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2/3C Spectrum Shortening/ Earth Balance butter, mixed2/3 C brown sugar1 T vanilla1/3 C almond milk1 tsp apple cider vinegar1 T ground flax meal1 C white rice flour1 C almond flour¼ C arrowroot starch1T coconut flour1 ½ tsp baking soda½ tsp baking powder½ tsp salt1 tsp xanthan gum1 C dark dairy free chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Cream shortening and brown sugar in a stand mixer on medium high speed until creamy. Reduce speed to medium, add vanilla, almond milk and ground flax and mix on medium speed for 1 minute. Meanwhile, mix dry ingredients together in a separate bowl: white rice flour, almond flour, arrowroot starch, soda, baking powder, salt, and xanthan gum. Turn off the mixer and add the dry ingredients. Slowly mix until incorporated and then beat for 1 min on medium speed. Turn mixer down to stir and add the chocolate chips. Stir batter until a ball forms. Then using two teaspoons, scoop

batter into one spoon and use other spoon to push it off. Or use a cookie scoop. Gently round the cookie tops by pressing on them lightly with the back of the spoon. Leave room between cookies, they will spread nicely. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Bake at 8 minutes for a softer cookie or 10 minutes for a more golden and crispy cookie. Remove baking trays when desired doneness has been achieved and do not remove from trays. Allow to cool on the parchment paper on the cookie trays for 10 minutes. Store loosely covered. If you seal them in a plastic bin the almond flour’s moisture will cause the cookies to soften and they will lose some of their crispiness.Makes 3 dozen.

GLUTEN FREE VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Recipe courtesy of The Healing Center © 2015.

Gluten free is all over the headlines and grocery store shelves these days, we are all talking about it. So what does a gluten free lifestyle entail? When is it appropriate to choose a gluten free diet? People who have been diagnosed with celiac disease must adhere to a gluten free diet. In this situation, continued ingestion of gluten containing foods like wheat, barley, rye, and any other hidden sources of gluten will cause the erosion of the villi in the small intestine. This damage can lead to compromised digestion and lack of absorption of nutrients, which could eventually lead to malnutrition. If gluten containing foods are not eliminated then the damage to the villi can be permanent. In these cases it is imperative that gluten is removed from the diet. On the other hand, there are people that have gluten intolerance or sensitivity. They may experience digestive discomfort, bloating, or other more severe symptoms that make normal daily activity a challenge. They are mindful of gluten in their diet because when they avoid consuming it the symptoms they experience go away. In this instance, continuing to eat gluten does not cause the same destruction of the intestinal lining but can still have very real physical effects in some cases. So often times it is recommended that

people with gluten intolerance or sensitivity avoid gluten containing foods. Finally, there are those that choose to be gluten free because they have heard that it is a “healthier” way to eat or will help them to lose weight. These statements may not always hold true. It is as possible to eat an unhealthy gluten free diet as it is a healthy gluten free diet. So anytime you are choosing to make changes in your diet make sure you are still choosing nutrient dense foods and a balanced approach to what you eat, after discussing it with your physician. If you suspect you may have an issue with gluten speak to your physician prior to making any dietary changes. It is important to have the conversation before you cut gluten out of your diet. There are tests that help can help determine your diagnosis but they are most accurate before you remove gluten from your diet. Ultimately, the goal is to give you the information and tools you need to help you feel your best.

Kasja Larson, RD, SNS is the Nutritionist for Douglas County School District, working with students and adults, both in and outside DCSD to help people understand food allergies and healthy eating.

Safety

Choice

World Class Education

System Performance

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Priorities 2010-2013

Priorities 2014-2017Maximizing physical, psychological and online safety for students, staff and community• Ensuring physically safe learning environments

• Collaborating with all schools to create a system-wide culture that prioritizes and values psychological safety and wellness

• Ensuring online safety and data privacy

Providing each child the maximum opportunity for success• Communicating the unique qualities of each school to our students, staff, parents and community gives all students the highest probability for success

• Empowering every school to achieve their desired state provides many learning opportunities for students and synergy in our schools

Achieving sustainable learning for the 21st century• Preparing students to compete on a world stage for jobs that require a high level of creativity and innovation

• Offering essential sustainable learning that requires the most important information to be taught in a way that can be retained, that stretches across content areas and that incorporates the tools our young people will be required to use in the workforce

• Personalizing education so students develop a deep understanding of self, world, career and their own pathway to success

Defining and measuring what matters most• Defining what matters most to our stakeholders

• Developing a cutting-edge System Performance Framework that will measure student, educator, school, leader and District performance

• Integrating authentic measurements that will lead to continuous improvement for our students and allow our stakeholders to remain informed

DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLANAs a district, we have strong traditions of innovation, excellence and economic efficiency.

