Building Durango's Future - VOTE for a New Durango School Board

Colorado Freedom Force: Defending Colorado Kids

HB24-1039 - Non-Legal Name Changes

This bill requires schools to use a student's preferred name when requested by the student, deeming the school's refusal to do so a form of discrimination. No parental consent required. If little Johnny asks to be called "Stink-a-Saurus" or "Frankenstein", teachers must comply not only verbally, but also in print on classroom rosters, yearbooks, and ID cards without requiring a court-ordered name change.

And that's not all. The bill also creates a 9-member task force within the Department of Education to help guide schools into compliance. The cherry on top is the addition of the "safety clause" making the bill unable to be repealed through the ballot initiative process should it become law.

HB24-1040 - Gender-Affirming Health Care Provider Study

Authorizes the use of public funds for the government to conduct a gender-affirming health-care provider study which would include identifying the number and location of providers, health insurance companies offering coverage, the different types of "treatment" and even the number of reported threats to providers.

SB24-014 - Seal of Climate Literacy Diploma Endorsement

Who better to teach (indoctrinate) your child on "climate literacy", obviously a made-up term, than the government?

This bill authorizes school districts to add a seal of endorsement to students' diplomas when they have demonstrated mastery in "green skills" after taking at least two courses in the area of "climate literacy".

FMI:

Fighting for Freedom in Colorado · Colorado Freedom Force Freedoms and liberties in Colorado are DISAPPEARING! Join the Colorado Freedom Force to be part of the grassroots activism to win them back!

🍎GOOD NEWS FOR DURANGO!🍎
Covenant Christian Academy is enrolling this spring for 9th grade in August of 2024. CCA is a private Christian high school opening in Durango. I am attaching our website, a copy of our flyer with an invitation to our next town hall on February 7th, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. in the St. Columba gym - 1801 E 3rd Ave, Durango.

CCA is founded on a shared covenant of ecumenical formation, moral development, discipline, academic excellence, and a small-school community of self-worth and service. ● Academic excellence is the result when children are being formed in a human expression of their faith that is grounded in God’s love and gospel truth, distinguishing clearly what is right and wrong, and practicing self-discipline in a structured environment. ● Students become leaders in their education taking ownership of their learning through full cooperation and respect for their teachers, learning community, and their church.

For More Info:
Lyn O'Brien, [email protected]
Website, ccasw.org
Link to complete a non-binding expression of interest and continue to receive information on our first enrollment year https://forms.gle/rQ4674bkXLJPS8W89

😡

Ute Mountain Ute and former Cortez school leader faces 12 s*x charges in indictment The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Colorado on Friday announced that Lyndreth H**p Wall of Towaoc, a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council and a recent member of the Montezuma-Cortez Board of Educa...

CHEC.org:
High School & Beyond Seminar - Help your children prepare to live out their calling

Saturday, January 6, 2024
New Hope Presbyterian Church, Castle Rock, CO

Whether you’re just beginning homeschooling or have done it for years, high school can feel like a whole new game. We’ve created the High School & Beyond Seminar for you — a full day with veteran homeschool parents prepared to coach you to create an excellent, workable high school plan. Bring your student along and get prepared to finish well!

For more info or to register: https://chec.org/events/high-school-and-beyond-seminar/

High School & Beyond Seminar High school homeschooling can feel intimidating! Join us and learn how to move forward with confidence as you homeschool through high school.

Hi Friends

We have a special opportunity to make a difference in our community by helping our 9-R 1st, 2nd and 3rd Graders to read. You do not need to be an educator or have teaching experience to participate. Any caring adult can volunteer!

This Fall semester our 40 volunteers have made a huge impact on the lives of their students. The feedback we are receiving from our current coaches, parents, principals and school staff has been incredibly positive -- and we are so excited to have you join our wonderful group of volunteers.

We all know the statistics. A child that cannot read by Grade 3 has an overwhelming chance dropping out of school, ending up in jail or on drugs. ONE TO ONE provides all members of our community (business, parents/guardians, faith-based and involved citizens) an opportunity to play an integral role in helping struggling students with the support they need to be successful in reading. This is an organized program that has been in Northern Kentucky since 2008 and has been instrumental in their achieving 80-90% Reading Proficiency.

