Fall has arrived (and hopefully some cooler temps will follow!). It's hard to believe that homecoming is already in the rearview, and that fall break will be here later this month. I hope all of our Pre-IB/IB kids enjoyed the homecoming festivities and that they weren't too exhausted at the end of the week. Although homecoming can be a fun time of the year for students, this is also a time of year that can be stressful for kids. Remember to check in with your kids and remind them to stay balanced with all their schoolwork, activities, and sports. Encourage them to go to bed at a reasonable hour, to spend time doing things they love, and to stay balanced in their busy lives. As parents, this is a great time to sit down with your kids, catch up on how they're doing, and spend a little time with them. Our teenagers might act like they've got it all under control, but sometimes they just need mom or dad to treat them to dinner, a bowl of ice cream, and a movie night.

Not only is the year off and running, but our IB students are engaging in a lot of incredible activities this fall. Two of our IB classes teamed up - IB Lang and Lit and IB Visual Arts - for a field trip to Meow Wolf. Students spent a fun day enjoying the amazing creativity and energy that is Meow Wolf. If you've never been, go check it out! It's a fantastic experience and one that our kids loved! A big thank you to Mrs. Sullivan and Ms. Snider for putting together such a great day for our students!

Would you eat a bug??? Students in Ms. Koerner's IB Psychology class have been discussing ethics and the idea of this very question. See the pictures below to see how it all went!

IB exam registration is due for juniors and seniors no later than Friday, October 27! Please get this submitted ASAP!

Mark your calendars! Colorado Free Application Days will be October 17-19! Colorado students will be able to apply to any public college or university and many private institutions for FREE during these three days! To learn more, check out the Colorado Free Application Days website.

Know any current 8th, 9th, or 10th grade families interested in learning more about the world of IB? Our IB Information Nights will be held this year on November 15 and December 6. See the flyer below for more information, and be sure to share it with anyone who might be interested in our amazing IB programme!

There are still a couple spots available for our trip to Greece over Spring Break in March 2024. If you are interested, please contact Mr. Bartholomew ASAP to get information on dates and cost. Here is the link for trip details.

October is our 'mid-point' in the fall semester and often times it is when students start to lose steam/excitement, the weather changes, and some poor habits might kick in. Try your best to shake the feeling of wanting to cozy up inside and binge Netflix when the colder temps hit and your couch feels so inviting. Instead, try to stick to some of your healthy habits of studying in order to remain strong through the second half of the fall semester. Below are some helpful tips for staying focused.

Teens Health: Staying Focused Article

Get Organized

• Organize your stuff - clean out backpacks/binders, tidy up loose leaf paper, get rid of things you don't need
• Organize your space - create a quiet space in your room or home to work
• Organize your time - make use of your planner/calendar, write down all assignments, mark out upcoming due dates, schedule your activities/sports., etc.

Get Focused

• Avoid Distractions - stop multitasking, work in quiet areas, put the phone away
• Take Breaks - short breaks are proven to increase efficient and productive work
• Refocus yourself

Get it Done!

• DO know your deadlines.
• DO make a calendar of stages and final due dates.
• DO include social events on this calendar for time management.
• DO understand the assignment and expectations.
• DO give yourself a quiet place to study with all the materials you need.
• DO give yourself brief breaks.
• DON'T put work off until the last minute; you'll be too frantic to focus.
• DON'T do your homework late at night or in bed.
• DON'T let yourself be bored. Find the aspect of the project or paper that interests you. If you're dying of boredom, something's not right.

The IB Parent Group will host a meeting on Wednesday, October 25 @ 6:30pm in the IB office (DRHS library) for anyone looking to become a part of this awesome group! The commitment and time given is very minimal, and this will be the only meeting this semester (see how easy this is?!). If you're looking for a way to help support our Pre-IB/IB kids, please join us this evening to learn how you can help. If you're interested in learning more about how you can help out, but can't attend the meeting, reach out to: DRIBPG@gmail.com or Holly Davis at: holly.davis@jeffco.k12.co.us. Thanks!