recognizing that fact in these challenging times. Not only do they provide super-fresh and delicious options directly to us, but also purchasing from them keeps more of our dollars in our local economy, supporting our neighbors and supporting our land and water. Buying local food is a triple win, meeting all three prongs of real sustainability: people, planet and economy. What’s not to love about that?”

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greeley district 6 news District 6 students earn AP Scholar honors

This year, 119 Greeley-Evans School District 6 students earned the prestigious AP Scholars award for their outstanding performance on 2020 Advanced Placement tests, with four students earning the highest distinction of National AP Scholar.

District 6 offers over 20 Advanced Placement courses to high school students. Students who score well on AP exams are eligible to receive college credit, advanced placement in college, or both at more than 3,200 colleges and universities across the United States.

The 2020 National AP Scholars for District 6 are: • Hayden Hein, a class of 2020 graduate from Greeley Central High School • Indigo Parlin, a class of 2020 graduate from Greeley Central High School • Gianna Uyemura, an upcoming senior at Greeley Central High School • Mikyla Bowen, a class of 2020 graduate from Northridge High School

The remaining 2020 College Board Advanced Placement Scholars from District 6 are listed below.

Greeley Central High School AP Scholar: Luis Barraza, Madeline Brabo, Aaron Chavez, Lynnea Doty, Kenia Gallardo, Andrea Garcia, Lilly

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Gloekler, Julia Guerrero, Jazzlyn Jensen, Tyler Lawrence, Alice Little, Savana Long, Grace Patrick, Yiseli Quinones, Ethan Rumann, Alexandra Sherman-Sutton, Grace Stevens, Harper Ward and Riley Wooten AP Scholar with Honor: Cecilia Ayard Avalos, Simon Campbell, Madrigal Frederick-Law, Cadence Heaston, Stefeny Krombholz, Eliana Mascarenas, Ariela Rodriguez and Aidan Schuttler

AP Scholar with Distinction: Brian Davis, Armando Flores Monteneg,

Lanie Freeland, Hayden Hein, Rudi Herrig, Alexandria Joseph, Michael Klemm, John Mathews, Casbah Parlin, Indigo Parlin, Lincoln Severt, Olivia Staubitz, Gianna Uyemura and Heather Yackey

Brendan McCune and Bohden Suntych Northridge High School AP Scholar: Alan Aguina Martinez, Khalil Bhanji, William Busha, Gabriel Castro, Tabitha Chatman, Jeffrey Duran, Hannah Kerkes, Jesus Lazo, Shane Loewe, Maeve Pepin, Natasha Perales, Aidan Reaves, Lillie Slykhuis, Johnathan Steckel and Sinley Zheng AP Scholar with Honor: Madison Van Soest and Abigail Weaver

AP Scholar with Distinction:

Mikyla Bowen, Erica Horning and Angel Lechuga Gonzalez

AP Seminar and Research Certificate: Eduardo Ramirez, Abigail Weaver and Sinley Zheng

AP Seminar and Capstone Research Certificate: Lilly Gloekler

AP Capstone Diploma: Angel Lechuga Gonzalez and Aidan Reaves

Greeley West High School

Frontier Academy AP Scholar: Tayler Barnhart, Julia Brown, Genesis Ewell, Savannah Jones, Cooper Malone, Nathanael Roth and Leanna Thaxton AP Scholar with Honor: Abigail Granrud and Kyra Pfost

AP Scholar: Kathryn Broderius, Aili Gibson,

Zachary Headley, Alexandra Kelly, Georgina Magana, Kinsley Mahan, James Mathews, Nathan Olson, Nizhoni Ortiz, Anuj Panta, Kendra Roth, Megan Starkey, Maliya Suntych, Hannah Thomas, Maria Villagomez and Ryan Wethington AP Scholar with Honor: Gracejit Chahal, Karla Ibarra Ruiz and Meghan Whyrick

AP Scholar with Distinction:

Hannah Beresford, Valeria Cassillas Payan,

Union Colony Preparatory

AP Scholar: Aaliyanah Hubert-Combs AP Scholar with Distinction: Missy A. Trigos

University Schools AP Scholar: Holly Carlton, Emily Fosdick Early, Zvi Gutierrez, Phat Ho and Christopher Moses AP Scholar with Honor: Joshua Berntsen, Grace Doerner, Rylee Reeve and Jaedyn Vallejo AP Scholar with Distinction: Tina Brewer, Riley Carlson and Kylie Kravig

GREELEY WEST STUDENTS EARN IB DIPLOMA, HONORS Three Greeley West High School graduates earned the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma this year, gaining at least 24 college credits that can be applied to the colleges and universities they are attending.

