Dear Families,

Happy March! As we begin to see the signs of spring around us, we also look forward to the upcoming Spring Conferences. This is an exciting time for parents/caregivers and teachers to come together and celebrate your child’s progress while discussing ways to continue supporting their growth.

Spring conferences are an excellent opportunity for you to have a one-on-one conversation with your child’s teacher. Whether your child is thriving or facing some challenges, these meetings can provide valuable insight into how we can work together to help them succeed. We encourage you to come prepared with questions and to use this time to learn about your child’s strengths and areas for growth.

Here are some sample questions you may want to ask during your conference:

1. How is my child progressing academically, and what are their strengths?
2. Are there any areas where my child is struggling, and what can I do to help at home?
3. How does my child interact with their classmates? Are there any social or emotional concerns I should be aware of?
4. What can I do to support or extend my child’s learning outside of school?
5. How are my child's individual needs being met? What can I do at home to reinforce the strategies you use at school?
6. How does my child engage during class activities?

The goal of the conference is to work as a team to help your child thrive at school. Your involvement is crucial, and your insights are just as valuable as those of the teacher.

We look forward to seeing you at conferences and continuing our partnership to ensure a successful rest of the school year. Thank you for your continued support!

Warm regards,

Kelsey Jones

Principal

Arrowhead's website is regularly updated with information and upcoming events are found on the calendar. It will always have the most up-to-date information and you can see events that are scheduled across the year, including district events. Please be sure to check the website regularly! Please take note of the following dates and save them on your calendars:

February 17-March 7- No After School Activities

February 28- Trimester 2 report cards emailed, Bingo Night 5:30 pm

Week of March 3- Spring Conferences/Book Fair

March 3-14- Raise Craze (more info below under PTCO Announcements)

March 4- Sungate Kids Assemblies for 3rd and 5th grade

March 6-7- No School (Conferences)

March 12- PTCO Meeting 5:30 pm

March 15-23- Spring Break (No School)

March 26- Skate City Night

March 27- Spring Class Photos

April 4- STEAM Night and Choir Concert 5:30-7:30 pm

April 7-25- CMAS Testing for 3rd-5th graders (specific schedules for each grade level will be sent home at a later date)

April 9- PTCO Meeting 5:30 pm, SAC Meeting 6:30 pm

April 15- 5th Grade Talent Show 5:30 pm

April 17- Kindergarten and 5th grade Continuation Pictures

In March, we are honoring: Women's History Month

Join us for a fun night of BINGO on Friday, February 28 at 5:30 pm in the Arrowhead Gym!

The week of March 3rd brings Spring Conferences! If you have not scheduled a conference yet, please reach out to your child's teacher to get one scheduled! We are excited to meet with you and share the great work your child has been doing this year!

During Conference Week, our amazing PTCO supports our staff by bringing in dinner and snacks. They would appreciate your help! If you would be willing to bring in food or snacks for our teachers, please sign-up on PTCO's Sign-Up Genius.

Our annual STEAM Night is coming up on Friday, April 4 from 5:30-7:30 pm! We hope you will be able to join us for a night of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics! The choir will be performing at 5:30 pm in the Gym followed by a range of STEAM activities throughout the school!

If you would be willing to help run a station or know someone who would (high school students are welcome to help!), please sign-up to volunteer here! If you have any questions, please reach out to our Community Liaison, Linda Castillo, at lcastillo2@cherrycreekschools.org.

Please review the letter attached below from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. It provides information about Colorado's laws and policies regarding vaccination as well as Arrowhead's vaccination rate for the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine.

The letter is translated in Spanish further in the document.

Please join me in congratulating the following Arrowhead staff members who were recognized by Superintendent Smith for their commitment to Cherry Creek's Core Value of Growth Mindset!

Erica Baird (Kindergarten Teacher)

Yvonne Brown (Instructional Para Educator)

Madison Cast-Rose (Instructional Coach)

Frankie Corrado (5th Grade Teacher)

Emma Ester (Instructional Para Educator)

Melanie Faherty (School Nurse)

Jay Gottleib (Instructional Para Educator)

Robert Murphy (Instructional Para Educator)

Mackenzie Poulin (Instructional Para Educator)

Thank you for all that you do for our Arrowhead students, families, and staff!

It's that time of year again!

Will your child be 4 on October 1, 2025? If yes, then….

Your child will be in Pre-Kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year!

For information on enrollment and updates on Universal Pre-K with CCSD, please visit the Early Childhood Education webpage HERE.

Will your child be 5 on October 1, 2025? If yes, then...

