RM Parent | November 2020

NOVEMBER 2020 • RMPARENT.COM

FAMILY

GAME NIGHT

Crochet, knit and cross stitch

Don’t let COVID crash your holiday parties Getting on track with apps

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FAMILY HEALTH GUIDE RMPARENT

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What’s NEW at Front Range Classical Ballet?

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• Offering Zoom lessons for all ages, and outdoor lessons for youth • For the summer, tuition is by drop-in rate or hour card only FOR YOUR SAFETY • High-touch surfaces are being disinfected between classes • Open for air flow with the outdoors

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NOVEMBER 2020

Departments PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Happy (modified) Thanksgiving—Accepting and adapting to a different kind of year

WOMEN’S HEALTH . . . . . . . . . 8 Getting on track with apps—Stay organized, motivated and accountable

FAMILY ACTIVITIES . . . . . . . . 10 Family night at home—Games, cooking, art and reading

Special Sections FAMILY HEALTH GUIDE

Stay healthy…with food! Tips on eating right to keep kids upright. Time for an annual exam? Consider these health screens

WINTER warm ups

Crochet, knit and cross-stitch—Create gifts with fiber arts

NoCo provides assistance where needed—Family resources, homework help, bike lights, mental health, turkeys, Santa Cops

HEALTHY LIVING . . . . . . . . 16

Virtual marketplaces—Support local businesses year-round

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

TIME OUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Discovering social capital—Understanding the responsibility and what to do with it

2020-2021 •

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ANNUAL HEALTH

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STAY HEALTHY…WITH

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LEARN AND LIVE . . . . . . . . . . 12 COMMUNITY NEWS . . . . . . . 14

Family Health Guide

A DV E RT I

PPLE SING SU

MENT

12:47 PM

WINTER WARMUPS

Explore the possibilities for this winter and see what programs these providers have for your family.

Features 18 D ON’T LET COVID CRASH YOUR HOLIDAY PARTIES

The holidays this year are going to look very different from past holidays.

In order to keep everyone safe and Covid free we are going to have to adapt to some changes. Find virtual ways of keeping in touch. If you travel, consider driving. If you do get together with others—keep get-togethers small and outside, if possible. If you are sick, please stay home.

School District News GR-E 6 School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Student meal dept paid, Northridge STEM Academy earns national distinction, New logo, branding campaign

Poudre School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 COVID-19 school status and information page, all students can receive meals, IT department supports students and families, Early Childhood Education preschool, Tricia Kearns finalist, Bamford Elementary school

Thompson School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Kendra Larson embraces a culture of service and action

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perspective Generosity Happy (modified) Thanksgiving

learning, being and doing Accepting and adapting to a different kind of year

A W

young methe in holidays. a parking e’re man tryingapproached to figure out lot Iyesterday. bet you are too. First, we’ve been “My familyThanksgiving. and I are staying over considering Typically, there and if we could get five dollars we could we drive to Nebraska to feast with the cousins get atheir pizza.

If we could getcards, ten we couldaget and families.

We play maybe little two and that would cover us.” ultimate frisbee and chat, chat, chat. It’s an I had time no idea his story was affirm true. important for whether us all to catch up and He looked as though he was living rough, our familial, lifelong connections. though—gaunt, sunken cheeks, despairing But not in 2020!

COVID-19 is surging eyes. in Without hesitation, I pulled out my wallet to Colorado and in Nebraska. So, we’re planning and handed ten Collins bucks. Iand don’t know just why I did it. He wasn’t hunker downhim in Fort have a small gathering…maybe of two threatening.

He wasn’t over imploring.

He just seemed really need or possibly four. And that’s our big question. Can we get to together safelya boost right then and interacting with him right there a couple of feet with my parents? Because as important as it is to celebrate the holidays away, I just felt it was a moment. together, it’s still not worth taking silly risks. We have been eating It’s not that on a mission to give away of our money.

I walk outdoors with myI’m parents, and we feel pretty OKallabout that, but moving and drive by plenty of people who are asking for a little push.

And I’m indoors for an afternoon-evening seems a little more exposed. not driven to help others by a sense of guilt or even a feeling of being We’ve talked about getting heaters and trying to do Thanksgiving lucky enough it and others don’tWe’ve and so therefore it’swe my outdoors or in to thehave garage withthese the door open. discussed how social obligation to do it.

Nor do I get a big sense of satisfaction.

I have can be hyper-vigilant the 10 days before Thanksgiving, so that we feel a hard timesafe pinpointing why feel compelled help also out sometimes, reasonably celebrating theIholiday together.toWe’ve considered whether scooping a sidewalk for a neighbor or stopping push a car, staying flexible with our plans in the hope that one of the to days during and other times not so much. the Thanksgiving long weekend will be forecast to be nice enough to sit Every a neighbor with his air compressor outside, andfall, we’ll just shoot of forours thatcomes day. Webystill haven’t landed on a plan and blows out our sprinkler lines.

He makes the rounds inwe’ll our get that feels just right, but with our small group of four, I think corner of the neighborhood and gets everyone ready for winter. He something figured out. doesn’t ask for anything.

He justsame doesdesires it because he can. Itabout is not a If you’re feeling some of the and anxieties getting transactional offer in any way. together over the holidays, definitely read Lynn Nichols feature story.

Baer dive writes this month in herforLearn and Liveboth column LynnTheresa does a deep into how to gather the holidays, virtually about teaching children to be generous and to volunteer.

She offers and in person. You might even want to cut out, post and followalso her tips some ideas about where and how.

The idea is to help children to be for gathering safely. aware of other others’ needs and understand they, have The challenge thistoyear is how tothat shop.

As themselves, a nation, we’ve been something to offer. shifting our holiday shopping online more and more each year, but many is for them, really all ofHow us, todonot dothough, generosity as an of usThe verygoal much want to shop locally. wejust do it, without activity that we have come to understand as something that we should exposing ourselves to crowded stores. Lea Hanson looks at two local do because we’re lucky enough to have something and worlds—browsing those other online marketplaces where you can get the best of both people are struggling.

Where we’re really headed with this for our from home for local products. Check out her Healthy Livingisdepartment children to see people who are just like they are, who just want to be to learn more. happy just as they do and who don’t want to feel bad just as they don’t Thanksgiving is just a trial run for the entire holiday season—more want to.

We want to get beyond the them and us feelings.

We don’t just on that next month as we wrestle with it all, just as you are. dropBe money in a can and walk by.

We stop.

We talk and engage with safe, be well, people who are just like us.

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

‘Tis the season, Scott

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OCTOBER 2019 NOVEMBER 2020••Volume Volume24, 25,Issue Issue66 PUBLISHER PUBLISHER Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com EDITOR EDITOR Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR Emily Zaynard Emily Zaynard emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER DISTRIBUTION MANAGER ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Susan SusanHarting Hartig susan.rmpublishing@gmail.com COVER PHOTO Cheri istockphoto.com Schonfeld, Courtesy of Sky’s Open Design - skysopendesign.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

TheresaCONTRIBUTING Baer, Lea Hanson, Katie Harris, WRITERS Lynn NicholsKatie Harris, Theresa Baer, LeaU.Hanson, Lynn U. Nichols

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLISHING ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLISHING PO Box 740 PO BoxCO 740 Fort Collins, 80522 Collins,•CO VoiceFort 221-9210 Fax80522 221-8556 Voice 221-9210 • Fax 221-8556 editor@rockymountainpub.com editor@rockymountainpub.com www.RMParent.com www.RMParent.com

Rocky Mountain Parent magazine is published monthly

by Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. Rocky Mountain Parent magazine is published Publication paper does not consitute Inc. an enmonthlyof bythis Rocky Mountain Publishing, dorsement of the or services advertised.

Publication this products paper does not consitute an enRMP reserves the right to refuse any advertisedorsement of the products or services advertised. ment any reason.