The folks from Kentucky are helping us organize and will provide all training and training materials. Please read the brochure and watch this video for more information regarding the program https://youtu.be/1tRas7x4Rak

All 9R Elementary Schools are participating. Volunteers are requested to hold one 35 minute session once a week with one student (it will be the same child each week) from the end of January to May while schools are in session.

Training Session Details:

Date: January 13
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: Durango School District Central Office, 201 East 12th Street, Durango, CO 81301

To secure your spot in the session, please sign up using the following link:
https://forms.gle/EHfo5DYzJqWzF85DA
Please note that the class has a limit of 25 participants, so please to sign up soon.

Feel free to share this information with anyone you think might be interested in this wonderful program.

If you have any questions or need further information, please don't hesitate to DM me.

Riley Gaines puts heat on Republican Ohio governor to sign ban on transgender surgery for minors Former collegiate swimming star Riley Gaines is putting pressure on Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to act on a bill to curb transgender medical treatment for minors.

Moms For America:
Think highly paid lobbyists are the only ones who have an in with our elected representatives?

THINK AGAIN!

You can develop a relationship of trust and even friendship with local, state, and national leaders, all from the warm and cozy, heart-filled comfort of your kitchen table...and this may have more impact on them than you ever realized. In this 4-week series, starting January 9, Rebekah Ricks will share how moms and grandmas and regular folks like us can have our voices heard, respected, and looked forward to.

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Kitchen Table Lobby. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Think highly paid lobbyists are the only ones who can have an in with our elected representatives? Think again! You can develop a relationship of trust and even friendship with local, state, and national leaders, all from the warm and cozy, heart-filled comfort of your kitchen table...and this may h...

🎄Blessings of the Season🎄

Carolyn Martin, CHEC's Director of Government Relations, wrote a blog yesterday concerning rule changes being considered by the Colorado State Board of Education. These rule changes will affect some part-time public school programs utilized by homeschoolers.

We encourage you to read the full blog here. In the meantime, here are some of the key takeaways:
https://chec.org/chec-blog/legislative-update-for-december-20-2023/

Takeaway #1: This is a rule change and not new legislation. Keep in mind that lawmaking authority resides solely with the legislature. Rules of how to implement and enforce those laws are set by Executive Branch departments or agencies.

Takeaway #2: What the government funds, the government controls. The proposed rule changes are a good example of this. This is why CHEC supports private home education.

Takeaway #3: The rule changes will affect some part-time public-school programs utilized by homeschoolers. However, as long as a homeschool family does not enroll in a public-school program, these rules do not apply.

Takeaway #4: While these specific proposed rule changes are not a threat to the homeschool law, the growth of part-time public school programs are a threat.

Takeaway #5: If you are not subscribed to the CHEC BLOG you are missing out on some great content! You can subscribe here!

The CHEC Team

Legislative Update for December 20, 2023 We've been keeping an eye on the committee clarifying the rules around part-time public school programs. Find out the latest here.

Moms For America First Meeting for the New Year!
The next regular meeting of the La Plata Moms For America chapter will be Tuesday January 23rd at 5:30 p.m. at the Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E 2nd Ave, Durango.

They’ll be sharing their regular monthly meeting support information and planning for Snowdown!

Can you help with a snowdown float? Upcoming Showdown parade is Friday, February 2nd @ 6:00 p.m. Moms For America is having a float in the parade. Help pass out flags, pocket Constitutions, and candy too. This years’ theme is Peace, Love, and Happiness (Hippy theme) so get your costumes ready and come join the fun.

For more info contact:
[email protected]
[email protected]

https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/125-durango-area-children-shop-with-a-cop-at-walmart/

125 Durango-area children ‘Shop with a Cop’ at Walmart About 125 children ran up and down the aisles of Walmart early Wednesday in Durango, each with $150 to spend on toys and clothes. The annual “Shop with a Cop” event is a win-win for law enforcement. I...

How to Homeschool When You're JUST TOO BUSY

You will LOVE watching this webinar! Sam Sorbo - actress, producer, and education freedom advocate - opens her heart and shares her own experience - the good, the bad, and the ugly - and shares how even the busiest and brokest families can pull their children out of public education!

