
Carver Cougars Parent Newsletter
February 3rd-7th, 2025
Message from your Principal
Hello Carver Elementary Families,
REMINDER: NO SCHOOL on Monday, February 3rd.
Welcome to February! According to Groundhog Phil, we’re in for six more weeks of winter, though with today’s 60-degree weather, it’s hard to imagine! But as always, Colorado weather keeps us on our toes. Thank you for your flexibility during Thursday’s two-hour delay and for sending your children to school despite the weather. As we continue through the winter months, we want to remind everyone of the importance of daily attendance—it has a direct impact on student success.
Cognitive Ability Test for 2nd Graders:
This was completed last week, and you will receive your child’s score in the future.
STAR Progress Monitoring:
- 2nd-5th Grade ELA & Math Testing: Wednesday and Thursday this week. Please make sure your child arrives by 7:50 AM so they can do their best!
- K-1 Math STAR Testing: Also this week.
Upcoming Basketball Games:
- Tuesday, February 4th: Carver’s basketball team will play against Scott Elementary at Carver, from 3:30-5:30 PM. Carver’s PTA will have a concession stand (cash only).
- Wednesday, February 5th: Away game at Fremont Elementary. If you need assistance with transportation, please reach out, and we can help coordinate carpooling.
MTSS Meetings for 3rd-5th Grades:
We held these meetings on Friday, January 31st, and we greatly appreciated partnering with our parents. If you’d like a meeting with your child’s teacher, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Attendance, Tardies, and Student Achievement:
We are closely monitoring attendance, tardies, and behavior as they have a direct effect on student achievement. Letters went home on Friday for grades K-2 with details about meetings scheduled for Friday, February 7th-MTSS Meetings for K-2. Please make every effort to attend these important meetings as we plan next steps for supporting your child’s success.
At-Home Learning Tips:
- Reading: Spend at least 20 minutes each day reading together—whether your child is reading to you or you’re reading to them.
- Math Practice: Encourage your child to practice math facts (skip counting, multiplication facts) in everyday settings. All students are expected to know their multiplication facts by the end of 3rd grade, so your support with this is invaluable.
Pick-Up and Drop-Off Reminders:
- Please avoid picking up students between 2:00-2:45 PM, as this can disrupt their learning.
- Ensure that students participating in after-school activities are picked up by 4:00 PM.
- Breakfast & Arrival: The gym doors open at 7:30 AM for free breakfast. Please do not drop your child off before this time. The first bell rings at 7:45 AM, and the second bell at 7:50 AM. After 7:55 AM, students will need to be signed in at the front office.
Tutoring and After-School Clubs:
Tutoring and clubs begin the week of February 4th. Some tutoring has already started. Snacks will be provided.
- Mondays & Wednesdays: YES Club-Fit Kids (Sign-up by 5:00 PM)
- Tuesdays: Choir and Jesus Boot Camp
- Thursdays: Board Game & Puzzles (FULL)
- Fridays: Talent Club and Yarn Club
School Store:
Check out our updated school store to purchase Carver items! Visit the store here:
Carver School Store
5 Essentials Survey:
We need your input! The 5 Essentials Survey for parents is open from January 14th - February 7th. Your voice is crucial to improving our school. The survey takes about 10 minutes. Our goal is 20%, and we’re currently at 9%. Please take a moment to share your thoughts:
5 Essentials Survey
We are also excited to kick off the 5210 challenge for our students! Please see the links below for more information!
Welcome Mr. Pua!
Mr. Pua has arrived in Colorado and will begin teaching Art on Tuesday, February 4th. Please join us in welcoming Mr. Pua and his family to Carver!
A Final Note:
Whether you're a returning family or new to Carver, we are excited to work together to ensure your child’s success. Our doors are always open for communication, and we encourage you to get involved in our Parent Teacher Association, School Accountability Committee, or other volunteer opportunities.
Thank you for your continued support!
Warmly,
Mrs. Bizzell
Proud Principal of Carver Elementary
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.
Thank you for voting for our new logo and Carver Elementary is proud to be the Heart of Our Community!! Our staff recently attended the Capturing Kids' Heart training and we are excited to build relationships, challenge ourselves and our students, and truly become the Heart of Our Community! We will continue to partner with local businesses, resources, and community members to enhance our identity statement and challenge our students to be the BEST they can be, every day at school. We are providing intentional learning experiences that involve and engage all of our students and our staff. We look forward to this school year and partnering with YOU!!
