RMParent Magazine February 2018

FEBRUARY 2018 • RMPARENT.COM

PUPPY VOLUNTEERING TOGETHER

love

Healthy, young relationships Building confidence

COOK UP SOME FUN Start healthy habits earlY

REGION’S BEST FAMILY CALENDAR!

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Women + Family HEALTH GUIDE RMPARENT

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MARCH 2017 • RMPARENT.COM

SPRING 2017

SERVING NORTHERN COLORADO • FIFTYBETTER.COM

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2017 GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE & EVENTS

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FEBRUARY 2018

Departments PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

The seeds we water—being good gardeners in a debate culture

AS WE GROW . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Teaching kids to give back—bond with your kids through volunteering

FAMILY ACTIVITIES . . . . . . . 10 Get your skate on—slide onto an ice rink near you

LEARN AND LIVE . . . . . . . . . . 12 Cook up some fun—your kids will eat it up

COMMUNITY NEWS . . . . . . . 14

NoCo is for lovers—events, programs, safety tips keep residents and visitors loving life

HEALTHY LIVING . . . . . . . . 16 Food and fitness focus—discuss healthy habits early and often

CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4

Events and activities for parents, kids and families

TIME OUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Savoring different stages of motherhood— revisiting journals and scrapbooks from a slower time

Special Sections Women+ Family WOMEN + HEALTH GUIDE FAMILY HEALTH GUIDE FEBRUARY 2018

Free play for building strong minds, focus on health in a social-media age and managing postpartum depression.

Boost brains with free play PAGE 2

Beyond the baby blues PAGE 4

Fit for the right reason PAGE 8

2018 CAMP GUIDE PREVIEW

Get a first look at the camps and programs available for your family.

Features PUPPY LOVE 18 One day your tween or teen will come

home looking love struck. When that happens, be prepared because your child’s first romantic relationships are likely to model the ones that they see around them.

School District News Poudre School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 PSD calendar of events, Johnson fifth-graders share what they learned about famous Americans, Putnam Elementary selected for CDE Centers of Excellence award

Greeley-Evans District 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 District 6 graduation and dropout rates improve, New D6 position to expand internship opportunities

Thompson School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 TSD Board approves new start and release time adjustment, Lincoln Elementary first-graders create Career Day, TSD Board searches for new superintendent

Lunchbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 School menus for Poudre, Thompson, Greeley-Evans and Windsor

20 C ONFIDENCE…FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Intuition—listening to that still, strong voice inside of us—is the soil for self-trust, and self-trust grows into confidence.

ABOUT THE COVER: Adrian, loves swimming, running, and bull riding. Photo by Cheri Schonfeld, courtesy of Sky's Open Design on location at the Family FunPlex. greeleyrec.com/facilities/family-funplex

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perspective Real connection

Being good gardeners in a debate culture

I

was reading Lynn U. Nichols story about how to help kids build true confidence that comes from inside by helping them tap into their intuition. I really liked it. (And I hope you will, too). That started me reflecting on how we find that inner voice, which we either learn to trust on not to trust.

We live in a debate culture where, it seems, we’re supposed to take our position and defend it to the end with arguments, eye rolls, fist pounding and raised voices. This type of bravado, in many cases, glosses over an internal lack of confidence. If I have a position that I can cling to and defend then I have something that I can be sure about and I can build those walls and feel “confident.”

But I think we suspect for ourselves and our kids, that that isn’t real confidence. That’s puffy-uppy-ness (OK…made-up word) that can lead to deflation. It doesn’t feel solid. I’ve heard it said that the three hardest words in the English language are “I don’t know.” I believe if we cultivate a more dialog-oriented culture then those three words would be much easier to say.

I have a sticky note stuck (because that’s what sticky notes do) on my desk that says “Am I right? Am I sure?” It’s there to remind me that when I’m feeling all defensive, and therefore not so confident, that I need to take a step back…take a breath…do something else, but mainly shut up for a few minutes and review my thinking.

I tend to be a pretty nice guy overall. I mean one thing I notice is that people routinely confuse nice for weak or nice for stupid, when, in fact, it takes a lot more courage to respond to a person or situation in an open way than in a defensive, me-first way.

So as far as our kids go, I think the messages we send them and that they are exposed to matter a lot when it comes to developing that inner confidence and learning to trust their own feelings. We all have many seeds in our base consciousness and the ones that get watered will grow and the ones that don’t get watered, though still remaining, won’t express themselves. We can help our kids learn to water the seeds that lead to true confidence such as kindness to themselves and compassion for others.

So maybe next time you hear an argument or, let’s say, a debate with your child, take a moment and talk about it. Would listening to the other person and possibly changing your position show more strength and confidence that simply repeating your position over and over in slightly different terms?

I don’t know, Scott

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FEBRUARY 2018 • Volume 22, Issue 9 PUBLISHER Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com EDITOR Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Kim Sharpe calendar@rockymountainpub.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Emily Zaynard emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION Sharon Klahn, Debbie Lee Rob Martin, Susan Pettit COVER PHOTO Cheri Shonfeld, schonfeldphotography.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lea Hanson, Katie Harris, Lynn U. Nichols, Kim Sharpe

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLISHING 825 Laporte Avenue, 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. ©2018 Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without express written permission is prohibited.

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women’s health

Teach kids to give back Bond with your kids through volunteering

LY N N U. N I C H O L S

V

olunteering with your kids offers many benefits, beyond the most important and obvious one of helping others. Did you know that kids who volunteer are more engaged in school? Or that it helps your teens land their first job or get into the college they desire? It also helps kids develop skills that make them more ready to tackle what life brings their way. Give your kids a boost—and your family a chance to bond—by exploring a volunteer opportunity today.

When youth volunteer they are more likely to be engaged in school and graduate. A recent survey of at-risk students who participated in sevicelearning projects at their school showed that 82 percent claimed their view of school improved because of the service-learning project, and 77 percent said the projects motivated them to work harder in school. At Poudre Schools, service learning “engages students in meaningful service.”

Getting into college and landing a good job can be a challenge for young adults today. Of course, grades and test scores are looked at first but extracurricular activities and community involvement gives an application a second look with something unique to consider Volunteering helps kids stand out, and just might give a reviewer a reason to connect due to similar interests.

In addition, volunteering teaches important life skills. It not only teaches kids how to get along with others and to navigate differences in beliefs, culture and appearances but it also teaches practical life skills like time management and balancing commitments.

Volunteering together as a family or as a parent-daughter/son team strengthens bonds and creates those teachable moments where kids can ask meaningful questions and parents get 8

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a chance to answer them. It also helps expose your kids to different ways of living and being in this world, strengthening their empathy skills.

There are tons of volunteer opportunities for youth and families in northern Colorado all year long. Choose any topic from animals and the environment, arts and culture, health and wellness to hunger and homelessness. Letting your child pick among three options that work for you will help keep them motivated.

Once you pick a project, explain to your child the good you are doing and how it helps someone, or helps the community be a better place to live.

A great resource is United Way (uwaylc.org), which serves as a clearinghouse for human service agencies needing volunteers. Click on the Get Involved button and select volunteer to search a variety of opportunities,

including serving as a foster parent for dogs or cats for the humane society, sorting books at the library, and helping with programs at the housing authority, homeless shelters, kids with special needs and more. Also, check out volunteer opportunities at Volunteers of America (voacolorado.org/gethelp -northernco).

Young kids can do fun runs for a cause, visit the elderly in nursing homes bearing cards and hugs, and help you deliver meals to the homebound, to name a few. Likely, there’s an opportunity to volunteer right in your own neighborhood, including walking an elderly neighbor’s dog or shoveling their walk, or picking up trash at the local park.

Doing for others makes kids and adults feel good about themselves, other people, and their community—and it helps create a good habit for a lifetime.

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family activities

Get your skate on Slide onto an ice rink near you

K ATIE HARRIS

N

o winter is complete without the three “S’s”: sledding, skiing and skating. This month, we’re making it easy to check at least one of those items off your list, with a complete guide to ice skating in northern Colorado.

The Edora Pool Ice Center (EPIC) at 1801 Riverside Ave. in Fort Collins has you covered rain or shine with its indoor skating rink. Open year round, EPIC offers a variety of skating classes along with daily public skating hours. In addition, skate rentals are available for $3 a pair. Rink admission costs $4/child, $5/adult and $4.50/ senior. Winter/spring public skate hours are as follows: M-F: 9-11am; M: 3:30-5pm; T/Th: 6:15-7:45pm; F: 5:457:15pm; Sa/Su: 12:15-2:15pm; and Sa: 5-7pm. Spring break hours (March 1216) are as follows: M-F: 9-11am, 1:153:15pm, and 6:15-7:45pm. The skating rink will be closed on the following dates: March 31 (5pm closure), April 1, April 5-8 and May 10-12. For more information visit www.fcgov.com/ recreation/programs/iceskating.php.

Also in Fort Collins, located at 7900 Fairgrounds Ave., NoCo Ice Center offers open skate when not hosting the Northern Colorado Youth Hockey team, the Junior Eagles. Admission is $5 for skaters ages 4-64, and $4 for under 4 and over 65. Skate rentals are available for $5. Open skate times vary and are limited September through February due to hockey season. For a current schedule visit www.ncyh.org.

