

Carver Cougars Parent Newsletter
February 20-24
Message from your Principal
Dear Carver Elementary Families and Caregivers,
I hope everyone is able to rest and recharge on this three day weekend! The weather is beautiful and provides great opportunities to get outside. Thank you for another busy week! We are preparing for a busy four days when we return tomorrow. We have Skate City on Tuesday Night from 5:00-7:00 PM. Skate City provides us a discount of $8 for admission and skate rental. Please join us! We also have a basketball game at Carver on Tuesday against Taylor Elementary and a game at Colorado Springs School for the Deaf and Blind on Thursday. Please join us if you can!
We have a free, Parent Class on Thursday in our Library from 7:50-8:50 AM focusing on "No Means No, How to Set Effective Boundaries." Everyone is welcome and we will serve a light breakfast.
Some reminders for second semester: the first bell rings at 7:45 AM and students proceed to their classroom where breakfast is offered to every student. For safety reasons, we are asking that students walk to their classrooms independently, we have staff positioned throughout the building to support them. School begins promptly at the 7:50 AM bell. Please have your student to school on time and if it is after 7:55 AM, parents are responsible for signing their student in at the front office.
Dismissal is at 2:50 PM and please pick up your students promptly, with the weather conditions, students may be dismissed from the gym or will be moved inside by 3:00 PM.
Thank you to those that purchased a Candy Gram or attended our Movie Night-our Student Council appreciates you!
We are offering a FREE Parent Class on Thursday, February 21st at 7:50 AM. Please join us for a lite breakfast in the library! We will also offer a Parent Class in Spanish on March 18th.
Thank you for ALL of your support and we are excited to continue focusing on Student Achievement second semester.
Mrs. Bizzell
Principal
Carver Identity Statement
As a quality neighborhood school in D11, the Carver community is supportive and safe as staff, parents, and students are valued and involved in creating engaging, intentional learning experiences that are responsive to student needs and results in a place where everyone wants to be.
Our three focus areas include:
Engaging, intentional learning experiences
Supportive and Safe Environment
Staff, Parents, and Students are valued and involved
We need your help and your voice! If you are interested in being a voice in this strategic planning, please reach out to lisa.bizzell@d11.org and let me know!
What's Happening at Carver (Looking ahead)
February 20th Skate City 5:00-7:00 PM
February 22nd, FREE Parent Class-7:50-8:50 AM Library
March 12th Philharmonic Field Trip, 3rd -5th Grades 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
March 13th Snuggle Up with a Good Book Event
March 14th and 15th End of 3rd Quarter, No School
March 18th ELL Family Night 4:00-6:30 PM
March 25-29 Spring Break, No School
April 1st-5th End of Year STAR Testing Reading and Math 2nd-5th Grades
April 8th-19th CMAS testing Reading, Math, Science (5th) 3rd-5th Grades
ENTRY TIME FOR STUDENTS:
Office Hours: 7:45 AM-3:45 PM
Carver School Hours: 7:50 AM-2:50 PM
Duty teachers do not start duty until 7:40 am-Please do not drop off your students before then.
Tardy bell rings at 7:50
School Recess-When is it to cold to go outside?
As the temperature changes in Colorado, Carver students will play outside for recess as long as the temperature and wind chill is at 16 degrees or above, including light snow.
Please be sure that your children are dressed to play outside, with hats, coats, mittens or gloves, and appropriate footwear.
Inclement Weather
Food & Nutrition Services Information SY 23-24
Attendance Matters!
Did you know?
- Starting in Preschool and Kindergarten that TOO MANY absences can cause a student to fall behind in school.
- Frequent absences in school can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school, dealing with a bully, or facing some other difficulty.
- By sixth grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
- By ninth grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates, than eighth grade test scores.
- Missing 10% or two days over a month, over the course of the school year, can affect a student's academic success.
How to Make Attendance a Priority
- Communicate with your student the importance of attending school every day.
- Discuss creating daily routines such as setting a regular bedtime and morning routine, finishing homework, and getting a good night's sleep.
- Create backup plans for getting your student to school in case of bad weather or something comes up.
"When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances of graduating." Attendance Works
We are currently averaging 90.35% attendance. Our GOAL is 93%. Let's work towards this to help support our student's learning!
Attendance for 2023-24 School Year: 90.35%
Attendance for last 20 days: 90.09%
Attendance for last 10 days: 91.04%
Lunch Times
10:55-11:15 Kindergarten and Third Grade
11:15-11:35 First and Fourth Grade
11:35-11:55 Second and Fifth Grade
Art Updates!
Essentials Schedule 2023-2024
K/3 12:10-1:00
1/4 1:05-1:55
2/5 2:00-2:50
Essentials: Art, Music, PE, Technology
Band for grades 4th and 5th
Wednesday and Thursday
Orchestra for grades 4th and 5th
Monday and Wednesday
Band Updates!
Volunteer Opportunities
Please join us!
Carver Elementary School Accountability Committee (SAC)
At Carver Elementary, we care about your children's developmental needs! That is why our mission is to ensure that each and every student has access to the learning tools and programs they need to succeed in school, and in life. We strive for a higher standard of excellence and take the time to focus on those who need extra support. Joining our SAC is a fantastic way to keep up to date with the initiatives our school has put in place to better our learners, and to also voice your opinions and concerns!
If you are interested or have been a member previously, in joining Carver's SAC committee please reach out to Lisa Bizzell @ lisa.bizzell@d11.org or Corinna Archuleta at tcoco77@live.com
Looking for a way to connect and get involved at Carver?
Contact our President, Rhiannon Blackett at if you are interested at rhiannonblackett85@gmail.com. Come be a member and have a voice in Carver's PTA!
