1212 RM Parent

DECEMBER 2012 • RMPARENT.COM

Holiday

roller coaster Bringing up bébé Family holiday activities Local food in winter Carol food

Special section:

Holiday

Gift & Activity guide 2012 RMPARENT

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Departments Perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 A quiet holiday season—big turn around from last year’s frenzy

FIRST YEARS. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Bringing Up Bébé: oui or non?—behind the rave of French parenting techniques

Special Sections Holiday Holiday Guide 2012 Gif t & Act ivi ty

Gu ide 201 2

Offer your time, talents and treasure this holiday season to help people in need.

Find out where your help is needed at an agency near you. And keep the holiday safe in your own home with these tips on toy safety with a special warning this year about coin-sized, button batteries. And finally, get a new take on creating holiday decorations with found objects.

the giving

Family activities . . . . . . 10 ‘Tis the season for togetherness—go see, listen, shop and participate in these familyfriendly events

Healthy living. . . . . . . . . 12

Locavores rejoice—tracking down local foods in the winter

Community news. . . . . 14 Cut your own tree, whooping cough outbreak threatens children and adults, Santa’s Workshop toy & clothing drive, grant helps restore watersheds

Nutrition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Consumable carols—holiday foods and their holiday songs

Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Events and activities for parents, kids and families

Time Out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

We adore you, but—an open letter to our children about the toys they want built

School District News Thompson School District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Miss Loveland Valentine 2012-2013 selected, open enrollment applications available, Early Childhood Program gathers input for readiness goals, district to sponsor science fair, Conrad Ball staff presents at conference, Truscott completes walk-a-thon fundraiser

Poudre School District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Parent believes in the Olander community, calendar of events, Werner first-graders explore Gardens on Spring Creek, Blevins and Olander students learn science together

Greeley-Evans District 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Voters approve bond issue, open-enrollment applications accepted, nutrition services rolls out new menu app

Lunchbox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 School menus for Poudre, Thompson, Greeley-Evans and Windsor

Features 18 Smoothing out the

holiday roller coaster ride

Instead of getting on the ride this year Stay conscious and thoughtful about what you really want. Balancing these wishes with obligations will keep your holiday on its tracks—as will keeping it real when it comes to expectations of yourself and others.

20 THE SEASONAL SLUDGE

To prevent colds and flu, get enough sleep and eat well; exercise regularly, consider a flu shot for you and your kids, and more. Once someone is sick, rest, fluids and other simple remedies are a good place to start. If symptoms persist or progress, see a doctor.

ABOUT THE COVER: Jindi, 9, is a Fort Collins kid who enjoys art, dancing, swimming, soccer and playing with her sister and her orange cat, Cheeto. Photo by Cheri Schonfeld, schonfeldphotography.com.

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season page 4

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Holiday calen

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perspective A quiet holiday season Big turn around from last year’s frenzy

K

ristin and I were just talking about the coming holidays and how different we expect them to be from last year. Last year we had an overflowing house of visiting family. Andy and his girlfriend, Meaghan showed up in mid-December and then later Kristin’s brother Kevin and his family, complete with an Italian foreign exchange student, arrived. At the same time, Aly moved back to Fort Collins. We were packed. In fact, our neighbor Ed housed Kevin and his wife, Kristi. It was nonstop fun and activity. Of course, behind all this was publishing the January issue of RM Parent and the annual School Directory/Program & Activity Guide.

I sure could have used Lynn Utzman-Nichols feature from this year (p20) about setting thoughtful expectations for the holiday. We did push holiday cheer to the limit... but come January, we were exhausted...a good kind of tired, but still. And it was great to get the range of family members together under one roof. There’s something about staying together that matters. I think of it as having coffee time...that time in the morning (or really anytime) that’s unstructured with no expectations where you just sit and chat. It’s usually not that important what you’re chatting about. What’s important it that you had the opportunity to give each other your (more or less) undivided time and attention. I also like sitting down for Christmas dinner with a big ol’ table full of food (we did stuffed deer loin wrapped with bacon) and family and friends and just letting the conversations roll.

As I write this, we’re getting ready to head back to Kearney, NE, for the annual Thanksgiving Day feast with the cousins. It’s one of our favorite gatherings of the year. I think this is the 24th year that we’ve gathered there. That’s pretty much where our busy holidays start and end this year.

Andy’s back working at the South Pole until February, Aly’s settled into an apartment, no other family is dropping in and we don’t have plans to go anywhere. Christmas dinner is looking like a quieter affair this year. It will still be super-nice, just a little tamer.

Anyway, this month’s issue is jam-packed with stories to help you with the holidays. First is the Holiday Guide, featuring a holiday calendar and stories to help you make the best of the season. Read about giving opportunities in our communities, safety hazards with toys and hope to create decorations from found items. In RM Parent, check out the list of family-friendly events and activities Katie Harris has put together in this month’s Family Activities department, (p10). As I mentioned earlier, don’t miss Lynn Utzman-Nichols’ feature (p20) for some specific ideas about how to smooth out your holiday roller coaster. And see what Richard Keller has to offer about food inspired by holiday songs.

But most-importantly, remember the holidays are all about love and compassion. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyful Kwanza and Happy Holidays, Scott

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DECEMBER 2012 • Volume 18, Number 6 PUBLISHER Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com EDITOR Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com Calendar editor Aly Titterington calendar@rockymountainpub.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Emily Zaynard emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Angela Isaac, (970)391-5212 angela.rmpublishing@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION Wendee Brungardt, Sharon Klahn, Rob’s Bike Courier Service COVER PHOTO Cheri Shonfeld, schonfeldphotography.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Katie Harris, Richard Keller, Ann Schimke, Kim Sharpe, Lynn Utzman-Nichols

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLISHING 825 Laporte Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521 Voice 221-9210 Fax 221-8556 editor@rockymountainpub.com www.RMParent.com Rocky Mountain Parent magazine is published monthly by Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. Publication of this paper does not consitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. RMP reserves the right to refuse any advertisement for any reason. The opinions expressed by contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rocky Mountain Publishing. ©2012 Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without express written permission is prohibited.

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first years

Bringing up bébé: oui ou non?

Behind the rave of French parenting techniques Ly nn Utz man-Nichols

H

ave you heard about this new parenting approach that’s grabbing the attention of the nation?

In 2012 it was featured in the New York Times, NPR, Newsweek, Time, Huffington Post and several other respectable news sources. The rave? Bringing Up Bébé, a French approach to raising kids introduced by Pamela Druckerman, an American author living in Paris. In her book by the same name she explains how Americans could benefit by taking some pointers from the French.

As you read this book you may find yourself agreeing, especially on a few of Druckerman’s main points. She starts out describing how French parents can go to a restaurant and enjoy each other while their young children sit nearby with scarcely a wiggle or complaint.

Better yet, they eat their vegetables and fish—for goodness sake—fish.

How do they do it? French parents are stricter than American parents and make it known that mommy and daddy come first and are in charge without a doubt. Druckerman writes that the French repeat the parenting mantra “C’est moi qui décide” (“It’s I who decide). They also give the general message that emotions should be controlled, not expressed.

The French also practice what Druckerman dubbed “La Pause.” The idea that babies 4 months and older should be left in the crib at night, at least for a while, when they fuss. She believes this teaches French children how to wait. French children are also encouraged to play alone— parents rarely play with them. From this, they learn patience.

According to Druckerman, the French insist their children say “bonjour” and “au revoir” to adults they meet. She finds this goes beyond politeness and sees it as a way to teach their children the world doesn’t revolve around them. They also do not believe in over-praising their

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kids. Druckerman claims that the result of these methods is “a fully functioning society of good little sleepers, gourmet eaters and reasonably relaxed parents.”

In France, it seems, the emphasis is not so much on what’s best for baby, but what’s best for mommy. Druckerman claims that French mothers rarely refuse

So, what’s the downside? Some say that it doesn’t stick. There’s an idea that the French are too strict with their kids and when they are not with their parents they act badly, worse, says one American woman who lived in France for 17 years, than American kids. She also saw the French habit of standing at the sidelines

drugs in the delivery room and that they “barely breast-feed.” A priority is getting back their pre-pregnancy, sexy figure and image as fast as they can. The book states that French mothers love their children like all mothers, but don’t see them as their most important life project. The result? They have more time to spend pursuing a satisfying career and spending fun, quality time with their husbands.

A benefit of this French way of parenting is no “mommy guilt.” They have a point when they say, “If your child is your only goal in life, it’s not good for the child.”

Some people compare French parenting to that of parenting in the 1960s in the U.S.—more traditional, more couple and adult-focused, and less everything for the kids.

rather than jumping in and playing with their kids at the park as less about letting them play independently and more about poor parenting—noting that kids are seen pushing and shoving each other and no one steps in to discipline.

There’s pros and cons to both the French and American way of parenting.

While the French might be better at setting boundaries and separating their own lives from their kids—and leaving the guilt behind—Americans might know a bit more about how to nurture their kids emotionally—and really hear and understand them.

If you want to learn more, pick up a copy of Bringing Up Bébé and decide for yourself if the French are on to something or not.

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family activities

‘Tis the season for togetherness

Go see, listen, shop and participate in these family-friendly events K a t i e H a rr i s

T

his year, take a break from stressful holiday shopping, baking and decorating, and spend some quality time just taking it all in. Whether you’re expecting a houseful this year, or keeping it small and simple, these local happenings will make the season extra special for everyone.

Go see Garden of Lights — Dec. 3-5, 8-12,15-26, 5-8pm, Suggested donation: $2/person.

Enjoy a whimsical walk through the gardens, where the plants and residents will be decorated with holiday lights. The Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave. Fort Collins, www.fcgov.com/ gardens or 970-416-2486 for information.

Holiday Ice Showcase — Dec. 7, 67pm and Dec. 8, 2-3pm.Ages 3 and up: $7, Ice Haus Skate School and Mountain View Skating Club participants will perform solo and group numbers. Greeley Ice Haus, 900 8th Ave, Greeley, www.greeley icehaus.com or 970-350-9402 for tickets.

The Nutcracker — Dec. 6-8, 7pm and Dec. 8-9, 2pm, $20-30/ticket. The Nutcracker featuring Canyon Concert Ballet dancers and The Fort Collins Symphony.

The Lincoln Center, 417 W Magnolia, Fort Collins. www.tickets.lctix.com or 970-221-6730 for tickets.

