Home Care In Cherry Creek, CO

The school districts cited extreme cold as the reason for the closures.

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — The snow, treacherous driving conditions and bitterly cold temperatures are causing schools to be closed Tuesday in the Denver metro area.

Many metro school districts, including Denver Public Schools, Jeffco Public Schools, Douglas County School District, Cherry Creek Schools and Aurora Public Schools, have announced they will be closed Tuesday.

> See the full list of schools that will be closed or delayed

DPS said in their communication to families:

All DPS schools and administrative offices are closed Tuesday, January 16, due to severe weather. This includes the Emily Griffith Technical College. All school-related events and activities, including all Discovery Link and ELCS Enrichment programs, are also canceled.

Jeffco sent a notice to parents and guardians Monday afternoon. It reads in part:

Dear Jeffco Public Schools Staff and Families,

Due to the unprecedented length of sustained low temperatures that is forecasted to continue tomorrow, all Jeffco Public Schools buildings and facilities will be closed Tuesday, January 16. This will give us time to assess district facilities and prepare them to safely serve students.

All childcare programs, after-school activities and meetings scheduled to be in Jeffco Public Schools facilities are canceled. No Jeffco Public Schools transportation services will be provided for services within or outside the district.

With the exception of essential personnel, employees do not need to report to work. Access to any building for any reason needs to be approved by security dispatch prior to entering the building.

In an email to families, Cherry Creek Schools said several district buildings had burst pipes:

The Cherry Creek School District will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, January 16th, due to freezing weather conditions. The District is concerned for student safety and several buildings have experienced burst pipes. Classes and school activities will be cancelled. Before and after school daycare programs will be closed.

Douglas County said the cold impacted its transportation fleet. They said two diesel pumps are down and starting buses in the morning would be an issue. Even though schools may be closed, the district said after-school activities are still scheduled to go on unless told otherwise by a coach or activity sponsor.

Some Colorado colleges and universities, including Colorado School of Mines and Colorado State University, also announced closures or delays for Tuesday.

Cherry Creek North is home to one less fitness studio.

Orangetheory Fitness, located at 2780 E. Second Ave. on the corner of East Second Avenue and Detroit Street, closed its doors on Nov. 22, according to a sign at the store.

A company spokesperson confirmed the closure in an emailed statement, saying that Orangetheory will "continue to guide members along their fitness journeys at our Glendale, Lowry, Washington Park, Baker, Central Park and Uptown locations, which remain open.”

Stuart Zall, Stacey Glenn and Kyle Framson with The Zall Company are now marketing the retail space as available for sublease. The approximately 3,100-square-foot studio comes with 14 reserved parking spaces, and the current lease term goes through 2029, according to a marketing brochure.

Orangetheory combines rowing, running and strength training in its classes, and attendees wear monitors that track different heart rate zones. The company’s headquarters are based in Boca Raton, Florida, and Orangetheory currently lists 30 Denver-area locations on its website. Physiologist Ellen Latham started Orangetheory in 2007, and the company now has more than 1,500 studios in 25 different countries, according to its website.

In 2019, franchisee Tim Johnson told the Denver Business Journal that rent at his new Cherry Creek North location was more than double any of his other locations.

Cherry Creek North has a few big-name fitness and wellness studios, including Barry's at 260 Josephine St. and SoulCycle at 265 Saint Paul St. Multiple office buildings are under construction right now in Cherry Creek North, with more development in the works in the popular neighborhood.

In addition to Orangetheory’s Cherry Creek North closure, three Colorado Athletic Clubs closed their doors earlier this year; one of them was its downtown location at 1601 Wewatta St. The CEO of Colorado Athletic Club’s parent company cited “the Covid pandemic, combined with rising costs and staff shortages” as reasons for the closures.

