SIERRA SCOOP
November 3, 2023
FROM FOERSTER'S DESK
Have an outstanding weekend 😃
Attendance Works!
A growing body of research is revealing the prevalence of chronic absence and its critical role in student achievement. Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves.
Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Eventually good attendance will be a skill that will help them succeed in high school and college!
Help your child succeed in school by building the habit of good attendance early!
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) at Sierra
Strategies for Calming
As we blew past October and into November, we are entering a season that can be busy for so many of us. This time of year is often filled with holidays; travel; time with friends and family; time for reflection on what we have or wish we had - the list can go on. Along with all of this, can come big emotions - excitement, overwhelm, joy, anxiety, elation, sadness, and more. At Sierra, we use the Second Step curriculum to help teach our students strategies for calming down when they feel big emotions. Most of our classrooms will begin a unit focusing on Emotion Management this month. Words we teach to cue the calming down process are "STOP, NAME YOUR FEELING, CALM DOWN." Pausing and noticing the sensations and thoughts we are having help us to identify and name our emotions. Once we have named the feeling, we can try a calming strategy, including: slow breathing, slow counting, taking a break, thinking helpful thoughts, and asking for help. Notice and praise your child when they are able to recognize and label their feelings. Explore and practice these different calming strategies at home to help build your child's comfort and confidence in managing their emotions.
OFFICE INFORMATION
TIME CHANGE - Don't forget to set your clocks back Saturday night!
SIERRA SPIRIT WEAR is now available. T-shirt order deadline correction - The store will be "open" until 11/19. Apparel will be delivered 12/15. Click here to access the store.
LEGO CLUB Winter 2024 - K-1 Registration
LEGO CLUB Winter 2024 - 2-5 Registration
UPCOMING VISION AND HEARING DECEMBER 7TH
- Looking for about 6 volunteers to help out with ushering students to testing areas on this day. It's only for a few hours, 3 people per shift. First rotation from 7:45 to 10:00, 2nd rotation from 10:00 to 12:30ish.
- It's a fun way to help with this day, and a great way to volunteer your time.
- If interested, please call Paulette at 303-982-0821 option 2, or email pjenkins@jeffco.k12.co.us.
A million thanks!!
Paulette
November 7 - Accountability at 4:45 (see the agenda in Did You Know section below) and General PTA Meeting at 5:30 in the library
November 8 - Ralston Valley Area Vocal Festival at RVHS 7:00pm
November 10 - Student Picture Retakes
November 10 - End of 1st Trimester
November 13 - No school - Teacher Work Day
November 15- RV Band (7:30 pm) and Orchestra (6:00 pm) Festival
November 17- ROAR Day Candy Land (this is a change!)
November 17- Report cards go home
November 20-24 - No School Thanksgiving Break
DID YOU KNOW?
Accountability 11/7
Join us in the library on Tuesday, 11/7 at 4:45 for our next Accountability Meeting, immediately followed by the PTA General Meeting at 5:30. The link to join virtually is included on the Accountability agenda, and the same link will be used for PTA. Hope to see you there!
Messages for Students
If you need to get a message to your student during the school day, please call the office to do so. The office has systems in place to get messages to students before the end of the school day. If you contact a teacher, there is a good chance the message will not get to the student for a variety of reasons (teachers might not check their email, we could have a tech glitch, teacher could have a sub, etc).
Please ensure that you read through the Sierra Student-Family Handbook for additional school information.
PTA PARTICULARS
Mark your calendars - the PTA General meeting is coming up on November 7th, 2023. Attend in person in the Sierra Library, or online via this google meet link: https://meet.google.com/fis-jraz-sif
Reflections Art Competition SUBMISSIONS are due Friday, November 10th. We’ll be collecting submissions on the playground under the pavilion outside the Library doors from 7-8am and again from 2-3pm on Friday the 10th. If you’re unable to submit within those time frames please contact the reflections chair to arrange an alternative. (e-mail below)
If your student is planning to enter one of the categories, they MUST complete the entry paperwork and an Artist statement and submit those along with their entry. E-mail the Reflections Chair for an entry packet and with any questions amywardbailey@gmail.com .
Chick-fil-A Restaurant Night - Come support the Sierra PTA at the Chick-fil-A on 80th and Wadsworth on Wednesday, November 15th from 4pm to 8pm. Place a mobile order through the app via Dine-in, Carry-out, Drive-thru or Chick-fil-A Delivery (at the 80th and Wadsworth location only). Be sure to select the toggle to support the Community Care Event. 10% of sales on any mobile order during the event time frame that toggles the "support event" will be given back to the Sierra PTA.
SIERRA ELEMENTRY
Email: tennille.foerster@jeffco.k12.co.us
Website: sierraelementary.net
Location: 7771 Oak Street, Arvada, CO, USA
Phone: (303)982-0821
Facebook: facebook.com/sierraelementary