SIERRA SCOOP
April 19, 2024
FROM FOERSTER'S DESK
CMAS testing is complete...woooooohoooooo! We have a handful of make-ups to complete, but we were able to go back to normalcy yesterday. THANK YOU to all of our 3rd-5th grade testers that worked so hard to show-off everything they know and have learned this year. Students did an excellent job attending to the test and following expectations. THANK YOU to all of our staff for helping to ensure CMAS went off without a hitch. This is definitely a school-wide effort, and all of our staff played a role. Whether they were proctoring, adjusting their AMP and/or lunch times, or moving furniture, all staff were super supportive.
On the testing note...even though CMAS is completed, our end of year testing window for DIBELS 8 and MAP starts next week. Please look for more detailed information from classroom teachers.
Have a delightful weekend 😀
ARTS NIGHT 5/2
SAVE THE DATE!
Arts Night is Thursday, May 2nd from 4-7pm. Come see your student's artwork on display. There will also be face painting, crafts, music performances by 2nd and 5th grades, food trucks and the crowd favorite- cake walk. Come join us for a fun-filled evening for the whole family!
Day Without Hate
Day Without Hate is a student led organization that promotes unity and respect in schools. Students at Standley Lake High School, in Jeffco, started the organization in 2007 by asking their classmates to wear white to show a commitment and trust in each other to make their school a safer, kinder place.
Since then, students across Colorado and the nation have taken this incredibly positive day to their schools and communities to say that we will not tolerate being mean to each other and we will reach out to friends and acquaintances and say, "We're all in this together."
Day Without Hate is coming up on Thursday, April 25th. We will be participating in Peace Week during the week of April 22nd-25th. We will anchor our activities around Tim McGraw’s quote, “Just one act of kindness may turn the tide of another person’s life.”
Students are encouraged to participate in the following activities at Sierra this week:
Monday, April 22nd: Students will create kindness chains. These chains will be hung in the cafeteria to display our commitment to kindness as a Sierra school community.
Tuesday, April 23rd: Lunch Switch-up: Students will be challenged to find a new table to sit at for lunch, with new people, in order to get to know peers that they may not talk to everyday.
Wednesday, April 24th: Students will engage in a circle discussion about kindness and respect. Sometimes an act of kindness can be a chain reaction and change how people treat each other. How can you show kindness to someone who has been unkind to others?”
Thursday, April 25th: Day Without Hate- students are encouraged to wear their Day Without Hate shirts (if purchased) or wear white to display their commitment for unity and kindness.
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) at Sierra
Flexibility
Shifting and Time Management
Executive Functioning Skills (continued): Flexibility and Shifting/Time Management
Executive function skills encompass a range of cognitive abilities crucial for managing daily tasks and achieving goals. This week, we are introducing Flexi Lexi and Susie Shifter, two more characters from the EFs to the Rescue resource. Flexi Lexi helps remind us about the importance of Flexibility, a key component, that involves adapting to new situations, ideas, or tasks without becoming overwhelmed or frustrated. This skill allows individuals to navigate changes smoothly and creatively problem-solve. Susie Shifter combines two complementary skills of Shifting and Time Management, using the motto: "From this to that in no time flat," to help reinforce this connection. Shifting or cognitive flexibility involves transitioning between different tasks or trains of thought efficiently. Time management, another vital aspect, entails planning, prioritizing, and allocating time effectively to complete tasks. To support the development of these skills in children, various strategies can be employed:
- Providing structured routines with built-in opportunities for choice and spontaneity fosters flexibility.
- Encouraging children to engage in diverse activities and exposing them to new experiences cultivates adaptive thinking.
- Using visual schedules and timers helps children learn time management skills by promoting organization and task completion within specified time frames.
OFFICE INFORMATION
Not at School on 5/24?
If your child will not be at school for the last day of school on Fri., 5/24, please plan on picking up belongings (Friday Folder, report cards, etc) from the office 5/28-6/5 between the hours of 10:00am-1:00pm. Any items not picked up cannot be mailed.
