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MARCH 2012 • RMpARent.CoM

fashion rules!Breathe easy aBout asthma

sprouting seeds indoors

little pearly whites

spring Break ideas

amazing apples

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perspeCtive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Fashion schmasion—I’m like an onion when it comes to dressing

F irst years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Little pearly whites—caring for your infant’s teeth

Family aCtiv it ies . . . . . . . .10Get away on a spring break holiday—for a day, a weekend, or the entire week

h e a lt h y l i v i n g . . . . . . . . . . . 12Planting the seed—start your garden inside this

spring

Community news . . .14Micro-grant pilot project for better air quality • Plug in to Nature study results • PVHS CEO and president

blogs • PVH receives award for lacta-tion program • Great Plates support the

Food Bank of Larimer County

nutrit ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22The amazing, versatile apple—use this ancient

fruit as a snack and in salads, desserts and main dishes

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Events and activities for parents, kids and families

time out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 The embarrassment theorem—calculations that lead to the Dramatic Teen Eye Roll

MAR

CH 2

012 Departments

Features16 Breathe easy Managing your child’s asthma can become second-nature, but when you first hear it can be stunning. Diagnosing asthma can be tricky, too. Managing asthma can be a challenge, but asthma doesn’t have to limit life. The first step is to learn everything you can about it and then follow a four-step process for daily control.

20 there are no Fashion rules

It’s a new era in fashion and there are no rules. It’s all about individual and personal style. Here in northern Colorado, it’s casual and functional. It’s all about fashionable and functional layers. And finding it all at a price to fit your budget. Dressing “green” is in, too: eco-friendly fabrics and processes.

Poudre School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Werner coordinator happy to pitch in, PSD calendar of events, Riffenburgh newscasters rock Channel 10 studio, climbing wall gives students confidence

Greeley-Evans District 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Wildcat artists bring home statewide awards, high school students create solutions to environmental concerns, district news, district seeks grant to expand before- and after-school program,

Thompson School District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32BHS students impress CSU dean, Colorado Integration Project kicks off, TVHS students earn state art awards

Lunchbox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34School menus for Poudre, Thompson, Greeley-Evans, and Windsor

school District news

Pick from the many opportunities: day or residential, animal adventures, tech topics, academics, nutrition, athletics, arts, special needs and more.

special sectionsummer Camp GuiDe anD DireCtory

RMPaRent.coM • MaRcH 2012SUMMER CAMPguide

CAMPDiRECtoRyBy Category 16alphaBetiCal 18

Summer campopportunities knoCk 6speCial-neeDsCaMps 14

aBout the CoVerFort Collins native Patrick Weber is six years old and fast becoming an expert on trains. Photo by Cheri Schonfeld, schonfeldphotography.com.

aBout the CoVer Monica, 10, gives her horse a pat at Hearts and Hors-es Day Camp. Photo courtesy Hearts and Horses.

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Although people have repeatedly come to me over the years to write a fashion column, I have been stead-

fast in my resistance. I know that my sarto-rial sense has a certain je ne sais quoi about it, but I’m not sure that I can put it into words. Even I don’t know what it is that I don’t know...that would be your unknown unknown, I believe.

The key to my success so far has been this simple rule: Kristin buys all my clothes...except for specialty items such as my running or fishing outfits. And,

come to think about it, she buys a bit of those too. Now, Kim Sharpe has come to the rescue, on the heels of the NYC

Fashion Show, to help us understand where Front Range fashion is head-ed (p20). I’d been waiting all month to see her story, to get some personal direction of my own...and then she led with something like this: There are no rules! I spun around facing the ceiling screaming “Nooooooo.”

Turns out that there are some guidelines and concepts to work with—layering for example. I can do that. My basic technique is to start picking things off the hooks (that’s where I keep clothes that I’ve worn but aren’t dirty enough to go in the laundry. This is a somewhat contested concept in our house) and putting them on until I’m warm. You see, Kristin actually has a well-developed sense of style and dresses nicely, which must make it even harder to watch me ruin any hope she had when she bought those clothes.

So I continued through the layering section with its cute little ideas about fashionable ways to layer and then hit the section on how to find clothes to fit your budget. But since I don’t buy my clothes, I highlighted this section for Kristin and moved right on to the “green” clothing section. That was cool.

This issue is packed with other good stuff. We have the amazing apple story (p22)...things you can do with an apple and still eat it. Then there’s the sprout story (p12), which almost made me think I should garden. For health this month we have Breath easy (p16) about learning to manage your child’s asthma and Little pearly whites (p8) about man-aging your child’s new teeth. And turn to page 10, for some great ideas about what to do over spring break.

And finally, our annual Summer Camp Guide is stitched into the middle of this issue. It is packed with opportunities and ideas. Use the hard-copy here to browse through, then go to RMParent.com and check out the electronic version. All the links to websites in our listings are live, so you can just click through. It has to be the easiest way to check out summer fun and enrichment for your children ever thought of in the history of humankind, or at least it’s better than anything we’ve seen around here before.

Thanks for reading and parenting well,—Scott Titterington, publisher

Fashion schmasionI’m like an onion when it comes to dressing

PUBLISHERScott Titterington, (970)221-9210scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com

EDITORKristin Titterington, (970)221-9210kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com

CaLEnDaR EDITORAly Titterington

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COnTRIBUTInG WRITERS Katie Harris; Richard Keller; Ann Schmike;

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Rocky Mountain Parent magazine is published monthly by Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. Publication of this paper does not consitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. RMP reserves the right to refuse any advertisement for any reason. The opinions expressed by contributors or writers do not necessarily

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MARCH 2012 • VOLUME 16, NUMBER 10

perspective

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first years

You love your baby’s smile, so here’s how to take care of it. Follow these tips on teething,

thumb-sucking, pacifiers and brushing your young child’s teeth.

soothing a teething babyIs your baby drooling a lot and seem to be in a perpetual bad mood? She’s probably teething. A baby’s bottom, front teeth usually come in first, around four to eight months of age. Besides being fussy, having swollen or bloody gums and not being able to sleep, babies can get low-grade fevers with teething, even up to 101 degrees. If your baby is experiencing these symp-toms you need solutions fast. Other-wise you may not get any sleep tonight. Here are some ideas to try:

• Rub your baby’s gums. Use your fin-gers or a damp washcloth to massage her gums.

• Let her chew. Teething babies like to chew on hard objects. Try a chilled (not frozen) teething ring or a bottle filled with cold water. But don’t let her suck on a bottle of formula, milk or juice for hours or at bedtime as this can cause tooth decay. You can also give her chilled applesauce, slushy juice, a cold spoon to suck on, or even a popsicle.

• Wipe his chin. Drool can cause skin irrita-tion so keep a towel handy.

• Give a pain killer when he’s especially cranky. Try baby acetaminophen or ibu-profen but never aspirin. Avoid numbing medication for your baby’s gums. Often saliva washes it away quickly and it may numb your baby’s throat, affecting his natural gag reflex.

pacifiers and thumb sucking—are they bad for teeth? Having a little thumb sucker or pacifier muncher has stressed parents out for generations. Dentists don’t love thumb

sucking or pacifier use because doing so can sometimes damage your child’s teeth. The American Dental Association (www.ada.org ) says that children usu-ally stop sucking their thumb or using a pacifier between ages 2 and 4. Others don’t stop until they enter kindergarten, when peer pressure and teasing makes them quit in a jiffy. While sucking isn’t usually a serious problem, it can be. Es-pecially for those intense little ones who suck with great oomph and passion. The harder a child sucks, the more chance she could damage her primary or per-manent teeth. If your child is 4 or under, you can relax a bit. The ADA says that your child can safely suck her thumb or pacifier through age 4 or 5 without causing damage to her teeth or jaw.

Dentists get especially nervous when permanent teeth start coming in—around age 6 or 7. Kids can then end up with an overbite, crooked teeth or even changes to the roof of the mouth. Yet some dentists worry earli-er—figuring if primary teeth are pushed and forced to protrude, permanent teeth will follow suit. Thankfully, kids who seem to lightly suck or rest their thumb or pacifier in their mouth often don’t

experience dental problems. If you’ve noticed changes in your child’s teeth from sucking, see a pediatric dentist. If changes are taking place, a dentist might suggest using a mouth appliance or re-minder bar that interferes with sucking.

Brushing your young child’s teethWhen you spot the first tooth or even before, get in the habit of wiping your baby’s gums with a damp washcloth. When teeth emerge, use a small, soft toothbrush twice a day. Until age 2, use a very tiny amount of toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice. After that, use a pea size amount until the age of 5. This helps avoid your tod-dler getting too much fluoride. Don’t forget to brush both the inside and outside of the teeth, plus the tongue. If your child shows interest, let her take a turn brushing but she probably won’t be good enough to do it alone until close to age 7. As she grows old-er, tell her you’ll simply get the spots she misses. Do you have a child who resists brushing? Let him pick out his own toothbrush. Cartoon characters can work wonders.

little pearly whites Caring for your infant’s teeth

l y n n u t z M A n - n i C H o l s

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family activities

Whether you have a whole week, a weekend, or just a day to get away, make the

most of your family time this spring break with a Colorado getaway the whole family can enjoy.

if you have a day:Downtown Denver ($$): Spend the morn-ing at the Children’s Museum of Denver (www.mychildsmuseum.org, 303-433-7444) where kids can learn through hands-on exploration and role-play. Then head next door to the Downtown Aquarium (www.aquariumrestaurants.com/downtownaquariumdenver/default.asp, 303- 561-4450) where you’ll en-counter a huge variety of fish and other aquatic life as well as Sumatran tigers and even a mermaid or two! Enjoy a meal tank-side before heading home.

North Denver area ($$): Head to the But-terfly Pavilion in Westminster (www.butterflies.org, 303-469-5441) for a one-of-a-kind butterfly viewing ex-perience, and even a chance to hold Rosie the tarantula! Then, drive the short distance to the WOW Children’s Museum in Lafayette (www.wowchild rensmuseum.org/, 303-604-2424) for role-playing, grocery store and pirate ship fun. Or, if you have older kids, stay right in the neighborhood and head to Dave and Buster’s (www.wow childrensmuseum.org/, 303-604-2424) for an evening of arcade games, food, and table games.

if you have a weekend:Mountain resort towns ($$$): Spend a weekend at one of Colorado’s famed ski resorts. Most offer children’s programs such as ski and snowboard lessons for kids of all ages, plus many resort towns offer additional attractions such as shopping, dining, hot springs and ice-skating. Con-

tact information for some of the larger ski areas in Colorado are:

• Aspen, www.aspensnowmass.com, 800-525-6200

• Breckenridge, www.brecken-ridge.com, 970-453-5000

• Steamboat, www.steamboat.com, 970-879-6111

• Vail, www.vail.com, 970-754-8245

Estes Park ($$): Spend a day hiking and exploring Rocky Mountain National Park (www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm, 970-586-1206), then head into town to browse the local shops, ride Go Karts or challenge your family to a round of mini-golf at one of the local entertain-ment centers (Fun City: www.funcity ofestes.com, 970-586-2828 or Ride-A-Kart: www.rideakart.com/, 970-586-6495), and take a boat out for an hour or two from the Lake Estes Marina (www.estesvalleyrecreation.com/marina/ marina-info, 970-586-2011).

