I am soooo excited to share with you all Sierra's revised mission and new vision. Teachers and staff worked collaboratively throughout the months of August and September to create and finalize our foundation. We anchored to our beliefs and values as a collective group and built what we believe embodies the work we do everyday at Sierra. THANK YOU to the staff for all of your thinking and ideas and THANK YOU to Accountability for your feedback and input. Mission and vision work is at the heart of our decisions and grounding force within the greater Sierra community.
Sierra's Mission:
Sierra’s mission is to inspire curiosity, foster a love of learning, and build a supportive community to prepare all students for a successful future.
Sierra's Vision:
Together we belong and inspire confidence to grow.
Have a remarkable weekend 😄
I have some sad news to share...Mrs. Peters will be taking a leave of absence effective immediately due to personal family reasons. At this time, the length of her leave is not determined. She has asked for space and privacy, so please do not reach out to her. We are working hard to fill unfillable shoes. Thank you for respecting her wishes and let me know if you need anything ❤️
Halloween parade and parties will be shifting to the morning this year (parade starting at 8:15ish, parties after at 8:45-9:30). We have heard wonderful feedback from other schools in the area and are hoping after the parade and party, we can continue with normal instruction (starting no later than 9:40). More information will be communicated as Halloween approaches, but a few need to knows:
- Students need to come to school in their costumes with regular clothes underneath (access to bathrooms for changing is limited due to space and capacity). Please plan costumes accordingly based on this new requirement.
- Families will be asked to sign in and entry to the building before 7:35 will be limited.
- Teachers may ask families to head outside at 7:45 so they can take attendance and complete morning routines prior to the parade.
- Decorations will be limited to ensure quick, easy clean-up for the remainder of the day's instruction.
Again, more information will be shared as Halloween gets closer. We appreciate your partnership and support in this shift as we do believe this will be better for all students.
OCTOBER COUNT!!
TUESDAY, 10/1 IS OCTOBER COUNT. October count is very important! All students should be in attendance this day! This is how the school gets it's funding.
PICTURE DAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We still need 1 more volunteer for picture day on Tuesday, 10/1. Please contact Sylvia at 303-982-0821 or sylvia.castro@jeffco.k12.co.us
Picture Day
The flyer with informatin was sent home on Monday, 9/23. If you have any questions please contact Van Gogh at 303-679-9003. Order at: orders.vangoghco.com/prepay Enter code: 30039801 Pay before 10/1!
SIERRA SPIRIT APPAREL - NOW AVAILABLE
The store will be open September 13th through October 6th. Estimated date of delivery is 10/25.
Please click the link to access the store.
September- Hispanic Heritage Month and Suicide Prevention Month
September 30- Umbrella Celebration, 3:20 near the new umbrella on the primary playground (sandbox)
October 1- October count (PLEASE ensure your child is in school!); picture day
October 6- Sierra Strides
October 8- Coffee with T n B (special guest, Jenny Frederickson, our GT partner)
October 10-16 Book Fair
October 11- ROAR Day (Cartoon Day)
October 15 and 16- Conferences (3:00pm-7:00pm)
October 17 and 18- NO SCHOOL (teacher work day and Fall Break)
October 24- Skate City
October 31- Halloween parade and parties (8:10ish-9:30), ROAR Day (Monster Mash)
November 1- NO SCHOOL (teacher work day)
Please ensure that you read through the Sierra Student-Family Handbook for additional school information.
Lost and Found
Our Lost and Found collection is growing. Items are displayed on a rack and in baskets underneath on the far wall of the cafeteria. Please ensure to check these out to ensure you student hasn't left behind a brand new water bottle, light coat they will need in the next couple of weeks, etc.
Attention Bus Riders
Do you have a bus rider? If so, the Stopfinder app may be fore you. Read the Stopfinder Newsletter for more information.
Yearbooks
2024-25 Yearbook information is here! Please check out the Sierra Yearbook flyer.
Student Benefits Application
Student Benefits Application (formerly known as the Student Meal Benefits Application)
Jeffco wants to encourage all families to complete the application. No longer is the emphasis on Free/Reduced/Paid Meals. As the new name implies, it is for Student Benefits such as student-based funding for our school and fee waivers for various activities.
Suicide Prevention Month
September is Suicide Prevention Month. Below are a couple resources for families.
General Information Flyer: Available in English and Spanish
Free Virtual QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Sessions for Parents/Caregivers: Information available in English and Spanish.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Jeffco has created a Hispanic Heritage Resource Guide, including, but not limited to: book lists, virtual field trips, daily fun facts, etc. Teachers and staff will be able to use this guide for classroom activities, learning, etc.
Spotlight on Advanced Learners
Jeffco's Gifted and Talented department's monthly newsletter is linked here for October.
The library's biggest fundraiser of the year, The Scholastic Book Fair, is coming in October! The Book Fair brings in thousands of dollars to help support our library, book room, and technology budgets.