Your child will be in Kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year!

We encourage parents to enroll their kindergarten-aged students for the coming school year remotely. Please be sure to select the correct school year enrollment form when enrolling your Kindergarten student for the upcoming school year; incorrect enrollment forms cannot be changed to the correct school year.

Students currently attending a CCSD school in the Pre-Kindergarten program do not need to submit an enrollment request for Kindergarten. All current Pre-Kindergarten students will automatically be enrolled to their zoned elementary school, or a choice school if accepted before the new school year starts.

For more information, please refer to the CCSD Admissions page.

If you or someone you know is interested in working at Arrowhead, please fill out an application and apply to our positions here. The positions we have open are:

ILC/Severe Needs Para Educator (7 hours/day): Support students in our ILC program by providing accommodations, academic modifications, and supporting students with mobility and self-care (toileting/diapering, eating, etc.) as needed. Experience is preferred but not required, as new para educators will be provided with extensive training.

SED (Serious Emotional Disability) Para Educator (7 hours/day): Work with students who need support with behavior regulation by providing accommodations, academic modifications, and breaks. Support emotional and behavioral regulation through de-escalation and regulation techniques, which will be taught through multiple training opportunities.

*Please apply for this position under "Severe Needs Para Educator- Arrowhead Elementary"

Twice Exceptional Para Educator (7 hours/day): Support twice exceptional (2e) students in their classrooms, the 2e classroom, and in small group settings. Provide accommodations, academic modifications, and individualized learning. Support emotional regulation as needed through de-escalation and regulation techniques, which will be taught through multiple training opportunities.

*Please apply for this position under "Severe Needs Para Educator- Arrowhead Elementary"

The district has compiled a list of resources for families, including food pantries, immigrant supports, language supports, mental and physical health resources, and supports for unhoused families. You can access the list here.

District VOICES of Color engages community members in meaningful and effective partnerships that lead to positive outcomes for all students, but more specifically, students of color.

When: March 26, 2025 from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Where: Cherry Creek High School - 9300 E Union Ave, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Media Center

Please note, child care will be provided as well as interpreter services for our Spanish speaking families. For other language interpretation, please submit a request to the email address below at least five days prior to the meeting.

District VOICES of Color meetings are not recorded nor live streamed.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email CCSDEquity@cherrycreekschools.org.

For more information about District Voices of Color visit the Cherry Creek School District website: https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/Page/12789.

The CCSD District Accountability Committee Executive Team will be hosting a Community Forum WEDNESDAY March 12 at the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus (CCIC). The planned events for the evening are as follows:

• 5:45 pm - Tour the CCIC and learn more about how the program provides transformative educational experiences for high school students throughout the Cherry Creek School District.

• 6:30 to 8:00 pm. - DAC Community Forum

o CCSD BOE Updates
o District Accountability Updates from the Family & Community Engagement and UIP subcommittees

o Presentation on CCSD Individual Career Academic Plans (iCAP) from the CCSD Department of Career and Innovation.

You can buy Arrowhead spirit wear for your child here! If you have any questions, please reach out to the PTCO.

Did you know that in addition to all the events the PTCO puts on, there are other ways to support the Arrowhead Elementary PTCO?

Questions? Feel free to reach out to your Arrowhead PTCO

arrowheadelementaryptco@gmail.com

arrtreasurer@gmail.com

arrowheadptcosecretary@gmail.com

Kindergarten-5th Grade

8:00 am-2:45 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

8:00 am-1:45 pm Wednesday

Pre-Kindergarten

AM Session: 8:00-10:55 am Monday-Thursday

PM Session: 11:50 am-2:45 pm Monday-Thursday

Enrichment: 10:55 am-2:45 pm Monday-Thursday

*No PreK on Fridays

If your child is eating breakfast at school, they may arrive at 7:40 am and enter through door 8 on the south side of the school (Cafeteria doors). Students not eating breakfast may arrive between 7:45-8:00 am and should enter through the doors closest to their grade level (see map below). Please note that supervision will not be provided before 7:45 am except for breakfast. The bell rings at 8:00 am and students who arrive after 8:00 am need to enter through the main office doors. Students eating breakfast in the cafeteria will be sent to their classrooms at 8:00.

The school day ends at 2:45 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. On Wednesdays, the school day ends at 1:45 pm. Students will exit from the same doors they entered.

If you are interested in our before and after school child care program, please contact Bobbie Smith at 720-886-2853. They open at 6:30 am to provide before school care and are open until 6:00 pm to provide after school care. They can only accept students who have been registered in advance. They accept Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) for families who qualify and give discounts for families who qualify for free or reduced price meals.