Thetoopinions expressed by RMPfor reserves the right refuse any advertisecontributors writersThe do opinions not necessarily reflect ment for any or reason. expressed by the opinions RockydoMountain Publishing. contributors orof writers not necessarily reflect ©2020 Rocky Mountain Inc. All rights the opinions of RockyPublishing, Mountain Publishing. reserved.

Reproduction without express written ©2019 Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. All rights permission iswithout prohibited. reserved. Reproduction express written permission is prohibited.

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women’s health Getting on track with apps

Stay organized, motivated and accountable LY NN U. NICHOLS

W

ith online work and schooling due to the coronavirus, days roll into one another and time passes without a lot of thought. This nebulous sense of time makes it easy to fall behind on tasks or lose track of goals that keep us healthy. The solution? A little help to break out of the haze and take action. Here are some of the best free apps out there to help you manage daily tasks and meet your exercise and diet goals for you and your family.

Cozi (cozi.com) iOS, Android This easy-to-use app helps you keep your family organized. It’s one place to see your color-coded calendar, track school schedules, manage grocery lists, store recipes and check off to-dos. You can even keep a family journal. Make a few notes on an event and take a picture to photo-journal your family’s life and email it instantly to family and friends.

InstaCart (Instacart.com) iOS, Android If you find your favorite grocery store’s ordering process clunky, try InstaCart.

Not only can you set up orders for groceries, you can order from 1,000s of other stores. The app includes deals to save money and boasts grocery delivery in as little as an hour.

TaskRabbit (taskrabbit.com) iOS, Android Wish you had another set of hands?

TaskRabbit finds you one. Their trusted “Taskers” provide a variety of services, including assembling that IKEA furniture that’s still sitting in boxes, helping pack up boxes for moving, mounting artwork, cleaning, shopping and local deliveries.

Each task is assigned an hourly wage starting at around $20 for simple tasks like shopping and goes up from there.

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Workout for Women (apps.apple.com) iOS Expressly designed for women, this fitness and weight-loss app won the best of 2020 award for fitness apps. People like it because it gives you reminders to motivate you to work out—in as little as seven minutes with no gym or equipment required. It also gives daily motivational quotes to inspire you to keep moving. It’s easy to choose workouts that meet your fitness goals. It integrates with Apple Health so you can track your workouts, calories and weight.

Nike Training Club (nike.com) iOS, Android This award-winning app is great for those who want to tap into classes and launch a results-oriented exercise, nutrition and wellness program. Workouts range from 5 to 60 minutes and include yoga, core and glute workouts, HIIT, strength training, aerobics, stretching and more.

Nike also has an app for runners called the Nike Run Club.

Fooducate (Fooducate.com) Want to quickly know just how healthy

your favorite food products are? This award-winning app lets you scan processed foods to see what sugars, additives, dyes, and preservatives they contain. Foods are given a grade from A to F for calorie content. You might be surprised by the grade some seemingly healthy products get. You can also tap into recipes and healthy eating tips.

Eight Glasses a Day (apps.apple.com) iOS A simple app that helps you and your kids stay hydrated. Each time your kiddo finishes a glass of water they tap a glass and the serving disappears. At the end of the day you can review how well they did by seeing how many glasses are left.

GoNoodle (gonoodle.com) iOS, Android These exercise videos and move-along games in both English and Spanish are geared toward getting younger kids moving with dancing, jumping and yoga. Includes mindfulness videos for winding down after the workout and lessons on how to build relationships and identify emotions.

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family activities

Family night—at home Games, cooking, art and reading

KATIE HARRIS

I

f your family is anything like mine, the spring and summer seasons are consumed with sports practices, yard work and backyard barbecues. By the time fall rolls around, we’re all ready to relax with earlier dinners, movie marathons and, my personal favorite, family game nights.

By gifting a game or two to the kids every Christmas we’ve compiled a healthy collection over the years, and it’s always fun to pull them back out this time of year, after taking several months off. Of course, kids’ interest and ability levels change from year to year, so if you find your family’s outgrown the old standbys, check out some of our recommendations below: PERFECT FOR PRESCHOOLERS Classics like Chutes and Ladders, Go Fish and Don’t Break the Ice are always popular choices, while new (at least since our day!) and popular games on the market include Orchard and First Orchard (ages 3+ and 2+ respectively) and the Pete the Cat series of games.

STRATEGIC GAMES FOR OLDER KIDS If your family loves to settle in with a family game into the wee hours of the night, a game of strategy might be right up your alley. Risk is always a popular choice, and Catan, with expansion packs available, has become increasingly popular in recent years. Other great strategy games for older kids include Stratego (two players) and Code Names (our family’s top pick on this list!)

LAUGHTER-INSPIRING GAMES Fun loving crowds (and those with an insatiable sweet tooth) will love Pie Face!

Spoiler alert: you’ll need a shower by the time you’re done with this game! For lots of laughter without the mess try Exploding Kittens. Fair warning, while there’s no maximum age to play this game, there is most definitely a maximum maturity level!

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ACTIVE OPTIONS Twister, while still a must-have, isn’t the only get-up-and-move game on the market these days. Remember jumping across couch cushions as a kid to avoid falling in the “lava?” Someone finally had the genius idea to package it up, creating “The Floor is Lava” with a spinner and foam tiles, to get families up and moving. Boxed games aren’t the only way to get moving indoors.

There’s something about reliving them with your own kids that makes the old standbys, like Simon Says, freeze dance and the Hokey Pokey, fun all over again.

TRIVIA GAMES FOR ALL AGES Let’s face it, playing kid games all the time can be a real yawner for us parents.

That’s why my husband and I love trivia games with separate categories for kids and adults, like Beat the Parents, Trivial Pursuit Family Edition, Family Feud: Kids vs. Parents and Taboo: Kids vs. Parents.

Not in the gaming mood? Try one of these alternative ideas for indoor family fun!

COOK A MEAL TOGETHER Ask everyone to pitch in on a family favorite, or try something new! One

of our family’s most memorable meals took place when the kids were studying ancient cultures and we cooked a traditional Middle Eastern meal then ate it on pillows on the floor by candlelight.

Get creative, choose foods your kids will eat, and get the whole family involved!

CREATE FAMILY ART Roll out a big piece of paper and let everyone doodle, tear a couple pages out of a coloring book and work together to complete the designs, or pass a paper around, asking each family member to add something as it comes their way.

If your family’s really crafty, make something together that you can cherish for years to come.

FAMILY READ-IN Kids who see their parents reading are more likely to be readers themselves as adults. Encourage a love of books with a family read-in! Set the scene with bean bags, pillows, blankets and snacks, and make sure everyone has a book ahead of time, or pick up a variety from the library earlier in the day to have on hand. The final touch? A fireplace or candlelight, add magic to any read-a-thon!

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learn and live

Crochet, knit and cross-stitch Create gifts with fiber arts

THERESA BAER

W

ith a chill in the air and the holidays approaching, you may be looking for indoor activities or homemade gift ideas for your children to give those special people in their lives. Have you considered a knitting, crocheting or cross-stitch project with your kids?

These creative crafts can be both fun and calming. They also offer the added benefits of building math, literacy and fine motor skills with hand-eye coordination, counting stitches/squares, and reading and following directions. What’s more, they can provide your children with a wonderful sense of satisfaction at having chosen, planned and completed a project of their own.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? Both knitting and crocheting use needles or hooks to move loops of yarn to create items.

Knitting requires two pointed needles—or two connected by a cable called a circular knitting needle–while crocheting requires a single hook or stick made of various materials with a tiny hooked end. Knitters keep several active yarn loops on the needle.

With crocheting, there is usually only one active yarn loop, which might make this technique slightly easier for younger children. However, children as young as 5 or 6 can learn to knit, depending on their hand-eye coordination and attention span.

For beginning knitters, use thick yarn and large needles. Have kids start with a simple, small scarf or blanket for a teddy bear.

Cross-stitch utilizes a needle, embroidery floss and large weave fabric where the stitcher counts and threads the floss in X-like stitches in a tiled pattern to make an image. Sometimes crossstitch designs are done on printed fabric.

