Retired Employees of Cherry Creek Schools
February 2022
SAVE THE DATE! May 19, 2022
It’s not too early to save the date for our scholarship reception which will be held at Cherry Creek Innovation Campus (CCIC) on May 19th at 1pm. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet our amazing 2022 RECCS Scholars. Reception will be followed by a tour of CCIC.
Message from the Board
Thank you to all our members who attended the Annual Meeting and Breakfast on January 26th. Everyone enjoyed a delicious breakfast, connecting with friends and former colleagues and a dynamic presentation by Kim Bevill who will be teaching a RECCS U class on February 9th and 23rd. It’s not too late to sign up and will be a wonderful learning opportunity. Go to the website and sign up today.
Those who were not able to attend this event, we hope to see you at a future class, activity, or the scholarship reception.
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RECCS U
RECCS U CLASSES IN FEBRUARY & MARCH
Brain Essentials: Memory, Happiness & Gratitude
Wednesdays, February 9th & 23rd 12:30-2:30 pm
Kim Bevill - author & presenter at RECCS Breakfast
Asians in Pop Culture
Tuesday, February 15th 2:00-3:30 pm
Gil Asakawa - journalist & nationally known speaker
Book Gathering: Women in Espionage
Tuesday, March 8th 2:30-4:00 pm
Crafts of Writing: Break Away from Boring
Wednesdays, March 2nd & 9th 1:00-2:30 pm
Susan Brickey - CCSD staff developer & Fellow w/Denver
Writing Project
Curling: How It Works & Its History
(Rescheduled from February 2nd Snow Day)
Wednesday, March 23rd 1:00-3:00 pm
Karen Bronson - DCC curler & retired CCSD PE teacher
Purposeful Travel
Thursday, March 24th 9:30-11:30 am
Bruce Caughey - travel author & previous RECCS U travel
presenter
Additional Details & Registration at reccs.org
Learn about our Special "2 for 1" Offer
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RECCS Activities
Contact Carole Smith, Activities Chair with questions or to make reservations at user2000@icloud.com or 303-818-5248
RECCS BOOK COLLECTION
Thank you everyone who brought a book or donated to the book fund at the annual breakfast for children at Holly Ridge Elementary. RECCS is still happy to take more donations of books or funds to buy books. Contact Carole for more information or to donate.
ACTIVITIES FOR EWE, YEW, YOU IN 2022
A reservation is necessary for the following activities:
TREAT YOURSELF TO A SWEET VALENTINES DAY!
TOUR Hammond's Candy
February 14th 10:30
VISIT THE NATIVE AMERICAN EXHIBITS
February 24th 10:00
at THE DENVER ART MUSEUM
Tour led by Steve Yazzi, Navajo, and
Artist in Residence at the museum.
APRIL FOOLS DAY VERY HAPPY HOUR
April 1, 3-5 p.m.
Cherry Creek Townhouses
*Cherry Creek Storytellers
will entertain while you leisurely
listen and enjoy a libation & appetizer
$10
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TEA & TOUR of the CHEROKEE RANCH
MAY 13 11:00
Enjoy a delightful high tea and a tour
of the amazing Cherokee Ranch $65 per person
PLANT YOUR CONTAINER GARDEN
MAY 24TH 1:00
Nancy McCahill, Master Gardener, will
help us plant containers with veggies
and herbs! Bring your own container. $15
Activity held in the gazebo at Carole Smith’s
Share a Memory or Story
Anytime! Remember an odd, wonderful, crazy, frightening experience while working in the district? If so, please call Carole for an interview so that your experience can be relived when publicized in the newsletter.
For information and ALL reservations,
CONTACT Carole Smith
303-818-5248
Scholarship Update
The 2022 scholarship application is due February 18th. The committee will then review the applications and conduct interviews with candidates. Scholars will be announced at the reception on May 19th. We encourage members to join us for the reception to meet these extraordinary young scholars.
