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On October 4th, the Colorado Department of Education released information about student attendance from before and after the pandemic. Across Colorado, 31% of students missed 10% of school during the 2022-23 school year. That is much higher than the 18-24% of students who missed 10% of school prior to the pandemic.

Chronic absenteeism is when a student misses 10% of the school days in a given year. That is 14-15 days a school year. Of course, students will be sick and they should stay home to recover and prevent others from getting sick. But, here are somethings that parents should know about students missing school when they are not sick:

• Every school day, students are learning new material in their subject areas. They miss that instruction when they are not there, and for many students, it is difficult to self-teach what was taught in class. This can have a negative impact on a student's grade and achievement. It can also have a negative impact on the student wellbeing. It is harder to feel like one is part of the classroom community, make friends and build relationships, and share in the same experiences.
• Kindergarten is not like it was when many parents and teachers went to school. By the end of kindergarten, students are expected to be able to read, write, and do simple math. Students are expected to know all their capital and lowercase letters and sounds, and they are learning how to combine the sounds into words. Students are expected to write in simple, complete sentences with punctuation. Students are expected to know their numbers through 20 and do simple addition and subtraction. If kindergarten students miss 10% or more of school, by the time they enter first grade, they are already behind and in need of remediation. Even though kindergarten is not required by law, the academic expectations the state has set for third grade makes it almost impossible for a student to be proficient without a full kindergarten experience.
• When students simply don't want to go to school and are allowed to miss school, it becomes a lot harder to explain and justify why we all have to do things we don't want to do. After high school and in the workforce, poor attendance can affect one's employment and paycheck. The lessons become more expensive after high school.

The schools are working at various incentive programs to partner with parents to improve attendance. The elementary schools and middle school have contests for consistent attendance where classes get prizes or special treats and events. The high school is tying daily attendance to points earned or loss in class. From the district level, we do have to consider whether a student can be promoted to the next grade if chronic absenteeism had a negative effect on grades and learning.

Ultimately, we want every student in Garfield 16 to have all the opportunities that come after graduation there for their choosing. We don't want to see students miss out on their education in a way that limits or eliminates choices and opportunities for a productive and independent life.

Parents and guardians, the principals need your help. Reach out to your child's principal or school counselor if you need support in getting your child to come to school regularly. They are creative and will find a way to help you and your child.

Our previous app, called "Garfield 16" will be unpublished soon, and will not be updated. Please download the new app by searching for "Garfield 16 Schools" (or clicking these links) in the Apple App Store or Google Play. Look for our new logo (pictured here, on the right of this article). To set up the app:

1. Find it in the app store: Apple or Google.
2. Download the app.
3. Accept the terms and conditions by scrolling down to the bottom and clicking "accept."
4. Find your school(s) by location or by selecting from a list.
5. Watch this instructional video for more information.

The new website is found at the same URL, www.garfield16.org. This page defaults to the "District Home Page." Scroll down to see news and announcements, a calendar you can filter by school(s), and helpful links for transportation, nutrition, etc. The school's websites can be found at the top of the "District Home Page" clicking on "Schools" in the top right of the page, and selecting the school or the School-Based Family Resource Center.

Find a broken link or have suggestions about what should/shouldn't include on our websites or app, please attend our next District Accountability Committee Meeting on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 6:30 pm. The meeting will take place at the St. John's Administration Building (460 Stone Quarry Road, Battlement Mesa, CO 81635).

On August 25, 2023, the Grand Valley Fire Protection District and CFL staff arrived in the early morning to set up and get cooking for the annual "CFL Pancake Breakfast." The annual event is hosted by CFL to celebrate the first full week of school for Kindergarten and 1st Grade families. Parents, guardians, grandparents, and CFL students and siblings filled the CFL auditorium to enjoy breakfast together. The Grand Valley Fire Protection District flipped hundreds of pancakes and CFL staff helped serve. Having cooks from the Grand Valley Fire Protection District allows families to see some of our community's first responders. According to CFL Principal Kim Frees, "just having them visible and making this a community event is amazing." Frees continued, the goal of the annual event is "to bring the community together, to get parents involved in their child's education, to know that education is important, and that they are very welcome in our school at any time."