The most common material used is called “Aida cloth” where the weave easily shows a grid of squares with holes for the needle at each corner. An 11-count Aida fabric is recommended for beginners.

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Rhyme Time

Make knitting fun and memorable with a common rhyme for teaching kids how to knit: In through the front door [insert the needle through the front of the stitch] Around the back [loop the yarn around the needle you just inserted] Out through the window [pull the loop through the stitch using the needle] And off jumps Jack! [let the old stitch slide off your needle] Or, for the simpler version of the saying, repeat: In, around, through, off.

WHERE TO START? Local craft stores and many online retailers offer knitting, crocheting and cross-stitch books and kits for kids and adults of all skill levels. Small cross-stitch projects can start at just a few dollars and include the fabric, floss, stitching hoop, needle, graph and instructions.

A quick search online will also yield written or video tutorials for teaching children the basics of knitting or crocheting. Free, recorded classes are available online and vary in length by audience and project.

Classes are also available locally for

all skill levels (including kids!) at the following retailers:

• Lambspun of Colorado 1101 E. Lincoln Avenue, Fort Collins 970-484-1998, www.lambspun.com • My Sister Knits 1408 W. Mountain Ave. Fort Collins 970-407-1461, www.mysisterknits.com • The Stitchin’ Den 165 Virginia Dr., Estes Park 970-577-8210, www.thestitchinden.com • Your Daily Fiber 4019 S. Mason St., Ste. 3, Fort Collins 970-484-2414, www.yourdailyfiber.com

Teen craft-a-thon: Learn to crochet Windsor’s Clearview Library will host this session for ages 12-18.

Thursday, November 19, 6-7pm, via Zoom Registration required for Zoom link and to reserve your Take’n’Make Kit: https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/4599159

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community news NoCo provides assistance where needed

Family resources, homework help, bike lights, mental health, turkeys, Santa Cops THERESA BAER

MENTAL HEALTH: MIND MATTERS EXHIBIT OPENS AT FCMOD Open through January 10, this revolutionary traveling exhibition “aims to build a greater understanding of the importance of mental health and create a safe space for important conversations about mental illness.”

Hands-on experiences, such as a Worry Shredder, plus mini-dioramas and heartfelt personal videos, offer visitors insight to the facts, feelings and issues surrounding a topic that touches many lives. And for its entire run in Fort Collins, not only is the exhibition free but also your entrance to the museum! Learn more and reserve your timed tickets in advance at www.fcmod.org/mindmatters.

CAN I SEND MY CHILD TO SCHOOL TODAY? Many northern Colorado schools and school districts have either been in-person fully or working in a hybrid model for weeks now. For those families sending kids to school, parents and guardians are asked to check their children for symptoms of COVID-19 to determine when to keep their child at home. To review the Colorado Department of Health and Environment at-home system screening, visit https://tinyurl.com/y4487jhd.

APPLY NOVEMBER 7, 12, 14 AND 21 FOR SANTA COPS TO DELIVER Santa Cops of Larimer County (Santa Cops) is a nonprofit consisting of representatives from multiple local police departments. Each year, Santa Cops works to provide toys for children in need to enhance the relationship between children and law enforcement within Larimer County. Each Christmas season, officers personally deliver presents to the children of the Larimer 14

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County families that apply for the program in November. Applications are only accepted on select dates and at certain locations:

need a library card, you can apply for a temporary digital card online or stop by one of the buildings for a physical card. Access the help your students need at http://main. poudrelibraries.co.brainfuse.com.

For details and application sites, visit www.santacopslarimercounty.org.

PARENT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING SURVEY The Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center developed a survey in English and Spanish for caregivers (parents/guardians) of children 18 months to 5 years of age, in order to better understand the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on families in Colorado. Upon completion of the survey, participants have the opportunity to enter a drawing for a $100 gift card. The survey will be open through the end

• Fort Collins and Loveland: November 7, 14, and 21 • Wellington: November 12

POUDRE RIVER PUBLIC LIBRARIES OFFER HOMEWORK HELP Are your kids struggling with their school work? Live online tutors, an interactive writing lab, test preparation and more are available through the Poudre River Public Library District’s Brainfuse HelpNow site. Free with your library card, students can access YouTube tutorials for using Brainfuse features. If you

of the year. Complete the online survey at https://redcap.ucdenver.edu/ surveys/?s=9JY98EAEPF. LEAP PROVIDES HEAT FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS The Colorado Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) is available to help low-income households alleviate some of the costs associated with heating their homes during Colorado’s colder months of November through April. This federally funded program “helps eligible hard-working Colorado families, seniors and individuals pay a portion of their winter home heating costs” and can also assist with equipment repair and replacement. You may qualify for heating assistance if your income is up to 60 percent of the state median income level. Applications are now being accepted. Learn more online at www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdhs/leap.

FORT COLLINS BIKE LIGHT GIVEAWAY Did you know that front lights are required on bicycles at night to keep you and your family safe? If you’re in need of a light, please visit the Light Up the Night bike light giveaway event hosted by the City of Fort Collins on Thursday, November 5. Stop by the lobby of the Northside Aztlan Community Center located at 112 E. Willow Street in Fort Collins from 4:30pm to 6:30pm that day for a free light, while supplies last, and local cycling related information.

Registration is not required.

FAMILY CENTER TO SUPPORT TSD FAMILIES The Thompson School District (TSD) will be opening a new Family

Center featuring resources for district students and their families, including a technology center with computer and internet access, a lending library, connections to community resources, parent education opportunities, and a food and basic needs pantry. The Family Center will be located at the Early Childhood Center at Stansberry at 407 E. 42nd Street in Loveland. Stay tuned to the TSD website at www. thompsonschools.org for opening date and hours.

TOUR DE TURKEY Support families in northern Colorado struggling to put food on the table this Thanksgiving–and have a little fun too.

The Food Bank for Larimer County has partnered with New Belgium Brewing,

Nordson Medical and UCHealth Northern Colorado Foundation to host a most unusual Thanksgiving turkey drive on Thursday, November 19 from 7am until 5pm at two locations. Visit the Fort Collins Tour De Turkey at 2535 South College Avenue to make a contactless donation via the New Belgium turkey slide, and while you’re there, receive some great giveaways from New Belgium. In Loveland, stop by 261 East 29th Street to donate and find more New Belgium prizes plus your chance to help save a life by donating at the UCHealth Blood Mobile. Learn more at www.foodbanklarimer.org/tourde-turkey.

INTERNET SAFETY RESOURCES FROM FORT COLLINS POLICE Fort Collins Police Services (FCPS) offers virtual internet safety presentations to help families stay safe online and discuss trends and issues on social media, cyberbullying, grooming and predator behavior, and more.

With the need for social distancing, FCPS aims to provide more online resources to help people navigate internet safety conversations with their children. To learn of future events, stay tuned to www.facebook.com/ fortcollinspoliceservices.

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healthy living

Virtual marketplaces Support local businesses year-round

LEA HANSON

I

n March of 2020, Alexa Vasquez, founder of NOCO Virtual Farmers Market, discovered that all local farmers markets and festivals would be postponed. She panicked, who wouldn’t when your livelihood depended on facing and interacting with your customers?

Within two days of the COVID-19 order, Alexa created a virtual farmers market Facebook group. A group that has since then grown into what is now called “an accidental business.” She had no idea at the time that her Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/ groups/499722194053286/) would become the first Virtual Farmers Market in Colorado.

Alexa’s goal was to provide the local community with wholesome foods and artisan products from local farmers, and small businesses. Alexa’s vision grew from her first delivery order of 10 to a full-blown business that continues to this day.

The mission of NOCO Virtual Farmers Market is was created to keep small businesses, local farmers and artisans afloat during a time of uncertainty. The organization is the first virtual farmers market in Colorado and provides customers with fresh homegrown foods, artisan products all while supporting local businesses all year round. The organization delivers such goods to customers’ doorstep each week, or they can pick up your orders at the downtown Fort Collins location at 123 North College Ave. “There are no supply chain shortages when you buy and support local,” Vasquez says. “The only thing that runs out is the food that has passed the season, but as the seasons change, so do the products that NOCO Virtual Farmers Market website continues to supply.”

