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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. |
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Updates & Resources for Our Community |
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In this issue:
- COVID-19 Update
- Kindergarten Enrollment Information Events
- Free Meals Available
- Mental Health Matters
- Parenting Support
- January Library Events
- Free and Low-Cost Events and Activities
- Good News Stories
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We are happy that we were able to welcome our in-person students back this week. We want to thank our community for continuing to work hard at slowing the spread of COVID-19. Our community members wearing masks, washing hands and staying six feet from others not in their household will help our schools to remain open for in-person learning.
New Metrics
Our new, school-based metrics are available on our COVID tracking website. We are now using metrics related to the number of positive COVID cases and the number of students and staff members quarantined in order to determine if schools can and should stay open to in-person learning.
New Quarantine Guidance
The state of Colorado has recently adopted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for shortened quarantine. The new guidance includes 7, 10 and 14-day quarantines. For school exposures, Englewood Schools will be analyzing each situation and using the most appropriate quarantine guidance that maximizes both safety and in-person class time for students.
Reminder: When in Doubt, Keep Them Home
Please make sure you are checking your child for symptoms each day before he or she comes to school. Do not send your child to school if they have ANY symptoms of COVID-19 or if they have been exposed to someone who has symptoms/has tested positive for COVID-19 and call your schoolβs health assistant for information on next steps.
- Symptoms:
- Feeling feverish, having chills, or temperature of 100.4F or higher
- New or unexplained persistent cough
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of taste or smell
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Runny nose or congestion
Current Schools/Cohorts on Rolling Remote
- Cherrelyn 6th grade returning January 22
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Kindergarten Enrollment Information Events |
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Englewood Schools will be offering a variety of ways for parents to get to know Englewood's kindergarten programs so they can make an informed decision for enrolling their kindergartner.
On January 25, 26, 27 and 28, parents with children enrolled in morning or full-day preschool at Englewood Early Childhood Education at Maddox can meet the schools and ask questions in-person. Each day, a different school will be at your student's assigned drop-off location. See the schedule here.
Virtual Information Nights
Schools will hold virtual information nights in January, February and March. Each school will give a brief presentation and answer questions. Presentations start at 5:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, January 19
- Thursday, February 11
- Monday, February 22
- Thursday, March 4
- Monday, March 15
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What's the value of a school lunch? In this video, find out how our schools use local produce and products to create delicious and nutritious meals for kids.
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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.
Alternatives to Screen Time
Due to the pandemic, many of us have been spending more time than usual looking at screens. Video conferencing for work and social connections, remote learning and virtual entertainment options mean that screens are more pervasive than ever. Taking a break from screens can be helpful for your health and wellbeing. If you are looking for ideas of non-screen activities, here are a few:
- Reading
- Crafts or creative projects
- Jigsaw puzzles
- Board games or card games
- Getting outside, even when it's cold
Another challenge might be finding ways to create time for no screens in your day. Here are some tips to manage:
- Set an intention/time for powering down your screens and starting another activity (you can even use an app to remind you) so you don't just keep scrolling.
- Create an area of your home that is free from screens, if possible.
- Commit to engaging in certain activities without screens. For example, mealtime could be screen free time.
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If speaking to someone would help, please reach out. AllHealth Network provides several supports.
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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
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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.
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Several organizations in our community are offering parenting support resources.
Mount St Vincent Outpatient Counseling Clinic
For families and children with challenging behaviors. They have flexible appointments. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 303-458-7220. More information here.
The Arc Arapahoe & Douglas Counties Support Groups
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Monthly Parent/Caregiver Zoom Support Group: Topics will change weekly, but may include: 504s vs IEPs, High Medical Needs, Special Education, Progress Monitoring, Challenging Behaviors, IDEA categories of disability vs Medical Diagnoses, etc. More information here.
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Bi-Monthly Dads and Disability Support Group: Fathers can share their own experience and get guidance from other fathers. More information here.
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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. |
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Free and Low-Cost Events/Activities for January |
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Here are some virtual and in-person events and activities to explore this month! |
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Englewood Sees Huge Gains in Graduation Rate
The state of Colorado as a whole saw an increase in graduation rates from the class of 2019 to the class of 2020. Englewood Schools saw a dramatic increase in the graduation rate of over 11%! Englewood High School's 2020 graduation rate was above the state average.
Both EHS and Colorado's Finest had increases in their graduation rates and decreases in their dropout rates. This is due to hard work on the part of students and staff members as well as some strategies put in place by the district to support students in all four years of high school. Some of the strategies include:
- Policy and practice changes to ensure no procedures were inadvertently making graduation more difficult for students.
- Intentional focus on high engagement programs and intentionally creating learning environments to support these high-interest programs. Englewood offers a wide range of career and technical education programs, advanced placement and concurrent enrollment options to keep students interested and engaged in their courses.
- Securing partnerships to focus on assisting students in their transition to ninth grade and setting them up for success for all four years of high school.
- Using partnerships to support sophomores who were having attendance issues.
- Reaching out to students who had dropped out and supporting them to reengage.
- Offering a GED program so students had more than one way to complete high school.
- Offering a credit recovery program to help students retrieve credit and maintain progress.
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Congratulations to the Midyear Graduates at CFHSC
Midyear graduates at Colorado's Finest High School of Choice who were also accepted to college were given yard signs to celebrate their amazing achievement! The midyear graduates each have unique plans for the future including entering the workforce, studying engineering, biology, criminal justice and more. Congratulations to these outstanding graduates!
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Some Englewood Staff Members Begin Receiving COVID-19 Vaccination
Some Englewood Schools employees who are classified in the first part (above the line) of Phase 1B vaccination distribution have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. These are staff members with jobs such as mental health workers, medical assistants, social workers, cooks/cafeteria workers, etc. Even as the vaccine rollout plans continue to change, our goal is to get as many staff members as possible vaccinated as soon as possible. Getting our staff members vaccinated is an important step in keeping our schools open and slowing the spread of COVID-19. Below, Nutrition Services Director Katie Cossette receives the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
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High Expectations ~ Accountability ~ Integrity ~ Respect ~ Community |
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4101 S. Bannock St.
Englewood, CO 80110
303-761-7050
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