SIERRA SCOOP

What an amazing start to the school year! Nothing is better than classrooms and hallways full of smiling and laughing students. I can't wait for all our preschoolers and kindergartners to join us on Monday! Thank you to everyone that came out for Ice Cream Social. It was wonderful to connect with both new and returning families.

Starting on Friday, 8/23, we ask that all families drop students at their assigned grade level door and DO NOT enter the building. If families need to enter the building, they will be directed to enter through the front door to sign in. We appreciate your cooperation!

2024-25 is going to be the best school year yet! Thank for all of your support and have a fabulous weekend 😃

We need you! Sierra is hiring for sub paraprofessionals to help cover supervisions (lunch, recess, classrooms, etc) in the event of para absences. If you are interested, please contact Nicole in the office if you have questions, 303-982-0821.

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. Students will need to attend only ONE of the 4 time slots, 8:00-10:00 or 12:00-2:00 on Monday or Friday. Students will enter and exit the same grade-level doors they use on normal school days. Please watch for specific information from your child’s teacher regarding testing on these dates and sign-up.

• There are 4 days scheduled this school year for teachers to assess students and collect data to drive instruction and to be able to progress monitor student growth. The other dates scheduled are: December 6 and May 2.

LEGO CLUB REGISTRATION

Grades K-1

Grades 2-5

NEW ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES

Jeffco has created a new online absence reporting tool, please see details here. We will also still accept phone calls for absences, please call 303-982-0819.

ALL returning, new, and kindergarten families will need to log in to Jeffco Infinite Campus Parent Portal (same username and password as EnrollJeffco) to complete the registration process for the 2024-25 school year (the initial registration process was started in December/January). This is where you will submit the updated information requested and acknowledge the agreements. Do not forget to save and submit.

There have been some glitches with Infinite Campus. If you have issues with registration please email Syvia at Sylvia.Castro@jeffco.k12.co.us. If you have already contacted Sylvia with concerns, she is currently working to resolve the issues. Please be patient as each issue takes time to resolve. Sylvia will contact you when it is resolved.

To pay your student fees on Infinite Campus following these steps: Reminder not until 8/1

1. After logging in, clink on "More."
2. Under "Quick Links" on the right side, click on "Jeffco Student Fee Payment."

ALL students will receive free breakfast and lunch for the 2024-2025 school year.

YOU MUST APPLY THROUGH "MEAL BENEFITS APPLICATION". Meal Benefits Application

If you are applying for Free/Reduced lunch, please make sure you don't mark the box that says "Do not share with the school". If you mark this box, your school fees will not be waived automatically.

Sierra Calendar

August 19- Kinder students first full day (7:45am-2:35pm); preschool first day

August 22- Back to School Night; 5:00-6:00pm (2 repeat sessions 5:00-5:25 and 5:35-6:00)

August 23 and 26- Modified Contact Day (2 sessions each day 8:00-10:00 and 12:00-2:00); more info to come soon

September 2- No School (Labor Day)

September 19- Field Day 3rd-5th grades; all day

Congratulations to Eve, Trisha, and Ava on being recognized by Jeffco for one of the cleanest kitchens and being the best in their field. THANK YOU for all of your hard working serving students!

Please take a moment to watch Sierra's Parking Lot video to help ensure a safe student drop-off and pick-up experience. Consider sharing this video with anyone who will take part in dropping off or picking up your child such as grandma or grandpa. Thank you in advance for help in keeping kids safe!

Please ensure that you read through the Sierra Student-Family Handbook for additional school information.

BIRTHDAY TREATS AND INVITATIONS

As a staff, we looked at maximizing instructional time for all students at Sierra. One of the big concerns teachers had was the amount of time it takes to pass out and eat birthday treats. If you think about having 28 students in a classroom, and it takes at least 15 minutes for the distribution and consumption of those treats, it is close to 7 hours of lost instructional time in every classroom! Another concern of families and teachers is that we do have several students with food allergies and dietary needs that are not able to participate in the treat.

