CALENDAR

Next helps raise money for meals in D6

A Denver news show has helped raise more than $50,000 to pay off outstanding student meal debt in Greeley-Evans School District 6.

Word of Thanks Microgiving Campaign is a weekly feature on Next with Kyle Clark, which airs at 6pm on Denver Channel 9. Clark focused fundraising efforts on the Food 4 Success Campaign that is being run through The Success Foundation serving Greeley-Evans Schools. He asked viewers to give $5 to the campaign, and announced he would match the first $55 given. By Sept. 15 the campaign had raised over $80,000.

Currently, District 6 has more than $147,000 in outstanding debt from unpaid student meals. The district has stopped trying to collect on this debt due to the pandemic and the related downturn in the economy. But without dollars to pay for this debt, money will have to be taken out of other programs. And no student is ever denied a meal in any of the District 6 schools.

Several District 6 staff and supporters tweeted with Kyle Clark about the campaign to pay off student meal debt, and were instrumental in helping Clark in choosing this District 6/Success Foundation program to support.

“Lunch debt gets paid off one of two ways usually: Either families struggling to get by come up with the money or the district has to cover it and take the money away from other programs,” Clark said. “Food fuels learning. Kids are not shamed if they can’t pay for their lunch. They get the same lunch as everyone and nobody knows.”

If you would like to support Food 4 Success, please donate at coloradogives. org/d6food4success. Every dollar helps a student and a family in need, and helps the school district keep dollars in other essential programs.

GROUNDBREAKING HELD FOR NEW GREELEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL

Officials from Greeley, Evans and Weld County joined leadership from GreeleyEvans School District 6, the Board of Education and members of the Greeley West High School staff for the official breaking of ground at Greeley West High School.

Contractor Adolfson and Peterson Construction and architects Hord, Coplan and Macht helped host the event for about 70 people.

Construction at Greeley West is already well underway, as visitors will see looking on the West side of the school. Ground has been cleared and grading has begun in the area that will eventually be the new Greeley West High School. Tennis courts have been removed and will be relocated, and a new parking lot has been constructed west of the school.

Speakers at the official groundbreaking event thanked the voters of Greeley and Evans, community partners and the staff and families of Greeley West High School who worked hard to help pass the 2019 Bond Issue.

“It really does take a village to support our students and schools,” Board of Education President Michael Mathews said at the event.

Superintendent Dr. Deirdre Pilch thanked the Growing Great Schools campaign committee, many who were present for the event, as well as the 2017 Mill Levy Override committee, including co-chair Pete Morrell, who recently passed away.

“That campaign really helped build community trust in District 6,” Dr. Pilch said. “Without it, we could have never passed this bond issue and been able to address so many of our capacity and facility needs in District 6.”

PSD upcoming plan

We hope that your first few weeks of school are off to a great start. Thank you for what you’ve been doing; we hear how hard you’re working to support the children in your life. We know many of you want your kids to return to inperson learning and we are looking forward to having them back in our school buildings.

On Sept. 15, PSD announced that it will transition to Phase 3 – Hybrid in-school/remote learning in October. Here are some highlights of what you need to know: • PreK-2 students will return to in-person education Oct. 5 • Grades 3-5 will start Oct. 19 • We continue to target Oct. 19 to begin in-person learning for our secondary students and will share more details the week of Sept. 28.

Learn more: https://www. psdschools.org/node/1622

WHAT DATA ARE PSD MONITORING AND USING TO MAKE DECISIONS?

If there is one thing that is constant, it is that the COVID-19 pandemic is always changing. Because of that, it’s important for our staff, families and community to understand there is not one single data point that will determine the educational phase in which Poudre School District is operating. Learn more about PSD’s partnership with the local health department, community risk data being monitored and other key information. As a reminder, as of early September, no district-wide decision has been made about what happens after Oct. 16 and whether remote education will continue. Read more: https://www. psdschools.org/node/1612

USDA CHANGE MEANS ALL STUDENTS (NOT JUST PSD STUDENTS) CAN RECEIVE MEALS

Due to a change announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ANY student, including those who are not enrolled in PSD, can get free meals. PSD is providing sack breakfasts and lunches at no cost to students (18 and younger) Monday-Friday at numerous schools and mobile-serving locations across the district. Families and students must wear a mask and maintain social distancing when picking up meals. More info: https://www.psdschools.org/ psd2020-21/mealsremotelearning