For outdoor skating, the new Pond at Foothills Mall, located at 215 E. Foothills Pkwy. in Fort Collins, offers a rink right in the heart of the newest Fort Collins shopping and dining scene, so guests can make a day of their visit. The Pond is open W/Th: 4-8pm; F: 4-9pm; Sa: Noon-9pm; and Su: Noon-6pm.

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Admission is $4/age 4-12; $7/adult; $5/ ages 60 and over; and free for children 3 and under. Skate rentals are available for $3. More information can be found at www.shopfoothills.com/holidays/.

The city of Fort Collins allows ice skating at two local parks when conditions are favorable. Sheldon Lake, located on Sheldon Dr. and W. Mulberry St. next to Fort Collins City Park, is open for ice skating when the ice is at least six inches thick. A banner on W. Mulberry St. indicates whether the ice is thick enough to skate on, and can change frequently. Skating is also permitted on the southwest corner of Merganser Pond in the Prospect Ponds Natural Area, located at 2025 Sharp Point Dr. For current conditions call 970-221-6660. When open, the lakes are free to skate on. Guests must bring their own skates. Visit www.fcgov.com/ parks/ for details.

The Ice Rink at Centerra, located 5971 Sky Pond Dr. in Loveland, also offers outdoor skating in an outdoor mall area with several dining options nearby. The rink is open M-Th: 2-8pm;

F: 2-9pm; Sa: 10-9pm; Su: 11am-6pm through Feb. 25th. The $7/child under 12 and $8.50/adult admission prices include skate rentals, and are good for the entire day. A free skate night with the Colorado Eagles will be offered at the rink on Feb. 6th from 4-7pm, with Eagles players and Eagles Chicks, contests, giveaways and more. For details visit www.icerinkattheshops.com.

The Greeley Ice Haus at 900 8th Ave. in Greeley offers indoor skating year-round, from figure skating lessons to youth hockey programs to open skating. Open skating is offered daily from noon-1:30pm and Wednesday evenings from 6:15-7:45pm. In addition, Cosmic Skating is available Fridays from 6:30-8pm and Saturdays from 7:15-8:45pm. Admission for public skating is $4 on weekdays and $5 on weekends, with ages 5 and under always $1.50. Skate rentals are available for $2.

Family skate sessions are offered T/Th: Noon-1:30pm and W: 6:15-7:45pm for $14 per family up to two adults and four kids. For details visit www.greeleyrec. com/facilities/greeley-ice-haus/.

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learn and live

Cook up some fun Your kids will eat it up

PHOTOS COURTESTY OF THE COOKING STUDIO

KIM SHARPE

K

ids should be comfortable in the kitchen. Consider it a survival skill.

After all, cooking goes along with eating, one of those necessities of life.

Sari Kimball of The Cooking Studio says, “With cooking shows exploding in popularity, kids have become exposed to food in a whole new way. A lot of kids who take our classes say they want to be a chef or be involved in the food industry.

Ultimately, we are developing a new generation of eaters who appreciate real food and aren’t intimidated to go into the kitchen and give a recipe a try or even create new recipes themselves.”

Beyond knowing how to cook basic food, like eggs for breakfast or mac and cheese for lunch, cooking classes for kids help budding chefs gain selfconfidence and a sense of adventure when it comes to food. Ultimately, learning to cook is a way for kids to learn how to take care of themselves.

Kimball says, “We want kids to become confident in the kitchen and understand how flavors and foods work. Without going into a ton of scientific background, there is an

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understanding of why egg yolks thicken a hollandaise compared to why egg whites lighten up a soufflé. We also talk about why salt works so well with sweets and why acids help a rich food taste more balanced. Once kids and teens become comfortable in the kitchen—from basic knife skills to heating up a sauté pan for searing—they love to be creative and explore new combinations.”

Learning to cook also is a way to help picky eaters broaden their food horizons.

Kimball says, “I always try to push the envelope a little for kids classes.

The menu is tailored around general preferences that kids have, like cheese, pasta and sweets, but roasted Brussels sprouts with a gastric sauce have gone over pretty well. Even if a student hates Brussels sprouts, I ask them to take the smallest bite. If they don’t like it after the one bite that is fine, but I ask them to keep an open mind.

When kids make the food themselves, including vegetables, they are so much more likely to eat it because they took part in the process.”

Bon appetit!

Cooking classes for kids

The Cooking Studio www.the-cooking-studio.com 123 N. College Ave., #130, FC, 720-839-2417 Salud! Cooking School @ Whole Foods www.wholefoodsmarket.com 2201 S. College Ave., FC, 970-267-9200 The Teaching Kitchen @ Ginger and Baker www.gingerandbaker.com 359 Linden St., FC, 970-223-7437 City of Fort Collins www.fcgov.com/recreator, 970-221-6655 City of Greeley www.greeleyrec.com City of Loveland Leisure Times, www.cityofloveland.org

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community news

Get moving and take care of your family Events, programs, safety tips keep locals loving life KIM SHARPE

D

o you love to have fun? Read?

Learn? Recreate? Would you love to have money for college?

Do you have pets you love? Northern Colorado has much in store for lovers of all kinds.

LOVELAND FIRE & ICE FESTIVAL ADDS HEART TO NOCO Families and couples can celebrate Valentine’s Day in the nation’s Sweetheart City at the Loveland Fire & Ice Festival, Feb. 9-11, in downtown Loveland. The festival attracts more than 40,000 attendees, appealing to people from across the state, nation and world.

This year’s festival will feature: • A Fire Sculpture People’s Choice Competition

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•

• • •

• • • •

allowing attendees to vote on their favorite flaming art creations Ice sculpting performances by nationally renowned artists, plus a People’s Choice Award Live music Nightly fireworks show Brewing and Distilling Arts—an expo of local brews and distilled beverages from Crow Hop, Grimm Brothers Brewhouse, Verboten Brewing, Big Thompson Brewery and more The Family Fair—a mini carnival with rides, face painting and games The Marketplace, featuring artisan and local businesses A Food Truck Food Court Our Heroes Vehicle Showcase—

a collection of vintage firetrucks and first responder vehicles • Romantic carriage rides

The festival is free and open to the public. Learn more at www.LovelandFireAndIce.com.

FOR THE LOVE OF READING AND LEARNING The Poudre River Public Library District revised its lending and service policies to reflect its commitment to early literacy development, academic achievement and lifelong learning.

Beginning last month, the District eliminated extended-use fees on overdue children’s and teens’ materials meaning children’s and teens’ books, audiobook CDs and DVDs will no

longer accrue late fees. Library cardholders remain responsible for lost, unreturned and damaged materials following the District’s current lending practices.

Loveland Library patrons now have access to Lynda.com, an online learning platform that offers a vast array of online classes and videos, from business principles to computer coding to photography. The library offers patrons Lynda’s ‘Premium’ version, which opens Lynda’s entire catalog to users at no cost as long as they have a current library card. If users were to sign up independently, they would pay nearly $500 annually.

To sign up, current Loveland Library card holders can go to www. lovelandpubliclibrary.org. A link to Lynda is available from the homepage.

Residents wanting a library card can go to the front desk at the library, and present a current I.D. and be a Colorado resident. For more information about Lynda.com, call the library’s Adult Services desk at 970-962-2586.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE ONLINE The Community Foundation of Northern Colorado has scholarships available for college-bound high school seniors, as well as enrolled college students.

Opportunities range from $1,000 to full funding of tuition, fees and room/board.

Students are invited to complete a brief general application online that will automatically match them to the scholarship awards for which they qualify.

Visit www.nocofoundation.org/ scholarships for details. The application deadline is February 15.

ESTES PARK HAS A NEW RECREATION CENTER TO LOVE Estes Park soon will have a new 70,000-square foot, multi-generational community center. The Estes Valley Community Center, which will open in late February, is a state-of-the-art facility that is envisioned to be a comprehensive destination with a robust schedule of classes, a multi-purpose gymnasium, indoor walking and jogging track, lazy river with interactive play features and a slide in a natatorium, group fitness facilities, large community room with kitchen, golf simulator, senior services area and drop-in childcare. The facility will be the ideal location for escaping the cold during a winter visit to Estes Park or for relaxing with the family during a summer vacation in Rocky Mountain National Park. For more information, visit www.evrpd.com/recprograms.

WELD COUNTY SKUNKS TEST POSITIVE FOR RABIES In recent months, five skunks have tested positive for rabies near the towns of Severance, Pierce and Grover. Some animal and human exposures have occurred.

“Rabies can infect any mammal,” says Mark E. Wallace, Weld County Health Department executive director.

“A regular vaccine is the best defense for pets and large domestic animals.”

Rabies also can infect many wild animals. Signs an animal may have rabies include drooling, nocturnal animals seen out during the daytime, slow or difficult movement, and confusion or aggression.

Rabies is a viral infection that affects the nervous system, and causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

It is nearly always fatal. It is transmitted in saliva through the bite of an infected animal, but also can be transmitted in saliva to an open cut, scratch or wound.

If a person suspects they have been exposed to rabies, they should contact their medical provider immediately.

For an interactive map of identified rabies in Weld County, visit: www. weldgov.com/departments/health_and_ environment/environmental_health/ animal_related_diseases/rabies_ surveillance/

Avoid the bite

To prevent exposure to rabies, follow these guidelines.

