RM Parent November 2014 by RM Publishing

NOVEMBER 2014 • RMPARENT.COM

Marijuana AND YOUTH Holiday

CELEBRATIONS NEAR YOU

Sweet dreams

FOR TODDLERS

Regular

PAP TESTS

The stuff of HOLIDAYS

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NOVEMBER 2014

Departments

Features

PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Who is Mary Jane?—And why is she in my kid’s backpack?

WOMEN’S HEALTH . . . . . . . . 8 Lower your cervical cancer risk—why you should get a regular Pap test

FAMILY ACTIVITIES . . . . . . . 10 When the magic begins—celebrate your holiday spirit by checking out festive events

GIVE ME A BREAK . . . . . . . . 12 Whose holiday is it, anyway—buck some traditions and create your own

COMMUNITY NEWS . . . . . . . 14 14 Northern Colorado makes health and wellness a priority—healthy living through access to fresh foods, vaccinations, open spaces; Fort Collins ranked No.1 in US for healthy efforts, community harvests food & hope, whooping cough in Weld county and Windsor-area schools, help name new Loveland open space

18 U P IN SMOKE?

Even though using pot anywhere is illegal for anyone under the age of 21, more kids are using than ever before. And recreational cannabis has far more THC than it had “back in the day.” Health officials and other stakeholders around the state are working overtime to develop educational campaigns about the potential negative effects of marijuana use, especially where young developing brains and bodies are involved.

HEALTHY LIVING . . . . . . . . 1 6

So much stuff—recycling toys and reducing holiday waste

CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 Events and activities for parents, kids and families

TIME OUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Oh, how it hurts—what if MY child is the mean girl?

20 SWEET DREAMS FOR ALL

School District News Thompson School District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 120 years and going strong, T-Town features NFL standout, AMPED receives grant from OtterCares Foundation, students participate in fundraiser for Loveland Safehouse, Girl Scouts collect books for district preschoolers and library

Ask any parent of a toddler or preschooler what they find most challenging, and they’ll likely also name sleep...rom resisting bedtime, nightmares, and bedwetting to illness and nighttime awakenings. Sleep is essential for good health for you and your kids, so follow these tips to make your nights dreamier.

Poudre School District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 PSD calendar of events, CSU Little Shop of Physics visits Irish, Kruse named 2014 National Blue Ribbon School, Lincoln Center and PSD partner to provide arts events for students,

Greeley-Evans District 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Students honored for achievement on TCAP, District 6 receives $4.5 million Gear Up grant, two students named National Merit semifinalists, district seeks donations for newly opened Teachers Closet

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

ABOUT THE COVER: Justin, who will be 7 in December, likes to play striker for the Fort Collins Ball Hounds soccer, Photo by Cheri Schonfeld, schonfeldphotography.com.

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perspective Who is Mary Jane?

And why is she in my kid’s backpack?

o legal pot is here, and probably to stay. Hard to put that genie back in the bottle, I’m guessing. Kim Sharpe takes a close look at legal cannabis and kids. It appears that the evidence is pretty clear: Regular marijuana (I’m seeing just how many terms I can use to refer to reefer) use is bad for kids as their bodies and minds are developing. Among a lot of interesting stuff in Kim’s story, three things caught my attention: edibles are a problem, a lot of the youths who use get grass from their parents, and regulated substances such as alcohol, tobacco and prescription drugs are the hardest vices for kids to get a hold of. And it sounds like there’s a bunch of rallying for education programs...I hope for parents, too. I fall pretty much in the camp that says consenting adults should have a pretty free hand in how they live their lives, except when it causes harm and especially when it causes harm to children. It seems that role-modeling and open communication, once again, are our best tools. “But mom, you smoke weed and drink beer.” “I know, but that doesn’t mean that you should.” “Why not? It looks like fun.” “Well, a lot of things that look like fun have a lot of consequences that you might not recognize right away.” “Yeah, like what?” “Well, like smoking weed...it’s not good on your lungs for starters and it can affect your development.” “I tried a cookie at a party last week and it was pretty fun.” “Well, that’s an interesting piece of news. Here’s the thing: again, there are a lot of choices you’re going to be making in the next few years that could affect your life for a long time. And this is one of them. Be careful with it. I can’t be with you all the time, so I’m trusting you to make the best decisions you can. Oh, and maybe I’ll think a little more about my own use...” That’s a fantasyland kind of conversation, but I was trying to get across the ideas that our kids really do watch what we do and that our best tool (Disclaimer: I’m not a trained family psychologist), in general, is open and regular communication (without a lot of judgy attitude) with our kids. Alrighty then...on to the rest of the issue. We’re digging in on the holidays with a few stories from different points of view. Katie Harris gives us a nice overview of some holiday highlights, and Lea Hanson looks at ways to reduce holiday waste, while Kim Sharpe weighs in on holiday traditions. On the health desk, Lynn Nichols explores how to get toddlers to sleep through the night and explains why regular Pap tests really matter...that’s in 2 different stories...And Lea Hanson also examines what to do if your kid is the mean girl. Finally, our Family Health Guide comes out this month...I hope it was sitting next to this issue and you picked one up, too. Sit down with the good stories in there and check the extensive directory next time you need a health-related service. Thanks, Scott 6

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NOVEMBER 2014 • Volume 19, Issue 6 PUBLISHER Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com EDITOR Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com CALENDAR EDITOR Kim Sharpe calendar@rockymountainpub.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Emily Zaynard emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION Wendee Brungardt Sharon Klahn, Kyle Moyer COVER PHOTO Cheri Shonfeld, schonfeldphotography.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lea Hanson, Katie Harris, Lynn Nichols Kim Sharpe

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLISHING 825 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521 Voice 221-9210 Fax 221-8556 editor@rockymountainpub.com www.RMParent.com Rocky Mountain Parent magazine is published monthly by Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. Publication of this paper does not consitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. RMP reserves the right to refuse any advertisement for any reason. The opinions expressed by contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rocky Mountain Publishing. ©2014 Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without express written permission is prohibited.

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women’s health

Lower your cervical cancer risk Why you should get a regular Pap test

LY NN U. NICHOLS

owering your risk for cervical cancer is pretty straightforward: get regular Pap tests. Cervical cancer is preventable if detected and treated early. But it’s not the only reason to get a regular Pap. Pap smears check for the presence of abnormal cells in the cervix. Besides cancer, changes in the cells of the uterus can also indicate reproductive problems, STDs and infections. ABOUT PAP SMEARS Regular Pap tests detect cervical cancer before it develops. In fact, most women who get cervical cancer have not had a Pap in the last five years, or ever. That’s reassuring news if you are faithful about getting regular Pap tests. It means you most likely will never get cervical cancer. Many physicians see Pap tests as a true public health victory in the last century. Cervical cancer used to be very common. Now, it’s fairly rare. Women without a family history of cervical cancer or known HPV infection should get a Pap every three years, starting at age 21. If you do have a family history or have HPV, talk with your doctor about a schedule that best fits for you. If your doctor deems a Pap is needed more regularly, your insurance will likely cover it. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists used to recommend Pap smears annually but that changed in recent years. One reason is because experts know much more about how pre-cancers behave today. CAUSES OF AN ABNORMAL PAP So, what does it mean to get have an abnormal Pap? Abnormal cells are rated for their severity. Precancerous cells, known as dysplasia, can be mild, moderate or severe (CIN 1-3, respectively). Depending on the rating, your doctor will either recommend a retest in a few 8

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months, want to perform a colposcopy to take a closer look, or opt to remove more serious cells during a biopsy. Cervical cancer starts out as abnormal cells. A Pap test is the easiest way to monitor changes in these cells. It is often combined with a test for human papillomavirus virus (HPV), which can lead to cervical cancer. THE ROLE OF HPV HPV is the most common reason for an abnormal Pap test, but an abnormal result may also be caused by a bacterial infection or yeast infection in the vagina, other sexually transmitted diseases (including chlamydia, gonorrhea or trichomonas), cancer (uterine, vulval or cervical) and even simply having the test done too close to the start of your period. HPV is a big player in cervical and other reproductive cancers. HPV is a nasty set of viruses—about 150 to be exact. At least 12 are labeled high risk, contributing to the development of cervical, vaginal, vulval, penile and anal cancer, not to mention uncomfortable genital warts. Our bodies usually fight off the mild forms of HPV, but have a harder time fighting off high-risk forms.

It can only be passed by direct skin-toskin contact during sexual activity. Over half of all sexually active men and women will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives. The virus has been linked to about 70 percent of all cervical cancers. That’s why if your Pap test comes up abnormal, your doctor will likely check for HPV. An HPV vaccine is available, and is recommended for teens starting age 11 or 12. ANNUAL EXAMS ARE IMPORTANT Even if you don’t get a Pap every year, it’s still a good idea to get an annual exam—even if it’s simply to review your health history for the year—keeping both you and your doctor up to speed. It can also be used to discuss more immediate needs and receive breast and skin examinations, review family risk factors, and complete lab tests to determine how well you are maintaining your overall health. To keep it regular, attach it to a season or your birthday. If it’s that time of year to schedule your exam, go ahead and make the call. Keeping on top of any potential health problems takes mere minutes, and can save lives.

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family activities

When the magic begins

Celebrate your holiday spirit by checking out festive events KATIE HARRIS

orthern Colorado towns will be decking the halls and ringing in the holiday season this month, so don’t miss the chance to countdown with your community to a traditional downtown tree lighting, or browse a local craft show with the family. Even Santa will be making appearances around town this month to join in on the fun!

