Building A Culture of Wellness in the ELC

With the quarter well underway, staff and students have been enjoying the comforting spirit that fall brings. We’ve settled back into our routines, created strong friendships, and built a solid foundation for the learning that will happen throughout the rest of the year. We completed our first round of assessments and had a chance to celebrate the numerous achievements that our students have made so far this year. It’s been a joy to watch our students become more comfortable with their peers, teachers, and environment as the year progresses.

This fall, our ELC’s focus has been on culture and wellness. We’ve partnered with the Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center to launch a program called Culture of Wellness, aimed at providing an engaging and educational experience for the children. Preschool and toddler teachers have been guiding the kids through a variety of recipes and activities that encourage healthy living. The children are being introduced to more fruits and vegetables while also participating in enjoyable physical activities to help them cultivate a healthy lifestyle. We love seeing our little ones explore new foods, try engaging new activities, and even share with their families what they are learning about in school. Happy fall!

Expressing Gratitude in the High School

Every year before Thanksgiving, we have tamales and pie, inviting our families and alumni to come eat and celebrate in our community. This has become a beloved tradition that includes a bake-less pie competition among advisory classes. We love the opportunity to be intentional about coming together and expressing gratitude. 

We have a lot to be thankful for this year. Our amazing students are supported by an incredible staff who continue to lead some of the most innovative work in Colorado high schools. I am proud of our students for showing up to school, getting out to internships and college classes, and investing their time and energy in finding a meaningful career pathway. Currently, we are working with CU Boulder on a two-year research study that will measure the achievement and growth of our students and alumni to share the evidence that our program works and is changing the trajectory of our students' futures. 

Next week, we are helping host the Big Picture Learning Leadership Summit at our school. An outstanding group of our students, pictured below, will be learning alongside school leaders from around the country and world. They will also be leading some activities for the adult learners. More on that next month!