Great Sand Dunes ($): Climb, slide and play on the tallest dunes on the continent located just outside of Alamosa, CO (www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm, 719-378-6399). Activities can include playing in shallow Medano Creek, sand sledding, hiking, backpacking, guided nature walks and a junior ranger program for kids. Campsites and restroom facilities are lo-cated on site, as well as a visitor’s center.

if you have a week:Colorado Springs ($$): Take the family-friendly Discovery Tour through Cave of the Winds (www.caveofthewinds.com, 719-685-5444), followed by on-site gemstone panning, then enjoy free ac-cess to scenic Garden of the Gods (www.gardenofgods.com/home/index.cfm, 719-634-6666), where kids and grown ups alike can enjoy easy to moderate hik-ing trails, rock climbing and educational

videos and lectures. Next, take a trip to the North Pole (www.santas-colo.com, 719-684-9432), where kids can have pic-tures taken with Santa; enjoy amusement park rides and shop at Christmas-themed stores. Finally, stroll through Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (www.cmzoo.org, 719-633-9925) where you’ll experience a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with a herd of giraffes.

Glenwood Springs ($$$): Visit Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park and Historic Fairy Caves for a cave tour (www.glenwood caverns.com, 800-530-1635), along with a host of on-site activities such as laser tag, alpine coaster and a tramway. Take a dip in the Hot Springs Pool (www.hotsprings pool.com, 970-947-2955), which remains at a comfortable 90 to 93 degrees year round, then take kids 48 inches and up to experience the thrill of zip lining over Glenwood on their own or through a half-day family challenge course (www.glen woodcanyonzipline.com, 888-494-7386).

Try a scenic ATV tour through Glenwood’s trails (www.glenwood adventure.com/atv-tours, 970-945-7529), where kids 8 and up can drive their own ATV, and younger kids are free pas-sengers. Glenwood Springs also offers a plethora of bike trails for all ability levels. Bring your bike or rent one and enjoy a ride along the Roaring Fork River or down Glenwood Canyon (www.canyon bikes.com/, 800-439-3043).

Get away on a holiday For a day, a weekend or the entire week...

K A t i E H A R R i s

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healthy living

It may still be winter, but at our house it’s time to play in the dirt. A few years ago, my husband began

starting seeds for our vegetable garden inside the house and that summer we enjoyed some of the tastiest tomatoes and most beautiful basil we’d ever eaten.

Since then, seed-starting has become a late winter tradition that transforms our small basement utility room into a forest of tiny seedlings with names like “Nebraska Wedding,” “Snow White” and “Lollipop.” It’s not Martha Stewart pretty. There’s usually a layer of dirt on the counter, some potting soil ground into the carpet and a small graveyard of seedlings that got hit with a fungus or knocked over by our 3- and 5-year-old sons. Still, when it comes time to transplant outside in May, we usually have enough healthy plants for our garden and any friends or family members who want some.

In the last year or so, our boys have joined the seed-starting effort with gusto, if not precision. It plays to their natural interest in burying things in dirt and squirting water all over the place. But the

best part comes in July and August when they start popping cherry tomatoes and sugar snap peas into their mouths right off the vines. It’s like poetic justice after a winter of aggressive vegetable-pushing that involves my husband and I saying things like, “C’mon, just be a giant and eat your broccoli trees.”

Although our seed-starting opera-tion gradually evolved from egg cartons on sunny window sills to peat pots un-der a bank of shop lights, it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive if you’re just starting out.

what you need • Cardboard egg carton (or empty milk or

juice cartons cut half way down) • Potting soil mix (labeled “seed-starting”

or “germination”)• Seeds (tomatoes, peppers, basil, parsley,

marigolds and sunflowers are good initial choices)

• Plastic bags or plastic wrap• A sunny south-facing window sill

Fill your egg (or other) cartons with soil and poke a seed about a quarter inch down in each cavity. Water the seed so

the soil is moist but not drenched. Cover the carton with plastic wrap or enclose it in a plastic bag and place on a sunny window sill. (Don’t forget to label the cartons so you know what you planted.) Keep the soil moist and the plastic on until the seeds sprout, which could take three to 10 days, or even longer if tem-peratures are cool.

Once the seeds have sprouted re-move the plastic, but keep them on the sunny sill with regular watering. (If your seedlings are leggy, with long, thin stems that won’t support the plant, they aren’t getting enough light. Move them to a sunnier spot.)

If using egg cartons, transplant the seedlings into milk cartons when they’re two to three inches tall. As the plants grow bigger and the weather grows warmer, place them outside for part of the day to “harden them off,” which helps them adjust to the sun and wind. Do this for a week or two.

About six to seven weeks after planting the seeds, somewhere around Mothers Day, your seedlings should be ready to transplant into the garden. (Check the seed packets for specific out-side planting timelines.)

Dig generous holes and mix com-post into the soil if possible. Place the plants in the holes, water well and cover with loose soil. A hard frost is one of the biggest enemies of warm-weather veg-etables so cover your plants with a flat sheet on cold nights.

Ultimately, it’s important to leave lots of room for trial and error. Not ev-ery seed you plant will grow. Some may start out looking great only to succumb to a mystery disease later on. And, if you’re a little haphazard with your label-ing like we’ve often been, you might be surprised by giant red beefsteak toma-toes when you were expecting tiny yel-low cherry tomatoes.

resources• The New Seed-Starters Handbook by

Nancy Bubel• iVillage GardenWeb• www.gardenweb.com• National Gardening Association• www.garden.org

planting the seed Start your garden inside this spring

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community news

A community micro-grant pilot pro-gram for projects by local organiza-tions that improve air quality and raise awareness about air pollution is available again by the City of Fort Collins’ Envi-ronmental Services Department. COM-MUNITY AIR (CAIR) grants are open to nonprofits in Fort Collins, including Home Owner Associations, schools, faith-based communities, and other nonprofits. Grant allotments range from $500 to $2,000 per organization, and they must be completed in 2012. Ap-plications are due by Mar. 29. Activities that involve political campaigning, lob-bying, or alcohol purchases are ineligible.

Projects will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Air pollution reduction potential and/or ability to raise awareness about air-quality issues and actions that improve air quality

• Ability and commitment to track quanti-fiable benefits

• Other environmental, social, and/or economic benefits

• Matching donations and volunteer hours contributed to project

• Likelihood of completion• Innovation

Examples of what might qualify as an eligible project for a CAIR grant include:

• Lead a neighborhood radon test cam-paign

• Implement a “Thank you for not Idling” campaign or adopt the City’s “Breathe Easy” anti-idling campaign and pro-mote the materials in a neighborhood, schools, kids’ sports group, or church

• Develop and stage a school/neighbor-hood play or video on the need for air and/or climate protection

• Engage Spanish-speaking citizens to translate air-quality materials into Spanish and distribute to Latino neigh-borhoods

• Conduct tree planting in neighbor-hoods, schools, churches

• Distribute household spruce-up kits (CFLs, clotheslines, etc.)

• Develop and distribute a low-carbon/ local-food cookbook

• Initiate a bus- or bike-rider mentor program (escort students/new riders on bus or bike rides)For more details and the application

package, visit http://fcgov.com/CAIR. If you have questions after reviewing the information, please contact Lucinda Smith at lsmtih@fcgov.com

plug in to nature study resultsCome and hear the outcomes of Plug in to Nature, Larimer County’s study of Youth, Families and the Outdoors

on behalf of Great Outdoors Colorado. Plug in to Nature is culminating in ex-citing recommendations for improving the access families have to the outdoors, increasing the coordination and effi-ciency of nature program providers and so much more. In addition to provid-ing information about the study and discussing how the movement will con-tinue there will be ample time for you to comment on the future of the initiative, and ask questions. Wednesday, Mar. 7, 5:30-7pm., first floor hearing room, Larimer County Courthouse, 200 W. Oak St., FC.

A presentation of results will be followed by discussion and a reception where light appetizers will be served.

Additional information about the project and project documents can be found at www.larimer.org/ plugintonature.

For questions regarding this project, contact Rob Novak at 970-679-4561, or rnovak@larimer.org.

pvhs Ceo and president blogsRulon Stacey, president and CEO of Poudre Valley Health System, writes about healthcare issues facing our re-gion, the nation and the world in his blog. You can subscribe in the right col-umn of his blog.

One of Stacey’s blogs focuses on how two Medical Center of the Rock-ies clinicians have taken some tempo-rary time away from their positions at the regional hospital in Loveland to volunteer on a medical mission to per-form open-heart surgery on severely ill patients in Rwanda, one of the poorest countries in the world.

To read his blog, go to visionary.pvhs.org.

pvh receives award for lactation program Poudre Valley Hospital announced that it has received an international award for excellence in the way the hospital’s lactation program encourages and helps

micro-grant pilot project for better air quality

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new mothers with breastfeeding their infants.

The International Board of Lacta-tion Consult Examiners and Interna-tional Lactation Consulting Association presented the Fort Collins hospital with the Care Award.

The award recognizes the way the hospital maintains a well-trained staff that promotes and encourages breast-feeding to mothers. The hospital also received the honor for offering a lacta-tion program, WeeSteps, which is in-strumental in helping new mothers start and maintain breastfeeding.

Karen More, PVH clinical nurse specialist, said the award demonstrates the commitment of the hospital’s lacta-tion team to help new mothers learn and use breastfeeding techniques.

Moore said PVH’s lactation special-ists passed a rigorous examination that demonstrates their ability to provide competent, comprehensive lactation and breastfeeding care. They are required to keep their skills current, and must recer-tify every five years through continuing education and re-examination.

Exclusive breastfeeding is a highly effective public health intervention to prevent ear, gastrointestinal and respira-tory infections, obesity, diabetes and cancer. It’s also environmentally friendly, eliminating the need to purchase pre-packaged containers of formula.

great plates supports the Food Bank of larimer CountyThe Downtown Business Association and member businesses have worked together to bring a new dining tradi-tion to our community for its sixth year. March 1-14, Dining enthusiasts will be encouraged to celebrate the authenticity, quality and diversity found only in Downtown Fort Collins, at Great Plates of Downtown 2012. During Great Plates, thirty downtown restaurants will offer dinner specials at a price of $25.