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Visit Fort Collins Marketplace

Shop locally at the new eCommerce site Starting on Black Friday. Fans of all things Fort Collins will be able to purchase products and experiences at the Visit Fort Collins Marketplace.

“It’s like Etsy for Fort Collins,” says Cynthia Eichler, president and CEO of Visit Fort Collins.

The site will be geared for locals and for those visitors who have come to love Fort Collins.

“If you visited Fort Collins and you dream of Silver Grill’s cinnamon rolls,” says Eichler, “you can log on and have them shipped to you whether you’re in Larimer County or Chicago.”

So if you’re looking for that brewery T-shirt or want to book a bike tour, you can find it on the marketplace starting Nov. 27 by going to www.vistftcollins.com. Find the Marketplace tab and click through.

Contributed by Scott Titterington

The online market is open year-round with shopping hours: Saturdays 4pm through Thursdays at noon. The NOCO Virtual Farmers Market website (https:// nocovirtualfarmersmarket.com/) has a large assortment of products and services including clothing, home

goods, pet supplies, beverages, health and beauty items, and of course, food.

The company continues to grow, Alexa and her team are actively redesigning the current website to make it user friendly for consumers and easier for vendors to continue to add products, manage their inventory and to showcase and supply their amazing products to the public. A new website is coming just in time for the upcoming holiday season.

What Alexa has learned from her journey is that locally grown food and artisan products keep communities healthy, and now more than ever, residents want to support artisans, farmers and small businesses. NOCO Virtual Farmers Market is an excellent alternative to shopping in big box locations, or on large online platforms that source their products from unknown places. She says, “When you shop local, your food is coming from your community directly to you, and your orders are delivered by an honest, woman-founded, family-run, small business that is COVID-19 compliant.”

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Don’t let COVID crash your holiday parties Ways to get together safely and have fun, despite limitations

I

t’s the holidays—time to make memories with family and friends. We would all like to get a pass for the holidays from the coronavirus and go about our usual celebratory events and activities.

Yet with coronavirus cases rising in nearly every state, we have to remain safe. This doesn’t mean we can’t get creative and figure out ways to share joy with our loved ones. Here’s some ideas on how to get together safely this holiday season.

GET TOGETHER IN NEW VIRTUAL WAYS People have stepped up and created new, innovative ways to spend time 18

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together virtually. Love playing Cards Against Humanity? Do it virtually with a fun alternative! Enjoy watching classic holiday movies? Sync up and do it together with faraway family and friends. Try these: •H ave a virtual wine and cheese tasting. Have everyone buy the same wine and cheese (or if local, drop it off ) and have a wine and cheese tasting via Zoom.

•P lay games together. Older teens and adults can play the virtual knock off of Cards Against Humanity called Evil Apples vs.

Humanity (visit the App store at apps.apple.com). Or, try the Houseparty app (houseparty.com) to virtually hang out with up to seven friends or family in a video chat room and play games like the charade’s game Heads Up! Or Trivia. It links to Snapchat so your teen might like it, too!

• Watch movies together with friends. Netflix Party (netflixparty. com) is a free Google Chrome extension where the playback of a film is synchronized with friends.

It includes a live chat in the

sidebar for comments. Hello Elf and It’s a Wonderful Life!

SEND SPECIAL GIFTS INSTEAD Of course you want to be there in person, but the safest option is staying home and celebrating the holidays with your immediate family. In lieu of you, send a special gift or holiday treat. With the money you save from traveling, go all out in other ways. Overnight a favorite family dessert or send a special holiday food basket or flowers. Let your kids shop online for the perfect gift for their cousins and send it in special packaging with a heartfelt note. Or, have your kids make a unique ornament to send to cousins and friends this year.

Ask that they FaceTime you while they open your gift so you can see their faces light up with excitement and gratitude.

Another idea is to send around favorite holiday recipes to family and friends.

GET TOGETHER WITH JUST ONE OTHER FAMILY, OR LIMIT SOCIAL GATHERINGS This year, you have the perfect excuse to skip those parties that you simply felt obligated to attend. Explain that you are limiting your holiday gatherings to just a few. When you do get together with the people you really care about, try to do it outdoors. Gather around a firepit on a deck or in the backyard, meet for a hike, or walk around to look at holiday lights and displays. If you must be indoors, keep it short and practice all safety recommendations (see sidebar).

SKIP FLYING, DRIVE INSTEAD It’s really tempting to travel for the holidays. We are all incredibly tired of staying home and flights are cheaper than ever. Yet, if you or a family member are vulnerable to a bad reaction to the virus—older than 60, or with an underlying illness like heart disease, autoimmune disease or diabetes—you should not fly to visit older relatives or have them come to you. We’ve all heard the horror stories of families getting together only to have a relative die from COVID. It’s just not worth the risk.

Instead of flying, consider driving.

If a family member lives somewhere warm, plan to meet at their house so you

can spend time socializing outdoors. If you can afford it, spring for a hotel to limit time together and hence exposure.

Instead of getting the whole gang together, get together with just one other family, social distance, wear a mask, and limit indoor celebrations to just a few hours. You can always plan virtual get togethers with the rest of the family.

Practice safety habits during the road trip, including masking up when you get out of the car, using gloves to get gas, and packing food so you don’t have to stop too often.

If you do travel by air, which is discouraged by the Centers for Disease Control, wear a mask the entire time you are in the airport and on the flight. Bring disinfectant wipes and wipe down the tray, armrests and even the sides of your seat and your kids’ seats before sitting down. Consider wearing glasses or goggles during the flight. Don’t forget to load up on vitamins C, D and zinc to boost your immune system before and after the flight.

are blocking middle seats, but not American and United.

STAY HOME IF YOU FEEL SICK If you feel any symptoms like a runny nose, sore throat or cough, stay home from all social events. It’s not a bad idea to ask the people you are joining to take a COVID-19 self assessment test like the one by Google (landing.google.com/ screener/covid19?source=google). It walks you through a symptom checker.

Unfortunately, at home coronavirus test kits are not cost efficient, so testing everyone once they arrive is likely not an option. They are available, but the least expensive option is still priced around $109 and their results are not 100 percent reliable.

PLAN A FUTURE POST-COVID GET TOGETHER If you don’t feel safe getting together in person for the holidays, make elaborate plans for the future. Start now to plan

Tips for Safe Holiday Gathering • Limit guests to two families or six or fewer people • Plan just a few, select gatherings • Get together outside • Wash hands upon arrival and departure • If you must be indoors, open windows and doors for fresh air • Encourage guests to wear a mask by wearing one yourself and having masks available • Social distance

Preferably, take a short flight so you can avoid using the bathroom on the flight, and have your kids use the restroom right before boarding.

Also, fly with airlines that block the middle seats. Research at MIT Sloan School of Management shows a big reduction in your chance to contract the coronavirus when the middle seat is left vacant. Chances go from 1 in 4300 for a full flight to 1 in 7,700 for a flight with social distance seating. Currently, Southwest, JetBlue and Alaska airlines

• Put hand sanitizer out around the room • Don’t

serve finger food, use disposable plates and cups • Avoid

touching surfaces and your face • At restaurants, do take out, eat outside, or if eating indoors keep it quick and eat during off times • Skip

the risk and go virtual, instead • Consider

a flu shot beforehand • Stay

home if you feel sick

a camping trip for next summer, or a family beach gathering. Have a virtual video call to talk about where you want to go, what you want to do and where you will stay. Having something to look forward to helps a lot. Go as far as making reservations, especially if they can be cancelled without losing money.

We all hoped the coronavirus would be under control by now so we could end this new normal and get back to plain old normal. Enjoy your holidays despite it.

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Time for an annual exam?

General tips for good health through the years LY N N U . N I C H O L S

A

s a mom, there’s a good chance you are so preoccupied with keeping your kids healthy that you sometimes neglect yourself. Much of good health can be chalked up to a healthy diet, regular exercise and good sleep—but health screens are also important to keep you humming along.