Go listen Larimer Chorale: A Candlelight Christmas — Dec. 15, 7:30pm and Dec. 16, 3pmAdult: $18, student: $10, ages 8 and under: free. Join the Larimer Chorale for a surround-sound, candlelit presentation of old and new Christmas favorites for choir, brass and organ. First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover St, Fort Collins. www.fcgov.com/lctix/ show.php?id=383 or 970-221-6730.

Ring in the Season — Dec. 7, 7:30pm.

Adults: $15, students/seniors: $10, ages 6 and under: free. Handbell ringers from 10

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northern Colorado and southern Wyoming will perform holiday tunes. Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. 4th St, Loveland. www. ci.loveland.co.us/index.aspx?page=118 or 970-962-2120 for tickets.

Silver Jubilee Christmas Concert — Dec. 2, 2pm. Adults: $15, students: $7.

The Rocky Mountain Chamber Singers will present carols old and new, a cappella style. Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. 4th St, Loveland. www.ci.loveland. co.us/index.aspx?page=118 or 970-9622120 for tickets.

Winter’s Eve Songfest — Dec. 8, 4pm.

Adults: $10, ages 12 and under: $5. The Greeley Children’s Chorale will perform holiday music.First United Methodist Church, 917 10th Ave, Greeley. www. greeleychildrenschorale.com/concerts or 970-371-2569 for tickets.

Go shop Fort Collins Winter Market — Dec. 1, 15, 22: 10am-3pm. Free entry. Browse 50 local food vendors, plus enjoy live music and activities for kids.Opera Galleria, 123 N. College Ave, Fort Collins. www.belocalnc. org/winter-farmers-market-2012-2013season/ or 970-219-3382 for details.

Loveland Indoor Winter Farmers’ Market — Dec. 8, 15, 22, 10am-2pm, Free entry.

Loveland’s indoor, winter farmers’ market will also feature activities for kids and live, local music. The Outlets at Loveland, 5616 McWhinney Blvd, Loveland. 970613-1455 for more information.

Go participate 21st Annual Carolfest — Dec. 7, 6:30pm, Free event.The Choice City Singers will lead a procession through Old Town Fort Collins singing Christmas carols.

Lyrics will be available at the Opera Galleria. Plan to walk approximately 1/2 mile outside. Opera Galleria, 123 N. College Ave, Fort Collins.www.down townfortcollins.com/events.php/

detail/15/1 or 970-484-6500 for details.

Cookie Bake-Off — Dec. 8; cookie dropoff from 1-4pm; judging at 5pm, Free event.

Bring a batch of your favorite recipe to be judged for prizes. There will be separate contests for kids and adults. Mary’s Mountain Cookies, 2842 Council Tree Avenue #167, Fort Collins. www.shopfrontrangevillage. com or 970-226-9050 for details.

Happy Holiday Crafts — Dec. 8, 2pm, Free event.Young children are invited to make cheerful Christmas decorations, while ages 10 and up will have the opportunity to create intricate snowflake ornaments. Lincoln Park Library, 919 7th St Ste 100, Greeley. www.mylibrary. us/ or 970-506-8492 for details.

Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides — Sundays, Nov. 25-Dec. 23, noon-4pm, Free event. Enjoy a free old-fashioned carriage ride down Main Street. Main Plaza, The Promenade Shops at Centerra, Sky Pond Dr, Loveland www. thepromenadeshopsatcenterra.com or 970-461-1285 for details.

‘Tis the Season Community Sing-a-long — Dec. 9, 2pm, Free event. Join the community in a traditional holiday singa-long.Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. 4th St, Loveland. www.ci.loveland.co.us/ index.aspx?page=118 or 970-962-2120 for tickets.

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healthy living

Locavores rejoice...

Tracking down local foods in the winter B y A n n Sc h i mke

N

ow that it is winter, local foods are not as abundant as they were in July and August. Juicy red tomatoes, crunchy sweet corn and all those other symbols of summer are long gone. Most of the region’s outdoor farmers markets closed up shop in September or October.

But the next few months need not be bleak for all the locavores (people who prefer to buy there food from local sources whenever possible) out there.

Local food options may be slimmer, but they do exist. Fort Collins has two wintertime farmers markets. One is on Sunday and Wednesdays at the Foothills Mall and one, the Be Local Farmers Market, is on Saturdays at the Opera Galleria downtown.

Greeley will offer a winter farmers market for the second year, this year at a new, larger location in a former car dealership on 8th Ave. In Loveland, Tamara Cramer, of Cramer’s Handmade Bread Company, launched the city’s first winter farmers market in early November at the Outlets at Loveland. The market includes about two dozen vendors and Cramer hopes to increase that number to 30 or more.

• Drake Road Winter Farmers Market Sundays and Wednesdays, 11am-2pm Dates: Dec. 2, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19 and 23.

(In January, the market will operate every other Sunday.)

Location: Foothills Mall, northeast section of the mall, near the kids play area.

• Be Local Winter Farmers Market Saturdays, 10am-2pm Dates: Dec. 1, 15 and 22; Jan. 12, 19 and 26; Feb. 9, 16 and 23; March 9 and 23; April 6.

Location: Opera Galleria, 123 North College Ave., downtown Fort Collins.

• Greeley Winter Farmers Market 2 and 4th Saturday Nov. through April, 9am– noon

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L ocation: 508 8th Ave. (former car dealership) across from Greeley Tribune offices.

• Loveland Winter Farmers Market Saturdays, 10am-2pm Dates: Dec. 8, 15 and 22; Jan. 12 and 26; and Feb. 9.

Location: The Outlets at Loveland, 5616 McWhinney Blvd.

When winter markets are not in session, it’s still possible to buy many local products directly from market vendors or other local businesses. Below are several local food companies that accept retail customers, either on their premises or through phone or e-mail orders.

• Cramer’s Handmade Bread Company, Loveland, 970-541-0705 http://cramershandmadebreadco.com/ tamara@cramershandmadebreadco.com

This start-up bread and cupcake business offers artisan breads, such as Pain au Levain, focaccia and demi baguettes and cupcakes such as Salted Caramel Mocha, Chocolate Strawberry and Mudslide.

Products are available at the Loveland Winter Farmers Market or through phone or e-mail orders. Also, the company offers a “Bread Share” program where customers can pre-pay (at a slightly lower cost) for three, six or 12 months and receive a weekly bread share that can be picked up at the Cramer’s home, Loveland Aleworks or the farmers market.

• Hazel Dell Mushrooms, Fort Collins Fort Collins, 970-226-0978 3925 E County Rd 32 (Carpenter Rd.), hazeldellmushrooms.com

This certified organic mushroom farm offers Shiitake, Oyster, Lion’s Mane, Portabella, Button and Cinnamon Cap. They participate in the Be Local Winter Farmers Market in Fort Collins. The farm is also open for retail sales 8:30am4:30pm Monday through Friday.

• Ingrained Bakery Fort Collins, 970-988-8487 E-mail: callie@ingrainedbakery.com

This bakery offers a variety of breads, plus muffins, scones, croissants, sticky buns and cinnamon rolls. The bread and pastries are available at the Fort Collins Food Co-op, Beavers Market, Be Local Winter Farmers Market. Customers can also call or e-mail to place orders for pick-up.

• Me Oh My Pies 970-691-2768, e-mail: info@meohmypie.com

These delicious homemade pies are made using fresh, local ingredients whenever possible. Check the website for seasonal choices. They offer gluten-free, sugar-free, vegetarian, and vegan pies also. Call or place an order online. Fresh pies are then delivered to Bellevue Bean, Cache Le Bean, or Gib’s Bagels for convenient pick-up.

• MouCo Cheese Company Fort Collins, 970-498-0107 http://www.mouco.com/

This Fort Collins company uses milk from local dairies to make its Camembert, ColoRouge, Truffello and Ashley cheeses. The cheese is available at the Be Local Winter Farmers Market, the Fort Collins Food Co-op, Beavers Market, Whole Foods, some chain grocery stories and via online orders.

• The Pie Shop, Loveland 970-646-8534, www.thepieshopco.com/ e-mail: kirsten@thepieshopco.com

The Pie Shop offers more than a dozen kinds of homemade fruit pie, all priced at $20. The pies are available at the Loveland Winter Farmers Market or can be pre-ordered by phone or email. Pies can be picked up at the farmers market or delivered free within a 3mile radius of Thompson Valley Towne Center. (A $1/mile delivery fee applies beyond the 3-mile radius.)

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community news

Cut your own tree

Planning to cut down your own Christmas tree this year? Here are a couple of options. You can make a day of it and head to Beaver Meadows where you can cut a tree ($20 up to 8 feet and $35 for taller) and then have some fun skating, tubing and drinking hot cocoa around a fire. Beaver Meadows sits in the mountains west of Red Feather Lakes. Check it out at www.beavermeadows.com.

Or you can cut a tree on Forest Service land. The cutting area on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District is open Dec. 1 through 9 and permits are $10 and are on sale beginning Nov. 26.

Tree cutters can get their permit (cash only) at the cutting area on the weekends or from these offices during the week.

Canyon Lakes Ranger District office, 2150 Centre, Ave., Building E, FC, Pawnee National Grassland office, 660 “O” Street, GR. The cutting area is open daily from 8:30am to 2:30pm for cutting during the week and 10am to 2:30pm on weekends.

Smokey Bear will greet people at the cutting area on weekends. It can get cold while looking for your tree, remem14

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ber to dress for the weather. You also need the right tools to cut your tree and no chainsaws are allowed.

The cutting area is located north of Fort Collins. Take Highway 287 north of Fort Collins for 21 miles. At Livermore, turn left onto Red Feather Lakes Road (County Road 74E) and travel approximately 16 miles to the Boy Scout Road (County Road 68C). Turn left on the Boy Scout Road and drive seven miles to the entrance of the cutting area. Signs or U.S. Forest Service personnel will provide directions the rest of the way. Chains or four-wheel drive is required to enter the cutting.

For more information, call 970295-6700 or visit the web at www. fs.usda.gov/arp.

Whooping cough outbreak threatens children and adults With the confirmed cases of whooping cough (pertussis) in Colorado now over 1,100, The Larimer County

Department of Health and Environment is issuing a reminder that adults need pertussis booster shots too.

“It’s urgent that adults not only update their children’s vaccines, but that the adults check on their own immunization status and get a pertussis booster if needed,” said Susanne Murray, communicable disease nurse. “We have had cases in infants less than 1 year of age, as well as seniors over 80 in Larimer County. Adults can spread it to children and children can spread it to adults .”