The Downtown Business Associa-tion is partnering with the Food Bank for Larimer County for the fifth year. Patrons can make contributions to sup-port the Food Bank for Larimer County. The Food Bank for Larimer County

can provide a meal for a member of our community for as little as $0.25. So af-ter diners enjoy their meal, they can help give a meal. For more information on the Food Bank for Larimer County visit www.foodbanklarimer.org.

Also as a part of Great Plates 2012, breakfast and lunch specials will be available at participating restau-rants for $2.50.

Participating Restaurants Include: Austin’s American Grill Downtown, Beach House Grill, Beau Jo’s Pizza, Big Al’s Burger and Dogs, Bisetti’s Ristorante, Canyon Chop House, CooperSmith’s Pubside & Poolside, The Crown Pub, Enzio’s Italian Kitch-en, Fish, Ingredient, Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Jay’s American Bistro, Lucky Joe’s Sidewalk Saloon, LuLu Asian Bistro, The Melting Pot, Moe’s Original Bar B Que, Mugs Coffee Lounge, Old Chicago, Pueblo Viejo, The Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, Rodizio Grill, The Silver Grill Café, Snooze, Sonny Lubick Steakhouse, Spoons, Taj Mahal, Tasty Harmony, and Washington’s Sport Bar & Grill.

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Cindy Coopersmith, Asthma Educator with Poudre Valley Health System (PVHS), not

only teaches about asthma—she lives it. And so does her daughter. “When the doctor used the word asthma to describe my toddler’s wheezing, I cried. Psychologically, I didn’t want to believe it because I had it myself. I knew how hard it can be.”

Every month, Cindy offers the “Tam-ing the Tiger” class through PVHS in Fort Collins—a class designed for kids with asthma and their parents. The class is full of great tips and tools to help families manage asthma. Here, Cindy shares infor-mation on how to determine if your child has asthma and how to maintain daily control over symptoms.

“It’s hard for parents to hear that their child has a chronic condition, might have to take medicines daily and that those medicines contain ‘scary’ steroids,” says Coopersmith. The good news is that once control is achieved, asthma doesn’t have to limit a child’s life or activity level. “Plus, the amount of steroids in daily medicine is too small to be dangerous. There are several studies that show it is safe, even for very young children,” adds Coopersmith.

is it asthma?Diagnosing asthma can be tricky. Some-times kids only have symptoms during certain times of year, say soccer season or during peak pollen days. Other times parents notice their child tends to have a semi-regular cough, or seems to get wheezy quickly with colds.

“I often ask parents, ‘how are they when they run?’ Being wheezy during exercise is common with asthma,” says Coopersmith. Yet it’s not always obvi-ous. You might assume your son is out of shape, especially if he’s overweight. Or, instead of saying it hurts to breathe, your daughter might simply say she doesn’t like sports and avoid physical activity altogether.

“Classic symptoms of asthma include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, an increased respiratory rate and the appearance that your child tugs to breathe—a pulling in at the ribs with each breath seen in infants and young children,” says Coopersmith. If these symptoms wake your child up at night or early in the morning, that’s an extra clue that it might be asthma. Asthma can set in at any age.

Technically, doctors don’t diagnose asthma unless they hear wheezing on three different occasions. “When you go to your doctor to explore asthma symptoms, be a good reporter. Tell the doctor your child’s history. Mention all instances of breathing problems that you remember over her lifetime,” ad-vises Coopersmith.

daily control is the goalA diagnosis of asthma is stunning. “You might panic and think, ‘Oh my gosh, my child can’t breathe!’ Managing asthma can be a challenge but if you embrace it and learn as much as you can about controlling it, you’ll be okay,” says Coopersmith.

First, remind yourself and your child that asthma doesn’t have to limit life. “About fifteen percent of Olympic athletes have asthma including run-ner Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and five-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer, Amy Van Dyken,” exclaims Coopersmith. Next, get educated. Coopersmith recom-mends the book, Asthma for Dummies and taking the Asthma Control Test at www.asthma.com, an internet resource guide to asthma. You can also take her

Breathe easy

asthma can become second-nature

By Lynn Utzman-Nichols

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Taming the Tiger class offered through PVHS (see box).

According to Coopersmith, daily control demands a four-step process:

step 1: take medicinesPhysicians usually start with what’s called reliever or rescue medicines. Reliever medicines, i.e. albuterol, work quickly to stop symptoms but they don’t prevent episodes from occurring or re-duce swollen airways. If symptoms are severe, a child might also take a daily corticosteroid. These control medi-cines, e.g. fluticasone, keep symptoms at bay on a day-to-day basis. “Control medicines relieve inflammation in the airways and make airways less reactive and twitchy,” says Coopersmith. These are often taken year-round, but depend-ing on your child’s asthma—which can range from mild to severe—they might be taken seasonally.

One caveat to reliever medicines—they’re not the end-all. Coopersmith has seen people get too dependent on re-liever medicines: “Especially teens who start managing asthma on their own. Say they start getting symptoms more frequently. Their answer is to take their reliever medicine over and over again. They think it’s taking care of it, but it’s not. Relievers just relieve symptoms, they don’t relieve swelling. Left un-treated, swelling in the airways can get out of control and cause spasms, making it impossible to breathe. There are 4000 deaths a year due to asthma.”

step 2: remove triggers“Allergies and asthma often go hand-in-hand,” says Coopersmith. Asthma episodes can be triggered by allergies or irritants in the air. “The main allergic triggers are pets, dust mites, cockroach-es, mold and pollen,” adds Coopersmith. Become a detective and take notes on when your child’s symptoms are worse. Try to identify the triggers. If symptoms are severe, consider seeing an allergist who can do a skin test to see which trig-gers cause a reaction in your child’s body.

“When people are highly allergic they might need immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, which often help relieve allergy symptoms and decrease asthma symptoms,” says Coopersmith. Once you identify triggers, do your

best to remove them from your child’s environment. “Don’t overlook par-ticulates. Classics are cigarette smoke, wood smoke, vehicle exhaust and high ozone levels,” she adds. Another tip is to watch how your child reacts to strong odors: “I say if you can smell it, it can trigger an asthma attack.” These include cleaning products, paint, perfume, hair spray, new car or carpet smell and more. When your child gets symptoms, react quickly with reliever medicines. step 3: monitor dailyCoopersmith recommends using a peak flow meter daily to monitor your child’s breathing. A peak flow meter is a sim-ple, easy-to-use device that measures how well the lungs are working. Your child exhales forcibly into the meter, which measures how fast air comes out of the lungs. Over a few weeks of use you’ll determine your child’s “personal best” number, which will guide you to know when her airways are open or swollen. When used daily, the meter helps you know when to take action with medicines and trigger control. Coopersmith also recommends keeping a daily symptom diary.

step 4: see your doctor regularlyMake a regular, six-month appointment with your doctor to check in on your child’s asthma. “Since your doctor doesn’t live with you, he or she needs to be up-dated on the details of your child’s respi-ratory life. For example, has he missed school due to symptoms? Is he breathing well during exercise? Are the medicines working as effectively as before?” sug-gests Coopersmith. Once asthma is in good control, there’s a chance your doctor will recommend lessening the medicine. “Then it’s your job to be astute and notice how your child does with the change and report it at the next visit.”

Coopersmith knows first-hand how hard it can be for parents of a child with asthma. “Parents will get to a place where managing their child’s asthma becomes second nature. My message to parents of newly diagnosed kids is that you will have times when life feels easy again. And when your child’s condition shifts, you’ll take a deep breath and fol-low the game plan that you’ve put in place,” concludes Coopersmith.

Poudre Valley Health Systems sponsored this article.

Resources for kids with asthmaTaming the Tiger asthma education classThis comprehensive class teaches kids ages 5 and older and their parents how to gain control over asthma. Classes held monthly courtesy of Poudre Valley Health System.Where: Poudre Valley Hospital, 1024 S. Lemay Avenue, Fort CollinsUpcoming Dates: Wednesday, Mar. 21 & 28 OR Tuesday, Apr. 17 & 24 OR Wednes-

day, May 16 & 23 Time: 5:30–8:30pm.Cost: $10Info/Register: Cindy Coopersmith at 970-495-8153

PA/AC Quarterly MeetingsParents of Asthmatic/Allergic Children, Inc. (PA/AC) offers education and support for parents. Attend a quarterly educational event to learn about asthma treatment, medicines and research. Get support on how to cope with the challenges of manag-ing asthma and allergies. Call 970-495-8153 for information on upcoming events.

Champ CampThis summer camp at Glacier View Ranch gives kids with asthma the opportunity to come together for education and fun. Includes canoeing, rock climbing, swimming, hiking and a ropes course. Held July 15–21. Call 303-847-0279 for more informa-tion. Scholarships available. Sponsored by the American Lung Association.

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“It’s a new era in fashion—there are no rules. It’s all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end, low-end, classic labels, and up-and-

coming designers all together,” so says world-renowned fashion designer Alexander McQueen.

That’s good news for Everyday Joe’s and Josephine’s just trying to keep their families reasonably fed and clothed. It gives people a lot of flexibility in terms of what they can don to be stylish.

Living in the Wild West gives people a lot of fash-ion leeway, too. Colorado’s known for its casual, outdoor lifestyle and “our clothing reflects that,” says Jenny Bramhall, co-owner of the Clothes Pony & Dandelion Toys in downtown Fort Collins. “Our dressiest outfit is like play clothes in New York or in the South. We’re not super trendy in Colorado. People want to dress for com-fort and movement.”

luscious layersWhen you live in Colorado, there’s also the ever-changing weather to contend with. It can be below freezing at 7am and 60 degrees by mid-afternoon. To prepare for our extreme temperature variations, Bramhall says it ’s all about layers.

We layer for looks, warmth and to remain comfortable despite temperature fluctuations. Regardless of one’s moti-vation to layer, follow some basic do’s and don’ts.

“Layering for fashion usually means several layers of multiple and contrasting garments. Three tops, one skirt, some leggings and a pair of shoes in assorted colors is definitely a layered for fashion look,” according to life123.com author Aysha Schurman. “The point of layering cloth-ing, other than keeping warm, is to display the contrasting items. This is why layering with different colors and cuts works so well together.”

For women and girls, camisoles, long-sleeve tops, car-digan sweaters, leggings and scarves make excellent layer-ing options. Long- and short-sleeve t-shirts, button-down shirts and jackets help men and boys achieve fashionable layered looks.