Here is the link: https://moms4ed.net/homeschool-mom2mom-webinar-recaps-dec-2023/

Durango 9R
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING, DEC. 12, 2023

The next Regular Meeting of the Durango School District Board of Education is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 5:30 p.m.
Meeting will be held @ 201 E. 12th St., Durango.

You may also attend online:

Durango School District 9-R Live Streaming Channel

A new Biden administration rule forces schools to comply with progressive ideology on gender and s*xuality or risk losing the federal aid for free and reduced-price school lunches.

Legal observers say this is just the first in a slew of new rules on the horizon tying federal education funding to far-left policies on gender and s*xuality.

The school lunch funding controvesy began in May 2022, as The Center Square previously reported, with an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which handles federal help for school lunches.

The USDA said at the time it would change its longstanding interpretation of Title IX, the law broadly governing discrimination protections in education. USDA said it would expand its previous prohibition against discriminating based on s*x “to include discrimination based on s*xual orientation and gender identity.”

Biden rule takes lunch money from schools that reject progressive gender, s*xuality agenda Legal observers say rule is first several on horizon tying federal education funding to far-left policies on gender and s*xuality.

🍎

https://momsforamerica.us/how-schools-are-teaching-children-to-hate/

How Schools Are Teaching Children to Hate Their Country, Their Neighbors, Themselves A national movement of moms to reclaim our culture for truth, family, and freedom. Connect with moms across the nation and right in your own community to promote liberty, raise a new generation of patriots and heal America from the inside out!

Happy Thanksgiving 🦃

CDC: Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder
Now 1 in 36 children. What has changed?

Data and Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder | CDC About 1.7% of 8-year-old children in 11 communities in the US were identified with autism in 2014. See more autism data.

👍🍎

Child predators work overtime during the holidays......and so that means parents must, as well. Join us for this special webinar featuring former Royal Canadian Mountie, Nadine Ness, a child abuse prevention and intervention specialist, and also the founder of Grassroots United. Nadine will be sharing a plethora of information about protecting your child from predators, conversations to have with your child, and also signs that your child may already be an abuse target.

Moms for America: How to Protect Your Child

Register Today: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9016971467219/WN_2J3fRQBlTXaadeI18RbTzw #/registration

https://images.app.goo.gl/hSc85WkZZNrJ1CAc8

🇺🇸Thank you all Veterans🇺🇸

Title: Pin on Board Found on Google from pinterest.com

From The CHEC.org Team: Defending your family's freedom and helping you homeschool with confidence since 1990

Want to learn more about the history behind Veteran's Day and study it along with your kids? Look no further! Here is a FREE Veteran's Day unit study you can use with your family!

From the Christian Home Educators of Colorado here's the Link: https://chec.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Veterans-Day-Unit-Study-Revised.pdf

Unofficial Election Results:
Prop HH fails...Good news for Conservatives, All Coloradans, and Republicans. Over 60% of the voters did not want this ballot initiative! Big win for TABOR!

La Plata area unofficial school results:

Bayfield School unofficial results:
Molly Orendorff 1,451
Debbie Wilhelm 1,663
Justin Talbot 1,940
Amy De Prospo Davlin 1,427

Ignacio School unofficial results:
Ross Melton 802
Sheryle Hunter 566
Jerry Allen McCaw 723
Jay Dee Brunson 654
Gina M. Schultz 497

Thank you to all candidates for your willingness to run and Congratulations to the unofficial winners of these races.

FMI, visit:

Election Night Reporting

Moms For America - November 13th via Zoom.
Gender Confused Child? How to choose the best therapist.
Following this event, we are welcoming movie producer Vera Lindner and Stephanie Winn, LMFT, to discuss how to find a legitimate therapist for your family if your child is expressing gender confusion. This is great information for you to pass onto others who are walking this challenging road as well.
Registration includes access to their award-winning documentary, "No Way Back: The Realities of 'Gender-Affirming' Care" and will provide you concrete tools to help your child and yourself.
This webinar is FREE but you must register so PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH AT LEAST ONE MORE PERSON!

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Gender Confused Child? How to Choose the Best Therapist. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Join our panel of therapists (with integrity) to discuss "Wouldn't you rather have a living son than a dead daughter" and the other lies fed to parents of "gender-confused" children in this interactive, Q&A format webinar. Free access to the documentary, "No Way Back: The Reality of Gender-Affirming...