Santa will be in his workshop at Old Town Square beginning November 23rd, Wednesday-Sunday from noon6pm; and daily from noon-6pm December 17th-23rd. Also, join Santa on Thursdays and Fridays at 11am at Clothes Pony and Dandelion Toys (111 N. College Ave.) for “Storytime with Santa”. http://downtownfortcollins. com/events/downtown-santas-workshop

transform the Gardens on Spring Creek this season! Stop in on the weekends for visits with Santa and the “Sugar Plum Hairies”, warm drinks and music. The gardens are open 5-9pm every night. A $2 donation is encouraged at the door. www.fcgov.com/gardens

NOVEMBER 7

NOVEMBER 28-DECEMBER 6

Arrive at 6pm for cookies, hot cocoa and holiday music as you await the 6:30pm lighting of thousands of strands of LED lights! College Avenue between Laporte and Magnolia. Lights remain lit through Valentine’s Day. http://downtownfort collins.com/events/downtownholiday-lights/

Tour rooms of beautifully decorated trees, visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, enjoy a horse -drawn carriage ride, door prizes, and activities and face painting for kids. You might even catch a glimpse of a talking tree or two! www.greeleygov. com/Festivals/FestivalOfTrees.aspx

Brush off that Santa Hat for this fun and family friendly 5K, which will take place at 8am. Run off the cold and do your part to help fight arthritis.http:// jinglebellrunnortherncolorado.kintera. org/faf/home/default. asp?ievent=1113829

Downtown Holiday Lights, Downtown Fort Collins

NOVEMBER 7-14

Gallery of Trees, Lincoln Center, Fort Collins

A visit to the Lincoln Center gallery is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. Hundreds of trees designed by local artists will be on display and available through silent auction, all to benefit the Lincoln Center Support League. www.fcgov.com/lctix/galleriesexhibitions.php NOVEMBER 22-23

Christmas in Windsor Craft Show, Windsor Recreation Center

Get a jump-start on your holiday shopping! The Windsor craft show will feature rooms full of handmade items from over 100 vendors. Showtimes are 9am5pm on Saturday, and 10am-4pm on Sunday. A $2 donation is requested at the door. www.christmasinwindsor.com NOVEMBER 23-DECEMBER 24

Santa’s Workshop, Downtown Fort Collins

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Festival of Trees, Union Colony Civic Center, Greeley

NOVEMBER 29

Greeley Lights the Night Parade, 9th Avenue, Greeley

Take part in a Greeley tradition as the annual Lights the Night parade makes its way down 9th Avenue, from 16th to 7th Street, beginning at 5:30pm. Stick around after the parade for the lighting of the trees at Historic Lincoln Park. www.greeleydowntown.com/signatureevents/holiday-open-house DECEMBER 5-7

Christmas in Berthoud, Downtown Berthoud

Shop local vendors’ booths and visit Santa, enjoy holiday music from local choirs, and witness the annual tree lighting at Fickel Park and the Christmas parade in downtown Berthoud! http:// christmasinberthoud.org DECEMBER 5-JANUARY 1

Garden of Lights, The Gardens on Spring Creek, Fort Collins

Thousands of LED lights will

DECEMBER 6

Jingle Bell Run/Walk® Northern Colorado, CSU oval, Fort Collins

DECEMBER 6

Windsor Wonderland, Downtown Windsor

Santa will arrive on Main Street and stay for pictures from noon-5pm. Enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, hot chocolate and fudge, along with the traditional tree lighting and holiday shop displays. https://www.windsorgov.com/index. aspx?NID=802 DECEMBER 6-7

Loveland Lights, Loveland Public Library

The Loveland Library will come to life for the weekend with a Nutcracker-theme.Hours are 9am-6pm on Saturday and 1-5pm on Sunday, and all events are free! https://www.friends ofthelovelandlibrary.org/events/love landlights SATURDAYS IN DECEMBER

Santa’s Workshop, Promenade Shops at Centerra, Loveland

Get a free picture with the Jolly Old Elf then stick around for holiday crafting with Mrs. Claus and the elves. http:// centerracolorado.com/contentPages/ display/83.

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give me a break

Whose holiday is it, anyway? Buck some traditions and create your own

KIM SHARPE

recently spent time in a middle school geography classroom where students are comparing cultures. They are exploring what people in other countries eat and wear. What language they speak. What they do for work and for fun. And what their religions and traditions are. I’ve been thinking of that classroom discussion and how it’s not just countries and geographic regions that have cultural characteristics. Individual families have them, too, and when we combine our lives with others, especially in an intimate, familial way, sometimes cultures clash, especially during times when traditions really come into play, like during the holidays. In my own family, my husband and I are the offspring on both sides of the fence who are expected to host holiday gatherings. The lot just falls to us based on family dynamics that I’m confident everyone reading this understands. In our joined family unit, I’m not sure cultures clash exactly, but there certainly are a lot of deeply embedded expectations to meet. I feel a lot of pressure to do things the way they’ve always been done or to prepare certain food items because they’ve always been served at certain holiday meals. Take Jell-O salad, for example. I don’t know anyone in my generation who still makes or eats Jell-O of any sort, let alone of the sort that would classify it as a salad. But “Who’s going to make the

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Jell-O salad?” is a question that’s asked every year during holiday meal planning discussions. I never have an answer. Since I mentioned meal planning, let’s dig into that subject just a bit. In our family (speaking broadly here) there’s an expectation that this begins weeks in advance of actual meal dates. Given that my husband and I work full time and lead active lives beyond that, we’re doing well to discuss what’s for dinner the morning of an evening repast, let alone one that will occur weeks away. So for me, the Type A, peoplepleasing person that I am, trying to meet everyone’s expectations while sticking up for my own desires and thoughts about how the holidays should be celebrated is stressful and exhausting. Rather than look forward to the holidays, I find myself wishing they will pass as quickly as possible so I can breathe. This makes me a little sad, though, because I don’t want to wish my life away. I want to enjoy my family and our time together. I’m fortunate that my husband and I agree on bucking a few traditions. It’s nice to have a partner in what feels like

a cultural crime. We risk disappointing certain family members, of course, but our stubbornness to do some holiday things our way seems evolutionary. For example, on Thanksgiving, I will make green bean casserole, but I julienne and slice fresh, organic green beans and make my own cream sauce with fresh mushrooms and soy milk. My pie crusts are made gluten free, because I am, and lard doesn’t come near them. On Christmas, we’ve taken the ultimate risk and insisted that we have an early afternoon meal at a local Asian restaurant. It’s reminiscent of the movie “A Christmas Story,” but more importantly, it recognizes that most of us love not having to rush our morning to prepare and clean up another big feast. When I hand the holiday gathering-hosting role over to my sons and their families, my goal is to be open minded about how they celebrate the holidays. For me, the real celebration is in spending time with one another, not in worrying if the imitation flavor of the Jell-O is what each of us remembers having when we were kids.

Neighborhood Toy Store Day! Saturday November 8th 10-4pm

Thank You for Supporting your family-owned, community toy store. Come join us for non-stop fun!

And visit Visit our Facebook page for more Holiday Events

www.facebook.com/clothespony

Urban Blossom

Fort Collinsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Only Tween Boutique!

(970) 224-2866 |111 N. College Ave. RMPARENT

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community news

Health and wellness a priority

Healthy living through access to fresh foods, vaccinations, open spaces KIM SHARPE

t’s difficult not to notice the emphasis northern Colorado communities place on health promotion including fresh, locally grown food; physical activity; and recreational opportunities. Even when illnesses invade our borders, health officials are quick to provide information to minimize their effect. This month’s community news roundup illustrates NoCo makes health and wellness a priority. FORT COLLINS RANKED NO.1 IN U.S. FOR HEALTHY EFFORTS Fort Collins now leads the nation when it comes to promoting healthy living, according to the National League of Cities (NLC). The NLC has recognized Fort Collins for recent completion of key health and wellness goals for Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties (LMCTC). LMCTC awarded Fort Collins nine medals, including five gold medals, for improving access to healthy affordable food and increasing opportunities for physical activity. “These medals and ranking are a testament to the conscience decisions and investments our community makes every day that add to the quality of life we enjoy,” says Fort Collins Councilmember Gino Campana. “I would like to thank everyone who helped make this possible, and look forward to promoting healthy lifestyles in the future.” LMCTC is a major component of First Lady Michelle Obama’s comprehensive Let’s Move! initiative, which is dedicated to solving the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation. LMCTC calls upon local elected officials to adopt sustainable and holistic policies that improve communities’ access to healthy affordable food and opportunities for physical activity through five goal areas. 14

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“We congratulate and commend the City of Fort Collins for your efforts to improve the health of your community’s children and families,” says NLC President Chris Coleman, Mayor of Saint Paul, Minn. “Through the leadership and dedication of local elected officials in cities, towns and counties across the country, we are beginning to see a mea-

COMMUNITY HARVESTS FOOD, HOPE The northern Colorado community stepped up in a big way this growing season, delivering to date over 26,555 pounds of fresh produce through the Plant it Forward program to benefit the Food Bank for Larimer County. This total collection result was a 243 percent increase over Plant it Forward

surable decrease in obesity rates and a cultural shift towards health.” More than 450 cities, towns and counties are participating in LMCTC. Each month, NLC recognizes local elected officials who achieve key benchmarks for the five LMCTC goals. Since July 2012, NLC has awarded 2,009 bronze, silver, and gold medals to recognize local elected officials across the country for their LMCTC progress. For more information about LMCTC and Fort Collin’s accomplishments, visit www.Healthy CommunitiesHealthyFuture.org.

collections in 2013 and was a 177 percent increase over the expanded target goal of 15,000 pounds set in the spring of 2014. In 2013, the program yielded 10,927 pounds of fresh produce during the growing season. Notable too this year, the weather contributed to unforeseen cultivation challenges. The 2014 growing season was the shortest it has been since 1983 with 123 days compared to an average of 150 days. In addition, the first frost on September 13, 2014, was the earliest occurrence since 1974.

