CFL February Family Newsletter 2024

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Garfield 16 Overarching Mission Statement:

As a result of our efforts, all students will be successfully prepared for life in a safe and nurturing environment.

Our School Mission Statement:

Engage ~Empower~Improve

Our School Vision Statement:

Our vision is that all graduating first graders leave CFL as critically thinking young citizens with strong academic and social/emotional foundations

Happy February!

I hope the New Year has started out well for you and your family! It is hard to believe that we have passed the halfway point of the school year. February is a month filled with kindness and positive energy.

WINTER GEAR

• As the cold weather continues, we would like to stress the importance of students wearing the appropriate winter outerwear. Our goal is to have children go outside for recess whenever possible because outdoor play is not just FUN, it is also good for them. According to health experts, children who play outside are happier, healthy, and stronger.

• Children should come to school and ride the bus wearing a jacket, gloves, scarves, boots, etc. Students go outdoors for recess when it is above 0 degrees.

• If your child is in need of outerwear, please contact our School Family Resource Center.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

• February 14 Valentine Parties

• February 20th -23rd CFL Book Fair from 3:15-3:45

As always, thank you for the opportunity to work and learn alongside your child. We truly appreciate your trust in us and are grateful for all of our learners.

With Gratitude.

Kim Frees-Principal

At CFL all students, preschool through first grade, set individual literacy goals. When they meet their goal they sign their name on a frog and put it up on their class lily pad. The lily pads hang in our hallway and we are excited to see them filled up with goal frogs.

Dear CFL Families,

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Classes will run their parties on Wednesday February 14th from 2:15-3:00. Pk AmM class will run their party from 10: 00-10:40. Look for more information from your child's teacher.

Most classrooms will have simple treats (individually wrapped and prepackaged), a craft time, and may complete a Valentine craft. If you have any questions, please reach out to your student’s teacher.

Parents may submit an Application for Early Access to the local school principal by April 1. Applications can be submitted prior to March 1, but they will be marked as received on March 1st, as this is the official date in which early access requests can be made.

In order to be considered for early access, a child must obtain a score at or above the 95th percentile on both standardized intellectual and achievement tests. However, simply achieving a score at or above the 95th percentile is not sufficient to offer early access to the child. The school must consider a variety of other factors and build a body of evidence that fully supports a decision to offer early access.

Welcome to February. Valentine’s Day is the best time to practice writing skills with your child. Not only can you help them fill out valentines to friends, but you can also encourage them to write short letters or draw pictures for grandparents. Here are a couple of suggestions to help writing be fun and educational without being stressful.

• If possible, have different kinds of fun writing materials available. Markers, or special pens make writing more fun.

• Allow kids to create their own Valentines by cutting out hearts, or other fun shapes.

• For the younger writers you can focus on handwriting. It is a perfect idea to write a short message for the kids to copy or even trace.

• For older kids, write a few words that they may need to help with spelling for them. Examples include: valentine, friend, and love. Allow them to sound out the other words. It’s ok if they aren’t perfect. You can always write the words under for family members to read.

• A fun idea is to buy the candy hearts with words on them, and have them use those to make sentences. You can actually glue them onto paper. Kids love the uniqueness of this activity.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day, and spend a few minutes having fun with your kids.

Melissa Bradley

Reading Interventionist

Hello Beautiful Families!

Spring is right around the corner! I just wanted to say again what a pleasure it is to work with your children and nurture their journey with English language vocabulary skills. The goal is not just learning English but valuing their native language while learning and embracing a new one and supporting them becoming bilingual. They are remarkable little learners and I strive to create a safe space for them to feel proud of their native language while they are learning a new one! I have learned so much about them and they have taught me so much in return!

We will continue with our hands on learning and talking about what we are doing by speaking about it and describing it. We will practice actions and follow directions.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.

mkerrigan@garfield16.org

Melanie Kerrigan CFL-ELL

Hello CFL Families!

What an adventure January has been in music!