• D o not feed, touch or handle wild animals • E xercise caution around stray dogs and cats

• H ave dogs, cats, horses and livestock

vaccinated regularly by a licensed veterinarian • B e cautious if wild animals suddenly appear friendly or are walking or behaving erratically • I f your pet is in a fight with a wild animal, care should be taken in handling your pet until it is given a bath and any blood or saliva is washed off. Human rabies exposure may occur from the saliva left on your pet from a wild animal.

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healthy living

Food and fitness focus Discuss healthy habits early and often

LEA HANSON

A

s the adults in charge, the messages we send to our children and the language we use to send them is very important for communicating positivity about healthy eating and physical activity.

Because each person’s needs are different and family values vary, it is difficult to find a common script or message that works for everyone. However, a few overarching messages can fit for any family.

The Food Friends Foundation (www.foodfriends.org), a start-up nonprofit organization from the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Colorado State University, is engaged in the research, development, and distribution of nutrition and physical activity education programs to preschool aged children.

START CONVERSATIONS EARLY According to The Food Friends, preschool is when kids begin to develop lifelong habits—for better or worse. They state, “Eating and physical activity habits are established during the preschool years. Support from teachers and parents help children develop healthy habits that will have a positive, lifelong impact on their health.” Toddlers (3- to 5-yearolds), even the pickiest of eaters, ought to be encouraged to try new foods, be active regularly, and start learning about healthy habits and nutrition.

FOCUS ON NUTRITION Focus on the concepts of good nutrition and physical activity for feeling good and staying healthy. Avoid connecting eating well and staying active to losing weight or being thin(ner). For example, do not use statements like, “drinking water will keep you from becoming overweight.” Water is good for everyone, not just those who want to lose weight.

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BEING ACTIVE IS FUN Being physically active is fun, makes you feel good, and gives you even more energy. Share stories about eating healthy and being active and avoid discussions that focus on losing weight. Try new activities and expose your children to various things until they find their “thing.”

Not everyone likes the same things; if kids aren’t having fun getting exercise, try something else.

AVOID DISCUSSING DIETING Whenever possible, avoid talk about dieting—for both yourself or for your children. If you have a concern about your child’s weight, speak with your pediatrician privately to discuss options.

SHARE FACTS If a child asks you a question about nutrition to which you do not know the answer, answer truthfully, even if that

means having to do some research first.

Saying, “I don’t know, but let’s find the answer,” is empowering. If your children are old enough to use the Internet, recommend they look for the answer themselves to encourage their inquiries.

TEACH ABOUT FOOD AND INGREDIENTS Be sure your kids know the basics about the food groups (vegetables, fruits, proteins, grains) and servings sizes. Even little kids can grasp the idea of needing to eat more vegetables than grains in any given meal or day. Ask them to point out the healthiest thing on their plate and tell you why. As they get older, encourage them to understand nutrition labels and read lists of ingredients.

Older kids can practice by assisting in choosing the healthiest of a few options at the grocery store, or begin helping with meal planning.

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Puppy love How to support healthy, young relationships Kim Sharpe

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P

arents, brace yourselves. One day your tween or teen will come home looking love struck. At some point, Cupid will fire an arrow his or her way.

When that happens, you’ll do yourself a favor if you’re prepared. And preparation begins from a child’s birth. Oh, and the pressure’s on because… …your child’s first loves or romantic relationships usually will model the relationships they see around them and that they experience themselves.

Learned love

Betsy Cairo, executive director of Look Both Ways, Inc., says, “One of the first places teens learn about relationships is from watching what their parents/ guardians/grandparents do. So, it is important that adults look at their own relationship to see what example they are setting. This can be eye opening, humbling and maybe even painful, but it is true. If children grow up around an abusive relationship where both partners stay despite the abuse (physical, emotional, spiritual) then they may think that this is how things are, and when their relationship becomes something similar, they do not think of it as unhealthy. It should be stressed to kids that healthy relationships take work.

Communication and respect

of each other and of themselves is not just important, but a requirement.”

Another way to help children develop healthy relationship skills is by treating them in healthful ways. Talk to them respectfully. Touch them appropriately.

Teach them it’s okay to name and express their feelings.

Kari Weiler, Fort Collins marriage and family therapist, says, even in your child’s earliest friendships, it’s helpful when parents point out bad behaviors versus calling your child’s friends bad.

Point out manipulative or hurtful behavior, without telling your child their friend is manipulative or mean.

Also, don’t minimize your tween’s or teen’s proclamation that he or she is “in love.”

Cairo says, “Young romance is often met with cynicism. We do not believe that young people can be in love. We need to recognize that they are capable of being in love with someone, but that the feeling, definition or experience of what love is will change over time. Do not diminish this for young people.

Allow them to feel so that they are comfortable coming to you for information or a shoulder to cry on.”

Safety first

A critical aspect of a healthy relationship is its level of safety. Healthy relationships should allow for people to be themselves, and for them to express feelings and thoughts without shame or belittlement. Discussions that take place in healthy relationships should not spark arguments. Relationships also should be consensual.

Weiler recommends parents begin early to talk to their children about safety in relationships.

“Children should be taught to ask or grant permission before touching or being touched. If they see someone crying, children should ask if that person wants a hug. Before holding someone’s hand, they should ask if holding hands is okay with the other person. Before kissing someone, they should ask if the other person wants to be kissed.” The bottom line: teach consent.

Sex

Parents would be remiss not to believe that their offspring will want to or have the urge to have sex. After all, the act of sex is part of being a mammal and is naturally instinctual. So, talking about sex is critical and it should be ongoing.

“I think it’s important to have ‘The Sex Talk’ over time. It’s not a one-event thing,” says Weiler. “It’s also important to call body parts by their real, biological names, like penis versus wiener, or vagina versus peepee. Beyond that, listen to your kids when they begin asking questions about sex. Give them the information they really want to know, but don’t overwhelm them and don’t preach.”

Cairo says that some questions you may get are: “What is sex? (It can be anything you want it to be.) Why do people have sex? (Because it feels good or because they want to procreate.) What can happen if I have sex? (You might contract a sexually transmitted disease, get pregnant or feel regret. But you also might like it and feel connected to another person in a way you don’t feel connected to anyone else.).

Those new to sex also should know it is not a way to make a relationship stronger.”

Alternative love

In today’s society, it’s more acceptable to be open about romance outside the mainstream, heterosexual box. Therefore, “it’s critical to remember when talking to tweens/teens about dating to avoid speaking in a heterosexual bias,” says Cairo. “Adults often automatically conclude that when their child speaks to them about a ‘crush’ that they assume it is with the opposite gender. But that might not be the case. Parents should and must keep an open mind.”

Talk and listen

At the end of the day, parents should model healthy relationships and communicate with their kids about everything. Cairo says, “Most importantly, adults need to talk early, talk often, talk accurately, talk honestly, and do not forget to listen.”

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Confidence from the inside W

out

e all want our kids to be confident. Getting good grades, performing well on the field, or playing an instrument with skill all help kids gain confidence. Yet real confidence comes from within. It sticks with us, even when we fail. It doesn’t leave us if someone says something hurtful or we make a mistake. It lets us know that we’ll be okay, no matter what. Intuition— listening to that still, strong voice inside of us—is the soil for self-trust, and self-trust grows into confidence.

Today, due to cell phones and computers, kids rarely get the chance to daydream while waiting for us to pick them up, or the luxury of choosing which photos they share with friends. They have instant connection at their fingertips. Without time for silence, it’s hard to tap into intuition. As parents, we can reinforce the habit of

3 ways to help kids tap into their intuition Lynn U. Nichols

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tapping into what their body, mind and spirit are telling them.

“It’s important in our fast-paced world to be able to get quiet and listen, and to recognize the wisdom we carry within ourselves rather than having to seek knowledge outside of ourselves,” says Dr. Elena Estanol, a licensed psychologist and sport psychologist in Fort Collins with Synapse Counseling, LLC (synapsecounseling.com).

Dr. Estanol teaches kids, teens and young adults to tap into their intuition and develop self-trust. She has traditionally worked with athletes who wish to gain confidence on the field, but she works with anyone who wishes to enhance their confidence, specializing in young adults with ADHD, eating issues, gut disorders, and anxiety issues.

With an online course, she also helps entrepreneurs, health professionals and parents tap into their intuition (intuitivebusinessmastery.com/intuitiveadvantage). Here are three ways she guides people to access their intuition.

1. Recognizing cues

Estanol often starts by asking kids, ‘Was there ever a time when something happened to you when you sensed something was wrong?’ They usually answer yes, and she asks them to describe how they knew. Often they answer with, ‘I just had a sense’ or ‘My belly hurt’ or ‘I had a knot in my throat.’

Some even say they had a dream or a picture flashed in their mind. She explains that this is intuition, and what they felt, saw or experienced were cues from their inner wisdom.

She provides tools to help kids tap into their intuition via a 6-step formula, and she encourages kids to listen to their intuition when it says to call a friend, skip an outing, or when meeting new people. Often, these cues play out.

“You call your friend and you find out they were sick, or they really needed to talk. Or you meet someone and you feel like you don’t want to be near them.

Listen to that intuition,” Estanol says.