• Gracejit Chahal • Maria Villagomez Contreras • Victoria Alvarado-Rocha

This year, 54 students enrolled in IB Diploma courses, took 144 examinations and collectively earned a minimum of 250 college credits.

The IB Diploma program is a student’s first year of undergraduate college spread out over the junior and senior years of high school. In addition to staying on top of their studies, students also have to be mindful citizens and complete 250 hours of creativity, activity, and service hours. The year culminates with the completion of their Extended Essay, a college research paper of 4,000 words and presentations on the Theory of Knowledge.

The following students earned nine or more college credits for their IB coursework: • Angelina Ramirez • Adamary Ortiz Ahumada • Ashley Cullen • Allison Dunn • Kali Richard • Emily Vega • Daniela Amaya • Dakota Kessinger-Soto

• Katelyn Junker • Mara Johnson • Wyatt Sands • Simon Tesfaselassie • Oscar Perez-Luna • Maliya Suntych

IB courses are recognized globally for their authenticity and academic excellence, preparing students for both college and career. Each course has a variety of assessments used to thoroughly challenge students and help them grow. From lab work and group projects, to research papers and comparative essays, the students have many opportunities to demonstrate what they know and also how they know it.

Greeley West High School currently offers 14 different IB Diploma courses. Students can enroll in courses individually or enroll in the whole program of six courses to achieve the IB Diploma.

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poudre school district news 2020-21 school year planning Clear, timely communication is more important than ever, and Poudre School District staff are working hard to keep you informed during the 2020-21 school year through a variety of platforms, including the Great Happens Here newsletter, the PSD website and district social media platforms, and more.

PSD 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR The first day of school is Aug. 24 for PSD students PreK-12.

For the full calendar go to www. psdschools.org, scroll down home page to find CALENDAR.

WHAT TO EXPECT WITH REMOTE EDUCATION Remote education will take place in PSD through at least Oct. 16. Schools will follow district-level expectations for remote education so families, students and staff alike have a shared understanding of how they will work together this year. Learn more on the Remote Learning: What to Expect web page, https://www. psdschools.org/psd2020-21/phase1

WHERE PSD STUDENTS CAN GET MEALS DURING REMOTE EDUCATION PSD will provide sack breakfasts and lunches for any enrolled PSD students Monday-Friday starting Aug. 24 at 18 schools and more than 60 mobile-serving locations across the district. Students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch will receive either meal at no cost; paying students will be charged the normal breakfast and lunch cost to their meal account. https:// www.psdschools.org/search/ node?keys=meals PSD MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES Mental health specialists for 26

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students can be accessed through school counselors or administration teams. PSD Special Service Professionals (SSP)—mental health specialists, counselors, social workers and psychologists—are focused on re-establishing a sense of safety, belonging, and connection for

students this year. https://www. psdschools.org/programs-services/ student-support-services/mentalhealth-services Read more in the Aug. 13 Great Happens Here newsletter, https:// www.psdschools.org/node/1596 and on PSD’s 2020-21 School Year web pages.

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thompson school district news Reduce anxiety and increase social-emotional skills

During these unprecedented circumstances, we know that our children would benefit from support to reduce anxiety and increase their social emotional skills. Luckily, there are many fantastic resources out there that parents and guardians can use at home to support their child’s well-being during these challenging times (and maybe join in on a bit of the fun and learning themselves).

We’d like to share a few of our favorite resources to get you going: Asset Education has created this great library (https://bit.ly/ Tools4ToughTimes) of kids teaching kids calming activities (and grown-ups can do them, too).

Alliance for a Healthier Generation has created an excellent toolbox (https://bit.ly/ HealthierGenerationParents) for everything from talking with your kids about Coronavirus to ways to stay socially connected while physically distant, and more tips on whole body wellness.