Shurman says thicker garments should be worn on top, and longer garments should be worn under shorter ones. Northern Colorado fashion designer Suzanne Akin

fashion RuLesLots of Leeway to suit your budget and personaL styLe H by Kim sharpe

there are no

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calls the latter the “peek-a-boo” effect. She says, “a lot of my customers like

to wear my long t-shirt dress under my hoodie dress with leggings, tall socks and boots. The t-shirt dress just peeks out below the hoodie.”

Layering for warmth has a dif-ferent set of rules that includes three layers. The base layer is worn closest to your skin. It should be snug fitting and made of fabric that wicks away moisture, helping you stay dry. Cotton is not a recommended fabric for base layers (or for any layer when staying warm is the goal). Polypropylene, wool and silk are better choices. The mid-layer can be a lightweight fleece pullover, jacket or vest—not form fitting, but not baggy, ei-ther. The outer layer should protect from wind and moisture.

Whether for fashion or function, layering offers multiple options for regu-lating body temperature indoors and out, because you can remove or add lay-ers to make adjustments.

affordable attireIf your family’s budget seems like a deter-rent to dressing in style, consider shop-ping at thrift stores or second-hand bou-tiques. One technique is to find a fashion look you like, peruse your closet to see what you have that’s similar to some of the look’s components and then shop for what you need to complete the look.

“If you really care about fashion, it ’s possible to shop at thrift stores and find some really nice things,” says Linda Strauss, a local mom. “I recently shopped at one of my favor-ite second-hand shops in Loveland, the Garment Gal, and felt like queen for a day with all the helpful advice I got from the clerk about how to layer items and accessorize.”

Just Between Friends is a seasonal shopping event new to northern Colo-rado that will take place April 20-23, at the Outlets at Loveland, and May 18-21, at the Greeley Family Funplex. It includes used clothing, baby items, toys and household items that people con-sign. There’s a $2 admission fee charged the first day of the event, which will be totaled and donated to local chari-ties along with items left over after the sale. The House of Neighborly Services will receive proceeds and items from

the Loveland sale. The Rodarte Youth Program and City of Greeley Youth Assistance Fund will receive proceeds and items from the Greeley sale. Denise Lozano, NoCo’s Just Between Friends franchise owner, said it’s a “win-win” for the whole community. “Shoppers can outfit their families for a fraction of retail cost and most of the money gener-ated stays in the community.”

Second-hand or vintage clothing can be found at several places in northern Colorado. Teens love Plato’s Closet and thrift stores. For younger fast-growing children check out Once Upon a Child and Play It Again Sports, to name a few.

An alternative to thrift and second-hand store shopping is the concept of clothing swaps. This is where an indi-vidual invites friends and neighbors to gather and trade gently used clothes outgrown or unwanted by their families.

“I love to host and attend clothing swaps!” says Laura Richardson, another local mom. “Mainly, it’s great motivation to clean out my closet and pilfer through my friends’ discards, which are so many times super cute. The best item I’ve ever found at a clothing swap? Lucky Brand jeans that fit me perfectly. Four years later, they’re still my favorite! Swaps are such a great free way to freshen up my wardrobe and get new things for my little guy to wear.”

Teenagers (especially girls) love it, too, since they tend to swap clothes with friends on a regular basis anyway.

Akin suggests people keep their eye on “deal of the day” websites and short-run sale sites like planetgear.com or steepandcheap.com. “If you pay atten-tion, you can get a lot for your money.”

Consider, however, that “affordabil-ity isn’t just about cheap prices. It also means something will last and serve you well,” says Bramhall. When purchasing children’s clothing for her store, she looks for garments that are comfortable feeling, well constructed so they can be handed down and will grow with a child. Some items she purchases have intentionally removable hems to make sleeves and pant legs longer when necessary.

green dressingNo, this not about what you might slather on a salad or wearing various shades of chartreuse from head to toe.

“Green” dressing is choosing to wear clothes made ethically (by people who are being paid fair wages) and with eco-friendly fabrics and processes. Natural fabrics such as organic cotton, linen, silk, hemp, bamboo, cashmere and alpaca dyed with natural substances versus chemicals are excellent choices. Some clothing companies also use polyester made from recycled materials.

“The bottom line when shopping for environmentally friendly clothing is to do your homework, or shop at a reputable eco-friendly goods store or online supplier who will weigh the facts for you in advance,” says freelance writ-er Marissa Stapley-Ponikowski in an article at greenlivingonline.com.

Another way to dress green is to wear clothing recreated from previously worn garments. Olivea Borden, fashion designer/owner of Oli-Bo-Bolly and 8th-grade student at Polaris Expedition-ary Learning School in Fort Collins, is expert at this.

During a 4-H project, Borden learned “over 70 percent of clothes that get thrown away in landfills are still wearable. The majority of those are sweaters. So I started getting used sweaters from thrift stores and making them into ‘twirly’ skirts. I use the body of the sweater for the skirt and use the sleeves to make matching leg warmers. They’re really versatile because they’re warm in the winter, and bright and col-orful in the spring.”

Borden taught a week-long course at her school in February un-der the supervision of Polaris Coun-selor Rhea Reiker. Rhea believes, “the idea of combining art, fashion and eco-consciousness is really exciting. For young people to learn how to re-cycle and up-cycle sustainable cloth-ing is really important for educating youth on how we can reuse materials. At Polaris, we’re always teaching stu-dents how to look forward and to be environmentally conscious.”

“It’s important to make sure we throw away the bare minimum,” says Borden. By recycling clothing, “you can cut down on a lot of trash. When you transform something old into new clothing, you take something ugly and unwanted and turn it into something people will love to wear.”

fashion RuLes

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The delicious fruit known as the apple is one of the most versatile of seeded plants. Not only has it

been a part of history, it knocked Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden and helped Isaac Newton discover gravity. The apple comes in hundreds of variet-ies and is packed with fiber, potassium, vitamin C and Omega-3 fatty acids. It’s also one of the few fruits that can be utilized in many types of salads, main courses, and desserts. Below are just a few examples of the ways that you and your family can enjoy apples.

apples as snacksThanks to hefty doses of fiber apples are one of the more filling fruits and can be eaten alone as a between-meal snack. If kids aren’t enthusiastic for its waxy skin or juicy interior, there are plenty of opportunities for enhancements. For example, sliced apples dipped in peanut putter make a great sweet and salty fla-vor combination. Dunking them into vanilla yogurt, caramel or dark chocolate also works, though more tart apple vari-eties, such as McIntosh, Rome or Gran-ny Smith, should be used to combat the sweetness of the sugary coatings.

Sweet-tart apples also work as an accompaniment to cheese. Just slice an apple and place alongside wedges of cheddar or other mild, smooth cheeses. This combination, along with yogurt, makes for a great school lunch when kids get tired of sandwiches and chips.

apples in saladsNo fruit salad would be complete without some diced apples nestled beside the grapes and bananas. Not only do their skin hues—red, yellow, and green—bring additional color to the salad, but also their crunchiness adds zip to a dish comprised mostly of soft fruits. In a classic Waldorf salad, apples are used as a sweet counterpart to the bitterness

of the walnuts and celery. They can even be used as a substitute for carrots in a garden salad; allowing for the crunch the root vegetables provides while avoiding looks of disgust from the kids.

apples in main dishesThanks to their consistency, apples can be cooked in various ways and used in a num-ber of main dish recipes. For an example, tart apples are combined with brown sugar, salt, pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg to cre-ate a sauce for grilled pork chops. In anoth-er recipe, they’re added with onions, raisins and turkey to produce a potpie.

Apples also boost the flavor of many side dishes. Rejoining their bitter friends onions and celery, the fruit can be included in homemade stuffing. Mix them with sweet potatoes and you have a side dish that goes with the savoriness of beef, chicken or pork.

apples in dessertsThis is where the apple shines. Be it baked,

dipped or sauced, the apple is the star of many popular desserts. The most common being apple pie, which is simple to make. Just add 6 to 8 tart apples, such as Granny Smiths, into an already-prepared shell, place a piecrust or lattice on top, brush with a mixture of brown and white sugar and water, and bake until the apples are brown and tender.

The tree fruit also works well in cakes, crisps and strudels. In a sour cream apple cake, the fruit is mixed with sour cream and a number of other ingredients, such as flour, sugar and nutmeg, to make a sweet, yet tart, pastry. Apple crisps, which in-

volve baking the fruit with uncooked oats, brown sugar and lemon juice, go great with a scoop of vanilla frozen yogurt.

If pies and cakes aren’t your family’s favorites, forgo the other ingredients and cook the apples whole. Just core, fill with a cinnamon-sugar mixture, and bake approximately one hour or until tender. The result is a sweet dessert without the heavy pastry.

the amazing, versatile appleUse this ancient fruit as a snack and in salads, desserts and main dishes

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poudre school district news

Werner Coordinator happy to pitch in

Poudre School District has over 16,000 volunteers, consisting of parents, grand-parents, seniors and community mem-bers. Managing that many volunteers in 48 schools is quite a feat! Helping the PSD’s Volunteers & Partnerships office manage the multitude of volunteers at each school site is a Volunteer Building Coordinator (VBC). These dedicated volunteers donate many hours to ensure the volunteer program at their school is a success. Some have done it for many years, starting in elementary schools, and continuing in this volunteer position even after their children move on to ju-nior high and even high school!

Werner’s Volunteer Building Coor-dinator, Chris Lotito, began this posi-tion in the summer of 2010. His son began kindergarten in 2009, and he was “lucky enough” to be able to volunteer in his son’s class for the first time. The coordinator position opened and he took it. Lotito finds this position very rewarding, and says that he believes that

the volunteer efforts contribute to the overall learning experience for kids.

Lotito’s goal for Werner is to take some of his experiences with other volun-teer organizations and implement a sys-tem that helps organize and manage the volunteers even easier. “The key to a suc-cessful volunteer program is communica-tion and my hope is to find ways to im-prove the means to keep our volunteers abreast of opportunities,” says Lotito.

Lotito says that they are very lucky at Werner to have a very strong volunteer support network. They have an impressive annual Fall Festival. I remember the first time I volunteered to work it. I remember the efficiency of this group all working together to get what needed to get done. It seemed to take just minutes to tear down an entire field with the army of volunteers! No one seemed to be actually directing anyone. Everyone just picked up items and seemed to know just what to do. It was very endearing to know that the

people would just step up and pitch in without any problems. It seemed the field was cleared in ten minutes of all the items. I was amazed.”

In his spare time, Lotito likes to play sports. His passion was playing beach volleyball in California. “But alas,” says Lotito, “Colorado does not have an abundance of beach front property, yet.” He has been able to supplant the outdoor game in the cold months playing indoors.

