Blue Mountain Elementary

• April 15-20 - SVVSD Art Show at Boulder Fairgrounds
• April 23, Wednesday - Green Team Eco-Brick building night
• April 28, Monday - NO SCHOOL
• May 5-9 - Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week, sponsored by the PTO

At the end of this month teachers will begin the process of placing students for next school year. This is among the most important non-teaching activities that teams participate in each year. As I am sure you all are aware, this is an EXTREMELY complex undertaking as we work to create classrooms that are balanced academically and behaviorally, groups students in a way that allows us to deliver needed supports, avoids combinations of students that are incongruent with one another, plus about a dozen other key factors.

During Covid, in order to support families who were working together to support one another during remote learning, we visited with parents as we were making these placements so that we had students in the same classrooms who would be working together at home. Taking teacher requests during this time made the most sense in terms of supporting families as they worked to navigate an impossible situation. The drawback of that work has proven to be creating expectations with families around teacher requests. That is something we are going to continue to try to get our arms back around as we build the lists this year by returning to our pre-pandemic process.

Parents who feel the need to have input into the teacher placement process are encouraged to send a note to myself and their classroom teacher. In the note, parents are invited to describe for us the learning conditions, teaching styles, and student combinations that would best impact their student as a learner. We will take that information and use it to help us make the best decision possible. If a parent feels compelled to include a direct teacher request, we will take that into account, but it will not drive the process the way it has the last few years. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

I also want to use this space this week to celebrate the students who earned awards in the last month. Students were celebrated for earning the Citizenship Award, Lynx Spirit Award (Effort), Mountain Top Award (Achievement), or the 5B Master Award (Behavior). Here are the students who were recognized this month.

Citizenship Award:

Ammelia M., Cristiano R., Luke T., Isabella P., Hunter C., Ian B., Cayden W., Sammy N., Finn C., Emily L., Mira Y., Maxwell H., Finn P., Kaia L., Willa O., Layla S., Emily S., Violet N., Oscar K., Katya M., Odin K., Harrison W., Bennett A-N., Ehan B., Caleb B., Anika A., Finn H., Corbin M., Eleanor K., William F., Josh H., Thad T., Vlad P., Abbie A., Sage I., Emmeline O., Arley B., Nolan Y., Azelle A., Noah T., Abdiel M-C., Daniil B., Alex K., Moirin M., Zadie N., Eve S., Elijah N., Charlie T., Ellis B., Lucca D., Mason P., Max S.

Lynx Spirit Award:

Lavi B., Everest C., Hadley H., Emily D., Thomas G., Darian C., Sabastian L., Skyla V., Angela A., Finn B., Mateo R-G., Matthew R., Lucca C., Ryder Y., Meera B., Michael M., Isabela B., Kushali B., Abhiram S., Charlie K., Tice H., Roger S., River S., Haruki Y., Hunter K., Cassidy T., Aaron L., Stella F., Eli R., Jimmy B., Willa S., Maya C., Wyatt L.

Mountain Top Award:

Lala N., Deniz B., Madison G., Oliver R., Brailynn R., Siobhan M., Juniper M., Brock P., Olivia S., Lillian B., Soren H., George L., Katia E., Gretchen A., Grey G., Nina N., Emily T., Griffin J., Jack P., Jane S., James H., Isla R., Luisa W., Griffin M., Rama S., Emme P., Conrad P.

5B Master Award:

Julia D., Lars R., Oliver B., Becky C-B., Scarlett T., Fina M., Luke B., Aurelia B-S., Kenna P., Isabella T., Josephine J., Jimmy M., Chloe Y., Caroline W., Vince D., Coltrane F., Nicky M., Penelope B., Benji S., Zoe H., Henrik H., Brynn M., Selene S., Naya R., Charlotte B., Evelyn L., Anna S.

Take Care,

Stephen

It is with the utmost respect and consideration for our shared community that we wish to emphasize the importance of being a kind and thoughtful neighbor, particularly in areas surrounding our elementary school. Ensuring the safety of our children is our goal, and this includes adhering strictly to posted speed limits, school zones, and crosswalks. Please remain extra vigilant for young ones walking, biking, scootering, or darting out between cars . By driving cautiously, slowly, and keeping a watchful eye, we can collectively create a safer and more welcoming environment for everyone. Thanks for doing your part!

Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week is just around the corner! This year we are celebrating May 5th-9th and we’re excited to celebrate our amazing educators. To make this week extra special, we are looking for volunteers to help with organizing events, providing treats, and showing our appreciation in meaningful ways.

If you are able to assist in any capacity, whether it’s setting up, helping with decorations, or organizing a day, we would greatly appreciate your support!

Please reach out to Claudia Provine (claudiaprovine@gmail.com) if you’re interested in volunteering or have any questions. Thank you so much for your time and support!