2. Rewiring core beliefs

This one can take a bit of digging or

time with a good counselor, but it’s really valuable in clearing doubt and fulfilling potential. Maybe you developed a core belief that you are not likable. From then on, you filtered your world through that belief, which may have made you avoid social situations or invite new friendships.

“What we believe is what we will receive. If you believe you are not good enough, then you will constantly doubt the information that you receive. Rather than receiving truth, you will filter it with your beliefs and perceptions. That’s why it’s important to regularly practice meditation and mindfulness—and for kids that can be as simple as spending time alone, getting out in nature, or taking time to just breathe,” she says.

The same is true about what we focus on. If we focus on the mistakes we make or constantly compare ourselves to others, our doubt and lack of selfconfidence will grow. But if we instead focus on what went right, what we are good at and successes we’ve had, we will notice more of that in our lives.

“I remind kids that getting good at something takes practice and that mistakes help us learn to improve,” she says.

She also encourages kids to create a mantra to counter self-doubt. She asks them to recall a time when everything went right for them. She has them describe it as if they were in a movie— what they saw, heard, thought and felt. If the event made them feel smart, strong or powerful, those words become part of the mantra—and provide a mental anchor to that positive experience.

3. Leading with your breath

Intuition often comes when we are quiet and unoccupied. Have you ever noticed that you get great ideas while in the shower? That’s because it’s a time when your mind is allowed to wander without distraction. Estanol often starts by teaching kids how to tap into their breathing. When we are breathing slow and steady we tend to calm down, and we are more able to hear what our bodies, minds and spirits are telling us.

“One exercise I like to give kids

is to have them lie on the floor. I then place an object with a bit of weight on their diaphragm. I ask them to make the object go up and down, which forces them to focus on belly breathing. While they inhale I have them count to four and imagine their belly is a balloon filling up. As they exhale, the balloon deflates, and the object goes down. It’s a great skill to teach kids and a good habit for families to practice together,” Estanol says.

Focusing on breathing and being quiet takes self-discipline. Helping kids understand that they are in control of when they respond or how they react, is powerful. For example, show them that they don’t have to immediately check notifications on their phone. Resisting the urge to instantly reply teaches self-discipline and opens the door to mindfulness.

Reaping the benefits of confidence

Once kids begin to trust their intuition and rewire negative beliefs that hold them down, things often open up for them. With self-trust, they are able to manage their emotions. Estanol helps kids realize that they are in control of their emotions, not others. She tells of a teen who was a skilled athlete that came to her after a coach was critical and shook his confidence.

“After working together, he was able to brush it off when the coach got angry and yelled at the team. Most of the kids shut down, but he didn’t. Instead, he looked inward and saw it as motivation to do what he knew he could do. That’s when intuition really kicked in and he said he started seeing the play ahead of time, allowing him to anticipate his next move. His game improved and he got on a pro team,” she says.

Ultimately, by tapping into their own truth kids get to a place of trust and confidence that allows them to take risks and really become who they desire to be.

Of course, there will be some fear. Fear often comes with growth, but it’s usually short lived if they are on the right path.

“Using intuition is really about trust and empowerment, and helping kids come into their own,” Estanol concludes.

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poudre school district news Fifth-graders learn about famous Americans

A

t Johnson Elementary School, history is serious business.

Fifth-grade students there recently celebrated their completion of a U.S. history research project by dressing up as important U.S. historic figures and teaching their younger classmates what they learned.

“I’m famous for riding to the town of Lexington to warn that the British are coming,” fifth grader Michael ReaMunguia says earnestly, dressed in a convincing Paul Revere costume. He excitedly rattles off facts about the hero as his classmates listen.

This Living Timeline event at Johnson Elementary School is an annual tradition that comes after the students spend about two months entrenched in U.S. history. Each fifth grader chooses a famous American to research from a list of historic figures from colonial times all the way up to the modern era.

“They get really excited to apply what they learned in their research report and teach it to the younger kids,” fifth grade teacher Diane Witteveld says about the event.

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The students line up by the year of their historic figure’s birth. Younger students walk around and ask the fifth graders questions about the people they are representing.

These students learn about famous Americans including abolitionist hero Harriet Tubman, American pioneer Daniel Boone, and famed aviator Amelia Earhart. Some of the more recent historic figures represented at the event include basketball star Michael Jordan, tech giant Steve Jobs, and Olympic medalist Mia Hamm.

While working on the research report, students learn to identify trustworthy websites and put together reports with the facts they gather.

Fifth grader Adalynn Carl picked American Red Cross founder Clara Barton for her research project. She came to the Living Timeline equipped with a stethoscope, a nurse’s uniform and a hat with the iconic Red Cross symbol.

“She was interesting,” Adalynn says. “I learned that she was a Civil War nurse, fought for women’s rights and founded the Red Cross.”

PUTNAM ELEMENTARY SELECTED FOR CDE CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE AWARD Whether it’s students assessing their own work, leading a school event or being challenged by an enrichment class, Putnam Elementary is all about providing opportunities to help students grow academically, socially and personally.

“Wherever a student is, we want the student to be growing,” says Steve Apodaca, the principal at Putnam. “We’re always looking at how we can provide opportunities for all students to grow.”

Their efforts are paying off. Students are having successful experiences, and, based on 2016-17 state test results, showing excellent academic growth. The Colorado Department of Education recently honored Putnam by selecting it for a Centers of Excellence award. The prestigious award is presented to schools that demonstrate the highest rates of student academic growth and achievement while having a student population of which at least 75 percent are at-risk.

Assistant Superintendent Todd Lambert says the prominent award is well-deserved and reflects the hard work

PSD Calendar of Events Feb. 13 – Board of Education meeting Feb. 19 – No School K-12 students, teachers on duty Feb. 27 – Board of Education meeting

of everyone at Putnam.

“Mr. Apodaca and the staff never stop believing that their students can improve,” says Lambert, who oversees PSD elementary schools. “They have made a non-negotiable commitment to empowering students to take more control of their learning.”

Teachers and students work hard together on learning and teaching While Putnam’s success is a result of many factors combined, Apodaca says instilling a growth mindset among staff and students has made the biggest difference with student growth and achievement. As part of this focus, “Impact” teams, made up of Putnam teachers, analyze student work and teaching methods to support and increase student growth.

“They’re reviewing student work and looking at what their instruction was and seeing if they can make improvements,” says Apodaca, adding that the Impact teams help teachers

calibrate an understanding of academic standards. “We may interpret things differently. We talk a lot about clarity. Are we all clear about where we’re headed, what actions we need to take and what we’re delivering.”

The growth mindset extends beyond staff to students by giving them some responsibility for their own learning and making sure they know what the expectations are. During the school day, it’s not uncommon to see Putnam students reviewing their own or each other’s work.

“We’re empowering kids and teachers. We’ve seen tremendous growth with that. It’s a challenge to provide opportunities for all students to grow. We have to look at how we can do things creatively and differently, so we can provide those opportunities,” says Apodaca.

INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION AND ENRICHMENT CLASSES EXPAND STUDENT LEARNING Other positive forces at work at Putnam include providing individualized instruction to meet specific student needs and offering extra enrichment classes that increase learning and take kids beyond the regular curriculum. Coding and robotics classes hook kids into

learning more about technology, while a class on quilting reinforces what they’re learning in art class. In addition, a leadership club teaches fifth-graders positive management skills followed by opportunities for the students to practice what they’ve learned, like leading a school assembly or family night event.

Social and emotional skills are also woven into the daily curriculum, which Apodaca believes is especially important in today’s technology-focused world.

“We’re in a technological age, but these are still skills that need to be taught— how to talk with each other appropriately, how to listen to each other’s perspective. How do our actions make others feel and also how do they make ourselves feel,” he says.

Seeing their students succeed and grow is the best reward for the Putnam community, but Apodaca acknowledges that receiving the Colorado Centers of Excellence award is the icing on the cake for them, making their efforts even more worthwhile.

“I’m really excited for our staff and our community, for our teachers and teams,” says Apodaca. “They’ve put in a lot of hard work and time.

They really do care and they’re here at Putnam to serve.”

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greeley-evans district 6 news District 6 graduation rate, dropout rate improves • Jefferson High School/Greeley-Evans Alternative Program: 54.8 percent, 172 graduates • Northridge High School: 84 percent, 204 graduates • Union Colony Preparatory School: 69.6 percent, 32 graduates • University Schools: 96.9 percent, 127 graduates

More students in Greeley-Evans School District 6 graduated on time in 2016 and fewer dropped out of school before receiving a diploma, according to information released by the Colorado Department of Education today.

The 2016 on-time, four-year graduation rate for District 6 is 78.7 percent, an increase of 1.6 percentage points over last year. This is slightly under the state on-time graduation rate of 79 percent.

The District 6 dropout rate also fell to 2.3 percent in 2016 from 3.4 percent in 2015. This decline represents 111 students who stayed in school to continue their education. The District 6 dropout rate mirrors the state rate, which is also 2.3 percent.

“This is a significant improvement for our district. It represents the very intentional and challenging work our educators and administrators are doing to ensure our students are graduating high school with a plan for their future,” said District 6 Superintendent Dr. Deirdre Pilch. “I am proud of the work that has been done to improve these rates. We still have work to do, but this definitely shows we are moving in the right direction.”