Lotito says it is an honor to be able to provide his time and knowledge to help the schools. He is proud of the pro-grams that our District has employed to keep our kids safe, and to help them with the volunteers from the community.

riffenburgh newscasters rock Channel 10 studioThe Riffenburgh Elementary “Electric-Style Newscasters” visited the PSD Channel 10 studio recently to record a special episode of their school’s weekly news show called the “R.O.C.K.S. Report.”

From behind-the-scene jobs like cameraman and director to on-air talent anchor roles, the fifth-graders took on all Channel 10 jobs needed to create an all-student-produced Riffen-burgh “R.O.C.K.S. Report,” which is named after the character traits: Re-spect, Optimism, Cooperation, Kind-ness and Self-Control.

Herb Saperstone, Channel 10 video production coordinator, and Matt Gohl, PSD Channel 10 video production as-sistant, taught the students how to oper-ate the equipment, the responsibilities of each job and how to communicate with each other while producing the show.

“This gives them an opportunity to be in a T.V. production lab and get a professional experience that they wouldn’t normally get at their school,” says Saperstone. “It’s fun to watch them use the skills they learned five minutes ago and go with it. They pick up the technology so fast.”

Chris Lotito is proud to work with the great volunteers at Werner elementary School.

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For the young newscasters, who normally record their show at their school, the field trip to the Channel 10 studio was a huge treat.

“I think the cameras are really cool,” says Avry, who was the talent for the “Get Up and Move” exercise segment of the show. “I like to act so it’s fun.”

“I liked learning about the camera and being shown in front of the green screen,” says Jack.

“I thought it was fun telling people what to do and directing the show,” says Delaney.

Beth Cain, Riffenburgh video production teacher, says producing the weekly news show gives the students confidence and a chance to work to-gether creatively.

“They start with an idea and see it materialize. It’s something they are creating,” she says. “People at school love to see the show and the kids love to get that positive feedback.”

Johnson elementary Climbing wall gives students Confidence and Fun learning experiencesJohnson Elementary third-grader Lilli Blakeslee was all smiles as she grabbed

her last hand hold, reached the top of her route on the climbing wall and rang the bell of success.

“I can’t believe I got to the very top!” said an excited Lilli. “That’s my first time all year!”

Every Tuesday morning as many as 30 Johnson Elementary students meet before school to participate in the Climb-ing Club, an extra-curricular enrichment opportunity for third- through fifth-graders. Students equip themselves with harnesses and choose one of the Rock Climbing Wall routes, which range in difficulty and are all manned by adult vol-unteer belayers. Fun hand and foot holds like ice-cream cones and letters that spell the name of the school help the climbers as they maneuver themselves to the top.

“You can set your goals as to where you want to get on the climbing wall. You keep trying and trying until you reach it and then you can set more goals,” says third-grader Delaney Unter, adding that the climbing compliments her other athletic activities. “It strength-ens my arms so I can do more sports. I also do dance and soccer.”

Catie Caywood, Johnson art teacher and coordinator of the Climbing Club,

says climbing gives students confidence and an opportunity to learn a new skill.

“I see kids two feet off the ground frozen and scared. Then, after a couple of times, they feel really comfortable,” says Caywood. “This is a brand new skill for many of them who haven’t had this exposure. They get to try something new that they’ve never done before.”

“They learn how to put on their own harness, they learn the vocabulary of the equipment and important climb-ing skills and techniques,” she adds.

Of course, students also benefit from the physical aspects of climbing and they enjoy cheering each other. “They learn teambuilding skills. It’s neat to see how they encourage each other,” Caywood says.

Despite all the benefits that climb-ing offers, many of the kids climb simply for the fun of it. “I like getting up early to have fun at school. I think climbing is fun,” says Luke Cunning, fifth-grader. “I like having challenges in life.”

PSD Calendar of EventsMarch 6 6:30pm Board of Education

business meeting, Jo-hannsen Support Services Complex, 2407 LaPorte Avenue.

March 9 K-5 Teacher Work Day, No school for elementary students.

March 10 Colorado History Bowl, Fort Collins High School, 3400 Lambkin Way.

March 12-16 Spring Break, No school! Johannsen Support Services Complex is open

March 22 Transition Meeting – Legal Night Workshop, for special-needs students 14 and older and their families, 6 to 8pm, first floor of Larimer County Courthouse, 200 W. Oak.

March 27 6:30pm, Board of Education business meeting and work session, Johannsen Support Services Complex, 2407 LaPorte Avenue.

matt Gohl, poudre School District Channel 10 video production assistant, works with one of the riffenburgh elementary “electric-Style newscasters.” the riffenburgh news team recently visited the Channel 10 studio to record a special episode of their weekly news show.

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Four student artists from Greeley Central High School recently earned awards at the 2012 Colorado Scho-lastic Art Awards, and their artwork will be on display at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design from February 11 - March 2, in the Philip J. Steele Gallery and Rotunda Pavilion. The students are:

Gold Key Winners (Gold Key Awards advance to the national com-petition)• Callahan Foose, 11th grade, photograph

“Mary” • Maddison Graybill, 12th grade, sculp-

ture “Red River Hog”

Silver Key Winners• Callahan Foose, drawing “The Delivery” • Jessica Martin, 12th grade, photograph

“Simplicity” • Ivonne Morales, 11th grade, drawing

“Joka Lisa”

Honorable Mention• Maddison Graybill, ceramic “Ribbonized”

A full list of statewide win-ners can be found at www.rmcad.edu/scholastic-art-awards-colorado <http://www.rmcad.edu/scholastic-art-awards-colorado> .

high school students create solutions to environmental concernsEight teams of high school students from District 6 are among the top 10 finalists in the annual Caring for Our Watersheds environmental-solutions contest. The students are now prepar-ing final presentations to give before a panel of judges on Friday, March 2 at the University of Northern Colo-rado. The presentations, which are open to the public, begin at 3pm in the University Center. The winners and awards will be announced later that evening at a dinner for the final-ists and their parents.

Caring for Our Watersheds chal-

lenges high-school students to think about their local watersheds and how they can protect this most essential environmental asset. Either individually or as a team, students research their local watershed, identify an environmental concern, and develop a potential solution.

More than 100 students from high schools in Greeley-Evans, Loveland and Berthoud entered this year’s contest, writing 1,000-word es-says explaining their research on the Cache La Poudre or the Big Thomp-son watersheds, describing the envi-ronmental issues and their proposed solutions, and outlining implementa-tion budgets for their ideas. Their essays were judged in January, and ten finalists were selected.

Agrium, a worldwide producer and retailer of fertilizers and other agricultur-al products and services sponsors the pro-gram. The company will give cash awards to the top schools and students, and has also committed to help implement the winning ideas. Locally, the program is supported by the Poudre Learning Cen-ter and Central Weld Water Conservancy District. Learn more about the Caring for Our Watersheds program at www.caringforourwatersheds.com

district newsTell your friends and contacts how to stay in touch with Greeley-Evans School District 6:

To Subscribe, send an e-mail to: districtnews-subscribe@greeley schools.org.

To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to: districtnews-unsubscribe@ greeleyschools.org.

This E-Mail News Service is owned and operated by the Office of School/Community Relations, Greeley-Evans School District 6. Your e-mail address will not be shared or forwarded. To view other services pro-vided by Weld County School District 6, please visit the district Web site at www.greeleyschools.org.

district seeks to expand before- and after-school program through federal grantDistrict 6 is seeking public comments and feedback on an application that will be submitted for a federal 21st Century Community Learning Cen-ter grant to expand before- and after-school programs at four more schools beginning fall 2012.

The district currently has 21st CCLC programs at Heiman Elemen-tary, Centennial Elementary, Jackson Elementary, Madison Elementary, Shawsheen Elementary, Franklin Middle, Heath Middle, John Evans Middle, and Northridge High.

The district will apply to add the 21st CCLC program at Martinez Elementary, Maplewood Elementary, East Memorial Elementary and Romero Elementary for school year 2012-13. The 21st CCLC grant has the potential of providing five years of funding that will allow for before- and after-school programming the at the aforementioned schools.

The focus of the 21st CCLC before- and after-school program is to provide students with additional aca-demic support in reading, writing, math and science with a heavy emphasis on STEM activities (science, technology, engineering and math). District 6 also partners with local agencies to provide enrichment activities to the students, such as recreation, drama, arts, cooking, and dance.

For more information about 21st CCLC, or to review and provide in-put on the application, please contact Amanda Balcerak, the district ’s 21st CCLC coordinator, at 970-348-6303 or abalcerak@greeleyschools.org.

Federal statute requires each applicant to give notice to the com-munity of its intent to submit an application and to provide for public availability and review of the application and any waiver request after submission.

greeley-evans district 6 news

Wildcat artists bring home statewide awards

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Dr. Tom Siller, dean of Engineering from Colorado State University, glanced around the classroom full of students. “I have talked to most of you about your projects and I am really impressed with everything,” he says.

The Berthoud High School stu-dents were impressed as well, being cri-tiqued so positively by a college profes-sor. “I’ve been studying engineering since I was 13 and I don’t remember doing this caliber of work in high school,” says Siller. Siller, Dr. Michael DiMiranda, professor of Engineering Education, and graduate fellow Dr. Paul Hernandez, an educational psychologist, all visited Scott Kindt’s General Physics and AP Physics classes on Jan. 27 as part of their CSU GK-12 collaborative project with BHS (and Thompson Valley High School) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) classes.

The GK-12 project is a college/K-12 program that provides multi-disciplinary training across the ages in science, technol-ogy, engineering and math. At CSU, the primary focus is on biomedical sciences through three components: research, edu-cation and partnerships.

Along with their projects, students

in groups of five to 10 each created post-ers to communicate their work to other scientists, engineers and mathematicians. After receiving some suggestions from their CSU visitors, the students will com-plete their 4-foot x 3-foot posters. Kindt says these projects, along with the science poster, will be on display at the National Science Foundation GK-12 conference in Washington, DC, in March.

Kindt’s AP Physics and General Physics classes have been involved in the CSU GK-12 engineering project for the past two months. “This is an integrated project that also involves the collaboration of Physics, Algebra II, and Principles of Engineering classes at BHS,” he says – a total of about 200 students. “The physics students designed and built stereo amplifiers and speakers. They worked with Rob Sommerfeld’s Principles of Engineering students, who experimented with various materials to design and build the boxes to hold all the electronics.” Then, Algebra II stu-dents tested and measured the electronic equipment using algebraic principles.