CFL families filled the CFL auditorium once again on September 29, 2023 to participate in the first "CFL Family Fun Night." CFL students and their families were given sheets of paper with their scavenger hunt clues. Families searched inside and outside the building to find clues, solve puzzles, and enjoy the crisp fall air. The "CFL Family Fun Night" was created by CFL's "Building Leadership Team." According to CFL Special Education Teacher Jennifer Jablonsky, "it's a fun way for children to show their families around the building, and for families to learn all the different things kids do at school."

Thank you to CFL staff, CFL families, and the Grand Valley Fire Protection District for making these events possible. Family engagement is an important part of your child's education. We encourage all families to get involved, as much as possible. To find out about different events in your child's school, please visit the District Calendar, click on the blue and white "filter" button, or the "+Calendars" and select your child(ren)'s school(s). Find an event that fits your schedule and join us! We hope to see you there.

The annual "BUE Bike Derby" took place on September 9, 2023. Each year, BUE partners with our local Kiwanis Club, Garfield County Outdoors, Parachute Police Department, Garfield County Sheriff's Office, Grand Valley Fire Protection District, and Alpine Bank to sponsor a "Bicycle Derby" at BUE. According to BUE Principal Amber Clark, "the purpose of the Derby is to encourage children to safely ride their bikes, support physical activity in our youth, and ensure all children have the opportunity to learn bike riding skills." This year, REI Glenwood Springs also joined the event.

BUE students and their families registered for raffle prizes and had their bikes serviced by REI staff, Kiwanis, and Garfield County Outdoors volunteers. Our bike repair volunteers were busy all day fixing flat tires, adjusting chains, replacing parts, and ensuring every student was able to ride away on a safe bicycle. Garfield 16's Outdoor Education Coordinator, Ari Philipson commented, "This year's BUE Bike Derby was a hit. We gave away over 24 helmets, as well as bike accessories, and bikes thanks to Parachute Kiwanis and REI, who were there helping to repair brakes, gears, tires and everything in-between."

REI Glenwood Springs and Garfield County Outdoors created a partnership with the help of Garfield 16 Outdoor Education Coordinator Ari Philipson and REI Bike and Ski Technician Scott Sandbloom. Mr. Sandbloom is also known for being a former GVHS Science Teacher, serving our students for at least six years. According to Sandbloom, after talking with Philipson about the event "I volunteered REI to come out here and check kids' bikes and help them have fun, safe bikes. It's great to see all these kids out here on bikes." Sandbloom, REI Bike and Ski Technician Michaella Johnson, Kiwanis, Philipson, and other G16 volunteers serviced at least 100 bicycles. According to Sandbloom, his parting advice is to "get the kids on bikes, it's one of the best and fun ways to get out and get exercise."

After getting their bike serviced for free, students were then able to take on the obstacle course. According to BUE Principal Amber Clark, "students learned the basic rules of safely riding the road with their bicycles, including hand signaling and safe riding habits. There was an obstacle course with ramps and cones to practice bike skills, and our wonderful volunteers from Parachute Police Department, Garfield County Sheriff's Office, and Grand Valley Fire Protection District helped teach our students how to navigate our obstacle course and beyond safely."

Alpine Bank served free hot dogs, chips, cookies, and drinks for the community. About 20 raffle prizes were gifted to lucky winners. In addition to bike bells, reflectors, chains, and helmets, the prizes included REI backpacks, and even two brand new bicycles!

Thank you to our amazing community volunteers who worked together to make this another successful BUE Bike Derby!

G16 Schools were honored to have UFC Fighter Court McGee present to GVMS and GVHS students on September 21 and 22, 2023. The McGee Project "works to provide life-saving education to high school students regarding the disease of addiction. The Mcgee Project provides powerful stories from recovering addicts, who have found a way to overcome addiction and have gone on to achieve their dreams" www.mcgeeproject.org.