Breakfast and lunch menus are now available online: https://psdschools. nutrislice.com/menu/

PSD IT DEPARTMENT SUPPORTING STUDENTS, FAMILIES THROUGH NEW SITE AND OTHER RESOURCES

PSD’s IT Department recently launched the PSD Community Tech Portal, where families and students can find device troubleshooting and application technical support information, how-to guides, a calendar with important upcoming dates related to PSD technology and more. More information: http://techportal. psdschools.org/. Check out our Technical Support and Resources web page: https://www.psdschools.org/RemoteLearning-TechSupport.

Read more >> PSD keeps students connected with devices, internet access and tech support: https://www. psdschools.org/node/1601.

SUPPORT OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN 2020-21

The needs of students with disabilities are of the utmost importance, and PSD’s Integrated Services (IS) team has been working diligently to ensure equity and access for all students this school year. Learn more about the hundreds of hours of training and planning that IS staff did in spring and summer 2020 to support students with disabilities in any educational phase, get quick access to IS Department contact information, and find answers to frequently asked questions. More information: https:// www.psdschools.org/psd2020-21/ supportingstudentswithdisabilities

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

Student receives 2020 Youth Impact Award

Loveland High School senior, Delaney McNally, received the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented (CAGT) 2020 Youth Impact Award in the Master Division for her project Generation Connect.

Delaney, shares her story: “In 2014, my grandfather fell and broke his ankle on Christmas Eve. He went through lots of physical therapy and most of it he spent being socially isolated from others. When he finally came back home, most of the family was on their phones and he got upset because he wanted to talk with us. I saw this and realized this was a common occurrence in society today. Thus, came the idea of my project.

Along with the help of my mom, Jody, we created a vision of encouraging people to put down their phones and truly connect with people. We made a special effort to get different generations to connect because there seems to be a huge generational divide. The project started small with personal interviews that were recorded with older adults in the community. In continuation of that, I challenged people my age to go home during the holidays and connect with their older relatives, whether that be learn a family recipe or talk about each other’s first jobs. Along with this, we started Crate & Connect, where during these conversations, technology would be placed in small crates or boxes, decreasing distractions. My project then evolved in 2018 with Generation Connect organizing groups of teens to volunteer with KidsPak, whose volunteers were mostly retired adults. We would bring coffee and breakfast, and everybody got to mingle and make connections. My personal favorite story is when my friend was talking to another volunteer and learned that he was an ex-FBI agent and some of the crazy things about his job. Some of the connections people made during these times turned into friendships that are still going on today.

At the end of 2018, Generation Connect was approached by Partnership for Age Friendly Communities, as they had been following what I was doing and felt it matched their mission. Together with other local organizations, we formed the Intergenerational Conversations team. This group hosts events that give teens, young adults, and older adults the opportunity to come together and have conversations about topics that affect both generations. The first event was hosted in February of 2019 and they have continued to grow since. I lead this planning team with my project, and some of our partners are PAFC, CSU Center for Public Deliberation, Loveland Housing Authority, Poudre River Public Library District, Fort Collins’ Senior Advisory Board and Women’s Commission. We have countless supporters in the

Northern Colorado community. Our conversation topics have included generation tribalism, technology, social isolation, loneliness, traditions, life during COVID-19 and empathy. We started hosting them in Loveland and then expanded into Fort Collins. Through this project and the people I have been able to meet, I have learned people are people. Everybody can find common ground even with opposing views and beliefs. I feel that sometimes people are scared to expand their connections and relations outside of their own generation because of common misconceptions, but once these stereotypes are broken down, you realize that they are another person.

Since starting this project, I have learned so much about others and even about my own family. Part of my family is pretty large and I had never sat down and had a real conversation with my grandmother before. Her first job was in a donut shop. I learned that when my

grandfather was in the Navy, he was the first person on his ship to learn of JFK’s assassination and had to go straight to the captain without telling others. There are so many cool stories and lessons we can learn and share ourselves when we make these connections. I am extremely humbled and honored to be recognized for this award. In September of 2019, my grandfather passed away and all that I do with this project allows me to continue honoring him and his legacy, including receiving this award.”

