BisoNews

Dear Bison Families,

Our first full week of school was amazing! Thank you for sending students to school who are ready to learn!

This newsletter is full of important information for you and your family. Please take a few minutes to read everything and make sure to call us at the office if you have any questions. It is especially important to review our traffic rules at the end of this newsletter.

Thank you for sharing your children with us!

Ana Marlatt

At Second Creek, we believe in positive reinforcement. We have adopted PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) for a few years now. We express our positive reinforcements by teaching students how to be Bison STRONG (Safety, Teamwork, Respect, Ownership, Never Give Up and Gratitude). Below are just two ways to celebrate positive behavior at our school:

• Bison STRONG Punch Cards: One way is to give students a punch card that teachers punch when they see positive behaviors. The students bring these cards to the office when the card is filled. Then Ms. Olson calls random students on Tuesday mornings from grade levels to come get a book and a lollipop, and to take a picture together. This will start today!
• Parades. Teachers nominate students who show exemplary behaviors for each one of the qualities in STRONG. Most parades are digital, except for the last one in May. Thanks to our PTO and Cold Stone Creamery, nominated students take home a cool yard sign and a coupon for a free ice cream as well.

We believe positive behaviors are taught. We do this during our Morning Meeting, everyday. We have dedicated sacred time during the day when everyone learns about positive behaviors at the same time. Right after the bell and after announcements and attendance, we gather in classrooms to learn, share and practice positive behaviors. For the next couple of weeks, we will remembering (or learning for our new students) about Zones of Regulation. This is a great way for students to name their feelings and also learn strategies to help regulate those feelings. I have included a couple of resources below so you can learn more about this and maybe continue the work at home.

Zones of Regulation

Zones of Regulation PDF

This is another great reason being at school on time and everyday is so important! If your student is late, he or she will miss Morning Meeting, and a chance to continue to learn and grow in the areas of positive behaviors. Please make it a priority to be at school no later than 7:45am everyday.

We share a lot of information through our Facebook Page. Please follow and like us and be in "the know" of what's happening!

Our PTO is amazing! Here are some news of projects happening only due to the generosity of our PTO and Second Creek families:

***Early in the summer we received 4 Interactive White Boards and stands. They live in 5th grade now and are being used to enhance instruction. We have 2 more devices going into the CLD classrooms. Those stands are currently on back order. Once we receive them we will be ready to roll!

***Construction on our Outdoor Classroom has started! Soon our staff and students will have a brand-new very cool area to gather and learn. The project is supposed to be finished by 8/30 - give or take. A HUGE thank you to Mr. Matthew Whipple for donating his services and coordinating this project. I have added his rendering of the project below.

*** Grade Level shirts! Our students received their grade-level shirts on Friday. We would love for them to wear their Bison gear every Friday. Shirts can also be used for our Fun Run, coming up, and any future Field Trip.

***Who is ready for movie night? PTO is sponsoring our back-to-school movie and it is happening this Friday! Details below. We hope to see you there!

All of these amazing projects add so much to our school and enhance the learning experiences of staff and students. For this all to come together, volunteers are much needed. Consider joining the PTO or at least volunteering when they ask for help. Together we will continue to make our school an exceptional place for kids to learn!

8/21/24 - First Day for all Preschool Students

8/23/24 - Back-To-School PTO Movie Night

If you are a returning family to Second Creek, you know our parking lot is small and needs special care during morning drop off and afternoon pick up. Thank you for contributing to the overall safety of our staff and students!

If you are a new family to Second Creek, please read the information below carefully. Staff and sometimes Commerce City police are out during morning drop off and afternoon dismissal to make sure everyone is safe.

Parents, it is very important that we do not park on the bus lane before or after school. Blocking the bus causes delays that go beyond our school.

Here are a few reminders about our drop off and pick up procedures. You know that Commerce City police pops in once in a while and issue tickets to vehicles that are not following our safety rules... so please make sure you are doing what you can do keep our students and staff safe!

• No parked cars in the "no parking zone" - which is by the sidewalk from the beginning of the parking lot all the way to the front doors. This is a fire lane and also a bus lane. There is NO PARKING anytime. Only drop off or pick up. We have noticed many cars parked waiting for the school to open in the morning, blocking the bus and causing lines of cars that go all the way outside the parking lot. Please drop off your student and go - no parking.
• Same rules apply for pick up after school.
• Students eating breakfast can be dropped off at 7:30am and 7:35am for non-breakfast eaters. We do not have supervision for students who are dropped off before these times.
• Students must be picked up at 3:30pm every day. We do not have staff to supervise students after school.
• Let us know if you need information about our before and after-school program.
• Please only use the handicap parking if you have a handicap license.
• The Staff of the Month parking is for staff only at all times.

We appreciate your cooperation!

The following businesses continue to sponsor Second Creek in wonderful and amazing ways!

Website

Eng Orthodontics

https://www.5280heroes.com/

Website: Home - Second Creek Elementary (sd27j.org)
Location: 9950 Laredo Drive, Commerce City, CO, USA
Phone: 720-685-7550
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/113896305938825/