McGee's journey as a public speaker began with an invitation to speak at a "Narcotics Assembly" in Utah. The assembly consisted of narcotics officers, undercover officers, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, Sheriff's Departments, and any law enforcement agency working in drug taskforce. The same officers who reported to the scene of McGee's overdose were there to listen to his personal story of overcoming addiction. According to McGee, "I’ve become one of the top all time, longest, tenured fighters in the history of the UFC. I’ve supported my family. I’ve fought all over the world, and I’ve just always put first that I’m a person in long-term recovery, and I’ve always highlighted that. If anybody ever needed help, I just did whatever I could do to be in service to them, and so it’s kind of like my driving force."

Garfield 16 students filled the bleachers at the high school and middle school to listen to Court McGee's inspiring story of overcoming addiction and building his career. McGee also offered every student an opportunity to get a signed autographed photo and a picture with McGee himself.

McGee's message resonated with our students. GVHS student Trey Teter, Sophomore, reflected on the presentation, Trey learned "that no matter how far you fall, there's always a way back. You just have to keep finding your way back and never give up." GVHS student Michelle Baysinger, Sophomore, took the following from the presentation, "I feel like he got a second chance," and I learned "that second chances are important." When asked what they learned from Court McGee that they could say to a friend struggling with addiction, Trey commented, "It gets hard sometimes, but just keep pushing yourself to stop doing it as much as you can and in the end they have to decide for themselves, you can't really force them to do it." Michelle commented, "it's their decision, but to go somewhere that can help them, like the 12 step meetings."

McGee has presented to about 500,000 students, mostly in public schools. According to McGee, he aims "to carry the message to people that struggle" and "even though I’ve like had a lot of success as an athlete, inside, I am still just a kid from Layton High, my kids go to public school, I coach at a public school."

In addition to presenting to schools and organizations, The McGee Project also raises money to help those in recovery. The McGee Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Funding provided to the McGee Project is used to help students overcome addiction. McGee speaks with students directly, any student that comes forward after his presentation will go through an assessment process for McGee to determine what kind of support the student and/or family may need. McGee personally follows up with his students to ensure they are working towards sobriety, "if they decided they want to go to a boxing gym, and can't afford it, the McGee project will take care of that, and then I would follow-up with them on a regular basis, and build a relationship, and help them in whatever way that looks. Maybe finding them a job, maybe helping them out over the summer, maybe finding them living quarters, it’s kind of like a little bit of everything. It just depends, after I get to know them and figure out a game plan for them." The McGee project has helped countless students, and even their parents, overcome addiction and obtain the resources they need to live a life in recovery. When asked to give one sentence to a student or family struggling with addiction, McGee's message is: “Don’t ever, ever give up hope.”

To donate to The McGee Project, please visit www.mcgeeproject.org.

On Tuesday, October 3, 2023 and Wednesday, October 4, 2023 Garfield County elementary and secondary students gathered at Rifle Fireside Lanes to participate in the 3rd annual Special Olympics Bowling event. According to Colorado River BOCES Special Education Director, Julie Goldberg, "our bowlers competed and excelled in their competition." Thank you to the Garfield 16 Transportation Department, drivers, and Kristy Slife for helping our students access this amazing event.

Video by Chloe Williams

In Garfield 16, we are embracing the simple things and going back to some basics this year. Communicating between schools and families, focussing on student success, and unplugging in order to connect with one another and nature.

We are excited to be planning new programs and expeditions while bringing back many of the successes of last year. Brining 7th graders to Hanging Lake, kindergarten and 1st graders to the Grand Valley Challenge Course, and 4th graders to the Grand Mesa in the winter are some of the examples of continuing programming. We are looking for new ways of expanding programming for high schoolers and families by gaining insight from our community. We are excited to be growing during the 2023-24 school year.