Thompson School District has created a week’s worth of selfawareness activities (for all ages at 28

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https://bit.ly/SELatHomeWk1), and a week’s worth of selfmanagement activities, (https://bit. ly/SELatHomeWk2) also for all ages.

Build Our Kids’ Success has put together a Summer Fun Pack (https:// bit.ly/BooksAtHome), to help reduce anxiety with activities for play, fun, and to get kids moving (for ages K-9th grade).

Looking for some yoga and mindfulness activities for your family? Check out this great resource: English (https://bit.ly/ Activities4Kids) & Spanish (https://bit. ly/Activities4KidsSpanish).

Want to hear from the experts?

Check out the National Association of School Psychologists’ Mental Health Tips for Parents and Educators (https:// bit.ly/SupportKidsMentalHealth) If these strategies feel a bit overwhelming, just remember that the very best thing you can do to support your child is to just listen.

Connect with him, appreciate his unique self, and take joy in the person he is growing into. An added benefit of slowing down for a few minutes

to listen to your kiddo is that it gives you another opportunity to notice changes in your child’s affect, attitudes, mood, and behavior, and realize you may need to refer him to the school counselor, social worker, or a private therapist for additional support. You are not in this alone; your child’s school staff are here to partner (https://bit. ly/TeamworkAspire) with you to help navigate these challenging times.

“Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health; safe connections are fundamental to meaningful and satisfying lives.

Numerous studies of disaster response... have shown that social support is the most powerful protection against becoming overwhelmed by stress and trauma...The critical issue is reciprocity; being truly heard and seen by the people around us, feeling that we are held in someone else’s mind and heart. For our physiology to calm down, heal, and grow we need a visceral feeling of safety.” — Bessel A. van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

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SEPTEMBER 2020

EVENTS CALENDAR Please check websites for the status of the following events as cancelations or postponements may have been announced after our publication date.

FESTIVALS, FAIRS & CELEBRATIONS

MONDAYS–THURSDAYS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 3 FoCo Food Truck Grab & Go Four trucks each night with easy access to your car for grab-and-go service.

View vendor schedule online. Online ordering encouraged. City Park, N. Sheldon Drive between City Park Drive and Oak Street, FC. www.FoCoFoodTruckRally.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 Pastels on 5th 10th Anniversary Experience amazing chalk art. Festival activities such as live music, food vendors and kids’ art area are tentative. All ages.

Benefits programs offered by Alternatives to Violence. Downtown Loveland adjacent to Loveland Museum & Gallery, 5th Street & Lincoln Avenue. www.pastelson5th.org.

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WEDNESDAYS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 16 Loveland Food Truck Rally Each week sees 3–4 trucks at each of four different Loveland parks. Fairgrounds Park, Loveland Sports Complex, North Lake Park, Mehaffey Park, LV. View website for vendor schedule and park details. 5–8pm. www.visitlovelandco.org.

SEPTEMBER 18 THROUGH 20 Sustainable Solutions: A Virtual Celebration Celebrate 20 years of the Sustainable Living Association’s initiatives with virtual coffee chats and happy hours with community members discussing issues, self-guided bicycle scavenger hunt and more.9am–7pm daily. 970-213-9107 www.sustainablelivingassociation.org/ events/sustainable-solutions.

LIBRARY & BOOK EVENTS

In addition to offering curbside pickup, local libraries are open with limited hours and services. In-person programs continue to be suspended—check websites for online storytimes and other virtual programming.

WEDNESDAYS Getting Crafty Each week’s craft project uses simple supplies found around your home. Ages 6–12. YouTube, 3–4pm www.youtube.com/clearviewlibrary.

