So, here it is, the beginning of 2.5 weeks with the kids out of school.
The holiday break is so restful and sweet, isn’t it?
Heck no. We stress out, rushing around town trying to get everything done. Our cortisol levels soar as we struggle to adapt to a temporary new routine, deal with amped [...]

Colorado failed once again to receive a grant in the latest “Race to the Top” competition, the U.S. Department of Education announced this morning.
In the previous two rounds, Colorado was a finalist, but did not receive any funds.
North Carolina, Massachusetts, Washington, Delaware, Ohio, Maryland, Minnesota, Rhode Island and California were chosen to receive anywhere from [...]

A group of teenagers is hanging out when the talk turns to sex. Questions are raised, but the answers within the assemblage range from somewhat plausible to downright laughable.
Where do they go for the truth?
Like everything else “teen” these days, it could be their cellphones. At least that’s the hope of Planned Parenthood, which on [...]

Guest blogger from Aurora Laura Neiman, a.k.a. LaLaGirl, was recently featured in a national nonprofit’s year-end fundraising video. This is her heartwarming story about the experience for her family and overcoming her anxiety of the unknown.
Early in October, my friend Dawn Crawford pitched me the idea of heading up to the mountains with my kids [...]

Through Dec. Horn in on holiday fun at two Denver Brass concerts: “’Twas the Brass Before Christmas” on Saturday and “Joy to the World!” on Sunday and Dec. 22-23. “Brass Before Christmas” features a full program of holiday favorites, including a selection of sing-along Christmas carols. Santa is slated to pay a visit, too. Then, [...]

A coalition of 18 community organizations has launched a nearly $1 million Internet-based project that translates state rankings of public schools into simple letter grades.
“Every parent can relate to grades A through F,” said Colorado Succeeds president Tim Taylor, a member of the Colorado School Grades coalition. “We’re not changing inputs, just translating in a [...]

Sharpen those blades of glory: Colorado’s outdoor ice-skating rinks are open and glistening in the wake of a dozen Zambonis. Some rinks are cozy and family-oriented, like Lakewood’s little Rink at Belmar, where a couple of long glides can take a skater halfway around the ice. Go to larger rinks, like Keystone’s frozen lake, to [...]

In a ruling that could have profound consequences for Colorado’s budget, a Denver judge Friday said the state’s school-funding system is not “thorough and uniform” as mandated by the state constitution.
The state’s school-funding system “is not rationally related to the mandate to establish and maintain a thorough and uniform system of free public schools,” District [...]

Holiday revelers have plenty of options when it comes to finding the perfect Christmas tree. They can buy artificial timber preloaded with lights and ornaments. Or, they can opt for the real deal, selecting a Colorado spruce or Douglas fir from one of the many precut vendors who set up shop this time of year.
But [...]

In a recent interview with Dr. Jeffrey I. Dolgan, PhD, Senior Psychologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, we asked how to manage children’s expectations during the holidays. Here’s what Dr. Dolgan had to say about how to deal with holiday let-downs if Santa, Mom or Dad come up short.
What do kids expect at Christmastime or Hanukkah?
Kids [...]