Before the start of the school year, we had a Challenge Course Facilitator training to certify new staff and re-certify returning staff to guide groups on the course. This included a week-long training session focussing on team building on low elements, building trust in our climbing elements and rescue operations to keep everyone safe while on the course. Thank you to all our facilitators working to bring students, families, staff, and community groups onto the challenge course. To schedule your group to participate at the Grand Valley Challenge Course, please contact ari Philipson at aphilipson@garfield16.org.

Other exciting adventures include the Grand Valley Middle School Outdoor Class through the PE program. Taught by PE teacher and nature enthusiast, David Spies, students will learn outdoor skills from skiing to fishing. Students will be utilizing their skills in two adventure expeditions throughout the semester. GVMS Teacher, Mr. Spies, commented on the program: "I am extremely excited to be teaching such an eclectic and diverse selection of classes this year. In particular, I am privileged to be teaching kids to engage with and enjoy the vast and beautiful outdoors we all call home. This year, I am presenting fishing, biking, hiking, camping, xc skis, snowshoes, survival strategies, navigation, and the principles of stewardship to the land. I hope to build capacity and connections as the years progress!"

The Outdoor Club at Grand Valley High School is excited to be continuing expeditions this year. Allison Clark, GVHS Outdoor Club sponsor, is planning out various trips throughout the school year involving camping, fishing, hiking, skiing, winter survival and rock climbing. The club meets once a month and many of the trips are available to high school students on Mondays. If students are interested in joining the club, they can contact Ms. Clark at allisonclark@garfield16.org.

Now that schools are back in session, we are excited to continue wonderful programming for all students. In working with school's, we are seeking to grow our grade-level expeditions to connect student learning to hands-on experiences. Please keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities throughout the school year and ways to get involved.

The G16 Outdoor Education Program has been busy this fall! In September, GVHS Leadership, GVHS Cheer, BUE 5th graders, and G16 staff all participated in high and low ropes elements on the Grand Valley Challenge Course. They learned to work together and improved their communication, trust, and problem solving skills.

In late September, BUE 3rd graders ventured to the Colorado National Monument were they learned to about the National Parks system and principles of Leave no Trace from teachers and park rangers. Students got to visit learning stations along a hike to immerse themselves in the amazing rock formations of Devil's Kitchen.

GVMS 8th graders traveled to the Rifle Arch and the Rifle Heritage Museum to learn about the local history and landscapes of western Garfield county. Groups were assigned a self guided scavenger hunt at the museum developed by Micah Amborn which engaged students to travel back to a time before cell phones and imagine life from the 1890's-1970's. They also hiked the Rifle Arch trail to learn about the natural process that forms such grand geologic formations.

This Fall, the GVHS Outdoor club also kicked off their year with a hike at Rifle Arch. They also got to enjoy the fun beginner and intermediate trail network there on mountain bikes.

Last week, CFL 1st graders participated in a "Community Walking Tour." Our 1st grade classrooms visited Parachute Police Department, Parachute Branch Library, Parachute Town Hall, Fire Station #2, and the Parachute Post Office. 1st graders learned about how these buildings and the people who work there help our community.

This week, kindergarteners put on their explorer hats and traveled to Cottonwood Park for a day of discovery. They traveled to various stations to learn skills of using tools to learn and see new things. They got to get their little hands dirty looking for life under the soil, binoculars to find animals up close, craft some fun art by doing leaf and bark rubbings, and get to play a game of explorer Bingo along a walk to Parachute Pond.

The multi grade level classes at BUE taught by Priscilla Hubert and Judy Drake also went on a field trip. Students got to sit shotgun and see what life is like for firefighters at the main fire station. They also got to imagine life as a student in pioneer times while at the Old Schoolhouse. Thank you to our Grand Valley Historical Society and Grand Valley Fire Protection District for making this a fun and educational day for kids.

The 4th grade trip to the Grand Mesa was modified due to a foot of snow that fell that day. So the following day, classes went to Rifle Arch as well as a backup location. There they rotated through stations on topics including, geology, weathering/erosion and navigation. They also preserved and motivated one another along the hike to the base of the arch.

