School News: Students invited to join youth advisory committee

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.

August 25, 2011

Students invited to join youth advisory committee

COMMERCE CITY – Youth ages 11-17 are invited to join Commerce City ’s Youth and Teen Advisory Committee (YAC) and have a voice in projects that positively impact the community.

Throughout the school year, YAC members work with and learn from community leaders. They also participate in volunteer projects, discuss today’s issues, plan and implement activities and provide youth leadership in the community.

Participants help decide what projects they will undertake to benefit the community. For example, the 2010-2011 YAC organized a children’s book drive. Previous committees helped build hiking trails, completed public awareness campaigns and volunteered at events such as the Halloween-themed Creepy Hollows.

Participating in the program leads to new friends and transferable life skills. Committee members also participate in an annual state youth conference, which includes sessions on team building and leadership that augment YAC involvement.

Applications are being accepted for the 2011-2012 school year until Sept. 16. Interested youth or parents can obtain an application online at www.c3gov.com/recreation or in person at the Recreation Center , 6060 E. Parkway Drive.