Northridge Elementary Weekly Blast

November Dates:

25 - 29 Thanksgiving Break

December Dates:

4 - PTO Executive Board Meeting
6 - Holiday Shop
13 - Breakfast with Buddies

18- SAC Meeting - This is a change of date
19 - DAC Meeting (Wilcox Board Room)

Please check in at the front office with Campus Security, Kirk Kelsey, and remember to wear your visitor sticker throughout your visit. Thank you for helping keep our school safe!

Thank you all for celebrating our One Book One District book this year! Whale Fall, by Melissa Stewart. Hope you and your kids had a great week! We learned a lot about whale falls and brought in a lot of toiletries for families in need right here in Highlands Ranch. Thank you to everyone who participated and donated!

Thank you also to our NRE Student Council who organized and promoted our Spirit Week!

If you are interested in reading our One Book One District book, but English might not be your first language, we have some translations that might help! Our own Ms. Lien translated the Chinese version!

Whale Fall, by Melissa Stewart

Translated Readings

• Spanish

• Russian

• Chinese

• English with subtitles

PTO In Action

Staff Appreciation

Thanks to our generous NRE community, PTO provided bagels and coffee for the NRE staff on Thursday, showing our love and appreciation as we approach the holiday season and semester's end.

“Opt In” to PTO Text Messages

Stay in the loop on all the PTO happenings by opting into PTO Text Message Reminders. It’s simple and quick! Scan the QR in the flier below or click this link.

Upcoming Events

Winter Coat/Boot Drive

Donate or pick up winter items in the front lobby through December 6th—no donation required to take what you need! We especially need size large coats (12-14). Leftovers will go to a local nonprofit. Let’s keep our community warm!

Holiday Shop: Friday, December 6
Kids will shop for small gifts during the school day, with an after-school option from 3:30-4:30.

What to Know:

• Shopping envelopes with instructions / budgeting tools go home Thurs, Dec. 5.

• Help your child make a shopping plan and send cash (small bills preferred) in the envelope for shopping on Dec 6.

• PTO will be providing "Dash Cash" to ensure all students have the opportunity to shop. If your child could benefit from this, contact your teacher or PTOpresidentNRE@gmail.com. Consider making a PTO donation towards Dash Cash on MySchoolBucks.

How to Help:

• Volunteer opportunities: Sign up to help (little ones are welcome)!

• Donate supplies: Craft, decor, or wrapping items via the signup genius.

Bonus: Tom’s Coffee Truck will be outside from 3:00-4:30, donating 10% of sales to NRE. Grab a drink before or after you shop. See menu flier below. Thank you for your support!

Breakfast with Buddies - Friday, December 13th, 7:45–8:30 AM

Join us for breakfast to celebrate our amazing NRE community! Families and staff are welcome. RSVP by December 6—click here to reserve your spot.

Ongoing Impact: Year - Round Fundraisers

Pride Rock

Paint the Rock to recognize birthdays or other special occasions for $20.

• To make a reservation, you must FIRST signup here

• Submit $20 through MySchoolBucks or by check. Happy painting!

• Pride Rock Painting Service - For an extra fee, PTO will find a volunteer to paint Pride Rock for you on the day(s) you have it reserved! If this service would be helpful to you or your family, please book Pride Rock and then send an email to PTOpresidentNRE@gmail.com to inquire about volunteer availability for the rock painting service.

Restaurant Nights - Add to your calendar!

• The Basketball Social House - November 22 - Donating 10% to NRE PTO

• The 3v3 courts will be open for NRE families from 3:00 - Close. Come out for a fun family Friday evening!

• Red Robin - December 18

• Stop in for lunch, happy hour or dinner - portion comes back to NRE PTO.

• 63 W Centennial BLVD, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

Volunteer Opportunities

• There are several volunteer opportunities available for the Holiday Shop! Please sign-up here to help!

• Paint the Rock - Some families have expressed interest in paying an additional fee to have some help to paint the rock on days they reserve it. PTO is seeking volunteers to provide this rock painting service on various days throughout the year. Funds collected through this extra fee will help support NRE PTO. If you are interested in helping with this, please reach out to PTOtreasurerNRE@gmail.com.

Our December SAC meeting has been rescheduled for 12/18. We will offer an in-person and a Zoom option. We hope you can join us.

Hello NRE Families,

As we approach the holiday break, I want to take a moment to reflect on all that we are thankful for here at Northridge Elementary.

Did you know all the amazing things our PTO has done for NRE this year? They’ve been hard at work supporting our students, staff, and community. Some of their incredible contributions include:

• Approximately $20,000 for technology and curriculum for NRE students.
• Funding $50 per class per party for the year.
• Organizing events like Back to School Carnival, Fun Run, Multicultural Day, Veterans Day, and Restaurant Nights.
• Providing dinner for staff for the Fall Festival (with generous discounts from Mici)
• Coordinating the Student Coat Drive, Conference Meals, and Monthly Staff Appreciation

We are so THANKFUL for PTO's dedication and hard work!