THURSDAYS The Works Develop your STEAM skills using everyday items found at home or in nature, or pick up one of 15 kits available from the library. Ages 6–12. YouTube. 3–4pm. www.youtube.com/clearviewlibrary.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 Teen Council Teens interested in making a difference in the library and community can meet monthly to plan fun programs, help shape the teen collection, discover exciting volunteer opportunities and more. Registration required with an email address to receive a Zoom meeting invitation. Grades 6–12. www.poudrelibraries.org.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 We Dream in STEAM: Create a Drag Racer Explore The Energy Series every first Wednesday through January 6. This month’s topic is on kinetic energy and potential energy. Ages 9–12. Registration required. Zoom meeting. 4–5pm. https:// clearviewlibrary.org/event/4509638.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 Skygazing Telescopes and information provided

by Northern Colorado Astronomical Society. Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, 22998 Rawhide Flats Rd., Wellington.

7–9:30pm. 970-416-2815 www.fcgov.com/naturalareas.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Campfire at Nix: Crepuscular Critters Cozy evening by the campfire, complete with nature stories and s’mores! All ages.

Registration required. Nix Farm (Natural Areas Office), 1745 Hoffman Mill Road, FC. 6–7:30pm. www.fcgov.com/events.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 Teen Cooking Challenge: Brownies This week, you’re challenged to make the best tasting brownies using the Take & Make Kit you’ll pick up from the library the week prior. Ages 12–18. 4–5:30pm.

Zoom meeting. Registration required: https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/4509418.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 Teen Craft-a-Thon: Upcycled T-Shirt Designs Learn how to upcycle old t-shirts into useful designs with Take & Make Kits you’ll pick up at the library the week prior.

Ages 12–18. 6–7pm. Registration required for Zoom link: https://clearviewlibrary. org/event/4509420.

CONNECT TO NATURE

MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS The Gardens Read and Seed Preschool readiness activities including story and related craft. Ages 2–4 with adult. Registration required. Free/ members; $8/non-member child; $11/ non-member adult (includes gardens/ butterfly house.) Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. 11:15–Noon. www.fcgov.com/gardens/read-and-seed.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 Nocturnal Wildlife Night Walk Watch wild animals on a 1–2 mile walk in the full moon light. Registration required.

Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, 10184 CR 32C, LV. 7–8:30pm, 970-416-2815. www.fcgov.com/naturalareas.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Astronomy & Skygazing: Conjunction, Not Collision Learn how Saturn and Jupiter are moving toward conjunction, which won’t happen again for another 20 + years! Telescopes and information provided by Northern Colorado Astronomical Society. All ages.

Registration required. Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, 10184 Co Rd 32C, LV. 7:15pm.

970-416-2815, www.fcgov.com/events.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 NoCo Urban Homestead Tour Tour self-sustainable homesteads that include growing produce, raising chickens, season extension, ducks, bees, fruit trees, greenhouses and incorporating useful and re-purposed garden structures.

Benefits the Gardens on Spring Creek and Loveland Youth Gardeners. $20/ages 12+, $5/ages 5–11, free/ages 4 and under.

Fort Collins and Loveland. Times vary. www.fcgov.com/gardens/noco-urbanhomestead-tour.

Campfire at the Cabin: Crepuscular Critters Cozy evening by the campfire, complete with nature stories and s’mores! All ages.

Registration required. Coyote Ridge Natural Area, meet your guide at the cabin (details online), FC. 7pm. www.fcgov.com/events.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 Hike through the Ages Explore with experts in geology, ecology, and history to learn how Soapstone Prairie came to be. Ages 12+. (6-7 mile off-trail strenuous hike). Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, 22998 Rawhide Flats Rd., Wellington. 9am–3pm. 970-416-2815, www.fcgov.com/naturalareas.

MUSEUM EVENTS

VIRTUAL (ANY TIME) Loveland History/Art Activities Explore quick local history lessons and complete a history scavenger hunt, journal about your pandemic experience, take virtual world tours, go outside to explore art and more. www.lovelandmuseumgallery. org/virtual-learning.

WEDNESDAYS Night Skies of Fort Collins, Virtually Guided interactive tours via Facebook Live to learn more about objects and identify stars, planets, constellations and more.

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery hosts via Facebook Live. 6–7pm. www.fcmod.org/event.

FIRST SATURDAYS Take Apart Day at FCMoD Deconstruct everything from alarm clocks to printers to see electronics from the inside out. Take Apart activities included with admission/membership. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Ct., FC. 10am–1pm. www.fcmod.org/event.

