Spirit Week-See flyer below!

Monday, September 11th-Picture Day!

Thursday, September 14th - Parent Meeting-SAC/PTA Meeting at 5 PM

• Pappa Grill Food Truck is Available for purchase!
• Childcare is provided if needed.

After reviewing the early Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) results, Freedom learned we outperformed Colorado state growth and achievement averages in almost every content area and grade level.

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) released both state and district results to the public and we:

• Overall mean scores increased in almost all areas,
• Median Growth percentage increased in both areas,
• Outperformed the state overall scale score in all areas but one,
• Achieved overall growth for students with disabilities and
• Demonstrated high growth, well above the state median, in math.

For every day your child's class has perfect attendance by 8:00 AM, the teacher will color in a letter; complete all letters, and win a party for the entire class!

Who's going to be the first class to get a party??

September

Thursday, September 21st – Pre-K – 5th Grade Field Day

Friday, September 22nd – No School (District Prof. Day)

Tuesday, September 26th – Skate City Night – 5-7 PM

o 4575 Austin Bluffs Parkway, 80917

October

Monday, October 2nd – Boosterthon Kick Off

Wednesday, October 11th – Boosterthon Run Day

Thursday 12th - SAC/PTA Meeting at 5 PM (flex room)

Friday 13th & Monday 16th – No School

Friday 20th – 2nd Annual Truck or Treat by PTA

o (Community Event, Food Trucks, Signup sheets sooner to event)

Monday 23rd – Parry’s Pizza Restaurant Day

o 5697 Barnes Road #130, 80917 - 20% goes to PTA

Wednesday 25th – PM Conferences

Thursday 26th – All Day Conferences

Thursday October 26th & 27th – No School

Back by popular demand, Freedom will be hosting our 2nd Annual Truck or Treat on Friday, Oct. 20th. We are working to minimize the impact on student learning and behavior with our students coming off a four-day weekend.

The PTA has agreed to organize the event, and our staff supports it by being present and participating. If you are interested in having your trunk at the event, please sign up at the link below.

https://form.jotform.com/222598523395062

In saying this, we will not do anything school-wide on Oct. 31st, which includes dressing up. My message is that it is up to classroom teachers if they want to do a small classroom party at the end of the day. I will allow our teachers to make the best choices for their classes.

• Traffic is very heavy before and after school. Please teach and encourage your child to always use the crosswalk and to watch for traffic in all directions.

• Our parking lot capacity is limited. Daycare vehicles and District 11 vehicles have reserved drop-off and pick-up spaces in our parking lot.

• IMPORTANT: All buses pick-up and drop-off in the Freedom parking lot.

• Please remember: These are your friends and neighbors, and each of you has children attending our school. Please be patient and extend courtesy to your friends and neighbors as you enter and exit our parking lot and/or pick up your children.

• PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY in and around the school.

• The “Kiss-N-Go” traffic lane is for drop-off and pickup up only. It is not to be used as a place to park and leave a vehicle.

• Please use the “Kiss-N-Go” lane to safely drop students off at school.

All students will be dismissed at 2:50 and parents are encouraged to pre-plan pick-up location. All students will exit the building at the end of the day from the same doors that they entered the building.

Important information about Kiss-N-Go and Bus pick up and drop off:

• Kiss-N-Go is located on Butterfield Drive in the street cut-out.

• Bus pick-up and drop-off will be in the loop directly in front of the school.

• To use the Kiss-N-Go location, please access it from Range Ranch. Head east on Butterfield drive to the cut-out in the street. Pull to the end of the cut-out.

• Please access Butterfield Drive from Range Ranch so all school traffic moves east on Butterfield. Access Range Ranch from westbound Bridle Pass.

• DO NOT Block the entrance and exit to the parking lot.

• Kiss-N-Go: When students exit the vehicle for safety purposes it should always be from the right side of the car, not the street side. DO NOT PARK YOUR VEHICLE.

• BUILDING ENTRY & EXIT:

• Students using Kiss-N-Go enter and exit the school building from the double doors of the upper playground blacktop.

• Students riding the bus enter and exit the building from the front double doors.

• Students walking to and from school also enter and exit from the double doors off the upper playground blacktop.

To park and walk your child to the front entrance:

• Enter the Freedom parking lot from Butterfield Drive

• Pull into the LEFT lane

• Enter the Family Parking Lot by making a left turn into the lot (this was known as the staff parking lot).

• Staff Parking lot is now located by the preschool and kindergarten

• Park your vehicle

• Escort your student to the crosswalk to the front doors

• Your student will enter through the front double doors.