The GVMS Outdoor class got to take their skills of fishing and climbing out to Parachute Pond and the GV Challenge Course. Middle school students took it upon themselves to teach one another how to hook and clean fish and showed exemplary respect to one another and our natural spaces.

The High School also took advantage of outdoor learning connections at the start of their second quarter. Ms. Willer's Honors Environmental Science classes hiked to Cottonwood to do a biodiversity lesson comparing the Colorado River and Parachute Creek. They sampled macroinvertebrates to look for changes in biodiversity in the two river systems. Ms. Doyal's Honors Physical Science class traveled to the Challenge Course to do some real world physics lessons. Students engaged in a lab to discover balanced and unbalanced forces on various elements including the giant swing.

Hanging Lake was frequented by many G16 students and families this fall. GVHS freshman, GVMS 7th grade, and G16 families were invited to hike to the iconic destination to learn about the recent impact of the Grizzly Creek fire and hike the trail. We are thrilled to get to share this opportunity if visiting this unique natural and rugged landscape with our local community. Thank you to all the USFS, volunteers, chaperones, and teachers for helping to bring over 200 G-16 students and community to Hanging Lake.

October is an exciting time to get outside and explore. Later this month we have 5th grade doing team building days at the Challenge Course, 6th grade going to visit the Eureka Science museum in Grand Junction and more outdoor and field exploration coming up.

Starting October 2nd, while supplies last. Pick up your Halloween Costume Monday through Thursday 8:00 am- 4:00 pm.

Thank you to all who donated during our Costume Drive! If you have old costumes lying around, we will still accept any donations.

Grand Valley Giving Tree Registration closes November 1st! The Grand Valley Givers hope that these gifts will help make the holiday season brighter for families in need of assistance. Families can register throughout the month of October. Follow this link to register.

The School-Based Family Resource Center will begin it's annual Holiday Food Drive November 16 through December 13, 2023. Items donated will be used for Holiday Food Baskets distributed to families in need this holiday season. Please drop off unexpired items at the School-Based Family Resource Center (251 N. Parachute Ave., Parachute, CO 81635) Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Here is a list of the most needed items:

• Boxed stuffing mix (like Stovetop)
• Instant mashed potatoes in boxes or packets
• Jars of turkey gravy or dried gravy mix packets
• Dry macaroni
• Frozen Turkey or Ham
• Canned cranberry sauce
• Canned veggies
• Cornbread mix
• Canned pumpkin or fruit pie filling
• Pie crust mix
• Salt and pepper

August 11, 2023 was the Shoe & Backpack Distribution, sponsored by the Grand Valley Methodist Church. Students and their families were welcomed to the event with a table of free vegetables grown at the community garden across the street. Students were directed to tables filled with shoes and volunteers eager to help them try on their new shoes. Each student received a new pair of shoes, three pairs of socks, keychains, and a backpack. Thanks to the partnership with Grand Valley Methodist Church, 115 pairs of shoes were distributed just in time for the first day of school. According to Laurel Koning, Chairman of the Mission & Outreach Committee of the Grand Valley Methodist Church, the annual event began in 2014. Laurel and "her angels" (about 20 community volunteers) coordinated with the Resource Center to identify students in need, and their shoe size. According to Koning, "Claudia is the one that makes the list of shoes, she works with the teachers and knows where the students are that are in need, so I get the list from her, and then I go shopping, and that's how we get the shoes. I have some angels who go with me. My favorite part is seeing the kids enjoy getting new shoes, it's really fun. It's a great community and we love them all."

The Resource Center was busy at the end of the summer, collecting school supply donations. The Lighthouse Assembly of God donated school supplies and backpacks, All Saints Episcopal Church donated $200 that went towards to the purchase of school supplies, BPOE Rifle Elks Lodge 2195 donated five boxes of school supplies, and Sonic Automotive and EchoPark Automotive donated more than 50 backpacks (more information below). According to Leah Manzanares, Rifle Elks Lodge Esteemed Lecturing Knight, even though the Elks Lodge is based out of Rifle, the organization performs various outreach activities to the Parachute/Battlement Mesa Community. "Our community means a lot to me," Manzanares commented, "and if I could help one child, I'm grateful for that. I'm passionate about volunteering. I know how it is for single parents and low-income families, they need this stuff. It has a place in my heart." The Rifle Elks Lodge is always looking for new members, call 970-625-2195 for more information, or join them on Thursday nights at 6:30 pm for Bingo Night, open to the public.