We are currently reviewing items for purchase for second semester-Carver Welcome Mat, supporting Art Club, and other items that need your vote!
We are also looking for a Treasurer.
Our current PTA Administrators are:
President-Rhiannon Blackett
Vice President-Samantha Taylor
Secretary-Kelly Dawson
Treasurer-Betty Barnett
Our next meeting will be TUESDAY, March 19th from 3:10-4:00 PM in the library. Please join us!
Zones of Regulation
Notes from our Counselor
Resources
As we start talking about Responsibility during RAK lessons, the first step in teaching to take responsibility is to cultivate a culture of accountability within the home and school. This means every member is held accountable to a clear set of rules and expectations. Everyone is responsible for their own actions and reactions, even in stressful situations. Creating a culture of accountability won’t happen overnight. It takes time for everyone to learn there are real repercussions for their actions. Here is a reminder of some key factors that could help your students:
Start By Controlling Your Own Reactions
When your student makes an excuse for their behavior and insists something isn’t their fault, don’t feed into the power struggle by debating your own views. Always respond calmly, and avoid engaging in any kind of argument. Remember, this is a learning opportunity, not a court case.
By maintaining a calm demeanor even in these more frustrating situations, you’ll make it a lot easier for your student to come forward with the truth when they do choose to fess up to bad behavior.
Set Clear Rules and Expectations
Make sure everyone is on the same page about the rules of the class and the expectations they are being held accountable to. For example, if you’re trying to prevent name calling, explain that under no circumstances will this behavior be tolerated. It doesn’t matter if someone calls them a name first or if someone makes them angry in another way.
If they choose to engage in name calling, they will face the consequences. Reinforce the fact that each person is responsible for their own actions. Remind them that we always have a choice about how we choose to respond to something we don’t like.
Ensure there are Consequences for Bad Behavior
Once your rules and expectations have been made clear, explain what will happen if they choose to break the rules. Aim for short-term consequences, and always tie them to the behavior in question.
What’s most important is for you to follow through with your chosen consequences. Without real consequences in play, children have no incentive to actually change their behavior.
Introduce Problem Solving Skills
When you tell your student they can’t do something, it’s not always clear to them what they can do instead. To help them take responsibility, teach them crucial problem solving skills.
Next time they come to you with an excuse, respond with the question “What could you have done differently in that situation?” Calmly working through the acceptable options with your child is a valuable learning experience and is crucial to ensuring they know what steps to take in an uncomfortable situation.
Reward Real Progress
With time, your child will make progress. It may not be easy, but if they are held accountable to real consequences, they will eventually choose to follow the rules more often than not.
To further incentivize good behavior, turn the lesson of accountability into a weekly challenge. Each child can begin the week with 5 points. Every time they attempt to shift the blame or make an excuse for their actions, they’ll lose a point. Use a dry-erase board or simple chart on the fridge to keep track of the score.
If your child can avoid hitting zero by the end of the week, they can enjoy a small reward. Although this game won’t eliminate failure to take accountability completely, it can remind every member of the family to stay conscious of their responsibility for their own actions.
The key to cultivating a culture of accountability is to be patient and stay consistent. With time, you will reap the rewards of remaining calm and holding firm to your set consequences. After all, what’s a better reward for the hard work of parenting than a child who takes responsibility for their actions?
Remember, one small act of kindness can truly make a difference. YOU can make that difference in someone’s life.
Thanks,
Mrs. Gio (Giovanny) Franco-Diaz
504 coordinator
School Counselor, Carver Elementary
Phone # 719-328-2171
“I can’t do this, I don’t get it, take a deep breath… then try adding “YET” at the end of the sentence”
If you are in immediate need please contact one of the options below:
Safe2Tell # 1.877.542.7233 / Suicide and Crisis Lifeline# 988
Random Acts of Kindness
What is happening in Random Acts of Kindness!
RAK is deliver during their morning breakfast in the classroom by their teacher. This month students will be learning about Integrity. Integrity it is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Here are some books to check about Integrity : Ruthie and the (Not SO) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin (3-6 years)
- Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big by Berkely Breathed (6-9 years)
- Code 7: Cracking the Code for an Epic Life by Bryan R Johnson (7-12 years)
- Parents *Here is a book and a podcast to check out : Raising Human Beings : Creating a Collaborative Partnership by Ross W. Greene
If you have any questions regarding outside mental health services, housing, food support, or other resources available in our community, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Ms. Gio
PAWS Expectations
P- I am Prepared
A-I have a great Attitude
W-I Work hard
S-I am Safe
Students are asked to: "Show Me Your Paws" to get their attention. Students respond with both hands in the air, voices off, and eyes on the speaker.
Student Council
Student Council
Wednesday February 14 / Wednesday February 21
Thank you all for supporting Student Council, if you have any suggestions/feedback, please don’t hesitate to email our advisor
Mrs. Gio Franco-Diaz at giovanny.francodiaz@d11.org
A message from our Director of Security and Safety
Safety drills should be practiced regularly in order to be prepared for emergencies or crises that may arise. Below is a list of the drills we practice.
- Lock Down
- Secure Drill
- Shelter Drill
- Evacuation Drill
- Hold Drill
- Fire Drill
Title I
Carver Elementary is a Title I school.
The purpose of Title I is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging State academic achievement standards and state academic assessments.
If you have any questions, please reach out:
CARVER ELEMENTARY CONTACT INFORMATION
Email: lisa.bizzell@d11.org
Website: https://www.d11.org/Page/69
Location: 4740 Artistic Circle, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Phone: 719-328-7100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carver.d11.org/