SIERRA SCOOP
November 10, 2023
FROM FOERSTER'S DESK
Jeffco Preschool Family Survey: If you have a student who will be three or four years old by October 1, 2024, we invite you to participate in a short survey, open now through Friday, November 24. Your feedback will help us determine program options for our preschools. Specifically, we are interested in understanding whether you would prefer a half-day or a full-day program for your student. The survey is available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Arabic, and Chinese.
Have an outstanding weekend 😃
Attendance Works!
A growing body of research is revealing the prevalence of chronic absence and its critical role in student achievement. Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves.
Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Eventually good attendance will be a skill that will help them succeed in high school and college!
Help your child succeed in school by building the habit of good attendance early!
Choice Enrollment Info Night at Oberon Middle!
If you are a potential new student or an incoming middle school family, join us to learn about Oberon Middle School.
Future Viking Night is Thursday, November 30 from 6 - 7:15 PM.
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) at Sierra
Strategies for Calming
As we blew past October and into November, we are entering a season that can be busy for so many of us. This time of year is often filled with holidays; travel; time with friends and family; time for reflection on what we have or wish we had - the list can go on. Along with all of this, can come big emotions - excitement, overwhelm, joy, anxiety, elation, sadness, and more. At Sierra, we use the Second Step curriculum to help teach our students strategies for calming down when they feel big emotions. Most of our classrooms will begin a unit focusing on Emotion Management this month. Words we teach to cue the calming down process are "STOP, NAME YOUR FEELING, CALM DOWN." Pausing and noticing the sensations and thoughts we are having help us to identify and name our emotions. Once we have named the feeling, we can try a calming strategy, including: slow breathing, slow counting, taking a break, thinking helpful thoughts, and asking for help. Notice and praise your child when they are able to recognize and label their feelings. Explore and practice these different calming strategies at home to help build your child's comfort and confidence in managing their emotions.
OFFICE INFORMATION
SIERRA SPIRIT WEAR is now available. T-shirt order deadline correction - The store will be "open" until 11/19. Apparel will be delivered 12/15. Click here to access the store.
LEGO CLUB Winter 2024 - K-1 Registration
LEGO CLUB Winter 2024 - 2-5 Registration
UPCOMING VISION AND HEARING DECEMBER 7TH
- Looking for about 6 volunteers to help out with ushering students to testing areas on this day. It's only for a few hours, 3 people per shift. First rotation from 7:45 to 10:00, 2nd rotation from 10:00 to 12:30ish.
- It's a fun way to help with this day, and a great way to volunteer your time.
- If interested, please call Paulette at 303-982-0821 option 2, or email pjenkins@jeffco.k12.co.us.
A million thanks!!
Paulette
November 13 - No school - Teacher Work Day (see more info below)
November 15- RV Band (7:30 pm) and Orchestra (6:00 pm) Festival
November 17- ROAR Day Candy Land (this is a change!)
November 17- Report cards go home
November 20-24 - No School Thanksgiving Break
December 6- 1st Grade Performance (5:15pm Sierra gym); 3rd Grade Performance (6:00pm Sierra gym)
December 8- Modified Contact Day (specific information regarding grade level testing on this day will be sent from classrooms teachers on 11/17)
DID YOU KNOW?
11/13 Teacher Work Day
Message from Jeffco:
Reminder to families: As a result of the negotiations between the district and our teacher association, additional non-student contact days have been added to the district calendar.
Monday, November 13 is the first of four additional days added to the 2023-24 family calendar. These additional days only impact elementary schools (PK-5, PK-6), middle schools (6-8), and K-8 schools. Educators will use these planning days to work on tasks relevant to their positions that benefit student learning.
Please Note: High schools (9-12, or 6-12 and 7-12 junior/senior) will have school on Monday, November 13.
Lunch With Your Student
We welcome families to come and enjoy lunch and eat in the cafeteria with their student(s) during student lunch time. Please remember DO NOT bring in or share food with other students regardless of the circumstance. Also, please ensure you follow and model ROAR expectations and adult directions while in the cafeteria. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.
Messages for Students
If you need to get a message to your student during the school day, please call the office to do so. The office has systems in place to get messages to students before the end of the school day. If you contact a teacher, there is a good chance the message will not get to the student for a variety of reasons (teachers might not check their email, we could have a tech glitch, teacher could have a sub, etc).
Modified Contact Day
Modified contact days are scheduled for teachers to have one-on-one time to test students in reading. Teachers use this data, along with other pieces of information, to set up reading groups and adjust instruction for all students. It is not a full day of school, so lunch will not be served and buses will not run. Specific information regarding 12/8 will come from classroom teachers on 11/17.
Please ensure that you read through the Sierra Student-Family Handbook for additional school information.
PTA PARTICULARS
Chick-fil-A Restaurant Night - Come support the Sierra PTA at the Chick-fil-A on 80th and Wadsworth on Wednesday, November 15th from 4pm to 8pm. Place a mobile order through the app via Dine-in, Carry-out, Drive-thru or Chick-fil-A Delivery (at the 80th and Wadsworth location only). Be sure to select the toggle to support the Community Care Event. 10% of sales on any mobile order during the event time frame that toggles the "support event" will be given back to the Sierra PTA.
SIERRA ELEMENTRY
Email: tennille.foerster@jeffco.k12.co.us
Website: sierraelementary.net
Location: 7771 Oak Street, Arvada, CO, USA
Phone: (303)982-0821
Facebook: facebook.com/sierraelementary