Thank you to all of these wonderful organizations and businesses for ensuring all of our students have access to school supplies!

On August 9, 2023, representatives from Grand Junction Subaru, Grand Junction Volkswagen, Glenwood Springs Volkswagen, Land Rover Roaring Fork, and Audi Glenwood Springs drove from their respective locations to The Grand Valley Center for Family Learning. These representatives unloaded 50 backpacks filled with school supplies as part of their "Backpack Bonanza." Each backpack was filled with: a 24-pack of crayons; a 10-pack of markers; a pair of headphones; a standard two-pocket binder; a ruler; a water bottle; a multi-program handwriting tablet; a winter hat and gloves; a 12-pack of colored pencils; a highlighter; pens; a pack of tissues; a 12-pack of watercolor paints and brush; "The See and Do, Laugh and Learn Magazine;" a 36-pack of construction paper; a stuffed animal; a supply pocket full of pencils, erasers, pencil sharpener, and dry erase marker; and a handwritten note. According to Andrew Martinez, General Manager of Sonic Automotive, "we are really big on taking care of the people and community around us."

The two automotive groups received supplies from Cheeriodicals, a national corporate team-building company that assists corporations with their community giveback efforts. Once the supplies were received, each team worked together to assemble the backpacks, carefully filling them with supplies and hand written notes wishing each student a successful school year. "We received 30 backpacks and school supplies, and then I asked the employees if they wanted to do cash donations and we received about $300 from the employees, so then we purchased extra backpacks, supplies and lunch boxes," said JD Webster, Accounts Payable Clerk for Sonic Automotive. "It was a fun day for us," Webster reflected on the day employees gathered to assemble the backpacks, "we did this huge potluck and everybody came over to our used car building, it probably took us about 4 hours, we all hung out and ate, and it was a good team building experience, to come together to give back to the community I think makes everybody feel good."

Upon receiving the donation, CFL Principal Kim Frees commented, "This is wonderful, it really truly warms my heart and makes me feel blessed to be in such an amazing community, and it's even better that you actually came down in person. Our families and teachers will be appreciative, and I know our Superintendent is very appreciative, I know Dr. Baugh was very excited about this partnership."

According to Cheeriodicals, during the past summer, Cheeriodicals facilitated the project with Sonic Automotive and Echo Park Automotive. Their employees assembled "2,500 backpacks (filled with school supplies) for kindergarten and 1st-grade students" across the country.

Thank you to Sonic Automotive for your donations, time, energy, and thoughtfulness that went into each backpack. Our families appreciate all of your efforts and were overjoyed to receive your donation.

This summer, from July 10 through August 14, community members reported to Beasley Park every Monday evening to secure their bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables. The Town of Parachute partnered with the Resource Center and Early Morning Orchards to make the first year of the Monday Market a success.

According to Parachute Town Manager Travis Elliott, "it started as Public Health reaching out about needing more local, fresh produce options, and we had just completed the initial rounds of the planning process for the Downtown Development Plan. One of the things we heard from the community is that people would like to see more of the farmer's market types of events held downtown, on 1st street, so this seemed to be the natural partnership and opportunity."

When The Town of Parachute (TOP) started planning the market, they heard from Public Health, as well as local farmers and vendors, that adding another farmer's market to their weekly market rotation would be very difficult. TOP took that feedback and decided to purchase produce from Early Morning Orchards, located in Palisade, Colorado. Early Morning Orchards provided fresh produce sourced from local farms throughout Colorado, mostly in the Grand Junction area. According to Elliott, "what we were able to accomplish, streamlined everything, where we just had the single farm that's sourcing produce from all the farmers and bringing it up and delivering it to the one produce stand. It was the best way to get the most variety, the most bang for our buck, especially for the first year."