Kindt is in the third year of the CSU-Thompson collaboration. Trevor Vonsegdern, a sophomore who knows what he wants in his future says, “I defi-nitely want to be an engineer – it’s my dream. This taught us a lot about circuit-ry.” Each group had a lot of flexibility in how they approached their problems and solutions. One student was sure she was going into engineering, but wasn’t

sure if her focus would be chemical, electrical or another area.

Colorado integration project kicks off Jan. 26 kicked off the first of a two-day training session of the Colorado Legacy Integration Project at TSD. More than 100 teachers attended, primarily from TSD but also from Eagle County Schools, Centennial BOCES and Denver Public Schools. Members from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation attended as well as curriculum leaders from the Colorado Department of Education. It was a full day of training and dialogue. On the second day, participants intro-duced a Module Center, which facilitates lesson planning, including helping teach-ers to find reading resources at student reading levels by content area. Superin-tendent Ron Cabrera said he received compliments from the foundation about how well prepared district staff had been to support the training.

tvhs students earn state art awardsSeveral TVHS students received recog-nition at the recent Scholastic Colorado Visual Arts Awards, which drew some 4,000 pieces of art submitted by stu-dents from around the state. Faith Ford received the Gold Key Portfolio award. For other names and awards, see http://thompson.k12.co.us/Bulletin_board/ScholasticsArtAwards_TVHS2012.pdf..

thompson school district news Bhs students impress Csu with science, technology, engineering, and math skills

Dr. tom Siller from CSU discusses a project with Kelsey angus.

BHS students show Superintendent ron Cabrera and Deputy Superintendent Judy Skupa their speaker project.

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lunch boxpoudre School District: Elementary student lunches are $2.O5, secondary student lunches are $2.30 and reduced lunches are $0.40. Entrees offered daily: Elementary—a variety of fruits and vegetables, milk and juices; Secondary--hot and cold sandwiches, fruits and vegetables, deli salad and pizza. .

ELEMENTARy SCHOOL1 Veggie wrap; BBQ chicken sandwich;

cheese pizza2 Hummus & veggies; lasagna; beef

tacos5 Sloppy Joe sandwich; turkey &

cheese deli; chicken nuggets6 Yogurt, cheese & fruit; chili &

cinnamon roll; cheeseburger7 Mac n’cheese; pig in a blanket; PBJ8 Turkey gravy w/potatoes; chef salad;

chicken patty sandwich9-16 No School!19 Yogurt; cheese & fruit; rib-a-que

sandwich; chicken quesadilla20 Beef & bean burrito; cheeseburger;

corndog

21 Chef salad; cheeseburger; corndog22 Veggie wrap; Teriyaki chicken

dippers; chicken patty sandwich23 Turkey & cheese wrap; cheese pizza;

hummus & veggies26 Chicken Caesar salad; chicken patty

sandwich; turkey pot pie27 Yogurt, fruit & cheese; mac n’cheese;

hotdog28 Chicken quesadilla; cheeseburger;

PBJ29 Enchilada bake; ham & cheese deli;

chicken nuggets30 Veggie wrap; pepperoni pizza;

cheese raviolisSECONdARy SCHOOLS1 Green chile burrito; chicken; chicken

Caesar salad2 Pancake & sausage wrap; chicken

fajita w/rice; chicken fajita salad5 Mac n’cheese; chicken rice bowl;

Mandarin chicken salad6 Chili cheese fries; chicken taco;

hummus & veggies7 Pig in a blanket; pasta w/sauces;

buffalo chicken salad8 Chicken nuggets; grilled ham &

cheese; chicken Caesar salad9 Cheese raviolis; chicken; chef salad19 Nachos; pasta w/sauces & chicken;

chicken Caesar salad20 Teriyaki chicken dippers; beef tacos;

chef salad21 Chicken nuggets; chili w/cinnamon

rolls; taco salad22 Philly cheesesteak sandwich; orange

chicken w/rice; hummus & veggies23 Chicken fajita w/rice; green chile

burrito; chicken salad26 Mac n’cheese; BBQ chicken

sandwich; chicken Caesar salad27 Chicken nuggets; green chile

smothered burrito28 Enchilada bake; pasta w/sauces;

Mandarin chicken salad29 Baked potato bar; yogurt, cheese &

fruit; chef salad30 Turkey gravy & potatoes; chicken

taco; hummus & veggies

thompson School District: Elementary lunches are $2.25. Secondary school lunches are $2.50. Reduced lunches are $0.40. Offered daily: PBJs & fruit.

ELEMENTARy SCHOOLS1 Taco; chef salad; turkey sandwich2 Fish sandwich; fruit & yogurt; turkey

sandwich5 Chicken nuggets; grilled cheese

sandwich; Caesar salad6 Chicken parmesan; chicken tender

salad7 Pork sandwich; rice & bean burrito;

garden salad8 Nachos; chef salad9 Orange chicken w/rice; fruit & yogurt

plate12 Mac n’cheese; grilled cheese

sandwich; Caesar salad13 Pizza stick w/sauce; baked potato;

chicken tender salad14 Chicken patty sandwich; burrito;

garden salad15 Chicken quesadilla; baked potato;

chef salad16 Country fried steak fingers; mashed

potatoes w/gravy; fruit & yogurt19 Turkey w/mashed potatoes; grilled

cheese sandwich; Caesar salad20 Cheese pizza; baked potato; chicken

tender salad21 Burger; burrito; garden salad22 Burrito; baked potato; chef salad23 French bread boat; fruit & yogurt plate26 Mini whole grain pancake w/sausage

patty; grilled cheese sandwich;

Caesar salad27 Spaghetti; baked potato; chicken

tender salad28 Turkey hotdog; rice & bean burrito;

salad29-30 Manager’s choiceSECONdARy SCHOOLS1 Taco; grilled cheese sandwich;

grilled cheese & tomato soup2 Fish sandwich; chicken patty

sandwich5 Chicken nuggets; sloppy Joe6 Chicken parmesan; chicken patty

sandwich7 Pork sandwich; burger8 Nachos; lasagna

9 Orange chicken; French bread boat12 Mac n’cheese; Mexican pizza13 Pizza stick w/sauce; Cuban wrap14 Chicken patty sandwich; nachos15 Chicken quesadilla; chicken patty

sandwich16 Country fried steak fingers; BBQ rice

& chicken19 Turkey w/mashed potatoes; pretzel

w/cheese sauce20 Cheese pizza; chicken fajita wrap21 Cheeseburger; chicken parmesan22 Burrito; meatball sandwich23 French bread boat; hot ham &

cheese26-30 Manager’s choice

ELEMENTARy SCHOOLS 1 Turkey; ham & cheese hoagie2 Cheese pizza; tuna salad5 Hamburger; turkey & cheese hoagie6 Taquito pie; chicken salad sandwich7 Chicken w/rice; PBJ8 BBQ chicken; ham & cheese hoagie9 Pepperoni pizza; tuna salad sandwich12 Chili w/tortilla; turkey & cheese hoagie13 Tacos; chicken salad sandwich14 Pasta w/meat sauce; PBJ15 Herb chicken; ham & cheese hoagie16 Cheese pizza; tuna salad sandwich

19 Roast pork; turkey & cheese hoagie20 Bean burrito; chicken salad sandwich21 Lasagna; PBJ22 Chicken sandwich; ham & cheese

hoagie23 Pepperoni pizza; tuna salad sandwich26 Sloppy Joe; turkey & cheese hoagie27 Chicken quesadilla; chicken salad

sandwich28 Sack lunch; hamburger29 Roast turkey; ham & cheese hoagie30 Cheese pizza; tuna salad sandwich

MIddLE SCHOOLS 1 Turkey; Tuscan bagel sandwich2 Cheese pizza; tuna salad5 Hamburger; club wrap6 Taquito pie; chicken salad sandwich7 Chicken w/rice; PBJ8 BBQ chicken; ham & cheese hoagie9 Pepperoni pizza; Italian wrap12 Chili w/tortilla; turkey & cheese hoagie13 Tacos; chicken fajita wrap14 Pasta w/meat sauce; PBJ15 Herb chicken; Tuscan bagel sandwich16 Cheese pizza; tuna salad sandwich

19 Roast pork; club wrap20 Bean burrito; chicken salad sandwich21 Lasagna; PBJ22 Chicken sandwich; ham & cheese

hoagie23 Pepperoni pizza; Italian wrap26 Sloppy Joe; turkey & cheese hoagie27 Chicken quesadilla; chicken fajita wrap28 PBJ; hamburger29 Roast turkey; Tuscan bagel sandwich30 Cheese pizza; tuna salad sandwich

Greeley - evans District �: To obtain a complete meal, student gets an entrée and can select 1-3 sides. Elementary lunches are $2.15, and middle school lunches are $2.40, reduced-price lunches are $.40. Offered daily: PBJ.

ELEMENTARy SCHOOLS 1 Turkey & gravy2 Pizza5 Chicken tenders6 Mac n’cheese7 WG waffles w/sausage8 Chicken quesadilla9 Pizza dippers

12 Chicken nuggets13 Spaghetti taco14 Chili w/cinnamon roll15 Teriyaki chicken w/brown

rice16 Big daddy pizza19 Hotdog20 Pasta primavera

21 BBQ turkey burrito22 Chicken sandwich23 No school!26-30 No school!SECONdARy SCHOOLS1 Turkey pot pie2 Chicken sandwich5 Chicken tenders

6 Mac n’cheese7 WG waffles w/sausage8 Chicken quesadilla9 Meatball sub12 Chicken nuggets13 Tuscan turkey & ham wrap14 Chili w/cinnamon roll15 Teriyaki chicken w/brown

rice16 Steak & cheese sandwich19 Weiner wrap20 Pasta primavera21 BBQ pork burrito22 Chicken sandwich23 No school!26-30 No school!

Windsor School District: Price for elementary lunch is $2.25, for middle school students, $2.30. Reduced lunches are $0.40. Salad bar is served daily with entrees. Offered daily: PBJ and yogurt.

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through marCh 4 Trying A feisty 25-year-old girl and her em-ployer, a crusty, aristocratic, octogenar-ian judge, manage to bridge the genera-tion gap. Bas Bleu Theatre Company, 401 Pine St., FC. 970-498-8066 or www.basbleu.org.

through marCh 11 Anything Goes Cole Porter’s Tony Award-winning mu-sical romp across the Atlantic. Candle-light Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Market Place Dr., Johnstown. 970-744-3747 or www.coloradocandlelight.com.

through marCh 17 Avenue Q Join us for this Broadway smash-hit. Adults. Carousel Dinner Theatre, 3750 South Mason St., FC. 970-225-2555 or www.MidtownArtsCenter.com.

through marCh 18 Othello by William Shakespeare Shakespeare creates a tragedy of a love destroyed by jealousy. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com or www.openstage.com.

marCh 1-3 100 Years of Broadway Broadway stars light up the stage per-forming hit songs from Broadway’s smash musicals. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

marCh 23 – June 2 The Sound of Music Carousel Dinner Theatre, 3750 South Mason St., FC. 970-225-2555. www.MidtownArtsCenter.com

marCh 29-31 Straight No Chaser This 10-member, all-male a cappella vocal ensemble is one of the fastest- rising groups in the country. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

marCh 31-april 28 The Ladies Man Presented by OpenStage. A frothy, fast-paced farce in the classic French style. Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 970-221-6730 or www.lctix.com.