Please join us at the Boulder County Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall from April 15-20 for the public viewing of artworks from all grade levels and schools across the St. Vrain Valley. Different mediums will be featured including ceramics, digital art/photography, drawing, jewelry making, metalwork, mixed media, painting, and printmaking.

The Green Team at Blue Mountain is working with Sustainable, Resilient Longmont to repurpose plastic bags and bottles to build a Little Free Library out of Eco Bricks at the school.

We need donations of plastic BAGS of all sorts and sizes - cereal bags, grocery bags, any soft, flexible plastic. They must be clean and dry - even colorful plastics are accepted! Please bring plastic bags to school.

We also need donations of 20 ounce Gatorade bottles, clean, with caps. We need a total of 30 bottles and we don't have any so far!

The Blue Mountain Green Team is working with Sustainable Resilient Longmont to repurpose plastic bags and bottles to build a Little Free Library out of Eco Bricks at the school!

Help us show some love to Mother Earth at a fun Eco-brick making event on

Wednesday April 23rd from 3:30-5:30 in the Design Den at school!

All families are welcome to pop in and help build Eco-Bricks. Drop in anytime-stay for a little or the whole event! (This is a family event and students need to have an adult with them.)

Please click this link to let us know you'll be at the eco-brick making event!

Learn more about Eco-Bricks here - https://ecobricks.org/en/

Learn more about Sustainable, Resilient Longmont here - https://www.srlongmont.org/

In addition to our Eco-Brick building, Sustainable Resilient Longmont will be hosting an Earth Day Event on Saturday, April 19 from 10:00-2:00 at Timberline PK-8 School where they will also be building bricks to support our project. It should be a fun event! (See attached flyer below)

Coach Rachael Ayers from Silver Creek High School is hosting a volleyball camp for boys and girls in rising 5th, 6th, and 7th grades. The camp will be devoted to developing the fundamentals of passing, setting, attacking, and 3 contact play. Each camper receives a t-shirt with their paid entry fee if registered by May 16. All campers need to bring kneepads, court shoes, a water bottle, and appropriate court attire.

Dates: May 29-31

Where: Silver Creek HS Main Gym

Time: 9:00-11:30am daily

Cost: $70 per camper

Register through RevTrak: https://stvrain.revtrak.net/WS-Redirect/?wsresource=eventDetail.html%3fid%3d1489575

Questions? Contact Head Coach Rachael Ayers, 970-371-2998, ayers_rachael@svvsd.org

When: June 2nd-5th, 5:30-7:30 pm
Where: Silver Creek HS
Who: Incoming 4th-8th Graders
What: A clinic working on fundamental basketball skills
and games
Why: To help develop young players in the district who
enjoy playing basketball, or
want to try it for the first time!
Additional Info: We will be hosting all levels at the same time! Elementary schoolers will be in the small gym, while middle schoolers will be hosted in the large gym. If your child will be in 4th or 5th grade in the 25-26 school year, please register them as an elementary student. If your child will be in 6th-8th grade in the 25-26 school year, please register them as a middle schooler.

Please see attachment below for registration information and contact information.

Please join us at the Innovation Center on Tuesday, May 6 for our annual STEM Night! We'll have STEM activities, a Make and Take section, and content specific STEM events in each of our focus areas, which include: Artificial Intelligence, Aerospace, Biosciences, Cybersecurity, Digital & Virtual Design, Entrepreneurship, Robotics, and Video Production.

In addition, we'll have larger outdoor STEM opportunities, the Student Design Guild, and Cardboard Carnival Games! Come to play from 4:30-6:30. Want to be a part of the Student Design Guild and/or the Carnival Games? Check out the attached flier to see how YOU can participate!

Thank you so much and we hope to see you there!

Join us for an engaging AI Open House, where parents, students, and community members can experience firsthand how Artificial Intelligence is transforming education. As part of St. Vrain’s Parent University, this interactive event will take place on Tuesday, April 22 from 5:00–6:30 p.m. at the Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools. Explore student- and instructor-led AI stations, participate in hands-on activities, and see real-world applications of AI in St. Vrain classrooms.

Please register online to assist with planning.
Learn more about St. Vrain’s Parent University and upcoming events.

Breakfast is available in the cafeteria starting at 8:35 each morning. If your student wants breakfast, please have them enter through the front doors and we will direct them down to the cafeteria. There is no charge for breakfast.

Principal: Stephen Hoel

School Hours: 9:00-3:35

Office Hours: 8:00-4:00

School Website: https://bmes.svvsd.org/
Location: 1260 Mountain Drive, Longmont, CO, USA
Phone: (720) 652-8220
PTO Information: BlueMountainPTO.com, board@bluemountainpto.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057332783464&mibextid=LQQJ4d
X: @BMES_PRIN