The TOP purchased the produce at wholesale cost, set the retail prices, and provided the infrastructure. The School-Based Family Resource Center staffed the farm stand with volunteers, and our community came out to enjoy fresh, local produce. As the Monday Market continued throughout the summer, sales increased, and other vendors came to participate. In addition to the farm stand, a local bakery, Parachute Branch Library, local musicians, and Cooking Matters joined the festivities.

The proceeds from the Monday Market were donated to the Resource Center, totaling $1,230.99. According to Elliott, "we were ecstatic about that, because we didn't know if we were going to make anything, but I think the community came out in full support, not only supporting the Family Resource Center, but people were really excited just to have access to quality, fresh local produce."

Be on the lookout for the Monday Market next summer. The TOP hopes to grow the market. "Going forward, if someone wanted to participate, and they had the proper business licenses, and they were ready to go and established, they are more than welcome to participate," Elliot commented. More information will be posted on www.pararachute.gov when the summer approaches.

The Battlement Mesa Ladies Golf Club hosted another successful "Golf for a Cause" tournament on September 16, 2023. Eighty individuals signed up to participate in one of 20 teams competing in the tournament. Participants reported to the Battlement Mesa Golf Course to sign in, enter into the raffle, buy mulligans, and get their swag bag filled with goodies. Each team reported to their first hole and enjoyed a fun-filled day of golfing for a great cause. There were prizes for longest men's drive, longest women's drive, closest to the hole, hole in one, and of course, for the winning team. This year's winning team consisted of Scott Carpenter, Garrett Cora, Tom Kerrigan, and Collin Kerrigan, with a winning score of 67.

Thanks to entry fees and private donations, the Battlement Mesa Ladies Golf Club raised $2,600 for the School-Based Family Resource Center. According to Gail Brodsack, President of the Battlement Mesa Ladies Golf Club, "we're here to support the community and a non-profit, and we appreciate everything that the Family Resource Center does for the community and for families here."

This is about the 18th year of the Golf for a Cause tournament. Each year, the Ladies Golf Club asks for suggestions from it's members on who the beneficiary for the tournament should be. The club prioritizes local non-profits and strives to keep the money local. "We received great feedback on how much fun the tournament was and what a success it was," Brodsack commented, "we are so pleased that we could raise $2,600 for the Resource Center, and we surpassed our $2,500 last year."

Thank you to the Battlement Mesa Ladies Golf Club, the Battlement Mesa Golf Course, and all who participated in the event for helping the Resource Center continue our efforts to help families in need. Also, thank you to the following businesses, organizations, and League members who donated prizes: Battlement Mesa Golf Club, Adobe Creek Golf Club, Devils Thumb Golf Club, Glenwood Springs Golf Club, Lakota Links, Rifle Creek Golf Club, Choice Liquor, Columbine Liquor, Guzzler Liquor, Silt Discount Liquor, Brick House, El Tapatio Parachute, Funky Bear Restaurant, Hong's Garden, Order Up, Miner's Claim, The Little Coffee Shack, Orchard Avenue Boutique, The Rough Bar & Grill, Clark's Market, Grand Valley Mercantile, Kabloom Flowers, Wild Roots Boutique, Rifle Fireside Lanes, Sinclair Grub & Scrub, The Whimsical Wagon, Walmart, Grand River Health, Alpine Bank, Starbucks, Garfield County Public Libraries, Margaret Cooke, Diana Wellendorf, Karen Hamick, Mary Lee Mohrlang, Jane Edwards, Judi Gentilcore, Kay Goad, Gail Brodsack, Nellie Yeakel, Dani Pruitt, Betty Mosby, and Sharon Raggio.

FACEBOOK

WEBSITE

Please do not hesitate to reach out to our School Based Family Resource Center for more information.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Claudia Flores Cruz

Center Coordinator

970-285-5262

cflorescruz@garfield16.org

Please review the attached guidance from Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment regarding when to keep your child at home due to an illness.

