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Health News
Gratitude Edition
| | Day of Gratitude: Sign-Up Your School Today! | | |
Join Jeffco Healthy Schools in increasing feelings of belonging and encouraging healthy habits by participating in Jeffco's Day of Gratitude!
Gratitude builds hope, fosters connection, and strengthens school culture. On November 18th, our district is hosting a district-wide day of gratitude, and we want every school to be a part of it!
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Thank you for the work you do in your schools! We appreciate those of you who were able to attend the HS and EAP workshop, and miss those of you who could not attend. Know that Healthy Schools is grateful for YOU!!!
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Ideas for Communication:
ParentSquare/Mass School Communication: Send targeted posts to families and staff outlining the purpose of the day, key timelines, and home-to-school gratitude prompts.
Staff Meetings/Advisory Time: Ask principals and Healthy Schools Liaisons to share a brief slide or announcement during staff meetings to build momentum. Have your staff share a gratitude of the day for them OR a gratitude about a staff member/student.
Social Media/Visual Displays: Share countdown graphics, short video clips of students expressing gratitude, and post event flyers in main offices, staff breakrooms, and hallways.
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Classroom Activity Options:
Gratitude Chain / Wall: Students write a strength, person, or positive experience on a paper strip or sticky note to build a school-wide visual display.
Thank-You Notes for Unsung Heroes: Classrooms write appreciation cards to custodians, cafeteria staff, bus drivers, school nurses, or community partners.
Morning Announcement Shout-Outs: Allow classrooms or peer leaders to submit daily gratitude shout-outs to be read over the school PA system.
Gratitude Cube: Give students a fun and tactile way to discuss gratitude with peers and family.
Sources of Strength Wheel Connection: Connect gratitude to positive coping strategies by asking students to identify trusted adults, positive friends, or healthy activities that bring them joy.
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Healthy Schools Partner Spotlight: Ryan Elementary
Here at Healthy Schools we'd like to acknowledge the amazing work that is being done by our Healthy Schools liaisons. If your team has work that they'd like recognized, please email Melissa Lozano or Kristina Kain. We'd love to highlight your work or attend the event itself. This month we are grateful to the work being done at Ryan Elementary.
At Ryan Elementary, student wellness is in full effect! Wellness is implemented in a variety of ways in this school building.
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Empowering Student Voice: Students submit written essays to earn spots on the student leadership team. Student leaders help with various tasks around the school.
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Clear Wellness Messaging: Wellness Policy Guidelines such as food for parties, are shared with staff and families in school-wide assemblies, as well as newsletters.
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Fun Attendance Boosters: A "Golden Ticket" is hidden in a few desks around the school by admin to encourage students to attend school.
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Movement Wednesdays: School wide brain breaks are done EVERY Wednesday. These brain breaks are created and sent in video form by P.E. teachers to staff to utilize on this day as they see fit.
Thank you, Ryan Elementary, for your outstanding leadership, creativity, and dedication to building a healthy school culture! Keep up the inspiring work—we are so proud to partner with your team!
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Elevate Student Attendance with Jeffco's Multi-Tiered Framework
If you are looking for practical steps to improve student attendance and re-engagement, explore the Student Engagement and Attendance Interventions 2026–2027 Guide. This valuable resource outlines a customizable framework to help your school identify root causes, establish proactive interventions, and organize support across all tiers.
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Mental Health Film Viewing/Resource Fair: Arvada
Join Pomona Jr/Sr. on Tuesday, November 10th, as they host a mental health resource fair in support of suicide prevention and Sources of Strength. This night will feature the short film "Shift: Do What Moves You" from Tell My Story. This film features real stories of young people discovering joy and resilience in passions like sports, music, art, theater, and countless other ways of expressing what moves them. Shift flips the script, from mental healthy struggle to strength. Additionally, Kotaro Umeda, former pro soccer player and NAMI Hall of Famer, will share his personal story of mental health struggle, how he sought help, and what supported his healing.
| | Sources of Strength:
North Arvada Middle School | |
The Sources of Strength team at North Arvada Middle School is bringing hope, health, and connection to life across their building! Student leaders are currently preparing a staff presentation to educate educators on the Sources of Strength framework and share what these protective factors mean to them personally. Additionally, the team is designing a vibrant mural to be displayed in the school library, which will serve as a central anchor for student artwork and campaign displays throughout the year. Thank you, North Arvada Middle School, for your incredible leadership and dedication to building a positive, supportive school culture!