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Nine Douglas County student entrepreneurs, grades 7 through 12 got to experience a “Shark Tank meets The Apprentice” scenario as they presented innovative business startup ideas to the Young Entrepreneurs Academy investor panel consisting of prominent members of the business community, hoping for funding and the chance to launch their enterprises. The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a groundbreaking and exciting year-long class sponsored by the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce that transforms Douglas County middle and high school students into real, confident entrepreneurs. Throughout the class, students develop business ideas, conduct market research, meet with business mentors to write business plans, then pitch their plans to a panel of investors, and actually launch and run their own real, legal, fully formed companies and social movements. YEA has almost 90 programs working with students all over United States. Jake Rullman, currently a junior at Castle View High School in Castle Rock, launched his first tech startup as a ninth-grader in 2012-13 with the hope of helping seniors with their computer needs and tech questions through the YEA program. Jake had seen Shark Tank on TV and loved the idea of doing something like that, but not knowing he’d actually get that kind of experience so soon. A teacher suggested he sign up for the YEA program, which Jake did immediately. “I got to throw around some ideas with my fellow students, then worked with mentors to create a business

plan, and finally pitched my idea to business leaders for feedback and financial support.” Woody Pastorius, the CEO of mywedding.com serves as a primary investor and one of the YEA panel members for judging the YEA participants. Woody grew up mowing lawns for money, and worked three businesses while going to college. He started his first of many successful business ventures just a week after graduating from CSU. Woody remembers Jake’s pitch and business idea. “As an investor, I am only looking for how an idea will make money.” Woody didn’t think Jake’s idea had a chance, but Woody saw something special in Jake. “I saw a very bright young man whom I liked, so I offered him a job on the spot,” says Woody. Since then, Jake has been working summers and part time for Woody, learning and getting hands-on experience in the context of the very successful tech business mywedding.com. “I plan on going to college

but I love this chance to be working in a real world environment,” says Jake. Woody sees the YEA program as a way to provide input to young entrepreneurs, sharing information and knowledge that he had to learn the hard way. “What’s the difference between having a job and an MBA?” asks Woody passionately. “Experience and textbook!” Woody says “YEA offers the opportunity for these students to get around people that have great business experience and can help them better navigate some of the obvious pitfalls in a business startup. Throughout the year, students get to meet and hear from accountants, attorneys, marketing and communications

D C S D M I D D L E A N D H I G H S C H O O L E N T R E P R E N E U R S L A U N C H S T A R T U P S !

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2015 FUNDED STUDENTS INCLUDED:

Catalin Varela, $1100, The Smile in You Magazine to build self-esteem for teen girls

Noah Crowley, $450, SirBoxALotE-commerce marketplace for subscription box services

Elly Evans, $250, Perfect Pet Products A recordable, water resistant pet tag

Sharada Ramesh, $550, Timeless Impressions Decorative alphabet tiles for home décor.

Sousheel Vunnam, $500, Scrimmage Sports meet-up app

Mike Ezell, $950, Knockout Mesh Specially formulated wax lacrosse mesh for Colorado climate

Brenden Coney, $1400, Elevation Creations Handcrafted wooden cutting boards, wine and kitchen accessories.

