Hello Fall, Superstars! We hope that you enjoyed cooler weather this week. We are about finished with iReady testing which is helpful in determining goals and next steps in your student's learning. Everyone worked so hard!

Just a reminder that students do not have school next Friday, September 30th. Our teachers will be hard at work planning and collaborating with one another. Enjoy the extra time with your child!

We hope to see you this evening at our movie night! We will be showing ‘Bad Guys’ near the primary playground at dusk. It should be a nice night with no rain.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Gratefully,

Jessica

Halloween at Lenski: On October 28th from 4-5pm, we will host a Trunk-Or-Treat event for our community. On October 31st, classes can engage in activities related to Halloween or fall, but no formal parties will take place (it can very challenging with food allergies). We will have a school-wide parade for students and families beginning at about 1:50pm. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer. We are looking forward to making memories!

This is a reminder of upcoming days in the school calendar. There have been several changes to the calendar in the last year, so we wanted you to have this information for your planning purposes.

Friday, September 30th is an elementary non-student day. There will be no school on this day, however SACC will be in session.

Friday, November 11th is a regular elementary school day.

Friday, April 21st and Monday, April 24th are non-student days. There will be no school, however SACC will be in session.

For you reference, you may access the district calendar on the LPS website: https://littletonpublicschools.net/calendars

Introducing Lenski’s New Part Time Counselor!

Hi Lenski Families! I’m Amy Nixon, and I’ll be a part-time counselor on M/W/Fri with our kiddos here at Lenski. I’m back in school right now myself finishing up my Master’s Degree in School Counseling, and will be tag-teaming with Mrs. Ritchey & Mrs. Baez on our Social-Emotional needs here. I came from Children’s Hospital and I am quickly falling in love with all our the kiddos here at Lenski Elementary! Thanks for letting me learn with all of your great students this year!

Calming strategies

Students at Lenski are learning about ways to calm their brains and bodies when they are feeling stressed, anxious, worried, or upset. Here are some of the strategies they may have heard about:

1. Belly Breathing - when we are stressed, we often breathe quickly and less deeply. This can affect the way we think and our overall health. Taking slow deep belly breaths helps calm the nervous system and allows the “owl” brain to take over, improving the ability to learn and think. Belly Breathing: Mindfulness for Children

2. Mindfulness - focusing on a sound, image, or word can calm our brains. Mindful Exercises for Kids

3. Putting Pressure on the Body - This helps calm the nervous system. Children can give themselves an arm rub, or use their hands to put pressure on their legs. Also try a “self hug”.

There are so many more ways to calm the nervous system! Experiment with different ideas to find what works best for you and your child. 10 Self Calming Strategies for Children

Shannon Ritchey Amy Nixon

sritchey@lps.k12.co.us anixon@lps.k12.co.us

Important Dates:

• September 30th: No School for Students

• October 17th-20th: Conference Week

• October 20th: No School for Students

• October 21st: No School for Students

• October 28th: Trunk-Or-Treat 4-5pm

• October 30th: LPS Stride!

• October 31st: School-Wide Halloween Parade at 1:50pm