Celebrate the Season by Giving a Gift to Those in Need through the Festive ‘Light the World’ Charity Vending Machines from November 16 through Christmas Eve

Mayor Mike Johnston, Daniel Walshe, Charlie Moylan, Michelle Sie Whitten, Dr. Joaquín Espinosa

Global Down Syndrome Foundation Gifts

Denver, CO, Nov. 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Giving Machines Denver has chosen Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) to highlight through their ‘Light the World’ charity vending machines from November 16 through Christmas Eve. The “Grand Unwrapping” ceremony featured Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, Global Down Syndrome Foundation President & CEO Michelle Sie Whitten, Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome Executive Director Dr. Joaquín Espinosa, and GLOBAL self-advocates Daniel Walshe and Charlie Moylan, and others. During the “Light the World” Campaign, visitors to Cherry Creek North Winter Wonderland at the entrance to the Holiday Market, 2^nd Avenue and Fillmore Street, can give holiday gifts to children and adults with Down syndrome.

Giving is easy. All you do is select an item, swipe a debit or credit card and a card representing your gift drops into a bin so you can watch the donations pile up. Donations are eligible for tax deductions and may also be eligible for employer matching programs.

The following donations can be made to GLOBAL through the ’Light the World’ charity vending machines:

Fitness Equipment $10 – Give the gift of better health by supplying a child with Down syndrome bands, balls, weights, or a yoga mat.

Kitchen Tools $15 – Give the gift of healthy eating to a cook-in-training with Down syndrome with essentials for a culinary class.

Stuffed Animal $25 – Give the gift of a snuggle to patients with Down syndrome participating in clinical trials.

Recital Costume $40 – Give the gift of a beautiful recital costume to a child with Down syndrome participating in GLOBAL’s ballet classes.

Fashion Show Outfit $150 – Give the gift of high-end runway outfit for our children and adults with Down syndrome participating in the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show!

The other important charities chosen by Giving Machines Denver for 2023 are Colorado Hosting Asylum Network, The Delores Project, The Salvation Army Intermountain Division, and Volunteers of America – Camp POSTCARD.

"Over the last three years, Denverites have given more than 1.6 million dollars while they're out shopping for their friends and family to those who are most in need," says Mayor Mike Johnston. "So this is a great chance for every Denverite to give back to those who need it the most during the holiday season."

There’s a new school in Aurora filled with natural light, calming therapy rooms, a coffee shop — and psychiatrists.

Starting next month, students in the Cherry Creek School District will attend the country’s first school-run mental health day clinic. The Traverse Academy is for students 10 through 18 with severe mental health conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to suicidal ideations and post-traumatic stress syndrome.

“This school will save lives,” said Superintendent Chris Smith.

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To confront a chronic shortage of mental health care facilities for youth, Colorado’s fourth largest school district partnered with the University of Colorado School of Medicine. The goal is to help students with severe mental health needs get intensive clinical support while continuing their schooling.

The name, Traverse Academy, reflects the four great traverses in Colorado mountain climbing, representing the obstacles to overcome as one moves from one peak to the next. At full capacity, it will serve up to 60 students.

Why did a school district build a school focused on mental health?

More children and youth have such severe mental, emotional and behavioral challenges, it’s beyond the ability of school counselors to meet their needs. School psychologist Dr. John Smrcka said those students have a hard time functioning in school.

“They may be having behavior problems in the classroom or just in the school in general,” said Smrcka, who will work alongside 30 mental health staff and teachers. “And all those things can be a major disruption to them getting the education that we hope that they're getting in school. And it can have a negative impact on the students that are around them as well.”

If a family is lucky enough to get into a day treatment facility, there’s no schooling so reintegration back into a child’s homeschool is usually rough.

“Those facilities don't understand the ins and outs of the daily school demands and triggers that our students face,” said Traverse principal Kimberly Avalos.

And day-treatment programs are rapidly disappearing because of lower insurance and Medicaid reimbursement rates. There were 77 facilities in 2013, and now there’s just 16. Tony Poole, the district’s assistant superintendent for special populations, said the root of the crisis started in the early 1990s when many institutions closed down.

“When they closed down, they pushed their kids to residential facilities. Kids that were in residential facilities got pushed into day treatment, and those kids got pushed back to school. And that has continued to happen for the last 20 years,” Poole said.

Since Children’s Hospital Colorado declared a pediatric mental health “state of emergency” in 2021, “the mental health crisis has only gotten worse,” he said.

