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Coal Creek Elementary
Monthly Newsletter - October 2023
Address
801 W. Tamarisk Street
Louisville, CO 80027
Phone 720.561.4500
Attendance Line 720.561.4502
Fax 720.561.4501
Website https://cce.bvsd.org/
October
9 - PD Day/No School
11, 12, 17 & 19 - Book Fair
13 - Vision/Hearing Screening & PTA Movie Night
17, 19 & 25 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
24 - Student Photo Re-Take Day
31 - Halloween Parade & Parties
Message from Mr. VanIwarden
Hi everyone,
I hope this email finds you well and you are enjoying the beautiful fall weather. I wanted to take a moment to express my thanks for all your support during our recent Jog A Thon. The PTA and Mr. Maron’s efforts are so greatly appreciated. It was awesome to see our kids running their hearts out and raising funds for our school. Did you know our kids ran nearly 500 miles on Friday? Your generosity is what allows our PTA to make a positive impact on our school community. Please keep those donations coming in. The Jog A Thon is our signature fundraiser, and every contribution, big or small, makes a difference.
Remember there will be no school on Monday, October 9th so staff can participate in Professional Learning opportunities.
We are excited to be participating in the BVSD Is the Place to Be Showcase on Wednesday, October 11th. Please go to this link for additional information. I can’t wait to talk with prospective parents about our incredible school.
I'm excited to invite you all to our upcoming PTA Movie (Superior Mario Bros) Night on October 13th from 7:00PM-9:00PM. Food trucks will be available starting at 6:30PM. This is a great community event and I am looking forward to having it outside this year.
Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for October 17, 19 and 25th. They will be held in person at school with the 25th having an option for a virtual conference. The Book Fair will also be held on October 11, 12, 17 and 19 so please stop by while attending your conferences. (Mrs. Kirby has more information provided in the Library section of the Newsletter.)
Lastly, I wanted to remind you about our upcoming Halloween Parade. The anticipation is building, and I can't wait to see our kids dressed up in their costumes, parading through the school hallways and outside. HERE is more specific information regarding Halloween activities.
Once again, thank you for your continued support and dedication to our school. Let's keep the momentum going and make this an unforgettable year for our students.
CCE ROCKS,
Mr. VanIwarden
😊 Counselor Corner 😊
Second Step Bully Prevention Unit
You may already know that October is National Bullying Prevention and Awareness month. In October, I will begin the Second Step Bullying Prevention curriculum for K-5. Bullying is different than normal conflict, bullying is when someone keeps being mean to someone else on purpose. The person it’s happening to hasn’t been able to make it stop. It’s unfair and one-sided. Through the lessons, students will learn how to recognize, report, and refuse bullying. The last lesson is bystander power and ways that bystanders can stop bullying. Please reach out if you have comments or questions about classroom lessons.
Contact
Devan Haas, School Counselor (she, her, hers)
Email: devan.haas@bvsd.org
Phone (720) 561-4562
Student Photo Re-Take Day
Lifetouch Photo Ordering Information
Photo Retake Day is October 24th
You can go to mylifetouch.com and enter your student's ID number to order the pictures for the next 12 months.
Lifetouch Flyer for More Information
If you would like a retake photo taken on October 24th, please return your original package to the school prior to that date so we can coordinate the schedule for retakes.
Additional customer service information:
For Parents With Picture Questions, here are 3 ways they can contact Lifetouch for help:
Lorene - Customer Service: 303-565-5203
Lifetouch General Customer Service: 800-736-5473
To email Customer Service: colorado@lifetouch.com
Halloween
Hello Coal Creek Community!
We are excited for the 2023 Halloween festivities at Coal Creek on Tuesday, October 31st at 8:15AM! We are inviting parents to attend the parade outside on our campus. Please read below for some key bulleted information and logistics related to costumes, parents/visitors on campus
Student Costume Expectations
If students are wearing costumes, they need to come to school dressed in their costume. It will be too time consuming and logistically difficult to support students getting prepared at school. Students are invited to wear their costumes throughout the day
No costume masks (faces need to be clearly visible), no blood or gore
No fake weapons/swords/props of any kind.
Wear appropriate footwear. No high heels for safety reasons
Parent Logistics
We are excited to have parents in attendance (outside and in the designated parade route area-please see aerial map for the observation area). Parents will not be allowed past the playground gate. This area will be used for all students to view the other students and then return directly to the classrooms.
We will start the parade at 8:15am. Grade level order is as follows:
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Kindergarten and Preschool
If weather becomes an issue, we will cancel the outside parent viewing portion of the parade.
Each classroom teacher will directly provide you with information regarding classroom Halloween parties. Please reach out to them directly with any questions that you may have.