As part of Innovation2020, the District 6 strategic plan, schools are 26

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committed to graduating all students with the skills they need to enter college or a career. Specifically, by 2021, the goal for District 6 is to graduate 90 percent of its students on time.

District 6 is outperforming the state graduation rate in its two largest student categories: the on-time graduation rate for District 6 students identified as Latino is 74.8 percent, compared to 71.1 percent statewide; and the on-time graduation rate for District 6 students identified as Caucasian is 85.9 percent, compared to 83.9 percent statewide. In 2016, 655 students from a Latino background and 428 students from a Caucasian background graduated on time, composing nearly 94 percent of all graduates.

In total, District 6 schools graduated 1,156 students in 2016. In Colorado, 50,700 students graduated. District 6 represents about 2.2 percent of the total number of graduates in the state.

Here are the 2016 on-time graduation rates by high school: • Engage Online Academy (no longer in existence): 64.3 percent, 9 graduates • Frontier Charter Academy: 100 percent, 80 graduates • Greeley Central High School: 86 percent, 245 graduates • Greeley West High School: 80.6 percent, 287 graduates

NEW D6 POSITION TO EXPAND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Following a competitive selection process, long-time community member and former Aurora Police Officer, Carolyn (CJ) Renaud, has been hired as the new business and community partnership administrator for Greeley-Evans School District 6. In addition to her extensive experience as a community advocate and servant, Ms. Renaud holds a Master’s Degree in Education.

CJ Renaud will join District 6 in February. The new position is funded through the mill levy override that was approved by voters in November. It was part of the campaign promise to improve and expand career exploration and preparation for students through internships, apprenticeships, shadowing and other opportunities.

“We are excited to welcome CJ to our District 6 team,” said Superintendent Dr. Deirdre Pilch. “This is a position we promised to fill as we implement our strategic plan, which includes an expansion of work force readiness and career exploration opportunities for all students. We are grateful to the community for supporting the mill levy override, which allows us to successfully prepare students to enter college or careers after high school through resources such as this.”

Ms. Renaud served as a School Resource Officer for the Aurora Police Department, serving primarily at Hinkley High School. She is a resident of Evans and has served as a coach for several local softball and basketball teams.

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thompson school district news First-graders create Career Day Another difference in the school calendar for 2018-2019 is the addition of a one-hour late start every Wednesday morning to allow time for educators to collaborate in their planning and professional growth opportunities. Teacher quality is the most important influence on student learning and the Board heard from both the Calendar Committee Task Force and the Recruit and Retain Task Force that providing educators a regular and consistent time to collaborate improves their teaching practice.

This new calendar will add four more school days for students, as the previous practice of full days off for teacher professional development is being replaced by the Wednesday one-hour late start.

More information on the upcoming 2018-2019 school year schedule will be forthcoming later this spring.

Project-based learning can create an amazing experience for students. For example, first-grade students at Lincoln Elementary recently created their own “Career Day.” After choosing which professions they’d like to learn more about, students wrote e-mails asking professionals to present to the group.

Each year’s program is completely different and the children decide which careers they would like to focus on. See photo above from this year’s event.

START AND RELEASE TIME ADJUSTMENT APPROVED On January 17, the Thompson School District Board of Education approved an adjustment to start and release times, as well as a one-hour late start on Wednesdays, beginning in the 20182019 school year. A district task force will now work on a variety of items to help ensure a smooth transition, including a start and release time for K-8 students. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, middle school and high 28

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school students will start their day later and elementary students will start a bit earlier. Here is a summary of the tentative start and end times: • Elementary Schools: 8am – 3:10pm • High Schools: 8:30am – 3:50pm • Middle Schools: 8:45am – 4pm

Districts around the state and across the country have been moving in this direction for several years with positive results. The Centers for Disease Control, the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend that secondary students start school no earlier than 8:30am, citing a variety of benefits to student health and learning, including: • Increased attendance rates • Increase in GPA • Increase in state test scores • Increase in student attention • Increase in quality of student-family interaction • Decrease in disciplinary action • Decrease in student-involved car accidents • Decrease in student sleeping during instruction

TSD SCHOOL BOARD SEARCHES FOR NEW SUPERINTENDENT The Thompson School District Board of Education is in the process of a formal search to fill the district’s superintendent position, which will be vacated effective July 1, 2018 by Dr. Stan Scheer, who has announced his retirement.

Community forums were hosted in January to provide an opportunity for students, parents, staff and community members to share their thoughts on the talents and traits that they prefer for Thompson’s next superintendent.

The Board of Education has contracted with the firm McPherson and Jacobson to manage the formal search. Below is a copy of the tentative timeline for the process.

February • Applications for the Superintendent position will close.

March • March 26-29 - Superintendent Candidate Interviews April • TSD will announce the next Superintendent of Schools.

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lunchbox POUDRE SCHOOL DISTRICT—Elementary student lunches are $2.65, secondary student lunches are $2.90 and reduced lunches are PK-5 free, grades 6-12 $0.40.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1 Beef & bean burrito; chicken patty sandwich 2 Pepperoni or cheese pizza; chef salad w/roll 5 Chicken patty sandwich; potato bar w/chili 6 Chicken Alfredo; chicken nuggets 7 Orange chicken & rice; hamburger/cheeseburger 8 Beef taco & rice; mac & cheese 9 Chicken or cheese pizza; veggie wrap 12 Mac n’cheese; chicken nuggets 13 Cheese ravioli & roll; meatball sandwich 14 Teriyaki chicken & rice; pig in a blanket 15 Breaded chicken tenderloin; chili & cinnamon roll 16 Pepperoni or cheese pizza; hummus & veggie box 20 Beef lasagna; turkey gravy & roll

21 Orange chicken & rice; trout treasures 22 Chicken tacos & rice; chicken patty sandwich 23 Meat lovers or cheese pizza; chicken Caesar wrap 26 Meatball sandwich; chicken nuggets 27 Cheese calzone & marinara; spaghetti & meat sauce 28 Chicken & Asian noodles; hot dog MIDDLE SCHOOLS 1 Taco bar & rice; chicken patty sandwich 2 Philly cheesesteak sandwich; chicken Caesar salad 5 Chicken nuggets; sloppy Joe sandwich 6 Spaghetti & meatballs; cheese ravioli & roll 7 Teriyaki beef & chicken & egg roll; chicken patty sandwich 8 Beef & bean burrito; taco salad

9 Trout treasures; mac n’cheese 12 BBQ pork or chicken sandwich 13 Beef lasagna; chicken nuggets 14 Asian bar: Orange chicken, beef & egg roll 15 Taco bar & rice 16 Turkey gravy & roll; chicken drumsticks & roll 20 Baked Ziti; meatball sandwich 21 Thai chicken, beef & egg roll 22 Beef & bean burrito; taco salad 23 Pig in a blanket; chili & cinnamon roll 26 Tortilla soup bar; chicken patty sandwich 27 Cheese calzone & marinara; penne & meat sauce 28 Sweet & sour beef, chicken & egg roll; chicken patty sandwich

THOMPSON R2J SCHOOL DISTRICT—Elementary lunch is $2.75; secondary lunches are $3. Reduced lunches are pre-K-5, free; 6-12, $.40.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1 Baked ziti; PBJ 2 Asian combo 5 Hamburger; chicken ranch wrap 6 Dominos pizza; beef taco 7 Domino’s pizza; mac n’cheese 8 Domino’s pizza burrtio grande 9 Sweet & sour chicken w/rice 12 Breaded chicken sandwich; turkey sandwich 13 Pizza; PBJ 14 Chicken & biscuit; PBJ

15 Meat lasagna; PBJ 16 Fajita pie; PBJ 19 No school!

20 No school!

21 Chicken & waffles; PBJ 22 French bread boat 23 Teriyaki chicken bowl w/rice 26 Hamburger; turkey sandwich 27 Cheese nachos; PBJ 28 Turkey roast SECONDARY SCHOOL 1 Baked ziti; PBJ

2 Asian combo 5 Hamburger; chicken ranch wrap 6 Beef taco; breaded chicken sandwich 7 Pizza; mac n’cheese 8 Popcorn chicken; burrtio grande 9 Sweet & sour chicken w/rice 12 Breaded chicken sandwich; turkey sandwich 13 Pizza; meatball sub 14 Chicken & biscuit; spicy chicken sandwich 15 Domino’s pizza; BBQ pulled pork

sandwich 16 Fajita pie; taco 19 No school!

20 No school!

21 Chicken & waffles; Pizza 22 French bread boat; popcorn chicken 23 Teriyaki chicken bowl w/rice; hamburger 26 Hamburger; turkey sandwich 27 Cheese nachos; meatball sub 28 Turkey roast; spicy chicken sandwich

GREELEY DISTRICT 6— To obtain a complete meal, student gets an entrée and can select 1-3 sides. Elementary lunches are $2.55, and middle school lunches are $2.80, reduced-price lunches are K-2 free, 3-8 $.40.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1 Stuffed shells w/garlic knot; ham & cheese wrap 2 Chicken, bacon, ranch pizza or cheese pizza 5 No school!