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Another edition of “Where are they now?”
Keinada Andereas, an Eaglecrest High School graduate, received a Scholarship Award from RECCS four years ago. She was ready to start her first year at the University of Colorado when she and her father were arrested and held at the ICE detention center for 71 days. Thanks to lawyers who volunteered their time to gain Keinada's and her father's release, she has continued her education and is starting a job as a research assistant at the Anschutz Medical Campus. She will be applying for medical school! She is an amazing success story.
Her story appeared in the CU Denver magazine. Article entitled “Wish They Could See Me Now,” reprinted here.
“I wish they could see me now,” Keinada Andereas said, remembering the words that went through her mind when she passed the cold, grayish-pink building off Peoria Street in Aurora. She was on the way to her job as a research assistant at the Anschutz Medical Campus, which she pursued to gain experience before applying to medical school. The building she passed was the ICE detention center, a place Keinada knew all too well. She was held there for 71 days in the fall of 2018. It was supposed to be her first semester as a CU Denver student.
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Following Her Passion for Science
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Keinada grew up in Aurora and attended Eaglecrest High School, where she graduated with honors. “I really liked my science classes,” she recalled, “specifically psychology. I loved learning about human behavior. I loved learning about the brain.”
Keinada knew she wanted to continue studying science in college. When it came time to apply, she considered several big research universities, both in and out of state. But she wasdisappointed to find that some of them had few resources for
undocumented students.
“When I met with an advisor at CU Denver, the response was so different,” Keinada remembered. “They were so excited to have me on campus. They said, 'we have this program for undocumented students.’ I felt like I was being welcomed.”
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Finding a Path and a Community of Support
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Today, Keinada is a psychology major at CU Denver, a first-generation college student on a pre-med track. She’s in the University Honors and Leadership Program. She’s also the recipient of numerous scholarships from sources ranging from FirstBank and the Asian Chamber of Commerce to CU Denver’s Alumni Scholarship Fund and Student Relief Fund.
“Having scholarships in my hand makes me feel more confident that the path I’m on is right, that I’m just as capable as others,” Keinada said. “I’m so grateful to go to a university that’s friendly to undocumented students. Being a student is my identity.”
Anyone who sees Keinada now knows she’s right where she’s supposed to be. And we couldn’t be more proud to call her a member of the CU Denver family.
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Zelle for RECCS
Members may now pay annual membership dues or give donations through Zelle. The RECCS member must sign up with their bank to use Zelle.
Members can then send payments directly to the RECCS account by
using the email: reccs201@outlook.com
It is important for all members who choose to pay membership dues or submit a donation to describe what the money is for in the comment box. For example: membership dues, donation, memorial contribution, etc.
Fundraising
PayPal Giving Fund. Another great way to support RECCS is to remember RECCS through the PayPal Giving Fund. Members who use PayPal to pay for items purchased can choose RECCS as a charitable organization and RECCS benefits.
Amazon Smile program to support the RECCS scholarship program. Remember RECCS and keep shopping.
Just go to smile.amazon.com to register RECCS as your charitable organization of choice or click on our unique link to get started.
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/68-0642026
All your regular Amazon information will link. Remember RECCS as you shop.
The King Soopers Loyalty Program continues. Link RECCS as your charitable organization on your King Soopers loyalty program. You can use your loyalty number whether you shop in person or order groceries online. All dollars earned go directly to the scholarship fund. Thanks for shopping and choosing RECCS.
Donations to support the scholarship fund are always appreciated. Our members continue to be generous even in difficult times. Many members donate directly to RECCS while others are attending RECCS U classes with the donations from these experiences going to the scholarship fund. We also receive donations in memory of
individuals or to celebrate individual successes. Regardless, RECCS wants to thank our members for their amazing generosity.
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Friends We Will Miss
The RECCS Board has been notified of the deaths of the following former CCSD employees Jim Hinton and Jim Clauser.
Website: Visit us often for important information