RM Parent | February 2021

FEBRUARY 2021 • RMPARENT.COM

FAMILIES THAT COOK TOGETHER… Maintaining wellness during a pandemic

Winter adventures Family bonding—indoors Aging gracefully

SPECIAL SECTION:

Women + Family HEALTH GUIDE

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

CAMP GUIDE: 2021 PREVIEW RMPARENT

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FEBRUARY 2021

Departments PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The big blur—Making our world special again

WOMEN’S HEALTH . . . . . . . . . 8 Aging gracefully—Don’t worry, there’s still time

FAMILY ACTIVITIES . . . . . . . . 10 Families that cook together…Connect together and eat some good food, too

Special Sections WOMEN + FAMILY Women+ Family HEALTH GU HEALTH GUIDE IDE FEBRUARY 2021

Stop worrying, all babies are not the same. Milestones vary. Knowing developmental ranges helps ease concerns.

Be your own health advocate. Stay informed and ask for what you need. Make this winter safe at home and outside. Follow guidelines from SafeKids Larimer County.

Play outdoo rs all year round PAGE 4

Consider a simple test PAGE 2

Helping you your baby and get some slee p PAGE 6

LEARN AND LIVE . . . . . . . . . . 12 Winter adventures—Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snow picnics

COMMUNITY NEWS . . . . . . . . 14 Making good choices—Fitness, youth substance awareness, scholarships, parent support, more

HEALTHY LIVING . . . . . . . . 16 Maintaining wellness during a pandemic— Simple daily rituals and routines

CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0

Events and activities for parents, kids and families

TIME OUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 6 Teens and safety during COVID-19—Teenage friendships (and their romances) in a pandemic

School District News

2021 CAMP PREVIEW GUIDE

Get a first look at camps and programs these providers have coming up for your families.

Features 18 FAMILY BONDING WITH INDOOR FUN

This past year has had all of us spending lots of time with family. But have we been spending quality time bonding through fun activities? It’s time to step up our game. Literally. Find things that you can do together—cooking, games, puzzles, puppet shows, building forts… The list is endless. Start now and create lasting traditions and memories.

GR-E 6 School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Church donates pajamas to all Jackson students, District 6 graduation rate continues to rise

Poudre School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Pointing forward in 2021, Student experience, PSD reopening phase info, Meals are available to all PSD students, Transportation update, COVID-19 protocols

Thompson School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Teacher Karla Quinones shares joy of performing, Students find a safe haven through theater

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perspective Generosity The big blur

learning, doing Making ourbeing worldand special again

IA

young man approached a parking t’s just become one big blurme forinme.

One yesterday. day lot blends into the next. One week “My family and and then I are months staying over drifts into another have there and we even couldmore get five dollars we now could slipped by.ifIt’s pronounced get awe’re pizza.into If wethese couldkind get of tenblah we could get that weeks, two andweeks. that would cover us.” wintry Are you still reading? That was I had no idea whether definitely a downer start. his story was true.

He looked though was living So howasdo we gethethrough thisrough, long, though—gaunt, sunken cheeks, despairing dark, socially distanced (re: away from eyes.

Withoutand hesitation, my wallet friends extendedI pulled family)out winter?

Does and handed him ten I don’t know just did it. He it help knowing thatbucks. we have a vaccine and why that,I maybe, by wasn’t summer threatening.

He wasn’t Heroutines, just seemed to really need a we’ll be starting to go over aboutimploring. our regular whatever that looks boostnow? right then and interacting with him right there a couple of feet like away,We I just felta it was a moment. have few ideas that might help. One is our Camp Guide It’s not thatprograms I’m on a mission to give away all ofcamps. our money.

Preview.

Many are scheduling summer Many,I walk but and all, drive plenty whoactivities are asking for a it’s little push.

And apart, I’m not of by these are of forpeople outdoor where easy to stay notneeded. driven to others byas a sense of guilt or where even a we’ll feeling being as I’mhelp wondering, are most of us, beofcome lucky enough to high have hopes, it and these othersjust don’t and therefore it’s my summer.

I have but that’s me.

Wesohave excellent social obligation to northern do it. NorColorado do I get a and big sense of satisfaction. healthcare here in I’m eager to see the I have a hard time pinpointing why I feel compelled to help out sometimes, vaccine rolling out in the next couple of months. whether a sidewalk forLynn a neighbor or stopping to 18, pushabout a car, You scooping should also check out Nichols story, page and other times not much. fun. We’ve all slipped into these routines family bonding withsoindoor fall, neighbor of Lynn ours comes by with compressor that Every are part ofathe blur, but advocates thathis weair shake ourselves andand blows lines. He makes that the rounds in ourwith our off getout up our and sprinkler do something different, we interact corner outside of the neighborhood and gets everyone ready for winter.

He family of our stuck-inside-together-for-all-time ruts. She doesn’t askgood for anything. just grab does it because he can. It is not a has some ideas thatHe might you. transactional offerhas in any Lea Hanson someway. food for thought about how to establish this put month inaher Learn and of Live column new Theresa routinesBaer thatwrites can help us in better frame mind, things aboutasteaching children to be generous and for to volunteer. such developing a good morning ritual ourselvesShe andalso our offers kids. some her ideasstory about and how. The idea is to help children to be Find onwhere page 16. aware of others’ needs andLive to understand that they, themselves, have Theresa Baer, in her & Learn story on page 12, wants to something to offer. take us on an outdoor adventure in the snow. She tells us what to goaltois get for them, really of us, to not just do an wear,The where the gear andallwhat else to bring to generosity make for aasfun activity and safethat tripwe forhave all. come to understand as something that we should do because lucky enough to have those with otherkids And inwe’re Family Activities, page 8, something I dive intoand cooking people struggling. we’re really headed is for our and theare many optionsWhere for making successful, funwith andthis delicious meals. children see people whowe arewatched just like the theyinauguration are, who just today want to be all And to a final thought: with happy just aspageantry, they do and who don’t want to feeland bad compelling just as they music don’t its patriotic high-minded speeches wantpoetry. to. WeItwant to get the on them us feelings. don’t just and caused mebeyond to reflect theand importance ofWe traditions droppausing money in can aand walk by. stop. Wewhat talk and engage with and to atake moment toWe appreciate we have. people who are justespecially like us. true now when it might be harder to I think that’s In the end, wethings want to be generosity, notSojust generosity, get excited about through the blur.

I’mdogoing to try though to the path toto being it seems, lies through remember findgenerosity, little reasons to celebrate everythe daypath andoftodoing make generosity. regular celebrations, such as birthdays, into bigger deals.

‘Tis the for season, Thanks sticking with us, Scott

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OCTOBER 2019 FEBRUARY 2021 •• Volume Volume 24, 25, Issue Issue 69 PUBLISHER Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com EDITOR Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Emily Zaynard emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE SusanHarting Hartig Susan susan.rmpublishing@gmail.com COVER PHOTO Cheri Schonfeld, Courtesy of istock.com Sky’s Open Design - skysopendesign.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS WRITERS TheresaCONTRIBUTING Baer, Lea Hanson, Kris Kodrich Theresa Baer, Lea Hanson, Katie Harris, Lynn U. Nichols, Scott Titterington Lynn U. Nichols

ROCKY ROCKY MOUNTAIN MOUNTAIN PUBLISHING PUBLISHING PO PO Box Box 740 740 Fort Fort Collins, Collins, CO CO 80522 80522 Voice 221-9210 • Voice 221-9210 • Fax Fax 221-8556 221-8556 editor@rockymountainpub.com editor@rockymountainpub.com www.RMParent.com www.RMParent.com Rocky Mountain Parent magazine is published Rocky Mountain Parent magazine is published monthly by Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. monthly by Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. Publication of this paper does not constitute an Publication of this paper does not consitute an enendorsement of the products or services adverdorsement of the products or services advertised. tised. RMP reserves the right to refuse any adverRMP reserves the right to refuse any advertisetisement for any reason. The opinions expressed ment for any reason. The opinions expressed by by contributors or writers do not necessarily contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect reflect the opinions of Rocky Mountain Publishing. the opinions of Rocky Mountain Publishing. ©2020 Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. All rights ©2019 Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without express written reserved. Reproduction without express written permission is prohibited. permission is prohibited.

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women’s health Aging gracefully Don’t worry, there’s still time

LY NN U. NICHOLS

H

ave you discovered your first gray hair yet? Crow’s feet around your eyes? How about sun spots on your arms or legs? These may be typical signs of aging, but they don’t mean you are growing old.