Thank you in advance for helping to make this a special day for all of our students! With so many moving parts and so much enthusiasm for the day, patience on all of our parts will be key to make sure it is a success :)
Regards,
Jeff Van Iwarden
Principal
🌯 😋 !!!THANK PTA!!! 🏃♂️🏃♀️
FOR OUR YUMMY BREAKFAST BURRITOS AND FOR COORDINATING WALK TO SCHOOL DAY
Note from PTA:
Dear Coal Creek Parents –
Our first parent-involved Teacher Appreciation event is coming up quickly and we need your help! We need more volunteers to help make door decorations for teachers and staff.
Like last year, we are planning to have a door decorating event where you can work on your creation with other parents and kids. It will likely be on the afternoon of Sunday, October 15th (location TBD). If you need inspiration or ideas, we can help! You’re welcome to email me, and google has tons of examples you can find.
We do need your help to make this event a success! This is the event that the teachers and staff look forward to most each year. They enjoy seeing the creativity of the parents and they truly appreciate how parents go out of their way to add their creativity to the classrooms and workrooms around the building.
Please sign up at Help At School and a big THANK YOU to everyone who has already volunteered!
Please check the Lost & Found
while attending Parent/Teacher Conferences.
Health Room News
There are four main reasons for children and adults to stay home:
1. The child or staff member could infect others with a contagious illness, either
because of symptoms, a diagnosis, or recent exposure to a contagious illness.
2. The child or staff member does not feel well enough to take part in usual
activities. For example, a child is overly tired, fussy, or will not stop crying.
3. A child needs more care than teachers and staff can give while still caring for the other
children.
4. The child or staff member has symptoms or an illness on this list, and staying home is
required.
Click here for more information.
We are in need of extra clothing. Specially underpants & pants.
RevTrak (Fee & Donations)
Please click here to pay for student fees and donations using RevTrak. These fees and donations pay for field trips, supplemental reading, additional supplies, and craft supplies for Art. No cash or checks will be accepted. BVSD has implemented a centralized RevTrak web store (systems used to collect fees) for all BVSD schools. You will have to create a new login when using the system for the first time.
Report an Absence/Tardy
Parents must log into the student’s Infinite Campus Portal to report an absence or if the student will be tardy. Please complete this reporting PRIOR to 7:50 AM on the day of absence/tardy. Even if you have notified the teacher, you MUST report the absence in Infinite Campus.
If you do not have access to IC, please call the Attendance Line at 720-561-4502.
To ensure student safety, if we have not heard from parents excusing an absence prior to 9AM, the police will be dispatched to complete a welfare check on the student.
Late Start Wednesday Supervision and Breakfast
You do not need to sign up for the supervision provided from 7:40AM-8:50AM on late start Wednesdays. Please arrive at the front door and students will proceed to the Cafeteria and sign in.
If a 2 hour delay is announced by the District on a Wednesday, school would start at 9:50AM. The normal late start with daycare will not be provided. Students should arrive at 9:50AM.
This is ONLY in the event that BVSD ever announces a 2 hour delay on a Wednesday!
Inclement Weather Arrival at School
If we are experiencing inclement weather, we will allow the students into the building starting at 7:40AM. We will fly a YELLOW flag on the flag pole as the indicator when students are allowed into the building early. Supervision will begin at 7:40AM so please do not arrive prior to that time.
Volunteering at Coal Creek
If you plan on volunteering in any capacity at CCE, including attending a field trip, you will need to complete a Raptor Background Check annually. Please note that this Check is valid for one year from the date of completion. In addition, you will need to complete a Volunteer Agreement annually. You can print this document and return to the Office or we will have them available the first time you volunteer. These forms need to be completed every school year.
You do not need to complete a check if you are attending a class party or after hours activities.
When entering the school, always be prepared to show ID at the front desk. You will be entered into the system and provided with a Visitor Sticker.
Please review BVSD Volunteer Guidelines and all links HERE!
🎨 Art Studio 🎨
📚 Library 📚
CCE Scholastic Book Fair is coming, October 11th through the 19th
Open during your child’s library time, after school and on conference nights
Open on... Wednesday, October 11, 2:50-4:00pm
Thursday, October 12, 2:50-4:00pm
Tuesday October 17, 2:50-7:00pm
Thursday, October 19, 2:50-7:00pm
Students are also welcome to shop during their weekly library time
We still need volunteers, your help is greatly appreciated!
Volunteer Opportunities to help with the Book Fair
Accepting cash, credit card, checks, apple pay or you can Set up an Ewallet
Battle of the Books
Battle of the Books is a Quiz Bowl Style Competition for students in grades 3-12. Yes, it is a competition, but the purpose is to foster a love of reading! The goal of Battle of the Books is to teach students how to work together in a group for a common goal, expose them to award-winning pieces of literature, and encourage a high volume of reading inside and outside of the classroom.