If you are due for an annual exam, set an appointment today and plan to go in with a thoughtful list of questions.

Here are the screening tests you should consider, according to your age.

20S AND 30S Stop and appreciate these years of good health. For the most part, you are too young to have age-related diseases or genetic conditions knocking on your door, as you will in later years. Outside of getting your annual exam and having your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose tested (especially if you are overweight or prone to diabetes) every two to five years, you don’t need to do much else.

Every three years, get a Pap smear to check for cervical cancer.

At age 30, guidelines say you can switch to every five years for a Pap, but consider what you are comfortable with and have a conversation with your doctor. Every five years is a relatively new recommendation, (remember, not too long ago women got them annually) and regular pap smears can prevent most cases of cervical cancer. It’s a slow growing cancer but a deadly one and five years might feel too risky for you.

Consider also getting an STD panel every year, especially if you are sexually active with more than one partner. Gonorrhea has been on the rise in recent years, as has chlamydia, and getting the HIV test at least once in your lifetime is recommended.

40S AND 50S When you turn 40, it’s time to add mammograms to the above list, if you haven’t

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| FAMILY HEALTH GUIDE

already opted to do so. The American College of Gynecology and Obstetrics recommends having a mammogram every year or every two years from ages 40 to 49, then yearly after you turn 50. If you are higher risk, have one annually.

For Pap smears, guidelines recommend getting one every five years from age 30 to 65, if you are tested for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV ) at the same time. HPV is a big player in cervical cancer. If you don’t get an HPV test, have a Pap every three years.

STAYING HEALTHY AT ANY AGE As a rule of thumb, if you live healthy now you will be healthy later. Eating well, exercising daily, limiting alcohol use, and forming good sleep habits truly do add up day by day. Do your meal planning around vegetables, lean meats and healthy grains. Try to move every day, even if it’s just walking the dog around the neighborhood. Getting in bursts—two-minute increases in activity like running in the middle of your walk—is good for both blood flow

and brain health.

Speaking of brains, don’t forget to attend to your mental health. As a mom, you might feel like you run from the second you wake to the moment your head hits the pillow at night. Stress plays a big role in some of the top health concerns for moms, which include back pain for those with desk jobs, anxiety and overwhelm, fatigue from low iron or B12 levels and headaches.

Build in mini-breaks to unwind and unplug. Instead of checking your social media accounts while waiting for soccer practice to wrap up, walk around the park. Instead of grabbing fast food on busy days, run by a natural grocer and pick up a healthy ready-made meal.

Instead of spending all your energy planning your kid’s outings, take time to plan your own, making weekly playdates with friends and your significant other a reliable habit. If you fill yourself back up, you will be less stressed when crisis hits, and days will go more smoothly all around.

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Tips on eating right to keep kids upright Lynn U Nichols 6 | RMPARENT

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he phrase ‘you are what you eat’ has been said so many times it has lost its meaning, so stop for a second and really let it soak in. You. Are. What. You. Eat. What you ingest becomes a part of you. It gets built into your bones, organs and blood. Cell by cell, bite by bite, it becomes you. That can be daunting or inspiring.

Either way, it’s a good reminder to feed your kids nutritious foods that grow healthy bodies and strong immunities.

So, what is healthy eating? It’s eating whole foods that are close to their natural form. It’s avoiding processed foods. It’s limiting sugary snacks and sodas. It’s eating clean foods without pesticides, fertilizers, colorings, antibiotics, growth hormones or genetically modified ingredients. It takes mindfulness to eat well, and sometimes a shift in thinking. The payoff is strong kids. Kids who can thrive.

Kids who can fight off sicknesses that come their way this winter.

“My philosophy is that food is medicine,” says Dr. Shannon Evans, Functional Medicine Physician with New Beginnings Functional Medicine Clinic in Fort Collins.

START WITH VEGGIES A great place to start when you are grocery shopping is with the produce aisle. Instead of building your meal list around quick foods

3 fresh ways to get over a sickness fast

1. If your child succumbs to an illness that demands an antibiotic, like strep throat, Dr. Evans recommends giving your child a kid-friendly probiotic at twice the recommended dose, for a full month.

It takes that much and that long to restore healthy gut bacteria.

2. Did you know elderberry extract has been shown in studies to reduce the length of a cold or flu if taken right from the start? Continue it for seven days for your kids who are 6 months and older.

3. Coming down with a cold? Help it move through your kid’s system faster by going to the chiropractor or getting an osteopathic manipulation to promote lymphatic drainage. It may help shorten a cold’s duration.

or meat, build it around vegetables. Do your best to make half of your plate—or half of the food on the table—vegetables.

Vegetables have important antioxidants and phytonutrients that increase our immunity. When shopping, select a rainbow of colors to ensure you are tapping into these powerful nutrients. Dr. Evans asks parents to think outside the box when it comes to getting kids to eat vegetables.

“Be creative. For instance, substitute mashed cauliflower for mashed potatoes or zucchini for noodles. Sneak in some kale or spinach in their morning smoothies,” she says.

AVOID FOODS THAT CAUSE INFLAMMATION Did you know that your food choices can create inflammation? Inflammation

is a big enemy of good health.

According to Johns Hopkins, low-level chronic inflammation can develop into diseases. Some of these diseases include type 2 diabetes, cancer, depression, asthma and autoimmune diseases such as colitis and arthritis.

“If you are eating things your body doesn’t recognize—like pesticides, dyes, and chemicals—it launches an inflammatory reaction. Inflammation throws off your gut. When your gut isn’t healthy, it isn’t as able to absorb minerals and nutrients,” Dr. Evans says. “A huge part of your immune system is in your gut.”

Inflammation is also caused by eating unhealthy foods, including artificial trans fats (found in processed foods like donuts, fast food and frozen pizza), sugar and high fructose corn syrup, vegetable oil (versus healthy olive oil and avocado oil), refined carbohydrates (sugary breakfast cereals, sweets) and processed meat.

“Read labels and be mindful about what you are feeding your kids. If you can’t pronounce something, your body doesn’t know how to process it,” she says.

EAT ORGANIC AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE “A good place to start is by looking at the ‘dirty dozen’ list of fruits and vegetables and buying those items organic. Buying organic animal products is also important.

If you have a big freezer, buy a quarter beef with a friend from a local grower. Local growers tend to use less hormones and antibiotics,” Dr. Evans says.

Look for meats, eggs and dairy products that say free range, cage free, hormone free, antibiotic free and organic.

ASSOCIATE EATING WITH GOOD FEELINGS Create positive feelings around food,

and help your kids use food for the right reasons. Avoid equating food with love, reward or punishment. Making food about health versus emotions means your kids won’t grow into emotional eaters who eat to feel better or snack because they are bored. Create a peaceful dinner table that is stress free and fosters connection to help kids associate eating with true warmth and love. Don’t punish picky eaters or try to force feed them. It’s not your job to make your kids eat something. Your job is simply to make sure healthy foods are available at each meal.

Eat well and have a healthy winter.

Healthy snacks to pack

Pack these immune-boosting foods in your child’s lunch or provide them for an afternoon snack throughout the winter to promote wellness.

• Broccoli and cauliflower florets Cruciferous vegetables boost immunity and ward off cancer and other unwanted diseases by turning on antioxidants that combat free radicals, or cell-damaging agents.

• Greek yogurt topped with blueberries Choose Greek yogurt for a low sugar/high protein punch. Its probiotics will help with good gut bacteria, which in turn strengthens your child’s immune system. Add blueberries to the top to immediately boost immunity. According to a study by the University of Auckland, adults who ate blueberries regularly were 33 percent less likely to get a cold, thanks to flavonoids in the berries.

• Hard-boiled eggs Eggs are a heavy hitter for immunity, because they are packed with vitamin D. In winter, our vitamin D levels drop because we are not out in the sun. It’s a good idea for kids, and adults, to take a supplement of vitamin D. • Apples The “apple a day…” saying didn’t come out of nowhere. Studies show the phytochemical antioxidants in apples boost immunity. Oranges, grapefruit, pineapple and other citrus fruits are great, too, since they are loaded with vitamin C.