Embrace the change.

As women we are given the message that beauty and youth are the most important attributes we can have.

It’s pounded into us nearly everywhere we turn—billboards, magazines, movies, advertisements and television shows. Hollywood loves to cast women in their 20s to play the role of a mom of teenagers and faze out women actors when they turn 50. And it’s profitable to keep women buying into this beauty is everything myth. The US cosmetic industry made an estimated 49 billion dollars in 2019. Young women are told they need to start Botox as early as their teens before even a hint of a wrinkle sets in. As women, we are trained to compare ourselves to other women to see if we measure up. It all makes it hard to keep the focus on what’s important.

Instead of worrying about growing old, it’s better to concentrate on ways to feel young. When we feel young from the inside out, we forget that the face in the mirror is approaching a big birthday like 40 or 50. When we are happy or sharing laughter, our eyes sparkle and our face glows. When we reach a goal with exercise and a healthy weight, we feel capable and strong.

When we work hard and save money for an adventure with friends we feel satisfied. These are the true markers of youth. Building a full life, one we feel proud of, and bringing meaning to other people’s lives should be our goal.

No one stands up at a funeral and says, ‘She always looked great for her age.’

They talk about how she was kind, had

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a generous spirit, and was full of joy.

Recently on Oprah.com, women talked about what their deepest fears of aging were about. Yes, wrinkles came up, but they weren’t the main focus. One of the biggest worries named was dementia, or getting a chronic disease. Still another was dying broke or alone. And another was caring for aging parents. These are real fears, but for most of them, you can do something about it. Many alternative doctors believe the way you live your life can change your genes. If you have Alzheimer’s or diabetes in your family, give extra effort to exercising regularly and eating well. Both have been shown to ward off dementia and diabetes.

Avoid sugary and other high inflammatory foods (white bread products, trans fats, processed meats) and feed your brain healthy fats like avocados, nuts, seeds and fish. Start saving now for retirement, even if it is just $50 a month. When you get a

raise, increase it. Be picky about what you buy and follow the old adage about money that says, ‘It’s yours until you give it away.’ Make a plan of how to care for your aging parents with them before they get too old.

That will make it easier to act when the time comes.

Growing old happens. There’s no avoiding it but don’t worry, you have years until you are really old. Maybe approaching 40 or 50 sounds old, but it’s not. You are still young. Appreciate your body that probably does what you want without aches and pains, and celebrate what’s good in your life.

Connect with people you care about and celebrate being together. Truly listen to your kids with gentleness and respect, really hearing what they have to say. Tell your partner why you appreciate them. Remind yourself what you are good at and do more of whatever it is that brings you joy.

That’s youthful living. That’s growing old, gracefully.

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family activities

Families that cook together... ...connect together and eat some good food, too SCOTT TITTERINGTON

I

t’s Tuesday night and 10-year-old Iris is in the kitchen again. Tonight, the house smells like chicken shwarma, a tasty Mediterranean dish that is not usually on the family menu.

Iris is part of a 6-week class for kids that meets on Zoom where they learn to cook by preparing meals for their families at home. Six friends, along with others, join Iris as they prepare empanadas, tomato soup with grilled cheese, and more.

“She’s so proud of herself when she serves us all dinner,” says her mom Kristy, “and she’s become a moreadventurous eater, too.”

At 5pm a chef from The Cooking Studio in Fort Collins kicks off the meal preparation. The chef-instructor directs the budding chefs and answers questions as they go along. Dad’s there too, but just to assist at tasks such as taking hot dishes out of the oven. Iris works her new-found culinary magic, and 90 minutes later the family is sitting down to supper.

“It’s been such a sweet interaction between Iris and Dad,” Kristy says. “It’s facilitated a really good connection.”

The new COVID rules are freeing up busy families to spend more time together, which can create the perfect opportunity to experience some playful experimenting in the kitchen.

Many opportunities for specialcreation fun to plans designed to ease your day-in-day-out cooking stress are increasingly available.

KITS Some kits are just designed for fun. The Cooking Studio, www.the-cookingstudio.com, has kits to make chocolates and macaroons that come complete with an instructional video and cute gift boxes for your friends.

Check out the NOCO

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Virtual Farmers Market, www. nocovirtualfarmersmarket.com under Baking Kits for some more fun ideas, such as locally produced, ready-tobake cookie dough from Sara’s Cosmic Cookie Dough or Brownie Mix in a Jar from Star View Farm.

In Windsor, Clearview Libraries, www.clearviewlibrary.org, is offering Take & Make Kits that you pick up from the library and take home to cook and eat. On Feb. 5 you can be part of the Family Cooking Challenge: Brownies and Feb. 8 join the Teen Cooking Challenge: Mug Cake.

GROCERY STORES You can also stop in at your local grocery store and look for kits that you can assemble at home. You’ll find commercial taco kits, salad kits, meal kits, pizza crusts with sauce. You might even check out things like Hamburger or Tuna Helper-type packages.

Safeway and King Soopers both have extensive online recipe boxes.

Once you choose a recipe, you can shop for it right there online, too. Then just drive over and pick it up or they’ll even deliver it.

COMMERCIAL PROGRAMS Plenty of companies will send you ingredients and instructions for dinners. Sign up for 2 to 6 times a week to have boxes sent to your house. These can be surprisingly economical and save you the planning and shopping steps. It makes it easy to have a meal adventure that you prepare and eat together.

Google Meal Delivery Service to see which options fit your tastes.

Back at The Cooking Studio, owner Trish O’Neill sums up their experience working with families in the kitchen.

“Kids just have fun in the kitchen and are fine cooking without a recipe,” she says, “but the adults are more uptight and want a recipe. Our chefs tell me that they’re so glad we let the kids come.”

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learn and live

Winter adventures

Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snow picnics THERESA BAER

L

ooking to connect with nature and get some fresh air and exercise? Take on sparkling snowcovered landscapes while snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and picnicking!

Cross-country skiing, also called Nordic skiing, relies on your muscles and gear to propel you across snowcovered terrain (versus gravity as in downhill skiing). Only the toe of the ski boot is attached to the binding so your heel can lift up allowing you to move in a forward/back striding motion. With cross-country skiing, you learn and improve balance and coordination, and gain strength and endurance.

In snowshoeing, you wear your own boots and strap on lightweight racketlike gear that distributes your weight, allowing you to walk on top of the snow without breaking through it. It’s a great low-impact aerobic exercise that anyone can do. In both sports, trekking poles are suggested to help maintain balance and aid in standing up if you fall.

GET THE GEAR For beginners, look for classic crosscountry touring skis for use on groomed trails. For snowshoeing, flat terrain snowshoes are recommended for beginners. If your budget allows, you can buy the gear new at sporting goods retailers or used on sites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and some retailers.

If you haven’t tried these activities before, renting before investing is advised.

Local retailers offer daily or weekly snow gear rentals but making reservations is suggested. Rental rates run as low as $5 and $10 for kids and adult snowshoes respectively, and $10/$20 respectively for cross-country ski packages.

• Estes Park Mountain Shop, Estes Park, www.estesparkmountainshop.com • Jax, multiple locations, www.jaxgoods. com/info/rent-outdoor-gear

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• Kirks Fly Shop, Estes Park, www. kirksflyshop.com/rentals • Mountain Rentals, Loveland, www. mountainrentalsinc.com/rental-rates • Outpost Sunsport, Fort Collins, www. outpostsunsport.com/cross-countryrentals • REI, Fort Collins, www.rei.com/rentals (also offers a 2-hour “Introduction to Colorado Snowshoeing” class for ages 12 and up that includes gear and professional guides for $69.)

WHAT TO WEAR & BRING Dress in warm moisture-wicking layers including a warm coat, gloves, hat, snow pants, warm boots, socks and long underwear. Don’t forget to wear sunglasses and apply sunscreen! To safeguard your family’s eyes, look for sunglasses that indicate full UVA and UVB protection.

To complete the winter adventure, plan ahead for a snow picnic to keep the kids motivated to reach a destination.

On the simpler side, think finger foods in a waterproof container and a thermos of hot cocoa, cider or drinkable soup.

Prepare sandwiches or warm foilwrapped camping foods beforehand and carry in an insulated bag. Don’t forget plenty of water to stay hydrated.