Garfield County Public Health and Garfield 16 have teamed up to offer a Vaccine and Immunization Clinic in Parachute! The clinic will be offered on the first Monday of every month, as long as appointments are scheduled. Garfield County Public Health will be stationed at the School-Based Family Resource Center from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, by appointment only. Please call 970-625-5200 to schedule an appointment, stating that you would like to schedule for the Parachute clinic.

Our free breakfast and lunch program is a yearly grant process. Our district has qualified again for a free breakfast and lunch program for SY 2023-2024.

• Breakfast Program: All students can receive breakfast free of charge. It is important that your child arrives at school on time in order to have time to enjoy a meal before a long day of learning!

• Lunch Program: All students can receive lunch free of charge. If your child brings lunch from home, please make sure it does NOT need to be heated in a microwave as there are no microwaves available.

Please do not send soda pop in your child’s school lunch. We ask that you send a healthier choice such as juice, water, or milk.

Parents wishing to eat lunch with their child may do so, please call the school office by 9:00am if you would like to order a hot lunch. The charge for an adult lunch is $4.25 and for a visiting child it is $2.75. Please remember that the school only accepts cash or a check for payment.

Menus for the new schools year will be found on our school district Nutrition Website.

Meal Prices for Visitors:

Student Lunch $2.75

Milk $0.70

Adult Lunch $4.25

Together, with Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) and USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Garfield County School District 16 is dedicated to strengthening school meals to improve children’s health. As part of the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative, we are excited to share that G16 was awarded a grant to support our efforts to improve the nutritional quality and availability of school meals. The Healthy Meals Incentives grant is part of an allocation of nearly $30 million by the USDA FNS to 264 school districts across 44 states and the District of Columbia.

“These grants are the largest targeted investment USDA has ever made for school meal programs in small and rural communities,” said Stacy Dean, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services. “We want to ensure every child in America has the opportunity to attend a school with high-quality, nutritious meals, and this support is a step in that direction.”

As part of the Healthy Meals Incentives grant program, AFHK and its partners will provide us with in-depth individualized technical assistance to support and guide the implementation of key strategies to improve school meal quality, as well as help us to develop creative solutions to provide nutritious foods for the children we serve.

“Offering healthier school meals is key to helping our nation’s kids get the nutrients they need today and for their long-term development,” said Rob Bisceglie, CEO of Action for Healthy Kids. “Through this historic investment in school nutrition, we will help school districts across the country overcome challenges and develop solutions to provide nutritious foods for the children they serve.”

Learn more about the Healthy Meals Incentives and view a grantee map at: www.healthymealsincentives.org/grantees.

Leave home early enough to arrive at your bus stop on time.

Be at the school bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time and stay there.

Enter your bus in an orderly manner. Take your seat promptly.

When the driver opens the door, get on immediately and go directly to your seat.

Remain in your seat while your bus is in motion.

Standing, kneeling on the seats, or facing the rear of the bus, hanging out in the aisle are unsafe riding positions and not allowed. The correct and safest position is seated facing forward with your back against the seatback cushion.

Keep your head and arms inside the bus at all times.

Serious injury could result from being struck by an object the bus passes being thrown against the window frame as the bus goes over a bump.

Keep aisles clear.

Feet, legs, arms, and bodies, as well as books, bags, lunch pail, instruments and all other “stuff” must be kept out of the aisle.

Remain quiet and orderly.

Shouting or any loud noise is not acceptable. Inside voices at all times, a low noise level is imperative for the safest driving conditions. Abusive language, profane or obscene, is not acceptable.

Be courteous to your school bus driver and fellow passengers.

Keep your hands to yourself, pushing, grabbing, throwing objects, etc., can be dangerous and are not permitted.

Follow the instructions of your school bus driver.

Always be cooperative and obey your driver. Assign seat will be given if instructions are not followed. Followed by a phone home, and a write-up. If necessary school bus privileges will be suspended.

Additional information: All violations of these rules are dealt with on an individual basis.

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