SIERRA SCOOP
April 5, 2024
FROM FOERSTER'S DESK
Our first week of CMAS testing is under our belts, woooohoooo! Students in 3rd and 4th grade worked very hard to complete their ELA sessions, while 5th grade worked hard to finish their first ELA session today. We have a full week of testing next week; 5th grade will finish ELA, and 3rd and 4th will start and finish their 3 math sessions. WAY TO GO 3rd-5th graders...I am sooooo proud of you for working hard to show-off everything you have learned this year! Keep up the hard work, you can do it!
Have a spectacular weekend 😀
ARTS NIGHT 5/2
SAVE THE DATE!
Arts Night is Thursday, May 2nd from 4-7pm. Come see your student's artwork on display. There will also be face painting, crafts, music performances by 2nd and 5th grades, food trucks and the crowd favorite- cake walk. Come join us for a fun-filled evening for the whole family!
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) at Sierra
Emotional Control
Response Inhibition
Executive Functioning Skills (continued): Emotional Control and Response Inhibition
The first two executive functioning skills that we will highlight are: Emotional Control and Response Inhibition. EFs to the Rescue introduces these skills through the Emotibot and Stop-A-Tron characters.
Emotional Control involves the ability to recognize and regulate emotions in order to achieve goals, complete tasks, and direct behavior. Check out this article from the American Psychological Association to explore how to support the development of Emotional Control skills in children: "How to help kids understand and manage their emotions".
All of the executive skills are inter-related. Both Emotional Control and Response Inhibition skills support better self-management, which when fully developed allows us to delay gratification, manage stress, and feel motivation and agency to accomplish personal and collective goals. Starting early and integrating the strategies in our day-to-day activities can help to lay a strong foundation for your child to develop and transfer these skills across settings.
OFFICE INFORMATION
CMAS Testing
Grades 3 - 5 will participate in the annual state assessment between April 1st and April 26. Specific times are posted below. Please make sure your child gets a good nights rest and has a healthy breakfast so they are able to show their best on this important test!
We ask that you do not schedule appointments or vacations during these testing dates/times:
5th Grade ELA Test Session is from 9:00 - 11:00 on 4/5, 4/8 and 4/9
3rd Grade: Math Test Session is from 8:00 - 9:35 on 4/10, 4/11 and 4/12
4th Grade: Math Test Session is from 9:45 - 11:20 on 4/10, 4/11 and 4/12
5th Grade: Math Test Session is from 9:00 - 10:35 on 4/15, 4/16 and 4/17
5th Grade: Science Test Session is from 12:20 - 2:15 on 4/15, 4/16 and 4/17
EVACUATION DRILL COMPLETED
On Wednesday, April 3rd, Sierra conducted an evacuation drill. Students and staff did fantastic and the drill was completed in just over 30 minutes! "Amazing job! Your staff did a phenominal job! Quietest I've ever seen in a drill. Best one I have seen," Bill Robbins, Jeffco Safety and Security team.
The goal of Standard Response Protocol (SRP) Emergency Drills in Jeffco Public Schools is to provide a safe and educational opportunity for Jeffco students and staff members to learn the life skills that will help keep them safe in emergency situations. An EVACUATION Drill is to prepare everyone in the school to safely exit the school building and property because of a catastrophic event inside the building, such as a gas leak, bomb threat, chemical/hazmat event or other situation that makes the building unsafe to occupy. Schools know how to exit the building safely by practicing monthly FIRE drills. Practicing an EVACUATION will help equip staff and students to not only exit the building, but to also exit the property in an orderly and safe manner during an emergency.
Please click here to see Jeffco’s Standard Response Protocol for different situations that might occur during the school day. This document will explain the differences between “Hold”, “Secure”, “Lockdown”, “Evacuate” and “Shelter”.