Sanskaar Saxena, $600, Don’t Trash Get Cash Re-seller of smart phones

Nadja Brown, $1100, Future Scientist Academy Science camps for 7-12 graders

professionals, bankers, financial planners and others in the business world all for the purpose of giving them more exposure to anything and everything they might need for creating their business into a successful model. “In a nutshell YEA lets the students come up with an idea, create the business model and plan, then sell it!” says Woody. This year’s participating investors selected one business group as the overall winner of the evening: The Smile in You, with CEO Catalin Varela leading this self-esteem publication for girls. Varela will advance to the Young Entrepreneurs Academy Western Regional Saunders Scholars competition in Phoenix, Arizona where she will compete with other local winners for sponsorship dollars in college scholarships, a fast-track application pass to apply to be on ABC’s Shark Tank, and an all-expenses paid trip to attend America’s Small Business Summit in Washington, DC courtesy of the United States Chamber of Commerce. For more information about the Young Entrepreneurs Academy program here in Douglas County, contact Carrie Buchan, the YEA program manager at CastleRockYEA@gmail.com

SPECIAL THANKS to this year’s Panel which included Investor Level sponsor Woody Pastorius of mywedding.com, along with Trudi Eisenhour (ConneXion Spot) and Scott Mace (Sears Hometown Store of Parker) who represented a number of Castle Rock Chamber Member sponsors!

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LOCAL NON-PROFIT HELPING HOMELESS STUDENTS IN DOUGLAS COUNTY Emma* is 18 and getting ready to graduate from one of the local Douglas County high schools. Emma looks like almost any other regular high school student; she likes to hang out with her friends, she has a part-time job, she’s excited about the senior prom, she’s good at math but likes the idea of going into acting and her teachers say she is a good singer. The thing you don’t see in all of this – Emma is homeless, and has been for the past year. Emma has lived in various homes since her family was evicted from their condo when her mother was laid off. Her brother moved in with friends, her mother found a small room to rent in someone’s basement, her dad lives out of his truck, and Emma moved in with a friend that lived nearby. “It’s been rough,” says Emma. “The toughest thing is not being able to help her,” says Emma’s mother, as tears form in her eyes. “It’s humiliating.” When you look around Douglas County, it’s hard to imagine anyone is struggling, let alone homeless. Douglas County is currently listed as #9 on the top ten list of richest areas in the US, with a median income of over $95,000. “There are a lot more people like Emma out there than you think,” says Joe Roos, the Founder and Executive Director of a new non-profit, Hide in Plain Sight, that works with the mission of supporting homeless students in Douglas County with food, shelter, and offering scholarships for college or vocational schooling. “The goal is to provide resources that can help guide these students in a direction that will benefit their future and give them success points.” says Roos passionately. “One of these kids could be your next employee, customer or friend!” Roos came out of the corporate world working with IBM, then began serving with various non-profits, most recently helping the Douglas/Elbert Task Force with their fund-raising and communications. Joe has seen the effect joblessness has on families and wanted to

do something about it. Last year there were over 900 identified homeless students in Douglas County as a result of divorce, financial hardships and job loss. “Our kids are our most valuable asset,” says Roos. “And it is our personal responsibility to lend a hand to the ones who are struggling, particularly in conditions beyond their control.” Dawna Searcy is Douglas County School District’s homeless liaison and works to help offer services and remove barriers for students going through this situation. “Most times, the situation is not permanent,” says Searcy, “but it certainly has a huge effect on the student.” Title X of the No Child Left Behind Act

requires that school districts in the United States have someone to represent these students. Searcy works closely with the students and families to ensure that their needs are being met. DCSD provides an annual “Strive to Thrive” event for the

homeless that provides haircuts, backpacks with school supplies, and a meal. “We’re providing those things that many of us take for granted,” says Searcy. This year’s back-to-school event at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch is scheduled for the end of July. For more information, go to www.dcsdk12.org/health-and-wellness/homeless-student-liaison or call 303-387-0206. Emma’s wisdom teeth are coming in, crowding her other teeth, but there’s

no money for braces or the necessary oral surgery from either of her parents. And she is wondering what she’ll wear to her senior prom. She misses her family but is choosing to live in a very conscientious way, saving all her money from her job and looking toward her future with hopes of going to Arapahoe Community College. And when she needs to be inspired, she refers to the lyrics of a song from Led Zepplin: “Though the course may change sometimes, rivers always reach the sea.” *Not her real name.

For more information about Hide in Plain Sight, go to www.hideplainsight.org

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LOCAL NON-PROFIT HELPING HOMELESS STUDENTS IN DOUGLAS COUNTY

TOP 5 DOUGLAS COUNTY OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES!