WHERE TO GO Local parks, trails and even golf courses provide spaces to explore. “Flat terrain is best for beginners,” says Zach Zehr of the Estes Park Mountain Shop. In the Rocky Mountain National Park area, Zehr mentioned the Wild Basin Trailhead and an area known as Mini Parks Curve along the Trail Ridge Road main winter closure gate. He continued, “There are tons of places to go and we try to spread the love throughout the park by suggesting a variety of places to minimize crowds in a given area.”

For areas around Horsetooth Reservoir, Lory State Park and the Poudre Canyon, look to the Visit Fort Collins website at www.visitftcollins.com/thingsto-do/winter-activities/snowshoeing. To check current status of parks, open spaces, and trails in Colorado, visit COTREX at https://trails.colorado.gov.

Always check weather conditions and pack extra layers, waterproof clothing and avalanche safety gear if heading into the backcountry. Zehr also suggests you “Limit your expectations and set miniobjectives when heading out with kids.”

Going out for short periods of time keeps children from getting exhausted and keeps it fun, making them want to go again.

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community news Making good choices

Fitness, youth substance awareness, scholarships, parent support THERESA BAER

TAKE THE 5210+ CHALLENGE THIS MONTH The Healthy Kids 5210+ Challenge is an annual program held every February where students, school staff and parents keep track of their activity minutes and other 5210 healthy habits. Prize money is awarded to schools with the highest percentage of participants. This year, the Challenge goes online and participants will choose between printing logs to complete by hand or using a fillable PDF log to keep track of their 5210+ health habits on their computer.

Participants achieving the minimum number of checkmarks will receive a free 5210+ Challenge t-shirt. Look to information from your school or learn more online at www.healthykidsclub.org.

S.N.A.P.P! SPRING SESSION CONNECTS TEEN GIRLS WITH THEIR PEERS S.N.A.P.P! which stands Strength, Navigate, Advocacy, Purpose and Perseverance, provides a safe space for teenage girls in grades 7–12 to interact with their peers, ask questions while learning about the serious topics affecting teens today, and learn effective coping skills to deal with those challenges. Two 12-week sessions begin Monday, February 8 and Tuesday, February 9 and will take place in person from 7:15pm–8:45pm at 204 Walnut Street in Fort Collins.

These sessions are free, but donations are accepted. Learn more and apply online to participate at www. snapp4teens.org.

YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AWARENESS & DECISION-MAKING Give your kids the skills to stop and think. Brainwise: The Ten Wise Ways is an hour-long session to learn the 14

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effects and impact of substances on young brains and discuss ways to avoid problems and make good decisions. Offered by Partners, these online sessions were designed for children aged 7–17 in conjunction with their parents or caregivers. These online sessions will be held via Zoom on Monday, February 8 and Tuesday, March 9 from 4–5pm. RSVP online at https://forms.gle/Z2EqLNhJ4NJUDJwa9 for the date of your choice to receive the appropriate Zoom meeting link. For further information, contact Katherine Chu of Partners at kchu@poweredbypartners.org.

FREE VIRTUAL FITNESS CLASSES FROM GREELEY REC Last month, City of Greeley Recreation announced free virtual group fitness classes in an effort to “provide ways for the community to engage in behaviors that will benefit them both physically and emotionally… with little to no barriers.” Delivered via Zoom, these 45-minute (or less) classes do not require a Greeley Recreation membership, allowing anyone in the community, and from all fitness levels and abilities,

to participate from home. Certified Greeley Recreation instructors will lead a variety of cardio and strength training classes including the popular yoga, Zumba, SilverSneaker Circuit and others. For a schedule of virtual fitness classes, visit https://greeleyrec. com/fitness-wellness/group-fitness.

To enroll, email fitness@greeleygov. com for a weekly email that includes a Zoom link and information about the upcoming week’s classes.

SUPPORT FOR WELD COUNTY FOSTER, KINSHIP AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS The Weld County Department of Human Services offers monthly opportunities to “connect with other foster parents, kinship caregivers, adoptive parents and childcare providers to share parenting strategies, successes and struggles with those who can relate.” Known as The Parent Café, these online support groups are available from 9am until noon on the third Wednesday of every month through June including: February 17, March 17, April 21, May 19 and June 16. Learn more and RSVP at www.weldgov. com/departments/human_services/ family_resource/parent_cafe. If you do

not have access to a computer to attend virtually, contact Tim Byrnes for other options at 970-616-8601.

ESCAPE FROM COVID MOUNTAIN SummitStone Health Partners is offering some relief from the isolation and cabin fever of the pandemic with weekly virtual social hours, warmly referred to as “Escape from COVID Mountain.” Adult participants join via Zoom for a variety of free experiences such as games, travel, museum tours, animal habitats, history and more. You can choose to participate as you feel comfortable with audio only or video and audio. Look to the Colorado Spirit website at www.summitstonehealth. org/colospirit for a complete schedule of events and the Zoom link.

WINTER GARDENING WORKSHOPS GO VIRTUAL Learn exciting gardening and horticulture tips from some of Colorado’s top experts in each field. Fort Collins Nursery presents 60-minute online winter workshops on Saturdays with two topics/events per week through March 6. At $12.50 each, you’ll gain new techniques and improve your gardening skills from the safety and comfort of your own home. Topics this month include food preservation, houseplant design, veggie gardening and seed starting basics, selecting and pruning small

trees and shrubs, Chaparral gardening and miniature gardens and terrariums.

Learn more and register online at www.

FortCollinsNursery.com.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LOCAL YOUTH The Community Foundation of Northern Colorado works with generous donors to offer multiple scholarship opportunities to local students from Northern Colorado and the Eastern Plains. Scholarship opportunities range from $1,000

to $5,000 and the application cycle is open from January 15 through February 28. Applicants complete one application and will be matched automatically to the scholarships for which they qualify.

To learn more and apply online by the February 28 deadline, visit www. nocofoundation.org/scholarships, or contact the scholarship team with questions via email at scholarships@ NoCoFoundation.org or by calling 970-488-1986.

LOVELAND REC TRAIL CONNECTOR IN PROGRESS The City of Loveland recently began construction on the Copper Ridge Connector Trail that will be the “final link” in the City’s 21-mile trail circuit. This quarter-mile, 10-foot wide concrete trail connects the Copper Ridge subdivision just north of 57th Street and west of U.S. Highway 287 with the Sunset Vista Natural Area, providing a safer route for cyclists and pedestrians. It will feature a pedestrian bridge to access a new, soft-surface trail in the 87-acre natural area, and also provides access to the regional Long View Trail taking users north to Fort Collins. The anticipated completion is this coming June.

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healthy living

Maintaining wellness during a pandemic Simple daily rituals and routines

LEA HANSON

W

hile many of us are working from home and our kids are schooling from home, maintaining wellness in the home has been a challenge and a big paradigm shift for most families. Creating a new normal and finding comfort within it is hard. Especially for those who thrive in groups and are natural extroverts.

Rachel Grohs, LPC, MA, NCC of Specialty Counseling and Consulting says, “This pandemic has affected us all on different levels, and unfortunately, a lot of us have loosened up the reigns on what we valued as important for our children prior to now.”

GREETING THE DAY If you and your kids are waking in the morning and feeling uncertain because your routine is so different try a 15-minute ritual to get prepared for your day. Grohs says, “A good morning routine begins with a good morning ritual. How a child wakes up can set the tone for the entire day to come.

Following a morning ritual, a good, solid morning routine will encourage a child’s emotional wellness and stability also.”

When children engage in the same type of daily routine/schedule, it gives them a sense of stability and security.

Many of us lunge for our devices

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and screens as soon as we’re conscious but making a point not to pick up a device for at least 15 minutes can establish a calm demeanor for the day.

As parents, modeling this healthy start to the day helps your kids know how a good morning habit looks.

MOVING AND STRETCHING, INSIDE, AND OUT Staying active can increase immunity and boost mental health. Since most of us aren’t going far from home, we’re relying on a smaller amount of resources for exercise and movement than we’ve previously had at our disposal. It’s important for people to focus on stress as well as physical health and the two are intertwined, anyway.

Physical distancing doesn’t mean you have to isolate yourself or to stay inside. Activities like gardening and hiking outdoors, and taking notice of the natural world, help alleviate anxiety and improve well-being.

EATING WELL Our feelings and attitudes about everything affect our children so deeply, Grohs says. “Today, it is more important than ever to be a good role model for our children’s perspectives. If we can provide a more positive perspective to our children and try to reduce frustrations and stress, we won’t reflect as much of our negativity onto our children.” Good nutrition is essential in stressful times; however, trying to boost your immunity with supplements may not be as helpful as simply eating whole foods.