“As we’ve seen such a tremendous increase in local produce donations through Plant it Forward this year, the response from Food Bank clients has been overwhelmingly positive as well,” says Susan Kelly, Food Bank for Larimer County food resource manager. “We offer nutritional information, recipes and Tasting Tables twice a week using local produce to make sure that there are always fresh ideas on hand for how to use the abundance of seasonal produce now accessible through our Food Share pantry. Our community really understands how to step up and help one another, and we are thrilled to be able to share the bounty of our local gardeners with our neighbors in need. We are truly grateful for this partnership with the Gardens on Spring Creek and for all of our Plant it Forward donors.” Support for the program in 2014 originated from all corners of the community. From neighborhood champions strategically collecting fresh produce throughout Larimer County to champions at corporate sites, area churches, CSA farms and the Garden of Eatin’ at the Gardens on Spring Creek, the total collection reflects the tremendous effort put forward by area gardeners. Providing nutritious food, particularly fruits and vegetables, is a top priority at the Food Bank. While healthy eating seems easy, it’s difficult for many in the community to make nutrition a priority when the bigger concern is just simply having something to eat. According to a recent survey of Food Bank clients, nearly 90 percent would eat less than three servings of fruits and vegetables per day if they didn’t have access to the Food Share pantry. Donations from the Plant It Forward program meet an important dietary need for nearly 30,000 Larimer County residents. WHOOPING COUGH IN WELD COUNTY, WINDSOR-AREA SCHOOLS Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is on the rise among Colorado and Weld County children. So far this year, Weld County has 116 diagnosed cases, the same number for all of 2013. The Windsor area has at least seven diagnosed cases since school began. In

past years, Weld County had an average of only four or five cases per year. Pertussis is a disease noted for a stubborn and persistent cough and is spread primarily from person-to-person by coughing. Pertussis is very contagious and can be fatal in some cases. “We want the public to take this disease seriously, because for every diagnosed case, there are at least nine to 10 undiagnosed cases,” says Dr. Mark Wallace, Weld County Health Department executive director. The Weld County Health Department recommends people take the following actions to prevent and control the spread of pertussis: 1. G et vaccinated. According to a study conducted in 2009 by Kaiser Permanente, unvaccinated children are 23 times more likely to become infected with pertussis, than those who have been immunized. It’s important to follow the recommended series of boosters for both adults and children—because the pertussis vaccine does not provide life-long protection. 2. G et tested if a cough lasts longer than two weeks. Treatment will help ease symptoms. 3. Always cover your cough and wash your hands. The health department also recommends “cocooning” vaccination efforts beyond just the parents and siblings—that is to encourage grandparents and care givers to get vaccinated to protect the infants and children they are caring for from pertussis.

Pertussis is a bacterial infection of the respiratory tract that can easily spread through the air in droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The illness often starts with cold-like symptoms, including sneezing, a runny nose or low-grade fever, along with a mild cough. The cough usually becomes more severe during the first week or two, and is sometimes characterized by episodes of rapid coughs (coughing fit), followed by a high-pitched whoop, vomiting, or breathlessness. The cough usually lasts for a couple of months and is more frequent at night. Some people may have mild symptoms and not know they have whooping cough. They may

spread the disease to others, including newborns and children who are not fully immunized and create a higher risk of hospitalization and death due to pertussis. For more information about pertussis, visit www.weldhealth.org. HELP NAME NEW LOVELAND OPEN SPACE The City of Loveland’s Open Lands Division is accepting name suggestions for the City’s new 87-acre open space property on the northeast quadrant of Taft Ave. and 57th St. Priority consideration will be given to names that reflect habitat types or natural features, such as plants or wildlife native to the area. The site provides a sanctuary for wildlife, like songbirds, raptors, amphibians, coyote, red fox and deer. Wetland drainages, a section of the Louden Ditch and agricultural lands provide wildlife habitat, cover and movement corridors for these species. Wetlands support common cattail, reed canary grass, Emory and Nebraska sedge, coyote willow and plains cottonwood. The recent acquisition adds to protected open space in the 3,500-acre “community separator” between Loveland and Fort Collins. The purchase also secures needed land for two potential off-street trail connections, including the Loveland Recreation Trail loop and a regional trail linking Loveland and Fort Collins. The deadline to submit nominations is November 15. Proposed names should not create confusion with existing parks, streets or subdivisions. For more information, visit www.cityofloveland.org.

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healthy living So much stuff!

Recycling toys and reducing holiday waste LEA HANSON

aving kids means having stuff. Most of our kids have lots of toys. Too many, even. Preparing for and anticipating the holidays adds stress to any household and the added layer of being buried in new toys—when your child already has so many—can feel overwhelming. Some parents are good about regularly rotating toys and ridding kids’ rooms of toys they’ve outgrown or forgotten, but for many, fall feels like the perfect time for an annual purge. SELLING, TRADING, AND DONATING Unloading toys and clothes in good condition is nice when you can earn a few bucks or trade them for something new (to you). Everyone wins through a good used sell/trade arrangement: you rid yourself of unused and unneeded things and feel compensated for your items while another family can buy it for a much more affordable price and give the item a second (or third) life. Here are options in Northern Colorado: • Once Upon a Child (www.onceupon achildfortcollins.com) • Kid-A-Round (www.kidaroundftc.com)

There are a plethora of thrift and second-hand stores in northern Colorado that are happy to accept your children’s used toys. You may not receive payment for your donation, but it is tax deductible and you’re giving another family access to toys that are new to them. JUST BUY LESS Selling, trading, and donating toys feels good and can free up space in your home. However, the best practice for having less is always simply buying less. For most, gift giving is an essential tradition in the holiday season. As nice as it may sound to forego gifts altogether in an effort to waste less, that’s not a realistic sacrifice for most gift givers. However, it is possible for most gift 16

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givers to purchase fewer store-bought products. Gifts don’t need to be material goods and, in fact, many feel even more appreciated with actions, special notes, exciting outings and experiences, or thoughtful gestures than they do with store-bought, material items. Many families have adopted the four gift approach to holidays and birthdays: one thing the child wants, one the child needs, one thing to wear, and one thing to read. This type of tradition reduces holiday waste from all angles including

additional million tons of waste a week that’s sent to U.S. landfills, according to the EPA. Many are trying more and more to purchase goods that have minimal packaging to reduce their impact on landfills during the holiday season. It can be difficult to assess the sustainability of product packaging; some items may have less packaging but the packaging is less biodegradable while others use more packaging but it’s completely recyclable. In short, don’t just look at the amount of or size of packaging—see

wrapping, packaging, and the feeling to rid the home of “old” toys to make room for new ones. Plus, we’ve all seen children who are presented with numerous gifts lose interest in them after opening only a few; oftentimes just receiving one single exciting new toy is enough excitement for little ones and can also be an even better and more apparent lesson in graciousness and appreciation.

what it’s made of and check if it can be recycled in northern Colorado. Buying products that come in packages is mostly unavoidable, however. But, while it may be difficult to avoid buying packaged items, it’s easy to reuse the items in which we wrap them. Luckily, one doesn’t have to forgo gift-wrapping altogether in order to be more sustainable, just be a little creative. Using newspaper or old maps is an easy go-to that most have heard of already. Paper grocery bags can be painted with holiday drawings and designs and varying sized cloth bags can be used year after year. In the least, do your best to save gift bags, tissue paper, and wrapping paper from gifts you’ve received and reuse it when you’re wrapping your next gift.

ADDITIONAL HOLIDAY WASTE But, in the end, even the most modest families end up creating waste during the holidays. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, household waste increases by more than 25 percent, and this extra trash — mostly food, product packaging and wrapping paper — adds up to an

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UP IN

SMOKE?

HOW MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

IS IMPACTING YOUTH KIM SHARPE

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alking by an Old Town Fort Collins’ cobblestonepaved and art-decorated alley one recent evening, I witnessed a group of teens lighting up and passing around a joint. Since the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana, this scene is more common even though using pot in public is illegal for everyone and using pot anywhere is illegal for anyone under the age of 21. Yet experts say more kids are using “weed” than ever before. The 2011 Colorado Kids Survey states that 39.5 percent of students statewide reported having tried marijuana at least once and 22 percent of students reported using marijuana in the past 30 days. Smart Colorado, a nonprofit organization dedicated to minimizing the negative consequences of commercialized marijuana for Colorado youth, reports that one in 15 high school seniors are smoking marijuana on a daily or near daily basis. Another consequence of legalization is that young users don’t seem too worried about getting busted. “They can’t believe we will still charge them for possession. They think we won’t because it’s legal. Kids are surprised at our zero tolerance policy,” says Lieutenant Joe Shellhammer with the Larimer County Sheriff Office. Beyond legal ramifications, teens don’t seem concerned about how using marijuana might impact their health. And why should they? Many of their parents and grandparents used weed back in the day and they turned out all right. Right? THIS AIN’T YOUR MAMA’S POT What most teens and many adults don’t understand is that the recreational marijuana sold today isn’t the same substance available in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Back in the day, the concentration of THC in pot (the ingredient in cannabis that creates the high

in the brain) was approximately six or seven percent. THC levels in today’s pot range from 15 to 30 percent, according to Team Fort Collins, a northern Colorado nonprofit focused on preventing drug and alcohol abuse. Another issue is that people don’t understand there’s a difference between medical marijuana and retail marijuana. “Medical marijuana doesn’t contain THC,” explains Lisa Laake, a health educator with the Larimer County Department of Health. “Yet the legalization of marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes has created a perception that all marijuana use is safe when in fact, that’s not the case. There is a lot of research that shows youth who use marijuana can reduce their IQ. They also are more susceptible to addiction than adults who use marijuana and if they’re predisposed to mental illness, using marijuana can actually increase that risk.” JOKER, SMOKER OR MIDNIGHT TOKER “Colorado is in this huge social experiment of loosening up the laws on marijuana to achieve some social benefit, but at some social and biomedical risk,” says Dr. Tim Byers, associate dean for Public Health Practice at the Colorado School of Public Health. Byers and others know that the way marijuana is used alters how its effects are experienced. For example, the effects of marijuana when it’s inhaled, either by smoking or vaporizing it, are much more immediate than when marijuana is ingested. When someone eats the quintessential pot brownie there often is a one-hour or more delay in its felt effects. This is dangerous because people have a tendency to overdose on edibles when they don’t get the immediate gratification of feeling high. Byers feels the non-regulation of edibles is one of the biggest problems with legalization. “The problem isn’t only with product safety and packaging, but dosage. One of the failures in Colorado is that we didn’t anticipate well enough the problems with dosing of edibles. People are eating something and 15 minutes later they aren’t feeling anything so they eat some more to the point of becoming incapacitated. Another issue with eating is that there’s variability not only between