Kindergarteners traveled to Ireland and listened to some instruments and learned dances from that amazing country!

1st graders went on a road trip of their own around the United States as we read, wrote, played, identified, AND dictated rhythm patterns with Ta and Ti-Ti!

WHEW!

This month we will all be taking a trip to China as we learn about the Chinese New Year and create patterns with new rhythms and learn how to put those rhythms on instruments! We are also going to try our hands at composing, or writing, music!

Thank you all for your support and encouragement as we build our new music program! We are working through some hiccups and are putting things into place to make sure that all students are as successful as possible! As always, please reach out if you have any questions or concerns! I will be happy to hear from you!

Musically,

Mrs. Volk~

Hello CFL Families,

This February is Physical Education! We will be working on volleying and striking skills. We will be introducing games and sports such as volleyball, badminton, baseball and tennis to name a few. Please send your kiddo with tennis shoes everyday for PE class. This is not just for their safety but the whole class's safety. This also helps them with responsibility and how to be prepared for movement. Reach out with any questions or concerns.

-Mr. Cora

Hello Families of CFL!

My name is Sierra Shilling and I am so excited to become a part of the CFL Family. As the school counselor, I will be seeing your kiddos in the classroom for large group SEL instruction; and if needed, in a small group setting. This month we are learning and growing our listening skills! Each class will get a chance to learn and practice these skills with me in the classroom setting. Any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me and connect on how to best support your child. I look forward to getting to know you and your kiddos!

🖍️✏️📚🎨🔡🧸🎈🧩🌈🍎🥕🍌🥛🧁🍪🎵🤗👧👦👶🧒

Dear Preschool Families,

We are thrilled to share in the joy of your child's remarkable journey of learning and growth here at Center For Family Learning! It's been incredibly inspiring to witness their progress in all areas of development, and we couldn't be prouder of their achievements. As we navigate the beautiful journey of early childhood together, we understand that emotions, big and small, play a significant role in your child's growth and development.

Understanding Big Emotions:

It's perfectly normal for children to experience a wide range of emotions, from excitement and joy to frustration and sadness. These big emotions are a natural part of growing up and learning about the world around them.

Tips for Supporting Big Emotions at Home:

Here are some simple steps you can take to help your child navigate and express their emotions in a healthy way:

Create a Safe Space:

Designate a cozy corner or area in your home where your child can retreat when they need a moment to process their emotions.

- Fill this space with comforting items like soft pillows, stuffed animals, or calming sensory objects.

Practice Deep Breathing:

- Teach your child simple deep breathing exercises to help them calm down when they're feeling overwhelmed or upset.

Validate Their Feelings:

- Let your child know that it's okay to feel sad, angry, or frustrated sometimes. Validate their emotions by saying things like, "I understand you're feeling upset right now, and that's okay."

Use Positive Language:

- Encourage your child to express their emotions using words. Help them label their feelings by saying things like, "It seems like you're feeling disappointed because..."

Lead by Example:

- Model healthy emotional expression by sharing your own feelings with your child in a calm and respectful manner.

Upcoming Important Dates-

2/14-Valentine’s Day Parties

• AM Class-10 am

• PM Class- 2:30 pm

• Full Day-2:30 pm

• Classroom Details will be come out through your teacher’s newsletter

2/16 Preschool Building Celebration

• More Details to come!

Universal Preschool Enrollment 2024/2025

• More information to come in March!
• Pre-Registration will be important for current enrolled children.

Warmest regards,

Nicole Hills, Preschool Director

🖍️✏️📚🎨🔡🧸🎈🧩🌈🍎🥕🍌🥛🧁🍪🎵🤗👧👦👶🧒👩‍🏫🏫

Check out the link about support and scheduling appointments at the Resource Center

Email: kfrees@garfield16.org
Website: https://cfl.garfield16.org/
Location: 100 E 2nd St, Parachute, CO 81635, USA
Phone: 970-285-5702