Northridge Elementary Weekly Blast
March 15
Northridge Elementary Weekly Blast - March 15, 2024
Dates
March Dates:
18 - 22 - No School / Spring Break
25 - Chipotle Restaurant Night -
- 2209 W Wildcat Reserve Pkwy Unit E1A, Highlands Ranch
27 - DBC Board Meeting 4:00pm - 5:00pm
28 - 2nd Grade Aesop Play
Be Kind Photos Found in our Community
Be Kind to yourself
Mila made this for her mom🥰
I truly love that students are thinking of our Be Kind motto even at home :)
Sent by a ET - literally those are her initials! Thank you for thinking about kindness and spreading it in your thoughts and words.
ET sent this one too! :)
ET sent this one and does this daily. Thank you for showing kindness.
Watch Dog Dad
We love our Watch Dog Dad program! There's nothing like sharing lunch with your kid at school.
Reading Opportunities for Students over Break
Spring Break is coming up! SORA is a great way to keep your kids reading while on a trip or having a staycation here in Highlands Ranch. Here is a list of what is really popular right now. See anything your kids might like? Students can access Sora for free! Sora Contact Mrs. Peck for any questions.
NRE PTO
PTO Board Positions Open: Join Us In Making A Difference!
As we look ahead to the 2024/2025 school year, we are reaching out to our dedicated community of parents to ask for your support in shaping the future of our school. The Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) plays a crucial role in enhancing our children's educational experience, and we are currently seeking enthusiastic individuals to join our PTO board. Volunteering for a PTO board position is a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference in our school community. Whether you have a background in education, business, fundraising, or simply a passion for supporting our students, your unique skills and perspectives are invaluable.
Five of the twelve board positions are available to be refilled with a commitment from April 2024 through April 2025. The available positions are: Co-President, Co-Vice President, Co-Secretary, Co-Communications and School Accountability Committee (SAC) Liaison. Each role is essential in driving initiatives that enrich our students' academic and extracurricular activities, strengthen parent-school partnerships, and foster a sense of belonging within our community. Basic job descriptions are available to review in the PTO Bylaws: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TjA1D53H8w54s2En8JdMPgpUST1wrN0kmrL_9BOo988/edit?usp=sharing
If you're interested in becoming more involved in your child's education and making a positive impact, we encourage you to consider volunteering for a PTO board position. By joining forces with fellow parents and educators, you'll have the opportunity to contribute your talents, ideas, and enthusiasm to help shape the future of our school. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our school community. Together, we can accomplish great things!
If you have any questions about specific roles or would like to express your interest in volunteering, please reach out to Kari Anderson at ptosecretarynre@gmail.com. We welcome and appreciate your participation.
PTO Event Planning Committees: Volunteer Opportunities
While we are just seeing the first signs of spring here in the NRE community, PTO is beginning to work on the 2024/2025 school year calendar. If you are interested in serving on planning committees for future events, we would love to hear from you! Please click on the flyer below to fill out a short interest form to let us know how you'd like to help.
PTO Restaurant Nights: Thank you Parry's Pizza!
Our NRE community supported Parry's Pizza with $1144.34 in sales for our Restaurant Night on February 21st and they are generously donating $228 back to NRE! Thank you Parry's Pizza!
PTO Restaurant Nights: Chipotle (2209 W. Wildcat Reserve Pkwy)
Northridge Elementary PTO restaurant nights presents Chipotle! Mark your calendar for a night off dinner prep becuase Chipotle is generously donating 33% back to NRE PTO!
PTO Restaurant Nights: Kona Ice
Northridge Elementary PTO restaurant nights presents Kona Ice! The previously scheduled Kona Ice Truck event has been rescheduled for Friday, March 29 from 3:00-4:30pm. Kona Ice will be set up in front of the school - stop by for some sweet cool treats!