6 Chicken enchiladas w/fiesta rice; chicken fajita wrap 7 Pot roast w/dinner roll; ham & cheese wrap 8 Pasta la rasta w/breadstick; turkey & cheese hoagie 9 Pepperoni or cheese pizza; PBJ 12 Chili w/cinnamon roll; chicken fajita wrap 13 Teriyaki chicken w/brown rice; turkey & cheese hoagie 14 Hamburger/cheeseburger; Italian sandwich 15 Bean & cheese burrito; green chili 16 Green chile chicken or cheese pizza; PBJ 19 No school!

20 Salisbury steak w/rice pilaf; American beef hoagie 21 Chicken queso gordita crunch; PBJ 22 Pork carnitas w/tortillas; Italian sandwich 23 Hawaiian or cheese pizza; PBJ 26 Mac n’cheese; American beef hoagie 27 Soft shell taco; chicken salad sandwich 28 Chicken gumbo w/green chile & cornbread; PBJ MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Stuffed shells w/garlic knot; ham & cheese wrap 2 Chicken, bacon, ranch pizza or cheese pizza 5 No school!

6 Chicken enchiladas w/fiesta rice; chicken fajita wrap 7 Pot roast w/dinner roll; ham & cheese wrap 8 Pasta la rasta w/breadstick; turkey & cheese hoagie

9 12 13 14 15 16 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 28

Pepperoni or cheese pizza; PBJ Chili w/cinnamon roll; chicken fajita wrap Teriyaki chicken w/brown rice; turkey & cheese hoagie Hamburger/cheeseburger; Italian sandwich Bean & cheese burrito; green chili Green chile chicken or cheese pizza; PBJ No school!

Salisbury steak w/rice pilaf; American beef hoagie Chicken queso gordita crunch; PBJ Pork carnitas w/tortillas; Italian sandwich Hawaiian or cheese pizza; PBJ Mac n’cheese; American beef hoagie Soft shell taco; chicken salad sandwich Chicken gumbo w/green chile & cornbread; PBJ

WINDSOR SCHOOL DISTRICT—Price for elementary lunch is $2.90, for middle school students, $3.15. Reduced lunches are elementary, free; middle school, $0.40.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1 Big Daddy cheese or Hawaiian pizza; PBJ 2 No school!

5 Pizza sticks; PBJ 6 Pancakes w/sausage patties; breakfast burrito 7 Chicken & black bean burrito; mini cheeseburgers 8 Chicken sandwich; turkey & cheese sub 9 Big Daddy cheese or pepperoni pizza; PBJ 12 Mac n’cheese; PBJ 13 Cheesy nachos; mini cheeseburgers 14 Teriyaki chicken w/brown rice; corn dog 15 Big Daddy cheese or veggie pizza; PBJ 16 No school!

19 No school!

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20 Chicken street tacos; mini cheeseburgers 21 Chicken nuggets; corn dog 22 BBQ pork sandwich; turkey & cheese sub 23 Big Daddy cheese or Hawaiian pizza; fish sandwhich 26 Hog dog; PBJ 27 Chicken Alfredo; mini cheeseburgers 28 Hamburger; hotdog MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Rotini w/tomato sauce; French bread boat 2 No school!

5 Potato bar; corn dog 6 Pancakes w/sausages; cheeseburger 7 Chicken & black bean chili w/cinnamon roll; hamburger 8 Chicken sandwich; hamburger

9 12 13 14 15 16 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 28

Steak & cheese sub; hamburger Mac n’cheese; corn dog Cheese enchiladas; chicken sandwich Cheese bread & tomato soup; hamburger Chicken tenders; hamburger No school!

No school!

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FEBRUARY 2018 ONGOING MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS Read and Seed Youth Program Preschool readiness activities including a story and related craft activity. Ages 2-5 with adult. $30. Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. 10-10:45am & 11-11:45am. 416-2486 www.fcgov.com/gardens.

THURSDAYS, FEBRUARY 1, 8, 15, 22 4-part series HTML5 & CSS3 Learn the structure of an HTML page and find out how to format text, create links, insert images, and link to a stylesheet. Intermediate computer skills required. Registration required. All ages Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 6:30pm. 221-6740 www.PoudreLibraries.org.

FEBRUARY 3 THROUGH 4 Find Your Voice - Take a Stand AntiBullying Workshop Middle school students: Learn how to stop bullying and create a safer environment for all students. $45; sponsorships available. First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover St., FC. Saturday 8:30am-4:30pm, Sunday 12:30pm-4:30pm. 689-0226 www.interculturalcommunitybuilders.org.

FEBRUARY 9 THROUGH 11 Loveland Fire & Ice Festival The Nation’s Sweetheart City comes alive for Valentine’s Day with this festival of featuring fire and ice sculptures, music, more. All ages. Downtown Loveland.

2/9-5-10pm; 2/10-10am-10pm; 2/11-10am-8pm. 800-980-4155 https://lovelandfireandice.com/.

FEBRUARY 23 THROUGH APRIL 15 Cole Porter’s Kiss Me Kate An hysterical play-within-a-play where each cast member’s on-stage life is complicated by what is happening offstage. Ticket prices and showtimes vary. Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Marketplace Dr., Johnstown. 744-3747, www.coloradocandlelight.com.

THROUGH FEBRUARY 11 Old Town Square Skating Rink Enjoy a synthetic skating rink with regular ice skates of your own or rent skates at the rink. $2 to skate, $1 skate rental. Old Town Square, FC. Times vary. www.http://downtownfortcollins.com/ events.

FEBRUARY 24 THROUGH 25 Explore More Plus! Workshop: Magic of the Mind Learn about the brain’s quirks by mastering card tricks, optical illusions and mind reading! Show off your tricks with your own show at session’s end. Ages 1114. $50/$40 member. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Court, FC. 1-5pm both days. www.fcmod.org/event.

THROUGH FEBRUARY 14 Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Features all of the classic songs as well as some new ones for the stage. Ticket prices and showtimes vary. Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Marketplace Dr., Johnstown. 744-3747 www.coloradocandlelight.com.

THROUGH FEBRUARY 25 The Ice Rink at the Promenade Shops at Centerra Visit Northern Colorado’s finest outdoor Ice Skating Rink. 12 and under-$7; Adults-$8.50. Promenade Shops at Centerra, across from Dick’s Sporting Goods, 5971 Sky Pond Dr., LV. Hours vary. 667-5283 www.TheIceRinkAtTheShops.com.

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FEBRUARY 25 THROUGH 26 Navigating the Awkward Stage, A Journey thru Puberty Four-hour workshop to help adults understand and navigate puberty and adolescents. Sponsored by Look Both Ways. $65. Bootstrap Brewery, 6778 N. 79th St., Longmont. 6:30pm8:30pm both days. 303-915-8900 or intimateinquiries@gmail.com.

THROUGH FEBRUARY 26 Kids Yoga Kids learn poses and breathing techniques to help them feel strong and calm in their bodies and mind. Ages 7-12. $9 drop-in; $5 for each additional sibling. Om Ananda Yoga, 115 N. College Ave., Ste. 200, FC. 4-5pm. 488-9192, www.omanandayoga.com.

WEDNESDAYS, THROUGH MARCH 7 Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating Workshop Strategies to feel in charge of eating instead of feeling out of control. $65; includes book and journal. Fort Collins Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr., FC. 3-4:30pm. 221-6644, www.fcgov.com/recreator.

Baby Sign Language Learn basics with babies for daily interaction. $10 Northside Aztlan Center, 112 E. Willow St., FC. 7-8pm.

221-6644, www.fcgov.com/recreator.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2

Fort Collins Gallery Walk Monthly, self-guided walking tour of galleries and art-minded businesses.

Historic Downtown Fort Collins.

6pm-9pm. www.downtownfortcollins.com/events.

Honor Africa Night A celebration of respect and recognition, and the debut of Colors of East Africa in the Museum’s Main Gallery. All ages. Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures, 200 W. Mountain Ave., FC. 6-9pm. 221-4600 www.globalvillagemuseum.org.

The Wizard of Oz Travel down the Yellow Brick Road with Dorothy, Toto and their friends in this lavish Broadway touring production.

Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., GR. 7:30pm. 356-5000 www.ucstars.com.

THURSDAYS, THROUGH APRIL 26 Gallery Yoga View and appreciate art during a quick lunchtime mind and body tune-up. After class, explore the art and history exhibits. $5 Loveland Museum, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 12pm. 962-2410 www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org/ programs-events/gallery-yoga.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1

Leap into Science: Design It! Build It! Work together to build your own stable structures and learn about both natural and man-made buildings around you.

Centennial Park Library, 2227 23rd Ave., GR. 10:30am. 888-861-7323 www.MyLibrary.us.

Guitar Getaway Musician parents: Drop your kids off in the Tot Spot for crafts and activities while you jam away on guitar, bass or drum in the Music Garage! Ages 4-8. $10-child, $8-member, Parents free. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Court, FC. 6:30–8pm. www.fcmod.org/event.

Beijing Guitar Duo Guitarists Meng Su and Yameng Wang play so perfectly together they sound like one person. $26. Rialto Theater, 228 East Fourth St., LV. 7pm. 962-2120, www. rialtotheatercenter.org.

Winter Workshops: The Science and Culture of Coffee Dr. Sarada Krishnan (coffee plantation owner/ Denver Botanic Gardens) will talk about the botany and production of coffee and the research in which she’s been involved. $18. Fort Collins Nursery, 2121 E. Mulberry, FC. 10am-noon. 4821984, www.FortCollinsNursery.com.