Members of the Larimer County Youth Coalition to prevent marijuana use.

people, but also within an individual person from day to day, depending on what they’ve eaten or their overall health. So getting the dose right with edibles is a huge challenge and we need to do something as a state in terms of education.” EDUCATING THE MASSES Health officials and other stakeholders around the state are working overtime to develop educational campaigns about the potential negative effects of marijuana use, especially where young developing brains and bodies are involved. Locally, Laake and partners from the Poudre and Thompson School Districts, Center for Family Outreach, Team Fort Collins and the Boys & Girls Clubs are developing a list of reputable resources related to marijuana they will share with the public. “We want to give people as much factual information as possible to counter all the false information that’s out there,” Laake says. The local initiative also includes recruiting youth to participate in a coalition focused on marijuana prevention. Laake and her colleagues are educating youth to be knowledgeable about marijuana facts and then training them to feel comfortable speaking to their peers, as well as adults, about marijuana’s potential effects. The youth also will help develop marketing materials they feel will resonate with their peers. So far, nine students from Fort Collins and Loveland have volunteered to be part of the youth coalition. One member

says, “Kids believe lies about how pot helps you concentrate better and that you’ll do better in school if you use it, but I actually see my friends lose concentration. I think it damages brain cells.” Another member says 75 percent of her friends and people she knows uses weed. “There’s a common belief that it’s safe. People use it to relax and it’s more socially acceptable now—it’s cool— because it’s legal.” Interestingly, legalization doesn’t seem to be the issue for youth. “Making pot legal is okay, but there has to be a way to keep it away from kids,” yet another of the members says. WHERE KIDS ARE GETTING POT Pot is everywhere and easier than ever to obtain. In a National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse, teens report that marijuana is easier to buy than cigarettes, beer or prescription drugs. Nearly 25 percent of teens say they can get marijuana in an hour or less. Unfortunately, many don’t even have to leave their house to get it, as a large majority of kids get pot from their parents. Laake’s suggestion to parents is that “If you have marijuana in your home, take measures to keep children and youth from accessing it. If you’re using it, be aware that it could harm your kids in ways it may not harm you.” For more information about the Larimer County initiative to prevent youth marijuana use, contact Laake at llaake@larimer.org or 970-498-6735. RMPARENT

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Sweet dreams for all

Getting toddlers and preschoolers to sleep through the night

Lynn U. Nichols

e all know sleep is a big challenge for parents of babies. Yet ask any parent of a toddler or preschooler what they find most challenging, and they’ll likely also name sleep. From resisting bedtime, nightmares, and bedwetting to illness and nighttime awakenings, it’s often left to chance whether you’ll wake up to the alarm or a fussy child. Sleep is essential for good health for you and your kids, so follow these tips to make your nights dreamier. It’s good to start by knowing how much sleep your toddler or preschooler needs, including naps. Most kids nap twice a day up until age 3 then go to one nap, which varies between a half hour and two hours. “At one year of age, kids need 14 hours of sleep in a 24hour period. It doesn’t drop off much during toddler years. At age 3, kids still need 13 hours,” says Dr. Mark Petrun, Sleep Medicine Specialist with CHMG Pulmonary in Fort Collins and Loveland. THE POWER OF A BEDTIME ROUTINE If you want your toddler to sleep, establish a set bed time. Our brains like to go to bed and get up at the same time, every day. Many of our bodily functions are driven by our internal 24-hour clocks—like the release of hormones and body temperature. When we throw off our sleep patterns we throw off our circadian rhythm. In other words, if we train our children’s bodies and minds to fall asleep around the same time, they’ll naturally want to continue that routine. That’s why it is important to stick to a regular sleep schedule—preferably the same all week, including weekends. Establishing a bedtime routine helps signal your child’s brain to get sleepy. When he gets on jammies, brushes his teeth, and hears a story with the lights down low, he knows 20

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it’s bedtime. Yet heed this advice: Keep his bedtime routine simple. If it gets too complicated your child could end up with a sleep disorder. Sleep onset association is a common pediatric sleep disorder that occurs when children can only fall asleep when they follow an exact bedtime routine. When it gets mixed up or interrupted they have trouble falling asleep. “Keep your toddler’s bedtime routine simple and easy to reproduce. If your child has to hear a certain video clip from a favorite video player or have a favorite book read in a certain chair only by her daddy, it can cause trouble when it gets interrupted—like when you need to leave her at grandma’s house or travel,” Petrun says.

predisposition that makes people a morning person or an evening person, and this gets expressed very early in childhood. If your child is a night owl and you try to get her to bed too early, you may create a losing battle,” Petrun says. With that said, if it takes an elephant to push your child toward bed every night while he hems, haws, stalls and resists, he just might have a common pediatric sleep disorder called limit setting insomnia. If this sounds like your child, talk to your pediatrician. “The need for sleep is biological, but the way we sleep is learned. Resisting bedtime is a learned behavior and can only be solved by the parents. It’s a bona fide, diagnosable sleep disorder, so seek help,” he advises.

CURBING NIGHTTIME WAKE-UPS Does your child sleep a while then wake up and insist on crawling in bed with you? Or does she want to get up and be active? It’s time to calm things down, literally. “Children and adults can awaken on 90 minute intervals—when we complete a full cycle of sleep. If we happen to wake up from noise or light or something else, we can become alert and find it hard to fall back to sleep,” Petrun says. When your child awakes in the middle of the night, keep things calm, dark and boring. Try not to offer attention or affection—no backrubs, singing or crawling in with them. In fact, don’t do or say much at all. It’s not a behavior you want to encourage. “Take as little time as possible to deal with it. If he comes into your room, quietly walk him back to his bed and tell him that he needs to stay in bed. Then go back to bed yourself,” Petrun advises. Maybe your problem is an early riser, instead. Your little angel goes to bed just fine, but she pops up at 5am like a jack-in-the-box. It could be you’ve got a little morning person on your hands— especially if she’s not seeming tired when it’s bedtime. “Understandably, parents want some time in the evening to themselves after they put the kids to bed. But sometimes, I advise parents to let their kids stay up a little later. They look at me like, ‘are you kidding?’ Yet we’ve identified a genetic

TAMING FEARS AND NIGHTMARES Is your child waking up from nightmares or fears? As early as 3 years old, kids become aware of death and their own vulnerability. They realize there are things in the world to fear. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, nightmares affect kids of all ages, haunting girls more than boys. Eventually, they’ll stop. Nightmares can be triggered by events that threaten a child’s sense of security, such as moving, parental disputes, abuse, or even as seemingly benign as a movie

with a scary scene. Offer comfort and respect your child’s fear. Telling her that there is nothing to be afraid of doesn’t help; commiserating that monsters are scary but not real, does. The next day, help your child confront her fear by encouraging her to plot a better outcome to the dream, one that puts her in control. Or offer something to make her feel safe, like a magic sword or a flashlight to keep next to her bed. “Around age 3, kids develop a strong sense of fantasy and imagination and because of that, may develop fears. Don’t get into a debate about whether or not monsters or ghosts are real, just simply say they don’t exist and make reassuring statements as in, ‘our house is safe, your bedroom is safe,’” Petrun advises. If your child begs you to leave a light on, resist. A small nightlight in the bathroom or at floor level is okay, but a bedside lamp is not. “When a child says he wants the light on or is afraid of the dark, what he’s really is saying is: ‘I don’t want to be alone.’ If you leave a bright light on and your child wakes up during the night, the light will make him more awake and interrupt his sleep—and likely yours,” Petrun concludes. UCHealth sponsored this article.

Does your child snore? Get it evaluated

Hearing a young child snore may sound endearing, but there isn’t anything cute about it. Snoring is a sign of sleep-disordered breathing and needs to be evaluated—according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Snoring in kids is not normal, and an be a sign of a significant sleep disorder,” says Dr. Mark Petrun, Sleep Medicine Specialist with UCHealth. The disorder—sleep apnea—is liked to interrupted sleep, sleep deprivation, learning difficulties and poor grades in kids. Sometimes the solution is a removing tonsils or using nasal steroids to open airways during sleep. “It’s really a case-by-case basis, and treatments are ever evolving. Start by seeking advice from your child’s doctor. Then do some research—the National Sleep Foundation (sleep foundation.org) is a great resource. If you identify a problem, you might want to see a sleep medicine specialist,” he adds. Sometimes, a sleep study is prescribed. The Sleep Disorders Center at UCHealth’s Poudre Valley Hospital conducts sleep studies for children ages 6 and up. Sleep studies can help diagnose disorders including obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless legs, and periodic limb movement disorder. “Parents stay in the room all night with their child. Kids do surprisingly well during sleep studies,” Petrun says.

