Explorer Express

The February P.A.S.S. meeting will be held tonight (2/16) at 6:00 pm via Zoom. The meeting will be focused on projected staffing and enrollment for the 2022-23 school year. To join, please click the button below.

We are beginning to plan for next school year. Please take a few minutes to share your family's plans for next year by completing the survey below. This information helps determine the number of openings we are likely to have in each grade level.

For families that have multiple students, please complete one survey per student.

Please complete the survey by February 25, 2021. Thank you and Go Explorers!

Please direct questions to Becky Del Ponte, Registrar at rdelponte@cherrycreekschools.org or call (720) 554-3300.

The spring parent/teacher conferences will be the week of February 28, 2022. Teachers will be providing both virtual or in-person options for conferences. To sign up, please click the link button below and sign up for a time slot that works for your family. We look forward to connecting with you!

Attention all incoming Kindergarteners! It is almost time to register for Kindergarten. Beginning February 1st all incoming Kindergarten students can register for the 2022-23 school year online by visiting the Cherry Creek School Admissions page. We look forward to welcoming the newest Explorers to the Dry Creek community!

https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=1766

As a reminder, school begins at 8:00 am. Teachers begin the day promptly at 8:00 and students who arrive late often miss important community-building opportunities or direct instruction. Please do your best to be at school on time so that we can maximize the instructional time we have with our students. Also, we serve free breakfast for anyone who wants it every morning, eating at school could be one way to help the morning routine. Thank you!

CCSD schools will no longer send letters to families when students are in a classroom with a positive COVID-19 case. We will continue to keep our data tracker on the website updated with cases that are reported to us and have an impact on the school. For a more complete picture of how many COVID-19 cases we have in our community, please visit the Tri-County Health Department website.

Federal and state health agencies have issued new guidance regarding isolation periods for people who test positive for COVID-19. Staff or students who test positive for COVID-19 can return to work/school on day 6 if they have no symptoms or symptoms are greatly improved (and they do not have a fever on day 5). Those who return from isolation on day 6 must continue to wear a mask in compliance with the county mask mandate. This guidance is subject to change.

There have also been changes to the quarantine guidance for those who are in close contact with a COVID-positive person. For the updated guidance please contact our school nurse if you have symptoms of illness or have been exposed to a COVID-positive person. The school nurse can be reached at (720) 554-3305.

Illness at School and Decreasing the Spread: How Can you Help?

Please keep your student/s home from school if they are feeling sick. If your student has symptoms seen with COVID-19 (regardless of their vaccination status), they should not come to school.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include ANY of the following: Feeling feverish, having chills, a temperature of 100.4 F or greater, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, loss of taste and smell, sore throat, runny nose or congestion, muscle aches, headache, fatigue, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

We encourage anyone with symptoms to reach out to their healthcare provider and seek out COVID testing.

No-cost COVID testing is available to anyone in the Cherry Creek community who needs a test:

· For current Cherry Creek students and staff: https://www.primarybio.com/l/cherry

· For friends, family, and community members: https://www.primarybio.com/l/cdphe

Please note: With the large number of cases currently in the community, timely testing is difficult to schedule, and obtaining results are extended as well.

The best way to prevent experiencing severe illness due to the COVID-19 virus or the upcoming seasonal flu (influenza) virus, is to get vaccinated.

COVID-19 vaccines are now available for children ages 5-11, see our district vaccine page for more information:

https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=13483

Seasonal Flu vaccines will be available at most sites after October 1st, but many grocery and drug stores have them available all year.

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is now available for children ages 5-11 after two federal agencies – the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – granted emergency use authorization and expanded vaccine recommendations to include this age group.

The COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect yourself, your family, our students and our community from the COVID-19 virus. The pediatric vaccine is a lower dose that has been researched and determined effective for children ages 5-11. Like the adult Pfizer vaccine, children will receive their two vaccines 21 days apart. For more information about the Pfizer pediatric vaccine, visit this CDC website. For specific questions about the COVID vaccine and your child, contact your health care provider. Please note that any absence associated with the vaccine will be excused, and that clinics will require a parent or guardian to be present with any child who is getting a vaccine.

The district has been working with our health care partners to be ready to offer clinics and other access to vaccines for families who choose to vaccinate their children. Visit our Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine webpage to find out where you can get a COVID-19 vaccine for your child. Check back often, as we will update the page with more resources and links to sign up for clinics as they become available.

You can also register your child for one of the Children’s Hospital Colorado COVID-19 vaccine clinics here: https://covid19.colorado.gov/kids-vaccines.

We are excited about this opportunity to offer the vaccine to more of our students.

Elementary schools will dismiss at 1:45 p.m. every Wednesday. For families who participate in after-school child care, the after-school program will be extended every Wednesday at no additional cost. For families who need care, you can register with our Explorer Club Before and After School Program. Please contact our Director, Julie Cottorone, at jcottorone@cherrycreekschools.org for more information.

If you are currently volunteering or plan to volunteer in the future, please complete the online volunteer form. It should only take a few minutes to complete. We want to thank you in advance and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school.

New Colorado legislation has prompted a greater need to screen and document volunteers in our schools. Therefore, beginning January 2022, we must ensure that every volunteer completes a brief application to support activities in CCSD schools. This information will be automatically linked to the Raptor System. The good news is they only need to complete this form once per school year, and it will meet the requirement to volunteer in all CCSD buildings.