We are also incredibly THANKFUL for our teachers. They pour their hearts into creating engaging and impactful learning experiences for our students. Whether they’re planning, teaching, or assessing in quick cycles tailored to each age group, their patience and dedication are unmatched. To bring a little fun (and maybe some harmless confusion) to the week, we held a secret underground spirit week! Did you notice some of our teachers dressing a little funky? Check out the pictures below and see if you can guess the theme for each day. Teachers, please know we appreciate and love you more than words can express.

A big THANK YOU goes out to our parents and community as well. You’ve made our events—like the Back to School Carnival, Fun Run, Multicultural Night, Fall Festival, and Veterans Day—so memorable with your enthusiastic participation. Your love for your kids shines brightly, and we are grateful to share in their growth and joy.

Lastly, on a personal note, I’m so THANKFUL for my family, who supports my love for the NRE community. They attend events when they can and even my college-aged child loves seeing pictures of all the great moments. Their support allows me to bring my best to NRE each day.

Thank you for being part of our NRE family. We hope you have a fabulous week with your children, savor your favorite foods, and create wonderful memories. Let’s continue to look for the good, love one another, and be kind.

With gratitude,

Katie

Can you tell what the theme for the day was?

Can you tell what the theme for the day was?

Can you tell what the theme for the day was?

Can you tell what the theme for the day was?

Can you tell what the theme for the day was?

DCSD is incredibly thankful to the voters of Douglas County for understanding our need to care for our buildings, and provide our students and staff with comfortable learning environments.

Thank you to our employees - the school and district leaders, and teachers and staff members - for the countless hours spent volunteering to spread the word about 5A. We have especially loved seeing the thank you videos being submitted by our principals. Watch the Thank You videos here.

Funding from the bond will:

• Update and equip aging schools and facilities.

• Create additional Career and Technical Education pathways, including for our students with special education needs.

• Construct two new elementary schools in rapidly growing neighborhoods (one in RidgeGate and one in Sterling Ranch).

• Build an expansion at Sierra Middle School.

• Begin Phase 2 of the Legacy Campus.

• Provide safety and security updates at all schools.

Click here to see how each school will benefit.

Please take a couple of minutes to watch this brief thank you video from Superintendent Erin Kane and DCSD Board President Christy Williams.

Visit DCSD Growth and Decline Webpage for more information.

Like many school districts across Colorado, the Douglas County School District is facing enrollment challenges.

What makes Douglas County unique, however, is that while we have some areas of declining enrollment, we have other areas experiencing massive growth (for example, Sterling Ranch and RidgeGate). Because our school district is over 850 square miles – we are simultaneously working to address both growth and decline.

It is a priority of the Douglas County School District to ensure that every student, whether in a growing community or aging community, has access to all of the amazing opportunities that our school district has to offer.

Growth and decline discussions have been underway in our community for nearly two years and any decisions will continue to be made with transparency and community input.

The school district is currently considering pairing up to six elementary schools (which would result in the closure of up to three total schools) within Highlands Ranch. Decisions regarding which schools would potentially close would take place in April 2025 – with any consolidations becoming effective for the 2026-2027 school year. More information including a detailed timeline can be found below.

Douglas County community members are encouraged to attend upcoming meetings to discuss and provide feedback on criteria for potential elementary school consolidations (resulting in the potential closure of up to three elementary schools in the Highlands Ranch area).

Meeting dates and times, as well as additional information, can be found below.

While some of these meetings are taking place at Douglas County middle schools, the school district has no plans to consolidate any middle or high schools in Highlands Ranch at this time.

Tuesday, December 3

6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Virtual Meeting (link to register for the meeting)

Wednesday, December 11

6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Cresthill Middle School Library

9195 Cresthill Lane, Highlands Ranch

Visit DCSD Growth and Decline Webpage for more information.

For Timelines and FAQ, please scroll about half way down the page.

If you are a parent/guardian requesting a paper version of the CMAS assessment - please email Vicki Askey vmaskey@dcsdk12.org by December 2, 2024.

To excuse your student from CMAS testing please complete this form:

State Assessment Excusal Form Walkthrough Parent/Guardian

Additional details and forms are posted on the NRE website.

https://nre.dcsdk12.org/state_mandated_testing

Bus #53

• Dec 16-20
• Feb 3-7
• Mar 10-14
• Apr 21-25

Bus #58

• Dec 2-6
  
• Jan 21-24
• Feb 24-28
• Apr 7-11
• May 12-16

Below is a list of resources, should you have a concern that a loved one (or yourself) may be experiencing behavioral changes, mood swings, depression, or suicidal thoughts.

Call 911 if there is an immediate threat to the child or others

• 988 - Suicide and Crisis Hotline

  • Call or text “988” any time, 24/7 for free, confidential support.

• Colorado Crisis Services: 1-844-493-TALK (8255)

• Trained Crisis Counselor Hotline: (844) 493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255

• Chat online (open from 4pm-12am daily): Click Here

• Walk-in Locations (open 24/7): Location List

• Information About Types of Services and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado Crisis Services

• DCSD Mental Health Intervention website

• Mobile apps for wellness and recovery

• Let’s Talk Colorado

• iMatter (free virtual counseling sessions)

Douglas County has an anonymous reporting system available at all times. Anyone with a concern for someone’s well-being or safety can use Safe 2 Tell (1-877-542-7233) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.