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thompson school district news

120 years and going strong

Loveland class of 1894

This year, Loveland High School is celebrating 120 years of graduating students and 50 years at its location on the lake. LHS has served the Loveland community through two world wars, the Great Depression, landing on the moon, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the first African American president, ditto machines, personal computers, cell phones and Facebook. To honor its continuing commitment to students, excellence and the Loveland community, the school will be celebrating its past, present and future this anniversary year. One of the many ways the school will be celebrating is by participating in “Throw Back Thursdays” on Facebook. Each week, LHS will highlight a graduating class from its past. To choose the year they are celebrating, the school is inviting community members to nominate a graduating class. The class with the most votes will be the TBT graduating class of the week. If you are interested in nominating a graduating class, please send an email to TBTatLHS@ thompsonschools.org. Please put the year of the graduating class you’d like to nominate in the subject line. Loveland High School looks forward to celebrating these two significant 22

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milestones throughout the year. Please watch the LHS website, LHS Facebook page and Twitter feeds for updates on anniversary events. A special “thank you” goes out to the students and parents, a great staff and the Loveland community for the ongoing support. T-TOWN FEATURES NFL STANDOUT Expelled and At-Risk Student Services (EARSS) and Thompson School District recently hosted a student effectiveness camp called T-Town. Traditional and non-traditional high school students from across the district came together as one and participated in leadership, restorative practices and empowerment activities to take back to their respective schools. These are the next steps in creating a cohesive student-led voice in Thompson School District. T-Town was a three-day/twonight trip to Camp Timberline in Estes Park. EARSS, Cheryl O’Shell and her longtime friend, three-time Super Bowl player Oscar Reed, facilitated t-Town. Oscar Reed has experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat in his professional and personal life. Oscar grew up in the South and overcame many hardships as the son of sharecropper parents on

a Mississippi plantation. At an early age, his family decided to try and find a better life, so they settled in Memphis, Tennessee, where he attended Booker T. Washington High School. He developed his skills in sports and won a college scholarship. After a successful college career at Colorado State University, he became a standout professional running back for the NFL Minnesota Vikings for nine years, seven of which were championship seasons. After his football career, he became a business owner, craftsman and community youth advocate. Oscar has dedicated the past 25 years of his life to youth, primarily low-income, challenged youth and families in Minneapolis’ inner city. He serves on a number of boards and committees serving youth and families. Oscar serves as a friend and mentor for youth by sharing lessons learned from his life experiences in leadership, team building skills and overcoming obstacles to achieve personal goals. AMPED RECEIVES GRANT FROM OTTERCARES FOUNDATION The new Algebra 1 in materials, products, energy and design (AMPED) course offered at Loveland High School recently received a $25,000 grant from the OtterCares Foundation. This grant helps AMPED car-

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ry out the mission of strengthening education for ALL students. This money will be added to the initial investment of $125,000 provided by the Thompson School District for start-up expenses. The primary purpose of the AMPED program is to close the achievement gap in math by connecting math to real-world problems with which students interact on a regular basis. By using real-world problems as an entry point to math, students will never ask, “When am I ever going to need to know this?” The program’s core is driven by a number of Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways including manufacturing, business, power, energy, research and development. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN FUNDRAISER FOR LOVELAND SAFEHOUSE A large number of TSD students participated in September’s “Pastels on 5th” event in Loveland. The event was a fundraiser to help open a new Loveland Safehouse. Over 86 artists in total chalked out their vision on 102 squares of concrete.

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GIRL SCOUTS COLLECT BOOKS FOR DISTRICT PRESCHOOLERS AND LIBRARY Two members of Girl Scouts of Colorado Troop 2153 visited TSD’s Early Childhood department to notify the staff that they had spent the summer months collecting books for the district’s program. The students, Lana and Sierra, say that they are working toward their

organization’s “Bronze Award” and the project that they chose to pursue was to promote literacy for young children. Their goal is to present each preschool student with a book of their own to keep. They also plan to build a library of books for all ages for the Alternatives to Violence house. The girls have a goal of collecting 1,500 books.

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poudre school district news Kruse Elementary named National Blue Ribbon School schools are recognized among their state’s highest performing schools, as measured by state or national assessments. The second category is “Exemplary Improving,” in which schools that have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds demonstrate the most progress in improving student achievement levels as measured by state or national assessments. National Blue Ribbon Schools are selected based on nominations from the top education official in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education.

Congratulations to Kruse Elementary for its designation as a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School, one of 337 schools selected nationwide for the prestigious award. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students either achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap. The award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families and school communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan says the Blue Ribbon schools demonstrate that all students can achieve to high levels.

PSD Calendar of Events Nov. 11... 6 :30pm, Board of Education business meeting, JSSC Conference Center Nov. 28... 6 :30pm, Board of Education business meeting and work session, JSSC Conference Center. Nov. 26-28... No school, Thanksgiving Break Dec. 1... N o school for K-8 students, Teacher Collaboration Day

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“These great schools are fulfilling the promise of American education— that all students, no matter their name or zip code, can flourish when schools provide safe, creative, and challenging learning environments,” Secretary Duncan says. “National Blue Ribbon Schools are models of consistent excellence and a resource for other schools and districts. We celebrate them for their tireless effort and boundless creativity in reaching and teaching every student.” The U.S. Department of Education will honor Kruse and the other 286 public and 50 private schools at a recognition ceremony in November in Washington, D.C. In its 32-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed this coveted award on just under 7,900 of America’s schools. Other PSD National Blue Ribbon Schools include Traut Core Knowledge Elementary (2013 award) and Werner Elementary (2008 award). MORE ABOUT THE NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON AWARD The National Blue Ribbon Schools award recognizes public and private schools in one of two categories. The first category is “Exemplary High Performing,” in which

LINCOLN CENTER AND PSD PARTNER TO PROVIDE EVENTS FOR STUDENTS The Mother Falcon band recently performed concerts at Polaris Expeditionary Learning School and Blevins Middle School, treating students to their soundscape of rock, jazz and hip hop rhythms and inventive vocal arrangements. Mother Falcon is an orchestra of 20 classically trained young musicians playing cellos, violins, saxophones, trumpet, piano, accordion, banjo, guitars and bassoon coming together to create a unique sound. The concerts are part of a new educational outreach program to expose PSD students to the performing arts in both school performances and on field trips to the Lincoln Center this year. The outreach program, spearheaded by the Lincoln Center of Fort Collins and in partnership with the PSD Curriculum Department, hopes to give students the opportunity to attend performances they wouldn’t normally see. The program also aims to help students develop interest in the arts and understand potential career opportunities, as well as develop post-secondary readiness skills related to the performing arts. Other events scheduled through the program this school year include performances by the Borromeo String Quartet, Cirque Mechanics Pedal Punk, Koresh Dance Company, and Story Pirates.

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greeley-evans district 6 news Students honored for achievement on TCAP dents received the TCAP Gold Award for scoring advanced on their reading, writing and math assessments; 3,348 received the TCAP Silver Award for scoring proficient or above on their reading, writing and math assessments; and 2,889 received the Bronze Award for improving in at least one proficiency level in one of the content areas of reading, writing or math. These students will receive their honors at their individual schools. The number of students receiving these awards continues to grow. Last year, 199 students received the Gold Award, 3,305 received the Silver Award and 2,871 received the Bronze Award. Twenty Greeley-Evans School District 6 students were honored as TCAP Platinum Award winners for scoring perfect in at least one content area on last year’s exam. Of those, two students scored perfect in two content areas. Here are the District 6 students who received the Platinum Award this year. Please note that the information is based on the student’s grade and school attended during the 2013-14 school year:

• Jilly Huang, grade 3, Chappelow K-8 Arts and Literacy Magnet, perfect score in math • James Mathews, grade 3, Chappelow, perfect scores in reading and math • Valerie Arce, grade 3, Chappelow, perfect score in writing • Alexander Dhupar, grade 3, Frontier Academy Charter School, perfect score in writing • Hannah Finn, grade 3, Frontier Academy, perfect score in writing • Madison Scofield, grade 3, Frontier Academy, perfect score in reading • Payton Turner, grade 3, Frontier Academy, perfect score in writing • Andrew Arvola, grade 10, Greeley Central High School, perfect score in writing • Landon Holligan, grade 3, Christa McAuliffe Elementary School, perfect score in math • Nashir Bhanji; grade 3, Christa McAuliffe,

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perfect score in math • Maureen Ratzlaff, grade 3, Christa McAuliffe, perfect score in writing • Brooklyn Viken, grade 3, University Elementary School, perfect score in writing • Alexandra Multer, grade 10, University High School, perfect score in writing • Brendon Folsom, grade 4, Ann K. Heiman Elementary School, perfect score in math • Isaac Kness, grade 3, Harold S. Winograd K-8, perfect scores in writing and math • Camille Heaston, grade 3, Winograd K-8, perfect score in writing • Jace Reid, grade 3, Winograd K-8, perfect score in writing • Leila Snider, grade 3, Winograd K-8, perfect score in writing • Wyatt Murphy, grade 3, Winograd K-8, perfect score in writing • Ngun Tha Par, grade 3, Jackson Elementary School, perfect score in writing

