On Thursday, May 6, Project PAVE (Promoting Alternatives to Violence through Education) will award Cole Middle School with the “Outstanding Safe School” award. The school will receive the award at the Project PAVE Annual Luncheon (Marriott City Center Hotel in downtown Denver) for its outstanding performance in creating a safe and civil school environment that promotes student safety, mutual respect and academic achievement.

Project PAVE’s mission is to empower youth to end the cycle of relationship violence. The Project PAVE-Kaiser Permanente Safe Community Awards recognizes schools for their efforts in providing and promoting safe school environments. Cole Middle School will receive the award because of its substantial drop in violence-related discipline referrals and suspensions. Over the past few years, this rate decreased from 511 suspensions in 2002-2003 to 220 suspensions in 2003-2004

Cole Middle School principal Nicole Veltzé attributes the positive trends to the school’s three-year reform program. Cole is in the final year of the program that involves students and parents in developing positive relationships through the Learning Families program.

At the beginning of each school day, students meet in small, close-knit “families” where they gain valuable study skills and develop a consistent relationship with an adult in the school who serves as their mentor and advocate.

“If the kids know that someone cares about them and gives them that personal one-on-one attention, they are more likely to academically succeed,” said Veltzé.

To help the students with consistent behavior problems, Cole created the Aggression Replacement Training (ART) program. ART teaches students how to cope with their struggles with violence and anger. ART students are placed in classrooms away from the general school population, where they receive attention that is more individualized and a daily rating based on their behavior. This method teaches the students to recognize the consequences of unacceptable behavior. As students show personal growth, they may earn the privilege to go back into the traditional classrooms.

ART and other programs create the need for increased parental involvement at Cole. Several Cole parents volunteer to assist with the programs. Many parent volunteers are easily spotted at the school, wearing yellow vests and watching over the perimeter of the school grounds to ensure student safety.

“Cole is an excellent example of how parent, teacher and student interaction can lead to reduced violence in schools,” said Jim Bernuth, Executive Director of Project PAVE. “Their programs are strengthening the community and emulating Project PAVE’s message of breaking the cycle of violence.”

Cole Middle School is located on the outskirts of downtown Denver. Approximately 70 percent of the students are Hispanic, and 30 percent are Black. The school population reflects its neighborhood. Ninety-seven percent of the students are eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch.

Cole Middle School is located at 3240 Humboldt St. For more information, contact Justine Nathanson, Project PAVE, at 303-322-2382.