With suicide rates climbing, in the middle of the pandemic, the school district went to voters with the idea. They overwhelmingly approved a bond measure that paid for the $19 million school.

“They sent a message to our youth that shows them, we are going to invest in you because you are important,” said Avalos. “We're sending them a message of, ‘this world is better with you here.”’

District and medical officials worked from a blank slate.

They couldn’t find schools anywhere that were serving children in an acute mental health crisis. It was at times challenging, to combine a school system and a clinical system that have traditionally operated in silos. Each has its own language and regulations.

“Navigating those nuances has been interesting,” said Avalos. “We've had moments where we've had to pause and wait and see if we can work through those pieces. We've had moments where we've had to pivot, and we have moments where it has just come together so seamlessly and beautifully in inspiring ways.”

How will the school work?

A student’s home school will make a referral. CU Medicine will assess the student and then treatment begins. School social workers and psychologists will work with the student along with clinical psychologists and psychiatrists. Educators will provide academics and all teams will make sure the transition back to regular school is a smooth one.

The school is split into pods – students with severe needs, moderate needs and one for those ready to transition back to regular full-time school.

“Severe are the students who are not able to come to school, not able to function at all,” said Dr. Vidya Duff, a clinical liaison. “‘Moderates’ are flying sometimes under the radar or they're more functional, but not as debilitated as our severe population.”

Students will get nine hours of therapy each week, in addition to academic, social and emotional skills to help them integrate back into regular school. Academic time gradually increases during a student’s time at the school. Most stays at the clinic will be six to 10 weeks.

“I think that giving kids a chance to get their needs met and live and operate as normally as possible in the schools where they belong is going to go a long way to ameliorating all these different social problems that I think that we're seeing,” said Smrcka.

The district has hired its own clinical physicians trained through CU and who are able to provide some therapies that CU can. That means children can continue to get services when insurance expires or even if they don’t have insurance.

Natural light, a labyrinth and a psychologist

When you walk into the Traverse Academy, you aren’t greeted by a formal, institutional intake desk. Instead, it’s a coffee shop. The design aims to destigmatize mental health and make students feel welcome.

There are couches, lamps, little nooks where kids who are overwhelmed can go. The wall colors are warm greens, blues and purples and natural light is plentiful.

The levels of the building are themed ocean, forest, and mountains – representing the progression of students through the school with severe, moderate, and transitional needs. Rooms have names like Sand Dune, Forest, Summit and River.

The rooms on the first floor for students with more intensive needs have rounded edges so students can’t hurt themselves. There are beanbags, comfy chairs and special break rooms where students can adjust the color and intensity of overhead lights to calm and soothe. The students don’t move at the sound of a bell. Clinicians and teachers move to the students.

“Every room is different in a way that students can experience on a different scale, a different color scheme, their ability to be alone or be with a group and their ability to go outside quickly,” said architect Kasia Bulkowski with MOA Architecture.

Research shows many people suffering from mental health challenges need to move as part of their recovery. The school has a small gym, a bouldering wall and a labyrinth for students to walk on that leads to a trail around the building.

“If climbing is regulating, we'll teach you to do that,” said Avalos. “If going for a walk is regulating, we'll teach you how to use those tools. Those are lifelong skills they can take with them far beyond these walls.”

There’s also an outdoor amphitheater classroom and other outdoor recreation opportunities for the students.

“We're essentially trying to create a space that teaches kids how to break a negative thought spiral,” said Bulkowski. “That became a cornerstone for how we designed this facility.”

Could Traverse be a model for the rest of the country?

The fact of the matter is the youth mental health crisis is affecting schools. Families turn to schools when they’re struggling financially or their child has mental health issues and can’t find support, said Superintendent Smith.

“So, if that opportunity doesn't lend itself in our community, then it's our responsibility to do something about it. And unfortunately, that's the situation we were put in.”

Smith hopes the new school opens the doors to state officials thinking about more out-of-the-box solutions to meet kids’ needs.

One young man is especially excited about assisting the school’s students. Jacob Eggleston, 21, will be a classroom aide. When he was a student in the district, he suffered from suicidal thoughts, depression, guilt and anger. It was a struggle to do academic work.

