The Falcon Zone Flyer

August 3rd, 2023

November 18th, 2024

Hello Falcon Zone,

We are excited to let you know that Falcon Zone Community Closet and Pantry has been selected as a December 2024 and January 2025 beneficiary of the King Soopers Fight Hunger bag program. Designed in alignment with the King Soopers Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative, the Fight Hunger bag program makes it easy for shoppers to impact local hunger relief efforts by simply purchasing a reusable bag.
Throughout December 2024 and January 2025, we will receive a $1 donation for every $2.50 reusable Fight Hunger bag sold at our Falcon King Soopers!

The Falcon Zone is holding its rescheduled Quarter 2 Zone Wide SAC meeting at Bennett Ranch Elementary School Tuesday, December 3rd. Dinner starts at 5 and the meeting will begin at 5:30. Please RSVP below so we know how many to expect and plan for. Hope you see you there!

Do you need some extra help this Christmas with presents for your children? If so, please use the QR Code below, or click the photo, to apply for assistance from Christmas Unlimited!

Have an amazing Thanksgiving Break next week with your family and friends, and we'll see you in December!

In Partnership ~

Cari Muresan

FZ Community Liaison

2nd Quarter Falcon Zone SAC (Rescheduled) - RSVP HERE

Empowering Moments

From Superintendent Smith...

Over the past several weeks, we have heard incredible things about many Falcon Zone teachers, staff members, and other D49 staff that are making positive impacts at our schools and within the zone. This past week, we visited several individuals who have received multiple nominations for recognition from our community and staff to present them with one of our Empowered hoodies. Each of these individuals has made a strong impact towards helping students and staff Earn their WINGS! Congratulations!!!

Remember, you can nominate individuals HERE

Mark Roscoe

Mark is a Technology Manager within D49 for user services. Mark drops whatever he is doing to come and support teachers and staff when technology issues occur. He wants to help enhance the technology systems around the district and zone so that our students and staff have an awesome experience. Mark is a problem solver and staff appreciate all his hard work.

Bruce Brown

Bruce is the D49 Facility Project Manager who helps oversee and support all of the construction projects taking place around the district. Several schools in our zone had projects that took place over the summer and even October Break. Bruce is awesome at communicating and following up with staff about projects and also ensuring critical needs are met with various projects.

Charity Garner

Mrs. Garner is our Gifted and Talented teacher at both Falcon High and Bennett Ranch Elementary. Staff and students both frequently comment about the awesome things that Mrs. Garner does in her classroom. She provides learning extensions and activities that help to empower students further in their learning. She is always willing to help students and support classrooms with new challenges for our advanced learners.

Jennifer Hepworth

Jennifer Hepworth goes above and beyond for her students. She creates a personalized learning classroom where every learner feels empowered to do their best. Students enjoy all of the different things they get to do in her class and staff have commented about how impressed they are with everything Mrs. Hepworth is able to do with her students. She promotes learning and higher order thinking in an incredible way!

Cathy Johnson

Mrs. Johnson is the librarian at Falcon Middle School who supports with just about anything and everything. She has been a huge support with chrome books and other technology at the school. Mrs. Johnson is willing to help students and classes whenever needed and enjoys promoting the opportunities in the FMS Library. She always displays the most positive attitude with anyone and everyone that she supports.

Deanna Siemsen

Deanna is the Choice and Success Advisor at Falcon Middle. Deanna is working to help provide new experience and opportunities to help students explore their strengths, future careers, and further earn their WINGS. She prepares engaging lessons for the advisory classes focused on key 21st century skills and career building opportunities. She also sets up various opportunities for students to explore career choices in a hands on way.

Wendy Thorp

Mrs. Thorp supports our Woodmen Hills Tornados through her Project Based Learning classroom. Students have amazing opportunities to solve real problems and extend learning with a real world connection. WHES benefits from the school garden that Mrs. Thorp's class helps to maintain through many of their different lessons. Students and families appreciate Mrs. Thorp's class and enjoying seeing students excited about the opportunities she creates!

Meredith Weatherstone

Mrs. Weatherstrone has been a great 4th grade teacher at WHES. She recently took on an after school math club where 4th and 5th grade students work on their math fact fluency. We are seeing great academic growth from students from their work in this club and we are looking forward to another round next semester. Mrs. Weatherstone helps advocate for her colleagues on curriculum committees and seeks opportunities to help enhance teaching and learning for students and colleagues.

Angela Amthor

Ms. Amthor has been a positive new addition to the Kindergarten team at Falcon Elementary. She has been excited to support students and their learning and was eager to jump right in at the start of this year. Ms. Amthor is a team player and has been very collaborative in supporting another new Kindergarten teacher at FESoT. Students enjoy learning and have been having fun each day in Ms. Amthor's classroom.

Heidi Douglas

Ms. Douglas is a very engaging 4th grade teacher at Falcon Elementary School. Her classroom is a strong welcoming environment where all learners feel connected and supported to learn. Ms. Douglas builds very strong relationships with each and every learner in the classroom so that they are further empowered to perform their best. Students, Parents, and Staff comment that they are always appreciative of all that Ms. Douglas does for her students!

Fred Muraview

Mr. Muraview is a 2nd grade teacher at Meridian Ranch. He is always looking for ways to engage his students and help them with their learning. Recently, he went above and beyond for a family that needed some additional support with their student. Mr. Muraview conducted a home visit to help with the technology needs so that the student had what was needed to be successful. Way to go above and beyond for your students!

Sam Henderson & LeAnn Nidiffer

Mrs. Henderson and Mrs. Nidiffer are reading interventionists at Meridian Ranch Elementary. They support small group instruction and interventions that help to close achievement gaps for students with their reading skills. Staff, students, and families all share how much their appreciate both of these teachers for all of the extra effort to support student learning. They regularly use academic data, look for whatever can be done and where they may be needed to support students in any way possible!