5 Essential Survey
Take the 5Essentials Parent Survey to help improve our school.
It only takes 10 minutes!
Scan the QR code or visit survey.5-essentials.org/sd11
by February 7th. Thank you for your feedback!
Responda a la encuesta de padres de 5Essentials para ayudar a mejorar nuestra escuela.
Sólo le tomará 10 minutos.
Escanee el código QR o visite survey.5-essentials.org/sd11
antes del 7 de febrero. ¡Gracias por sus comentarios!
5210 Challenge!
The Challenge is On! The Healthy Kids 5210+ Challenge is a FREE month-long program, during February, where students, school staff and families learn and practice the 5210+ healthy habits. The goal is to get 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, 2 hours or less of recreational screen time,1 hour or more of physical activity, 0 sugary drinks and 9 or more hours of sleep every day! Your student(s) will be bringing home a tracking log to keep track of their healthy habits throughout the month of February. Students that complete 80 checkmarks on their log will earn a FREE t-shirt. All students and staff that participate can help our school earn money for PE equipment and school wellness initiatives. 5210+ • HEALTHY KIDS LEARN BETTER! Check with the PE or classroom teacher for more information. www.healthykidsclub.org
Do you know what 5210+ stands for?
• 5 fruits & vegetables
• 2 hours or less of for-fun screen time
• 1 hour of physical activity. • 0 sugary drinks
• + 9 or more hours of sleep.
What's Happening at Carver (Looking ahead)
February 3rd No Students District PD Day
February 4th Zoopeteers Visit K-2
February 4th Philharmonic Orchestra 3rd and 4th grade 11:00-1:30 PM
February 4th After School Clubs and Tutoring begins
February 4th Basketball game at Carver vs Scott Elementary 3:30-5:30 PM
February 5th-Basketball game at Freemont Elementary vs Carver 3:30-5:30 PM
February 6th Pancakes with the Principal 7:30-8:00 AM THURSDAY!
February 7th MTSS Parent Meetings K-2, KINDER 100 days from 8:15-8:45 AM in gym
February 10th Basketball game at Patrick Henry Elementary vs. Carver 3:30-5:30 PM
February 13th PTA Meeting
February 17th No School-President's Day
February 18th Basketball game at Carver vs Madison Elementary 3:30-5:30 PM
February 25th Skate City 5:00-7:00 PM
February 25th Basketball game at Carver vs Freedom Elementary 3:30-5:30 PM
March 3rd No Students District PD Day
March 13th End of Quarter
March 14th Teacher Work Day, No Students
March 17th Fourth Quarter Begins
March 24th-28th Spring Break, NO SCHOOL
CAPTURING KIDS' HEARTS
Midyear Check In
Our staff and students recently completed a Midyear Survey for Capturing Kids' Hearts. We need you to provide feedback to make Carver Elementary a better school for your child!
ENTRY TIME FOR STUDENTS:
Breakfast in the cafeteria 7:30-7:45 AM (cold breakfast 7:45-8:10 AM)
Office Hours: 7:30 AM-3:45 PM
Carver School Hours: 7:50 AM-2:50 PM
Tardy bell rings at 7:50
Lunch Times
10:50-11:10 Kindergarten and First Grade
11:10-11:30 Second and Third Grade
11:30-11:50 Fourth and Fifth Grade
Free and Reduced Meal Application
Under the Healthy School Meals for All program the State of Colorado provides free meals for all D11 students. Please take a moment to fill out our Free and Reduced Meal Application regardless of whether you think you would qualify or not. This program benefits the school as well as your family. Our goal is 100% participation. As a reminder, Carver is a free breakfast and lunch school. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the front office. Carver is currently 85% free or reduced lunch and we receive Federal Funds for this.
https://linqconnect.com/public/meal-application/new?identifier=JX9G3Q
Essentials Schedule 2024-2025
K/1 12:10-1:00
2/4 1:05-1:55
3/5 2:00-2:50
Essentials: Art, Music, PE, Technology
Adaptive PE/Art: Fridays from 9:00-10:05 AM (Selected students)
Band for grades 4th and 5th (Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
Orchestra for grades 4th and 5th (Mondays and Wednesdays)
We are still accepting interested students for BAND and ORCHESTRA! Please stop by the front office for a permission slip!
Volunteer Opportunities
Please join us!
Counselor Corner!
