The Grizzly News
July 26, 2024
Be Here. Be You. Belong!
Dear Meadow Point Families,
We have now been in school for a four weeks, students are in a routine and engaging in learning. You should begin to hear from your child's teacher on a consistent basis about your students learning and growth. This communication might come via grade level newsletter, talking points, class dojo, emails, or in person conversations. Please know that it is our goal to communicate with you as much as possible in order to be in collaboration to support our students overall growth. You will also hear from administration to partner with you whenever our students are indicating that they need additional/different supports. Our goal is to always address our students needs from a learning stand. We thank you for your partnership as we work together for the success of our students.
In Partnership,
Gabriela Zuno, Principal
School Safety - Superintendent's Message
Dear Cherry Creek Schools Community,
Our hearts go out to the Apalachee High School community in Georgia and to the families of the
students and teachers who lost their lives or were injured in the school shooting. It is
devastating and maddening to have a deadly school shooting just days into a new school year.
Nothing is more important than the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff. We
continuously work to revise and improve our our security plans. We work with our partners in
law enforcement and school safety experts to continually enhance our safety practices.
We currently have the following security resources and protocols in place at our schools:
• We have school security teams, District Security Coordinators, and School Resource
Officers (SROs) that support all schools throughout the District.
• School building leaders and security personnel have radios that connect directly to
district security and dispatch. We have installed emergency intercom systems with
automated lockdown capabilities in every school.
• All front entry doors in elementary and middle schools are locked at all times. Anyone
entering the building must check-in in at the main entrance and report to the office.
• At the high school level, all students are required to have ID badges and visitors to the
campus must check in with security.
• As part of the last bond, we installed secure vestibules or kiosks in all schools
throughout the district.
• The district has completed installing push-button or twist locks on all classroom doors to
secure them from the inside.
• We were the first school district in the country to implement the Redbag program,
which puts emergency Redbags in every classroom that include life-saving first aid
supplies and a QR code that lets District Security personnel communicate with
classrooms during a lockdown.
We are aware that school shootings can stir fear and emotions for students and adults and our
schools have mental health staff available to meet with anyone who needs space to talk about
this tragedy.
This resource from the National Association of School Psychologists offers tips for parents and
educators about how to talk to children after there has been a high-profile act of violence in thenews. This resource from the National Institute of Mental Health discusses ways for helping
children and adolescents cope with traumatic events.
Your partnership is critical in keeping our schools safe. If you see or hear potentially dangerous
behavior or anything that could put students at risk, please report it immediately to law
enforcement, the school, or through www.safe2tell.org.
Please continue to keep the Apalachee High School victims, families, students, and staff in your
hearts and thoughts over the coming days.
Sincerely,
Christopher Smith
Superintendent
Sungate Kids
Fun Run
Upcoming Events
● Wednesday, September 11, 2024- Enkutatash (እንቁጣጣሽ) is the first day of the New Year in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
● September 15 - October 15 - Hispanic Heritage Month
● Thursday, September 19, 2024 - Fun Run
● Friday, September 20, 2024 - No School
● Monday, September 23, 2024 - Clubs begin this week
● Tuesday, September 24, 2024 - Voices of Color (previously P.A.S.S.)
● Saturday, September 28, 2024 - STEAM-A-Palooza at CCIC
Student Opportunities
- Girls in Aviation Day RSVP is now open. This is a free opportunity, if interested please click here to Register
- Every Kid Sports is teaming up with the Denver Broncos. See the attachment below for more information.
- Hazel Health- Free therapy available to all students. See the attachments below.
Attendance Matters
Attendance Matters
Regular daily school attendance is a critical factor in school success. Students who are chronically absent from school are at risk of falling behind in academic learning. Poor attendance in early grades can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade. By sixth grade, chronic absence can be a predictor of whether a student is at risk for dropping out of school. Help us meet our goal of having every child in school every day. If your family anticipates an issue with attendance this year, please reach out to our office and we will make a plan to ensure your student gets to school.
Learn more about why attendance matters, the new CCSD policy, and how CCSD can help.
Video: https://youtu.be/M0EDx8hd6no
Assessments
As we embark on this journey, it is important that we keep you informed of the happenings at school. Throughout the year, your students will be taking different assessments. The purpose of these assessments is to give our teachers and support staff an understanding of exactly where your student is at academically, in order to plan for and provide next steps. These next steps are critical to the growth and acceleration of your student.
