Here it is. YOUR newsletter

Welcome! ¡Bienvenidos! Chào mừng! Добро пожаловать! 欢迎!

The second edition of the PEACE newsletter.

The PEACE committee is so excited to put this newsletter together for you. We are committed to providing this space for news and information meaningful and useful to you. Our goal is that YOU, our D49 families, will provide input and direct this space. Your involvement and feedback is crucial. We want you here, engaged with us. Tell us what you want. Send us your concerns and ideas.

We value you and respect you. You are our family! We want to increase your engagement with your school and community across the district.

*School calendars

*Important Dates to remember

*Jobs in District 49

*School /Student Spotlight

*Multicultural Night

*Toy Distribution

*Scholarship Opportunity!

*Things to Know

• Seal of Biliteracy
• New Terminology from CDE
• Parent Teacher Conferences
• WIDA ACCESS Testing

*Pikes Peak Library District Information

*Helpful Websites

*Tutoring

*Grants Grub Review

*Adult ESL (Please complete survey)

*Welcome new community liaisons

The mission of the D49 PEACE committee is to support and empower our CLDE families by, listening and acting on their needs, engaging the community, and providing important information regarding the education of their children.

January 4th- Students return to school

January 13th- Elementary Professional Day-No Elementary Students

January 16th- Martin Luther King Jr. Day-No School

January 27th-Personal pro day-No Students

February 7th-Falcon Zone Students will not attend school on Feb. 7. Falcon Zone Schools will operate on a normal schedule on Friday, Feb. 10.

February 10th-Elementary Professional Day-No Students

Falcon zone Schools in session.

February 17th- Parent Teacher Conferences

February 20th-No School-District closed for President's Day

February 27th-Team Pro day-No Students

March 20-March 31st-Spring Break-No Students

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday in the United States marking the birthday of Martin Luther King. To mark the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., the chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year. Born in 1929, King's actual birthday is January 15. No figure is more closely identified with the mid-20th century struggle for civil rights than Martin Luther King, Jr. His adoption of nonviolent resistance to achieve equal rights for Black Americans earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations of the year among East and Southeast Asian cultures. Lunar New Year, Chinese Chunjie, Vietnamese Tet, Korean Solnal, Tibetan Losar, also called Spring Festival, festival typically celebrated in China and other Asian countries. The lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, so the dates of the holiday vary slightly from year to year, beginning between January 21 and February 20 (2023 Jan. 22). Filled with traditions and celebrations with family, including religious ceremonies honoring ancestors. On New Year’s Day, family members receive red envelopes (lai see) containing small amounts of money. Dances and fireworks are prevalent throughout the holidays, culminating in the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated on the last day of the New Year’s celebrations. On this night colorful lanterns light up the houses, and traditional foods such as yuanxiao (sticky rice balls that symbolize family unity), fagao (prosperity cake), and yusheng (raw fish and vegetable salad) are served.

Presidents' Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February; Presidents' Day 2022 will occur on Monday, February 21. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, the holiday became popularly known as Presidents' Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers. While several states still have individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other figures, Presidents' Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents, past and present.

District 49 is hiring bus drivers. A school bus driver is responsible for the safe operation and transport of school-aged children to and from school. A full-time bus driver position is fully benefitted and has a guaranteed minimum of 5 hours per scheduled workday. A commercial driver's license (CDL) is required, however, paid training is provided to obtain that license.

More information is available in the job listing.

Para Educator (teacher’s aide) - This is a position where you would work with students under the supervision of a teacher. Required: Associate’s degree, 48 semester credits, or pass district approved para test preferred (required for Title positions).

Nutrition Services (cafeteria worker): Would need a high school diploma or equivalent; no experience required; experience in school food services or restaurant preferred.

Click here to see job openings: https://www.applitrack.com/d49/onlineapp/default.aspx

The multicultural event we did at Vista Ridge on Wednesday, December 7th was mainly to give my CLDE students the opportunity to share their cultures with the counseling and admin staff, and for them to have a chance to meet all of the counselors and get to know each other. Some of them also took their projects to the district multicultural fair that evening as well, which was separate, but similar to ours. I also participated in the district one, and the students had a chance to meet lots of community members, and share their cultures there as well.

The 4th grade Multilingual Learners at Springs Ranch have started a school newspaper. They research, interview, and photograph news for the school. Embedded as we work are lessons on grammar, literacy terms, etc.

CLDE families at these elementary schools participated in a science experience over the holiday break. They created Snowflakes using pipe cleaners and Borax! A book about snowflakes was also included for families to read together.

Ms. Lugo has (finally) been featured in the SPOTLIGHT for CO-ALAS. We prepared together in 2021, and she did win this!! I know this was reported two years ago, but due to COVID and other circumstances, she is now finally on the website. In any case, I think it is a nice thing to share, since she works in the district and is continuing this goal. Blessed day!