One of the many reasons we love Douglas County, Colorado is the amazing access to outdoor activities that

are available, such as biking, hiking, rock climbing, boating and just enjoying the amazing views! We’ve pulled together a few of our favorites to give you a bit more information so you too can enjoy them as the summer months approach. Three of the five listed require a Colorado State Parks Pass to enter, so be sure to get one of those so you can enjoy all the parks in our beautiful Rocky Mountain state!

CHATFIELD STATE PARK, in the northwest corner of DC is bumped up against the foothills and offers a host of a activities from hiking, biking and horseback riding on their extensive trail system, sailing or jet skiing on the lake, flying your RC model plane from their “airport,” to overnight camping and picnicking. Easy to get to off of C470 and Wadsworth Ave. Go to www.cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Chatfield for more info.

CASTLEWOOD CANYON is located in the middle of DC, near Franktown. The canyon is home to a wide variety of nesting raptors and offers some great mild to moderate hiking trails. The jewel of Castlewood is the rock climbing, good for beginners and experts alike due to the top roping available. Climbing here is also famous because of the unique style of Castlewood conglomerate rock that is found nowhere else in this world and makes the climbs absolutely amazing! www.cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/CastlewoodCanyon

ROXBOROUGH STATE PARK is located in the northwestern area of Douglas County, offering dramatic red rock formations, distinct plant communities and lots of wildlife. There are numerous hikes at varying levels here. Check out the online link for more info and directions. www.cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Roxborough

THE DEVIL’S HEAD HIKE is in the Pike National Forest and goes to the last manned fire lookout in the United States. Open from May through October, this hike is accessed from the Rampart Range turnoff from Route 67 heading west out of Sedalia. This moderate hike goes through beautiful aspen glades and past rock formations, culminating with the 143 steps up to the lookout station where you can meet Bill Ellis, a forest ranger that has been serving there every summer since the early 1980s. The view from the Devil’s Head Fire Tower is incredible, which is why the Forest Service built it in 1919, so they could see fires over 100 miles away.

WATERTON CANYON is also in the northwestern part of Douglas County, and has a host of activities for families and outdoor enthusiasts. You can hike, fish, and it’s a great family bike ride along the flat six-mile, traffic-free dirt road that goes up the canyon where you are likely to see bighorn sheep grazing along the roadside. For mountain bikers, this road connects to more great rugged terrain trails that lead into the Roxborough area, Pike National Forest and beyond.

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Even though the crime rate in Douglas County is low in comparison to other counties in the Denver area, people who live here have experienced daytime residential burglaries. As your sheriff, my top priority is keeping you safe from crime, but I can’t do it effectively without your assistance. Burglars are opportunists who are much more likely to target your home if you make it easy for them. In this article you will receive information regarding how burglars operate, as well as tips to dramatically reduce your chances of becoming a burglary victim. Some burglars are scam artists who check out your home by posing as a legitimate visitor. Others may knock on your door to see if anyone is home and then tell you they are looking for someone else if you answer the door, but they may try to break in if no one answers when they knock. Most residential burglaries occur during the day; burglars take less than one minute to break in, and spend no more than 10 minutes inside. They typically take small items that are easy to find and carry like money, jewelry, guns and small electronic devices.

SHERIFF’S TIPS

SHARE YOUR GOOD NEWS! The Community Relations office at Douglas County School District welcomes submission of news items and calendar events that are related to the education of children in District schools. We know that there are great things going on in our schools every day, and encourage parents, students, employees and community members to help share the good news. bit.ly/submitgoodnews

VISION Magazine is a publication of Douglas County School District

Copyright 2015. All Rights Reserved.Publisher/Editor - Jess StainbrookLayout/Graphic Design - Jan Reagan

AVOID BECOMING A VICTIM

• Join Neighborhood Watch and work with your neighbors to look out for each other and report suspicious activities to police while they are occurring

• Close and lock all doors and windows during the day and night – including garage doors and the door from the garage into the home

• Don’t let strangers into your home or provide your schedule to people you don’t know or trust

• Don’t leave valuables in plain view inside or outside your home

• Make your home look “lived in” even when you aren’t home by stopping mail and newspapers, having lights on timers and signing up for DCSO House Watch

For more useful information on crime prevention, please contact the DCSO Community Resources Unit at 303-660-7544. Tony SpurlockDouglas County Sheriff