PRACTICING MINDFULNESS It’s also important to keep in touch with friends, especially the ones who uplift you, and give people the benefit of the doubt during this challenging time.

Practicing mindfulness and gratitude is also beneficial for your well-being.

Spending time each day to say positive affirmations for yourself can improve your mental health and mood.

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Fa m i ly b o n d i n g w i t h

indoor fun

Lynn U Nichols

W

Activities, experiences, games pull families together

ith short days and a long view on the pandemic, now is a good time to find new ways for your family to bond indoors.

No doubt you are rolling your eyes and thinking, ‘That’s all we do. Spend time together at home!’ Yet many of us have fallen into some deep COVID ruts— watching too much Netflix, spending 18

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too much time playing video games or on our phones, and staying up too late.

None of these spell quality time with the family. It’s time to break those ruts with some new indoor activities that bring your family together.

“When families bond over certain activities, they build a sense of cohesiveness, a sense of ‘we’re all in this

together.’ It also helps siblings of different ages and stages stay connected,” says Dr. Usha Udupa, a child psychologist with UCHealth Mountain Crest Behavioral Health Center in Fort Collins.

Schedule a family meeting or have a conversation at dinner about your plan to establish new family fun habits. Here are some ideas to get you started:

When planning your menu, let your kids page through recipe books and point out what looks good. Have them pick a main dish, side dishes and a dessert.

Make a ritual of setting a nice table now and then, complete with candles.

“Nightly family dinners guarantee that you’ll get at least 20 to 30 minutes of uninterrupted time together every day,” Udupa says.

ADOPT A NEW FAMILY ACTIVITY Every family has activities that define them, whether it’s skiing, hiking, camping, playing music together or volunteering together. If you have one, make a plan to do it together soon. If you don’t, try a few new things to see if they spark interest. Even though the pandemic isn’t over, city recreation centers are still open with limitations.

The City of Fort Collins has adjusted with smaller class sizes, modified offerings and safety protocols like limits on how many people can be in a facility, and a mask requirement. Consider ice skating at a local rink, or trying a family yoga class together. Or, drive to the foothills or mountains and try snowshoeing, ice fishing or tubing. Ask your kids for input so they are motivated to stay engaged.

social success. The findings were greater than they imagined. Adults who had high self-esteem and a high ability to be flexible often had ample opportunities for free play as children. They concluded that free play gives kids the ability to change and adapt to circumstances more readily, which comes in handy in our adult lives.

Kids love to act out story lines.

Foster imaginative play by making a cardboard puppet theater or stage for kids to perform on. Gather old Halloween costumes and shop together at a second-hand store to create a go-to bin for impromptu performances. Buy puppets or better yet make simple puppets by drawing characters on cardboard, then attaching a stick to the back with tape.

You can always rely on the old sock puppet concept by gluing googly eyes to an old sock and adding a felt nose, mouth and ears, with yarn for hair.

Go all out and have the kids practice a show that you watch and video tape as a family, complete with a program, music and stage props.

WORK ON A GIANT PUZZLE OR MODEL AIRPLANE The art of doing puzzles or building model airplanes is not dead. Consider your kids’ ages and find a puzzle or model that will be challenging but not extremely hard. Then, after dinner and homework time, sit down and spend 15 minutes a night working on it. Require that your preteens or teens join in.

“Even if you get flack that they don’t want to do it, make them do it anyway,” Udupa says.

TEACH COOKING SKILLS AND EXPLORE NEW RECIPES Gone are the days when every junior high kid takes home economics and learns at least the basics of cooking.

Now’s a great time to do it yourself.

Besides, kids tend to want to eat what they cook so it’s a chance to broaden their culinary horizons.

PUT ON A PLAY OR PUPPET SHOW Did you know that imaginative, creative play helps kids develop new pathways in their brains that support critical thinking skills? Creative free play also lets kids practice their leadership abilities and cooperation skills.

German researchers recently studied how free play in childhood affects adult RMPARENT

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BUILD A FORT Kids love to have places of their own to daydream, read, play board games or text friends. The ideal place to do this is in a fort. Skip the store bought premade forts and teach your kids that creating a fort is half the fun. The fort can be as elaborate as a castle made out of connected cardboard boxes or as simple as putting blankets over the kitchen table and creating a soft, hidden space underneath with quilts and pillows and LED light strings. Couch cushions and blankets are also an easy way to make a simple fort.

If your kids have bunk beds, you can create a private space in the lower bunk by hanging up a curtain rod and an old curtain, shower curtain or twinsized sheet. That way, your child can easily open and close it, depending on their desire for privacy. Purchasing a simple battery-powered lamp that allows for a soft glow to read by is a nice added touch.

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| RMPARENT

BRING BACK FAMILY GAME NIGHT Pull out your old, childhood games and introduce them to your kids! Or try some new ones that they love to play with friends, like Exploding Kittens. Board games promote good communication skills and often encourage kids to use their imaginations or critical thinking skills.

By consciously choosing to spend time with your kids rather than simply hanging out in the same house sends the message that you value your kids and enjoy spending time with them. When kids are raised with a strong sense of family, they feel worthy. “Giving kids your full attention teaches them they are important in a very basic way. It teaches them security from the inside out,�

Udupa concludes.

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Women+ Family FEBRUARY 2021

HEALTH GUIDE

Play outdoors all year round

PAGE 4

Consider a simple test PAGE 2

Helping you and your baby get some sleep PAGE 6

WOMEN + FAMILY HEALTH GUIDE

Stop worrying, your baby’s fine All babies are not the same, milestones vary

LY NN U. NICHOLS

It’s easy to compare your baby to other babies during play dates, yoga class or when out with friends. As a new parent, it’s natural to wonder if your baby is developing normally. While there are set milestones that babies should reach in the first year, when they reach them can vary. Take sitting up, for example. Some babies sit up before 5 months, others not until 8 months. Both are normal.

Usually, babies who develop more slowly than others catch up with their playmates over time.

MOVEMENT MILESTONES Knowing when your child should be doing certain things—and knowing there’s a range—can help ease your mind. The top four physical milestones your baby will reach in the first year are rolling over, sitting up, crawling and walking. Typically, they’ll develop these skills in that order, since gross motor development occurs from the head down as the nerves develop. To make it easy to remember, think 3, 6, 9 and 12. Your baby will roll over around 3 months, sit up around 6, crawl at 9 and walk at 12— with emphasis on the around. In fact, statistics show that just a little over half of all babies walk by their first birthday.

If your baby is doing any of the above within a few months on either side of these milestones, she’s absolutely fine.

MAKING NOISE When it comes to verbal development, the range is even wider. Babies tend to talk between 12 and 18 months. By 18 months, most babies say about 10 words. After that, vocabulary speeds up and they learn new words quickly, with most babies saying about 50 words by 24 months. You will notice your child stringing a few words together to get their point across, like “me hungry” or “all gone” by her second or third birthday.

2 | RMPARENT

ALL BABIES ARE NOT THE SAME With that said, remember that babies develop in different ways and at different rates. One baby might not walk until 14 months, but he says da da and other syllables at 9 months. Another child might take her first step at 9 months but not say her first word until 12 or 18 months. Both are normal. Both remind parents not to compare.

Know this: If your child is developing on the slow end of the spectrum, it’s no indication of future achievement physically or intellectually in any way. Talking early doesn’t guarantee your child a spot on the high school debate team just like early walking doesn’t mean he’ll be a track star.

IF YOUR GUT SAYS TO CHECK IT OUT If you simply want to be reassured, check out the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Motor Delay tool at healthychildren.org. It will help you dial down to see if there’s something to worry about. Of course, bring up any

| WOMEN + FAMILY HEALTH GUIDE

concerns, even if you think they are silly, with your doctor at your baby’s next well child visit. If your doctor says everything is fine but your gut is telling you differently, it’s okay to get a second opinion from another doctor. If your child actually has a developmental delay, catching it early and getting him in physical or occupational therapy can make a big difference.

The first year is full of fears that something may go wrong. Take the first time your baby sleeps through the night. Most parents jump out of bed with wobbly knees and a big sigh of relief—and celebration!—to see their baby breathing soundly. If you are encouraging your baby’s growth with interaction, games and exercises, like tummy time, and you see progression, do your best not to worry or compare.

After all, before you know it, you won’t be able to keep up with her as she races across the playground or get him to stop talking constantly as you make dinner.