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by a bacteria. It can cause mild to severe illness but is most dangerous for the very young, the very old, or those with other serious health problems. Pertussis in early infancy is frequently severe and potentially fatal.

Pertussis begins with cold-like symptoms and progresses to a severe cough. Some patients can have severe coughing spells, which may cause

vomiting, breathlessness, a change in facial color, and a whooping sound that follows the coughing fits. (Whooping is less common after infancy.) The illness can last from six to ten weeks.

The bacteria are spread through sneezing and coughing and contact with droplets from the respiratory tract of the person who is infected. It usually takes from 7-10 days for symptoms to appear after exposure to pertussis, but symptoms could appear from 4 to 21 days after exposure.

“To protect the youngest and most vulnerable, it’s important that relatives and other people in the community be vaccinated to prevent spread of whooping cough,” said Murray.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends infants and children be vaccinated against pertussis beginning the series of shots at 2 months of age and following the recommended schedule for the best protection.

Immunity to the bacteria that cause whooping cough wears off over time, so booster shots are necessary. It is recommended that a booster dose of Tdap be given at age 11 or 12 years and for all adolescents and any adult who has not previously received a dose of Tdap.

“Vaccination is still the safest and most effective tool we have to prevent pertussis,” said Murray. She recommends that anyone with infant contact (babysitters, daycare providers; grandparents and visiting relatives) pregnant women, or members of a household with an infant or expecting an infant should receive a Tdap vaccine.

To help prevent the spread of pertussis : • Vaccinate infants and children according to established vaccination schedule, including boosters • Check your vaccination records and get a booster if needed • Stay home from school or work and keep children home from daycare when ill • See a health care provider if you have symptoms of pertussis • Take antibiotics for pertussis as directed for five full days before returning to school, work or other social groups • Don’t visit elderly relatives or friends, hospitals or nursing homes if you have a cold or cough, or if you’ve been exposed

to pertussis in the past 3 weeks.

For more information on pertussis and pertussis vaccination, see www. larimer.org/health or www.cdc.gov.

Santa’s Workshop: toy & clothing drive Santa’s Workshop is a grass-roots effort that has grown to a countywide toy and winter clothing distribution program. This event grew from an unsolicited movement of local businesses, schools, neighborhoods, churches and other groups that just set out to collect and deliver toys for children over the holidays. This movement has grown every year as the giving spirit spreads and people reach out to their social circles to provide for these children in need until it has become the single largest multi-agency distribution of toys in Larimer County.

Toy collections begin in November each year. On one magical day in December our entire community gets to be Santa’s helpers as all these items are distributed through Realities For Children Charities to caseworkers, group homes, foster homes and all 19 of their Affiliate Agencies in Larimer County.

Realities for Children is now accepting donations of the following items: NEW Toys: Books, puzzles, games, sports, art, music, stuffed animals and more. WARM Clothing: Hats, gloves, scarves, long sleeves, long pants, new socks, boots and more. Donations can be dropped off at: • Realities for Children, Inc 1610 South College Avenue, Fort Collins • Albracht’s One Hour Heating & Air 487 Denver Avenue, Loveland • Inside Out 2720 S College Avenue, Fort Collins • Business Card Factory 1608 Riverside Avenue, Fort Collins • Fort Collins Muffler & Automotive 2001 S College Avenue, Fort Collins • Karate West 3725 S Mason Street, Fort Collins • Maya Cove Restaurant 2100 W Drake Road, Fort Collins • Heart Center of the Rockies

2121 E Harmony Road, Suite 100, Fort Collins • Lighthouse Chiropractic 2601 S Lemay Avenue #15, Fort Collins 226 E 29th Street Suite #B, Loveland • Thunder Mountain Harley Davidson 4250 Byrd Drive, Loveland • Pump It Up 1420 Riverside Avenue #114, Fort Collins • Connected Chiropractic 32 S Rutherford, Johnstown • Comcast Business After Hours Thursday, December 13th Only

If you would like to make tax deductible monetary donation to be dedicated to the purchase of new toys and winter clothing please: Send Checks to: Realities For Children Charities, 1610 South College Ave., Fort Collins CO 80525 Donate online: click here and note Santa’s Workshop in the comments box, or call 970-484-9090.

Grant helps restore watersheds Northern Colorado cities got a boost to help clean up their water at the source. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has provided $1.26 million from its Emergency Watershed Program to assist with the mitigation costs following the High Park fire. The City of Greeley, as lead sponsor, has partnered with the City of Fort Collins and the Tri-Districts to complete this work. The NRCS grant provides partial reimbursement to the partners’ 2012 effort that totaled approximately $3.5 million.

In September and October, more than 3,000 acres in the Poudre Canyon, and Stove Prairie and Buckhorn Gulches in the Big Thompson basin, were treated with certified weed-free straw and seeded mulch. Treatment helps to reduce the risk of erosion, flooding and mudslides, and encourages regrowth on very steep terrain. Greeley and its partners are working with local and regional nonprofits to identify and implement a variety of mitigation techniques intended to keep as much ash and debris out of the Poudre River as possible.

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nutrition ing decent amounts of potassium, foliate, fiber, and vitamin C. On the bad side, the amount of protein each serving contains, 1 gram, is less than other nuts have. Since protein helps curb hunger, chestnuts may not be a sensible snack for those working to lose weight.

Consumable carols

Holiday foods and their holiday songs R i c h a rd K eller

T

he holiday season has arrived with its normal hyperactive hustle and bustle. Crowds are packing the stores, streets are ablaze with holiday light displays, and the airwaves are jammed with commercials touting deep discounts at every conceivable retail location. If you didn’t know it was the holiday season from those items, the constant replay of every conceivable Christmas and Hanukkah song ever recorded should provide some sort of clue.

If you listen to those tunes you’ll notice something–the specific foods mentioned. From chestnuts to potato pancakes, the songs of the holiday feature more seasonal dining references than any others sung throughout the year. Here are some examples and, if you decide to make them for your family, their nutritional values.

Potato Latkes (Potato Pancakes) Hanukkah, Oh, Hanukkah This favorite, served during the annual Festival of Lights, is a multi-faceted dish. Made with shredded potatoes, onion, black pepper, and flour, potato latkes can be served as either a meal or a side.

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While the ingredients for these pancakes aren’t bad for you, there’s plenty of protein and potassium stored inside each one, it’s how they’re cooked and what they’re served with which can be causes for concern.

In the period of time known as ‘The Olden Days’ latkes were fried in an animal fat like lard. In today’s healthconscious world it isn’t considered sacrilege if they’re cooked in a vegetablebased or sunflower oil. In the end, most of the flavor comes from the latkes themselves rather than what they’re cooked in.

As tradition stands, potato pancakes are served with applesauce or sour cream. Both can still be used, but with substitutions like low-fat sour cream and natural applesauce. Like the oil used to fry the pancakes, making these healthier replacements won’t change the meal’s flavor.

Roasted Chestnuts The Christmas Song There’s both good and bad for these nuts, traditionally roasted over cozy fires in living rooms across America. On the good side, chestnuts are a low-calorie and nearly sodium-free snack contain-

Goose Christmas is Coming and Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer The geese may be getting fat in these holiday tunes, but so are the people feasting on this piece of poultry. An ounce serving of goose is 252 calories, with 247 of those from fat. Goose contains 28 grams of fat, 8 of them in the saturated category, and 28 milligrams of cholesterol. The bird contains no fiber, protein, or essential vitamins and minerals. The only good thing about serving goose at your holiday table is it’s a sodium-free bird.

Figgy Pudding We Wish You a Merry Christmas Alone, raw figs are okay. Low in calories with virtually no fat, the main downside to this fruit is its mild sugar content.

The problem comes when you add these figs to a pudding. With ingredients such as buttermilk, butter, and eggs, fat and cholesterol intakes increase. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to make figgy pudding. With a few substitutions, including the use of the water you boil the figs in as part of the mixture, you can create a lower-calorie, but still delicious, dessert for the family.

A Three Decker Sauerkraut and Toadstool Sandwich with Arsenic Sauce You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch Sauerkraut is a low-calorie dish with a small amount of carbohydrates and a good portion of fiber. The toadstools and arsenic, well, better to serve a goose to the family than this meal.

To all of yours from all of mine, have a happy and healthy holiday season full of nutritious and delicious food.

Mission: We are a non-profit serving Southern Larimer County as victim’s rights advocates. We service any victim of violent crime and specialize in domestic violence and sexual assault.

The Matthews House

Crisis Hotline: 970-278-2083 alternativestoviolence.org

“Realities for Children’s emergency support funding has allowed Alternatives to Violence to offer therapeutic support for children and adolescents who have been harmed or have witnessed a violent crime. At a time when funding resources are being cut in so many venues; the incredible, compassionate and dedicated support and visibility givesshape to youths throughout control ofRealities their lives, positive futures the for county cannot ever truly be measured!” themselves and become successful contributors —Lynda M. Nielsen, Executive Director, Alternative to Violence Partnered in service with 19 Affiliate Youth Agencies, Realities For Children Charities provides support for the unmet needs of abused and neglected children in Larimer County. Each month in Parent Magazine a different Realities For Children Affiliate Agency will be featured.

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Smoothing out the holiday roller coaster ride

Want to create a satisfying, meaningful holiday?

Here’s how!

Lynn Utzman-Nichols

H

ave you ever experienced a post-holiday hangover? It usually hits in early January. Not the physical kind, but the emotional one where you feel let down and overwhelmed by holiday spending, partying, and maybe a sense of dissatisfaction that things didn’t turn out how you wanted. It’s a bit like stepping off a roller coaster. All the hype and thrill fades and you’re left feeling off balance with a dizzy head and shaky legs wondering if it was all worth it.

There’s a simple solution. Instead of getting on the ride this year without much thought, decide beforehand what you want your holiday to look like and build in check points where you stop, breathe, reassess and rest.

Staying conscious and thoughtful about what you really want and balancing these wishes with obligations will keep your holiday on its tracks— as will keeping it real when it comes 18

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to expectations of yourself and others.

Take a seat and let’s get started!

Define what’s important to you, and plan When it comes to holiday planning, Dr. Carol Pfaffly, Associate Director for Behavioral Health Services and a Marriage and Family Therapist with University of Colorado Health suggests starting with the have-to’s: “These are obligations, but also things that are really important to you—things that bring meaning to the holiday. Have a discussion with your family about each of your have-to’s, and do your best to balance these on your calendar.”

