NES MOUNTAIN MEMO
April 5, 2019
From Principal Reckert
Dear Nederland Elementary Families,
I hope you all enjoyed the week off. It’s hard to believe that Spring Break was only a week ago, as there is already so much going on! I know I have already sent out communication this week, but I want to make sure you all saw these two key points:
I’m so excited to share with you some good news! Thanks to the partnership and collective efforts of the Nederland community, NES staff, and BVSD district leadership over the course of the last year, I am thrilled to announce that we have been staffed with 11 FTE (full time classroom teachers) for the 2019-2020 school year.
Due to the new late start at the high school and transportation needs around this new schedule, we will no longer be able to have a late start on Wednesday mornings. The bell times for Monday through Friday of next year will be 8:30am-3:30pm.
This week we also kicked off a new initiative as part of our PBIS process (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports). You may have heard about Panther Bucks and the assembly we held to explain to students what Panther Bucks are and how to earn them. Please read more below about PBIS and Panther Bucks.
What are Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS)?
PBIS is a team based process for systematic problem solving, planning, and evaluation. It is an approach to creating a safe and productive learning environment where teachers can teach and all students can learn. Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) combines direct instruction of important school-wide behavior expectations with a positive system for reinforcing those behaviors as they occur. The bead jars that we already use in classrooms are part of PBIS. PBIS link for parents: https://www.pbis.org/training/parents
Why did NES choose PBIS?
School-wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports is a systems approach to establishing the social culture and behavioral supports needed for all children in a school to achieve both social and academic success. PBIS is not a packaged curriculum, but an approach that defines core elements that can be achieved through a variety of strategies. Under the direction of a core team, NES’s PBIS program strives to be current, data-driven, and consistent with the unique needs of our students. The core elements of PBIS are integrated within organizational systems in which teams, working with administration and behavior specialists, provide the training, policy support and organizational supports needed for (a) initial implementation, (b) active application, and (c) sustained use of the core elements (Sugai & Horner, 2010).
Our Story
At NES, we teach students behaviors that relate to our school-wide (PAWS) expectations: Perseverance, Act Responsibly, We Cooperate, Show Respect. We then reinforce students with paper “Panther Bucks” when they demonstrate these target behaviors in common areas (beads are still being used in the classrooms).
How does the program work?
Through direct instruction and role play, students are taught respectful, responsible, and caring behaviors in specific settings at school: cafeteria, playground, buses, classroom, hallways, and restroom.
As faculty and staff “catch” students behaving in respectful, responsible, and safely, they are reinforced with paper “Panther Bucks”. Students in Kindergarten through 5th grade write their names on the back of these Panther Bucks and then deposit their Panther Bucks in classroom bags. These bags are then dumped into the school raffle bin and individual/classroom names are drawn for school wide incentives such as games, special lunch, special seating during assembly and much more! Panther Bucks are already having a tremendous impact on positive behavior in common areas throughout the building.
Have a great weekend!
-Laurel
EVENTS
April 8th-26th - CMAS testing for grades 3, 4, and 5
April 9th - Individual and Class Pictures
April 12th - Deadline for interest in Girls Leadership Workshop (2nd and 3rd grade)
April 12th and April 15th - No School - Conference Exchange Days
April 19th - Tea with Principal Reckert 8:15-8:45 in the library
Noteworthy
CMAS (Colorado Measures of Academic Success)
CMAS testing is starting next week for 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students. Here is the schedule for all three grades. Please make sure students come to school well rested on these days!
Yearbooks
Did you miss the yearbook deadline? Don’t worry! Mr. Brian ordered an extra 50 or so yearbooks that will be available on a first come/first serve basis. Checks can be made out to NES, or you can bring cash. Please contact him at brian.schultz@bvsd.org with any questions.
School Pictures
Individual and class photos are scheduled for April 9, 2019. Order forms will go home in today’s Friday Folders.
Parent Volunteers Needed to Welcome new families in August
The NES Parent Partners program is looking for volunteers for next year! This program links supportive, seasoned parents with new families as they learn about NES. Our intention is to reach out to new families, develop supportive relationships, and provide a welcoming face and easy access to answers as new parents become engaged in their child's life at school. The commitment includes a short training in July , a few social activities beginning in August, followed by phone calls inviting parents to join in school events designed just for them. Please contact ann@teensinc.org if interested in welcoming new families and ensuring a positive parenting community.
District Accountability Committee
The District Accountability Committee (DAC) is a legally constituted committee of representatives from BVSD. As per Colorado Revised Statutes 22-11-302, DAC meets monthly throughout the year and makes recommendations to the BVSD Board of Education. Our DAC and SAC members provide an important voice in district decisions. It is essential that each of our unique school communities is represented on this very important committee. Regular attendance and active participation by your DAC member will ensure your unique needs are heard.
Therefore, we ask that all schools identify a DAC representative for the 2019-2020 school year by May 31, 2019. Once you have identified a DAC representative, please have them complete the DAC Membership Application and visit the DAC website for additional information.
The BVSD DAC meets on the first Tuesday of each month from 6:15-8:30 p.m. at the BVSD Education Center. The first meeting of the 2019-2020 school year is Tuesday, September 3, 2019.
Second and Third Grade Families: Information about Girls Leadership
We would like to offer the Nine Tools For True Friendship workshop at NES on Thursdays in late April and early May (4/25, 5/2, 5/9 and 5/16 from 6:00-7:30pm). However, in order to offer this workshop at NES we must have 12 or more families interested in attending. Please note that partial and full scholarships are available to any family who would like to participate.
If you would like to attend, please complete this survey by Friday, April 12th:
More info: https://girlsleadership.org/
CU Wizards!
For over three decades, the CU Wizards program has presented FREE monthly shows that
entertain and inform children about the wonders of science. Under the direction of Prof. David Nesbitt, these interactive shows are presented once a month from September through June. They are hosted by renowned University of Colorado, Boulder professors and provide a perfect start to a fun-filled weekend. The shows are geared toward children and young adults, but all are welcome! Each program lasts about an hour and includes several lively demonstration experiments.
For more information please visit: www.colorado.edu/cuwizards
Social Emotional Learning at NES
Social Emotional Learning at NES ( April 1 -5, 2019)
Social problems create stress in our lives. Kinders and First graders looked at problems of various sizes this week and strategies for dealing with each category. Tiny problems can be annoying but we can often "let them go", small and medium size problems can be dealt with by using strong communication skills & problem solving steps, while big problems require asking an adult to help solve it. 2nd graders practiced asking curious questions when they encounter problems -- so they are getting the whole story, fact-checking, and understanding other's perspectives.
Older students discussed stress management strategies and identified some of the key stressors in their lives. Third and Fourth graders practiced four strategies to tackle performance anxiety. 5th graders and their parents are invited to the April 18th workshop at Nederland Community Center -- Turning Anxiety into your Superpower-- from 6:00-8:00pm to learn healthy coping strategies for the teen years. Read more at 3 tips for helping your child cope with anxiety
~Ann Sherman, Social Emotional Learning/Parenting Matters Coordinator. TEENS, Inc
Nederland Elementary
Attendance Line: 720-561-4802
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