THOMPSON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATES AP CAPSTONE DIPLOMA RECIPIENTS

Three TVHS students have earned the Advanced Placement® (AP®) Capstone Diploma, and 9 students have earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™ during the 2019-20 school year.

Those earning the Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma are Madeleine Boyles,Colin Davies, and Alexcis Escandon.

Those earning the AP Seminar and Research Certificate are Madeleine Boyles, Colin Davies, Alexcis Escandon, Katherine Fray, Kylie Jacobson, Haley Lawton, Emma Liakas, Kaitlin Walsh, and Autumn Zhou.

“We are proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program, and we continue to look forward to providing students with opportunities to explore their passions while building college-level academic and collaboration skills,” says Jaymie Cruickshank, TVHS Principal.

The AP Capstone Diploma™ program allows students to develop critical thinking, research, and presentation skills, both individually and as a team. Students conduct academic research on topics of personal interest in two interdisciplinary courses: AP Seminar and AP Research.

“Congratulations to the AP Capstone award winners, who conduct, present, and defend academic research on topics they are passionate about,” says Trevor Packer, College Board senior vice president of AP and Instruction. “Their ability to manage long-term projects, collaborate with teams, and deliver effective presentations will accelerate not only their academic careers but their professional careers as well.”

The College Board Advanced Placement Program gives students the opportunity to take challenging collegelevel courses while still in high school. A 3 or higher on an AP Exam has multiple benefits for students, including earning college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on AP Exams, saving them time and money. Research shows AP students are better prepared for and more likely to enroll and remain in college, do well in classes, and earn their degrees on time. Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP Exams align their high standards.

OCTOBER 2020 EVENTS CALENDAR

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

FESTIVALS, FAIRS & CELEBRATIONS

OCTOBER 1 THROUGH 25 Fiesta Flurry: A Socially Safe Scavenger Hunt

Participate in this virtual scavenger hunt using an app on your phone or computer to solve clues at home, or venture into the community. Earn points to win prizes. $20 registration supports The Family Center/La Familia. www.thefamilycenterfc.org/fiesta.

OCTOBER 10 & 11 Greeley Tribune Craft & Gift Show

Features artisan vendors, giveaways, food and children’s activities. Greeley Mall, GR. Saturday 9am–5pm; Sunday 11am–4pm. https://events. greeleytribune.com/craft-show.

OCTOBER 23 THROUGH 25 Pumpkins on Parade

Celebrate Halloween and the harvest with a community pumpkin carving contest and hundreds of pumpkins and gourds arranged in artistic displays. All ages. Kids under 12 receive a candy-free goodie bag. Costumes encouraged. Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. 6–9pm. www.fcgov.com/gardens/pumpkins.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24 Loveland Pumpkin Festival

First annual event offers a socially distanced pumpkin decorating event, farmers’ market vendors and Halloween music. Sign up for 1-hour time slots to decorate a pumpkin with a Loveland artist. Foundry Plaza, 1st to 3rd Streets, Downtown LV. 10am–3pm. www. downtownloveland.org/pumpkinfestival.

LIBRARY & BOOK EVENTS

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

WEDNESDAYS Getting Crafty

Each week’s craft project uses simple supplies found around your home. Ages 6–12. YouTube, 3–3:30pm, www.youtube. com/clearviewlibrary.

THURSDAYS The Works

Develop your STEAM skills using everyday items found at home or in nature, or pick up one of 15 kits available from the library. Ages 6–12. YouTube. 3–3:30pm. www.youtube.com/clearviewlibrary.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 Family Cooking Challenge: Rice Crispy Treats

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/4531983.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 Adolescentes, comida, cultura e identidad: prepara polvorones tricolor / Teens, food, culture and identity: bake tri-colored polvorones

Celebrate Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month in this bilingual conversation on food, culture and identity while learning to prepare traditional Mexican cookies. Ages 13–19. Registration required to receive Zoom meeting invitation. 11am–noon. www.poudrelibraries.org.