For example, a have-to might be your child’s school Christmas concert. That goes on the calendar. Another have-to could be your spouse’s work party. Have each person in the family name their have-to obligations as well as one or two activities that truly mean Christmas (or

Hanukah, or Kwanza, etc.) to them. Young children might not be able to do this, but older kids will definitely have an opinion.

You might be surprised that their answers are not all about gifts—it could be simple traditions you do, like driving around on Christmas Eve after the candlelight service to see lights, decorating sugar cookies, or playing football on Christmas afternoon. Even if they are not tied to a date, put each person’s top two items somewhere on the calendar.

Also, explore why the holiday is important to you: “Is it for religious reasons or does it simply mean family time with a break from work or school?” asks Pfaffly. Maybe the rituals and traditions you’ve carried through the years define the holiday. Reassess which ones bring joy and which ones you simply do because it’s ‘what you do.’ “Don’t feel locked in to all those traditions you’ve always carried out.

Be flexible to new ways of doing things, and periodically stop and ask yourself

what you really want to do,” suggests Pfaffly.

A little thoughtful planning can help you and your family’s holiday be more satisfying—even if you have to do some things you really don’t care to do, you’ll know you get to do some things that you want to do, making the obligations easier.

Ask if your plans are realistic After you do some planning take a step back and consider if your schedule is realistic. Are you cramming in too much?

A good rule of thumb is to have a down day between events, but how busy people like to be is an individual preference. If you are feeling stress and notice that your kids are too (and whining and wishing to simply stay home), trim some items off your calendar. Honor everyone’s style as best you can.

“Know your limits—are your plans or desires doable? Realistic? Unrealistic expectations are a set up for disappointment,” says Pfaffly.

Also, expect a push-and-pull when it comes to holiday plans. You might want to spend Thanksgiving at home with your family, but you’re obligated to travel to your in-laws.

“People enter marriage with their own idea of holidays. These get complicated by kids and relatives. It’s not easy to negotiate all these obligations and wishes. The best solution is to communicate your expectations and desires, then negotiate,” says Pfaffly.

Examine your own expectations It’s important to consider if your expectations for the holiday are reasonable, or if they are built on an unreachable ideal.

With all the commercial buildup, it’s hard to avoid getting sucked into the idea of a Norman Rockwell Christmas and compare your situation to that image. “There is no perfect Christmas. Most families do not look like that picture. In reality, grandpas die, couples divorce or can’t conceive, and families can’t get together because of distance or work,” says Pfaffly. While your situation may not be ideal, you can choose to make the most of your holiday. “Maybe your sister can’t join you, but how else can

you fulfill your desire to see her? Can you Skype and share gift giving time together or video important moments to send afterwards?” suggests Pfaffly.

Christmas looks so magical from the outside with automated Santas, Christmas carols, shimmering lights and decorations everywhere we turn. Before we know it we are swept up into running around for the perfect gift or trying to create the perfect event. “The commercial idea of Christmas is a feel-good fantasy. Enjoy it but know it’s a fantasy and that reality might be quite different, and that’s okay,” adds Pfaffly.

Another good bit of advice is to expect people to be who they are at the holidays, not better.

If you hold a wish that this year your father will acknowledge your success, or that your Aunt Hilda will be positive and sweet rather than her judging and spiteful self, let go of it. “People are who they are all year long.

Those Christmas reconciliation scenes mostly exist in the movies,” says Pfaffly.

Consider limiting your time with people you feel obligated to see.

Be proactive vs. reactive Dr. Pfaffly is big on personal responsibility. She believes that a key to dissatisfaction is having an “external locus of control.” Simply put, this means believing your happiness is “out there” versus something you decide or influence.

During the holidays an external approach might look like someone saying, ‘my holiday is going to be awful because my brother is in the military and he can’t join us.’ While this isn’t a great situation, she still has the choice to decide how it will affect her holiday. She can sit around and complain and feel like a victim, or she can take action and find a way to include him across the miles.

“It’s stopping and choosing rather than reacting to something you have no control over. Try saying, ‘this is the situation, now how do I want to deal with it?’” says Pfaffly.

This works even when it comes to obligations. “Most people feel a constant struggle between internal and external wants and expectations. Knowing why you plan to fulfill an obligation or turn one down has power. It gives you the chance to choose,” says Pfaffly. If all your neighbors hang outside lights and you don’t want to, you can choose not to hang your lights. Or, you might decide that it’s what you want to do to be a part of the community. Either way, it is a conscious choice—a proactive decision rather than a reactive one.

“If you are doing something because you’re worried what others will think, that’s a clue you may be catering to external expectations,” concludes Pfaffly.

Practice self care Finally, it’s important to stop throughout the season and take a break to recharge. If you feel frazzled and are running from one event to the next without much thought, you’re not going to enjoy the season. Slow down and remind yourself how you really want this holiday to turn out.

If you’ve taken care of yourself you’ll be able to see the silliness in your child’s rejection of your turkey dinner, or a flopped pumpkin pie. If you have realistic expectations that your house doesn’t have to be the best decorated on the block, you won’t mind too much when your giant Santa blows over before your dinner guests arrive.

“If something upsets you, take a look inside yourself and ask, ‘why is this bugging me so much?’ You might run into an unrealistic expectation or realize you’ve given in to too many ‘shoulds’ or obligations,” suggests Pfaffly. She advocates taking time-outs as you need them throughout the holiday.

Her final word of advice? “Take advantage of your right to make choices and make the right ones for you and your family this holiday season.” Remember, it’s your ride. Make it enjoyable.

UC Health sponsored this article.

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The seasonal Fight off colds and flu during the winter

sludge Lynn Utzman-Nichols

W

hen my kids were young we officially changed the name of winter. We simply called it sick season. With two young kids it seemed we’d just finish a cold and BAM, we’d be hit again.

I guess that’s about right, considering the average child under age 6 gets seven colds per cold season, which generally runs between October and February. With each cold lasting about two weeks, that means we’re sick almost 14 out of those 20 weeks.

Multiply that by two kids and oh boy, I don’t even want to do the math.

We’ve all heard the basics on how to avoid colds 20

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and the flu. Wash your hands frequently. Cover your mouth when you sneeze. Don’t share glasses. While this is sound advice, there’s more that we can do to keep these bugs at bay.

The best defense? Avoid getting sick in the first place!

Here’s something that will make you cover your face and run: each drop of nasal secre-

tion from someone with a cold contains up to 100,000 virus particles! And these little buggers can live for hours on toys, towels, doorknobs, tissues, faucets and anywhere else they happen to land. “We are finding out that people are infectious at any point during their illnesses, not just in the beginning,” says Dr. Marilu Orozco-Peterson with Heritage Family Medicine in Fort

Collins. All you have to do is touch a contaminated object and touch your face, or breathe in the particles while they’re airborne to get sick.

Knowing this makes it seem impossible to avoid getting sick, especially with kids who don’t always remember to cover their mouths when they sneeze or wash their hands afterwards. Before you lose all hope, here are a few new tricks to put up your sleeve: Consider getting the flu shot for you and your kids. “The best way to treat

the flu is to prevent the flu,” says Orozco-Peterson. “The Centers for Disease Control and pediatric specialists recommend that children as young as six months get the flu shot.” she adds. Some children will need 2 doses a month apart, depending on their situation.

Get enough sleep and eat well to keep your immune system running strong.

“Immune systems get stressed and tired when we are stressed and tired.

Go to bed earlier during the winter and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C and antioxidants,” suggests Orozco-Peterson.

Exercise regularly. Research shows that exercise makes it easier for our bodies to fight off bugs and sludge.

“Regular exercise—30 minutes a day—increases our immunity and decreases our stress,” says Orozco-Peterson, with an added warning to not overdo it or you’ll do the opposite.

Consider using a hand sanitizer when you are out and about. While it

doesn’t beat out good old hand washing, it is better than nothing. A dab of the alcohol-based gel kills 99.99 percent of germs, but avoid products that have other ingredients that claim to kill microbes, too. Overusing such anti-bacterial products can help certain bugs build up a resistance, making it harder for antibiotics to do their job, when needed.

Zap your kitchen sponge. A study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology tested several surfaces in homes for germs that make us sick.

Researchers found that the kitchen harbors the most germs, even more

than the bathroom! And kitchen sponges and dishcloths were the worst. But running a sponge through a dishwasher or a dishcloth through a washing machine doesn’t kill most germs, even when a strong disinfectant is used. The best idea is to get your sponge or dish cloth wet and microwave it for two minutes—it’ll come out germ free.

Use a cool-mist humidifier, even when no one is sick. Moist air keeps

nasal passages healthy. “It is extremely dry here in Colorado. That’s hard on our noses, eyes and lungs,” says Orozco-Peterson. Clean your humidifier often to avoid the growth of bacteria and fungus.

Open a window. It’s a good idea to exchange germ-ridden air with fresh, when the weather permits.

Consider using an air cleaner. HEPA filters can remove 99.97 percent of pollen, dust, animal dander, and even bacteria from the air. Plants do the same, but at a much slower rate.

Plants that are known to clean the air include peace lilies, spider plants and philodendrons.

Teach kids to cover when they cough!

“Train your kids to cough into their elbow to avoid that hand-mouth-nose triad by keeping germs off of hands,” advises Orozco-Peterson.

Finally, and most importantly, wash your hands, especially after wiping noses!

“A good rule-of-thumb is to have kids wash their hands while they sing the ABCs,” says Orozco-Peterson. It takes approximately 20 to 30 seconds of hand washing to kill viruses. Another good time to remember to wash is before meals and during meal preparation.

Child caught a cold or flu? Here’s what to do!

There is no magic pill to cure a cold or flu. The best defense is helping your body fight it off by resting, getting plenty of fluids, and using a vaporizer or humidifier and saline nose drops to keep nasal passages moist.

Using ibuprofen for body aches or acetaminophen for a headache or fever occasionally is fine. You can use over-the-counter cough, flu and cold medicines but avoid some others like

medicated nasal sprays.

Parents often want antibiotics when their kids are sick, but viruses cause colds and the flu, not bacteria so antibiotics won’t work. In fact, there are 200 different viruses that produce common cold symptoms.

Colds generally last 9 to 10 days where the flu lasts 7 to 10 days. The only time antibiotics are needed is if a secondary infection develops, such as bronchitis and sometimes a sinus infection. You’ll know this has happened when symptoms get worse after a week, not better. Yet colds and the flu run their course without complications 90 percent of the time.

