October is Colorado Safe Schools Month! We encourage students, staff, parents and community members to support school safety and wellness. In addition to activities happening at individual schools, see below for district-wide Safe Schools Month activities:
School Climate Survey - We need your feedback!
During the month of October, each school will be sending a link to parents with a brief 15-20 minute anonymous survey to gather perceptions about the school environment. Students and staff take the survey at school. This survey provides important feedback to schools in the area of school safety, engagement, and support. Please visit the LPS website for more detailed information about the survey content.
LPS and Kaiser Permanente present GHOSTED - A performance and conversation about teen mental health, October 15th at 7:00 - 8:30 pm at Mission Hills Church
To be “ghosted” is to feel rejected, ignored, alone, and cut off from the outside. This special performance includes a professional stage play and interactive conversation to engage teens and parents about challenging situations involving mental health, stress, supporting friends, and coping skills that can strengthen resilience. Come together with your teen to learn together about managing tough topics. Flyer attached - no registration required.
Sources of Strength Community Training - October 22nd at 6:30-8:00pm
This event will provide and introduction to the Sources of Strength program by participating in the same training our youth leaders experience in their schools. Come hear from LPS students and staff about how they are using a positive peer-led model to counteract the challenges our youth face today such as anxiety, anger and depression. Space is limited; please RSVP to jwidmier[at]lps.k12.co[dot]us if you are interested. Flyer attached.
SafeTALK Suicide Prevention Training - November 1, 8:00 - 11:00am
SafeTALK prepares participants to identify people with thoughts of suicide and connect them with life-saving first aid resources. This is a great opportunity for parents, coaches, or other community members who want to know how to help a potentially suicidal person. The workshop is open to any adult or youth 16 years or older and held at the LPS administrative building. To register please email Debbie Honeker at dhoneker[at]lps.k12.co[dot]us.
Offline October – Unplug and Start Living
Created by a group of LPS students, this nationally recognized campaign asks youth (and their parents) to take a break from social media for the month of October and spend time connecting in person. Visit www.offlineoctober.com for more information.
International Walk to School Day - October 2nd, 2019.
Promote health and community-building by walking to school together!
LPS Poetry Slam Competition & Workshops
All LPS high school students are invited to participate in our 9th Annual district-wide Poetry Slam event focused on healthy self-expression. The Poetry Slam Competition will be held Tuesday, November 19, 2018 at 7:00 pm at Powell Middle School. Workshops will be held at each high school. Flyer attached.
First Aid/CPR/AED Trainings
Sponsored by the LPS Security Department, the trainings are open to all LPS Parents, Community Members, and youth above the age of 11. The two-year certification cost is $26.00. Participants must make payment arrangements prior to attending the course. Various dates are available. To get more information and enroll in a course, email Dara Van Kampen at dvankampen[at]lps.k12.co[dot]us. The class is held in the evenings and multiple sessions are offered throughout the year.
Immunizations
Our schools are safer when we know the status of student immunizations. Littleton Public Schools Student Support office working hard in partnership with LPS parents to update student immunization records. Current and compliant immunization records or a current exemption must be on file with the school before November 1, 2019. Please check the LPS website for more information or contact your school's school nurse consultant or health assistant.
Additional Safety Resources for Parents:
How to Report Concerns - LPS Website
Mental Health Programs and Resources – LPS Website
Common Sense Media - Helping Families Make Smart Choices about Media and Technology
Parent & Teen Resources from the National Institute on Drug Abuse
Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Parents Can Do
10 Things Parents Can Do To Help Prevent Violence in Schools