FVE NEWS
January 2023
Dear Frontier Valley Families,
Welcome back to school! We hope the holidays were wonderful for you and your family. Our teachers and support staff are ready to welcome our students back to class, and start the 2023 year with our little buffaloes! Frontier Valley has many great opportunities coming our way for the second semester.
It is our pleasure to give you all an update on the Apple Awards. Our school received many nominations for our teachers and support staff this year. If you would like to read more about the DCSD Apple Awards, or read the nominations, you can find that information HERE. We are thrilled to share our Frontier Valley representatives with all of you. The two staff members listed below will be honored at the annual awards ceremony that is scheduled on April 1st this year.
Our certified representative this year is Mrs. Destiny Thrasher, first grade teacher. This is Destiny’s 15th year working in Douglas County School District. This is her 10th year as a teacher at FVE. She has taught kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade over her career. Destiny is a Colorado native, and went to CSU where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Equine Sciences with an emphasis in Veterinary Medicine. She then went to Regis University to obtain her degree in Elementary Education. Congratulations, Destiny!
Our support staff representative this year is Mrs. Elizabeth Van Otten, school counselor. This is Liz’s second year as the school counselor at FVE. She came to DCSD after serving many years as both a counselor and a teacher in Tennessee. Liz earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Northern Arizona University and master’s degree in counseling from Vanderbilt University. Liz is a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC), a National Certified Counselor (NCC), and is currently working on her Registered Play Therapist (RPT) certification. Liz supports every student in our school, and is a wonderful resource for our school community. Liz often has her therapy dog, Andie, with her in our building. We are so grateful to have Liz supporting the social emotional growth of all the students at FVE. Congratulations, Liz!
We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful PTO that supports every aspect of Frontier Valley. FVEA works hard to bring fun community events to our school. Amanda Berry and Beth Cristofano, parent volunteers from FVEA, are working on planning the annual spring carnival and auction scheduled on April 15th, 2023. If you would like to help with this fundraiser, or if your business/family would like to make a donation to the auction, please contact Beth Cristofano at beth.cristofano@gmail.com
We are excited to work with your students in 2023. We appreciate your partnership in making our school community a wonderful place for all of us!
Happy New Year!
~Kiersten
CMAS 2023
2023 CMAS Schedule
If you have any questions about State Mandated Testing, please contact Christin Pursley, School Assessment Coordinator at (303)387-8475 or email at cfpursley@dcsdk12.org. January 11th Join us for our next FVEA Restaurant Night at Panda Express from 4:00-8:00. | January 16th No School | January 20th Dress up as your favorite Disney Character for $1. All donations go to FVEA. |
January 12th 1:45pm in the library | January 18th Battle of the Books Family Night: 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. in the gym and various classrooms. This is a great opportunity for kids to invite their families to watch and cheer during a round robin battle/competition. (looks a little different for 5th) More details to come soon. | January 25th 5th grade parents are invited for a Parent information night with a representative from IdRaHaJe on January 25 at 5:00pm in the FVE library. |
January 18th
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
This month’s counselor lessons will focus on learning how to develop a growth mindset and apply strategies to make effective plans to reach goals. Some goals of this unit include students being able to set a goal, make a plan to reach the goal, identify and overcome roadblocks, and develop strategies to improve confidence.
January Resources:
Check out these family conversation starters from Character Strong! These are great for sparking rich conversation—try them out during dinner, on a family walk or drive, or on a relaxing winter break day.
Mindfulness has been shown to have numerous benefits, including increased emotional regulation and academic performance, among other benefits. Many teachers are integrating a mindfulness practice in their classrooms. Here are some ways you can practice mindfulness at home, too!
Anxiety disorders are on the rise and one of the top mental health disorders diagnosed in childhood. If you’re unsure how to respond to your anxious child, check out these simple and helpful phrases and try to avoid using these. If anxiety is severely interfering with your child’s daily life, it’s important to seek help. Feel free to email me for resources or speak with your child’s pediatrician.