As a result, the Sierra staff would like families to refrain from bringing birthday treats to the classroom. Teachers acknowledge and celebrate students’ birthdays in other ways and will take care of it in their classrooms.

Other suggested alternative ways to celebrate:

· Have mom, dad or grandma/grandpa come and read the child’s favorite book during read aloud time.

· Take the child out to eat on their birthday.

· And of course you are always welcome to eat with your child in the Sierra lunchroom!

Party invitations cannot be distributed during the school day, through Friday Folders, school email, etc. These are not school sanctioned activities, so all invites need to be distributed outside the school day and school building.

We appreciate your support and understanding as we continue to reflect on how to provide all students with a safe and healthy environment and continue to increase a sense of belonging for all students.

DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS

Animals love the companionship of children and we frequently have animals near school grounds. However, sometimes even the gentlest of animals can become excited with so many children nearby. Such a situation is potentially dangerous. Additionally, many children and adults suffer severe allergic reactions when certain animal dander is present in the school. You can help us keep our students and staff safe by committing to keep your animals off school grounds, including during arrival and dismissal. You can also help us by reminding other adults that animals should not be on school grounds.

LUNCH

Families are welcome to join students for lunch (check-in at the office). Please do not share any food with other students for a variety of reasons.

VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS

All guests and families are required to sign in/out at the office when entering/leaving the school. During the time visitors are in the building, a guest name tag, which is available in the office, should be worn at all times. The following are visitor etiquette guidelines for Sierra:

• Call a teacher’s voice mail or send an email to schedule visitation. Please do not “drop-in” for a quick visit as teachers need their planning time to prepare for instruction.

• Remember student work other than your own child’s is confidential. Volunteers will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement.

• Please do not engage a teacher or students in conversation during the teaching/learning process.

• Refrain from gum chewing, eating or drinking while in classrooms.

• If a phone is needed, please ask to use the phone in the office.

Sierra is in need of crossing guards for the 2024-25 school year. These volunteers are essential to Sierra as they ensure students are able to cross Oak safely both before and after school. Thank you to Jeremy Klassen for heading up our crossing guards this school year! Please follow this link to sign up: 2024 - 2025 School Year Crossing Guard Sign Up. As of now, we only have 3 total volunteers and need to fill 10 shifts each week (shifts are about 20 minutes in the morning and afternoon). THANK YOU to those that volunteer for helping to keep Sierra safe!

Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) is a process to create a safe, positive, and productive learning environment for all children. During the 2023-2024 school year, Sierra staff reflected on data and engaged in new learning around our PBIS practices. This resulted in a change to our schoolwide behavior expectations. We believe that we can effectively connect any addressed behaviors to our new expectations reflecting Safe, Respectful, and Responsible in a natural, logical way.

• Is the behavior safe?

• Is the behavior respectful?

• Is the behavior responsible?

Beginning the 2024-2025 school year, Sierra will be teaching students that "Sabertooths ROAR by being Safe, Respectful, and Responsible."

Rewards and celebrations will continue to occur in classrooms and throughout the building to let students know that we see how amazing they are and how hard they are working every day to model these behavior expectations! Learn more about Sierra's Social Emotional Learning practices and resources by clicking HERE.

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.

2024-25 Yearbook information is here! Please check out the Sierra Yearbook flyer.

Jeffco Public School's utilizes a district-wide, Standard Response Protocol to help keep students and staff safe. Jeffco employees receive training annually on how to respond to any situation such as a fire, tornado, an unsafe situation in our neighborhood and outside of the school building, or even in the event of a school lockdown. Our staff works hard to keep everyone safe and we practice fire drills every month with our students. If you would like to learn more about the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) that Jeffco uses, please read this SRP K-12 Parent Handout.

Please note, when the school is in a "Secure" status, we cannot let anyone in or out of our building. We will post signage at the main entry doors when Sierra is in a secure and during a fire drill.

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