April 24- Band and Orchestra concert
April 26- No School, teacher work day
April 29- Accountability and PTA Meeting (Accountability at 4:45 and PTA at 5:30; more info to come)
May 2- Arts Night, 4:00-8:00pm; 2nd grade performance 5:15, 5th grade performance 6:15
May 3- Modified Contact Day (info and schedule sent through classroom teachers)
May 7- Whole School Read-a-Thon prize during lunch recesses
May 8- Choir and Handbells performance 5:30pm
May 9- Read-a-Thon Carnival parties
May 10- K-2nd Field Day starting at 11:50am
May 14- Final Coffee with T n B at 7:50am
May 16- Read-a-Thon Magian prize
May 17- Outer Space ROAR Day
May 23- Greatest Hits ROAR Day
May 23- Last day for 5th grade; 5th Continuation at 4:00
May 23- Last day for 1/2day preschool classes
May 24- Last day; dismissal at 12:05pm
May 24- Kindergarten graduation 8:30am
May 24- Last day for full day preschool, dismissal at 12:00
May 24- Report Cards go home
***Please note, Sierra's calendar is updated with 2024-25 dates. These are subject to change.
READ-A-THON
TODAY, 4/19, is the LAST day to enter minutes and raise money for the Read-a-Thon. Our students can earn fun prizes like a Magic Show or a Carnival Party by raising funds and reading. Top readers and fundraisers in each grade get a chance to Pie Mrs. Foerster or Mr. Rowland in the face. Other fun prizes include event packages to Water World and Dave and Busters, class prizes and more. The Top TWO fundraisers in the school will get a Great Wolf Lodge Gift Package, which includes a free night at the resort and a $200 gift certificate to spend there!
Malara Gardens Fundraiser
Calling all gardeners! Support the Sierra Library and Technology fund!
We are partnering with local garden center, Malara Gardens, to support our library and technology budget. When you shop at Malara Gardens during the week of May 13 -19, mention Sierra at the cash register and our library will receive 10% of your purchase! Go buy some beautiful plants and flowers from a local grower and help our school all at once!
Malara Gardens is a family-owned local business located at 7190 Kipling Street, Arvada, CO 80004. www.malaragardens.com
Thank you!
DID YOU KNOW?
Accountability and PTA
Join us for our final Accountability and PTA meetings this school year! Accountability will start at 4:45 in the library (there is a virtual option as well and the link is on the agenda). Feel free to view the agenda for the 4/29 Accountability meeting here (presentation link will be shared in a later Scoop). The PTA meeting will follow, starting at 5:30 in the library or on the same virtual link. Hope to see you all there 😀
Board of Education Town Hall
Join our Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education (Board) representatives for 90-minute town hall meetings to get to know your area representative, learn about the Board’s goals and understand their roles in districtwide initiatives. See the Board of Education Town Hall flyer for more information.
Please ensure that you read through the Sierra Student-Family Handbook for additional school information.
PTA PARTICULARS
Read a Thon Update
The read-a-thon ends on Friday April 19th at 11:59 pm. Don’t forget to log your minutes and fundraise, it’s a tight race for the classrooms reading minutes and fundraising dollars!
School Gift Proposals are open for application! Due April 22nd and presented and voted on at the April 29th General PTA meeting. Application forms with more information can be found in the treasurer’s box in the school office or online HERE.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED For Arts Night - Thursday, May 2nd
For those new to Sierra, Arts Night is a school wide celebration of the Arts. Students' artwork will be displayed throughout the school and there will be crafts, performances, games and food trucks. It’s a celebration for all our Sierra Families. Please help make it a success by signing up HERE to volunteer.
Help us name our Sierra Sabertooth Mascot!
Submit your name suggestions HERE by April 23rd. Final voting will take place April 27th. The winning name will be announced at Arts Night with an appearance from the mascot!
Staff Appreciation Gift Card Drive was a SUCCESS!!
Thank you to everyone who donated a $25 gift card to Sierra Staff. The gift cards will be handed out to all staff during National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6th-10th.
We collected extra gift cards that will be given to administration to use as prizes/gifts for future Staff Team Building activities.
PTA Board Nominees for Next Year
Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to be a part of the PTA Board for the 24-25 school year. Here is the slate of nominees we will vote for at our next General PTA Meeting on Monday, April 29th.
Co-Presidents - Kelsey Parker and Lizz Conover
Co-VP of Committees - Amy Ward-Bailey and Kara Doone
Treasurer - Emily Andersen
Community Events - Chelsea Caldwell
Room Coordinator - Alyssa Aberle
Membership - Katie Tenhulzen
Secretary - Jessica Moore
The 2024-2025 Proposed Budget is posted and ready for review HERE! We will vote to approve at the April 29th General PTA meeting.
PTA BYLAWS UPDATE!
The Sierra Bylaws committee has completed its tri-annual update of the bylaws and it’s ready for review! Read through the new ones HERE and we’ll vote to approve them at our April 29th general PTA meeting.
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