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SIERRA SCOOP
May 10, 2024
FROM FOERSTER'S DESK
This week has been jam packed with meetings with teachers and getting into classrooms to read. I am beyond blessed to lead a with such exemplary staff and teachers! Everybody works so hard to grow themselves, grow each other, and provide students with an extraordinary student experience. Sierra's staff is passionate about what they do and it shows each and every day.
Reading to kids has been one of my favorite things these last few years as an administrator. Mr. Rowland and I switch off reading to prek-2nd and 3rd-5th each month. We pick books that connect to something occurring around the community (celebrations, holidays, etc), curriculum (2nd Step), and fun books to make kids laugh. This is optional and teachers sign-up for us to come in. Spending time with students and interacting with them in this way brings joy to my heart. Although I haven't quite learned all 500 names, I'm super close and pretty proud of myself as names are not my strength 😏 Ask students what books they remember us reading to them this year.
THANK YOU to everybody that spoiled the Sierra staff throughout this week (and in February) with treats, meals, gift cards, and more! There is not a more deserving staff out there as they all work so hard to be the best for kids each and every day. Thank you for taking the time to recognize all of them!
Have a lovely weekend 😀
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) at Sierra
Look at How Much We Grew This Year!
Our end-of-year SSIS SEL results are available and they show amazing growth for our students! Each year, we complete the SSIS SEL three times - at the beginning, middle and end of the year - to screen the social-emotional-behavioral skills in the competencies areas of: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision Making skills. The SSIS SEL informs our instruction and practices schoolwide to support the development of these skills in our students. Our end-of-year screener shows that 75% of our students demonstrate proficient skills across all five competencies, up from 64% at the beginning of the year. We have engaged in the following universal practices to support students' growth in social-emotional and behavioral skills this year: utilizing the Second Step curriculum to explicitly teach growth mindset & goal-setting, emotion management, empathy & kindness, and problem-solving skills; teaching, re-teaching, and reinforcing ROAR (Responsibility, Ownership, Achieve, Respect) expectations; facilitating weekly community-building circles; and responding to problem behaviors through a restorative lens. Our mental health team partnered with several grade-levels to provide additional instruction around social thinking and executive functioning skills to further support this skill development. Some individual students also received more targeted support, following conversations with caregivers, to address their needs. We continue to refine this multi-tiered approach and value our partnerships with families in this work. Thank for all your support and reinforcement in building these skills at home and in the community!
OFFICE INFORMATION
New After School Care 2024-2025
The Apex Center is offering after school care to Sierra for the 2024-2025 school year. Please see this flyer for more information.
Apex After School Care Registration Link
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.
May 14- Final Coffee with T n B at 7:50am
May 16- Read-a-Thon Magician 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 1/2 day 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.
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!
Jeffco Summer Reading Challenge
Registration is open for the Summer Reading Challenge through the Jeffco Public Library. Anyone of any age can sign up to read, complete activities, and win great prizes! There is also a school competition: if we have more finishers than last year, we will be entered into a drawing to win a prize of $800 for our school library! So please sign up at jeffcolibrary.org and be sure to mark down Sierra as your school!
All Library Books Are Due!
The final due date for all library books was yesterday, May 9th. Please check your houses, cars, backpacks, bookshelves at home, and under the bed for any missing books! Thank you!
DID YOU KNOW?
2024-25 Sierra Calendar Dates
Next year's calendar dates are on Sierra's calendar. Be sure to note important beginning of year dates (Ice Cream Social, 1st days for all students, Back to School Night, Modified Contact, and more). Dates/times are subject to change.
Please ensure that you read through the Sierra Student-Family Handbook for additional school information.
PTA PARTICULARS
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