The Board of Education recognized the Platinum Award winners at its regular meeting Monday, Sept. 22. “This is an amazing achievement for this group of students,” said Interim Superintendent Wayne Eads. “We are very proud of how many students work to do well on these tests and improve their learning each year.” In addition, 217 District 6 stu-

DISTRICT 6 RECEIVES $4.5 MILLION GEAR UP GRANT Greeley-Evans School District 6 has received a seven-year, $4.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education and the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEARUP). The GEARUP grant will be used to follow every sixth- and seventh-grade student at Brentwood, Heath, Franklin and John Evans middle schools through their first year of college, and will offer this cohort of students additional support and help along the way to put them on a path toward success in higher education. Right now, there are about 1,700 students that will be served by the grant, 87 percent of which are from low-income households. Students will begin exploring careers in the sixth and seventh grades, and will have mentors to guide them. It will be aligned with the existing Advancing Via Individual Determination (AVID) program, which teaches students organizational and study skills that help make them successful in their learning through college. The ultimate goal of the program will be to increase academic performance and preparation for post-secondary ed-

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ucation, increase the rate of high school graduation and post-secondary enrollment, and help the students and their families learn more about financing college and succeeding in higher education. Along the way, the district hopes that it will put systems and supports in place that will benefit all students, and create a college-bound culture in all secondary schools in the district. Implementation of the grant-funded program will begin in a few weeks. “We are creating a system of support and sustainability for all students, and creating a college-going culture,” says Kathi VanSoest, executive director of Exceptional Student Services, who oversaw the grant application. “It does make a difference for kids.” A significant component of the GEARUP grant application was more than a dozen community partnerships that provide support and services to students. This includes non-profit organizations, colleges and universities, and private businesses, and all the partners provided letters of support in the grant application. “In many ways, this really is a community grant,” VanSoest says. This highly competitive national grant was awarded to 31 school districts in 10 states, and will be implemented immediately. The first-year funding is $714,859. TWO STUDENTS NAMED NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS Two Greeley-Evans School District 6 students have been named semifinalists in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program. Jacob Rogers, a senior at Greeley West High School, and Katiana Uyemura, a senior at Greeley Central High School both qualified as National Merit semifinalists. About 1.4 million high school juniors in more than 22,000 high schools competed for the National Merit scholarship by completing the preliminary SAT test. Semifinalists for this prestigious scholarship program are selected from the highest scoring students in each state. Both Rogers and Uyemura have impressive academic records, as well as being involved in many community and school activities. Uyemura is ranked No. 1 in her class, 30

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earned a 35 on her ACT and challenges herself with rigorous classes, including taking courses at the University of Northern Colorado. She is involved in orchestra, teaches piano at the Boys and Girls Club of Weld County and has been involved in many school activities, including Key Club, National Honor Society and the Council of Student Representatives. Rogers has been involved in marching band, jazz band, Key Club, National Honor Society, cross country and is a second-degree black belt in Kenpo Karate and Jiu Jitsu. He also received a 35 composite score on his ACT, and has been involved in many community activities, including serving as a People to People Ambassador to Europe in 2011. He is applying for admission to the United States Air Force Academy. To become a finalist for the scholarship, the semifinalist candidates must submit a detailed scholarship application that includes information about their academic achievements, employment, community and school activities, honors and awards, and leadership abilities. From the 16,000 semifinalists nationwide, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the finalist level. The finalists will then compete for one of three types of National Merit Scholarships: a $2,500 scholarship that will be awarded on a stateby-state basis; 1,000 corporatesponsored scholarships or 4,100 college-sponsored awards. DISTRICT 6 SEEKS DONATIONS FOR NEWLY OPENED TEACHERS CLOSET The Teachers Closet, a new resource center at Greeley-Evans School District 6 that collects new supplies and materials for teachers and staff to use in classrooms, is looking for donations. Organizers of the Teachers Closet are seeking businesses or organizations that may have overstocked inventory or be willing to contribute to the program on a regular basis. The Teachers Closet also happily accepts one-time donations. Some of the items regularly in demand are: • School supplies, such as pens, pencils, staplers, scissors, markers, colored pencils, spiral notebooks, folder, binders,

loose leaf paper, sticky notes, construction paper and card stock. • Art supplies, including various paints, paintbrushes, stamps, pastels, sketchbooks, yarn, and more. • Other supplies, including Kleenex, hand sanitizer, calculators, backpacks, whiteboard supplies, clipboards and more.

Items that cannot be accepted are computers and electronic equipment, textbooks, magazines or any toys. Cash donations will be accepted and used to purchase supplies not donated. The materials are stored at the central warehouse and distributed to District 6 staff to be used in classrooms and schools to help student learning. To make a donation or to inquire about The Teachers Closet, call Volunteer Coordinator Cassie Noble at (970) 348-6223 or email cnoble@greeley schools.org. More information about the Teachers Closet is available at www. greeleyschools.org under the Get Involved tab. Or, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/d6teacherscloset.

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lunchbox POUDRE SCHOOL DISTRICT— Elementary student lunches are $2.35, secondary student lunches are $2.60 and reduced lunches are $0.40. Entrees offered daily: Elementary—a variety of fruits and vegetables, milk and juices; Secondary--hot and cold sandwiches, fruits and vegetables, deli salad and pizza. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 3 Baked potato bar w/chili or broccoli and cheese; chicken patty sandwich 4 Veggie lasagna; chicken bites & biscuit 5 Sweet & sour meatballs w/rice; hamburger/cheeseburger 6 Beef tacos; turkey & cheese wrap 7 BBQ chicken pizza; cheese pizza 10 Toasted cheese sandwich & tomato soup; chicken nuggets 11 Chicken Alfredo; ham & cheese sub 12 Asian Teriyaki bowl w/chicken; chicken drumstick w/biscuit

13 Beef enchilada bake; pig in a blanket 14 Pepperoni or cheese pizza 17 Taco burger; mac & cheese 18 Chicken Cordon Bleu casserole; turkey gravy & roll 19 Asian noodles w/chicken & veggies; trout treasures 20 Chicken fajita bowl; chicken patty sandwich 21 Cheese or Hawaiian pizza 24 Hamburger/cheeseburger; BBQ pork sandwich 26-28 No school! Happy Thanksgiving!

MIDDLE SCHOOLS 3 BBQ pork sandwich; BBQ chicken sandwich 4 Cheese raviolis; spaghetti & meatballs 5 Asian Teriyaki bowl w/chicken; chicken nuggets 6 Taco bar 7 Trout melt sandwich; mac & cheese 10 Taco burger; Southwest chicken sandwich 11 Veggie lasagna; chicken nuggets 12 Orange chicken or beef w/rice 13 Burrito bar

14 Turkey pot pie; baked chicken w/biscuit 17 Pancake w/sausage wrap; chicken bites w/biscuit 18 Chicken Cordon Bleu casserole; meatball sub 19 Asian noodles w/chicken or beef & veggies 20 Taco bar 21 Baked chicken & roll; chili cheese dog 24 Philly cheesesteak w/chicken or beef 25 Turkey w/gravy & mashed potatoes 26-28 No school! Happy Thanksgiving!

THOMPSON R2J SCHOOL DISTRICT — Elementary lunches are $2.75. Secondary school lunches are $3. Reduced lunches are $0.40. Offered daily: PBJs & fruit. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 3 Mac n’cheese; Caesar salad 4 Pizza; chicken tender salad 5 Chicken breast strips; chef salad 6 Chicken burrito bowl; taco salad 7 Chicken Caesar wrap; garden entrée salad 10 Grilled chicken sandwich; Caesar salad 11 Pesto pasta; chicken tender salad 12 BBQ pork sliders; chef salad 13 Orange chicken; garden entrée salad 14 No school!

17 Chicken breast nuggets; Caesar salad 18 Turkey w/gravy 19 BBQ chicken breast; chef salad 20 Chicken fajita taco; taco salad 21 Veggie lasagna rolls; garden entrée salad 24 Pancake/sausage patty; Caesar salad 25 Pizza stick w/sauce; chicken tender salad 26-28 No school! Happy Thanksgiving! SECONDARY SCHOOL 3 Mac n’cheese; chicken fajita wrap 4 Pizza; chicken sandwich

5 Fiesta bar 6 Chicken burrito bowl; meatball sandwich 7 Chicken Caesar wrap; French bread bowl 10 Grilled chicken sandwich; nachos w/ cheese or meat 11 Chicken pesto pasta; hamburger 12 Pizza bar 13 Orange chicken w/rice; pretzel w/ cheese sauce 14 No school! 17 Chicken breast nuggets; Sloppy Joe

18 Turkey w/gravy; ham & cheese sandwich 19 Pick 2 salad & sandwich 20 Chicken fajita taco; meatball sandwich 21 Veggie lasagna rolls; chicken breast strips 24 Manager’s choice 25 Manager’s choice 26-28 No school! Happy Thanksgiving!

GREELEY DISTRICT 6 —To obtain a complete meal, student gets an entrée and can select 1-3 sides. Elementary lunches are $2.50, and middle school lunches are $2.75, reduced-price lunches are $.40. Offered daily: PBJ. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 3 Mac n’cheese/roll; chicken salad sandwich 4 Bean & cheese burrito; green chili 5 Herb chicken w/roll; PBJ sandwich 6 Turkey w/roll; Italian hoagie 7 BBQ chicken/cheese pizza; PBJ sandwich 10 Sloppy Joe; chicken fajita wrap 11 Teriyaki chicken bowl/rice; club hoagie 12 Lasagna w/breadstick; PBJ sandwich 13 Pot roast w/egg noodles; ham & cheese hoagie

14 Pepperoni/cheese pizza; PBJ sandwich 17 Hamburger/cheeseburger; chicken salad sandwich 18 Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich; turkey & cheese wrap 19 Pasta/meatsauce; PBJ sandwich 20 Toasted cheese sandwich/tomato soup; Italian hoagie 21 Cheese/taco pizza; PBJ sandwich 24 BBQ pork sandwich; chicken fajita wrap 25 Cheese ravioli w/sauce; club hoagie 26-28 No school! Happy Thanksgiving!

