NES MOUNTAIN MEMO
February 7, 2020
From Principal Reckert
Dear Nederland Elementary Families,
Thank you so much to the 54 of you who completed our survey on how to best utilize the $40,000 provided to us from the Board of Education to help retain students at NES. Here are the results:
44% - Increasing opportunities for Outdoor Education (i.e. Calwood) and outdoor activities (i.e. Ned Shred Days)
31% - Increased focus on new science standards and units with the Expeditionary Learning (EL) approach of Project Based Learning, field trips, community connections and presentation of learning (including increased professional development and enhancing science supplies)?
9% Focus on arts integration throughout the curriculum (artist performances, professional development, student performances, upgrading sound system)
7% - Focus on passion projects (student-directed learning) and electives (utilizing funds for materials to support individualized learning, collaboration with community partners and professional development
6% Enhancing Discovery Lab with kitchen appliances and additional resources to further integrate hands-on learning with academic standards
2% - Increasing opportunities in technology for student learning
At a recent faculty meeting, the teachers also concurred that increasing and enhancing outdoor education and activities would be the best way to move forward with this special funding. We will continue to refine what this looks like in the upcoming months. Also, we’d love your additional feedback on what type of increased outdoor education would be most conducive to keeping your family at NES. Please provide your feedback here to inform our next planning steps.
I look forward to seeing you at parent-teacher conferences next week and enjoy the picture below of our NES students who sang at the basketball games at NMSHS.
Have a great weekend,
Laurel
EVENTS
February 11th, 13th, and 19th - Parent-Teacher Conferences
Thursday, February 13th - Bead Jar Reward Day - Students wear PJs and/or have crazy hair, dress as a twin, and wear rainbow colors
Friday, February 14th - No School - Teacher Work Day
Monday, February 17th - No School - Presidents’ Day
Monday, February 24th - School Accountability Committee Meeting @ 3:45 in NES library
Monday, March 2nd - PTA Meeting 4:30 in NES library
Friday, March 6th - Spirit Day
Noteworthy
Kindergarten Round-Up
Tuesday, March 17th, 2020
5:30pm -7:30pm
It’s Kindergarten Round Up time at Nederland Elementary School for the 2020/21 school year. Meet us on Tuesday, March 17th to learn all about Kindergarten at Nederland Elementary. Meet our wonderful kindergarten team, and get your registration questions answered.
Meet and Greet Pizza Party from 5:30-6:00 pm.
Kindergarten Information Session from 6:00-7:00 pm.
Mini art, music and library session for kids from 6:00-7:00 pm.
Optional registration Q and A session with Sheila our registrar from 7:00-7:30 pm.
Please call Johnnie LeFaiver with any questions at 720-561-4833.
Color Me Smart Preschool
Interested in working with young children? Color Me Smart Preschool-Aged Childcare at Nederland Elementary is hiring. The hours are from 8:15-4:00 but can be slightly adjusted to accommodate applicants' schedules if needed. The ideal candidate will have experience working with children. For more information please contact Allison Ogden at 720.561.5979 or email allison.ogden@bvsd.org.
Volunteers needed for Dental Aid
Volunteers are needed to help during the Dental Aid program to help gather students from classrooms.
Dates: Tuesday, Feb 11, Wednesday, Feb 12, Thursday, Feb 13.
We are especially needing a volunteer Feb 13th from 9 - noon.
Please contact Kelly Detzel Hess (kelly.detzelhess@bvsd.org) if you can volunteer at any time.
PTA NEWS
Conferences are coming:
Conference dinners sign-up - Tanja - Help At School
Book Fair is BACK!!!
When- Feb. 10-13th Noon- 3:30 every day, also open until 7:30 pm during Parent-Teacher Conferences
Where- The Discovery Lab (room #238) across from the school library
Who - puts on the book fair? NESPTA
What- is a book fair?
● A chance for your student to buy wonderful books and trinkets (pens, erasers, and bookmarks)
● Half of the sales go directly to the teachers for more books and school supplies, through the scholastic program
● Each teacher picks books for a wish list you are able to gift the classroom with these books
● Teaches kids how to use money in a store setting remember, yes there is sales tax. Flyers will be sent home in Friday folders so your family can browse some of the items sold at the fair and get an idea of the prices. Each class will visit the book fair during school hours. During this time they will be able to either purchase a book or write out a wish list to bring home to you. Cash, Credit, and checks are accepted. We will also be asking for volunteers to run the registers during the fair. A helpatschool signup will be set up so look for that next week. Please consider helping out the PTA!
Thank you!
Beth Martin, PTA Treasurer
ART & MUSIC NEWS
ART:
Hello NES Families,
Thanks for supporting the arts and the after school puppetry class.
There will be a puppetry class on Monday, February 10th. I have scheduled Monday, February 24 as a makeup day for the previously canceled class due to inclement weather. Classes run after school until 5:00.
On February 24th students will be introducing their puppets and presenting short performances starting around 4:30. Please feel free to stop by if you’d like, standing room only, room 222.
Please note that in the event BVSD cancels after school activities, the puppetry class will also be canceled.
Have a great weekend!
MsB
MUSIC:
A big Thank You to all of the families that came out to sing the Star-Spangled Banner at NMSHS! It was a fun event and the singers did a great job!
Ms Susan
The Counselor's Corner
February Classroom Lesson:
The focus of February is breaking gender norms. “Gender Norms” are rules or expectations people have based on gender. The goal is for students to become more aware of gender norms, why they exist and think about ways we can begin to “break” these rules and stereotypes.
Parent Resources:
"Breaking Stereotypes in the Toy Box"
"Healthy Gender Development and Young Children"
"Talking to Kids about Gender Stereotypes - Tip Sheet"
Kristen Kron, LPCC, NCC
Nederland Elem. School Counselor
She/Her/Hers
Social Emotional Learning at NES
Social-Emotional Learning at NES ( Feb 3 -7, 2020)
Students practiced their empathetic skills this week ~ trying to understand what someone else is feeling, thinking, and needing. Kinders danced with partners to the I Wish You Well song which emphasizes that your hands are my hands, your heart is my heart. First Graders read Hey, Little Ant to take on the perspective of the bug they were about to squish, followed by an entire day of caring for their baby eggs. Second graders rewrote and performed fairy tales to share the alternative perspective of the maligned wolf or the wicked witch.
Third graders empathized with friends, teachers, and family members using an Empathy Board Game. Fourth graders visited five Empathy Centers and completed an obstacle course to begin to understand how it feels to be easily distracted, face problems at home, or be differently-abled. Fifth graders were awed by optical illusions that can be viewed from more than one perspective. They then interviewed their peers and predicted how that person would feel in various social situations.
May our children continue to develop the ability to empathize ~ with their friends, mates, animals, offspring, neighbors, employees, immigrants, enemies, and political rivals..... as we move forward together on this planet. Read more about how to nurture your child's ability to empathize in Seeing the World Through the Eyes of Others
***Below you will find three photos of the 4th graders (last week) performing their Human Kindness Sculptures during a gallery walk by primary students who were trying to guess which Acts of Kindness were being portrayed.
Nederland Elementary
Attendance Line: 720-561-4802
Transportation: 720-561-6241
Email: Juanita.Gloe@BVSD.org
Website: http://nee.bvsd.org/
Location: 1 Sundown Trail, Nederland, CO, USA
Phone: 720-561-4800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BVSDNederlandElementary/?hc_location=ufi