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Be your own health advocate Be informed and ask for what you need

LY NN U. NICHOLS

I

’m happy to say that I am 10 years post breast cancer. It’s a major celebration because now my odds to get cancer again are the same as everyone else’s. I learned a lot going through the process, and one was that we need to be our own health advocates.

Doctors cringe when they hear you say you googled a health condition, but why? Sure, they’re concerned we will read some scary statistics or go down the wrong path and worry needlessly, but the flipside is that we will educate ourselves on what’s happening to us, and influence the care we receive.

Had I not been set on driving my own health care bus, I might have chronic lymphedema today—a painful swelling in the arm that lasts a lifetime.

I’d read that women with breast cancer get lymphedema because doctors remove dozens of lymph nodes in the armpit to check for spread. Instead, doctors can do what’s called a sentinel node biopsy and take just a few nodes, greatly reducing the chance of lymphedema. I was loud and clear—that’s what I wanted. Yet when the nurse called to confirm my surgery for the next day, and I confirmed I was getting a sentinel node biopsy, she said that the plan had changed. An anesthesiologist was needed to place the dye, and one wasn’t available that early in the morning, so my surgeon decided not to do it. Needless to say, I raised a huge stink and I got my sentinel node biopsy.

My arm is lymphedema free today.

This is just one story to prove a point, but I hope it brings home the importance of being informed and asking for what you need—and being persistent if need be. Maybe I am sensitive because I had breast cancer (discovered a year and a half after a mammogram) but I’m not buying the revised guidelines by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) that 4 | RMPARENT

says women don’t need to start getting screening mammograms until age 50, and then every other year. I was 46. Imagine if I had followed this guideline? Sure, false positives are a pain and mammograms are not fun, but they are important. The American Cancer Society drums to a different tune, saying women 40 to 44 should get to choose on their own, women 45 to 55 should have one every year and women 55 and older every two years.

The truth is, most insurances will cover a mammogram if your doctor requests one, regardless of age. If you have a reason to want one—whether it’s having a family history, or even if it is simply to ease a worry—ask for one.

The same goes for pap smears.

Pap smears were hailed as a miracle for saving women’s lives from cervical cancer, reducing the US cervical cancer rate by 80 percent. In the past, it was automatically a yearly deal for most women of all ages.

| WOMEN + FAMILY HEALTH GUIDE

Now, the USPSTF says every three to five years for women ages 21 to 65. Here’s the thing. Cervical cancer is silent until it’s deadly. Once you experience symptoms, it’s probably too late for about half of you. On the other hand, caught early by a pap smear, 92 percent of women survive, according to a large study reported on WebMD. Excuse my cynicism, but did insurance companies influence the change in guidelines? Maybe not, but regardless, you get to decide what’s right for you. A gynecologist once told me that he saw the most cervical cancer deaths in women who hadn’t had a pap smear in five years or more. It’s slow growing, so my plan is to have one every other year. What’s yours?

Hopefully, you won’t have to ever face cancer or any other major health concern. But if you do, or if a loved one does, be your own health advocate. Ask questions, voice opinions, even question your doctor or get a second opinion. It’s your health, your life.

WOMEN + FAMILY HEALTH GUIDE

| RMPARENT | 5

WOMEN + FAMILY HEALTH GUIDE

Winter wonderland safety Make this winter safe at home and at play

W

hether your family is at home cozying up to a warm fire or out enjoying all the activities winter brings, Safe Kids reminds you to keep safety in check.

AT HOME “Families today are better at understanding the importance of having working smoke alarms in every sleeping area, and most recently carbon monoxide (CO) alarms,” says Alison, Safe Kids Larimer County coordinator. “Carbon monoxide is dangerous because it is odorless, invisible, and it can kill. CO can make a child seriously ill in small doses that might not noticeably affect an adult.”

According to a recent study, children younger than 5 years old have the highest estimated rate of CO-related visits to the emergency room among all age groups in the United States. More than 25 kids die from CO poisoning every year.

Important safety tips to protect your families from CO poisoning:

• Prevent CO buildup in the first place—make sure heating appliances are in good working order and used only in well-ventilated areas.

• Don’t run a car engine in the garage, even to warm it up; move the car outside first.

• Install a CO alarm outside every sleeping area, on every level of your home and at least 15 feet away from every fuel-burning appliance.

• When you test your smoke alarm each month, check the batteries on your CO alarms at the same time—replace the batteries twice a year.

• Never use a stove for heating. Have all gas, oil or coal burning appliances inspected every year to ensure they’re working correctly and are properly ventilated.

If a CO leak is suspected, call 9-1-1 immediately. Get out of the house into fresh air. Do not open doors or windows.

Fire personnel will want to verify a leak and identify the source so it can be fixed.

Symptoms of CO poisoning include 6 | RMPARENT

headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or confusion.

“CO alarms are available at hardware stores for about $20,” adds Weston.

“That is a small price to pay to help detect odorless, poisonous gases in the home before it’s too late.”

AT PLAY Don’t leave safety at home when headed out to enjoy winter sports! Parents are reminded to use proper safety equipment, training and supervision when it comes to themselves and their children.

Nationwide, more than a quarter million children a year are injured while participating in winter sports. Safe Kids Larimer County offers a few simple precautions:

• Kids need to be dressed appropriately, take lessons, be actively supervised and stick to safe terrain. For most winter activities, protective headgear is recommended.

• Helmets are a must for anyone skiing, snowboarding, sledding or ice skating. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, ski helmets could prevent or reduce the effects of 53 percent of the head injuries suffered by children younger than15 while

| WOMEN + FAMILY HEALTH GUIDE

skiing or snowboarding.

• Did you know? Roughly 3,000 kids a year suffer serious head injuries from sledding. A good sledding hill does not lead to a street, a body of water or a crowded gathering place. In addition, the CPSC reminds parents and kids to inspect sleds regularly for worn, damaged or loose parts that could break or snag at high speed.

• Children under 6 should not be riding a snowmobile, and nobody under 16 should be driving one. All snowmobile drivers and passengers should be wearing helmets designed for high-speed motor sport —a bike helmet isn’t sufficient for going up to 90 miles per hour.

• Dress in layers. Wear sunscreen. Stay hydrated. Kids—or caregivers—who become distracted or irritable, or begin to hyperventilate, may be suffering from hypothermia or altitude sickness, or they may be too tired to participate safely in winter sports. They need to go indoors, rest and warm up.

Remember that even though winter is not ‘trauma season,’ parents should never take vacation from safety.

For more information, please visit www.safekids.org or contact Safe Kids Larimer County at 970-495-7502.

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greeley district 6 news Church donates pajamas to all Jackson students The congregation of Bethel Baptist Church has a special place in their hearts for Jackson Elementary School.

For years, the church has partnered with the school to provide mentoring through Kids Hope, as well as provide donated goods and services to the students and staff.

“Bethel Baptist is a true blessing to the staff and students at Jackson,” said Jackson Principal Ingrid Dillehay. “They have supported our students and staff through Kid’s Hope, conference meals, school supplies, coats, and anything else we need. We appreciate their love and support for all they do for us.”

The pandemic has limited the church’s ability to interact with students and staff this year. In addition, the construction of the new entryway at the school prevented a welcome back event the church planned to host outside the school for returning students and staff.

Still, church members kept looking for ways to support the school.

Then one night, Bethel Baptist

24

| RMPARENT

Pastor Aaron Adams had a dream.

“I woke up in the middle of the night with an image of my oldest daughter, who is now a high school student, and she was wearing these pink, fleece pajamas with monkeys on them that she had when she was little,” Pastor Adams said. “I started to think about what that memory represented.”

When his daughter was young, Pastor Adams and his wife lived in a small, very drafty apartment in Chicago. In the winter, the wind would blow through cracks in the door and window seals. Those pink pajamas were important for keeping this daughter warm at night.

“The only reason she was warm in the winter was because of those pajamas, and because of the kindness of others,” Pastor Adams said. “So I began to think: What if we made enough pajamas for everybody at Jackson. What if that is why I had that dream?”

The Bethel Baptist parishioners loved the idea. Bethel Office Administrator Katie Stewart knew some people who liked to sew and organized the effort.

In the end, more than 200 hand-sewn pajamas and more than 100 purchased

pajama sets were donated to the school, for every student in their own size.

Before they took the pajamas to the school, Pastor Adams said they brought all the pajamas to the front of the church one Sunday so the congregation could see what they were donating.

