Mountain Middle announces events
Mountain Middle School announces these events:
Registration for the 2014-15 school year is open until Feb. 14. To register, visit mountainmiddleschool.org. Enrollment is limited so if interest exceeds the number of seats, a lottery will be held Feb. 26. To request a shadow experience or tour, call 828-5600.
The sixth-grade math/science class will present its “Submarine Density Exhibition” from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at Durango Discovery Museum, 1333 Camino del Rio. The sixth-graders will present with a partner and demonstrate a submarine device that will change density twice. The device will either float, sink and float again or sink, float and sink again in a tank of water that is 30 centimeters deep. This project also will include calculating the changing density of the submarine along with writing a “Captain Blog” that documents the experimental process through scientific method.
Grace academy to feature jazz band at fundraiser
Grace Preparatory Academy will present Sam Kelly and Durango Jazz at “WinterPalooza: Swingin’” from 4 to 7 p.m. March 8 at The Smiley Building, 1309 East Third Ave.
The evening will feature jazz and swing music, dance lessons, a silent auction, dinner and dessert.
Money raised will support the University Model high school.
Tax preparation help for families available
This tax season, Southwest Colorado Community College and Fort Lewis College are partnering with the Denver-based Piton Foundation to help families with free tax-preparation assistance through the Tax Help Colorado program.
Beginning Saturday, IRS-certified community college and FLC students will prepare and e-file tax returns for free for people with household incomes of less than about $50,000 a year.
This free service will be offered from 4 to 8 p.m. Feb. 13, 18 and 27 in Room 104 of the SCCC West campus, 33057 U.S. Highway 160, Mancos.
Services also will be offered at FLC from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, 15, 22 and March 1 and from 5 to 8 p.m. Feb. 5, 12, 19 and 26 in the Education Business Hall on the second floor.
People should bring these items:
All W-2s, 1099s and other income-related documents.
Proof of mortgage interest, property taxes, day care payments, college education expenses, charitable contributions and all other tax-deductible expenses.
Records for college expenses. In addition to Form 1098T from a college, people must bring their own records of expenses paid for tuition, books, fees and supplies.
Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers for all family members. Photo identification is required.
A copy of last year’s tax returns, if available.
Bank account number and routing number to direct deposit the refund.
For more information, call 211, visit www.piton.org/eitc, or find Tax Help Colorado on Facebook at www.facebook.com/taxhelpcolorado and Twitter at @TaxHelpCo.
Driver-education class will be available in March
Four Corners Safety Association will offer the next 30-hour driver education class during spring break from March 24-27.
The cost for the class plus the six hours of driving required by the state is $385. Classes are limited to 20 students.
For more information and registration, call Tim Cunningham at 375-1230 or visit www.4CSA.info.
Fort Lewis College offers continuing-education classes
Fort Lewis College Continuing Education Program will offer these courses:
A wine-tasting series will be held on six Wednesday evenings from Feb. 5 to March 12. The series will be taught by Alan Cuenca. Students will learn wine fundamentals, old world/new world wines, oak (aging/differences) and bubbles (sparkling wines). The cost is $227 for the entire series, including wine. People may register for individual sessions. The registration deadline is Jan. 30.
“Beginning Spanish” with Beth Malcolm will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays from Feb. 11 to April 15. Students will be introduced to the Spanish language with an emphasis on reading, writing, speaking and cultural awareness. The class is good for beginners or people who need a brush-up. The cost is $199 for nine classes.
Advance registration is required for these classes. For more information, call 247-7385 or visit www.fortlewis.edu/ContinuingEd.
Durango High School to host open house Monday
Durango High School invites all eighth-grade students and their families to learn about the programs offered at school from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday.
Participants will explore a variety of elective options and decide which Small Learning Community is best: Atlas, Basecamp or DAVINCI. Attendees also will receive an informational brochure, including the SLC selection form and application, and will have a chance to speak to many of the teachers within each SLC.
SLC information nights also will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at Miller Middle School and from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at Escalante Middle School. All eighth-grade students and parents are welcome.
Durango School District board to meet Tuesday
The Durango School District 9-R School Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the board room of the Administration Building, 201 E. 12th St.
Miller Middle School will be the school highlight.
Escalante Middle School accepting book donations
Escalante Middle School is participating in a book drive with a goal of collecting more than 25,000 children’s books to be distributed to children throughout Colorado.
The school will collect new or gently used books, including Spanish-language books, through Friday in the front hall, where donations can be placed in the red box.
Books should be for children in the third grade or younger.
Health Advisory Council to hold meeting Monday
Durango School District 9-R will host an open meeting of the School Health Advisory Council from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Monday in the District Office Board Room, 201 E. 12th St.
The meeting will provide an opportunity to update and receive input from parents, students and community members about the implementation of the Colorado Comprehensive Health Education Standards.
The standards include topics such as nutrition, healthy relationships and sexual health, mental and emotional health, tobacco, alcohol and other drug prevention, safety and violence prevention. Parents, students and community members are encouraged to attend.
For more information, email Jenny Pritchard at jpritchard@durango.k12.co.us or call 247-5411, ext. 1467.
Durango district seeks response on survey
Durango School District 9-R wants to hear from community members about how the district is performing.
The district is using a survey to help it make budget decisions, support students and improve communication.
The survey will be available through the end of the month at www.durangoschools.org/survey.
Durango district developing boys transitional program
Durango School District 9-R is working with the community to develop an eighth-grade boys transitional program, similar to the Girls to Women conference run by the Women’s Resource Center.
The goal of the conference for all transitioning eighth-grade boys is to support students in their efforts to build positive self-images and strong relationships to help them succeed in high school and beyond.
A committee is currently working on developing the program for the conference, which is scheduled for May 8.
The next committee meeting will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday in the District Office Conference Room. Any community member who is interested in hosting a workshop or volunteering is invited to attend.
Big Picture High School to offer open house
Durango Big Picture High School will conduct an open house question-and-answer session from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 11 for parents of eighth-graders who are interested in enrolling next year.
People can attend anytime between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. at the school, 215 E. 12th St.
Florida Mesa Elementary to host poetry slam
Florida Mesa Elementary School will host a Snowdown “Safari So Good” poetry slam and dress-up day Friday.
Park Elementary School is hosting readathon
Park Elementary School’s Safari Readathon named “Safar-A-Read” will take place through Feb. 5.
The Parent Teacher Organization needs parent volunteers in the morning to count minutes and pass out awards daily. Any amount of time is helpful.
To volunteer, email Lisa Leininger at parkpto.dgo@gmail or call 560-2421.
The Liberty School announces events
The Liberty School, 215 E. 12th St., announces these events:
The school is accepting dyslexic, gifted or twice exceptional (both gifted and dyslexic) students for enrollment. For more information, call 385-4834.
The school will have a float in the Snowdown Parade on Friday.
Herald Staff