Preschool and Kindergarten parking

• Enter the Freedom parking lot from Butterfield Drive

• Pull into the LEFT lane

• Enter the parking lot by making a left turn into the lot

• Enter the Family Parking Lot

• Staff Parking lot is now located by the preschool and kindergarten playground.

• Park your vehicle

• Escort your student(s) to the crosswalk to the door of your preschool door

Pick Up - What if I can’t be here on time to pick up my child?

If you cannot be here to pick up your student WITHIN 10 MINUTES of dismissal, please make other arrangements with a family member or daycare provider. We understand everyone is going to run late at times, and we strive to be understanding of emergencies.

At the same time, late pick-ups interfere with scheduled meetings, training, and our ability to use resources effectively. Freedom staff cannot provide supervision to siblings of students practicing. Freedom staff cannot provide supervision to siblings of students participating in tutoring, athletics, clubs etc. It is the families’ responsibility to ensure students not involved in after school activities are picked up within 10 minutes of school dismissal.

We love our students and know that they do best with their learning when they attend school consistently. That being said, we do recognize that illness, appointments, etc. will occur.

Attendance Reminders

As we approach the end of the first month of school, here are some clarifying reminders about our attendance policies.

The following are excused absences:

• Personal illness (if illness exceeds three consecutive days, a doctor’s note is required)

• Death of a relative

• Observance of a religious holiday

• Doctor, dental, and therapy appointments with proper documentation (If possible, please schedule such appointments after school hours) These are marked unexcused until the note is provided to our front office staff.

• Emergency situations- such cases may be approved by the administration on an individualized basis

Please note that all absences beyond those listed above are considered unexcused.

If you have any questions/concerns about your child's health and whether they should attend school, please don't hesitate to reach out to the office.

Truancy vs. Chronic Absenteeism

Truancy counts only unexcused absences and relies on administration and the legal system to force compliance.

Chronic Absenteeism counts all absences (excused and unexcused) and focuses on the impact of lost instruction utilizing a collaborative effort for attendance from school, home, and the community.

The impact of chronically absenteeism (missing 10%, or more, of school days)

• Difficulty learning to read
• Low achievement in intermediate grades (4/5) and through middle and high school
• Lowered graduation rates

We are committed to helping all our students succeed emotionally, socially, and academically and our attendance team is here to support and provide resources. Our focus on all absence types is because we know kids learn best with their teachers and peers and we love having them at Freedom.

Please help your student plan ahead. Make sure they have everything they need PRIOR to leaving home. This includes items such as lunch, homework, jackets, water bottles, etc.

If they forget their lunch, they need to eat the school lunch that day. ALL food deliveries, except in emergencies, will be turned away. This includes fast food or restaurant food that you bring to them.

Our main office is protected for school operational tasks, not deliveries of items or food.

Freedom appreciates your patience as we follow these procedures. To learn more about how you are approved as a visitor or volunteer, please use the QRL code below to fill out your online registration.

Register to become a volunteer at Freedom

Click the registration link below and set up a username and password. Once you are registered you can log in and view your volunteer hours as well as search for available volunteer opportunities at all D11 schools.

Already a registered volunteer? No need to re-register every year. If updates are needed the system will notify you via email. If you need your username or password you can request it through the website.

Request a volunteer badge

Save time when you arrive. Your badge will be in the plastic bin under the sign-in desk. Scan your badge and wear it while you’re in the building. Scan again when you leave. Your hours will be logged on the Engage website.

https://www.d11.org/Engage/Registration

Click on the blue registration link to register online, fill out the forms, print, sign, and bring them by the school office with your identification.

For questions or to request a badge contact Freedom’s F.I.T. Volunteer Coach Jonna Ward at 719-641-3964 or Jonna.ward@live.com

Freedom Office Hours: 7:15-3:30

Freedom School Hours: 7:50-2:50

Students will be allowed in the building at 7:40 am

Duty teachers do not start duty until 7:40 am

Tardy bell rings at 7:55

At Freedom Elementary, we care about your children's developmental needs! That is why our mission is to ensure that each and every student has access to the learning tools and programs they need to succeed in school, and in life. We strive for a higher standard of excellence and take the time to focus on those who need extra support. Joining our S.A.C. is a fantastic way to keep up to date with the initiatives our school has put in place to better our learners, and to also voice your opinions and concerns!

We look forward to the bright and brilliant future under the leadership of Rochelle Williams, and welcome her to the Freedom Family!

If you are interested in joining Freedom's SAC committee, please reach out to Justin Edmisson @ 719-332-3615 or justin.edmisson@gmail.com.

Contact Justin Edmission at 719-332-3615 or justin.edmisson@gmail.com.

If you are interested. Come be a member and have a voice in Freedom's PTA.