FAMILY HEALTH GUIDE

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greeley district 6 news Food4Success raises money for meal debt All accumulated student meal debt was erased in Greeley-Evans School District 6 thanks to the help of some amazing community partners.

Food4Success is a fundraising campaign sponsored by The Success Foundation Serving GreeleyEvans Schools. The goal of the campaign is to raise funds to help pay off accumulated student meal debt accrued through the District 6 Nutrition Services Department.

When students who do not qualify for free meals cannot pay for a meal, they still receive same lunch or breakfast that other students receive. However, if the meal debt isn’t eventually paid by families, then District 6 must pay for that debt out of its general fund.

At the beginning of this school year, District 6 had $147,000 in meal debt.

Today, that amount is zero.

Adolfson and Peterson, the contractor building the new Greeley West High School, hosted a golf tournament for its subcontractors at the Greeley Country Club Monday, October 5 to raise money for Food4Success. The successful event raised $40,000.

“Being part of this Greeley West project has meant a lot to us, as well as the other companies working on the building,” says Doug Johnson, vice

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president of Adolfson and Peterson.

“It is a privilege for us to be able to give back to the community.”

In addition, last week Atmos Energy also donated $25,000 to the Food4Success campaign. This, coupled with the golf tournament proceeds, raised enough to pay off the current outstanding meal debt balance.

“Words cannot begin to express our deep gratitude for the community’s amazing support for Food4Success,” says Danielle Bock, director of Nutrition Services for District 6.

“This is a huge relief to many of our families who simply don’t have the means to pay off this debt. And it will preserve funding for other

District 6 programs that may have suffered cuts to pay for this debt.”

Food4Success got its first boost a few weeks ago when the program was featured on The Kyle Clark Show on 9News. Clark does a weekly fundraising campaign for selected nonprofits. The publicity from that show brought in more than $90,000 in donations statewide.

“I just want to thank the community and those around the state who supported this campaign,” says District 6 Superintendent Dr. Deirdre Pilch. “Having so many rally around our students in this challenging time gives us hope and renewed energy to continue the important work of educating our children. We are incredibly grateful.

NORTHRIDGE STEM ACADEMY EARNS NATIONAL DISTINCTION The National Academy Foundation has recognized the Northridge High School STEM Academy as a Distinguished

Academy for the 2019-2020 school year.

This highly competitive distinction recognizes that students in the Northridge STEM Academy are college and career ready, and that the academy mirrors the demographics of the school in the categories of ethnicity, gender, English language learners and students who qualify for free and reduced meals. In addition, 100 percent of the academy’s rising seniors participate in paid internships.

Northridge far exceeds the NAF expectations in all areas.

“Our staff and students have worked incredibly hard to reach this level of honor

by NAF,” says Northridge Principal Insoon Olson. “Due to all of our efforts and over 300 outstanding students, we have met the requirements of Distinguished Level and will continue to focus our efforts in providing a quality academic program with real-world experiences to apply their skills. I am incredibly proud of our Grizzlies and all that they have accomplished by engaging within their choice pathway in our STEM Academy.”

The STEM program began at Northridge High School in 2006, with an emphasis on math and science. In 2012-13, the school opened the Academy of Engineering and the Academy of Math and Science. The Academy of Information Technology was established in 2015-16. And, in 2018-19, all the academies were restructured into the single STEM Academy.

In 2014-15, 143 students participated in one or more of the two academies. This year, 242 students are enrolled in the NAF STEM Academy.

Northridge officially received this honor during the NAFNext 2020 Annual Academy Conference this summer.

NEW LOGO, BRANDING CAMPAIGN Greeley-Evans School District 6 has unveiled its new logo and brand, which reflects the school district’s values and goals for student learning.

The updated logo includes the star image from the previous logo, as well as the “I’m District 6” tagline, which has been used since 2016 to reflect unity and

pride in District 6.

“This new logo and brand reflects our commitment to our students, families and staff, who are truly stars in our community,” says Superintendent Dr. Deirdre Pilch. “We are District 6, through tough times, through celebrations, through learning and through living. We are proud to provide excellent public education in Evans and Greeley, and we are deeply committed to our communities.”

To view or download the logo in various formats, please visit www. greeleyschools.org/D6branding.

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poudre school district news PSD COVID-19 School Status and Information webpage PSD has created a new COVID-19 School Status and Information webpage (https://www.psdschools.org/ psd2020-21/psdprotocolsCOVID19) where each school is listed, along with its current operating status (I.e. Phase 3 Hybrid Education or Phase 1 Remote Education). Should cases trigger a classroom quarantine or school closure, following state and local public health guidance for schools, that information will be available on this page.

PROTOCOLS FOR STUDENTS, SYMPTOM CHECKS All staff are required to use the COVID-19 Daily Screening app and must get a “green light” from the app to work before entering a PSD facility. Staff who are sick must stay home, following staff protocols.

Families must check their student(s) for COVID-19 symptoms daily and not send them to school if they are experiencing any of the symptoms or are too sick to go to school.

WHAT DATA ARE PSD MONITORING AND USING TO MAKE DECISIONS? If there is one thing that is constant, it is that the COVID-19 pandemic is always changing. Because of that, it is important for staff, families and community to understand there is not one single data point that will determine the educational phase in which Poudre School District is operating. Learn more about PSD’s partnership with the local health department, community risk data being monitored and other key information.

USDA CHANGE MEANS ALL STUDENTS (NOT JUST PSD STUDENTS) CAN RECEIVE MEALS Meals are currently free through December for students 18 years and younger, as part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture school district reimbursement program. Students can choose to eat 24

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school meals during Phase 3 or bring their lunch from home. Meals will also be distributed outdoors at designated school and mobile sites; this is where students on remote education days and PSD Virtual students can receive meals.

Find the list of schools distributing outdoors and mobile sites here: https:// www.psdschools.org/psd2020-21/ meals2020-21 Breakfast and lunch menus are available online: https://psdschools. nutrislice.com/menu/ Meal distribution times and locations Oct. 1-indefinitely: Meals will be distributed from 11am to 1pm (on days school is in session) from parked PSD school buses at five mobile sites only; all other mobile sites that operated during 100-percent remote education closed Sept. 30.

• 2025 N. College Ave. • 820 Merganser Drive • 401 N. Timberline Road • Cloverleaf Community Clubhouse, 4412 E. Mulberry St. • Mummy Range at the Clubhouse

Oct. 12: Meals began to be distributed from 11am to 1pm (on days school is in session) outside only at the

following school sites: Cache La Poudre, Linton, Timnath and Eyestone elementary schools; and Lincoln, Webber, Boltz and Kinard middle schools.

PSD IT DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES PSD’s IT Department will continue to support families and students during Phase 3 Hybrid In-person learning through the PSD Community Tech Portal, where technical support information, howto guides, documentation and more can be found, or contact a Technician at covidtechhelp@psdschools.org or call the Family and Student Support Line at 970-490-3339.

Check out our Technical Support and Resources web page: https://www. psdschools.org/Remote-LearningTechSupport SUPPORT OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN 2020-21 The needs of students with disabilities are of the utmost importance, and PSD’s Integrated Services (IS) team has been working diligently to ensure equity and access for all students this school year. Learn more about the hundreds

of hours of training and planning that IS staff did in spring and summer 2020 to support students with disabilities in any educational phase, get quick access to IS Department contact information, and find answers to frequently asked questions. More information: https:// www.psdschools.org/psd2020-21/ supportingstudentswithdisabilities

Teacher of the Year finalist. Kearns has taught for 17 years and is a fourth-generation educator. She is a National Geographic Certified Educator and serves as a teacher advisor for Scholastic’s “Science World Magazine.” Read more at https://www.psdschools.org/ News/2021CoTeacherofYearFinalist

MORE STUDENTS THAN EVER QUALIFY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PRESCHOOL PSD’s preschool program still has open spaces for the 2020-21 school year.