All Cherry Creek elementary schools have early release days every Wednesday at 1:45 pm for Kindergarten-5th grade students to enhance professional development and training opportunities for our elementary teachers. PreK students continue to dismiss at their regular time. By having this specific time set aside, there will be less of a need to pull teachers out of the classroom during the day, which creates continuity for students and less of a reliance on substitute teachers. For families who participate in after school child care, the after-school program is extended every Wednesday and runs from 1:45-6:00 pm. You can register for after school care by contacting Bobbie Smith at 720-886-2853.

In Cherry Creek School District and Arrowhead Elementary, our top priorities are your child’s safety, academics, and whole wellbeing. In order to maintain and excel in these areas, it’s critical that our kids come to school every day.

Did you know that 1 in 3 students in CCSD in the 2023-24 school year were chronically absent? Chronic absenteeism is defined by the state as missing more than 10 days in the school year.

Chronic absenteeism has a significant impact on the academic performance of a child and their classroom. Over 4 out of 5 students who miss more than 10% of kindergarten and first grade are unable to read on-level by third grade. By 6th grade, chronic absenteeism is a critical warning sign that a student may not graduate high school. Missing just one lesson or period in class can have a serious impact on a student’s understanding of academic concepts.

We also know that strong attendance improves our students’ Whole Wellbeing. Our students who experience anxiety about school often find care in our counseling staff and their support team in our school building. Missing school often exacerbates anxiety when our students then need to make up work that they missed, causing them to fall further behind.

To improve this process and best support our families, this year CCSD is shifting the way that attendance is tracked and changing the notification process to guardians.

If your child is chronically absent, or misses more than 10 days of school, parents or guardians will receive a letter from the district on behalf of our school notifying them of the issue. You will receive a second letter if your child misses more than 15 days of school. Our hope in automating this process at the district level is to provide our school staff with more time to meet with caregivers and problem-solve if your child or family needs extra support to attend school every day. We understand there can be challenges and barriers that we would like to work together to address.

In order to accomplish our goals of student safety, literacy, and wellbeing, caregivers and staff will need to work together to support our students. 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.

Help Arrowhead receive additional federal funding by filling out a school meal benefits application! While all students now receive free lunch, qualifying families will receive additional benefits, including discounts for CCSD before/after programs and waived activities and athletic fees. It also helps our school qualify for additional federal funding and grants, which we use to support our programming at Arrowhead.

To apply for school meal benefits, please complete this application as soon as possible. You can apply the following ways:

Online: Click here to apply. The application is available in other languages by clicking "Languages" in the top right hand corner.

Pick-up a paper copy at school: We have paper copies available in the Main Office.

Learn more about why attendance matters, the new CCSD policy, and how CCSD can help.

The map below shows where to drop your child off in the morning and pick them up at the end of the day. Students enter and exit doors based on their grade level. If your child arrives after 8:00 am or leaves before the end of the day, they will need to use the Main Entrance regardless of which grade they are in.

All visitors must use door 1 (Main Entrance) no matter the time of day. Visitors must show ID in order to access the building or pick-up a child. There are no exceptions to this policy and we appreciate you helping us keep students safe by bringing an ID every time.

Please help us keep kids safe by following our parking lot procedures. Please refer to the map of our parking lot below for where you can safely drop-off/pick-up.

Drop-Off/Pick-Up (Blue): This is a space for you to quickly drop-off and pick-up at the beginning and end of the day. This is a fire lane, so you must remain with your car at all times. Students should enter and exit the car on the curb side (right side), as cars will be passing in the through lane on the left side of the car.

Red Curve: This is a no parking or waiting zone, as our buses need to be able to get around that curve safely.

Bus Parking (Yellow): Only buses may park here. Cars parked in this space will be asked to move to make room for buses. Once the buses have departed, this may be used as additional space for pick-up/drop-off.

Through Lanes (Green): These lanes should continuously move. Please do not wait or park here and at no time should cars be double parked.

Parking: The only space where you may park is in a marked parking spot. If there is not a spot available, please park on the street and walk in.

Right Turn Only (2:45-3:00 pm, 1:45-2:00 pm Wednesdays): When exiting the parking lot during afternoon dismissal, all cars need to turn right out of the parking lot and loop through the neighborhood. For safety reasons, please do not make a u-turn in the areas around the school (signage indicates where u-turns cannot be made).

