Education foundation celebrates 30 years
The Durango Foundation for Educational Excellence is celebrating its 30th birthday by getting a new name – Durango Education Foundation – and renewing its dedication to support Durango School District 9-R.
The foundation has been encouraging innovation, achievement and excellence in the district since 1984. Founded originally to award scholarships, the organization has grown to be primarily a grant-making entity that funds academic programs, materials and technology outside the district budget.
The foundation also selectively writes grants on behalf of the school district and works with other community organizations that serve students.
In 2013, the foundation has given more than $82,000 in combined grants and scholarships to district teachers, administrators and students, said Elizabeth Testa, executive director.
The foundation derives support from other charitable foundations, endowment income and, most of all, from local businesses and people.
For more information, visit www.durangoeducationfoundation.org.
Driver’s education to be offered
Four Corners Safety Association will offer a 30-hour driver’s education class Dec. 30 and Jan. 2-4, 2014.
The cost for the class and the six hours of driving required by the state is $385.
For more information and to register, call Tim Cunningham at 375-1230 or visit www.4CSA.info.
Classes are limited to 20 students.
Columbine Christian to present musical
Columbine Christian School, 1775 Florida Road, invites the community to “The Night Shift Before Christmas,” a musical performed by students in grades two to eight.
Show times are at 11 a.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Dec. 18. Admission is free.
Each show includes “The Itty Bitty Christmas Pageant” performed by prekindergartners through first-graders.
A potluck reception will follow the shows.
For more information, call 259-1189.
Child care program will begin Jan. 22
The Early Childhood Council of La Plata County announces an upcoming Expanding Quality in Infant/Toddler Care Training Program.
This Colorado Department of Human Services training will start Jan. 22 and end May 14. All classes will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays. Attendance is mandatory at every class.
Space is limited. The registration deadline is Jan. 6.
For more information or to register, email or call Heather Hawk at heatherh@ecclaplata or 247-0760, ext. 3. Or visit the website, www.ecclaplata.org.
Animas High School announces events
Animas High School will hold these events:
Students from Matt Dooley’s ninth-grade humanities class will hold an exhibition of graphic novels based on Aldous Huxley’s novel Brave New World from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the school. Students have been working in pairs for several weeks to adapt a scene from the novel into graphic-novel format. Their scenes deal with questions such as the differences between meaning and happiness, the perils of technological development and the balance between individual freedom and societal stability.
The Student Advisory Council is sponsoring a food drive in collaboration with the Durango Food Bank. From today through Monday, AHS will be collecting nonperishable food. Bring food to the AHS Main Office to donate.
Animas High School is located at the entrance to the Twin Buttes development, 1.7 miles west of the DoubleTree Hotel on U.S. Highway 160.
9-R school board will meet Tuesday
The Durango School District 9-R School Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Board Room at the Administration Building, 201 E. 12th St.
Escalante Middle School will be the school highlight.
Park Elementary School collecting food, hats
Park Elementary is participating in a Giving Tree this year.
Today through Tuesday, the school will be collecting nonperishable food as well as hats and mittens to be dispersed through Project Merry Christmas to needy families in the community.
The Clay Room offers holiday events
The Clay Room, 171 E. Seventh St., will offer these holiday events:
“Plate Decorating” for children ages 4 to 9 will be offered from 2 to 3 p.m. Monday. The plates are 100 percent food-safe.
“Over-the-Top Holiday Cookie Decorating,” with master cake decorator Luda Woodward, will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Dec. 23.
Walk-in painting hours for pottery gift-making will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons.
Half-priced studio-fee days are Mondays and Tuesdays until Christmas. The last call to paint for Christmas is Dec. 21.
Registration for children’s art classes for winter session is taking place now.
Space is limited. Registration for all events is required, except for walk-in pottery painting.
To register, visit theclayroomofdurango.com or call 426-9685.
Florida Mesa to host third-graders’ parents
Florida Mesa Elementary School will host its “Third Grade Parent Night” on Thursday.
Parents will have the choice of attending at 3 or 6 p.m. They will discuss Colorado Academic Standards and expectations for third-graders, as well as brainstorm ways to support students.
Parents should bring a healthy snack to share. A short video will be shown to children while parents chat and snack.
Special-education committee to meet
The Special Education Advisory Committee invites parents, educators and community members to learn more about advocating for students with special needs in the school system.
The meeting will be held at 5:15 p.m. Dec. 18 in the 9-R administration board room, 201 E. 12th St.
For more information, call Traci at 769-4797.
9-R announces holiday events at schools
These holiday events are scheduled at 9-R schools:
Durango High School
Instrumental Music Holiday Concert, 7 p.m. Monday, DHS auditorium.
Holiday Choir Concert, 7 p.m. Tuesday, DHS auditorium.
Winter Art Show, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, DHS Commons.
Drama/Theater Gala, 7 p.m. Friday, DHS auditorium.
Animas Valley Elementary
Grades K-5 Holiday Music Program, 9:30 a.m. today.
Fourth and Fifth Grades Holiday Program, 6 p.m. today.
Escalante Middle School
Sixth Grade Band, Choir and Orchestra Concert, 6:30 p.m. today.
Seventh/Eighth Grade Band, Choir, Orchestra Concert, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18.
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary
Holiday Program, 6 p.m. Friday.
Needham Elementary
Holiday Music Concert for Fourth Grade, Fifth Grade and Orchestra, 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
The Liberty School announces events
The Liberty School will host these events:
Visitor’s Day will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday. The specialized environment fits the needs and strengths of children who are dyslexic, gifted or twice exceptional (both gifted and dyslexic).
The Christmas program will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 19 at 215 E. 12th St.
Christmas vacation will begin Dec. 23 with school reopening Jan. 6.
Riverview choir, orchestra to perform
The Riverview Elementary School choir and orchestra students will perform their annual Winter Concert at 6:30 p.m. today in the Riverview gymnasium.
Admission is free and open to the public.
GED graduation ceremony to be held
The Durango Education Center’s winter GED graduation ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 19 in program rooms 1 and 2 of Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.
Joe Colgan will be the commencement speaker. Colgan is an emeritus professor of accounting at Fort Lewis College, a CPA, a Rotarian and a board member of the Durango Education Center.
Graduates, families, friends and the public are invited.
For more information, call 385-4354.
herald staff
