School News: Adams City High School Wellness Center Named After Late Commerce City Resident Lois Kimmes

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.

October 19, 2011

Adams City High School Wellness Center Named After Late Commerce City Resident Lois Kimmes

Lois Kimmes

Commerce City, CO (October 17, 2011) – On Thursday, October 13th at 3:30 in the afternoon, the Wellness Center at Adams City High School was dedicated in memory of the late Lois M. Kimmes. Lois Kimmes, a long-time Commerce City resident, was involved with Community Health Services (CHS) since 1997 and served as Board President for nine years. Lois fought a brave battle with cancer and passed away at home on October 18, 2010 at the age of 66.

Lois held many positions over the years and after retiring, she dedicated her time and energy to the betterment of the Commerce City community, particularly its children. Thus, it was a natural fit for Lois to team up with CHS, the very organization that cared for her grandchildren when they were in school.

The mission of Community Health Services is to improve the health and well-being of infants, children and youth. We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that been providing primary health care services to the children and adolescents of Commerce City and the surrounding areas since 1978. Lois once said, “What every kid really needs is at least one adult who thinks they are terrific.” With Lois Kimmes in our community, we had that person for over two decades. Lois worked tirelessly to create an environment for children that accepted them for who they are. She genuinely cared.

During her 13 years as a CHS Board Member, Lois gave thousands of hours attending meetings; soliciting donations; wrangling items for special events; speaking on behalf of the organization; and being a champion for the children in our community. Her name became synonymous with efforts to assist and engage the children of Commerce City and she acted as the voice for children who may otherwise have little or no representation. When Lois toured the new Adams City High School not long before it opened, she said, “Well if kids can’t learn here, they can’t learn anywhere!” How fitting it is to name the Wellness Center in her memory when just one year before her death, she proudly stood at the Center’s grand opening with the hopes of watching another generation stay healthy and succeed.

In order to commemorate this special occasion, CHS also announces the Lois M. Kimmes Memorial Fund. This will be an annual fund of Community Health Services and 100% of all dollars raised will go directly to providing health care to disadvantaged children. For more information, please contact Erin Todd at 303-853-3282 or eetodd@adams14.org. You may also visit www.chskidshealth.org.