Winter Workshops: Houseplant Care Randy Meyer (Tropiflora owner) will share the basic principles of care for healthy, beautiful plants. $18. Fort Collins Nursery, 2121 E. Mulberry, FC. 1-3pm. 482-1984 www.FortCollinsNursery.com.

Challenge Lab: My Heart Will Pump On Stretch your STEAM skills and work together to engineer a DIY heart to pump blood throughout the body. All ages, best for 7+. $5 per family of up to 6/$4 per member family. Children must be accompanied by at least one adult.

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Court, FC. 1:30–2:30pm. www.fcmod.org/event.

Stargazing Join members of the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society (NCAS) for an up-close look at the night sky over the Rockies. Devil’s Backbone Open Space, 7-9pm. 619-4489 www.larimer.org/naturalresources.

Berthoud Dance Company presents Harmony An original, creative and entertaining performance with new works from Robyn Waid, Molly Dowell, David Mineo. Harmony brings calm and joy to the soul. $15-adults, $12-students.

Rialto Theater, 228 East Fourth St., LV. 7:30pm. 962-2120 www.rialtotheatercenter.org.

Beaks, Tweak & Shrieks A Fort Collins Symphony performance featuring guest violist Nokuthula Ngwenyama. Ticket prices vary. Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 7:30pm. 221-6730, www.fcsymphony.org.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4

LEGO: Grossology Design LEGO bricks into something slimy, icky and gross! Ages 5+. Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 1pm.

221-6740, www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Berthoud Dance Company presents Harmony An original, creative and entertaining performance with new works from Robyn Waid, Molly Dowell, David Mineo.

Harmony brings calm and joy to the soul. $15-adults, $12-students. Rialto Theater, 228 East Fourth St., LV. 1pm. 962-2120, www.rialtotheatercenter.org.

Book Talk with Scifi author Eric Flint Celebrate the release of the latest book in Eric Flint’s Ring of Fire series. The Bean Cycle, 144 N. College Ave., FC. 2pm.

484-7898, www.oldfirehousebooks.com.

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Animal Afternoon Enjoy good books and the opportunity to read to friendly animals. Grades K-5.

Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 3pm. 221-6740 www.PoudreLibraries.org.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6

An Evening with Tamora Pierce Fantasy author Tamora Pierce will discuss her newest book, Tempests and Slaughter, the first book of the Numair Chronicles. Free, but reserve tickets in advance. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 2000 Stover St., FC. 6pm. 484-7898 www.oldfirehousebooks.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7

Painted Chocolate Bars & Valentine’s Cards Chocolate and art are the perfect combination for the season of love! Ages 9-12. Windsor-Severance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 6:30-7:30pm. 686-5603 www.clearviewlibrary.org/event/537509.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8

Valentine Exhibit Grand Re-opening Learn the Sweetheart City program history, create valentines, gifts and paper flowers and more! Family friendly.

Loveland Museum, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 6pm. 962-2410 www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org/artistforums.

Book Talk with Cynthia Swanson Colorado author Cynthia Swanson will discuss her newest book, The Glass Forest. The Bean Cycle, 144 N. College Ave., FC. 6pm. 484-7898, www. oldfirehousebooks.com.

Colorado Mosaic Artists’ Exhibition: Earth, Air, Fire, Water The beauty of Colorado’s striking landscape has inspired artists for centuries and in many different mediums. Loveland Museum, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 6pm. 962-2410 www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org/artexhibits.

Games that Tell a Story The Nerd Store game gurus will guide teens through such gems as Once Upon a Time, Rory’s Story Cubes, The Hare & the Tortoise, etc. Lincoln Park Library, 1012 11th St., GR. 4pm. 888-861-7323, www.MyLibrary.us.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9

Trains of Romance Featuring model passenger trains of the 1940’s, have fun with valentine crafts and celebrate national historic month!

All ages. Adults $10, Seniors (65+) $8, Children (4-12) $5, Children 3 and under free. Colorado Model Railroad Museum, 680 10th St. GR. 10am-4pm.

392-2934, www.cmrm.org.

Eagles Rocky Mountain Raptor Program will share Colorado’s two species of majestic hunters. Learn their amazing skills and tools for survival and how that survival is being challenged. All ages. Farr Regional Library, 1939 61st Ave., GR. 6pm. 888-861-7323 www.MyLibrary.us.

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10

Trains of Romance Featuring model passenger trains of the 1940s, have fun with valentine crafts and celebrate national historic month!

All ages. Adults $10, Seniors (65+) $8, Children (4-12) $5, Children 3 and under free. Colorado Model Railroad Museum, 680 10th St. GR. 10am-4pm.

392-2934, www.cmrm.org.

Amazing Day: Heartbreakers See what makes your ticker tick with fun stations all over the museum taught by CSU Biomedical students. All ages. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Court, FC. 10am-1pm. www.fcmod.org/event.

Winter Workshops: Pruning Basics for Shrubs and Small Trees Tom Throgmorton will share healthy pruning techniques for shrubs and small trees. $18. Fort Collins Nursery, 2121 E. Mulberry, FC. 10am-noon. 482-1984, www.FortCollinsNursery.com.

Preschool Winter Olympics Make music with musical instruments you build yourselves. Program is limited to the first 15 people. Riverside Library, 3700 Golden St., EV. 10:30am. 888861-7323, www.MyLibrary.us.

Cupcake Wars: Kill’em with Sweetness Compete to create the best decorated cupcakes! Each round the cupcakes will have to fit a specific theme and the judges will decide who wins.

Registration required. Grades 6-12.

Centennial Park Library, 2227 23rd Ave., GR. 1pm. 888-861-7323 www.MyLibrary.us.

Explore More! Workshop: Just Dance See what dance is all about: from the way your muscles and bones work to the stories we can create through movement.

Ages 6-9. $25/$20-member. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Court, FC. 1:30-4:30pm. www.fcmod.org/event.

Make it Happen Make paper dragons and sticky rice cakes to start our celebration of Chinese New Year! Registration required. Ages 6-9. Windsor-Severance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 2-3pm. 686-5603, www. clearviewlibrary.org/event/538133.

Winter Workshops: Seeing and Thinking Like a Landscape Designer Robyn Dolgin (Wild Iris Living owner) will share tips for designing your landscape cohesively like the professionals. $18. Fort Collins Nursery, 2121 E. Mulberry, FC. 1-3pm. 4821984, www.FortCollinsNursery.com.

From Past to Present: A Look At Mosaic Art History of mosaic around the Western world and see this ancient art form’s new, contemporary interpretations. Loveland Museum, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 1pm.

962-2410, www.lovelandmuseumgallery. org/artist-forums.

Minecraft for Kids & Tweens Laptops provided. Registration required.

Grades 1-5 Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 1pm and 3pm. 2216740, www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Explore Kenya Two experts from CSU will discuss community-based conservancies in Kenya and analyze the 1980s South Turkana Ecosystem Project. $5. Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures, 200 W. Mountain Ave., FC. 1-3pm. 2214600, www.globalvillagemuseum.org.

Princess in Black Valentine’s Tea Party Celebrate Valentine’s with tea party!

This Princess in Black-themed party will feature tea from Happy Lucky’s, and other fun and games. $5-child. Clothes Pony and Dandelion Toys, 111 N. College Ave., FC. 1:30pm 484-7898, www. oldfirehousebooks.com.

Canvas and Cocoa Afternoon of painting with acrylics on canvas and sipping cocoa. Wear a shirt that can get paint on it. Grades K-5; limited to first 20 to arrive. Riverside Library, 3700 Golden St., EV. 2pm.

888-861-7323, www.MyLibrary.us.

The Magic of Bill Blagg LIVE Incredible high-energy, grand-scale magic and illusions that will have you rubbing your eyes in disbelief. $15.

Family friendly. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 2pm & 6pm. 2216730, www.lctix.com.

Paul Reiser Comedian, actor, TV writer, author and musician Paul Reiser. Voted among Comedy Central’s “Top 100 Comedians of All Time,” he is best known for cocreating and starring in NBC series Mad About You. $39. Rialto Theater, 228 East Fourth St., LV. 7pm. 962-2120 www.rialtotheatercenter.org.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11

Children’s Author Visit with Natasha Wing Make Valentine’s Day cards and listen to readings of The Night Before Valentine’s Day and the new picture book, Bagel In Love. Preschool-5th grade. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave.FC. 1pm.

221-6740, www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Peter Pan Silent Movie with Musical Accompaniment by Mont Alto Experience this silent feature film accompanied by the musical talents of a live orchestra. $12. Rialto Theater, 228 East Fourth St., LV. 2pm. 962-2120 www.rialtotheatercenter.org.

Musical Zoo: Mother Goose Tales Performances by middle and high school groups, Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra and Canyon Concert Ballet.

Ages 3-12. $2-children and adults.

Timberline Church, 2908 S. Timberline Road, FC. 2-4:30pm www.fcsymphony.org.

Animal Afternoon Enjoy good books and the opportunity to read to friendly animals. Grades K-5.

Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 3pm. 221-6740 www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Comedy Brewers A family friendly improv troupe that zips through hilarious games. $10-presale (plus $2 online or credit card service charge), $15-at the door. Bas Bleu Theatre Company, 401 Pine St., FC. 7:30pm.