Thursday, March 1 Health in the Outdoors Find out what your body needs for peak performance in your outdoor adventures. REI, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 6:30pm. 970-223-0123 or www.rei.com.

Friday, March 2 Scrabble @ Your Library Players of all ability and experience levels are welcome. Council Tree Li-brary, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 10am. 970-221-6740 or www. PoudreLibraries.org.

Noches en Familia: Family Nights ¡Ven y disfruta un tiempo de cuentos, manualidades, canciones y películas en español! Come and enjoy a time of sto-ries, crafts, puppets, and songs in Span-ish. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 5pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Ready, Set, Grow! Cherry Blossom Tree and Pop-A-Thon An introduction to gardening and the four seasons. The Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. Ages 4-5. 970-416-2486 or www.fcgov.com/gardens.

Space Exploration: Mars and You! Blast off with us and visit the mysterious red planet, Mars. Greeley History Muse-um, 701 10th Ave., GR. 6pm. 970-350-9220 or www.greeleymuseums.com.

Family Game Night Cool Beans Playhouse and Cafe 4019 S. Mason St. #5 FC. 970-266-1135 or www.CoolBeansPlayHouse.com.

Drop in Art: Snowmen Sculptures Explore art with your favorite tots. Loveland Museum/ Gallery, 503 N. Lin-coln Ave., LV. 10-11am. 970-962-2562 or www.cityofloveland.org/museum.

saTurday, March 3 Interesting Reader Society Meeting Young adults meet monthly to talk mainly about teen stuff. Harmony Li-brary, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 11am. 970-221-6740 or www.Poudre Libraries.org.

Boot Camp for New Dads For men, taught by men! North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 9am-Noon. 970-378-4044 or www.Banner Health.com/NCMCFamilyLifeEdu.

calendarM A R C H 2 0 1 2

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Breastfeeding: Off to a Good Start Designed for expectant parents who are considering breastfeeding. North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 9am-Noon. 970-378-4044 or www.Banner Health.com/NCMCFamilyLifeEdu.

Day of Dance for your Family’s Health Dancing, hands-on exhibits, healthy food demonstrations, and health screen-ings. Family Fun Plex, 1501 65th Ave., GR. 9am-1pm. 970-392-2222 or www.BannerHealth.com/NCMCSpirit.

Labor and Birth for TeensTopics include labor and birth preparation, breathing, relaxation, and comfort tech-niques. North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 4-6pm. 970-378-4044 or www.BannerHealth.com/NC MCFamilyLifeEdu.

Eagle Watch Take a walk and get a sighting of these amazing birds. Fossil Creek Reservoir Re-gional Open Space, Carpenter Rd., 1 mile west of I-25, FC. 9-11am. 970-221-6311 or www.fcgov.com/naturalareas.

sunday, March 4 Los Lonely Boys Playing a style of music they call Texi-can Rock n’ Roll, this group is sure to wow you. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 7:30pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Monday, March 5 Read and Seed: Scent Memory Game The Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. Ages 2-4. 970-416-2486 or www.fcgov.com/gardens.

Front Range Fun Join Alan Apt, author of two Front Range guidebooks, “Snowshoe Routes” and “Afoot & Afield,” to learn about his favorite places to go during the shoulder season. REI, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 6:30pm. 970-223-0123 or www.rei.com.

Tuesday, March 6 Great Decisions: Mexico Transborder Crime and Governance. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Baby Care 101 Prepares expectant parents in the ba-sic care of newborns for the first few months. Poudre Valley Hospital Indian Paintbrush Room, 1024 S. Lemay Ave., FC. 6-9pm. 970-495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Wednesday, March 7 Bright Beginnings for Infants Bring your baby and learn how nur-turing interactions will support brain and emotional development. Poudre Valley Health System, 1025 Garfield Ave., FC. 10-11am. 970-495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Wild World of Art Students can create fun and fabulous projects with flower bouquets. Loveland Museum/ Gallery, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 3-4pm. 970-962-2562 or www.cityofloveland.org/museum.

Thursday, March 8 Tail Tale Story Time Read books, make crafts and meet animals all in the name of compassion. Larimer Humane Society Shelter, 6317 Kyle Ave., FC. 10-11am. Ages 3-6. 970-226-3647 or www.larimerhumane.org.

Labor Techniques and Comfort Measures Westbridge Medical Suites, 1107 S. Lemay Ave., FC. 7-9pm. 970-495-7500 or www.pvhs.org.

Prepared Childbirth Ask questions and make informed deci-sions about key issues surrounding the birth of your baby. North Colorado Medi-cal Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 7-9pm. 970-378-4044 or www.BannerHealth.com/NCMCFamilyLifeEdu.

Tune Up Your Bike Learn to lube a chain, fix a flat tire in record time, and make other minor adjustments to your bicycle. REI, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 6:30pm. 970-223-0123 or www.rei.com.

Art Exploration for Teens: Pastels (Baby Animals) Teens can expand their artistic horizons. Loveland Museum/ Gallery, 503 N. Lin-coln Ave., LV. 4-6pm. 970-962-2562 or www.cityofloveland.org/museum.

Friday, March 9 Family Game Night Cool Beans Playhouse and Cafe 4019 S. Mason St. #5 FC. 970-266-1135 or www.CoolBeansPlayHouse.com.

Drop in Art: Color Mixing Explore art with your favorite tots. Loveland Museum/ Gallery, 503 N. Lin-coln Ave., LV. 10-11am. 970-962-2562 or www.cityofloveland.org/museum.

Ready, Set, Grow! Shamrocks and Leprechauns An introduction to gardening and the four seasons. The Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. Ages 4-5. 970-416-2486 or www.fcgov.com/gardens.

saTurday, March 10 Intro to Small Wind Power Basics of wind energy. Sustainable Living Association Offices, 415 Mason Ct., FC. 9am-5pm. 970-224-3247 or www. SustainableLivingAssociation.org.

Soils and Three Methods of Composting Sustainable Living Association, FC. Noon-4pm. 970-224-3247 or www.Sus-tainableLivingAssociation.org.

Chess @ Your Library Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 10am. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Animal Afternoon Join Larimer Animal People Partnership volunteers and their special story-lov-ing critters. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 3pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

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The Winter Farmers Market Features more than 50 vendors, selling produce, eggs, meat, poultry, wine and cider, cheese, bread and baked goods, coffee, tea, locally-made food specialties and crafts. Opera Galleria, 123 N. College Ave., FC. 10am-3pm. www.BeLocalFirst.org.

Spanish Prepared Childbirth To receive a flyer printed in Spanish, call 970-378-6709. North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 9am-1pm. 970-378-4044 or www.BannerHealth.com/NCMCFamilyLifeEdu.

Survival Skills for New Parents North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 9am-1pm. 970-378-4044 or www.BannerHealth.com/NCMCFamilyLifeEdu.

sunday, March 11 Intro to Off Grid Systems Sustainable Living Association Offices, 415 Mason Ct., FC. 9am-5pm. 970-224-3247 or www.SustainableLivingAssociation.org.

Monday, March 12 Read and Seed: Frogs The Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. Ages 2-4. 970-416-2486 or www.fcgov.com/gardens.

Bright Beginnings for One-Year-Olds Explore how thinking and interactions change as your infant becomes a toddler on the go. Loveland Library, 300 N. Adams, LV. 9-10am. 970-495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Bright Beginnings for Two-Year-Olds Learn how to promote early literacy, brain development, and a healthy/safe environment for the active twos. Loveland Library, 300 N. Adams, LV. 10-11am. 970-495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Tuesday, March 13 Wee Be Green The “Wee Notables” and their puppet friends will take you on a grand adventure in this fast-paced, interactive musical theatre program highlighting the importance of conservation. Northside Aztlan Center, 112 Willow St., FC. 10:30am & 11:30am. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Kevin Cook: At Home in the Trees, Juniper Cabin Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. Noon. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Introduction to Screenwriting Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 5:30pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

International Night: Philippines Sherry Manning, a former Peace Corps Volunteer will share her experience with one Filipino family’s incredible story of fighting to preserve their land. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Wednesday, March 14 Wee Be Green The “Wee Notables” and their puppet friends will take you on a grand adventure in this fast-paced, interactive musical theatre program highlighting the importance of conservation. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 10:30am, 11:30am, & 2pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

School’s Out Craft: Origami Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 1pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Colorado Raptors: Urban Raptors Join Carin Avila from the Colorado Raptor Center when she brings some of the raptors that share our urban areas. Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 5:30pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Bright Beginnings for One-Year-Olds Explore how thinking and interactions change as your infant becomes a toddler on the go. Poudre Valley Health System, 1025 Garfield Ave., FC. 10-11am. 970-495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Wild World of Art Students can create fun and fabulous projects with 3D Tropic Scapes. Loveland Museum/ Gallery, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 3-4pm. 970-962-2562 or www.cityofloveland.org/museum.

Thursday, March 15 Wee Be Green The “Wee Notables” and their puppet friends will take you on a grand adventure in this fast-paced, interactive musical theatre program highlighting the importance of conservation. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 10:30am, 11:30am. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Map and Compass Techniques REI, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 6:30pm. 970-223-0123 or www.rei.com.

Gearing Up for Script Frenzy Get ready to write a screenplay in 30 days! Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 10:30am, 11:30am. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Genealogy: 50 Things I Learned While Photographing 50,000 Tombstones Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 6pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Friday, March 16 Family Game Night Cool Beans Playhouse and Cafe 4019 S. Mason St. #5 FC. 970-266-1135 or www.CoolBeansPlayHouse.com.

Drop in Art: Rainbow Painting Explore art with your favorite tots. Loveland Museum/ Gallery, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 10-11am. 970-962-2562 or www.cityofloveland.org/museum.

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Survival Secrets: Spring Break “Break” Survival secrets of various wildlife, plants, and pioneers. Bobcat Ridge Natu-ral Area, FC. 9:30-11:30am. 970-221-6311 or www.fcgov.com/naturalareas.

saTurday, March 17 St. Patrick’s Day Parade Downtown, FC. 10am. 970-484-6500 or www.DowntownFortCollins.com.