More families may qualify now than ever before. ECE students started with in-person education Oct. 5, the same day their K-2 peers started in Phase 3: Hybrid In-School/Remote Learning. To learn more and begin an application online, visit the Early Childhood Education webpage (https://www. psdschools.org/programs-services/earlychildhood-education/apply-programspreschool) or call 970-490-3204.

PSD’S BAMFORD ELEMENTARY Introducing PSD’s Bamford Elementary, the new southeast school named to honor legacy of Gary Bamford.

PSD is thrilled to announce that the Board of Education voted Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020 to approve the name of the district’s new, underconstruction southeast elementary school: Bamford Elementary. Read more at https://www.psdschools.org/News/ BamfordElementary Looking for more information than you see here? Visit the PSD 202021 school year webpages: https://www. psdschools.org/psd2020-21

WEBBER MIDDLE SCHOOL EDUCATOR NAMED COLORADO TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALIST PSD had the privilege of connecting with Webber Middle School Science and Health teacher Tricia Kearns, a Colorado Department of Education 2021 Colorado

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thompson school district news Kendra Larson embraces a culture of service and action Sitting in her fifth-grade classroom at Coyote Ridge Elementary School, Kendra Larson carefully dissects a pellet of owl barf for her awestruck fifth grade class to observe. Explaining each step, Kendra uses tweezers to hold tiny bones in front of the camera so her students watching at home on their computer screens can see the remnants of the owl’s meal. Her students are equal parts fascinated and disgusted, and express their appreciation as fifth-graders do, with exclamations of “gross!” and “cool!”

This is Kendra’s 15th year teaching, and her seventh year teaching at Coyote Ridge. Watching her captivate her students with this virtual science lesson, it is clear how passionate she is about educating young people. But for someone who grew up in a tiny town in North Dakota and says she loves “all the cliché Colorado things” –camping, being outside, and lake activities—a huge part of Kendra’s heart lies over 13,000 miles away, in Uganda, a place she has spent much of two of her last four summer breaks learning about a completely different culture and way of life. She works with children there too, but in Uganda, the students learn on dirt floors in tiny schools without windows in the frames.

Kendra first went to Uganda in

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2017, after meeting a woman from Africa who makes jewelry out of discarded paper and sells it to raise money for schools. Kendra spent almost a month in Uganda on her first trip, traveling with strangers she met through

an organization in Johnstown. She says she cried herself to sleep the first night she was there, asking herself what in the world she had been thinking traveling halfway across the globe with people she barely knew—to help people she didn’t know at all.

“The next day, we went to the school, and it clicked: This is why I’m here. They’ve got nothing, and they want to give you everything.”

By the end of her first trip, Kendra was heartbroken to leave all of the amazing people she had met, but she also couldn’t wait to find ways to help them. “You won’t leave being the same person. You’ll want to make things better,” she explains. Kendra came back to the United States and sponsored two Ugandan children, providing them with money for food,

mattresses, mosquito nets, and school uniforms and shoes. She also found sponsors for over 20 other students, many of whom are aided by teachers at Coyote Ridge.

Coyote Ridge Principal Deon Davis says Kendra has “a huge heart for our kids, but also for our community and our world. What she does is so admirable. She has embraced IB, and dug into its culture of service, action, and international mindedness.”

And those are the lessons Kendra is so committed to passing on to young people in the United States, not just in her classroom but also across the community. She speaks to students in every grade level at Coyote Ridge, telling them about other cultures and encouraging them to want to make a difference in the world.

“There are so many different worlds out there, but we are all human,” Larson says. “I want to open their eyes to how much we have and (teach them to) be grateful for it.”

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NOVEMBER 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.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19 Tour de Turkey Donate a frozen turkey to neighbors in need and have a little fun with a contactless turkey slide in Fort Collins, blood drive in Loveland and New Belgium giveaways at both locations. Fort Collins, 2535 S. College Ave. and Loveland, 261 E. 29th St. 7am–5pm. www.foodbanklarimer.org/tour-de-turkey.

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.

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FIRST WEDNESDAYS We Dream in STEAM: Create your own Electromagnet For the Energy Series, each month’s session will include a kit featuring supplies for a craft based on a specific type of energy.

Ages 9–12. Registration required to receive Zoom meeting details. Clearview Library Zoom meting, 4–5pm https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/4509640.

BEGINNING NOVEMBER 1 Teen Art Attack Take-and-Make Project: Paracord Bracelets Paracord bracelets are worn by survivalists, hikers, climbers, campers, or anyone who enjoys the outdoors. Teens will make their own by picking up a kit from the library beginning Nov. 1 (while they last). Farr Regional Library, 1939 61st Ave., GR. http://mylibrary.evanced.info/signup.

WEDNESDAYS Wonderful World Wednesdays Weekly virtual kids’ program with rotating topics around language arts, STEM and history. Videos posted every Wednesday, 10–11am on Facebook and Youtube.

Loveland Public Library, www.facebook.com/LovelandPubLibrary.

BEGINNING NOVEMBER 2 Kids Crafterschool Take-and-Make Project: Paracord Bracelets Learn how to make a cool paracord bracelet. Pick up supplies from the library beginning Nov. 2 (while they last) and follow the instructional video of Farr’s Facebook page. Grades 3-5. Farr Regional Library, 1939 61st Ave., GR. http://mylibrary.evanced.info/signup.

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. 3–3:30pm. www.youtube.com/clearviewlibrary.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 Wildlife Window: Tracking Moose through Colorado Naturalist Kevin Cook presents this virtual series for Loveland Public Library via Zoom. 10–11am. Visit webpage for Zoom link: https://lovelandpubliclibrary. org/event/wildlife-window-nature-serieswith-kevin-cook-2.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 Celebrate National Nacho Day with Sandra Nickel Author Sandra Nickel will read her new book Nacho’s Nachos: The Story Behind the World’s Favorite Snack, discuss how she researched the book, and lead young readers in a craft. Ages 7+. Old Firehouse Books Facebook Live, 10:30–11:30am, 970484-7898, www.oldfirehousebooks.com.

Family Cooking Challenge: Dinner Rolls You’re challenged to get creative as a family and add a special ingredient of your choice to the Take & Make Kit you’ll pick up from the library. All ages. 4–4:30pm.

YouTube meeting, www.youtube.com/ clearviewlibrary. Registration required: https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/4603099.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9 Teen Cooking Challenge: Noodles (with Take & Make Kits) Your challenge is to find a recipe that sounds good or dream up your own concoction using noodles as one of the ingredients using the Take & Make Kit you’ll pick up from the library the week prior. Ages 12–18. Zoom meeting, 4:30– 5:30pm. Registration required: https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/4599157.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10 Steve Weeks Virtual Concert Enjoy this national family music performer for an online interactive family romp filled with music, humor and games as he performs his hit songs. Ages 3–6. Zoom meeting, 10:30–11:30am. Registration required: https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/4529028.

Flibbertigibbety Words with Donna Guthrie For lovers of words both silly and serious, this event will focus on Shakespeare, some of his plays, and the many everyday words he created that we use all the time. Ages 5+. Old Firehouse Books Facebook Live, 10:30–11:30am, 970-484-7898 www.oldfirehousebooks.com.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 Getting Crafty: Fall Leaves Wreath Create a fall leaves wreath out of a paper plate, tissue paper, and other colored paper with 15 kits supplied in advance–or use supplies from home. Ages 6–12.

YouTube, 3–3:30pm www.youtube.com/clearviewlibrary.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19 Teen Craft-a-Thon: Learn to Crochet(with Take & Make Kits) Whether you’re a beginner learning basic stitches, or ready for more advanced techniques, CreativeBug has what you need. Pick up Take & Make Kits at the library the week prior. Ages 12–18.

6–7pm. Registration required for Zoom link: https://clearviewlibrary.org/ event/4599159.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 Getting Crafty: Thankful Turkey Create thankful turkey out of paperboard and colored paper with 15 kits supplied in advance—or use supplies from home. Ages 6–12. YouTube, 3–3:30pm, www.youtube.com/clearviewlibrary.

