As a timely way to keep you informed, we offer the Jeffco Good News. Our goal is to provide you with a
snapshot of the many accomplishments that occur every week in your schools. Please feel free to share the
good news and as always, thank you for your support!
CREATING A CULTURE OF HEALTH IN SCHOOLS
"The term 'perfect storm' is widely used to describe the incidence of childhood obesity," said Jeffco Healthy
Schools coordinator Emily O'Winter. "It includes physical activity, lifestyle, a child's surroundings and
environment, nutrition and food access, and psychological and social factors." Schools are quickly
realizing that learning is empowered when active, healthy kids are eating nutritious foods and have added
physical activity in their school days. Bear Creek K-8 is one example in the district of how to improve a
school's health culture - by planting a community garden they have worked health into curriculum. Students
learn how to plant and care for fruits and veggies, sell the harvest at local farmers markets and learn the
science of plants. The school has a policy of no processed sugar or sweets and students and teachers take
frequent brain breaks or energizers to boost student learning. Bear Creek K-8’s Young Farmers' Market is
open Thursday, Sept. 15 & 29 from 2:30 - 4 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 13 from noon to 2 p.m. and Thursday,
Oct. 27 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at 9601 Dartmouth Place, Lakewood. Schools interested in starting a
community garden can e-mail O'Winter to get started. "I'm willing to help schools write grants to get
their projects moving," said O'Winter.
PREPPING FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR
Wheat Ridge 5-8 staff helped students get back in to the classroom, even before the first day of school.
Students at risk of dropping out were chosen for the school's Summer Prep Academy, to get a jump start on
the school year. "We're building this program so students are supported and they're ready for school and
they're academically and socially prepared to be successful," said WR5-8 teacher Elizabeth Yantori.
Jefferson High School students took on mentor roles to coach entering freshman. "We knew at the middle
school level this program was a huge success, so we looked at the data that says incoming ninth-grade year
is when kids make it or break it," said Yantori. The program allows students to turn their lives around,
notice their potential and work on team building and problem-solving skills. "The prep academy helps you
know what you are getting into," said one student. This Jeffco education story was covered by 9News,
watch the video.
FROM COLORADO AND PROUD
Colorado pride runs deep in Jeffco - that's the idea behind Jeffco's Food and Nutrition Services new
Colorado Proud Days campaign beginning in September. "Jeffco Schools is a member of the national
organization called School Food Focus," said Jeffco's Food and Nutrition Services Executive Director
Linda Stoll. "Their goal is to help large, urban school districts change to less processed, more locally
sourced and sustainably produced foods." Every second Wednesday of the month, cafeterias will feature a
meal with foods grown, raised or processed by Rocky Mountain farms and companies. The first menu on
Wed., Sept. 14 features a beef and pinto bean chili with beef from Castle Rock Meat Company and BBQ
Foods in Commerce City, sweet potato rolls from Denver's Harvest Moon Bakery, Rocky Ford cantaloupe
and fresh veggie sticks from local farms, paired with milk from the local Robinson Milk Company. "We
think it's important to spend money in Colorado to put the money back in the community," adds Stoll.
"Parents want freshly-baked, homemade, scratch cooking for their kids and we are trying to change our
kitchen technology and train our workforce to create that healthy environment."
HELPING STUDENTS AND FAMILIES BEYOND GRADUATION
Congratulations to Jeffco's SWAP or School to Work Alliance Program team for receiving state
recognition. "Our program is connected with the Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to help place youth entering the workforce," said SWAP coordinator
Paulette Van Deusen. "We help current and former students, even children of Jeffco employees, who have
some type of physical, emotional or learning disability, ages 16-25, find jobs." Van Deusen's team had a
job placement quota of 42, but placed 52 candidates. For more information on SWAP, call 303-982-7014
Ext. 7.
CENTS IN THE CLASSROOM
Hats off to Jeffco GT staff Ruth Hartvigson, preschools; Patricia Anderson-Dwyer, Kendrick Lakes
Elementary and Kristi Brunink, Evergreen High School for each being awarded $5,000 Great West Life
Insurance Company grants. The schools will use the extra funds to enhance personal financial literacy
education and new technology in the classroom.
FREE DYSLEXIA AWARENESS RESOURCE FAIR
More than 30 organizations will hold the Listening To Learn Guild's Dyslexia Awareness Campaign
(DAC) Community Resource Fair on Sat., Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Metro State College Auraria
Campus. It's designed to share knowledge and support for families with dyslexic students. The fair will
equip parents, students, teachers and professionals with tools and information about dyslexia so that they
can assist these students in meeting their educational goals. Learn more.
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