Tisha Martin

Mrs. Martin is the Librarian at Bennett Ranch Elementary. She has put forth an incredible amount of effort to support the book fair at BRES so that all students and families could help acquire new books. She also plans engaging lessons that support students and classrooms with new ways that the library can support their learning. Reading comes alive in the Library at BRES and that is because of the incredible efforts of Mrs. Martin.

Kristen Beuke

Mrs. Beuke is the Counselor at Bennett Ranch Elementary. She does just about everything! She can be found supporting students individually, running small groups, helping students in the lunch room, and supporting teachers, staff, administration with any and all tasks that impact students. Mrs. Beuke works very hard and all are appreciative of the extra effort she puts forward on a daily basis. She is always willing to jump in and support.

Empowered Falcon Zone Staff - Sponsored by Texas Roadhouse 🐮🐷🐔

Gifted Learners in Mrs. Garner's class worked to present and share information from articles they read on a variety of topics. Students had to identify the lens though which the author wrote the article and worked to identify future potential arguments from the source. This class is very student driven and facilitated by students.

Mrs. Rohr's 7th graders began a new novel called A Long Walk to Water highlighting the struggle to find clean water in the country of Sudan. She brought in a gallon of water to help her students understand the weight of what was carried each day, multiple times a day, by the authors main character.

Gifted Learners in Mrs. Holt's class spent their time working on their Passion Projects. Students identified a topic they would like to learn more about and then spent time creating products to show their learning. Students created models, games, slideshows and other artifacts which they will present to their classes and their families before Winter Break.

4th graders in Ms. Chopp's class use number bonds to help them figure out division problems. Students were eager to share their knowledge of how these models work and used table parters to share their work and answers. Ms. Chopp also took advantage of her students working independently to pull a small group back to her table for review.

Mrs. Mitchell's students access individualized buckets during her reading block. Each bucket has a rainbow on it identifying a 1st grade and 2nd grade Priority Standard. Students are working on becoming proficient at their grade level standards so they are ready for 2nd grade!

Mr. Wells is one of the few PE teachers in the country that has GiBoards in his gym. Students access these balance boards during warmups. They are used to strengthen balance, posture and fitness. Some students are even learning to get creative on them and trying some simple tricks. These will also help students when they move into a Parkour unit in the Spring!

Falcon Zone Staff Recognition

In the Falcon Zone we pride ourselves on having the most incredible staff! We want to give our community a chance to recognize those people that make a difference in our schools and for our students every day! Please let us know who is making a positive impact for your student. Let us know who has gone above and beyond to enhance your experience in our zone. Let us know who is doing an outstanding job!

Every staff member that is recognized will receive a note of recognition and a shoutout in our community newsletter. Staff members include not only teachers but secretaries, administrators, custodial & kitchen staff, paras, etc.

We want to know who is making a difference! Thank you for taking the time to fill out this quick form!

Falcon Zone Staff Recognition - Submit HERE

Mrs. Nelson (FMS) - She meets her students where they are and takes the extra time to go above and beyond to assist them in a positive and encouraging way.

Mr. Scheck (FZ) - I want to thank Tim for always being supportive and encouraging.

Renae Diggs (FMS) - Renae is always looking to better herself as a teacher. She is open to feedback and seeks out ways to improve her instruction. I appreciate her positive attitude!

Mrs. Engelhart (FES) - Mrs. Engelhart loves her kids, and the work my student is producing is excellent. Not only is the work generally neat and thorough, but my child is proud of what he’s learning about. He comes home beaming - what a priceless gift, to love to learn. It is clear to me that there is great care and expertise being poured out in this classroom. Way to go Mrs. E!

Upcoming Falcon Zone Events

11/20 - WHES PTA Slim Chickens Dine to Donate @ 4

11/25 - 11/29 - D49 Thanksgiving Break (No School)

12/3 - FZ Q2 SAC @ 5:30

12/9 - WHES Dine to Donate @ Red Robin

12/10 - D49 DAAC @ 6

12/12 - D49 Board Meeting @ 6

12/13 - Elementary Assessment Day, No Elementary Students

12/23 - 1/3 - D49 Winter Break

1/6 - D49 Professional Development Day, No Students

Future Falcon Zone SAC Dates

Quarter 2 SAC - December 3rd @ Bennett Ranch Elementary

Quarter 3 SAC - February 6th @ Falcon Elementary School

Quarter 4 SAC - April 17 @ Meridian Ranch Elementary

SEAC - Special Education Advisory Committee

What is SEAC?

D49 SEAC looks forward to a continued collaborative relationship with you, students, school staff, caregivers and our community.

What does SEAC stand for?

Special Education Advisory Committee

Why does SEAC exist?

"The role of the D49 Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) supports and shapes the quality services for children with disabilities."

What is SEAC's purpose?

"The committee’s work is critical and the benefits support our students. The committee can increase involvement, strengthen communication and improve relationships among stakeholders. The SEAC helps ensure that students with special needs receive the most appropriate education. D49 SEAC is used to provide suggestions to improve performance indicators from the State Performance Plan and services for students with disabilities. When district-wide collaboration improves, programming for students with and without disabilities is strengthened, setting the stage for improved student achievement."

More information can be found at https://www.d49.org/our-services/special-education/special-education-advisory-council

Below is a schedule of the quarterly 2024-2025 meetings and location:

November 18

Creekside Success Center

3850 Pony Tracks Dr

6:00pm-7:30pm

Presenter: Connie McKenzie

504 and IEP Basics

February 20

TBD

May 19

TBD

The Falcon Zone Flyer

August 3rd, 2023

November 18th, 2024