Study Buddies now called School Buddies
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado is changing the name of Study Buddies to School Buddies for the 2015-16 school year.
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides 1-to-1 mentoring to students in La Plata and Archuleta counties. The organization has three programs. Two are school-based and one is community-based. In all programs, children are matched with an adult volunteer, and they spend time together each week.
These services are free of charge. The Big Brothers Big Sisters mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong, professionally supported 1-to-1 relationships.
In the Big Brothers Big Sisters school-based program, School Buddies, volunteer mentors meet with students at their school each week. They help with school work, play games, hang out and talk.
For more information, visit http://bit.ly/1NZsW5K .
Program licenses child care providers
The Early Childhood Council of La Plata County, in collaboration with Southwest Colorado Child Care Resource & Referral, will offer classes for people interested in becoming licensed home child care providers in Colorado.
Pre-licensing will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 19 and Sept. 26 at The Early Childhood Training Center in Durango. The cost is $80.
For more information, call Corinne Flieger at 247-0760 or email corinnef@ecclaplata.org. To register, visit www.ecclaplata.org.
Applications available to child care directors
The Early Childhood Council of La Plata County, in collaboration with the Southwest Colorado Early Childhood Collaborative, is accepting applications from child care center directors for fall coaching.
These coaching opportunities are designed to offer support to directors in areas for growth as well as emphasize their strengths.
Applications can be found at www.ecclaplata.org under the “Professionals” tab followed by “Child Care and Early Learning.” The application deadline is noon Sept. 15.
For more information, call Kimberlie Brown at 247-0760 or email kimberlieb@ecclaplata.org.
Colorado Shines Training available
The Early Childhood Council of La Plata County announces an upcoming Colorado Shines Training from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 3 at the Early Childhood Council Training Center, 130 Rockpoint Drive, Suite C.
This will be an in-depth look at the Colorado Shines Quality Rating Improvement System and Professional Development Information System.
Participants will receive training that makes navigating these systems easy. Home child care providers, directors and teachers are encouraged to attend. The training is free, but space is limited.
To register by Sept. 25, email Heather Hawk at heatherh@ecclaplata.org or call 247-0760, ext. 3.
Basic Spanish class will meet Mondays
The Durango Adult Education Center will offer “Beginning Spanish for Conversation” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Mondays from Monday to Nov. 2.
The class will cover vocabulary that is relevant to everyday life and will give participants a good foundation to get them speaking from the first lesson. The cost of the class is $120. Advance registration is required.
For more information, visit www.durangoedcenter.org.
Council is accepting grant applications
The Early Childhood Council of La Plata County is accepting grant applications from child care programs (homes and centers) in Archuleta, La Plata and San Juan counties.
The Infant and Toddler Quality and Availability grants are available to any provider who is licensed to serve infants and toddlers.
To participate, providers must already serve Colorado Child Care Assistance Program infants and toddlers or be willing to add CCCAP slots.
Race to the Top Quality Improvement grants are available to any licensed provider who has achieved a Colorado Shines QRIS Level 2 or higher.
Colorado Child Care Assistance Program Quality Improvement grants are available to any licensed provider with a mean CCCAP enrollment of three or higher.
Quality Improvement supports may include but are not limited to:
Technical assistance for navigation and use of the QRIS system, PDIS system and creation of a Quality Improvement Plan.
Quality improvement coaching.
Substitute support to cover qualified coaching/professional development activities.
Professional development support for Early Learning Program staff members, including college coursework and professional development conference/training attendance.
Purchase of quality learning materials related to the goals stated within the Quality Improvement Plan.
To apply, people must complete and submit an application at http://coloradoshines.force.com/ColoradoShines by Sept. 15. For assistance, email Heather Hawk at heatherh@ecclaplata.org or call 247-0760, ext. 3.
Back-to-school picnic at Mountain Middle
Mountain Middle School will host a back-to-school picnic from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday at Rotary Park.
District 9-R schools to host open houses
These Durango School District 9-R schools will host open houses where families can meet their student’s teacher, tour the schools and see work students are doing:
Durango Big Picture High School at 6 p.m. Sept. 16.
Escalante Middle School from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Miller Middle School from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16.
Animas Valley Elementary School from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 17.
Florida Mesa Elementary School from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 17.
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 17.
Needham Elementary School from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 17.
Park Elementary School from 5 to 6 p.m. Sept. 17.
Riverview Elementary School from 5 to 6 p.m. Sept. 17.
Sunnyside Elementary School from 4:45 to 6:45 p.m. Sept. 17.
Durango High School from 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 21.
School health centers offer immunizations
The school-based heath centers at Durango High School and Florida Mesa Elementary School offer full immunization services.
For more information, visit http://health.durangoschools.org/school-based-health-centers.
Popular diving course set for Durango High
Durango High School Scuba Club and Splashdown Diving will offer a PADI Open Water Diver Course.
This is the world’s most popular scuba course. The course will offer a lifetime certification. The open water course will start Oct. 1, and participants can be finished by Nov. 1.