If you are interested in participating in Battle of the Books (BOB) this year, you can check out the ‘23-’24 BOB Book List and get started on reserving titles from the public libraries or purchasing books. Battle of the Books meetings for 3rd through 5th grade will be held as a Monday Lunch Bunch in the library, starting the first week in November. I have already ordered several copies of these titles for our Coal Creek Library and they will be hitting the shelves soon! Students who want to participate can begin reading the books right away. See the BVSD BOB website for more information.
Sign-up now by grade level
3rd grade BOB sign-up
4th grade BOB sign-up
Storybook Pumpkin Patch
Start getting your creative juices flowing for Halloween in the Coal Creek Library for The first annual (Great) Storybook Pumpkin Patch!
Bring in a pumpkin decorated as your favorite book or book character to be displayed on October 23-27. See this flier for more details, and PLEASE be sure to REGISTER HERE if you want to participate.
Thank you for your support and please email me with any questions.
Digital Citizenship: Last month 1st grade through 5th grade learned about their Digital Footprint. The trail you leave behind when you log onto a computer. We discussed the importance of representing yourself in a positive manner and being a good digital citizen.
Makerspace Supplies Needed: Lego pieces for our new lego wall. Do you have a bin of old lego pieces? If so Coal Creek can use them! We can also use thin cardboard, think cereal boxes. Please send them in anytime, to donate to the library.
Happy Reading, Mrs. Kirby
Spotlight on New Staff Members
Marcie McNeill: SLP
Marcie is excited to join our team to provide speech services while Mrs. Zisman is home with her baby. Marcie has worked in the public schools as a Speech Language Pathologist for several years and truly enjoys the opportunity to connect with elementary students. Marcie is originally from Michigan and came to Colorado almost 20 years ago. She has two teenage boys that attend Summit Middle and Fairview. In her free time, you can find her hiking the Shanahan Ridge trails in South Boulder with her dog Millie. She and Millie are currently in training to be a part of the Trail Ambassador program through Open Space Mountain Parks. When Marcie asked students what the coolest thing was about Coal Creek, they told her about recess and getting ROCK bracelets. When she asked for advice about being a part of our Coal Creek family, they told her, "Be nice to everyone, because then they will be nice back to you!"
New Multicultural After School Club!
We are excited to share that a new Multicultural After School Club is launching next week on October 11th. The club will be held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month and will celebrate one country or culture each month through books, crafts, music, dance, language, and more. More details and info about signing up is in the attached flyer. Attendance is limited, so if your child is interested, please sign up soon!
Click here for flyer.
PTA News
Thank you to all the family and friends who came out to support our students last Friday at the Jogathon. The kids ran for a grand total of almost 495 miles. Wow!
Now, it’s our turn to raise money for critical school resources. For all those who already donated, we thank you! As of Oct 4, 2023 we raised $17,000. That’s 38% of our $45,000 goal (or $150 per student). Help us get over the finish line by dropping off a check at the school or donating online here. Just 87¢ per student per school day funds literacy and math tutors, classroom supplies, field trip buses, assemblies, specials, community events and more.
MOVIE NIGHT - OCT 13, 2023 6:30 PM
We cap off our Jogathon with a Movie Night Celebration for all our families on Fri, Oct 13. Join us outside and under the stars with your blankets, lawn chairs, and layers to watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie
This is a free family event: children must be supervised by a parent or guardian
Food available at 6:30 PM, movie begins at 7 PM
On the West Field of the Coal Creek Elementary playground (In the event of uncooperative weather, the movie will be shown in the school gymnasium)
Enjoy free popcorn and food for purchase from Lenin’s Wood Fired Pizza and HipPOPs Handcrafted Gelato Bars
UPCOMING PTA EVENTS
Oct 13, 6:30p - Movie Night & End of Jogathon Fundraiser
Oct 31, 7:50a - PTA Coffee Station at the School Costume Parade
Nov 7, 4 - 8p - CCE Night at Chipotle (on McCaslin in Louisville)
NEXT COMMUNITY MEETING
Rather than a meeting, the PTA will serve Paul’s Coffee for our parents and families before the costume parade on the morning of Friday, Oct 31. While you wait for the kids to line up and parade around the school, grab a cup of coffee and find out what’s happening with the PTA. We will have info on volunteering, membership board nomination, FAQs about PTA, and how we raise and spend our money. Our next scheduled community meeting is in December.
GET INVOLVED
Thank you, volunteers! More than 100 people have already taken on 250 jobs this year. Here are upcoming ways to help:
Book Fair (Oct 11-20)
Movie Night (Oct 13)
Door decorating (deadline Oct 16)
Conference snacks for teachers (Oct 17, 19 & 25)
Teach kids to compost (Oct 11-20)
School Food Project (Oct 20)
And there are still opportunities to help in the library and the classroom. Thanks for your support!