At the beginning of the year, your child will be taking diagnostic assessments. These assessments provide our teachers with baseline data in reading and math. It allows our teachers and support staff to identify next steps and create small groups that will meet the specific needs of your child. In addition to the beginning of the year, your child will take diagnostic assessments two more times throughout the school year. The subsequent assessments not only provide information for small groups, but allow the teachers to measure the growth your student has made.
Your child will also be taking unit assessments throughout the year. These assessments measure the growth your child has made on the priority standards for the quarter. They help your child’s teacher determine if your child has reached mastery or still has unfinished learning that needs to be addressed.
Students who are multi-language learners will be taking the WIDA Access test. This assessment provides our teachers with information in four domains: (1) reading, (2) speaking, (3) listening, and (4) writing. We use the data to determine how best to provide supports and scaffolds in the classroom.
At the end of the year, assessments culminate with CMAS. This is a statewide, standardized assessment that gives the school, the district, and the state data around proficiency and growth. This test is given only to students in grades 3-5. Students are tested in reading, writing, and math. Students in grade 5 are tested in science.
At Meadow Point, our values are love myself, care for community, and make a difference. We work hard to connect these values to test-taking. We believe that our students can do great things and assessments are one forum in which they can demonstrate their greatness.
We ask that you take the opportunity to speak with your child about the importance of every assessment they take. By reinforcing the purpose both at home and school, we know we will be able to gather the most accurate data and continue to help your student move forward. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or comments you might have. Thank you for your support!
Student Safety Expectations
Safety is our top priority here at Meadow Point. In order to make sure our students and staff are safe, we have implemented some routines and expectations. Students are required to have a hall pass at all times. If a student is in the hallway without a pass, we will work with their teacher to determine how we can support. If a student engages in a pattern of behavior of being in the hallway without a pass, we will be contacting you to problem-solve. This is not punitive, it is to ensure that we know where students are at all times! We will continue to work with students through a restorative and reteaching lens!
In addition, we are firm believers in open lines of communication. We will be contacting you with exciting news, successes, and opportunities to work together for the continued growth of your student!
District Wide Events
District Accountability Committee
Veterans and Military Appreciation
Other Announcements
Looking for free groceries and a hot meal? This is a reminder that Eastern Hills will have their Market Place this Thursday, September 5th from 4-6pm. Please drive up to the church and they will serve you with a box of groceries and hot meals. If you need diapers or personal products, ask a volunteer when you pull up.
Every 1st and 3rd Thursday from 4-6pm
Eastern Hills Community Church
25511 E. Smoky Hill Rd, Aurora, CO US 80016
Please contact them at 303-699-1470 or marketplace@ehills.org for questions.
Meadow Point Elementary School is Still Hiring!
Help Support Meadow Point Elementary While You Shop!
King Soopers
A portion of money spent comes right back to our school, and it couldn’t be easier!
To use the King Soopers or City Market Community Rewards Program:
*Visit www.kingsoopers.com and log into your King Soopers account. Search for Meadow Point Elementary PTCO under Community Rewards and click enroll.
*New users will need to create an account which requires some basic informaon, a valid email address and a loyalty card.
*If you do not yet have a King Soopers loyalty card, they are available at the customer service desk at any King Soopers.
REMEMBER, purchases will not count for our organizaon unless you register your loyalty card. You must swipe your registered King Soopers loyalty card or use the phone number that is related to your loyalty card when shopping for each purchase to count.
2024-2025 School Year Calendar
Connect with the Meadow Point Office Team
Meadow Point Elementary School
Main Line: 720-886-8600
Attendance Line: 720-886-8695
Jessica Darmstedter, Nurse: jdarmstedter@cherrycreekschools.org
Joei Sayers, Administrative Health Liaison: jsayers@cherrycreekschools.org
Emily Prascher, Family Liaison: eprascher3@cherrycreekschools.org
Debbie Fribbs, Office Manager: dfribbs@cherrycreekschools.org
Trudy Koopman, Registrar: tkoopman@cherrycreekschools.org
Lindsay Folker, Assistant Principal: lfolker@cherrycreekschools.org
Gabriela Zuno, Principal: gzuno@cherrycreekschools.org
Website: meadowpoint.cherrycreekschools.org
Location: 17901 East Grand Avenue, Aurora, CO, USA