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TUESDAYS, SEPTEMBER 1, 15, 29 Tune-Out Tuesdays in the Dome Adults enjoy a short “Sky Tonight” astronomy presentation, then sit back and relax to soothing music and stunning 360-degree visions of the cosmos in the Dome. Bring your lunch. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Ct., FC. Noon–1pm. www.fcmod.org/event.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 Saturday History for Kids: A Pioneer’s Journey Discover how pioneers braved the challenges of the journey west. Ages 6–11.

Registration required. $10 ($8/member).

Loveland Museum & Gallery, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 1–2:30am. 962-2410, www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org.

ACTIVE-ITIES

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Parent/Child Tot Art: Hungry Caterpillar A look at Eric Carle’s book and then some fun with clay and printmaking. Ages 3–5 with required adult (no younger siblings).

Registration required. $15/child ($12/ member). Loveland Museum & Gallery, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 10:30–11:30am.

962-2410, www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org.

ENTERTAINMENT

SATURDAYS, SEPTEMBER 19 & 26 Adult Yoga at The Gardens Class led by a Family Balance Yoga instructor and held outside. Ages 18+. $15 (includes admission to The Gardens and Butterfly House). Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. 9:15–10am.

970-416-2486, www.fcgov.com/gardens.

FIRST FRIDAYS: SEPTEMBER 4, OCTOBER 2 First Fridays at the Heritage Courtyard Drop in to explore some of Fort Collins history inside the historic buildings by the Old Town Library. Heritage Courtyard at Library Park, 200 Mathews St., FC. 6–8pm. www.fcmod.org/event.

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 6 Fantastical Worlds Exhibit Loveland artist and curator Kerri Sewolt invites you to enter her world of fantasy tinged with the stark reality of the human condition. Loveland Museum Gallery 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org.

THURSDAYS, SEPTEMBER 10 & 24 FCMoD Discovery Live: Ask an Expert Tune in to Facebook live to hear from a variety of guest experts, ask questions and discover science, history and art happening in your own backyard. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Ct., FC. 5–6pm. www.fcmod.org/event.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Parent/Child Tot Art: Action Paintings Artwork made from bubble wrap, rubberbands, acrylic paint and balloons.

Ages 3–5 with required adult (no younger siblings). Registration required. $15/ child ($12/member). Loveland Museum & Gallery, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 10:30–11:30am. 962-2410 www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org.

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VIRTUAL Fort Collins Symphony: Tiny Concerts Self-recorded videos of FCS musicians playing their favorite songs. www.fcsymphony.org/tiny-concerts.

FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 26 Music Around the Campfire Local entertainers perform in amazing mountain scenery with marshmallow roast.

Blue Door Inn, 1220 Big Thompson Ave., EP. 7–9pm. 970-586-4421 www.visitestespark.com/event/musicaround-the-campfire/8586.

SEPTEMBER 3 THROUGH OCTOBER 25 Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot Follow King Arthur, Guenevere and Sir Lancelot in a soaring musical masterpiece.

Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Market Place Dr., Johnstown. Days/times vary. www.coloradocandlelight.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 Windsor Movies in the Park: Aladdin Bring your lawn chair to enjoy a free movie with family and friends. Registration required. Boardwalk Park, 100 N 5th St., WS. 8pm. www.facebook.com/ events/1310584325811436.

SEPTEMBER 13 THROUGH OCTOBER 20 Always…Patsy Cline Based on the true story of Patsy Cline’s friendship with Houston housewife, Louise Seger. Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Market Place Dr., Johnstown.

Sundays–Tuesdays/times vary. www.coloradocandlelight.com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 An Evening with George Winston George Winston has inspired fans and musicians alike with his singular solo acoustic piano songs. $42. Rialto Theater, 228 E. Fourth St., LV. 7:30pm. www.rialtotheatercenter.org.

AT YOUR LEISURE Fort Collins Bikeway Bingo Explore and learn about Fort Collins’ family friendly bikeways, animals, parks, natural areas, neighborhoods and public art using a series of five Bingo Challenges. www.fcgov.com/bicycling/fort-collinsbike-network.