Consider calling the doctor if your child has trouble breathing, is lethargic, has a rash associated with a fever, or has a fever that you can’t control with medication. These may signify bronchitis, meningitis, an ear infection, or something else.

“If your child seems to have an excess number of colds it’s time to see a doctor,” adds Orozco-Peterson. “If she’s sick more than not, get a checkup to see if she has an immunodeficiency, meaning her immune system is not working properly.”

If you suspect the flu because it hit like a brick and came on fast, you might want to verify it with a rapid flu test. If it is the flu, your doctor might prescribe Tamiflu—an antiviral that shortens the course of the flu and lessens its intensity, if taken within 24 to 48 hours. Some people swear by supplements, such as vitamin C, zinc and herbs such as echinacea and goldenseal, also taken early on.

When you’re feeling like your family is caught in a bad cycle of repeated illnesses, remember that a time will come when winter will once again be something to enjoy. As kids grow older, their immune systems recognize viruses and are better able to fight them off. That means you’ll have more time between illnesses to slip in a ski trip or go sledding. Like me, you’ll be able to redefine winter, once again.

UC Health sponsored this article.

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thompson school district news Miss Loveland Valentine 2012-2013 selected Applicants not accepted will be placed on a wait list. Applicants accepted must sign and return acceptance forms to the school of choice no later than 3pm on Jan. 25. The open enrollment process is not complete until the student has been registered at the approved school.

The district administration building is at 800 S. Taft Ave. and is open from 7:30am-4:30pm Monday through Friday.

Madison Polansky is Miss Loveland Valentine 2012-2013.

Mountain View High School senior Madison Polansky was named Miss Loveland Valentine 2012-2013 during a Chamber of Commerce luncheon with the Thompson Valley Rotary Club on Nov. 1. The runner-up was Katie Wilson, also from MVHS. A panel of Loveland Chamber of Commerce judges selected Polanski after a series of essays, interviews and a speech during the luncheon. Loveland High School, Thompson Valley High School and Mountain View High schools each nominate three students who vie to become the Sweetheart City’s ambassador. In addition to Polansky, the candidates were: Andrea Kelly, TVHS; Katie Hart, TVHS; Michal Bower, LHS; Abigail Metzger, MVHS; Mariah Von Tress, LHS; Darby Collins, LHS; Bailey Knaub, TVHS; and Katie Wilson, MVHS. Open enrollment applications available Open enrollment applications for Thompson School District students K12 are available at any of the schools, at the district administration building, or 24

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online at www.thompsonschools.org.

The window for turning the applications into the school of choice is Nov. 26 to no later than 3pm on Dec. 21.

Students in the Thompson School District are all assigned to attend a specific school based on the geographical area of their residence. The Board of Education recognizes that students may benefit from having a choice of schools to attend within the district that is not limited by the boundaries of attendance.

Parents/guardians wishing to have their student attend a school outside of their attendance area must go through an application process.

Students, entering kindergarten through 12th grade in the fall of 2013, may be allowed to attend any school or participate in the program of their choice on a space-available, first-come, first-served basis provided they meet the district’s guidelines, are eligible for enrollment, and follow the approval process established by the Board of Education.

Schools will notify parents no later than Jan. 10 if they have been accepted.

Early Childhood Program gathers input for readiness goals The Thompson Early Childhood Program is getting ready to prepare its preschoolers for kindergarten.

That means ready children, ready families, ready schools and ready community, Early Childhood (EC) Administrator Theresa Clements says. “As our tagline says: Readiness is more than the ABCs and it begins at birth.”

EC, (which is part of the Thompson School District, combines the federal Head Start, Colorado Preschool Program, special education and tuitionbased participation), asked an audience of about 30 what it will take to create readiness goals for the future. The group composed of kindergarten teachers, preschool staffs, parents and community members met Oct. 15 in a session with the EC staff to begin the process.

The readiness framework for preschool children is a cornerstone of building expectations, programs, and actions in preparing students to be successful in kindergarten and beyond. The state is enacting readiness legislation that takes effect in 2013-2014 when school readiness plans and assessments will be initiated.

The EC program serves about 550 preschoolers in the district, working through federal, state and Larimer County to align their focus closely with state and district standards. “It will all be aligned from preschool on. It’s all connected,” Clements says.

issues. For more information visit www.thompsonschools.org or call 970-613-5052.

District to sponsor science fair The first annual Thompson School District Science Fair will be held on Jan. 12, 2013. All students are invited to participate. To participate, the student and parents/guardians must fill out and return the required paperwork prior to beginning an experiment. For more information and a link to the required forms, please go to http://thompson.k12.co.us/ Bulletin_board/science-fair/scienceFair. html. All forms are due to Carol Swalley at the district office no later than Nov. 30, 2012. If you would like to volunteer to be a judge at the fair, please contact Carol Swalley at 970-613-5058.

She noted that readiness is about all aspects of a child’s life. “School readiness is enhanced when schools, families and community service providers work collaboratively to ensure every student is ready,” Clements says. Head Start adds: “If children are ready, families are ready and schools are ready, the child can possess the skills, knowledge and attributes necessary for success in school and later in life.”

As she spoke to the group, Clements provided them with the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework. She said she wanted them to bring forward their thoughts and expectations. “We want to hear from you at a gut level,” Clements told participants before they broke into smaller groups to address the five general Head Start framework components of language and literacy, approaches to learning, social and emotional development, physical development and health and cognition and general knowledge.

“What is it a child needs when they walk out the door of preschool so that they are successful when they reach kindergarten?” Clements asked. “We want to

capture that.” As people discussed specific goals under the headings, Clements said her staff was looking to pare down two to three major ideas within each area of what a child needs to be ready.

“That doesn’t mean we won’t work on all the others but we want to define the most important areas,” she said. The challenge for us is that they need to be broad in the goal statement – what we want for all children.”

After participants listed several goals, they then each identified their two to three priority goals in each area.

“We will take the work from tonight to the EC staff and program councils to continue to identify the key goals and continue the process of redefining readiness goals,” Clements said.

Head Start Program School Readiness Act passed in 2007 and was followed by the state enacting similar legislations. Larimer County followed suit with a countywide effort to support school readiness. Clements says the Larimer school districts – Thompson, Poudre and Park in Estes have worked closely address readiness

Conrad Ball staff presents at conference Conrad Ball Middle School staff facilitate several sessions on best practices for launching a 1:1 iPad initiative and other strategies for effective instruction on Nov. 3 at the Colorado “School to Watch” Conference in Commerce City. Educators from across the state attended this conference hosted by the Colorado Association of Middle Level Education (CAMLE). Conrad Ball presenters were Michael Dubas, Andy Kaufman, Matt Vannice, Tanya Miller, Michele Massey, Alyssa Siebenaller and Scott Elias.

Truscott completes walk-a-thon Truscott Elementary School students walked to Santa Fe, NM, on Oct. 31.

The students walked over 419 miles on the Bill Reed Middle School track to raise money for student activities at Truscott. Totaled, the miles that staff and parents walked with the kids topped 445 miles; it is 442 miles to Santa Fe. The walk-a-thon not only represented a fundraiser for the school but also provided teachable moments in geography, math and map skills. The school received a letter from the City of Santa Fe commending them for their efforts.

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poudre school district news

Parent believes in the Olander community

Brenda Roach says that the hugs and big smiles just make her day.

Poudre School District has over 16,500 volunteers, consisting of parents, grandparents, seniors and community members. Managing that many volunteers in 48 schools is quite a feat! Helping the PSD’s Volunteers and Partnerships office manage the multitude of volunteers at each school site is a Volunteer Building Coordinator (VBC). These dedicated volunteers donate many hours to ensure the volunteer program at their school is a success. Some have done it for many years, starting in elementary schools, and continuing in this volunteer position even after their children move on to junior high and even high school!

During the 2011-12 school year, Brenda Roach took over the role of Volunteer Building Coordinator for Olander Elementary. Her involvement with Olander began, however, when her daughter started kindergarten, volunteering in the classroom. She then accepted the Treasury position, helped coordinate events for the school, and worked with the staff to get educational nights for the parents and children. Roach says, “I’m involved because I believe in the great community at Olander. We are fortunate to have an amazing staff who works as a team, 26

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fantastic parents, and the best part—the kiddos—the hugs and the big smiles just make my day.”

Olander is a Project Based Learning (PBL) school and Roach says it is exciting as you go through each grade level to see the projects the teachers put together for the students, and then watch as all the volunteers come together to help support the team. One particular event she recalls is the third-grade museum project. The parents would volunteer their time during the day to help provide guidance to the student groups, coming together in the evening with the students to actually build the museum. “Seeing parents and kids crawling on the floor, turning a plain room into a wonder, seeing the kiddos grow as a team, watching and listening to the creative ideas, was an amazing experience and project. It was so organized and fun,” says Roach. She enjoys seeing the different PBL projects each year and is thankful for the dedicated group of volunteers that help support the learning environment.

Between volunteering and working full time, Roach says she doesn’t have a lot of time left! “I really enjoy helping out at the Animal House with their fundraising events when my schedule allows, getting my daughter to her activities, scrapbooking, and our family Sunday breakfast when we get to enjoy spending time together as a family,” she says.

Roach adds, “It’s great to see volunteers throughout the school on any given day, full of smiles, and supporting the teachers with little things or bigger projects, to make their jobs easier so they can focus on the students. I’m truly honored and humbled to get the opportunity to work with such a talented group of people, from the staff, parents, and the kiddos – I have learned a lot from them all.”

Werner first-graders explore Gardens on Spring Creek Curious first-graders made their own

discoveries about plants in Colorado as they enthusiastically wandered paths and explored the unique Gardens on Spring Creek on a sunny, fall day.

“It’s good for them to be out here.

They see so much more here than what we can bring into the classroom,” says Mona Glover, first-grade teacher at Werner Elementary.

For the past month, Werner Elementary first-graders have been studying and learning about plants.

The field trip to the Gardens on Spring Creek, a city-funded community horticulture program, gave the young students an opportunity to see first-hand what they’ve been learning in the classroom.

“We’ve been learning about the parts of plants, what plants produce, how seeds travel, and what plants need to grow. We’ve learned all about the life cycle of plants,” says Glover.

“We’ve also grown some plants of our own. The Gardens on Spring Creek give the kids more exposure to different plants.”

Courtney Reid, youth program instructor at the Gardens on Spring Creek, led the first-graders as they explored the Garden of Eatin’ (a vegetable garden) and Rock Garden (a naturalistic garden featuring low-growing plants).