“They prayed that the students would feel warmth and love,” Pastor Adams said. “People were sort of in awe.

It’s not a whole lot of people to make that number of pajamas, but they did it.”

Kindergarten through second grade students, who returned to in-person learning this week, were given the pajamas. The students were excited as they unwrapped the packages, holding up their new pajamas and pulling them on over their school uniforms.

“It was so cute,” Ms. Dillehay said.

“There were squeals of joy! The kids loved their pajamas.”

Knowing that every student has a warm set of pajamas fills Pastor Adams with joy, he said.

“It is an overwhelming feeling of gratitude and community. We are a community. We are supposed to love each other,” Pastor Adams said. “We are not just here to meet on Sundays. We

are here to make a difference. We want to do that for Jackson as much as we can, and for our whole community.”

DISTRICT 6 GRADUATION RATE CONTINUES TO RISE Amid a pandemic and a move to remote learning, the on-time graduation rate continues to rise in Greeley-Evans School District 6 and exceed the state average.

Graduation rates for Colorado school districts were recently released by the Colorado Department of Education, and for the third year in a row, GreeleyEvans School District 6 has exceeded the state average for the number of students graduating within four years of starting high school.

The 2020 on-time graduation rate for District 6 is 82 percent, exceeding the state average of 81.9 percent. The completion rate for District 6—which includes students who take longer than four years to graduate—is 83.6 percent.

A total of 1,310 students graduated from District 6 high schools 2020.

The 2020 graduation rate is slightly better than the 2019 on-time graduation rate of 81.7 percent and is a significant increase over the 2017 graduation rate of 78.7 percent.

“District 6 continues to trend in the right direction with on-time graduation rates, despite the challenges of the last year,” said Superintendent Dr. Deirdre Pilch. “This is a real the testament to the determination and hard work of our students, staff and families who continue to support student learning—both in person and remotely—during this pandemic.

District 6 also exceeds the state graduation rate for Caucasian, Latino and Black students, for students who live in economically disadvantaged households, for students with limited English language skills, and in several other areas.

Dr. Pilch said that District 6 still has work to do to ensure more students graduate on time, and that will be significant work in the district’s new

strategic plan, Innovation2030, which will be finalized later this Spring.

“We really can’t rest until all our students graduate on time with the skills they need to be successful in higher education or their chosen career,” Dr. Pilch said. “That is the big work we need to tackle as a system over the next few years. Every student needs to have an individual plan that gets them to high school graduation and beyond.”

The dropout rate for District 6 also went down this year to 1.6 percent from 2 percent in 2019. The state average dropout rate is 1.8 percent.

Here is the graduation rate by school in District 6: • Greeley Central High School: 87.2 percent • Early College Academy: 100 percent • Jefferson High School/Greeley-Evans Alternative Program: 49.3 percent • Northridge High School: 89.7 percent • Greeley West High School: 88.1 percent • Frontier Academy High School: 100 percent • Union Colony Preparatory: 90 percent • University High School: 99.3 percent

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poudre school district news Pointing forward in 2021

T

here are many things that we are hopeful for in the new year, reflecting upon the challenges and bright spots of 2020. Our students count on us, and we are committed to giving them the best experiences possible during the second semester and beyond. We cannot wait to see all their smiling eyes behind face coverings again.

THANK YOU, PSD! THANK YOU! To our staff, students, families, everyone. We are so thankful for each and every one of you.

PSD REOPENING PHASE INFO If you missed the Jan. 6 update, learn more about PSD’s shift to in-person education in January and February on the PSD website. Access other important 2020-21 school year details, including information about each phase of education, on the PSD website.

MEALS ARE AVAILABLE TO ANY PSD STUDENTS The district will provide free meals to PSD students (PreK-12) through the end of the 2020-21 school year. Learn more about the meal distribution model, with the return to in-person learning, on the PSD 2020-21 Meals webpage.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE “Down … set... hike!” Check out our new #StudentExperience featuring Fossil Ridge High School football player and student Tanner Arkin.

TRANSPORTATION AS WE LOOK AHEAD The Transportation Department is working to quickly re-design routes in order to bus students across all grade levels and amid the different phase changes. Due to current bus driver shortages and health guidelines, among other challenges, PSD is not adding routes and will still bus a limited number 26

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of students. Busing is guaranteed for students for whom transportation is legally required (i.e. those with Individualized Transportation Plans (ITP) and some foster students), as well as McKinney-Vento students experiencing homelessness. If circumstances in your family’s life have changed and you feel your student meets these criteria, please contact your school to see if busing may be provided.

PSD COVID-19 CASE PROTOCOLS WILL SHIFT WITH RETURN TO INPERSON LEARNING

• PSD COVID-19 Data and School Information: PSD 14-Day COVID-19 Location Screening case trends, monitoring when a school’s case percentage goes over 1%, when a partial or whole school temporary closure may be necessary.

• PSD COVID-19 protocols: Contact tracing will look different at the preschool/ elementary and secondary levels.

• Return to Learn: PSD will align with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s updated Return to Learn guidance, which maps out when students and staff can return to school and work after experiencing illness symptoms.

• Health and Safety webpage: Information on the 3 W’s best practices, cleaning and

sanitizing of schools. www.psdschools. org/psd2020-21/healthsafety • Larimer County COVID-19 data: Current COVID-19 data from the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment. https://www.larimer.org/ coronavirus-covid-19

SEE PSD THROUGH THE EYES OF PSD INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT DR. TODD LAMBERT Follow Dr. Todd Lambert, interim superintendent, on Twitter @ ToddLambertPSD as he takes you behind the scenes of education in PSD through photos, videos and more during the second semester. https://twitter. com/ToddLambertPSD #PSDCONNECTED Did you graduate from PSD? As a PSD alumnus, we invite you to join our PSD Alumni group on LinkedIn to stay connected with PSD after you graduate.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PSD’s preschool program still has open spaces for the 2020-21 school year, and ECE’s compassionate and professional teachers can’t wait to work with the children in your lives. More families may qualify now than ever before. To learn more and begin an application online,

visit the Early Childhood Education webpage or call 970-490-3204.

NANCY WRIGHT, PREVIOUS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, PASSES AWAY Poudre School District is sad to share news of the death of Nancy Wright, one of PSD’s previous interim superintendents.

TECH SUPPORT

• PSD Community Tech Portal: Technical support information, how-to guides, documentation and more.

• Technical Support and Resources: General overview of tech support, teacher learning pages and links to Poudre River Library videos.

• Email: covidtechhelp@psdschools.org • Phone: Family and Student Support Line at 970-490-3339

Looking for more information than you see here? Visit the PSD 2020-21 school year webpages: https://www.psdschools. org/psd2020-21

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thompson school district news Teacher Karla Quinones shares joy of performing STUDENTS FIND A SAFE HAVEN THROUGH THEATER Life for Karla Quinones, a teacher at Bill Reed Middle School, is nothing like she ever imagined it would be. Instead, it’s so much better.

Though she once dreamed of performing in the spotlight every night, she has found that being a theater teacher, mom and wife is exactly where she was meant to be.

Looking back on her childhood, Karla remembers spending countless hours dancing, singing and performing, and she always knew she would devote her life to the arts. She just didn’t know it would be as a drama teacher for an arts-focused middle school.

“I wanted to do Broadway, movies, TV … but people scared me about it.

They told me to be realistic,” Karla says.

While studying theater and communications in college, she began to look at other options. Her mother, a science teacher, encouraged her to explore the idea of being a teacher. Though initially reluctant, Karla soon found she had another passion: Sharing her joy of performing with young people.

After graduation, Karla began to

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dream of running a drama program of her own. She spent several years teaching English and theater, and directing and co-directing high school shows at Mountain View (where one of the productions she led was chosen

to perform on the main stage at the annual ThesCon event in Denver) and then Karla, whose students call her ‘Q’, found her perfect fit at Bill Reed Middle School running the theater program.

“I can proudly say I have made theater a viable career for my life, and I am living my dream,” says Karla, who, in addition to teaching drama and acting full-time at Bill Reed, the designated Loveland Integrated School of the Arts (LISA) middle school in Thompson School District, also acts in local stage productions herself.

But running a thriving drama program at the only TSD middle school that has a full auditorium (where Karla’s students put on a musical production in addition to a straight play each year) is about more than just teaching her students to act, sing, and run a show from behind the scenes.

“Kids in middle school are so worried about where they belong. Here,

they can just BE,” she explains. “The arts matter. We have kids who that’s their passion. They’re more sensitive and think outside the box.”