April 8 - NO YMCA CARE PROVIDED
April 10- 4th grade Colorado performance
April 19- ROAR Day, Superhero
April 19 - Last Day for Read-a-Thon
April 24- Band and Orchestra concert
April 26- No School, teacher work day
April 29- Accountability and PTA Meeting (Accountability at 4:45 and PTA at 5:30; more info to come)
May 2- Arts Night, 4:00-8:00pm
May 3- Modified Contact Day (more info to come)
READ-A-THON
Come One, Come All to the 3rd Annual Sierra Read-a-Thon! The Sierra PTA is hosting its spring fundraising "Ride the Read-a-Coaster" event starting March 29th through April 19th. Our students can earn fun prizes like a Magic Show or a Carnival Party by raising funds and reading. Top readers and fundraisers in each grade get a chance to Pie Mrs. Foerster or Mr. Rowland in the face. Other fun prizes include event packages to Water World and Dave and Busters, class prizes and more. The Top TWO fundraisers in the school will get a Great Wolf Lodge Gift Package, which includes a free night at the resort and a $200 gift certificate to spend there! Registration begins March 29th!
DID YOU KNOW?
Solar Eclipse Information
On Mon., 4/8, a solar eclipse will be occurring from 11:30am-1:55pm. The Denver area will be at 65% totality at 12:40pm. As advised by Jeffco, Sierra will be having indoor recess during that time. Some teachers and their students will be participating in viewing. Those classes will be/sent home permission slips, students will be wearing Jeffco approved glasses or using other Jeffco approved viewing alternatives, and following district guidelines regarding eclipse safety. Jeffco has also provided a variety of resources, connecting activities, and other options instead of viewing used at the discretion/choice of classroom teachers.
Parent Input Forms for 2024-25 Class Placements
The process of creating new class groupings for the following year requires an understanding of each student’s needs as well as the needs of the school community. Teachers consider a wide range of factors including academic performance, personality, social and emotional needs, mix of boys and girls, and leadership skills, to name a few.
We value your input and we will take this information into consideration as we develop balanced class groupings for the next school year. We ask that you do not request specific teachers (if so, this will not be taken into account when building class lists). If you have any questions, please contact the school principal, Tennille Foerster, at tennille.foerster@jeffco.k12.co.us.
Please complete the Parent Input Form out by Wednesday, April 10th.
Family FlexCare
Needing resources/support with: case management, family/individual therapy, peer support, medication management...check out the FlexCare Flyer.
Please ensure that you read through the Sierra Student-Family Handbook for additional school information.
PTA PARTICULARS
Collecting Gift Cards for Staff Appreciation Week
Instead of the staff appreciation brunch that has been done in previous years, we are doing a gift card drive for all staff members this year. In making this change, the school administration hopes that it will be able to recognize ALL of the school staff, not just the classroom teachers.
What we need from you...
We need to collect 70 gift cards for $25 each. Gift cards can be dropped off at the front office. Please sign up using the link below:
Gift Card Sign Up - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B4CAFA728ABFC1-48780647-staff
In addition to the gift card drive, the Sierra PTA recognized the staff during the last week of February with breakfast burritos, a coffee bar & barista, and custom Sierra Elementary picnic blankets. We love our Sierra staff and want to make sure they feel appreciated all year long!
Running Club Committee Needed! If you are interested in helping with Sabertooth Sprinters for the 24-25 school year, please email sabertoothsprinters@gmail.com
School Gift Proposals are open for application! Due Apr 22, 2024 and presented and voted on at the Apr 29, 2024 General PTA meeting. Application forms with more information can be found in the treasurer’s box in the school office or online here: https://www.sierraptaarvada.org/_files/ugd/78602c_a5131731f47d4dfe8bc69dcab15d10f7.pdf
PTA Board Members for the 2024-2025 School Year - NEED A PRESIDENT!
We almost have a complete board for next year, but we still need a PRESIDENT. With a full slate of highly qualified volunteers on the board, the President will make sure everyone else is supported in their roles and make agendas for the meetings.
With so many returning experienced board members, this position will be perfect for new board members. Great to split between 2 people.
PTA BYLAWS UPDATE!
The Sierra Bylaws committee has completed its tri-annual update of the bylaws and it’s ready for review! Read through the new ones HERE and we’ll vote to approve them at our April 29th general PTA meeting.
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