MIDDLE SCHOOL 3 Mac n’cheese/roll; chicken salad sandwich 4 Bean & cheese burrito; green chili 5 Herb chicken w/roll; PBJ sandwich 6 Turkey w/roll; Italian hoagie 7 BBQ chicken/cheese pizza; PBJ sandwich 10 Sloppy Joe; chicken fajita wrap 11 Teriyaki chicken bowl/rice; club hoagie 12 Lasagna w/breadstick; PBJ sandwich 13 Pot roast w/egg noodles; ham & cheese hoagie

WINDSOR SCHOOL DISTRICT — Price for elementary lunch is $2.35, for middle school students, $2.55. Reduced lunches are $0.40. Salad bar is served daily with entrees. Offered daily: PBJ and yogurt. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 3 Taco; Smucker’s uncrustables/cheesestick 4 Rotini w/meatballs; corndog 5 Pancake-Hilltop Hearth yogurt; PBJ graham crackers/sausage 6 Chicken drumstick; twin cheeseburger 7 Cheese/veggie pizza; turkey

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& cheese sub 10 Mac n’cheese; Smucker’s uncrustables/cheesestick 11 Chicken tenders; corndog 12 Chicken tacos; PBJ graham crackers/yogurt 13 Chicken Alfredo; twin cheeseburgers 14 Big Daddy’s cheese pizza; turkey & cheese sub

17 Hotdog; Smucker’s uncrustables/cheesestick 18 Teriyaki; corndog 19 Baked ravioli; PBJ graham crackers/yogurt 20 Turkey & gravy; twin cheeseburger 21 Cheese-stuffed breadstick/ sauce; turkey & cheese sub 24-28 N o school! Happy

Thanksgiving! SECONDARY SCHOOL 3 Taco 4 Curly spaghetti w/sauce & meatballs 5 Pancakes/sausage 6 Chicken tenders 7 Steak & cheese sandwich 10 Mac n’cheese 11 Sloppy Joes

12 Taco 13 Chicken Alfredo 14 Meatball sub 17 Pig in a blanket 18 Teriyaki chicken 19 Ravioli 20 Turkey & gravy 21 Pepperoni calzone 24-28 N o school! Happy Thanksgiving!

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NOVEMBER 2014 ONGOING NOVEMBER 7-14 Gallery of Trees The Gallery of Trees is a festive display of holiday trees designed and decorated by Fort Collins individuals and businesses. Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 970-221-6730 or www.fcgov.com/lctix/galleries. NOVEMBER 22-JANUARY 11, 2015 Ralph Nagel Impressions of Ghost Ranch Ralph Nagel records the ever-changing landscape around Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, the same region that inspired artist Georgia O’Keefe. Loveland Museum/Gallery, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 6-8pm. 970-962-2410 or www. cityofloveland.org.

TUESDAYS, NOVEMBER 4–DECEMBER 16 Yoga Basics An introduction to the foundational poses. $48 for six weeks. McKee Medical Center, 2000 Boise Ave., LV. 4:30-5:30pm. 970-350-6633 or www. bannerhealth.com. FRIDAYS Friday Morning Sing Alongs Sing, dance and shake up a storm. Clothes Pony & Dandelion Toys, 111 North College Ave., FC. 11am-12noon. www.downtownfortcollins.com.

MONDAYS, NOVEMBER 3, 10, 17, 24 Childbirth Class Childbirth with Confidence. $65/couple. McKee Medical Center, 2000 Boise Ave., LV. 7-9pm. 970-669-9355 or www. bannerhealth.com.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1 Global Village Storytime Join us on the first Saturday of each month. Afterward, you will make a fun craft to take home. Global Village Museum, 200 West Mountain Ave., FC. 11-11:45am. 970-221-4600 or www. globalvillagemuseum.org.

MONDAYS, NOVEMBER 3–DECEMBER 15 Yoga Basics An introduction to the foundational poses. $48 for six weeks. North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 4:30-5:30pm. 970-350-6633 or bannerhealth.com.

Discover Music! Discover a different genre of music each session. Free w/museum admission. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Court, FC. 11am-1pm. 970-221-6738 or www.fcmod.org.

Native American Music and Dance Enjoy an exciting presentation of traditional music and dance by the Iron family, a family dance troupe featuring three generations of dancers. Old Town Library, Library Park-Stage, 201 Peterson St., FC. (In the event of inclement weather this program will be moved inside.) 2-3pm. 970-221-6740 or www. poudrelibraries.org.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2 NaNoWriMo Launch Party Attend the National Novel Writing Month Launch Party. Jumpstart your novel and get ahead of your word count while enjoying coffee and other drinks provided by Everyday Joe’s Coffee House. All ages. Old Town Library, Community Room Combo, 201 Peterson St., FC. 1-5pm. 970-221-6740 or www. poudrelibraries.org. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4 Cooking Class Healthy Holiday Gifts. $10. North Colorado Medical Center Cardiac Kitchen, 1801 16th St., GR. 6-7:30pm. 970-3506633 or www.bannerhealth.com

Hours of Operation: M-Th 8-5pm, Fri 8-4 Fort Collins (970) 493-7442

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Garden Art: Parent/Child Class Pot a succulent mini-garden; Make your own all-natural nature salve, and create an herbal, floral, or spice sachet to take home with you. Ages 5+ with a parent/ caregiver. $10 per child, adults free; pre-registration required. (Scholarships available.) Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. 6–7:30pm. 970-4162486 or www.fcgov.com/gardens.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 Mummenschanz ommon materials and abstract shapes spring to life offering insight on the human condition. Season: $32, Singles starting at: $35. Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 7:30pm. 970-2216730 or www.lctix.com. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6 iPad Basics Learn the basics of navigating an iPad. Menus, buttons and settings will be explained in a relaxed and friendly environment. Also learn about apps and how to manage them. Bring your own iPad or iPhone. Farr Regional Library, 1939 61st Avenue, GR. 2-4pm. 888-8617323 or www.mylibrary.us. Science Matters - Where Science and Fun are One A dynamic and entertaining program featuring cosmic chemical reactions, fun physics and intriguing information about the world of science. For ages 5 to adult. Lincoln Park Library, 919 7th St., GR. 5pm. 888-861-7323 or www.MyLibrary.us. Books Before Bed: Stuffed Animal Sleepover! Children can wear their pajamas, bring their stuffed animals, and enjoy a storytime! Then the animals stay overnight in the library with Miss Andrea, and children pick them up the next day to see what fun the animals had. Ages 2-5. Clearview Library, 720 Third St., WS. 7-7:30pm. 970-686-5603 or www.clearviewlibrary.org.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7 Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony Thousands of strands of holiday lights will illuminate historic Downtown Fort Collins as City officials “flip the switch” at the annual Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony. Oak Street Plaza, FC. 6-10pm. www.downtownfortcollins.com. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8 Veterans Day 5K The Colorado State University Veterans Day 5K is an annual, non-profit fundraiser designed to raise money for the Disabled Veterans Scholarship fund. Pre-registration-$25; same day registration-$30. CSU Oval, 801 Oval Drive, FC. 9am-12noon. 970-491-3977 or alvs.colostate.edu/veterans-day-5k-run. 3D Printing Day Camp Create a digital model, then head downtown to get hands-on with Lulzbot 3D printers and turn your design into reality! Grades 6-12. Registration Required. Loveland Public Library, 300 N. Adams Ave., LV. 9:30am-4:30pm. 970962-2548 or www.cityofloveland.org.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9 Colum McCann Author Talk This year’s Fort Collins Reads author is Colum McCann who will speak about his book “Let the Great World Spin.” $10. Fort Collins Hilton, 425 W. Prospect Road, FC. 7pm. 970-484-7898 or www. fortcollinsreads.com. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 Rocky Mountain National Park Free Entrance Day Free entrance to the park on November 11th. Fees for activities such as camping, reservations, tours, or concessions still apply. Rocky Mountain National Park, EP. 970-586-1206 or www. visitestespark.com. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 Intro to Microsoft Publisher Participants should have good keyboard and mouse skills and be comfortable with basic computer operations. Centennial Park Library, 2227 23rd Avenue, GR. 6:30-8:30pm. 888-8617323 or www.mylibrary.us.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13 Echoes to Bugles: If Squirrels Could Cuss If a squirrel could cuss, it would sound like an angry chickaree trying to get back to business. Farr Regional Library, 1939 61st Ave., GR. 12noon. 888-8617323 or www.MyLibrary.us. Windows 8 Basics Participants must bring their own Windows 8 Laptop or device. Registration required. Farr Regional Library, 1939 61st Ave., GR. 6:30pm. 888-861-7323 or www.MyLibrary.us.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14 Free Admission Day at the Loveland Museum/Gallery Loveland Museum/Gallery, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 10am-9pm. www. cityofloveland.org. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 Summit Club Day Hike The climb is for kids 11-14. Be prepared with warm layers, rain jacket, water bottle and backpack. $50/members $60/ non-members. Twin Sisters Peak (call for meet up location). 8am-5pm. 970-4574328 or www.miramontlifestyle.com. Little Wolverines Story Hour Story time with crafts and activities for kids. Wolverine Farm Bookstore, 144 N. College Ave., FC. 10-11am. 970-4724284 or www.visitftcollins.com/events.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16 Game Day @ Your Library Play a board or card game from the library’s collection or bring a favorite from home. Players of all ages and abilities are welcome. Old Town Library, Community Room 1, 201 Peterson St., FC. 1-5pm. 970-221-6740 or www. poudrelibraries.org. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 Facebook for Beginners Must have current email account and basic computer skills. Existing Facebook account is preferable. Registration required. Lincoln Park Library, 919 7th St., GR. 10am, 888-861-7323 or www. MyLibrary.us.