Using minimalist sets and accepting every student who wants to participate into the productions, Karla has led her students through shows such as James and the Giant Peach, which involved Bill Reed’s visual arts students creating shadow puppets to represent some of the unusual characters, to Frozen, which ended up having to be a virtual show due to the pandemic. Through it all, Karla said her students rose to every occasion.

“Kids are so resilient. We don’t realize how strong they are. Most of the time, they are stronger than us.”

For Karla, giving her students a space where they feel safe is more personal than just a passion for teaching.

Karla was born in Puerto Rico, and moved to the United States when she was 5, just in time to start elementary

school. She didn’t speak any English, and she recalls crying every day as she struggled to acclimate to her new world. She also remembers her mother sitting outside the school every day, just so Karla could see her from the window of her classroom.

“It was very scary, but I’m grateful, because I learned English in a year,” she says. “That’s why it’s so important for kids to belong, and what a difference it makes for someone to make you feel accepted—just one person.”

Those experiences shaped Karla’s philosophies on the importance of using the arts to create a safe haven for students and a place where they feel like they fit in. “What I do is not really teaching them theater. It’s teaching them to have empathy, to be kind and co-exist with others. That’s what I teach,” she explains. “I have kids who don’t feel like they belong anywhere else but here. That’s why I love what I do.”

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FEBRUARY 2021

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

FESTIVALS, FAIRS & CELEBRATIONS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Loveland Valentine’s Day Group Wedding Get married or renew your vows in the Sweetheart City with two group ceremonies, keepsake photos, a lock couples can use to “Lock their love” on the famous LOVE or HEART sculptures in Loveland, gift bags and more. $95/couple. Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra (the Great Lawn), 6105 Sky Pond Dr., LV. 4pm and 5pm. www.valentinesdayinloveland.com.

LIBRARY & BOOK EVENTS

Some libraries are open with limited hours and services and others are offering curbside pick-up only. In-person programs continue to be suspended— check websites for online storytimes.

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ONGOING Kids 365 Learning Challenge Kids can download or pick up a printed log every month that includes reading challenges and other activities. Once completed, they redeem it for a prize at the beginning of the next month. Ages 0–11.Loveland Library, 300 N. Adams Ave., LV. www.lovelandpubliclibrary.org/ elementary-aged-learning.

Loveland Teen Monthly Activity Bag Visit the Teen Hangout to receive a free activity bag featuring robotics, crafts, experiments and more! Ages 11–17.

Loveland Library, 300 N. Adams Ave., LV www.lovelandpubliclibrary.org/teens.

Loveland’s Kids Craft Kits Watch this month’s craft video tutorial and pick up your craft supply kit starting the third Monday every month, while supplies last. www.lovelandpubliclibrary. org. Facebook, @LovelandPubLibrary. www.lovelandpubliclibrary.org.

SECOND THURSDAYS Y is for Yoga Build literacy skills and healthy minds and bodies through books, songs, rhymes and yoga. Ages 0–6. 10–10:30am.

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

SECOND & FOURTH SUNDAYS Virtual ASL Stories Learn basic American Sign Language during these sessions of stories and songs.

Ages 0–6. YouTube video, 10–10:30am.

970-686-5603 https://clearviewlibrary.org/event.

THROUGH FEBRUARY 7 Winter Reading Challenge: A Winter Tale Poudre River Public Library District is holding a winter reading challenge.

Download or pick up reading logs curbside and curl up with at least five good books to earn prizes! Plus be entered to win one of six grand prizes. www.PoudreLibraries.org/winter.

FEBRUARY 1 THROUGH 15 Teen Art Attack: Anti-Valentines Day Create your very own voodoo doll pin cushion with Take and Make Kits picked up from the library, while supplies last. Ages 12–17. Farr Regional Library, 1939 61st Ave. GR. http://mylibrary.evanced.info/signup.

FEBRUARY 1 THROUGH 28 February Take and Make: Each library features a different kit (while supplies last) with materials for a fun activity or project such as dinosaur science and puppets. Grades PreK–5. Old Town Library, Council Tree Library, & Harmony Library, for curbside pick-up, FC. 970-221-6740. www.poudrelibraries.org.

Kids Crafterschool Take-and-Make: Photo Holder Turn a rock, some wire, paint and stickers into Valentine’s style photo-holder. Pick up supplies while they last at the library and follow the instructional video of Farr’s Facebook page. Grades 3-5. Farr Regional Library, 1939 61st Ave., GR. http://mylibrary.evanced.info/signup.

Teen Take and Make: Next Level Card Making Create a pop-up card or a card that lights up. Available at all three libraries (including during curbside hours) while supplies last.

Each kit includes instructions, materials for one pop-up card and one card that lights up using LEDs and a coin cell battery.

Grades 4–12. Old Town Library, Council Tree Library, & Harmony Library, FC. 970-221-6740. www.poudrelibraries.org.

Seasonal Take-and-Make Kit Come grab a seasonal take-and-make craft, while supplies last. Early learning ages.

Centennial Library, 2227 23rd Ave., GR. http://mylibrary.evanced.info/signup.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Teen Cooking: Valendine-in Teens will make sushi hand rolls at home!

Register for the Go To Meeting link and to reserve your kit of ingredients. Go To Meeting hosted by High Plains Library District, GR. 6–7pm. http://mylibrary.evanced.info/signup.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Getting Crafty: Loving Tree Make a tree full of hearts out of paper with a limited number of kits supplied in advance—or use supplies from home.

Ages 6–12. YouTube, 3–3:30pm or 4-5pm. https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/4751227.

WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS, FEBRUARY 3 THROUGH MARCH 26 We Dream in STEAM: Lost in Space Coding Series You are lost in space and must complete a series of steps to regain communication with mission control! The series provides an introduction to programming, circuitry and electronics. No experience needed.

Registration required. Attendance at each session is strongly encouraged as each session builds upon the previous.

Ages 9–12. Zoom meeting. 4–5pm. https:// clearviewlibrary.org/events.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Kristin Hannah in Conversation with Jodi Picoult Hear and see these New York Times bestselling authors in conversation.

Ticketed event requires advance purchase of Kristin Hannah’s new book, The Four Winds. Zoom event hosted by Old Firehouse Books, FC. 7pm. www.oldfirehousebooks.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Clearview Homeschooler’s Academy: The Scientific Method!

Learn about inquiry and the scientific method and how they give us a process to how we learn, plus carry out a simple experiment with the library’s Take & Make Kit. All ages. YouTube video, 1–2pm.

970-686-5603, https://clearviewlibrary. org/event/4764784.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Family Cooking Challenge: Brownies You’re challenged to get creative as a family and add a special ingredient of your choice to the Take & Make Kit you’ll pick up from the library. All ages. 4–4:30pm.

YouTube meeting, www.youtube.com/ clearviewlibrary. Registration required: https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/4751259.

FEBRUARY 16 THROUGH 19 STEM Workshop: Battery Power Explained What makes electronic devices work?

Learn about batteries and conduct experiments in this hands-on workshop.

Ages 6+. Garbage Garage Education Center, 5887 S. Taft Hill Rd, FC. 10:30am and 12:30pm. 970-498-5772 www.larimer.org/garbagegarage.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8 Teen Cooking Challenge: Mug Cake Your challenge is to use your microwave to bake a personalized cake in a mug.

Pick up a Take & Make kit from the library. Ages 12–18. Zoom meeting, 4:30– 5:30pm. Registration required. https:// clearviewlibrary.org/event/4751315.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Virtual Makerspace: Catapult Construction Kids learn to put together a catapult machine to test velocity, speed and distance at home using supplies provided by the library. Registered participants will receive supply information and video link by email. Ages 5–8. Online instruction video hosted by River Public Library District librarians, FC. 10–10:30am. 970221-6740. www.poudrelibraries.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11 The Works—Technology and Art: Binary Code Necklace Develop your STEAM skills using everyday items found at home or in nature, or pick up one of 15 kits available from the library. In this session, make necklaces of your names using binary code.

Ages 6–12. YouTube. 3–3:30pm. https:// clearviewlibrary.org/event/4751245.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Learn at Home: Batteries are Everywhere Hear The Junkyard Robot, go on a battery hunt and make a craft. Ages 3+. Zoom meeting (register to receive link), hosted by Garbage Garage Education Center. 11am.

970-498-5772 www.larimer.org/garbagegarage.

