School News: Green Valley Grange in Brighton has donated an automated external defibrillator

Students at Landmark academy at reunion celebrate first annual latin culture week

Landmark Academy at Reunion , a tuition-free public charter school, recently hosted their First Annual Latin Culture Week, a week focused on educating students on the various aspects of Latin culture, from music and art to sports and celebrities, through unique activities. During the week-long celebration, students were able to step into the lives of the Aztecs, Incas and Mayans with Latin culture lessons through piñata making, cultural crafts, songs, traditional foods and more. Students made maracas and learned a traditional Mexican Hat Dance; created Aztec suns working with metal tooling; and studied different countries in Mexico , Central America and South America . Aztec dancers from the Colorado Folk Arts Council also visited with students and educated them on the spiritual and traditional aspects of Aztec culture through dance. “We reside in a community with strong Latin and Hispanic roots,” said Matt Carlton, principal of Landmark Academy at Reunion . “Our community culture is important to us at Landmark. By providing unique ways for our students to learn the various backgrounds of our diverse community they are able to understand and appreciate different cultures.” For more information about Landmark Academy at Reunion , please visit www.landmarkacademy.org.

November 11, 2010

Green Valley Grange in Brighton has donated an automated external defibrillator

Green Valley Grange in Brighton has donated an automated external defibrillator (AED) to School District 27J, which is being deployed at Brighton High School. The AED was purchased through the “Save A Life Denver” program of the American Red Cross, which is currently offering the devices at a significant discount.

“School safety is the cornerstone to a successful school,” said Brighton High School Principal John Biner. “Unfortunately some safety equipment is financially out of reach for many schools and school districts. This new AED will provide additional safety for staff, students and the community, and it will increase the level of safety at school events and athletics as well. This would not be possible without the generous contribution of Green Valley Grange,” said Biner.

The gift helps advance the school district’s goal to place an AED in every school. Prairie View High School had the only AED in the district prior to the Grange’s donation, which includes a carrying case and a “key” that allows the AED to be used on children younger than eight.

AEDs are used to treat ventricular fibrillation, the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest. According to the American Red Cross, sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, claiming the lives of nearly 250,000 people in the United States each year. Each minute of elapsed time diminishes the survival rate by 10 percent.

Even people with no formal training can use an AED because the device provides audible instructions and has simple instructional diagrams. As part of School District 27J’s emergency preparedness program, AED training is being included in the CPR courses provided by district trainers to employees.