|
|
Englewood Schools fosters genuine connections that help young people develop the confidence, capability and commitment they need to strengthen our community now and in the future. |
|
Updates & Resources for Our Community |
|
In this issue:
- Update on Return to In-Person Learning
- Deadline to Change Learning Environments
- Free Meals Available
- Mental Health Matters
- Simple Parenting Resolutions for 2021
- January Library Events
- Good News Stories

|
|
Update on Return to In-Person Learning |
|
We are looking forward to welcoming our in-person students back to classrooms this Monday, January 11. We want to make sure that our in-person students can be in school as much as possible this semester. For that reason, we want to emphasize the following safety procedures:
-
Do not send your child to school sick or if someone they have had close contact with is sick. This includes having any of the symptoms of COVID-19. When sick children or staff members come to school, their classmates and teachers will need to quarantine and switch to remote learning. Please check for symptoms daily and fill out our online symptom screener, rSchool Today, before school. If any symptoms are present, do NOT send your child to school and inform your school’s health assistant.
- All students and staff members must wear a mask that covers their mouth and nose. Our students and staff members did a great job meeting this expectation in the fall and we know that we can count on them to continue this practice for the spring semester.
Staff Vaccines
At the end of December, Governor Polis announced that educators would be moved to Phase 1B of the vaccination schedule in Colorado. While this is very exciting news for our schools and staff members, unfortunately there has been increased confusion recently in this area and we await further clarification. We are currently working with local health partners to schedule vaccines for our teachers and other essential staff members as we are allowed. Vaccinating our staff members is an important step in keeping our schools safe and slowing the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
New Metrics
In the interest of keeping students and staff members safe and in school as much as possible, our Return Planning Committee reconvened this winter to discuss new metrics for our schools. In exploring new metrics, the Return Planning Committee, made up of district and school administrators, teachers and parents, wanted them to be representative of how COVID is affecting our Englewood community directly, and wanted them to be at a school level instead of a district level. Therefore, our new metrics will focus directly on the number of positive cases and quarantines we have in each school. Each school will remain operational until the number of cases and quarantines creates an unsafe or unmanageable learning environment. A district closure would only come if there is a stay at home order. In addition to the new metrics, we will continue to post community data specific to Arapahoe County, however we will not be using point totals with regard to this data since we are moving to school specific case information as our guide. We have decided to continue to post this data as many of our staff and community members have indicated that they have found it informative.
Our great hope is that we can continue our in-person learning experiences this spring with the least amount of disruptions. We know that it will take everyone working together and honoring on-going prevention measures, particularly hand-washing, mask-wearing and staying home with any symptoms of illness, for our hope to become a reality. Thank you in advance for your continued partnership and support in returning our students to in-person learning as quickly and safely as possible.
|
|
Deadline to Change Learning Environments |
|
Families will have until January 8 to change their decision about in-person or eLearning for second semester. After this date, we will discuss changes on a case by case basis. To request a switch, please talk to your school's secretary.
Elementary school students will also have an opportunity to change at mid-semester conferences.
|
|
What's the value of a school lunch? In this video, we explore the true benefits of school lunch for families such as balanced nutrition and saving time.
|
|
During these challenging times, we know that parents and caregivers may need some extra mental health support. In this section, we will provide resources that families can access in order to support their mental wellbeing.
Psychological First Aid (PFA)
Right now we are all being pulled to be helpers and we all could use some support. Learning Psychological First Aid (PFA) and sharing it with your sphere of influence might be a way to help spread kindness and compassion this year.
The National Childhood Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) explains that PFA is an evidence-informed approach to support people of all ages after a disaster. PFA assumes that people impacted by a disaster or traumatic event may face new challenges, and that certain core actions support all of us, as humans, in addressing these challenges.
Resources:
|
|
If speaking to someone would help, please reach out. AllHealth Network provides several supports.
-
To speak with someone in the Colorado Spirit Program about stress related to the pandemic, please call 720-707-6789 or visit the webpage at www.allhealthnetwork.org/Colorado-Spirit
-
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and are in need of immediate assistance, please call the Colorado Crisis Hotline at 1-844-493-8255 (TALK) or text TALK to 38255.
|
|
Simple Parenting Resolutions for 2021 |
|
If you want to become a more patient parent – and a happier person – it’s completely possible. Here are 5 simple resolutions to support you in creating a home with less drama and more love. Practicing these is the work of a lifetime, so you still won't be perfect in a year -- in fact, you might make these same resolutions next year! But you'll be a more peaceful parent, with a happier, more cooperative child.
-
Resolve to work on regulating your own emotions. Take care of your own needs and practice pausing before you react with anger.
-
Resolve to love the one you’re with. Every child is loved but sometimes it is challenging to make them feel loved.
-
Resolve to stay connected. Kids are more cooperative when they feel connected to us. Make a conscious effort to connect emotionally with your child every day.
-
Resolve to role model respect. Speaking to your children respectfully is the best way to get them to be respectful to you.
-
Resolve to address the needs and feelings driving your child’s behavior. The most important time to stay connected with your child is when he or she is acting out.
|
|
Check out these free and fun programs that the Englewood Public Library has this month for kids and tweens! Live story time, pajama story time, Winnie the Pooh's birthday, digital mystery puzzles and more. |
|
Language Development Council Gingerbread Event
Before winter break, the Language Development Council held its annual family gingerbread house making activity virtually. Families were able to pick up kits for free and login to Zoom to participate in the event. Thirty-one families participated in the event, along with many Englewood Schools staff members. Thank you to everyone who made this a successful, community-building event!
|
|
Supply and Warm Gear Giveaway
Thanks to our many community partners, Englewood Schools was able to hold an event on January 6 that allowed families to "shop" donated items to select school supplies or warm weather gear for their families. We had many different families attend this event. Thank you to our community for making this possible!
|
|
High Expectations ~ Accountability ~ Integrity ~ Respect ~ Community |
|
4101 S. Bannock St.
Englewood, CO 80110
303-761-7050
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
‌
‌
‌
