SIERRA SCOOP
September 22, 2023
FROM FOERSTER'S DESK
What a fun filled week! The AMP team hosted our first ROAR Day this year, Pirate Day, and kids had a blast participating in pirate themed games and songs connected to ROAR. Thanks AMP team, it was yo-ho-ho great time! We are all looking forward to the next ROAR Day on 10/13, Cartoon Day.
On Thursday, 3rd-5th grade were smiles galore while rocking out to an 80's themed Field Day. Thank you Mrs. Peters and to everybody else that helped make this day totally tubular for our students.
In between the fun, students were learning like crazy! In 1st grade math, students are learning how to interpret and represent data, while in 2nd grade, they are interpreting data on a pictograph and learning about other ways that same data could be represented. In 5th grade math, students are writing, drawing, and solving division equations and expressions. OG (Orton Gillingham) is up and running in all K-3rd grade classrooms. Watching this unfold and build as grades progress using systemic language and movement is going to be so powerful for our students throughout this year and continuing year after year.
Wow...what an amazing week! Enjoy the long weekend😃
Check your Friday Folders!
Now that we have completed our Beginning of Year Assessments, information has been included in your child's Friday Folder. MAP Growth Reports (MAP Family Report) were included for all students in grades K - 5. DIBELS 8 Reports were included for all students in grades K - 3.
Additionally, CMAS Assessment Student Reports for students in 4th and 5th grade will be sent home in Friday Folders on Friday, October 6. CMAS stands for Colorado Measures of Academic Success and is our annual state assessment administered each spring. Linked here is a letter with more information about our CMAS report distribution.
You are now able to view your child's results for both MAP Growth and CMAS assessments in Jeffco's Student Insights for Families platform.
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) at Sierra
Universal Screening of Social Emotional Skills using the SSIS SEL
What is the SSIS SEL? To learn more about the how we use this tool to screen the social emotional skills of students at Sierra click HERE. If you would like more information about the SSIS SEL or wish to opt your child out of this screener, contact Monika VanderStek (Social Emotional Learning Specialist) at Monika.VanderStek@jeffco.k12.co.us .
*** Update from last week: As of this window, Motivation to Learn will no longer be a component on which students are screened. Students will only be screened on the other 5 SEL competencies. This was determined due to a review of the data by the District, in which a disproportionate amount of students of color and with Free or Reduced Lunch status were identified as “at-risk” through this component. Thus, it was determined that our measurement would be more accurate without this indicator.
OFFICE INFORMATION
PICTURE DAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!! 3-4 volunteers are needed for picture day on 9/29. Please contact Sylvia at 303-982-0821.
Picture Day - Friday, 9/29. Individual and class photos will be taken on this day A flyer with information regarding payment was sent home in Friday Folders on Thursday 9/21. If you have any questions please contact Van Gogh at 303-679-9003.
October Count - Monday, 10/2. October count is very important! All students should be in attendance this day! This is how the school gets it's funding.
September 29 - Picture Day
October 2 - One Day Count!! Make sure your student is in attendance!
October 8- Sierra Strides
October 13- ROAR Day (Cartoon Day)
October 16-18 - Book Fair
October 17 and 18 - Conferences
October 19 - No School (teacher work day)
October 20 - No School
SIERRA STRIDES
DID YOU KNOW?
Parking Lot Safety
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ensure that you are crossing the parking lot at the crosswalk only! Do not cross the parking lot between cars. This is a safety issue and we need all adult cooperation to model this expectation for students. Under no circumstances should the metal gates be moved. These are set up to ensure student safety. Thank you for your help!
Morning Drop-off
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not drop students off or have walkers arrive alone before 7:35am! We have adult supervision outside starting at this time. Students arriving before 7:35 are playing on the playground, running through the parking lot, and cutting through hug-n-go traffic. This is a huge safety issue and we need your help.
Are you interested in being more involved in health and wellness in Jeffco Schools?
Jeffco District Health Advisory Council (DHAC) is looking for additional community members. DHAC works to elevate family/parent and community voices regarding wellness in schools and is responsible for the development, implementation, and review of the Jeffco School Wellness Policy. The group meets three times per year on Wednesday mornings. Email healthyschools@jeffco.k12.co.us to learn more.
Please ensure that you read through the Sierra Student-Family Handbook for additional school information.
PTA PARTICULARS
We are still in need of Room Parents! Please click HERE for information on what being a room parent entails. If you would like to volunteer, click HERE to sign up. Thank you for supporting Sierra teachers.
Conference Dinners Help Needed - Looking for volunteers to help spoil our staff October 17th and 18th during Parent/Teacher Conferences. The PTA sponsors 2 dinners for the teachers on the nights that the staff stay late for conference meetings. This year, the PTA has approved a budget of $800/meal, we just need someone to help coordinate with a local food vendor. Please let us know if you are interested. Reach out to Committees@SierraPTAArvada.org
Sierra Staff Appreciation - The teachers and staff of Sierra Elementary are a large part of our children's lives. Let's show them all some love and appreciation by providing individually wrapped snacks and treats for them throughout the school year. Sign-Up here to help out or reach out to Ashley Panyako for more information.
Join us for our first Sierra Parent Networking event! October 25 from 4-6pm at Jacks in Five Park's. This is a social event that is designed to help parents get to know one other for both personal and professional networking.
Registration is now open to join Sierra PTA! Click here to be a part of a group that helps make the Sierra community amazing!
Want an easy spot to communicate with the Sierra PTA and school community? Join our Facebook group to connect with other Sierra parents, ask questions, and learn about school and PTA community events!
Strides for Sierra 5K is just around the corner!
Registration for the 3rd annual Strides for Sierra starts today August 18th! Please click here for all the information and to register!
Opportunity for Feedback for Arvada Streets
The City of Arvada reached out to partner with Sierra to help ensure student safety! Currently, feedback is being collected from Arvada residents pertaining to Arvada's first Transportation System Plan through October 1. This is an opportunity for you to share your thinking - especially when we think about Oak street in front of Sierra Elementary School or a nearby intersection like 80th and Oak. We all share the common goal of keeping kids safe!
To provide feedback to the city of Arvada, click here for an interactive map.
From the District
Register Today! Summit Jeffco for Families!
We are excited to invite you to our first-ever Summit Jeffco event! Designed to bring families together with district and school staff and other experts, families will learn new ways to support their student’s educational journey. Join us on Saturday, September 23, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Green Mountain High School in Lakewood.
To get a sneak peek of what Summit Jeffco has in store for you, watch this video in English | Spanish and visit our Summit Jeffco webpage. There, you'll find details about our keynote speaker, Dr. Jessica Hawks, Clinical Director of the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children's Hospital Colorado. Dr. Hawks will discuss the current youth mental health crisis and equip families with strategies to support your student’s social and emotional well-being so they can thrive.
Thank you in advance for your help promoting this fun and educational event for our families! I appreciate your leadership and administrative magic that helps connect our families to your school every day.
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