Notes from Ms. Gio!
Dear Parents:
CARING. This month we are talking about caring and what that means for us at school The first thing to discuss is the definition of caring. What does it mean to care for someone or something? Next, talk about how you show caring in your classroom; remember that before you can care for others, you need to care for yourself. What are some things you each do to care for yourself? Try to list at least five things! If you can't do that, then consider what you might add to that list this month!
Here are some ideas
- Laugh about something every day
- Move your body.
- Compliment yourself! Compliment others!
- Say "Hi!" Say "Thank you!"
- Sing a song
- Play
"Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community." ~Anthony J. D'Angelo
National School Counseling Week 2025 (#NSCW25) is Feb. 3-7, 2025. The theme is: School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive. I want to talk about what it means to truly thrive. Thriving means growing, succeeding and feeling fulfilled in all areas of your life, and as a school counselor, I want to help our students achieve that. There are several areas where I can help students thrive, including their academic growth, emotional well-being and your career exploration.
• For example, thriving academically means setting goals, staying motivated and finding joy in learning. I can help you develop strategies to be successful academically.
• Thriving emotionally means feeling balanced, resilient and supported. If you’re feeling stressed or anxious, I’m here to listen and help you navigate your feelings.
• Thriving in your future means understanding your strengths and passions. I can help you explore different careers and plan for a future that excites you. Helping you thrive is my goal. I hope you’ll reach out when you need support or just want to chat. Let’s work together to THRIVE the rest of this school year. Have a wonderful day!
If you have any questions, please reach out to me 719-328-2171
With kind regards
Mrs. Gio (Giovanny) Franco-Diaz, MA, LPCC
School Counselor - 504 coordinator , Student Council Advisor
Phone # 719-328-2171
Random Acts of Kindness
PAWS Expectations
P- I am Prepared
A-I have a great Attitude
W-I Work hard
S-I am Safe
Student Council
KIDS NIGHT OUT THURSDAY FEBRUARY 13, from 3pm -5pm - $10 per student $15 per family (includes drink and snacks) students wilñ enjoy movie and games, while you have a nice dinner or time for yourself. sign up ASAP https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=FjejtSMeM0u6mmGKVudqGCsMen_Vn0ZLglynP-
Parent Teacher Association!!
Thank you for those that supported our first fundraiser at Dickey's BBQ! We are looking for a fun game night in January and we will have computers available to complete the Parent 5 Essentials Survey. We appreciate your feedback.
Thank you to those that completed the PTA feedback form of the day and time that works best for you! We are planning our February meeting now!
Our PTA board is:
President: Brittany Shelly
Vice President:
Treasurer: Betty Barnett
Secretary: Kelly Dawson
Our next meeting will be on February 13th. Please complete the PTA feedback form and send back to school!
All our welcome to attend our meetings!
Safety
- Hold - In Your Classroom or Area
- Directive: "In Your Room or Area"
- Purpose: This protocol is used when hallways need to be kept clear of occupants. Students and staff remain in their rooms or areas until further notice.
Secure - Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors
- Directive: "Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors"
- Purpose: This protocol is used to safeguard people within the building by securing all exterior doors. Normal activities continue inside the building.
Lockdown - Locks, Lights, Out of Sight
- Directive: "Locks, Lights, Out of Sight"
- Purpose: This protocol is used to secure individual rooms and keep occupants quiet and in place. Doors are locked, lights are turned off, and everyone stays out of sight.
Evacuate - To a Stated Location
- Directive: "Evacuate to [Location]"
- Purpose: This protocol is used to move people from one location to a different location, either within or outside the building. The specific location will be communicated during the drill or emergency.
Shelter - State the Hazard and the Safety Strategy
- Directive: "Shelter [Hazard] and [Safety Strategy]"
- Purpose: This protocol is used for group and self-protection based on the specific hazard (e.g., tornado, hazmat). The safety strategy will be clearly communicated.
Monthly Drills:
To ensure we are prepared, we conduct monthly/quarterly drills for each of these protocols. These drills help students and staff practice the appropriate responses and become familiar with the procedures. Your support in reinforcing the importance of these drills at home is greatly appreciated.
Communication:
In the event of an actual emergency, we will communicate with families promptly. Please ensure that your contact information is up to date in our records so that you can receive timely notifications.
Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our school safe. If you have any questions or concerns about our safety protocols, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Together, we can ensure a safe and secure learning environment for all our students.
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/