At one recent Denver middle-school open house, the principal greased visiting fifth-graders’ palms with chocolate. Another dangled international travel before visitors. And one captivated recruits with classroom chairs that actually bounce, to accommodate fidgeting pre-teens.
Practically every Denver middle school now invites fifth-graders and their parents to an open house. Many host fifth-graders as they “shadow” [...]

Through Saturday. The holidays are extra sweet at the Candy Cane Festival at Hammond’s Candies. The historic candy factory hosts the party for two days this year, beginning today with a miniature version of the annual festival—think of it as a sneak preview. Visit on Saturday for the full experience: cookie decorating, caroling, storytelling, trolley [...]

Guest Post by Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition
As Coloradans, we often boast about residing in America’s leanest state, enjoying 300 days of sunshine and being one of the most educated states in the country. But a new Associated Press report issued last week puts Colorado at the top of another list – No. 2 for vaccine [...]

On first meeting, Sully Coronado exudes a warmth and confidence that suggest she’s comfortably on her way to, well, wherever she wants to go.
The University of Northern Colorado sophomore is majoring in special education with an emphasis in teaching English as a second language, bilingual/bicultural and Spanish. She is the first in her family to [...]

December Daily Calendar of Holiday Fun in Colorado
2 Lights on parade, Denver and Boulder
The 9News annual parade follows a 2-mile route in downtown Denver. 8 p.m. Dec. 2 (also on TV) and 6 p.m. Dec. 3. Free or purchase a grandstand seat. Visit denver paradeoflights.com. Downtown Boulder’s Lights of December Parade begins at 6 p.m. [...]

It’s the yearly holiday list of the baker’s dozen of clever, thoughtful and creative gifts for everyone in the family. Black Friday is over (thank goodness) and now it’s time to shop locally. Of course every product or idea on this list is Colorado-based. From coffee and chocolates to theater tickets and donations to charity, [...]

Through Saturday. The 36th annual 9News Parade of Lights twinkles its way through downtown, starting tonight. This year’s parade brings a couple of new treats to the lineup: A huge, 42-foot-long tiger balloon and an updated float for Santa and his sleigh. Plenty of familiar favorites will be on-hand, too, including the puppy and Major [...]

A new survey puts Colorado second-highest for parents refusing vaccines for their kids, a trend that increasingly troubles state health officials.
Vaccine advocates in Colorado said the Associated Press tally of vaccine refusals reflects an abysmal state rate for preventive shots. They said Colorado’s education system makes it too easy to opt out of shots, and [...]

Near-record campaign contributions, national media attention and large voter turnouts revealed deeper public interest in education in Colorado this year.
Mostly stagnant graduation rates and the increasingly costly needs of remediation for those students who decide to pursue higher education have spurred a reform movement offering myriad choices for quick change.
Others see the movement as a [...]

When the sun sets and the temperature dips at Santa’s Workshop, the 55-year-old Christmas village and kiddie amusement park nestled in the mountains northwest of Colorado Springs, the last man on site just happens to be the big man on campus.
Santa Claus​, played this year for the first time by longtime area resident Phil Tracy, [...]