She also showed them secret hiding places in the Children’s Garden and

Calendar of Events Dec. 11........ 6:30pm, Board of Education meeting, Johannsen Support Services Complex, 2407 LaPorte Avenue.

Dec. 24-Jan. 4....Winter Break, No school!

Jan. 7.......... Teacher Work Day, no school for K-12 students. Teachers on duty.

Jan. 8.......... First day back at school after Winter Break.

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taught them how to tell time by standing on a sundial and seeing where their shadow falls.

Reid says she hopes the students learn that gardening is fun and beneficial to everyone. “We want them to understand where food comes from,” she says. “Apples aren’t just an afterschool snack. It takes a lot of work from a lot of different people to grow an apple tree.”

Both first-graders Ireland Nickel and Cooper Hand say they have learned a lot about plants and enjoyed being outside.

“I learned that plants need water and soil and they need sun so they can grow,” says Ireland, whose favorite part of the field trip was petting the fish in the pond. “It was fun. They were kind of slimy when we were petting them.”

Cooper says he learned that plants need space between them so they can “catch the sun and grow.” He enjoyed making the “living” necklace, which contains a scarlet runner bean that will eventually sprout and can be replanted.

“I liked making the necklace because that was something you can make here and I like art,” he says.

Blevins and Olander students learn science together First-graders at Olander Elementary School of Project-Based Learning and seventh-graders at Blevins Middle School recently worked together on an educational tie-dying activity.

The seventh graders, who are studying chemistry, and the first graders, who are studying solids/liquids/gases, became buddies and wrote letters to each other. When firstgraders visited Blevins, the seventh graders taught them how to tie-dye and they ate lunch together. Students improved their science skills while also learning about each other, relationships and communication. One seventh grader says, “My first-grade buddy brought out my inner child and it was so fun to work with her.”

The buses used for transporting the students were funded through a grant from the Bohemian Foundation.

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Crazy Hair day was a reward for McGraw Elementary students reaching a goal of showing a certain number of positive attributes that are included in the International Baccalaureate Learning profile. Those IB Learner Profile attributes include being caring, open-minded, an inquirer, balanced, thinking, risk-taker, reflective, knowledgeable, principled, and being a communicator.

Blevins seventh-graders tie-dye with Olander first-graders while learning science.

As part of their science unit, Werner Elementary first-graders enjoyed a field trip to the Gardens on Spring Creek.

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greeley-evans district 6 news Nutrition services rolls out new menu app more healthy meals to our students.

In addition, Nutrition Services has partnered with Nutrislice to develop a school breakfast and lunch menu app that is available for free download for iPhone and iPad users, and will be available to Droid users Dec. 1.

In addition to providing daily menu information, the app also provides detailed descriptions of meals, nutrition information, prices and photos of each menu item. An allergy filter will help identify appropriate menu items for customers with food allergies. Customers can also sign up to receive monthly menus via email.

To download the free app, search “school nutrition by Nutrislice” at the App Store. Or those without a mobile device can access the same information by entering “www.greeleyschools. nutrislice.com/mobile/” into their web browser.

Chefs make lasagna, using locally sourced tomatoes. Most meals are made from scratch now and are delicious.

Exciting things are happening at Greeley-Evans School District 6 Nutrition Services this year.

The Nutrition Services department has been awarded an $83,800 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its Farm-To-School food hub project.

The food hub program will allow District 6 to purchase more local foods in-season, minimally process the produce and incorporate these items on their menus all year long.

Additionally, District 6 will have the ability to then sell the product to other surrounding school districts.

Smaller districts don’t always have the buying power and equipment to make a farm-to-school program viable.

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This will assist those districts as well as local producers, creating a regional farm-to-school program.

“This grant funding strengthens our continued efforts to utilize the bounty of fresh produce available in Weld County and northern Colorado and supports our vision of ‘Fueling the Future’ of all district students with healthy, flavorful meals prepared from scratch with fresh, local ingredients,” says Jeremy West, director of Nutrition Services for District 6.

District 6 has had a farm-toschool program in place for more than four years, and the program has steadily expanded to include more and varied crops. It goes hand-in-hand with the district’s efforts to provide

District 6 receives BEST grant to construct new middle school On Nov. 6, voters in Greeley-Evans School District 6 approved an $8.2 million bond issue, which will be used as matching funds for a Building Excellent Schools Today grant from the state of Colorado.

The BEST grant will give $21.8 million to District 6 to demolish and rebuild John Evans Middle School, with a total project cost of $8.2 million.

John Evans is a 50-year-old facility located just east of the Greeley Mall off U.S. 34. The school has multiple structural problems, most of which are complicated by the fact that that asbestos was widely used in the school’s construction.

The roof of John Evans needs to be replaced, and because of the additional costs of asbestos abatement, the cost of that project alone was

estimated at $9 million. With the grant, Greeley and Evans residents will be getting a brand new school for less than the cost of replacing the roof.

In addition to the asbestos problem, the design of John Evans has created safety issues. None of the classrooms have windows, and some can only be accessed from the outside, creating a security dilemma if the school ever has to go into lockdown. The circular design of the school makes it difficult to see what is happening in the hallways and at school entrances.

The new school will be built at the intersection of 37th Street and 65th Avenue, west of the current school location. As soon as the grant funds are available, work will begin on the design of the new school. The projected opening date is fall 2015.

Open enrollment applications accepted through Dec. 20 Greeley-Evans School District 6 of-

fers students the opportunity to “open enroll” into schools outside of their neighborhood or home boundaries, and the district also welcomes outof-district students into its schools.

In both cases, families simply need to complete an Open Enrollment Application to begin the process.

The window for open enrollment requests for the 2013-2014 school year is from Nov. 1, 2012, through Dec. 20, 2012.

Open Enrollment Applications will be available at every District 6 school office, and at the district’s main office at 1025 9th Ave., in Greeley and at www.greeleyschools. org/openenrollment. Completed applications must be submitted by 4:30pm on Dec. 20, 2012, at the district’s main office, at your child’s current school, or at the school you are requesting your child to attend.

While the district is able to accommodate the vast majority of open enrollment requests, requests for enrollment in schools (or specific grade-

levels in a school) that are at or above capacity may be declined.

Students who are currently attending a school under open enrollment or transfer will automatically be re-enrolled into the school for the 2013-2014 school year, and those parents do not have to complete a new open enrollment application. If, however, a parent wishes to enroll a child back in their home school for the 2013-2014 school year, parents should complete a Discontinuation of Open Enrollment/Transfer Application and return it to their current school by Dec. 20, 2012. These forms are also available in the locations listed above.

Open enrollment applicants will be notified in February of their application status. Parents of open enrollment students must provide transportation to and from their approved school.

For more information about open enrollment, please consult the district website, www.greeleyschools.org/ openenrollment, or call 348-6265.

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lunchbox Poudre School District —Elementary student lunches are $2.15, secondary student lunches are $2.40 and reduced lunches are $0.40. Entrees offered daily: Elementary—a variety of fruits and vegetables, milk and juices; Secondary--hot and cold sandwiches, fruits and vegetables, deli salad and pizza.

Elementary school 3 Yogurt & fruit box; turkey & cheese wrap; chicken quesadilla 4 Beef burrito; chicken nuggets; PBJ 5 Chef salad; cheeseburger; corndog 6 Veggie wrap; Teriyaki chicken dippers; chicken sandwich 7 Turkey & cheese deli; cheese pizza; hummus & veggies 10 Chicken Caesar salad; chicken salad; turkey potpie

11 Yogurt & fruit box; mac n’cheese; hotdog 12 Chicken quesadilla; cheeseburger; ham & cheese deli 13 Chicken enchilada bake; chicken nugget; PBJ 14 Mediterranean wrap; pepperoni pizza; cheese raviolis 17 Beef burrito; yogurt & fruit box; sausage pancake wrap 18 Grilled cheese sandwich & tomato soup; chicken sandwich; PBJ 19 Chicken broccoli Alfredo; chef salad; chicken nuggets

20 Veggie wrap; BBQ chicken sandwich; cheese pizza 21 Hummus & veggies; veggie lasagna; beef tacos Secondary schools 3 Nachos el Grande; penne pasta w/sauces 4 Teriyaki chicken dippers; beef tacos 5 Chicken nuggets; chili w/ cinnamon roll 6 Orange chicken w/rice; Philly cheesesteak 7 Asian rice bowl; burrito 10 Mac & cheese; chicken soft taco

11 Rotini pasta w/sauces; burrito 12 Chicken nuggets; chicken enchilada 13 Baked potato bar; spaghetti 14 Turkey gravy w/potatoes; Asian rice bowl 17 Cheese raviolis; chicken quesadilla 18 Italian lasagna; beef tacos 19 Chicken nuggets; egg roll w/ brown rice 20 Baked chicken; burrito 21 Chili w/cinnamon roll; chicken fajita w/rice

Thompson R2J School District —Elementary lunches are $2.50. Secondary school lunches are $2.75.

Reduced lunches are $0.40. Offered daily: PBJs & fruit.