SEPTEMBER 12 THROUGH 20 Superhero Virtual Run Event Benefiting LifeStories Help fight child abuse by choosing one of four distances (13.1 M, 10K, 5K, or 1 Mile), then run/walk anytime/anywhere (and in costume!). All ages. $20–30. www.lifestoriesweld.org/superhero-run.

ONGOING RECREATION Estes Valley Recreation Explore swimming, golf, sports and fitness programs: https://evrpd.colorado.gov/recreation.

Fort Collins Recreation Discover a multitude of swimming, sports, skating and fitness opportunities: www.fcgov.com/recreation.

Greeley Recreation Check out swimming, ice skating, sports and more: www.greeleyrec.com.

Loveland Recreation Locate sports, fitness, swimming and more: www.cityofloveland.org/ departments/parks-recreation/chilsonrecreation-center.

Windsor Recreation Seek swimming, fitness and athletic programs: www.recreationliveshere.com.

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time out Power’s out!

Rotting food, unwashed laundry, cold showers and no A.C. KATIE HARRIS

T

here are two types of power outages: the short lived, light a few candles, curl up under a blanket and make an adventure of it type, and the type that arrives without warning, wears out its welcome long before it’s over and leaves a trail of destruction in its wake. As you may have guessed, this story’s not about the former.

7:30am: It starts with a text from a neighbor asking if our power is out, too.

A quick flick of a switch confirms that indeed it is.

8:30am: Still no power and the neighborhood text thread is blowing up.

Rumors run rampant about the cause of the outage and some begin speculating about how long it could possibly last.

9:30am: I google how long food lasts in a powerless refrigerator. We have four hours.

9:45am: A call to the power company reveals that a power line is down, and power will be out until 3pm.

10am: I attempt to tackle the piles of work I have to get done, only to be reminded that our router has no power, and an internet connection is not happening.

10:05am: The kids are hungry. I tell them not to let the cold air out of the fridge. They settle for chocolate chip snack bars.

10:10am: I decide to take a hot shower and get the kids out of the house for awhile.

10:12am: There is no hot water.

Now I’m cold, only slightly clean, and mildly annoyed.

10:20am: The kids are hungry again. They settle for a second round of chocolate chip snack bars.

10:30am: I’m pretty sure there’s a way to open the garage door manually but I have no idea what that way is.

Besides, it’s too close to nap time to go anywhere now, and I’m still shivering in my wet hair.

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10:45am: It’s too dark in the playroom for the kids to play Lego and they’re bored. And still hungry.

11am: I throw the refrigerator door open and snatch the turkey, cheese, mayo and tomato out in one fell swoop.

Turkey sandwiches it is.

11:15am: I am getting dangerously close to missing at least one work deadline today.

11:30am: The baby is napping.

11:35am: The baby is awake. His white noise machine won’t turn on, nor will the A.C. unit in his room.

11:50am: The big kids have dumped their dirty clothes in the washing machine and reported back that it won’t start. Apparently this is my fault.

I appease them with a third round of chocolate chip snack bars.

1pm: Deadline missed. Now I can’t stop thinking about food.

1:45pm: I catch the kids peeking in the fridge. I’m pretty sure we’ve lost most of the hundreds of dollars of raw meat I stocked up on yesterday.

2pm: The kids are sitting at the kitchen table, looking sweaty and slightly murderous. The baby’s hot and

hasn’t slept, and is making sure everyone knows it. I’m compulsively tapping the “retry WiFi connection” button every three seconds.

3pm: Still no power. I throw the fridge doors open and tell the kids to knock themselves out—anything they don’t eat is going in the garbage. It’s a food fest, and they’re finally smiling.

The baby opts for another chocolate chip snack bar.

4pm: The kitchen’s an all-out disaster, I’ve missed two deadlines, and it’s so hot in the house I’m actually considering another icy shower. I’m finally ready to write the day off as a lost cause and start hoofing it to the nearest Dairy Queen.

4:15pm: We’re on our way out the door when we’re surrounded by a cacophony of beeping and lights come on in every direction. As I do a 360 and assess the damage, my relief is quickly replaced with dread. There are clocks to be reset, there’s food to be tossed out, laundry to be washed, dishes everywhere and work, so much work, to catch up on.

4:18pm: I wish the power would go back out.

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