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Jeffco Public Library: Teen Programs
Looking for meaningful ways to engage teens? Jeffco Public Library offers outstanding programs designed to foster student leadership and support a lifelong love of reading:
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Teen Advisory Board (TAB): Perfect for teens eager to use their voice to shape library programming, advocate for youth services, and build leadership skills.
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Literary Milestones & Rewards: Designed for avid readers who love getting lost in a great book! Teens can set reading goals and earn rewards as they celebrate literary milestones.
Please pass this information along to any teens, families, or secondary staff who might be interested!
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Wellness Policy Evaluation: Fund Your Goals!
Fill out your Healthy Schools Wellness Evaluation today! Your feedback directly helps your school secure vital funding to support student health, promote active lifestyles, and create a thriving environment for everyone. It only takes a few minutes, and every response brings us one step closer to launching new wellness programs, upgrading student equipment, and providing better resources for our students.
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Take Your School to the National Western Stock Show
Did you know that the National Western Stock Show offers FREE field trips for schools? From scheduling schools for a visit to onsite logistics, 4-H makes it possible for thousands of students to visit the National Western Stock Show every year.
Teachers can bring their students to experience Colorado’s agricultural heritage first-hand; students, teachers, and chaperones can explore exhibits, meet ranchers, and see live animals while learning how agriculture connects to their everyday lives. Jeffco Public School teachers can also schedule a pre-visit classroom lesson with our 4-H specialists to help students prepare for the trip and dive deeper into agriculture education.
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What's the Data Saying: Teen Vape Use
According to Healthy Kids Colorado Survey data, vaping and e-cigarette use continue to be the primary driver of youth nicotine consumption in Jeffco. High concentrations of nicotine in e-cigarettes pose lasting risks to brain development and adolescent lung health.
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Start the Conversation Webinar
Adults play an important role in preventing youth tobacco and nicotine use. Join Action for Healthy Kids for Start the Conversation: How to Talk with Young People About Vaping and Other Nicotine Products on Thursday, November 19, from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET. You'll learn proven strategies for connecting with youth, key background on substance use, and how to follow up for continued support. The training is designed for any youth-serving adult, so share it with school staff, community partners, and parents and caregivers. Live Spanish translation will be available. REGISTER Now
Rethinking the Response to Student Nicotine Use
When a student is caught vaping, administrators and staff need a clear, consistent path forward. These resources offer a framework for a restorative response and a ready-to-use alternative to suspension, so your schools can respond in ways that support students and hold them accountable:
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Restorative Approach to Discipline
This resource covers the basics of taking a restorative approach to substance use discipline. Framing substance use as a health problem, not just a rule violation, can shape the disciplinary approach your district selects. Best practice supports restorative discipline.
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Second Chance
Second Chance is an online alternative to suspension for tobacco and nicotine use infractions, designed for grades 6-12 and available in English and Spanish. The flyer explains how the program works and how your schools can get started.
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Ongoing Healthy Schools Resources
Your go-to spot for the tools, links, and resources liaisons use most—featured in every edition!
Wellness Policy Guidelines: The foundation for the work we do. Please refer to as you receive questions from staff/families, and utilize to create Healthy Schools Team goals.
Wellness Policy Evaluation: This form will help you evaluate your school in different areas of school health and identify your health goal area. It is also your first step to receive funding for your student wellness goals.
Professional Development Offerings: Healthy Schools would love to visit your school to help build staff knowledge across all areas of student wellness. New this year: Positive Stress: How to Use Stress to Build Resiliency and Lean Into Strengths!
Active Black Top Stencils: One of our most requested documents! See all the active stencils Healthy Schools offers. We supply the stencils and paints. Let the fun begin!
Healthy Habits for Families: A useful document to be used all year. Provide relevant information to families during conferences, in regard to a question you have, include in your classroom newsletter, and more!
Para Newsletter: contains information and helpful links for paraprofessionals, paraeducators, Independence Support Professionals (ISP), Early Childhood Instructional Partners (ECIPs), tutors (including ESL), and any other classified staff that may fulfill this role.
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Day of Gratitude
Let’s create a wave of appreciation across our classrooms and halls! Looking for ideas, activities, or toolkits to bring this day to life in your school? Register your school for Day of Gratitude to receive ideas on how to engage students, staff, and families.
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