Masterworks #4: From Across the Pond Presented by the Fort Collins Sympho-ny. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 7:30pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

sunday, March 18 Game Day @ Your Library Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 1-5pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Intensive Organic Gardening/ Presented by the Sustainable Living As-sociation. The Old Feed Store, 3612 W. County Rd. 54G, Laporte, CO. Noon-4pm. 970-224-3247 or www.Sustaina-bleLivingAssociation.org.

Masterworks #4: From Across the Pond Presented by the Fort Collins Sympho-ny. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 2pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Monday, March 19 Prepared Childbirth Ask questions and make informed deci-sions about issues surrounding the birth of your baby. North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 6:30-8:30pm. 970-378-4044 or www.BannerHealth.com/NCMCFamilyLifeEdu.

Bright Beginnings for Infants Bring your baby and learn how nurtur-ing interactions with support brain and emotional development. McKee Medical Center, 2000 N. Boise Ave., LV. 11:15am-2:15pm. 970-495-7528 or www.BannerHealth.com/McKee.

Read and Seed: Miniature Kites The Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. Ages 2-4. 970-416-2486 or www.fcgov.com/gardens.

Map and Compass REI, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 6:30pm. 970-223-0123 or www.rei.com.

Tuesday, March 20 Bright Beginnings for Infants/ Bring your baby and learn how nurtur-ing interactions with support brain and emotional development. Medical Center of the Rockies, 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., LV. Noon-1pm. 970-495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Wednesday, March 21 Maya Culture, Archeology and Travel in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras Come enjoy the first of this 3-part se-ries. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Bright Beginnings for Infants Bring your baby and learn how nur-turing interactions with support brain and emotional development. Poudre Valley Health System, 1025 Garfield Ave., FC. 10-11am. 970-495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Wild World of Art Sculpting. Loveland Museum/ Gal-lery, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 3-4pm. 970-962-2562 or www.cityofloveland.org/museum.

Thursday, March 22 International Night: Philippines Sherry Manning, a former Peace Corps Volunteer will share her experience with one Filipino family’s incredible story of fighting to preserve their land. Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 6pm. 970-221-6740 or www. PoudreLibraries.org.

Labor Techniques and Comfort Measures Medical Center of the Rockies, 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., LV. 7-9pm. 970-495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Great Western Railway Loveland Museum/ Gallery, 503 N. Lin-coln Ave., LV. 5:30pm. 970-962-2562 or www.cityofloveland.org/museum.

Friday, March 23 Family Game Night Cool Beans Playhouse and Cafe 4019 S. Mason St. #5 FC. 970-266-1135 or www.CoolBeansPlayHouse.com.

Ready, Set Grow! Hanging Garden An introduction to gardening and the four seasons. The Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. Ages 4-5. 970-416-2486 or www.fcgov.com/gardens.

New Visions Dance Festival Presented by High Performance Dance Theatre. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 2pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Drop in Art: Lily Pad Frogs Explore art with your favorite tots. Loveland Museum/ Gallery, 503 N. Lin-coln Ave., LV. 10-11am. 970-962-2562 or www.cityofloveland.org/museum.

saTurday, March 24 A Suffragist Event: A Special Showing of Iron Jawed Angels Take a step back in time and experience life before women had the right to vote. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 2pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

The Winter Farmers Market Features more than 50 vendors, selling produce, eggs, meat, poultry, wine and cider, cheese, bread and baked goods, coffee, tea, locally-made food specialties and crafts. Opera Galleria, 123 N. Col-lege Ave., FC. 10am-3pm. www.BeLo-calFirst.org.

New Visions Dance Festival Presented by High Performance Dance Theatre. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 2pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

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Chris Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience Join us as America’s favorite canine stunt dogs soar, spin, jump and fly! The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 2pm & 6pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Once Upon a Party LLC Presents Fairytail Princess Ball. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 2pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Casino Royale: The Sting!? Presented by OpenStage Theatre. Join us for our third annual gaming fundraiser. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

We're having a Baby: A Class for Siblings Kids will learn what a new baby looks like, how to become a “big helper,” and how to make friends with the new baby. North Colorado Medical Center, 1801 16th St., GR. 9:30-10:30am. 970-378-4044 or www.BannerHealth.com/NCMCFamilyLifeEdu.

sunday, March 25 Animal Afternoon Join Larimer Animal People Partnership volunteers and their special story-loving critters. Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 3pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Platinum Pops Season of Life Presented by the Foothills Pops Band. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Jahannes Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem Presented by The Larimer Chorale. The Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 7:30pm. 970-221-6730 or www.LCTIX.com.

Monday, March 26 What Baby Boomers Share as a Generation: A Brief Psychological Profile Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Temple Grandin: Connect With Kids Who Are Different Join us and spend an evening with Temple Grandin, Ph.D. Dr. Grandin will share stories from her remarkable life with a focus on how to connect with children who are different. Drake Centre, 802 W. Drake, FC. 7-8pm. 970-495-8560 or www.pvhs.org.

Read and Seed: Doughnut Seeds The Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. Ages 2-4. 970-416-2486 or www.fcgov.com/gardens.

Wednesday, March 28 Hemlines Through History Come learn about the “Hemline Rollercoaster of the 20th Century.” University Center for the Arts Annex, 216 Lake St., #316, FC. 7pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Bright Beginnings for Two-Year-Olds Learn how to promote early literacy, brain development, and a healthy/safe environment for the active twos. Poudre Valley Health System, 1025 Garfield Ave., FC. 10-11am. 970-495-7528 or www.pvhs.org.

Wild World of Art Miniature sand paintings. Loveland Museum/ Gallery, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 3-4pm. 970-962-2562 or www.cityofloveland.org/museum.

4th Annual Festival Chicana/o This event will include guest artists, humor, culture and social commentary. University Center Ballrooms, 2045 10th Ave., GR. 5-8:30pm. 970-351-2162 or www.unco.edu.hispstds/

Thursday, March 29 Script Frenzy Meet and Greet Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 7pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

The Galapagos Experience the Galapagos Islands. Amazing photos of boobies, tortoises, sharks, and more, plus help planning your own adventure. REI, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 6:30pm. 970-223-0123 or www.rei.com.

Friday, March 30 History Comes Alive: Josephine Roche Josephine Aspenwall Roche, was an industrialist, activist, and a politician. In 1912 she became Denver’s first female police officer. She was active in helping to unionize coal workers. President Franklin Roosevelt appointed her as assistant Secretary of the Treasury. Presented by Elinor McGinn. Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 3pm. 970-221-6740 or www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Family Game Night Cool Beans Playhouse and Cafe 4019 S. Mason St. #5 FC. 970-266-1135 or www.CoolBeansPlayHouse.com.

Stargazing View the skies with telescopes provided by the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society. Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space, Carpenter Rd., 1 mile west of I-25, FC. 9-11am. 970-221-6311 or www.fcgov.com/naturalareas or www.ncastro.org.

Ready, Set, Grow! Foolish Fun An introduction to gardening and the four seasons. The Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. Ages 4-5. 970-416-2486 or www.fcgov.com/gardens.

Drop in Art: Signs of Spring Explore art with your favorite tots. Loveland Museum/ Gallery, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. 10-11am. 970-962-2562 or www.cityofloveland.org/museum.

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ALLERGIESECZEMA

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Math is an everyday neces-sity for parents, whether it involves calculating the

number of socks missing from the dryer, dividing an eight-slice pizza among 20 kids, or when it comes to big families, adding up the children to make sure they’re all present before leaving the mall. Additional variables can be thrown in here or there, like the amount of time it takes a typi-cal teenage girl to, yet again, change outfits before making her parents late, but most of the time the formulas are straightforward.

Except when it comes to child-hood behavior. When this happens, numerators and denominators no longer help. Instead, the use of mathe-matical arguments and operations goes into effect. Take for example the com-mon mathematical argument known as the Embarrassment Theorem.

Created when the first teenager sighed and rolled her eyes at the first parent, the Embarrassment Theorem states this: The level of embarrass-ment a parent inflicts on his child is directly proportional to the child’s increased age. To prove, parents start at the beginning, which is null since there’s nothing a newborn or tod-dler thinks is embarrassing in a par-ent. They can perform silly dances, do voices, or shoot milk out of their nose and the littlest ones eat it all up. Then again, as sneezing makes them crack up, the littlest kids are an easy and malleable audience.

This pattern continues through the earliest years of elementary school, with only the merest hint of potential embarrassment when they don’t laugh at an animal imitation. It’s only when children reach 3rd or 4th grade that the amount of embarrassment begins to overtake enjoyment. Things that

made them giggle just a year prior are received with a “Daaaadddd!” or “Moooommm!” or “Not here, in front of everyone.” They acknowledge the adult’s status as a guardian and may even hang out with them, but conver-sation is formal at best.

By the time kids reach 5th grade, the embarrassment factor jumps ex-ponentially. ‘Daaaadddd!’ becomes a short, harsh whisper of “Dad!” with the beginnings of P.T.E.R.–Pre-Teen Eye Roll. They still acknowledge parental status, but don’t let them anywhere near the school except for drop-off and pick-up. Once kids hit

middle school, parent embarrass-ment nearly reaches its peak on the chart, as the simple act of stopping by a classroom to say hello to a child’s teacher becomes an exercise in red-faced humiliation.

The theorem reaches apex at the same time children hit puberty. In this period of fragility, the parent, without the non-verbal D.T.E.R, Dramatic Teen Eye Roll, followed by the D.T.A.C., Dramatic Teen Arm Crossing, and the D.T.H.S., Dramatic Teen Heavy Sigh, can say nothing. When D.T.E.R., D.T.A.C. and D.T.H.S. are used in combina-tion, it means the parent in question has embarrassed his child to the point of being ostracized by her peers. This is normally followed by a proclama-tion that she must have been adopted because her real parents would never embarrass her so.

Luckily, the humiliation fac-tor begins to ebb somewhere around senior year of high school. It’s then that an inverse theorem takes effect that states the level of embarrassment a parent inflicts on their child is re-duced in young adulthood. In fact, as children reach this age-level, they be-come fonder of those times when their parents lip-synched Adele in front of their study group or dressed up as Alice Cooper during one Halloween, all in order to get the car keys or extra money to spend at a college pub. Soon enough, children are hanging out with their parents again, resulting in a null value for the theorem.

Good news is the Embarrass-ment Theorem is transferable between generations, meaning today’s parents will eventually get to watch their own children struggle with D.T.E.R and D.T.A.C. while they make their grand-kids laugh with funny cartoon voices.

time out

the embarrassment theorum Calculations that lead to the Dramatic Teen Eye Roll

R i C H A R D K E l l E R

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