Education foundation offers grants for programs
The Durango Education Foundation is offering grants through its Core Grants Fund to teachers, staff members, administrators and community organizations serving Durango School District 9-R students.
The grant-application period is open and will close April 6.
Grants will support work occurring from July 1 to June 1, 2016, with some possible exceptions.
For criteria and more information, visit www.DurangoEducationFoundation.org, email 9RFoundation@gmail.com or call 385-1491.
All grant applications start with an inquiry, either in writing or in conversation, to Elizabeth Testa.
Durango Botanical Society to provide docent training
The Durango Botanical Society will offer training for the Docent Class of 2015.
Docents lead tours of the Durango Public Library Demonstration Garden for groups of all ages, and they lead other educational activities that highlight appropriate water-wise horticultural practices in the Four Corners.
Prospective docents are invited to attend one of two orientation and information sessions offered from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2 or Feb. 9 at the library, 1900 East Third Ave.
Additional training will be held March 4 and 5, and is offered free of charge.
To RSVP or for more information, call 769-3091. An application form is available at http://durangobotanicalsociety.com.
Early Childhood Council schedules programs
Early Childhood Council of La Plata County will offer the “Screening with the Ages and Stages Questionnaire” (ASQ-3) and the “Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social Emotional” (ASQ:SE) in a quality, coordinated system of care from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Early Childhood Council Training Room, 130 Rockpoint Drive, Suite C.
Participants will learn how to administer, score and interpret the ASQ-3 and ASQ:SE developmental screening tools.
The class will detail the process of referring families to the appropriate agencies and discuss follow-up activities. It will provide tips about the sensitive communication of screening results and discuss the importance of a quality, coordinated approach to standardized developmental screening, referral and follow-up.
The cost is $10 per participant. The deadline to register is Feb. 13 and can be done at www.ecclaplata.org.
For more information, call Corinne Flieger at 247-0760 or email corinnef@ecclaplata.org.
Durango Arts Center to offer programs
Durango Arts Center Applause! will offer these programs during its winter/spring session:
“Somethin’ Doin’” will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays and from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays through May 21. The program is open to children ages 10 to 12. The cost is $195 for center members and $218 for nonmembers. Students will sing and dance their way through the ages with pop, rock, folk and musical theater numbers. Students will have the opportunity to perform in the outreach production of “Xanadu Jr.” This includes traveling to elementary schools as well as two public performances. A few extra classes/rehearsals may be required. This session will culminate in a performance at the end of May.
“Wee Glee” will be held from 3 to 3:45 p.m. Mondays from Jan. 5 to May 25. The cost is $180 for center members and $200 for nonmembers. The program is for children in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. Through games, dance parties and songs, students will learn the foundations of music and dance. This session will culminate in a performance at the end of May.
A new student may attend the first class for free. No class will be held during spring break, the week of March 23.
For more information and to register, visit www.DurangoArts.org/Education.
Animas High School announces programs
Animas High School announces these programs:
Enrollment for incoming ninth-, 10th- and 11th-grade students for the 2015-16 school year is open through March 12. Information sessions will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Feb. 3 at Durango Community Recreation Center, 2700 Main Ave.; from 4 to 5 p.m. Feb. 21 at Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.; and from 6 to 7 p.m. March 3 and March 12 at AHS, 20091 U.S. Highway 160 west. To schedule a Shadow Day or Parent Tour, call 247-2474. For more information, visit http://animashighschool.com.
There will be no school Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Jan. 26, which is a professional development day for AHS staff.
The AHS Board of Directors will meet from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at AHS. All are welcome.
Instrument Discovery Day to be held Jan. 24
Music in the Mountains, in partnership with Katzin Music and Fort Lewis College, will offer Instrument Discovery Day on Jan. 24 at FLC.
This free event gives elementary students a chance to try various brass, string, woodwind and percussion instruments. Three different sessions will be offered throughout the day.
To register, visit www.musicinthemountains.com and follow the Instrument Discovery Day link on the main page, or call 385-6820. The deadline to register is Friday.
For more information, call Cassie Robel at the number above or email crobel@musicinthemountains.com.
Durango seeks comments on academic calendar
Durango School District 9-R is seeking comments about options for the 2015-16 academic calendar.
While the district can’t accommodate every request, it will listen to comments and take them into consideration.
To take the survey, visit http://durangoschools.org.
Miller Middle School to host fundraiser
Miller Middle School’s fundraiser, The Miller Angel Games, will be held Feb. 23 on the Miller football field.
Students will divide into teams representing different countries and compete in various relay and minute-to-win-it games.
Before the games, students will collect donations from family, friends and neighbors to help fund enrichments to curriculum and instruction. These funds will help provide new programs, technology and service- and action-oriented projects with a student focus. There are visible corporate sponsorship opportunities available for this event that carry on throughout the calendar year.
To volunteer or for more information about corporate sponsorship, call Renée Knight at 769-7736 or email knightdurango@yahoo.com.
Durango district invites community to forum
Durango School District 9-R Superintendent Dan Snowberger will host a community forum to discuss standards, assessment and more from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 22 at Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.
Participants will learn the facts about assessment mandates required by law and how 9-R is working with teachers to implement the required bills and support teachers and students along the way. Participants also will see how the School Vault works and how it supports classrooms.
School fair to be held Wednesday at FLC
A second annual Durango Educational Fair will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Fort Lewis College Ballroom.
All Durango School District 9-R schools as well as charter, private and parochial schools will be on hand.
Participants also will hear more about the new charter school and school-based health center options.
Columbine to attend educational fair
The second annual Durango Educational Fair will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Fort Lewis College Ballroom.
Columbine Christian School will attend the fair to answer questions and share information about its programs available for pre-kindergarten to eighth-grade.
Columbine has spaces open in a few of its grades for this spring as well as for next fall.
For more information, visit www.columbinechristian.com.
Volunteers needed for boys conference
Durango School District 9-R needs 30 to 40 volunteers for its second annual Keys to High School Success ... and Beyond! conference for eighth-grade boys about to transition to high school.
The boys will explore topics around healthy relationships, positive self-image and advocacy. The goal of the conference is to teach and embed the appropriate tools to support students in their efforts to build positive self-image, strong relationships and a deep sense of self-advocacy.
Through interactive workshops, the students will learn skills, which will be delivered in an academic setting and align with state health standards.
The conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 7. To volunteer, email info@durango.k12.co.us before Jan. 30.
DHS marketing students give presentations
Durango High School Marketing announces its presentation schedule of Marketing in Action student work from 8:15 to 10 a.m. through Jan. 21.
Marketing in Action, a course available to all DHS students, but housed within the school’s International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Atlas program, asks students to consult with a local business to determine their specific challenges. Students conduct research around the defined business problem, draw conclusions from their findings and make specific strategy suggestions to the business in the form of a written paper and an in-person presentation.
The presentations are open to students, parents, community members and business people, although prior registration is required.
To attend any session, email Dave Dillman at ddillman@durango.k12.co.us. A complete listing of the presentation dates and respective businesses can be found at http://durangohsmarketing.weebly.com/news.html.
Florida Mesa Elementary to host Coffee Talk
Florida Mesa Elementary School will host Coffee Talk from 7:20 to 7:40 a.m. every Wednesday in the school’s front lobby.
Parents and guardians are invited to join the school for a cup of coffee and to share ideas about doing reading and math with children at home.
Herald Staff