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FOCO SPARTAN BABES! NOW RECRUITING GIRLS AGES 7-12 & 13-17 • No previous skating skills required

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focospartanbabes@gmail.com • (970)231-8007

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Hora de Cuentos Storytime in Spanish Hola amigos! Learn Spanish through songs, books, rhymes, and games! For ages 3-6 and their grown-ups. Clearview Library, 720 Third St., WS. 10:30-11am. 970-686-5603 or www. clearviewlibrary.org. Eben Alexander, Author Talk The best-selling author of Proof of Heaven and The Map of Heaven will be giving a lecture on his experiences. $18.24 for one or $23.61 for two (includes cost of book). Fort Collins Hilton, 425 W. Prospect Road, FC. 7pm. 970-484-7898 or www. oldfirehousebooks.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19 Animals of Colorado This hands-on program will also feature a fun craft. Ages 6-12. Registration required. Clearview Library, 720 Third St., WS. 1:30-2:30pm & 3:30-4:30pm. 970-686-5603 or www.clearviewlibrary. org. Stories We Tell A film that excavates the elusive truth at the core of a family of storytellers. $6-students/seniors; $7-adults. The Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. 4th St., LV. 6:30pm. 970-962-2120 or www. cityofloveland.org.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20 Heartsaver First Aid Learn first aid basics for environmental emergencies. $45. Greeley Family Fun Plex, 1501 65th Ave., GR. 4-6:30pm. 970-3509400 or www.bannerhealth.com. Jazz Ensembles Concert Jazz Ensembles I and II are joined by Paul Hanson, a one-of-a-kind bassoonist who exemplifies creativity and daring. Ticket prices vary. Griffin Concert Hall, University Center for the Arts, 1400 Remington St., FC. 970-491- 2787 or www.central.colostate.edu/venue/griffinconcert-hall. The Long Run: An Evening of the Eagles The Long Run consists of five wellknown northern Colorado musicians who faithfully reproduce and honor the

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music of the rock band The Eagles. $20. The Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. 4th St., LV. 7:30pm. 970-962-2120 or www. cityofloveland.org.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22 Front Range Chamber Players Children’s Concert The Front Range Chamber Players Children’s Concert will perform “Tunji and the Giant,” an African folk tale, narrated by James Heaton, with music by Denver composer David Mullikin. All ages. Council Tree Library, Community Room C, 2733 Council Tree Ave. #200, FC. 11am-12noon & 1:30-2:30pm. 970221-6740 or www.poudrelibraries.org. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27 13th Annual Loveland Turkey-Trot Family, friends and students of all ages are invited to join the McKee Foundation for the Turkey Trot 3.1-mile run/walk; a perfect way to spend some time outdoors on the Thanksgiving holiday. Prizes will go to the top overall male and female and male and female Masters runners along with the top three in each age group. Prizes for Largest Team and Best Team Time will also be awarded. Race fees vary. The race begins on Hoffman Drive just north of McKee Medical Center, LV. 8:30am. 970-2032519 or www.McKee-Events.com. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27 Turkey Trot 2K/5K Run/Walk Hosted by the North Colorado Medical Center Foundation along with the CardioVascular Institute of North Colorado. Registration prices vary. GR. 9am. 970-350-6204 or www. BannerHealth.com (keyword NCMC TurkeyTrot). FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28 Catch the Glow Celebration and Parade Estes Park celebrates the beginning of the holiday season. Elkhorn Ave., EP. Activities begin at 12noon; the parade begins at 5:30pm. 970-577-9900 or www.visitestespark.com.

Skate Your Turkey Off Too much turkey on Thanksgiving? Skate off those extra pounds at the Greeley Ice Haus. Admission: $3. Skate rental is free with a donation of 2 non-perishable food items for Weld County Food Bank. Skate rental without donation $2. Greeley Ice Haus, 900 8th Ave., GR. 12noon-5pm. 970-350-9402 or www.greeleyicehaus.com.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29 Holiday House Christmas Bazaar The Estes Park Medical Center’s annual fundraising event offers handmade gifts, knitted wear, decorations and baked goods. Business and private people donate other items. The bazaar sells out quickly so go early. Admission: $1. Estes Park Conference Center, 201 S. St. Vrain Ave., EP. 9am-3pm. 970-586-7205 or www.visitestespark.com. Grinch “Grow Your Heart 3 Sizes” Party Children of all ages will celebrate the true meaning of Christmas at this party inspired by Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The Grinch himself will attend the party and partial proceeds of every ticket go toward buying books for the families of Project Self-Sufficiency. $5. Old Firehouse Books, 232 Walnut St., FC. 10am. 970-4847898 or www.oldfirehousebooks.com. Canyon Concert Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” Canyon Concert Ballet is proud to present two performances of Artistic Director Daniel R. Simmons’ The Nutcracker this holiday season. Tickets: $23 adult, $18 senior/student, $15 group. The Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. 4th St., LV. 2pm and 7pm. 970-962-2120 or www.cityofloveland.org/rialto.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30 Greeley Lights the Night Parade and Lincoln Park Tree Lighting Kick off the holidays with your family at a Holiday Open House, parade of lights and tree lighting. Downtown Greeley and Lincoln Park, 802 10th Ave., GR. www. greeleydowntown.com.

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time out

Oh, how it hurts... What if MY child is the mean girl?

LEAH HANSON

y child is only in Pre-K and a few weeks ago was sent to the school office for being mean to a classmate. She was one of three girls who made fun of a fourth classmate taunting, “You can’t play with us! You’re not wearing a dress!” I was sad, horrified—and for the first time—angry at my child. Different from all the feelings I’ve had so far: frustrated or fed up with behavior, sad for her being hurt, at my wit’s end with being tired and awoken (again) because her stuffed animals keep waking her up. All these extreme feelings but until that day, I had never been simply pissed at my kid. And I was. It was this incident combined with a few other stories and situations that made it clear to me what this was: the beginnings of a mean girls’ club. I mean, I’m no idiot. Maybe not full-on bullying, but definitely the makings of it, in my mind. The long and the short of this particular incident is that she’s been punished and we’re discussing it regularly (obsessively?) at home. Even better, we’re thankful she goes to a wonderful school (The Children’s Workshop) where the teachers are just as upset as I am and are supporting and partnering with us to curb behavior before it gets worse. I’d really not like to be the mother of the next Regina George or Heather Chandler, if you know what I mean. Of course I took it personally. I felt badly and felt the need to apologize on my child’s behalf. One realization I had and didn’t anticipate having was the placement of blame. My immediate, knee-jerk reaction was along the lines of, “my child is being negatively influenced by another.” My mother, a retired firstgrade teacher, reminded me that I needed to consider the possibility that wasn’t the case. She said, “Every parent believes their child is perfect… what if they’re not?” My child isn’t perfect. She sure

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isn’t, no ma’am. But, I believe that deep down she is a kind, loving person. She is well-behaved and nice most of the time. All of these facts can coexist with the others: she displayed some pretty cruel behavior… and maybe not because she was pressured to do so. Coincidently, and because Facebook and Google can read our minds, I found an article the day after the incident in my newsfeed. The crux of the article: How to avoid having a mean girl? Be a nice mom. Well, I’d be lying if that didn’t further irk me since I TOTALLY AM a nice mom who is constantly thinking about modeling kind words and behavior. Dumb article. Doesn’t know anything. See what I did there? Like every other day of parenting, this whole situation has forced quite a bit of reflection and conversation. There’s the (potential) bully thing, there’s the role modeling behavior thing, there’s the communication with the other adults in your child’s life thing. And so forth. So far in life I have been worried about protecting her from the outside; other people, dangerous situations,

other kids, crossing the street. Now, I am confronted with the idea that others may need to be protected from her. Whoa, sit on that for a minute. I’ve said before (and I’ll say it again) that I’m okay with some sass from my daughter. I want her to be outgoing and confident, not afraid to say “no,” and grow into a confident, well-spoken woman. I’m also well aware that spunk needs to be managed and guided so she isn’t, well, mean. But at the age of 4, where is the line between the two? So, right now we’re observing behavior and praising the good and punishing the bad. We’re talking about feelings and how good it feels to be included and how bad it feels to be excluded. We’re talking about how you have to give love to get love. And—to be frank—we’re also talking openly about who are the nice girls and who might be the mean girls—and whom she might like best to play with. We’re naming names. Hopefully other parents are doing the same. And hopefully moving forward my kid shows up on the nice list more often than not.

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• Qualistar Rated Program with high-quality staff and curriculum • Nurturing Environment • Nutritious Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks • Enrichment Activities

ls • All skill leve t classes • Mom and To staff • High quality

0.0632 CALL 970.33 info! for more

TUR N E V D A

s e i t r a P

ties roup Par G e g r a ay & L • Birthd t Discoun • Group ft. Gym • 6500sq e • Zip Lin ourse ay to d o bstacle C t O l l a ir a C • In alls ty! mbing W li C k c your par o k o •R o b lines • Trampo able rds Avail a C t if G •

63 970.330.0

Specials for Fall Enrollment, Call Now!

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