SIERRA SCOOP
March 1, 2024
FROM FOERSTER'S DESK
We blinked, and here we are in March! It was a great week...one of my favorites every year as we celebrated Read Across America. Guest readers joined us from local news channels, fire departments (even my husband from Denver Fire), Arvada City Council, Jeffco School Board, and more. Each class had at least 2 readers throughout the day on Thursday, reading favorite picture books. I'm not sure who had more fun, the students or the readers. Ask your student who came to their classroom to read. A huge THANK YOU to all of our guests for taking time out of their day to come to Sierra and read to our students! Another huge THANK YOU to Mrs. Lazek and Mrs. Clymer for planning this event each year!
Have a terrific weekend 😄
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) at Sierra
Managing Anxiety - Selecting the Right Tools
Over the past five weeks, we have spent time introducing anxiety and sharing strategies to help manage this big emotion. All of the calming tools that we have introduced fall into four different buckets, as introduced by Dr. Scott Cypers, PhD, in his FACE Your Fears curriculum. There are many different ways to manage anxiety and hopefully you've had an opportunity to explore some of them as a family. So, now what? There are so many tools out there...how do you choose which strategies to add to your toolbox? Dr. Cypers explains that we should all have 2-3 tools that work for us that we keep in our readily accessible "toolbox". He shares a rule of five when building this toolbox.
Consider the following criteria when deciding which calming tools are the best fit:
- It has to work for you. We all are unique, and what works for some of us does not work for others. Make sure the tool works for you - practice different strategies and take note of how you feel afterwards to know if it is calming for you, or if it makes you feel something else.
- The strategy should not draw attention. Often, when we're anxious, the last thing we want are more eyes on us. Therefore, finding calming tools that can be used without drawing more attention are likely to be the most effective.
- It needs to be safe for you and others.
- It needs to be portable. It's okay to have some strategies that work at home (i.e., snuggling with a pet), but it's best if we load our toolbox with strategies that can be used anywhere. Otherwise, we find out self in situations where our tools are not accessible.
- The strategy should not lead to avoidance. If it allows us to avoid the things that cause us anxiety (i.e., not interacting with peers when we have social anxiety), then we only strengthen the anxiety and the power it has over us.
As you think through the strategies you've explored over the past several weeks, see if they match this criteria. If so, continue to practice them regularly, so they become comfortable and part of your routine. The effectiveness of these tools may change over time, just as we change and grow over time. If you find a tool is no longer working, go back and try something new, keeping the rule of five in mind as you add new strategies to your toolbox.
OFFICE INFORMATION
DAY WITHOUT HATE T-SHIRTS - ORDERS ARE DUE BY MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2024.
Spring LEGO Club
Adventures in STEM with LEGO® Materials (Spring 2024 | Grades: K-1):
https://play-well-registration.com/registration/new/103563
STEM Explorations with LEGO® Materials (Spring 2024 | Grades: 2-5):
CMAS Testing
Grades 3 - 5 will participate in the annual state assessment between April 1st and April 26. Specific times will be shared by classroom teachers closer to testing days. We ask that you do not schedule appointments or vacations during these testing dates:
3rd Grade: 4/2, 4/3, 4/4, 4/10, 4/11, and 4/12 (AM testing only)
4th Grade: 4/2, 4/3, 4/4, 4/10, 4/11, and 4/12 (AM testing only)
5th Grade: 4/5, 4/8, 4/9 (AM testing); 4/15, 4/16, 4/17 (AM and PM testing sessions)
RALSTON VALLEY MUSICAL FAMILY NIGHT
Ralston Valley High School welcomes our area families to Family Night of Shrek the Musical on March 6th at 6:30pm. At the conclusion of the show kids in the audience will have a chance to go up on stage and meet the characters. Hurry! Tickets are selling fast.
https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/ralston-valley-choir/65d619dbc76b3d085f41218b/
Note: Tickets are also available for March 7-9 but there will be no on-stage meet-and-greet at these performances.
March 1 - Report Cards Go Home
March 11- PTA Budget Meeting at 6:00 pm
March 15- ROAR Day (Outer Space)
March 18-22- No School, Spring Break
March 25- No School, Teacher Work Day
March 26- Students Return
March 29- Read-a-Thon Kickoff
DID YOU KNOW?
Sierra is Hiring!
We are looking for ISPs (Independent Support Para) for students in our SSN classroom. These are paid positions that include benefits. We are also in need of substitute paras to fill in for lunch and recess duties and possibly some classroom coverage (minimal class coverage). This is also a paid position. If you are interested, you can apply through the Jeffco Schools job board. Feel free to call Nicole in the office if you have any questions.
Cell Phone and Smartwatch Policy at Sierra
Please review the cell phone and smartwatch policy with your student. You can find the policy in the Sierra Student-Family Handbook.
TELEPHONE USE
CELL PHONES and/or SMART WATCHES are not to be used during school hours, including during recess, and need to be turned off. Cell phone/watch usage includes sending/receiving calls or text messages, and taking pictures. We make every effort to promote responsibility and planning skills in children. Remembering personal responsibilities and activities is an important elementary skill. Therefore, students may not use the phone for forgotten permission slips, lunches, instruments, homework, sports, or other school items and events. After school arrangements should be made before the student leaves home in the morning. Students may use a school phone in emergencies or upon teacher request for after school activities. If you have emergency information for your child, particularly information that involves changes in transportation after school, please call the Sierra office.
Join us at Summit Jeffco: Empowering Sierra Families for Student Success!
We encourage you to attend this event that promises to empower and equip you with valuable insights to support your student's educational journey. Join us at Summit Jeffco hosted by Jeffco Public Schools on Saturday, March 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Summit Ridge Middle School.
Please ensure that you read through the Sierra Student-Family Handbook for additional school information.
YEARBOOK
PTA PARTICULARS
Sierra PTA Board Positions Available for Next Year!
We need some volunteers on the PTA Board for the 2024-2025 school year! The board members who are remaining are amazing and will be great partners to the new members! This experience is a great way to stay informed, meet amazing new friends, and make an impact at Sierra. Below is a list of the positions available for next year:
President - The President offers support to all the positions on the board, develops and maintains the relationship between the board and school administration, and leads the monthly board meetings and quarterly general meetings. Prior board experience is not required to be president. This is a great position to Co-Chair, so please feel free to volunteer with a friend or let us know you would like to work with someone else.
Vice President of Membership – The VP of Membership encourages parents, teachers and staff to join the PTA and manages their enrollment on our membership website. This role does not require a lot of time outside of monthly board meetings.
If you are interested in joining the board, please email us at President@SierraPTAArvada.org
The PTA Budget Committee Meeting is scheduled for Mar 11, 2024 at 6pm in the school library. Please join to help plan how the PTA will spend funds for the 24-25 school year. Open to all current PTA members.
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
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