Loading Dock (Red): This area is used by pedestrians at the beginning and end of the school day. No vehicles may enter this area or park in the loading dock.

Please help us keep our students safe by driving safely around the school. The streets surrounding Arrowhead (Bates and Ceylon) are no u-turn zones. Please slow down, be vigilant, and do not double park along Bates or Ceylon. Children should only exit vehicles on the curb side and we ask that you pull all the way up to the curb before letting them out. Please model pedestrian safety for your child by using crosswalks.

If you see unsafe driving, please report it to Aurora Police Department. As a school, we do not have the authority to enforce traffic violations.

We understand that birthdays are special days for children and we will celebrate your child's birthday both in the classroom and with a school-wide announcement! While it isn't necessary, if your child would like to bring treats for their classmates, they are welcome to bring non-food items to celebrate. This allows us to be a community that is inclusive of children with food restrictions. Some ideas for birthday celebrations can include:

• Stickers
• Pencils
• Bookmarks
• Small trinkets/toys (school appropriate- no pretend weapons or items that can be used as weapons, no whistles, etc.)
• Goodie bags with non-edible items
• A book donation to your child's classroom (have your child sign the book so the class remembers who donated it!)

Each grade level celebrates birthdays differently and your child will be recognized on their birthday, regardless of whether they bring in something to celebrate with. If you wish for your child's birthday not to be celebrated, please notify their classroom teacher.

Please refrain from sending flowers and balloons to school for your child. Any flowers and balloons that are received will not be delivered until the end of the school day.

Please note that dogs are not allowed on school grounds. If you would like to bring your dog to drop-off or pick-up your child, please remain on the sidewalks around the perimeter of the school or in the field past the last goalpost.

English:

Please contact (name of liaison) at (email) for support with this resource in your language.

Amharic:

እነዝህን መረጃዎችን በተመለከተ በቋንቋዎ ዕገዛን ለማግኘት ከፈለጉ እባክዎን ተሊሌን በዝህ እሜይል ያግኙዋት

thirpa@cherrycreekschools.org

Arabic:

يرجى االتصال بـ )جميعة صباحي أو جاودة العلمي( على ) org.cherrycreekschools@jsebbahi أو

org.cherrycreekschools@jdajanialami للحصول على الدعم مع هذا المورد باللغة العربية.

Chinese:

如有需要,请经由 ctaylor9@cherrycreekschools.org 与凯瑟琳•泰勒联系,以您的语言获得此资源的支持。

Dari:

برای کمک در مورد اين منابع به زبان خودتان با قزافی مهرزاد

لطفا با اييمل org.cherrycreekschools@qmehrzad تماس بگيريد . ً

Hindi:

अपनी भाषा में इस संसाधन के समर्नथ के लिए कृपया जेम्स रसाइथिी को jrasaily@cherrycreekschools.org पर संपकथ करें।

Korean:

귀하의 언어로 이 자원에 대한 지원을 원하시면 (리아 리) 에게 (llee6@cherrycreekschools.org) 로 문의하십시오.

Nepali:

कृपया जेम्स रसाइथिीिाइथ jrasaily@cherrycreekschools.org मा तपाइथको भाषामा यो संसाधनको सहयोगको िागी सम्पकथ

गननहथ ोिा।

Russian:

Пожалуйста, обращайтесь к Ларисе Бака по адресу: lbaca3@cherrycreekschools.org для получения поддержки с помощью

этого ресурса на своём языке.

Somali:

Fadlan la xiriir Omar Nur cinwaanka emaylka onur2@cherrycreekschools.org si aad u hesho macluumaad ku qoran luqadaada.

Spanish:

Si necesita ayuda con este recurso en su idioma, póngase en contacto con Ilse Chavez Maldonado en

ichavezmaldonado@cherrycreekschools.org, Rosa Han en rhan4@cherrycreekschools.org, Carmen Vargas-Ball en

cvargasball@cherrycreekschools.org o Monica Pantoja en mpantoja@cherrycreekschools.org.

Ukrainian:

Будь ласка, зв'яжіться з Зоряною Герман по електронній пошті zherman@cherrycreekschools.org, щоб отримати

підтримку з цього ресурсу на українській мові.

Vietnamese:

Vui lòng liên hệ với Thuý Ngọc tại Lchung2@cherrycreekschools.org để được hỗ trợ về tài nguyên này bằng tiếng Việt.

Email: kjones100@cherrycreekschools.org

Website: https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/Arrowhead
Location: 19100 E Bates Ave, Aurora, CO, USA
Phone: 720-886-2800