CONNECT TO NATURE

VIRTUAL The Gardens Read and Seed in Your Home The Gardens on Spring Creek present nature-inspired lessons plus related activity sheets. YouTube lessons, www.fcgov.com/ gardens/read-and-seed.

MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS The Gardens Read and Seed Garden storytime, movement or song plus a hands-on, nature-inspired activity.

Ages 2–4 with adult. Limit of 5 students/ caregivers per session. 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.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20 Skygazing Telescopes and information provided by Northern Colorado Astronomical Society.

Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area, on Carpenter Road/ CR 32, one mile west of I-25, or two miles east of Timberline.

7–9pm. 970-416-2815, www.fcgov.com/ naturalareas or www.fcgov.com/events.

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.

EVERY OTHER TUESDAY Tune-Out Tuesdays Parents, is the daily grind getting you down? Then sit back and relax with soothing music and stunning visuals produced by the Digital Dome’s team.

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, Facebook Live. Noon–1pm. www.facebook.com/focomod.

EVERY THURSDAY 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, Facebook Live. 5pm. www.facebook.com/focomod.

THROUGH JANUARY 10 Mental Health: Mind Matters Exhibit This new exhibit aims to build greater understanding of the importance of mental health and create a safe space for meaningful conversations about mental illness. All ages. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Ct., FC. www.fcmod.org/mindmatters.

NOVEMBER 17 THROUGH MARCH 20 Colorful Paintings Exhibit Explore colorful paintings by folk artists of central China. Global Village Museum, 200 W. Mountain Ave., FC. www.globalvillagemuseum.org.

ENTERTAINMENT

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 Rialto Comedy: Drew Lynch Drew Lynch captured the hearts with his Golden Buzzer performance on Season 10 of America’s Got Talent, and has since appeared on IFC’s Maron and CONAN, and amassed over 2 million Youtube subscribers. $38. Rialto Theater, 228 E. Fourth St., LV. 7pm and 9:30pm. www.rialtotheatercenter.org.

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NOVEMBER 10 & 11 The Denver Dolls Concert Inspired by WWII era shows, the Dolls’ features a musical style, look and lighthearted performance in the tradition of the beloved female groups of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. All ages. Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Market Place Dr., Johnstown. Times vary. www.coloradocandlelight.com.

ACTIVE-ITIES

NOVEMBER 1 THROUGH DECEMBER 12 America’s Largest Virtual Turkey Trot— Fort Collins & Greeley It’s your race to run or walk, you set the pace. Submit your results, earn your medal and bragging rights with friends. $35–50.

Register for your location at: www. eventbrite.com/d/co-fort-collins/5k-run.

SATURDAYS, NOVEMBER 7, 14, 21 Adult Tai Chi in The Gardens Offering beneficial impacts on the heart, bones, nerves, muscles, immune system and the mind. Outdoor class, suitable for all levels, capped at 10 participants. Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. 9–10am.

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

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THURSDAYS, NOVEMBER 26 Loveland Turkey Trot 5K Family-friendly Thanksgiving morning tradition continues virtually. Participants receive a limited-edition t-shirt and will run or walk a 5K on Thanksgiving Day from any location of their choice. Turkey Trotters can share their experience online to be entered in giveaways! www.lovelandturkeytrot.com.

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.

Holiday

& SEASONAL EVENTS NOVEMBER 1 THROUGH FEBRUARY 14 Fort Collins Downtown Holiday Lights Dazzling display of thousands of sustainable LED lights. Old Town, FC. www.downtownfortcollins.com.

NOVEMBER 6 THROUGH JANUARY 18 The Ice Rink at The Promenade Shops at Centerra Beautiful outdoor, ice skating rink open 7 days a week. All ages. Main Plaza of The Promenade Shops at Centerra, 5971 Sky Pond Dr., LV. 667-5283 www.theicerinkattheshops.com.

NOVEMBER 14 THROUGH JANUARY 1 Loveland Winter Wonderlights Free, walkable holiday lights display with inflatable igloo and 30-minute musical light shows daily. Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra, just east of the Promenade Shops, U.S. Hwy. 34 and I-25 on Sky Pond Dr, LV. 5–9pm. www. visitlovelandco.org/winterwonderlights.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19 Tour de Turkey Donate a frozen turkey to neighbors in need and have a little fun with a contactless turkey slide in Fort Collins, blood drive in Loveland and New Belgium giveaways at both locations. Fort Collins, 2535 S. College Ave. and Loveland, 261 E. 29th St. 7am–5pm. www.foodbanklarimer. org/tour-de-turkey.

NOVEMBER 19 THROUGH JANUARY 3 Winter Wonderettes Features ’60s versions of holiday classics such as Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, Jingle Bell Rock and more. All ages.

Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Marketplace Dr., Johnstown. Times vary.

744-3747, www.coloradocandlelight.com.

NOVEMBER 22 THROUGH DECEMBER 31 Riverside Library Polar Express The Polar Express is going virtual!

Watch a video recording of Santa and the library’s train conductor reading “The Polar Express.” Register for this event to receive a Youtube link to watch the video. Each week in December you can also stop at the Riverside Library for take and make activity kits. Riverside Library, 3700 Golden St., Evans. http://mylibrary. evanced.info/signup.

NOVEMBER 27 & 28 Holiday Lane at Island Grove Drive through lighted holiday displays from the safety of your car. Island Grove Regional Park, 501 North 14th Ave., GR. 5:30–8:30pm. www.visitgreeley.

NOVEMBER 27 THROUGH DECEMBER 11 Greeley Festival of Trees Support the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra and Union Colony Civic Center while enjoying beautifully decorated trees, reimagined activities and entertainment with safe timed/ticketed entry. $5/adult; $3/kid 12 and under; $3/senior. Online/ phone ticket purchases only: www.ucstars. com or 970-356-5000. Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., GR. Hours vary. www.GreeleyFestivalofTrees.com.

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time out Discovering social capital

Understanding the responsibility and what to do with it LEA HANSON

M

y 10-year-old is in fourth grade and it turns out this is the year when kids these days start caring about wearing and having cool things. Her birthday is in September (just weeks ago as I type this), and this was the first year for which her list of birthday requests included mostly trendy things. Clothing and trinkets that no one would want if they weren’t currently all the rage.

There have been hints of this the past year or so, but this made it painfully clear. My kid officially wants to wear weird and possibly ugly and ill-fitting things simply because others are doing so. Oh boy.

I may, actually, be one of the parents who actually cares about this.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m fully aware of and believe in the fact that personality and kindness are what matters. And whether a person wears cool clothes does not matter. I also remember what it’s like to be around this age and care about these things. At the time, having shoes that were Adidas instead of LA Gear brand mattered a lot to me. Even though I know now—AND KNEW THEN—that brand names shouldn’t matter, the reality was, they did.

Turns out they still do. And when I wrote I’m a mom who cares about this I really only mean this: Kids are mean and if I can help her navigate through these tough ‘tween and teen years simply by agreeing to buy her Vans socks instead of generic brand ones, I might as well do so.

I think a lot about teaching my child to navigate systems. As much as we want to teach our kids to forge their own path, there are some systems that can’t be avoided. And learning how to fit into them and operate within them is an important life skill. Being able to do this coupled with having the emotional

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intelligence to read your audience is something that will benefit any human who lives in the United States—and most places, actually.

Learning about social capital really only matters to me because it (unfortunately) very much matters to our society as a whole. I wish being popular and known (hopefully for good) was based entirely on a person’s character and hard work and merit, but it just isn’t. The way we look is sadly still included.

What I learned, and hopefully she will also learn, is that the key to recognizing and valuing social capital really comes in the form of recognizing and valuing what do with it if you have it. Using it for good instead of evil, if I may. When we have social capital, we have power and privilege. Power and privilege come in all sorts of ways, and social capital and popularity is one of them. And with power comes responsibility… and tall Vans socks, evidently.

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