- Jacklyn Kwon

Colorado Association of Latino/a Administrators and Superintendents

In the spring of 2021, our CO-ALAS Board approved to award five, $1,000 Scholarships to first generation Colorado Latinx high school seniors enrolled in an institution of higher learning this fall. The Board received 19 applications and selected 5 exceptional students for the annual scholarship. Congratulations to our CO-ALAS Scholars!

The Scoop on Dual Language Immersion:

We are excitedly preparing to launch our Dual Language Immersion Program at Stetson Hills. Our DLI program will start next fall in kindergarten and first grade with plans to add one section per grade in the upcoming years as we expand the program.

We are deep in the planning phases, but there is a lot of work to be done. If you are interested in applying to be on the Dual Language Immersion Advisory Board, an 8 member board made up of community members, parents, teachers in the Sand Creek Zone, and advocates in world languages, please review this form and submit prior to Jan 20, 2023.

The Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLDE) department hosted the very first district wide Multicultural night on December 7th. Thanks to the efforts of our community liaisons Iraida and Yudelki, the evening was a huge success!

Our multicultural night was a success. We want to thank to all the families, students, CLDE teachers and staff who made this event successful. It was great to see how the presenters and visitors, exchanged about their cultures. The food from different regions around the world was rich and very diverse. I think we all really enjoyed ourselves. Yudelki and Iraida

Another success! Thanking all CLDE teachers again for their support with this task (the flyer distribution and listing possible candidates). Thank you to our wonderful students, and community members who volunteered their time for this event. Thanks to the staff members too.

With this event we had the opportunity to help more than 100 families in our community.

Since 2018 Ellevation has granted 25 scholarships to current or former English learners across the country to continue their education journey. This year, we are thrilled to be increasing that number.

Ellevation will now be awarding a total of ten $2,000 scholarships to deserving multilingual learners (MLLs) pursuing higher education. In addition, all scholarship recipients will have access to networking opportunities and mentoring for the 2023-2024 school year through the Ellevation community.

Click on the link below

This is an excellent program for all students to prepare for.

New Terminology at CDE

In recognition of the assets that students bring to our schools, CDE is changing it's terminology from English language learner (ELL) to Multilingual learner (ML)! Please read the Dear Colleague letter attached for more information.

Personally, I like to emphasize an assets-based approach while gently supporting individuals' learning more about our population. Consider best practices of rephrasing and educating individuals who use outdated terms rather than belittling or punishing tones to correct others.

CDE Letter- New ML Terminology

Parent Teacher Conferences are on February 17th. Please check with your school about specific conference times and dates. Reach out to your CLDE teacher if you are in need of an interpreter. One will be requested for you.

ACCESS for ELLs or WIDA ACCESS is a federally and state-mandated, English language proficiency assessment given annually to Kindergarten through 12th graders who have been identified as English language learners (ELLs), referred to in District 49 as Multilingual learners (MLs). It provides educators and parents information about the English language proficiency level in the language domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. ACCESS growth is a part of the ways schools are measured and the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE) department relies on ACCESS for feedback on programming and instruction.

This assessment is used to measure your students’ progress in learning English. ACCESS is a great opportunity for your child to show what they know. Testing is taking place in your child's school now through February 8th. Reach out to your CLDE teacher if you have any questions.

The High Plains Library in Falcon has some great activities happening over the next few months. Great for kids, teens and families. Follow the link for more information.

Colorin Colorado https://www.colorincolorado.org/

Pikes Peak Work Force https://ppwfc.org/

Your student is learning language and content at the same time. In order to do both effectively, they may need additional help from an educator. The CLDE Office pays educators across the district to provide tutoring. Not all schools offer tutoring, Please check with the CLDE teacher in your child's school to see if tutoring is available.

Sonora’s Carniceria is a great spot to grab quick food and groceries. Their wide selection of meats and baked goods make picking up meal prep easy, and their tacos are delicious! Don’t forget some tres leches cake for dessert!

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  Adult English Classes offered at two locations!

  Monday at 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

  Springs Ranch Elementary

  4350 Centerville Drive

  Colorado Springs, CO 80922

  Contact Linda Hagedorn 719-960-1029

  
  

  Tuesday and Friday at 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

  Falcon Elementary

  Room 108

  12050 Falcon Hwy

  Peyton, CO 80831

  Contact Julie Garbus 970-815-4385

  
  

Adult ESL Survey. Please complete.

https://forms.gle/wbNuy57dwJV6QQvC7

My name is Iraida Galan and I am your CLDE Family Engagement Community Liaison. I am so proud to be part of the D49 Family. I will serve as the bridge between our schools, the community, and your families' homes. I am looking forward to getting to know you. I can be reached at (719) 491-0327 and by email igalan@d49.org my office hours are Monday - Friday from 7:30am-3:30pm

My name is Yudelki L Gonzalez Perez. I’m so proud to be part of Falcon District 49 Family. I will serve as a bridge between our schools, the community and your families. I’m looking forward to getting to know you all.