For more information, visit Dale Garland at the high school.
District 9-R schools will be closed Monday
All schools in Durango School District 9-R will be closed Monday for a professional development day.
Girls on the Run at Florida Mesa
Girls in third- to eighth-grade are invited to join Girls on the Run at Florida Mesa Elementary School.
Practice will take place from 2:50 to 4:15 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, with a 5K race at 10 a.m. Nov. 7 at Fort Lewis College.
Registration is available at www.gotrwesterncolorado.org.
For more information, call Janet Wilbanks at 247-4250 or jwilbanks@durango.k12.co.us.
Park Elementary sets picture dates
Park Elementary School will take pictures on these dates:
Pre-kindergarten to second grade on Wednesday.
Third to fifth grade on Thursday.
Fort Lewis Mesa to hold blood drive
Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School will host a blood drive from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 15 in the cafeteria.
For an appointment, call (505) 325-1505 or visit www.bloodhero.com.
Girls on the Run at Fort Lewis Mesa
The Fort Lewis Mesa Girls on the Run team is looking for student participants and volunteers.
Practice will be held from 2:45 to 4:15 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday through Nov. 7.
Girls on the Run inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum, which creatively integrates running.
For more information, email africkel@durango.k12.co.us.
Science club seeking volunteers
Florida Mesa Elementary School’s after-school science club is looking for career or hobby scientists, technology gurus or engineers of all different backgrounds to share their hobbies or careers with students.
Volunteers also are needed to work with teachers and students during club meeting times.
People can volunteer for just one week or for one session or for all the sessions.
No science background is needed. Volunteers must complete the Durango School District 9-R Authorized Volunteer form and undergo a background check.
To volunteer, email Kristin Toppin at ktoppin@durango.k12.co.us.
Science Club will begin from 2:50 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
Durango High School to offer college fair
Durango High School will host a College Fair from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
More than 40 colleges will be in attendance.
DHS to host senior student, parent night
Durango High School will host a senior parent and student night at 6 p.m. Sept. 24.
Participants will receive important information about the senior year and applying for college and scholarships.
Students encouraged to attend college fair
The Western Slope College Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 4 at Aspen High School in Aspen.
The Durango High School counseling office strongly encourages juniors and seniors to attend.
Sunnyside Elementary announces events
Sunnyside Elementary School will host these events Sept. 17:
“Learn More About the Title Compact” at 4:15 p.m. in the library.
A community-wide chili cook-off and potluck from 4:45 to 5:30 p.m.
The annual open house will be held after the cook-off.
Kindergarten families will participate in a phonics literacy event from 6 to 6:45 p.m.
Animas High School announces events
Animas High School announces these events:
The AHS Board of Directors will meet from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on campus. All are welcome.
AHS will begin the “Osprey Way Speaker Series,” monthly presentations designed to help current and prospective AHS families better understand how AHS does things differently, on Thursday. Head of School Sean Woytek will explain project-based learning. Osprey Way presentations will take place over the course of the year to address a variety of topics, including internships, college preparation, math instruction, substance awareness and more. For more information, email Libby Cowles at libby.cowles@animashighschool.com.
There will be no school Monday because staff members have a professional development day.
Chautauqua scholar-performer Becky Stone will portray the civil-rights activist Rosa Louise McCauley Parks at AHS’s PEAK Meeting from 11:10 a.m. to noon Sept. 16 in the AHS Commons. For more information, visit www.coloradohumanities.org/content/meet-our-2014-chautauquans.
The AHS All School Picnic will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at Rotary Park. Families are invited to attend this potluck-style gathering, which is a celebration of the start of the school year. For more information, email Ashley Hein at development@animashighschool.com.
There are a handful of open seats at AHS for ninth, 10th and 11th grades. AHS does not accept transfer students past Sept. 30. For more information or to arrange a visit, email maureen.truax@animashighschool.com.
Scholarship available through Elks Lodge
BPO Elks Durango Lodge No. 507 announces the Elks National Foundation “Most Valuable Student Scholarship Competition.”
Applications are available at www.elks.org/ENF/scholars/mvs.cfm.
The scholarship is open to all high school seniors – public, private or home-schooled, who are U.S. citizens pursuing a four-year degree on a full-time basis (minimum of 12 semester hours) in a U.S. college or university.
The submission deadline is Dec. 4. Applications must be submitted to the Elks Lodge closest to the student’s permanent address. In Durango, the lodge is at 901 East Second Ave. Applicants who are not chosen for district, state or national competition may be eligible for a local Elks scholarship. Other Elks scholarship opportunities can be found at www.elks.org/ENF/scholars.
Literacy center has openings for students
Grazda Center for Literacy and the Arts has limited tutoring openings for students who need assistance with literacy, especially reading and writing.
Most reading students gain one to two years in reading level in 10 to 12 hours of tutoring at the center.
For more information, visit www.grazdacenter.com, email contact@grazdacenter.com or call Sherry Grazda at 769-3879.
Herald Staff