Did you know Coal Creek Elementary now has a Preschool and Enrichment program?
Thanks to recent legislation, every 4 year old in the state of Colorado gets 15 hours (2 full days) of free preschool! It's called Universal Preschool. We also have a tuition option for 3 year olds. We would LOVE to have your child get their start at Coal Creek!
Visit here for more information on Universal Preschool or better yet, reach out! I am happy to give you a tour and answer any questions you may have about these excellent early childhood programs. Contact: Candace Garbow, candace.garbow@bvsd.org
BVSD Showcase
BVSD is the Place to Be Showcase is one week away
Join us on October 11 for the first-ever BVSD is the Place to Be Showcase! The event at the CU Events Center is a great opportunity for students and families to learn everything Boulder Valley School District and its schools have to offer. Representatives from all 56 schools, including Coal Creek Elementary, will be on hand to share information and answer questions.
BVSD is the Place to Be Showcase
When: Wednesday, October 11, 2023, 5-8 p.m.
Where: CU Events Center, 950 Regent Drive in Boulder
Information: www.bvsd.org/the-place
Free and Open to All, No Registration Required. Parking is FREE.
Everyone is welcome. The Showcase is the place to be, whether someone is:
· New to BVSD
· Starting kindergarten or preschool
· Looking for before and after school care
· Transitioning to middle or high school
· Wanting a head start on college and career planning
· Exploring new options to meet your child’s needs and interests
Love your school? We need your help! Share this flier (English | Spanish) with a friend or neighbor and encourage them to learn more about what makes Coal Creek Elementary, share your story about why you chose our school or what makes it special to you and your family, and volunteer to help us with our booth at the Showcase and other open enrollment events and efforts.
Falta una semana para la Exhibición el BVSD es el Lugar para ti
¡Acompáñanos este 11 de octubre para la Exhibición el BVSD es el lugar para ti! El evento en el Centro de Eventos de CU es una oportunidad para que los estudiantes y las familias aprendan todo lo que el Distrito Escolar del Valle de Boulder y lo que sus escuelas ofrecen. Representantes de las 56 escuelas, incluyendo Coal Creek Elementary, estarán disponibles para dar información y contestar cualquier pregunta.
Exhibición el BVSD es el Lugar para ti
Cuándo: Miércoles, 11 de octubre de 2023 de 5-8pm
Donde: Centro de Eventos de CU 950 Regent Drive en Boulder
Informacion: www.bvsd.org/the-place
Gratis y disponible para todos, no se requiere registrarse. Estacionamiento GRATIS
Todos son bienvenidos. La Exhibición es el lugar para ti, es para:
· Nuevos a el BVSD
· Empezando el kinder o preescolar
· Buscando cuidado de antes o después de escuela
· Transición a la secundaria o preparatoria
· Buscando planear su carrera o carrera universitaria
· Explorar nuevas opciones para satisfacer las necesidades e intereses de su estudiante/s
¿Quieres mucho a tu escuela? ¡Necesitamos tu ayuda! Comparte este volante (English | Spanish) con tu amigo o vecino y animalo a aprender más de lo que hace a tu escuela Coal Creek Elementary el mejor lugar para ti, comparte por qué elegiste nuestra escuela o que la hace especial para ti y tu familia. Ofrécete como voluntario y ayúdanos con nuestro puesto en la exhibición y otros eventos y esfuerzos de inscripción abierta.
Destination Imagination Program
Discover the world of creativity and problem-solving with our BVSD-sponsored Destination Imagination program! This exciting initiative provides students with the opportunity to develop essential skills like innovation, teamwork, and critical thinking while having a blast. But it's not just about the kids—being a team manager can be incredibly fulfilling for parents too, offering a chance to actively engage in their child's education and personal growth. If you're curious about this enriching experience, please reach out to Scott Dalgleish at scottd442@gmail.com for more information.
- You can register for a virtual information night on Tuesday Oct 3rd at 7:00 PM via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIofuqorD4vGdyy668aBijwBHQwewdOQebv
- An in-person information night will be held at the Superior Community Center on Monday October 9th at 7pm.
- Another in-person information night will be held on Oct 11 at 6pm at Columbine Elementary.
Learn more at: https://www.dicolorado.com/. We look forward to welcoming both parents and students to explore Destination Imagination!
Report an Absence/Tardy
Parents must log into the student’s Infinite Campus Portal to report an absence or if the student will be tardy. Please complete this reporting PRIOR to 7:50 AM on the day of absence/tardy. Even if you have notified the teacher, you MUST report the absence in Infinite Campus.
If you do not have access to IC, please call the Attendance Line at 720-561-4502. To ensure student safety, if we have not heard from parents excusing an absence prior to 9AM, the police will be dispatched to complete a welfare check on the student.