Getting Crafty: Random Acts of Kindness Celebrate National Random Acts of Kindness Day with fun activities at home. Pick up one of 15 kits in advance—or use supplies from home. Ages 6–12. YouTube, 3–3:30pm https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/4751239.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Teen Craft-a-Thon: Reversible Plushie (with Take & Make Kits) Make a soft, reversible, stress companion.

Pick up Take & Make Kits at the library the week prior. Ages 12–18. 6–7pm.

Registration required for Zoom link: https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/4751320.

Virtual Trivia Night Participate online in several rounds of trivia based on fandoms new and old, books and movies and more. Registration required for Zoom link. Grades 6–12 and adults. Zoom meeting hosted by Poudre River Public Library District, FC. 6–7:30pm. 970-221-6740. www.poudrelibraries.org.

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Skygazing Hear an overview of visible constellations and look at multiple objects with your binoculars or as seen through the telescope via video monitor to allow for distancing.

Registration required. Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area, FC. 7–9pm. www.fcgov.com/events.

MUSEUM EVENTS

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

FEBRUARY 23 THROUGH 26 Toddler Time: What Makes a Robot Go? Hunt for batteries, bring toys to “life” and learn about battery safety. Ages 3–6.

Garbage Garage Education Center, 5887 S. Taft Hill Rd, FC. 10:30am.

970-498-5772 www.larimer.org/garbagegarage.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25 The Works—Engineering: Duct Tape Crafts Develop your STEAM skills using everyday items found at home or in nature, or pick up one of 15 kits available from the library. In this session, use duct tape to make handy and creative items. Ages 6–12. YouTube. 3–3:30pm. https://clearviewlibrary.org/event/4751248.

CONNECT TO NATURE

MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS, FEBRUARY 1 THROUGH 23 The Gardens Read and Seed Garden storytime, movement or song plus a hands-on, nature-inspired activity. Ages 2–4 with adult. Limit of five students/ caregivers per session. Registration required. Free/members; $8/non-member child; $11/ non-member adult (includes gardens/butterfly house.) Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. 11:15–Noon. www.fcgov.com/gardens/read-and-seed.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Virtual Fireside Friday: Adaptable Birds of Larimer County A naturalist will discuss some of the most common birds and their amazing adaptations for 15 minutes, then answer questions. Facebook Live, www.facebook. com/fcnaturalareas. 6:30pm. www.fcgov.com/events.

SATURDAYS, FEBRUARY 6, 13, 20, 27 THROUGH MARCH 6 Fort Collins Nursery Virtual Winter Workshops Learn exciting gardening and horticulture tips from some of Colorado’s top experts.

Topics include food preservation, veggie gardening, pruning small trees/shrubs, Chaparral gardens, miniature gardens/ terrariums and more. $12.50. Via Zoom.

Times vary. www.FortCollinsNursery.com.

SATURDAYS, FEBRUARY 6, 13, 20, 27 Eagle Watches Bald eagles make Fort Collins their winter home, spending nights in communal roosts in cottonwood trees near the reservoir.

Volunteer naturalists explain the eagles’ natural history and help visitors view them through spotting scopes. Registration required. Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area, FC. 3–5pm. www.fcgov.com/events.

EVERY OTHER TUESDAY Tune-Out Tuesdays Is the daily grind getting you down? Then sit back and relax with soothing music and stunning visuals produced by the Digital Dome’s team. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, Facebook Live. Noon–1pm. www.facebook.com/focomod.

EVERY OTHER THURSDAY FCMoD Discovery Live: Ask an Expert Tune in to Facebook Live to hear from a variety of guest experts, ask questions and discover science, history and art happening in your own backyard. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, Facebook Live. 5pm. www.facebook.com/focomod.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Youth Art Class: Fuzzy Pom-pom Chicks Learn to make your own squishy soft yarn pom-pom chicks with googly eyes and colorful beaks. Grades 1–5. $30/nonmembers; $24/member. Supplies included.

Beet Education Center at the Loveland Museum, 201 E. 5th St., LV. 3:45–5pm. www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Youth Art Class: Pop Up Valentines When your Valentine opens your special hand-made card, a bird’s beak pops open to greet them. Grades 1–5. $30/nonmembers; $24/member. Supplies included.

Beet Education Center at the Loveland Museum, 201 E. 5th St., LV. 3:45–5pm. www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Youth Art Class: Pour-Paint Rocks Pour paint and watch the swirling magic happen. Be prepared for a messy lesson.

Grades 1–5. $30/non-members; $24/ member. Supplies included. Beet Education Center at the Loveland Museum, 201 E. 5th St., LV. 3:45–5pm. www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Youth Art Class: Zipper Pulls Make zipper pulls that can also be used as key chains, backpack charms or just as a hanging decoration. Grades 1–5. $30/nonmembers; $24/member. Supplies included.

Beet Education Center at the Loveland Museum, 201 E. 5th St., LV. 3:45–5pm. www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org.

THROUGH AUGUST 22 War Comes Home: The Legacy Private letters and email correspondence spanning conflicts from the Civil War to Iraq. Explore separation, the adjustment to life back at home, and the costs of war.

Greeley History Museum, 714 8th St, GR. Thursday–Saturday, 10am–4pm. www.greeleymuseums.com.

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ENTERTAINMENT

FEBRUARY 4 THROUGH MARCH 28 Church Basement Ladies Escape to beautiful rural Minnesota with this celebration of the church basement kitchen and the women who work there!

Laugh along with these four unforgettable women as they organize the food and solve the problems of a rural church in 1965. Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Marketplace Dr., Johnstown. Days/times vary. www.rialtotheatercenter.org.

ACTIVE-ITIES

FEBRUARY 1 THROUGH 28 Healthy Kids 5210+ Challenge Annual program held every February where students, school staff and parents keep track of their activity minutes and other 5210 healthy habits. Prize money is awarded to schools with the highest percentage of participants. www.healthykidsclub.org.

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

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

Greeley Recreation Check out swimming, ice skating, sports plus free virtual group fitness classes to all community members: www.greeleyrec.com.

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

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

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time out Teens and safety during COVID-19 Teenage friendships (and their romances) in a pandemic KRIS KODRICH

L

ast March, during the early days of the pandemic, my high schooler Bianka turned to me after a few days of seeing each other constantly and said, “I already feel locked in.”

When I asked why, she responded, “You’re making us eat all together.”

Well, that was during a week when we had made-from-scratch waffles, pizza, pasta, tacos. I dug out a Panini-maker I had forgotten we had. I scraped the rust off our wok hiding in the garage.

Everyone was making food, looking up recipes online. Bianka’s older sister, Kalia, had temporarily joined us after her residence hall shut down because of pandemic threat, and made runs to Whole Foods, normally not part of our routine. We all were eating so good.

As we now approach the oneyear mark in lockdown, Kalia has moved in with her college friends.

And I barely see Bianka. She emerges from her bedroom, where she watches videos and plays her Nintendo Switch “to relax from online classes,” only to cook rice, pasta or gnocchi, or take hour-long showers. I worry about the

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carbohydrates and the lack of fruit and veggies in her diet, while urging her to have an orange or an apple.

I also occasionally need to remind Bianka, 16, about the severity of the pandemic. I remind her that, as a parent, I must look out for her health. And she has to look out for mine.

But it’s tough to always say no to a teen. So, I’ve let her go to an indoor rock-climbing gym that strictly limits the numbers of participants and requires mask-wearing, social distancing and sanitizing of equipment. She also has a part-time job on weekends in a restaurant kitchen, where she wears a mask and stays socially distant from co-workers.

I’m all right with Bianka seeing her closest friends as long as they wear masks and hang out mostly outside.

They sometimes hang out in Bianka’s new teen cave created in the garage, with a TV, a rug and a sofa. Being teens, however, they sometimes go to thrift stores or Old Town. I just hope

they follow the rules and stay safe.

Then, there’s the boyfriend. What a time to be a teenager with a “crush.”

I’ve allowed the two to hang out at our house or his when parental units are around. I’ve taken to sending them texts to double check. COVID aside, I don’t think it’s a good idea for teenage boy and girl to be home alone.

The pandemic certainly has created new awkward situations. Bianka likes to point out that it makes no sense for me to require the boyfriend to wear a mask when I’m driving him home, considering the two have just spent hours cuddled on the sofa watching parts of the “Lord of the Rings” movie trilogy.

She’s right, of course. As with everything pandemic, though, we just have to do our best and hope to get through this.

Kris Kodrich is a journalism professor at Colorado State University.

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