Animas High School announces events

Animas High School announces these events:

The Fall Friendraiser will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Henry Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave. The goal of the evening is to raise $75,000 for the school. Hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available. This is an adult-only event.

Caitlyn Kneller’s geometry students will present the “Math-Art Installation” exhibit through Nov. 15 at Fort Lewis College in the Education/Business Hall on the second floor. FLC math students will be encouraged to give written feedback. Students took inspiration from M.C. Escher to develop their own tessellation tile that resembled an animal, person or other character and then tessellated an 11-inch by 17-inch page. They explored the question: “Are tessellations math or art?”

Colleen Dunning’s biology students will exhibit their Crime Scene Investigation Project from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at AHS. Students used a variety of forensic techniques to solve a crime, including DNA processing, bloodtyping, fingerprinting, blood-spatter analysis, trajectory of a bullet, analysis of mitochondrial DNA, forensic entomology and analysis of skeletal remains. Through this project students also examine reasons for wrongful convictions and how scientific advancements have improved the efficacy of the U.S. justice system. People who attend will be encouraged to engage with and assess students’ professionalism and ability to articulate their learning.

Jessica McCallum’s humanities students will present “Deconstructing Our America: An Evening of Rhetorical Discourse” at 6:15 p.m. Nov. 18 at Animas City Theatre. AHS juniors will express their emerging political and ideological perspectives about issues important to them. They have crafted original rhetorical pieces in various genres of discourse, such as oratory, debate, music, and spoken word poetry.

A Professional Development Day for staff members will be held Monday. There will be no classes for students on this day.

Jared Nilsson joins FLC’s outdoor team

Jared Nilsson of Durango was chosen to be a member of Fort Lewis College’s Student Outdoor Leadership Team through Outdoor Pursuits.

Nilsson leads peers on backcountry trips through the mountains and deserts of the Four Corners. Selection for this position is based on personal outdoor experience, leadership, professionalism, dedication to the Outdoor Pursuits mission and performance during a three-week training. Nilsson is a philosophy major.

For more information, visit www.fortlewis.edu or www.fortlewis.edu/op.

Mountain Middle to host exhibitions

Mountain Middle School’s eighth-grade humanities class will host an exhibition about the American Revolution from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Main Mall.

The eighth-grade science class will host an exhibition called “Superfund Silverton and Radon in Your Home” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at the school.

Gateway to College offers information about program

Students who have dropped out of school or are behind for their age and grade and will not graduate on time and are between the ages of 17 and 20 have a second chance to earn a high school diploma.

The Gateway to College program, based at Southwest Colorado Community College, gives students the chance to get back on track toward earning a diploma and college credits simultaneously.

An information session will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 12 and Nov. 19 in Room 105 of the Commons Building.

For more information, call 247-2929, ext. 7216, or (970) 394-4611.

Park students selling Desert Sun coffee

Park Elementary School will raise money for the school by selling Desert Sun coffee through Nov. 14.

Orders will be taken by Park students. The cost is $11 per bag. Choices include two regular roasts and one decaf blend.

Park Elementary to host family movie night

Park Elementary School will host its family movie night at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the cafeteria.

The movie will be “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” and a spaghetti dinner will be served.

Continuing education available at FLC

Fort Lewis College’s Continuing Education Program will offer these courses:

“Nonprofit Management: Keys to Writing a Successful Grant” will be taught by Susan Lander and Paulette Church from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12. The course will offer grant writing best practices from two successful grant writers, providing strategies and essential steps that lead to funds for an organization. Participants will learn how to develop relationships with funders, select people with related missions and gather the team to develop the goals, objectives and budgets. Advanced registration is required. The cost is $59.

CEU (continuing education unit) online classes for teachers and educational professionals are available. Interactive courses are available online for teachers, counselors, aides and other education professionals. Offered by Virtual Education Software, the classes can earn people 3 or 4 CEUs in online classes. For a class listing or to register, visit www.virtualeduc.com/flc.

For more information, call 247-7385 or visit www.fortlewis.edu/continuing-education.

DHS Basecamp to screen film

Durango High School Basecamp will show a film from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 19 at Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.

The film is called “Wampler’s Ascent” and is about a man with a severe disability climbing El Capitan in Yosemite.

The purpose of the event is to raise awareness about people with disabilities.

Animas Valley Elementary to offer parenting class

Animas Valley Elementary School will offer a “Love and Logic” parenting class from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays from Nov. 5 to Dec. 19. in the school counselor’s room.

The cost is $35 for single parents or $40 per couple, which includes a parent handbook, creative-play child care and snacks. Scholarships are available on an as-needed basis.

For more information, call Barbara Frontella at 247-0124, ext. 3423.

DHS collecting participation fees

Durango High School is collecting participation fees and issuing red cards for winter 2014-15 athletic participants.

Winter sports will begin Tuesday and include boys basketball, girls basketball, girls swimming and wrestling.

To receive a red card, students must provide a completed physical/conduct form, completed medical consent form and participation fee to the Activities Office.

The Activities Office will accept paperwork and participation fees through Tuesday. The fees for a 9-R student are $75 for an individual, an individual cap of $150 and a family cap of $200. The fees for a non-9-R student are $112.50 for an individual, an individual cap of $225 and a family cap of $300.

Athletes should be prepared to pay the fee when they pick up their red card and students will not be eligible for participation until fees have been paid. However, family financial hardship should not be a barrier to participation.

If assistance is needed, call Dave Preszler at 259-1630, ext. 2302.

For more information, visit http://dhs.durangoschools.org under the “extracurricular” tab.

St. Columba to honor veterans at Mass

St. Columba School, 1801 East Third Ave., will host a special “Salute to Our Veterans” Mass at 8:15 a.m. Nov. 14.

All veterans and their families are invited.

For more information, call 247-5527.

Childhood council offers training classes

The Early Childhood Council will offer these professional development opportunities in Environmental Rating Scale Training:

Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 6.

Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 6.

Both trainings will be provided by certified raters from Clayton Early Learning. These three-hour sessions are designed for teachers and directors to become familiar with this assessment tool.

The cost is $15 per session or $25 for both sessions. Books and snacks will be included. Registration is needed by Nov. 28.

To register or for more information, call Heather Hawk at 247-0760 or email heatherh@ecclaplata.org. To register online, visit www.ecclaplata.org.

Herald Staff