To access the form, please click on the following link: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/NzU0OmVuLVVT

Definitions

• Volunteers are guests who are supporting students, completing tasks, and under the immediate supervision and direction of District licensed personnel.

• Visitors are guests who are solely entering the building to conduct business such as participate in a meeting, eat lunch with their student, or attend a school-sponsored activity.
  
  

The safety and security of our students and staff remain our top priority. Every person entering our buildings must have a District ID or a badge printed from the Raptor System.

Thank you again for your continued support.

The PTCO is currently seeking parents to join the executive board for the 2022-23 school year. The open positions are:

Vice President/Volunteer Coordinator:

To preside in the absence of the President(s), liaison between the board and the various committees, recruit committee chairs and volunteers for committees, man a table at back-to-school night to answer questions about volunteer opportunities, Coordinate online volunteer signups, oversee social media and communications if there is no committee chair.

Treasurer (payables):

To maintain accurate records and reconcile of all financial transactions (using QuickBooks), to submit monthly financial statements to the board and community for review, write checks/disburse the funds of the organization, as authorized by the executive board, prepare the annual budget in conjunction with the budget committee, file annual taxes and quarterly taxes.

Fundraising Coordinator:

Document fundraising and community PTCO events for future references, Help find volunteers if needed for PTCO events, support PTCO events, find/suggest creative ways for how to promote our current fundraising efforts (promotions), such as King Sooper/ Safeway reloadable cards, spirit wear, etc., present fundraising options to the board, coordinate with Communications Director for flyers, electronic sign, website, or other advertising needs for events, help coordinate dining out events with parents and board

Communications Director:

Collect and input all events on PTCO website calendar, perform regular updates to the website, perform administration duties of various content on the website, perform email account setup and administration for all board members, committee chairs, and key volunteers, work with Treasurers for financial report posting on the website and fundraising announcements, work with all aspects of PTCO

If you have interest in any of these positions, please contact Alicia Collyar and Brittani Allen at president@drycreekptco.org.

Dry Creek parents, students, and staff can “Rent the Rock” to recognize a birthday/academic achievement, show school spirit, thank/recognize a teacher or staff member, celebrate a graduation, etc. It’s a great way to spread a positive message, make someone smile and help build our Dry Creek Explorer community spirit. Spirit rock reservations are on a first-come, first-serve basis so make your reservation before your special day is taken! www.drycreekptco.org/dce-spirit-rock

Accountability will meet on the following dates at 6:00 pm:

• February 23, 2021 - In-person (Date Change)
• March 24, 2021 - Virtual

P.A.S.S. will meet on the following dates at 6:00pm:

• February 16, 2021 - Virtual
• April 13, 2021 - In-Person

General Meeting Dates:

• March 9, 2022 at 8:30am
• May 11, 2022 at 6:30pm

Coffee with the principal begins at 8:00 am right after drop-off in the library on the following dates:

• March 29, 2022
• April 26, 2022
• May 24, 2022

Email: kwatanabe@cherrycreekschools.org
Website: https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/drycreek
Location: 7686 East Hinsdale Avenue, Centennial, CO, USA
Phone: (720) 554-3300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drycreekelementaryccsd/
Twitter: @DryCreekCCSD

Families who need Dry Creek Elementary communication translated, please contact the liaison listed:

English:

Please contact Kati Brinks at kbrinks@cherrycreekschools.org for support with this resource in your language.

Amharic

እነዝህን መረጃዎችን በተመለከተ በቋንቋዎ ዕገዛን ለማግኘት ከፈለጉ እባክዎን ተሊሌን በዝህ እሜይል ያግኙዋት thirpa@cherrycreekschools.org

Arabic:

يرجى الاتصال بـ (جميعة صباحي أو جاودة العلمي) على (jsebbahi@cherrycreekschools.org أو

jdajanialami@cherrycreekschools.org للحصول على الدعم مع هذا المورد باللغة العربية.

Chinese:

如有需要，请经由ahan10@cherrycreekschools.org，与韩馥联系，以您的语言获得此资源的支持。

Korean:

귀하의 언어로 이 자원에 대한 지원을 원하시면 (리아 리) 에게 (llee6@cherrycreekschools.org) 로 문의하십시오.

Russian:

Пожалуйста, обращайтесь к Ларисе Бака по адресу: lbaca3@cherrycreekschools.org для получения поддержки с помощью этого ресурса на своём языке.

Somali:

Fadlan la xiriir Omar Nur cinwaanka emaylka-onur2@cherrycreekschools.org si aad u hesho macluumaad ku qoran luqadaada.

Spanish:

Si necesita ayuda con este recurso en su idioma, póngase en contacto con Ilse Chavez Maldonado en ichavezmaldonado@cherrycreekschools.org, Rosa Han en rhan4@cherrycreekschools.org, Helena Gognat en hgognat@cherrycreekschools.org o Milagro Nuanes en mnuanes@cherrycreekschools.org

Vietnamese:

Vui lòng liên hệ với Thuý Ngọc tại Lchung2@cherrycreekschools.org để được hỗ trợ về tài nguyên này bằng tiếng Việt.