498-8949, www.basbleu.org.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12

Cancer Screening & Prevention – Doc Talk Strategies for cancer prevention by UCHealth Oncologist. $5 Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr., FC. 6-7pm. 2216644, www.fcgov.com/recreator.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13

Forests Explore art and science activities all about the forest. Ages 2-5. Windsor-Severance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 10:30-11am.

686-5603, www.clearviewlibrary.org/ event/526667.

Girls Who Code Club Girls explore coding in a fun way.

Grades 6-12. Registration required.

Windsor-Severance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 3:30-5:30pm. 686-5603, www. clearviewlibrary.org/event/526400.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14

Riverside STEM Club: Catch the Wind Learn about wind by observing and exploring it as Gilberto does in the story “Gilberto and the Wind.” Build wind catchers! Grades K-5. Riverside Library, 3700 Golden St., EV. 4pm.

888-861-7323, www.MyLibrary.us.

Chocolat Valentine’s Day Event Enjoy wine, light hors d’oeuvres, chocolate pairings from Nuance Chocolate and the film Chocolat.

Adults. $20-75. Rialto Theater, 228 East Fourth St., LV. 6:30pm. 962-2120, www.rialtotheatercenter.org/calendar.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15

Laughter & Meditation for Caregivers Coping strategies to help decrease stress and become a better caregiver. $5. Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr., FC. 2-3:30pm.

221-6644, www.fcgov.com/recreator.

Chinese New Year A special celebration of the traditions, flavors and events that surround the Chinese New Year. Family friendly.

Loveland Museum, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 5 pm. 962-2410 www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org/ programs-events.

Parents’ Night Out: Valentine’s Edition Drop your kids off to create their own Valentine cards and crafts, and complete STEAM challenges with all that leftover Valentine’s candy. Pizza provided. Ages 5-12. $30/$25-member, $20 each additional sibling. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Court, FC. 5-8pm. www.fcmod.org/event.

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Fundamentals of Going Paleo How dietary changes can help improve your health. $5. Northside Aztlan Center, 112 E. Willow St., FC. 6:30-7:30pm.

221-6644, www.fcgov.com/recreator.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17

Designing 3D Models Create 3D models with Tinkercad, a free, browser-based design application. Ages 6-13. Registration required. Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 10am.

221-6740 www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Winter Workshops: Native Plants for Bees, Butterflies, and Beauty Pat Hayward will share how to create habitat gardens for bees, butterflies, wildlife and you. $18. Fort Collins Nursery, 2121 E. Mulberry, FC. 10am-noon. 482-1984, www.

FortCollinsNursery.com.

Forests Explore art and science activities all about the forest. Ages 2-5. WindsorSeverance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 10:30-11am. 686-5603, www. clearviewlibrary.org/event/526667.

Winter Workshops: Totally Terrific Tomatoes Kathy Hatfield (Raspberry Hill Farm owner) will share tips for a successful tomato growing season. $18. Fort Collins Nursery, 2121 E. Mulberry, FC. 1-3pm.

482-1984, www.FortCollinsNursery.com.

Discovery Lab: Total Dissection of the Heart Dissect a sheep’s heart with help from trained staff/volunteers. All ages, best for 9+. Children must be accompanied by at least one adult. $5-person for family of up to 6/$4-person for museum members.

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Court, FC. 1:30-2:30pm www.fcmod.org/event.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23

Family Bingo Night Play BINGO and win prizes with family and friends. All ages. Range View Elementary School, 700 Ponderosa Dr., Severance. 6:30-7:30pm. 686-5603, www. clearviewlibrary.org/event/547599.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24

Girl Power – Learn to Code Learn the basics of drag and drop coding and explore computer programming. No prior programming experience needed!

Girls ages 8-15. Registration required.

Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 10am. 221-6740 www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Simply Red Enjoy a concert, yard games and a BBQ feast while helping TEAM promote positive mental health and wellness through the prevention of substance abuse. Tickets required; purchase online.

Hilton Fort Collins. 425 W. Prospect Rd., FC. 5-10pm. www.teamwandp.org.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25

Animal Afternoon Enjoy good books and the opportunity to read to friendly animals. Grades K-5.

Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 3pm. 221-6740, www.PoudreLibraries.org.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19

“Make And Take” Mosaic Drop-in workshop to create your own mosaic button, tin, magnet or necklace.

All ages. Loveland Museum, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 1pm. www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org/artistforums.

Y is for Yoga Build literacy skills and healthy minds and bodies through books, songs, rhymes and yoga! Ages 3-6. Windsor-Severance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 10-10:45am.

686-5603, www.clearviewlibrary.org/ event/537494.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20

Your Winter Olympics Teens are invited to compete in Winter Olympic inspired games while snacking on Olympic inspired treats. Riverside Library, 3700 Golden St., EV. 2pm.

888-861-7323, www.MyLibrary.us.

Book Talk with Carter Wilson Thriller author Carter Wilson with discuss his latest book, Mister Tender’s Girl, which was inspired by true events.

The Bean Cycle, 144 N. College Ave., FC. 6pm. 484-7898 www.oldfirehousebooks.com.

Radon Awareness Learn about radon and receive a radon test kit for your home. Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr., FC. 1-2pm. 2216644, www.fcgov.com/recreator.

Family Retro Gaming Night Play your favorite old games like Mario Kart, Duck Hunt, Pac-Man, more. Drop in when you can or stay all night! Ages 10+. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St. 6pm. 221-6740, www.PoudreLibraries.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21

Discovery Zone A new craft, science experiment, or maker space project every month. Ages 5+. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 3:30pm. 221-6740, www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22

Thompson School District Wellness Night Offers attendees resources, breakout session on mental health and wellness topics, and a keynote speaker.

Loveland High School, 920 W. 29th St., LV. 5-8:30pm. www.facebook.com/ tsdThompsonCARES/

Loveland Opera Theatre presents The Merry Widow for Kids Musical comedy set in 1905 Paris.

Children will learn about opera, singing, set changes, costumes and music and waltzes of Franz Lehar. $12-adults, $10-children under 12. Rialto Theater, 228 East Fourth St., LV. 2:30pm. 9622120, www.rialtotheatercenter.org.

Discovery Zone A new craft, science experiment or maker space project every month. Ages 5+. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 3:30pm. 221-6740 www.PoudreLibraries.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28

Bedtime Yoga Little yogis can join a pajama event complete with calming yoga poses and breaths, and story. Ages 3-6. WindsorSeverance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 6:307pm. 686-5603, www.clearviewlibrary. org/event/537521.

Book Talk with Donna Bryson Colorado author Donna Bryson will discuss her latest book, Home of the Brave. The Bean Cycle, 144 N. College Ave., FC. 6pm. 484-7898, www. oldfirehousebooks.com.

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time out Savoring the stages of motherhood Revisiting journals and scrapbooks from a slower time K ATIE HARRIS

I

n the early years of my kids’ lives I wrote down everything. I kept track of the basics in a journal that I kept on the bedside table: first smiles, first words, first steps. I made baby books and covered every page in notes, tracked heights and weights on growth charts, stuffed threering binders full of immunization and medical records, and designed scrapbook after scrapbook after scrapbook...

I recorded funny words, phrases and conversations my children spouted off in their toddler and preschool years in the journal. Those quotes, along with a collection of home videos from the kids’ younger years, remain some of our family’s favorite keepsakes to uncover and pour through again and again.

Recently my 10-year-old asked me to pull out the old journal and read some of her “baby talk” quotes to her. Her personal favorite is the time she went to her grandmother’s house for her first sleepover and loudly and proudly announced “Oh crap, Nana!”

(Or more like “Oh cwap, Nana,” as I imagine her 3-year-old voice pronouncing it.) I can still picture what my mom’s face must have looked like at hearing such a proclamation from her sweet, angelic little granddaughter.

Other favorite journal entries included her toddler-aged brother announcing that he had a baby sister in his tummy. My personal favorite is my daughter calling a bikini a “zucchini” until she was 8 years old.

We had barely made it through the pages upon pages of baby quotes that day before my daughter began rifling through drawers and cabinets all over the house, pulling out baby books, photo albums, boxes full of old artwork and scrapbook after scrapbook after scrapbook...

It’s been a long time since I last wrote about my journey through motherhood. Now too busy with homeschool42

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ing, sports and work, my days of finding the time to scrapbook are long past. The jottings of my children’s mispronounced words and mish-mashed expressions became less and less frequent as they grew older and older, until at some point over the years they disappeared altogether.

It’s bittersweet to pour through those old books, and remember those earlier times when they needed my help to accomplish even the simplest task, and when they fell asleep in my arms after a busy morning of playing.

These days, I keep a folder for each of them where I eventually shove my daughter’s county fair awards and my son’s soccer certificates when the pile on the counter

threatens to topple over. We live life in the fast lane of schoolwork, sports, and social lives. Those days of napping together on the couch have been replaced by the hustle and bustle of a chaotic but exciting new existence. And though these days are different, they too are precious.

When my daughter and I had gone through every last keepsake in the house that day, she ran off, her mind already on her next pursuit, and I sat for another minute, still stuck somewhere between those early days of motherhood and the present. Then, letting my busy world keep spinning without me for just a few minutes, I dug that old journal out from the bottom of the pile. And I wrote.

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