3 Pancake w/sausage patty; Caesar salad; turkey sandwich 4 Jumbo stuffed pasta; baked potato; chicken tender salad 5 Turkey hotdog; rice & bean burrito; Garden salad 6 Taco; baked potato; taco salad 7 Fish nuggets; fruit & yogurt plate; turkey sandwich 10 Chicken nuggets; Caesar salad; turkey sandwich 11 Chicken parmesan; baked potato; chicken tender salad

12 Sloppy Joe; rice & bean burrito; garden salad 13 Nachos; baked potato; taco salad 14 Orange chicken; fruit & yogurt plate; turkey sandwich 17 Mac n’cheese; Ceasar salad; turkey sandwich 18 Pizza stick w/sauce; baked potato; chicken tender salad 19 Chili w/holiday bread; turkey sandwich; PBJ 20 Manager’s choice 21 Manager’s choice

Secondary schools 3 Pancake w/scrambled egg; BBQ pulled pork 4 Jumbo stuffed pasta; Cuban sandwich 5 Chicken breast w/mashed potatoes; burger 6 Taco; pork rib patty sandwich 7 Fish filet sandwich; chicken patty sandwich 10 Chicken nuggets; sloppy Joe 11 Chicken parmesan; burger 12 Hot roast sandwich; chicken patty

sandwich 13 Nachos; meat lasagna 14 Orange chicken; French bread boat 17 Manager’s choice 18 Manager’s choice 19 Chili w/holiday bread; pork rib patty sandwich 20 Manager’s choice 21 Manager’s choice

Greeley District 6 —To obtain a complete meal, student gets an entrée and can select 1-3 sides. Elementary lunches are $2.25, and middle school lunches are $2.50, reduced-price lunches are $.40. Offered daily: PBJ. Elementary schools 3 Chili w/tortilla; turkey & cheese wrap 4 Fiesta pollo roll-up; PBJ 5 Baked ziti w/breadstick; chicken salad sandwich 6 Chicken w/dinner roll; ham & cheese hoagie 7 Cheese pizza; tuna salad sandwich 10 BBQ pork sandwich; turkey & cheese wrap

11 Taco w/rice; chicken salad sandwich 12 Thanksgiving meal; PBJ 13 Chicken sandwich; ham & cheese hoagie 14 Pepperoni pizza; egg salad sandwich 17 Cheese pizza; turkey & cheese wrap 18 Burrito; chicken salad sandwich 19 Pasta w/meat sauce; PBJ 20 Hamburger/cheeseburger; ham &

cheese hoagie Secondary schools 3 Chili w/tortilla; turkey & cheese wrap 4 Fiesta pollo roll-up; PBJ 5 Baked ziti w/breadstick; chicken salad sandwich 6 Chicken w/dinner roll; Italian wrap 7 Cheese pizza; tuna salad sandwich 10 BBQ pork sandwich; chicken fajita wrap

11 Taco w/rice; club wrap 12 Thanksgiving meal; PBJ 13 Chicken sandwich; ham & cheese hoagie 14 Pepperoni pizza; egg salad sandwich 17 Hamburger/cheeseburger; turkey & cheese wrap 18 Burrito; chicken salad sandwich 19 Pasta w/meat sauce; PBJ 20 Fiesta chicken flatbread; Italian wrap

Windsor School District —Price for elementary lunch is $2.30, for middle school students, $2.50. Reduced lunches are $0.40. Salad bar is served daily with entrees. Offered daily: PBJ and yogurt.

3 Taco 4 Spaghetti & meatballs 5 Hamburger 6 Teriyaki chicken 7 Pizza dippers 10 Chili chips n’cheese 11 Hotdog

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12 French toast w/sausage 13 Chicken tenders 14 Big Daddy pizza 17 Chicken sandwich 18 Chicken Alfredo 19 Chili w/cinnamon roll 20 Turkey pot pie

21 Pizza dippers Secondary schools 3 Taco 4 Spaghetti & meatballs 5 Cheeseburger 6 Teriyaki chicken 7 Meatball sub

10 Chili chips n’cheese 11 Weiner wrap 12 French toast w/sausage 13 Chicken tenders 14 French dip 17 Chicken sandwich 18 Chicken Alfredo

19 Chili w/cinnamon roll 20 Turkey pot pie 21 Steak & cheese sandwich

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DECEMBER 2012 ONGOING Through December 24 Santa Claus in Downtown Fort Collins!

Kids can come visit Santa in his log cabin workshop any time Wednesdays through Sundays. Old Town Square, FC. Noon-6pm. 970-484-6500 or www.

DowntownFortCollins.com.

Through December 30 Almost, Maine Open your heart to things unseen in these humorous yet compelling stories of life and love in a small Maine town. Bas Bleu Theatre Company, 401 Pine St., FC. www.basbleu.org.

Through December 31 Plaid Tidings Laugh and celebrate with the Plaid boys as they continue their supernatural saga, returning from the afterlife.

Midtown Arts Center, 3750 South Mason St., FC. 970-225-2555. www.

MidtownArtsCenter.com Through January 13 Mame Follow Mame as she leads her young nephew through life in New York during the jazz era, traveling and growing into a young man. Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Market Place Dr., Johnstown, CO. 970-744-3747 or www. coloradocandlelight.com.

December 1-31 Horse Drawn Carriage Rides Old Town Square, FC. 970-484-6500 or www.DowntownFortCollins.com.

December 2-8 Shooting Star Snowed in at an airport. Someone sees you. Someone from your past. Someone who has your secret, because they once had your heart. A touching, tender and bittersweet Valentine to middle age. Bas

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Bleu Theatre Company, 401 Pine St., FC. www.basbleu.org.

December 6-9 The Nutcracker Performed by the Canyon Concert Ballet. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com or www.ccballet.org.

December 7-8 Fine and Funky Art Show Opera Galleria, 123 N. College Ave., FC. 970-484-6500 or www.

DowntownFortCollins.com.

December 13-15 Festival of Lights A Christmas production featuring an adult choir, a children’s choir, actors, and an orchestra. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 7pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Teens Create: Holiday Decorations @ Your Library Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 1pm. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

NaNoWriMo Awards Ceremony Come celebrate your successes—big and small—with your fellow word warriors, friends, and family. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 6pm. 970-2216740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Nutcracker with a Twist: Clara and the Gift of Dance Presented by Mountain Dance at Mountain Kids. Join us for a family holiday tradition of the Nutcracker where a new and special twist is added to the story line each year. Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia Ave., FC. 2pm & 7pm. 970-221-6730 or www.lctix.com.

December 21-23 A Musical Christmas Carol Presented by la-de-da. An adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic tale A Christmas Carol with Scrooge and the Spirits that haunt him. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 7pm.

970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

The “Unbearably” Delightful 2012 Teddy Bear Bash Join your kids for some fun. You can meet Christopher the Christmas Bear, get a holiday tattoo, watch Nutcracker Dancers, fish at the North Pole Fish ‘n Hole, and much more! Recommended for ages 3-9. Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., GR. 9-11am. 970-3509451 or www.greeleygov.com/festivals.

Saturday, December 1 Teen WOTBV (Worms of the Book Variety) WOTBV members will meet to discuss their second book, Airborn, by author Kenneth Oppel. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 11am. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Sunday, December 2 Nutcracker with a Twist: Clara and the Gift of Dance Presented by Mountain Dance at Mountain Kids. Join us for a family holiday tradition of the Nutcracker where a new and special twist is added to the story line each year. Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia Ave., FC. 2pm. 970221-6730 or www.lctix.com.

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Animal Afternoon Join Larimer Animal People Partnership volunteers and their special story-loving critters. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 3pm. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Monday, December 3 Rincon de Cuentos Libros, titeres, canciones, cuentos infantiles, manualidades y mucho mas! Este evento es en espanol y para todos. Harmony Mobile Homes, 2500 E. Harmony Rd., FC. 5pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Laughter for Laughter Sake Benefits of laughter will be shared, but truly, get ready to get up and laugh with some creative laughter exercises developed by the World Laughter Tour.

Greeley Medical Center, 1900 16th St., GR. 2-3pm. 970-495-8560 or www. pvhs.org.

USAF Holiday Concert Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., GR. 2pm & 7pm. 970-356-5000 or www.ucstars.com.

Wednesday, December 5 Bright Beginnings for Infants Explore how thinking and interactions change as your infant becomes a toddler on the go. Poudre Valley Health System, 1025 Garfield Ave., FC. 10-11am. 970495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Thursday, December 6 Cheryl Wheeler A solo guitarist and vocalist in the folk genre, Wheeler will be joined by special guests Moors and McCumber. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 7:30pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX. com.

Story time with Santa Santa will read fun holiday stories!

Clothes Pony & Dandelion Toys Store, 111 N. College Ave., FC. 11:30. 970-4846500 or www.DowntownFortCollins. com.

Friday, December 7 Scrabble @ Your Library Players of all ability and experience levels are welcome. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 10am.

970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries. org.

Noches en Familia: Family Nights ¡Ven y disfruta un tiempo de cuentos, manualidades, canciones y películas en español! Come and enjoy a time of stories, crafts, puppets, and songs in Spanish. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 5pm. 970-2216740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Story time with Santa Santa will read fun holiday stories!

Clothes Pony & Dandelion Toys Store, 111 N. College Ave., FC. 11:30. 970-4846500 or www.DowntownFortCollins. com.

CarolFest Caroling begins at the Opera Galleria and ends at Oak Street Plaza. Opera Galleria, 123 N. College Ave., FC. 6:30pm. 970-484-6500 or www.

DowntownFortCollins.com.

First Friday Gallery Walk Experience Fort Collins arts. Old Town, FC. 6-9pm. 970-484-6500 or www.

DowntownFortCollins.com.

Saturday, December 8 Interesting Reader Society Meeting Young adults meet monthly to talk mainly about teen stuff. Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 11am. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Chess @ Your Library Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 11am. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Winter Wonderland: An Andrew Sisters Holiday Concert with Reveille 3 Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 11am. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Infant CPR North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 1-3:30pm. 970-3784044 or www.BannerHealth.com/ NCMCFamilyLifeEdu Hearthside Holiday The Greeley Chorale will present.

Enjoy the holiday cheer this evening.

First Methopdist Church, 917 10th Ave., GR. 7:30pm. 970-673-8916. www.

GreeleyChorale.org.

BabyCare 101 Prepares expectant parents in the basic care of newborns for the first few months. Medical Center of the Rockies, 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., LV. 9amNoon. 970-495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

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Wednesday, December 12 Prepared Childbirth A childbirth class provides you with a great forum to ask questions and helps you make informed decisions about key issues surrounding the birth of your baby.

970-378-4044 or www.BannerHealth. com/NCMCFamilyLifeEdu Bright Beginnings for One-Year-Olds Explore how thinking and interactions change as your infant becomes a toddler on the go. Poudre Valley Health System, 1025 Garfield Ave., FC. 10-11am. 970495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Sunday, December 9 Animal Afternoon Join Larimer Animal People Partnership volunteers and their special story-loving critters. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 3pm. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Bright Beginnings for One-Year-Olds Explore how thinking and interactions change as your infant becomes a toddler.

Loveland Library, 300 North Adams, LV. 9-10am. 970-495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Monday, December 10 Rincon de Cuentos Libros, titeres, canciones, cuentos infantiles, manualidades y mucho mas! Este evento es en espanol y para todos. Harmony Mobile Homes, 2500 E. Harmony Rd., FC. 5pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Monday Matters: Give Children the Gift of Good Money Habits?

Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Wishes and Dreams Holiday Concert The Blend Chorus, a women’s a cappella chorus presents a mix of holiday favorites sung in barbershop style. Bas Bleu Theatre Company, 401 Pine St., 7pm. FC. www. basbleu.org.