“I went to therapy nonstop, but none of it seemed like a home. And that's why I love this place so much. It seems like a home, and they are welcoming and accepting and they just cherish every small detail for the benefit of the kids.”

Though Traverse hasn’t yet opened its doors , Avalos said she’s already been contacted by the Cleveland Clinic and by institutions in Oregon and Massachusetts who are interested in the model. After the gift from voters, Avalos spoke of another gift.

“How can we help others learn from what we're learning and do it for their students, do it in their schools, or do it in their communities, do it in their school districts? That would be a huge gift that we could give back to beyond our school district.”

The school opens its doors to students Oct. 23.

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More bulldozers and cranes may soon arrive in Cherry Creek North, as the neighborhood’s furious growth continues.

The abandoned Sears department store and the Crate & Barrel may be demolished to make way for a mix of 453 housing units, stores and restaurants, according to concept plans submitted to the city by Tryba Architects. The firm has been working on plans for the area even before the current owners took over.

Tryba is the mastermind of major Denver projects, including the History Colorado museum, the Union Station and Crawford Hotel renovation, and nearby Clayton Lane in Cherry Creek North.

Clayton Lane Investors currently owns the site. Invesco has contracted with real estate companies BMC Investments and Prism Places to redevelop the area.

And as the team working on it sees it, Clayton Lane is one of the few sites in Cherry Creek North still available for development.

The Sears building will be replaced with a nine-story high rise that would include a mix of housing and retail.

“The Crate & Barrel Building will also be demolished down to grade level, though the parking garage below will remain,” noted the plans. “A new 5-story mixed-use residential building will be built above the existing below-grade parking garage in its place.”

The development will include an “outdoor paseo” with shops, restaurants and bars.

“The existing Condo Building to the north will remain,” according to the plans, “And its ground floor retail interiors and storefronts will be renovated.”

And there will be entertainment, too.

“We have this courtyard where we’re going to have live bands,” said Matt Joblon, founding partner and CEO of BMC Investments. “We’re going to do morning yoga. There’s an outdoor bar in there with different kinds of drinks, whether it’s morning or afternoon or evening.”

Each year, 100 to 200 events in an outdoor area will draw in the public.

“The site plan submittal shows the maximum density the project is considering, specifically around the area where Crate & Barrel is,” Joblon added in a statement. “We are still in talks with Crate & Barrel, who may remain in their space as-is, about the best options for their business long term in Cherry Creek and our plan has the flexibility to accommodate whatever that may be.”

Last year, we reported the 12.5 acre Bed, Bath and Beyond site was being eyed for a massive new development with 600-plus units.

That project, called Cherry Creek West, will include a better connection between the neighborhood and the creek itself and plenty of office space.

“We’re putting the creek back in Cherry Creek,” said Amy Cara, a managing partner at the project’s developer, East West Partners, speaking at a public meeting.

Joblon said the Clayton Lane redevelopment will complement Cherry Creek West. While that project will have new office space, Clayton Lane will have housing where office workers can live and increase the neighborhood’s capacity as a live-work-play community

Of the new units, 10% will be income-restricted. Minority-owned businesses will also receive incentives to move into the development. National brands and major restauranteurs are already expressing interest in the project.

And companies are moving into the neighborhood from Downtown and even out of state.

“Cherry Creek is definitely the fastest growing urban environment by far,” Joblon said. “It is by far the safest urban area.”

And that safety, he said, is why it’s become so popular.

“So what happens is you’ve got all the office users coming, and then more of them want to live in Cherry Creek North,” he said. “And then they start going to all the restaurants and the bars. And then, you know, their spouses are coming in and shopping and spending more money. And then they’re bringing their friends here and saying, ‘Hey, we should go to this great place. We can walk around. It’s pedestrian friendly. There’s bars and restaurants and shopping, and then more people, right? So it’s just the continual flywheel that’s happening right now.

“And it’s all because it’s safe,” Joblon said. “People feel safe at night here, and that’s critical. You’ve got to protect that.”

This story has been updated with a comment from Joblon about the amount of density around Crate & Barrel.