The Scholastic Book Fair will be open on:
Friday, October 11th, 8:00 - 3:30
Monday, October 14th, 8:00 - 3:30
Tuesday, October 15th, 8:00 - 6:30
Wednesday, October 16th, 8:00 - 6:30
Volunteers are needed to help run the fair! Please use this Sign Up Genius to sign up as a volunteer. We will need people to help sell books as well as pack up the fair when it ends.
A great way to provide your child with money for the fair is by setting up an eWallet. This can be done through our Book Fair Website.
If you have any questions, reach out to Kaela Lazek at kaela.lazek@jeffco.k12.co.us.
BECOME A PTA MEMBER TODAY!
The first PTA General meeting was on Wednesday, September 18th at 5:30pm, but it's never too late to join! Click here to be a part of a group that helps make the Sierra community amazing!
Want an easy spot to communicate with the Sierra PTA and school community? Join our Facebook group to connect with other Sierra parents, ask questions, and learn about school and PTA community events!
Sierra Cares
Sierra Cares is a committee that provides practical support and help to Sierra community members going through a hardship. For example (not limited to) student loss of a parent, parent loss of a child, caregiver injured in an accident, loss of family home or job, etc. We offer many forms of help: meal trains, organized playdates, dog walking, highlighting GoFund Me pages (on the Sierra Cares web page), school pick-up/drop-off, etc. If you or someone you know in the Sierra Community is going through a hard time, we are here to help (this is anonymous). Please visit the Sierra Cares website for more information and/or to nominate.
It’s REFLECTIONS time again! This is our annual arts competition where students preK to 5th interpret the theme in any of the 6 arts categories. Judges from the local community then choose winners from each category, and they go on to the regional level. This year’s theme is: “Accepting Imperfection” Scan the QR code or CLICK HERE to get more information, find the entry form, etc. Questions: e-mail the Reflections committee chair: Amy Ward-Bailey amywardbailey@gmail.com
*NEW THIS YEAR: This year we’re adding a parallel ADULT art competition on the same theme and with the same categories. The goal is to get even more students participating in the arts by having them be the judges of the adults competition! Since there isn’t any regional or state awards levels for the adults, we will have a little gift basket for the winner. CLICK HERE to get more information, find the entry form, etc. Go stretch your creative muscles and let’s see what you can do!
The Reflections committee is once again offering free Arts Workshops once a week during October for any student (or adult!) looking to enter the competition. We’ll have art supplies, lots of ideas, and a few volunteers to help you get started. Come one come all! Students can drop in, but it’ll help us to know who’s going to be there in advance. We also need a volunteer or two each workshop - no art experience necessary, as the majority of the difficulty for kids comes with interpreting the theme. CLICK HERE to RSVP for an ARTS WORKSHOP.
Wednesday, 10/2 - 2:35pm-4pm
Monday 10/7 - 2:35pm-4pm
Tuesday 10/15 - 2:35pm-4pm (during conferences!)
STRIDES FOR SIERRA 5K REGISTRATION OPEN
Registration is open for our annual fall fundraiser - Strides for Sierra 5K! Sign up here
STRIDES FOR SIERRA VOLUNTEER SIGN UP
Maybe you don’t want to run or walk during the event but want to support and cheer on those that are! Please consider volunteering to help before, during, or after the event. Volunteers help make this event happen!
Thank you for supporting Sierra teachers.
At Sierra, we positively reinforce expected behaviors using our Safe, Respectful, and Responsible matrix. This framework provides clear and consistent expectations for students, as well as clear talking points for adults to anchor to. Our Social Emotional Learning Specialist, Ms. Monika VanderStek has put together a complementary matrix that could be used at home. Thank you, Ms. Monika!
The ROAR Matrix for at Home use includes three versions:
- An exemplar mapped out by location with expected behaviors which can be used "as is."
- A version with identified locations but blank expectations that could be filled in as a family.
- A completely blank version that a family could use to establish expected behaviors as they see fit by any location they choose.
Jodie Miller- 5th Grade
Hello all! I've been teaching at Sierra for my entire career; this is the start of year 24. I'm a mom of two men that attended Sierra as kids. Chris is my oldest (turns 21 in October!) and is at Arizona State studying Forensic Science. Matt is my youngest (18) and just started at Michigan State to study Biochemistry. Yes, Mike and I are empty nesters. I have volunteered at the Denver Dumb Friends League every Sunday for the last 15 years and am close to reaching the 6,000 hour mark. Our family also fosters everything, but we mostly foster puppies. Stop by and talk to me about dogs any time!
Kelly Rankin- 1st Grade
Kelly is a true Sabertooth, as she went to Sierra when she was a little girl. You can find her cheering on the Buffs on Saturdays. She loves to spend time with her family and her hair twin- aka her golden, Molly. ;)
Renee McElroy - 4th Grade
My name is Renee McElroy and I teach fourth grade. This year will be my 24th year of teaching. I started my teaching career right here at Sierra- teaching sixth grade. The next five years I taught 3rd, 5th, and 6th grades in Lakewood, at Glennon Heights Elementary. After that I returned to Sierra and taught fifth grade for 8 years. Then I did two years of sixth grade. Seven years ago I moved to fourth grade and I am super excited to teach fourth grade again this year!
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