This article was first published in the February 22 Issue of The Mountain-Ear.

Brandy Hale, Coal Creek Canyon.

Coal Creek Canyon’s K-8 school held its February PTSA on February 12, 2018, to discuss a wide range of topics and activities concerning funding and the education of the children in the area. The meeting began with a check on the progress of the Reusable Bag Fundraiser for the classroom enrichment fund for field trips, assemblies and guest speakers. In this drive, items from Mixed Bag Designs (an online retailer of decorated bags, lunch sacks, and totes) can be purchased online or through students and a portion of the purchase goes to the PTSA fund for activities and programs. The web address, with the link for the CCC K-8 fundraiser is www.mixedbagdesigns.com/?fundraiserid=39725.

Purchasers can input the name of a student and/or teacher, giving the student the opportunity to win a prize for being a top seller. The deadline for ordering is March 16, 2018, ensuring the ordered bags arrive before Spring Break.

For those interested, it is important to note that a greater percentage of the price goes to the cause if items are purchased through a CCC student, or via forms that can be found at the school, rather than through the online store, but any and all purchases are appreciated.

The first item of open business concerned further planning of the Health and Wellness night’s ‘You Guac to be Kidding Me!’ avocado food challenge. The event will be held at the school on March 2, 2018, and will include several stations. Students are encouraged to participate by getting a card punched at each, with the chance to win a basket of goodies in a raffle upon handing in their completed cards. For parents, friends and family, prizes will be awarded for the best sweet and savory avocado-themed dishes. Other stations include one with local sellers and representatives, an inventive art activity involving avocadoes, and a planting/horticulture station. Prospective chefs and cooks should make enough sweet or savory avocado-based dishes for 20-30 small servings.

Second on open business was the silent auction, to be held on April 20, 2018, which is a combination of talent show and art auction. Donations from local individuals, crafters and vendors are being sought and can range from services to baked goods, gift cards to arts and crafts. The event is open to the public and the talent show is expected to be a worthy sight, including acts performed by school staff. Bidding on donations will close by the intermission of the show. Proceeds from the auction will go to the purchase of Chromebooks, with the goal being one per student. If you would like to donate to the auction, please contact School Principal Jennifer Livingston at jennifer.livingston@jeffco.k12.co.us.

Next was discussion concerning February’s Friends of Rachel Club pancake breakfast. The monthly event is for students who display empathy, respect and responsibility, and talks will center around the facilitation of groceries and cooking assistance. The club is the result of an outreach by Rachel’s Challenge, a non-profit in memory of Rachel Joy Scott, the first student killed in the 1999 Columbine High School shooting. Students at CCC formed a club in honor of her efforts to improve the lives of other students who were bullied or outcast.

The club hosts a pancake and bacon breakfast each month to celebrate and facilitate the good behavior of peers, in partnership with parents and staff—last month with the PTSA, and this month with principal Livingston. January’s event involved two thirds of the student body. Adults who would like to volunteer with cooking and organization are encouraged to contact PTSA President Jody Dickson at jody@dickson.org.

There was a short presentation on a grant that Principal Livingston wrote for a portion of the Innovation Acceleration Fund through Jefferson County Schools. Her application is centered around the creation of ‘Innovation Stations’ following a talk she attended given by a CU professor of education. The grant funds would be used over the next three years to create various stations offering hands-on, fun activities that provide insight into real world applications of various subjects. Local scientists, crafts people and professionals would help create, educate and interact with students to provide stations that stimulate the mind and promote insight into topics covered in class, from history to astronomy, physics to dance.

Look for updates on the success of the application in the future.

Two motions were approved for requests from students. The first was $100 for supplies to build a picnic table for outdoor dining, and the second was $200 for a graduation bridge that can be reused and inscribed with the names of graduates each year.

Finally, the meeting ended with discussion of how to promote involvement in the PTSA and Eagle Eyes, the latter a program to promote the presence of men at the school for mentorship and monitoring. CCC K-8 is actively seeking additional parents for the PTSA to assist in organizing events and offer ideas for future activities. Men are highly encouraged to join both the PTSA and Eagle Eyes, as the PTSA and most of the school staff are women. Boys and girls both need male role models in their lives, so don’t hesitate to participate!

To learn more about CCC K-8 events and schedule, go to http://coalcreek.jeffcopublicschools.org/family_resources/ptsa. To join the PTSA, simply show up at the next meeting, or contact Jody Dickson, President at jody@dickson.org. To join the Eagle Eyes program, sign up on the website, or direct questions to Jason Moat at 303-378-4500.