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Tuesday, December 11 Kevin Cook: At Home in the Trees Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. Noon. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Christmas with The Celts A combination of Irish born and Nashville based Irish-American musicians, The Celts perform a blend of traditional Scottish/Irish tunes as well as hits by contemporary Celtic artists.

The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 7:30pm. 970-221-6730 or www.

LCTIX.com.

International Night: High School in the Land of Smiles Maike Prewett will discuss her experiences as a Rotary Youth Exchange student in Bangkok, Thailand. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 7pm. 970221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Ethnically Diverse Holiday Cuisine Learn about traditional holiday foods eaten in different cultures, and find out what ones are healthiest and how to tweak the less-healthy foods.

Greeley Medical Center, 1900 16th St., GR. 5:30-7:30pm. 970-495-8560 or www.pvhs.org.

Breastfeeding Basics Topics include process of breastfeeding, ways to prevent and care for problems.

Medical Center of the Rockies, 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., LV. Noon-1pm. 970495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Holiday Talent Show You will be entertained with Christmas music favorites, comedy, good cheer and holiday snacks. Chilson Senior Center, 700 E 4th St., LV. 1:30-3pm. 970-4958560 or www.pvhs.org.

Thursday, December 13 Story time with Santa Santa will read fun holiday stories! Clothes Pony & Dandelion Toys Store, 111 N. College Ave., FC. 11:30. 970-484-6500 or www.

DowntownFortCollins.com.

Labor Techniques and Comfort Measures Labor lab to practice tools and techniques. Strategies for labor and delivery to include relaxation, breathing, visualization, movement, or massage.

Westbridge Medical Suites, 1107 S. Lemay Ave., FC. 7-9pm. 970-495-7500 or www. pvhs.org.

Nutrition Series: Healthy Weight Control This presentation will move beyond the “food-in, food-out” theory of weight loss and look at some surprising and effective ways to influence your metabolism and reach your healthy weight. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 7pm. 970221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

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Clara and the Nutcracker Presented by Contemporary Dance Academy. Kick off the holiday season with the most famous ballet adventure in the world! The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 2pm & 7pm. 970-2216730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Gift of the Magi A beautiful, lyric setting of O. Henry’s moving story of self-sacrifice. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 2pm.

970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

A Candlelight Christmas Presented by Larimer Chorale. Join us for our traditional candlelight “surroundsound” presentation of holiday pageantry and wonder. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 7:30pm. 970221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method HypnoBirthing is as much a philosophy of birth as it is a technique for achieving a satisfying, relaxing, and stressfree method of birthing. Through self-hypnosis, special breathing, and visualization, HypnoBirthing teaches you to release all prior programming about birth. 970-3784044 or www.BannerHealth.com/ NCMCFamilyLifeEdu

Friday, December 14 Story time with Santa Santa will read fun holiday stories! Clothes Pony & Dandelion Toys Store, 111 N. College Ave., FC. 11:30. 970-484-6500 or www.

DowntownFortCollins.com.

Clara and the Nutcracker Presented by Contemporary Dance Academy. Kick off the holiday season with the most famous ballet adventure in the world! The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 7pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

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Gift of the Magi A beautiful, lyric setting of O. Henry’s moving story of self-sacrifice. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 7:30pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX. com.

Craig Morgan & Phil Vassar: Acoustic Christmas Tour Celebrate a down-home country Christmas. Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., GR. 7:30pm. 970-3509451 or www.greeleygov.com/festivals.

Saturday, December 15 Improv for Tweens Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 11am. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Jeff Wahl: Acoustic Guitarist His repertoire encompasses jazz, new age, folk, and classical. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Sunday, December 16 Game Day @ Your Library Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 11am. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

A Candlelight Christmas Presented by Larimer Chorale. Join us for our traditional candlelight “surroundsound” presentation of holiday pageantry and wonder. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 3pm.

970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Eagle Watch Join a volunteer Master Naturalist to look for the bald eagles that make Fort Collins their winter home. Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space, CO. 3-4pm. 970-221-6311 or www.fcgov. com/naturalareas Bright Beginnings for Two-Year-Olds Learn how to promote early literacy, brain development, and a healthy/safe environment for the active twos.

Loveland Library, 300 North Adams, LV. 10-11am. 970-495-7528 or www. pvhs.org.

Fun s ’ t I y ash al r T It’s cation du E s ’ It It’s the

Garbage Garage INFO and RECRUITMENT MEETING DECEMBER 3rd, 6:00pm ROLLERLAND SKATE CENTER

Larimer County’s waste & recycling education center at the Larimer County Landfill in Fort Collins

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Sunday, December 23 Animal Afternoon Join Larimer Animal People Partnership volunteers and their special story-loving critters. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 3pm. 970-221-6740 or www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Eagle Watch Join a volunteer Master Naturalist to look for the bald eagles that make Fort Collins their winter home. Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space, CO. 34pm. 970-221-6311 or www.fcgov.com/ naturalareas.

Tuesday, December 25 Merry Christmas!

Monday, December 17 Rincon de Cuentos Libros, titeres, canciones, cuentos infantiles, manualidades y mucho mas! Este evento es en espanol y para todos. Harmony Mobile Homes, 2500 E. Harmony Rd., FC. 5pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Wednesday, December 19 Bright Beginnings for Two-Year-Olds Learn how to promote early literacy, brain development, and a healthy/safe environment for the active twos. Poudre Valley Health System, 1025 Garfield Ave., FC. 10-11am. 970-495-7528 or www. pvhs.org.

Holiday Stocking Enjoy a 90-minute collage of holiday music performed by Rocky Mountain High School musicians. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St, FC. 7pm.

970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Thursday, December 20 Story time with Santa Santa will read fun holiday stories! Clothes Pony & Dandelion Toys Store, 111 N. College Ave., FC. 11:30. 970-484-6500 or www.

DowntownFortCollins.com.

Bright Beginnings for Infants Explore how thinking and interactions change as your infant becomes a toddler.

McKee Medical Center, 2000 N. Boise Ave., FC. 11:15am. 970-495-7528 or www. pvhs.org.

Learn About the Mason Corridor This 5-mile corridor extends from downtown, south to Harmony. Poudre Valley Hospital, Cafe F, 1024 S. Lemay Ave., FC. 2-3pm. 970-495-8560 or www.pvhs.org.

Tuesday, December 18 Bright Beginnings for Infants Explore how thinking and interactions change as your infant becomes a toddler.

Medical Center of the Rockies, 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., LV. Noon-1pm. 970495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

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Friday, December 21 Skygazing Volunteers from the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society provide telescopes for public sky viewing. See and discover fun facts about planets, stars, constellations, galaxies and other celestial wonders. Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space, CO. 7-10pm.

970-221-6311 or www.fcgov.com/ naturalareas.

Story time with Santa Santa will read fun holiday stories! Clothes Pony & Dandelion Toys Store, 111 N. College Ave., FC. 11:30. 970-484-6500 or www.

DowntownFortCollins.com.

Eagle Watch Join a volunteer Master Naturalist to look for the bald eagles that make Fort Collins their winter home. Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space, CO. 9:3011:30am. 970-221-6311 or www.fcgov. com/naturalareas.

Saturday, December 29 We’re Having a Baby: A Class for Siblings Kids will learn: what a new baby looks like, how to become a “big helper”, and how to make friends with the new baby.

970-378-4044 or www.BannerHealth. com/NCMCFamilyLifeEdu.

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time out

Holiday construction

An open letter to our children about the toys they want built K ATI E HA R R IS

D

ear Children, We love you. Sometimes more, like when you give us a clay plate with your tiny palm print, and sometimes less, like when you decide putting the cat in the dryer is a good idea. No matter what the circumstance, we still adore you. Even when we spend hours brushing down said cat’s hair.

This is why we’re coming to you now, a few weeks before the holidays kick into high gear. We will do everything we humanly and financially can to get you the gifts you want. We’ll do it to hear the squeals of joy and see the bright smiles on your faces. Or, in the case of teenagers, the grunts of mild satisfaction. However, while putting together your spreadsheets of the gifts you must have or you shall surely perish, we ask that you leave off one important item– anything that needs to be put together.

The holidays are a happy, yet trying, time for us adults. Stockings have to be hung with care, chestnuts have to roast on an open fire, and we need to make sure Grandma doesn’t get run over by a reindeer. Throw in gift buying and giving, baking and cooking, tree trimming, and general good tidings to everyone, we’re exhausted by the time you open your first gift. So if you ask for Barbie’s Dubai Burj Khalifa Dream Tower a groan tends to leech from our mouths.

Normally we don’t have issues putting together stuff for our homes. In fact, thanks to IKEA, we’re pretty adept at constructing whole rooms of furniture with a simple Allen wrench. Even your non-holiday toys are fairly simple to construct with the right tools, instructions, and vigilant patience. But during the holidays? Let’s just say the toy companies should be put on the Naughty List.

For some reason these folks, honest and clean-cut citizens for most of the year, decide to manufacture the most 44

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complicated and cumbersome products for the holiday season. Dollhouses arrive as 300 tiny, not-quite-interlocking pieces.

Rocking horses come complete with welding torches and scientific calculators.

Manuals for your bicycles are 700 pages long and written in Classical Vietnamese.

Because we love you, we dig right in to put these together, even when

a finite amount of holidays with you before you head off into the world, and we get sad when we have to spend our time in the garage trying to figure out why the handlebars keep ending up on the back of the bike. We’d rather spend these moments with you; eating, singing, and helping you play with your gifts.

Though we try to do so throughout the

we spent the night before making sure Santa left gifts under the tree and didn’t take the flat screen television as compensation. Instead of singing carols and drinking eggnog we sweat, break parts, and use words that aren’t very jolly. By the time we’re done translating the manual and putting Tab ZZ through Slot Gamma over Hole Infinity, all the goose and figgy pudding have been eaten, Clarence has gotten his wings, and we’ve been placed on next year’s Naughty List.

Worse than that, we’ve missed spending time with you. We parents get

year, the holidays are really a time for bonding with our families.

In closing, I ask you to review your letters to Santa and Hanukkah Harry and eliminate anything that involves hammer, nails, or architectural blueprints. Instead, replace them with items you can use right out of the gift-wrap. You can even ask for a pony, as long as we don’t have to put it together. Oh, and Legos and Lincoln Logs are okay, because we can build starships and castles together as a family. And in the end, that’s the greatest gift of all.

Sincerely, Your Cat-Combing Parents

Anne Cookson acwicklesscandles@yahoo.com

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