PTO Fundraiser: Enberg Photography
Enberg Photography is partnering with NRE PTO to offer your family a Spring Family Mini Photo Session. Sessions are 30 minutes, and you will receive 6 edited images with full printing rights for only $100! Enberg Photography is generously donating 50% of all proceeds back to NRE PTO! Sessions are available for NRE families May 4 & 5, but other dates are available if needed. Click the flier below for more information and to reserve your session!
PTO Fundraiser & NRE Community Event: Candeeland
.
SAC (School Accountability Committee)
Principal Letter
Dear NRE Community,
As we embark on Spring Break, marking the three-quarter point of the school year, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate our journey thus far and share some exciting upcoming events.
First, let's celebrate the extended break we've been granted, including two memorable snow days that added an extra touch of magic to our winter season. Colorado can always use the moisture although I'm sure it puts families in a difficult position to have to take off work. I'm hopeful that employers were understanding of this as the Denver Metro area seemed to shut down and not just DCSD. I missed all of it as I flew to CA for a job fair to bring back teachers to DCSD. My husband did a lot of shoveling without me - thanks Patrick :)
As we return from Spring Break, the final quarter will be packed with an a variety of activities and celebrations. Here's a glimpse of what's to come:
Performances: Get ready to be dazzled by our talented students as they showcase their skills in various performances throughout the remainder of the school year. The second graders will do their AESOP fable play, fourth graders will do the CO History performance, and sixth grade Discovery will do a performance as well. We are excited to see them all!
3rd Grade Business Day: An exciting opportunity for our budding entrepreneurs to showcase their creativity and businesses. I love watching how excited the students are to tell us about their business.
Kindergarten and 6th Grade Graduation: Join us in commemorating the milestones of our youngest learners as they transition to the next chapter of their academic journey, and celebrate the achievements of our graduating 6th graders as they prepare for new adventures ahead. This will take place on the last day of school
Family Picnic: We will have our annual Family Picnic on the last day of school at 11:30am. Please plan to bring food, a blanket, and excitement to celebrate all that the students have accomplished this year before we send them off for summer break.
These events serve not only as moments of celebration but also as reminders of the amazing community we've built together. They highlight the dedication and hard work of our students, educators, and families, and the collective spirit that defines our school.
As we enjoy this well-deserved break, let's recharge and return with renewed energy and enthusiasm for the exciting experiences that await us in the final stretch of the school year.
Wishing you all a restful and rejuvenating Spring Break!
Love.
Katie
CMAS Information
CMAS is just around the corner! For those of you new to Colorado, CMAS stands for Colorado Measurement of Academic Success and is our state’s standardized test. Students in grades 3-6 at NRE take the CMAS in April. Below is the schedule for 2024. Please be mindful of your child’s testing time when scheduling doctor appointments and time away from school. We appreciate your support!
As parents, you have the right to opt your child out of CMAS testing. Here is the link to opt out:
DCSD and Other News
DCSD Academic Calendar Survey
It’s that time again when we ask you, our families, students, staff, and community members to provide your feedback on our academic calendars for the coming years. The DCSD Calendar Committee has developed four possible academic calendar options for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. Now it’s time for you to weigh in. Here’s how:
Review the different calendar options. We have created a Cross Calendar Comparison that compares the key dates within each set of options. We have also created a Calendars at a Glance document for you to see all of the options for that set of calendars.
Complete our Calendar Feedback Survey. You will be separately ranking the options for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic years. Please complete the survey by Sunday, March 31 at 11:59 p.m.
The feedback collected from the survey will be used to help the Calendar Committee select calendars to be presented to the DCSD Board of Education for approval and adoption.
A special thank you to our calendar committee which is made up of DCSD parents, students, leaders, teachers, and classified staff members. These dedicated individuals have been working since September 2023 to develop the calendar options for your feedback.DCSD Academic Calendar Survey
DCSD Art Exhibition
Mark your Calendars!! 2024 DCSD Art Exhibition @ Legacy Campus
Secondary April 19th-25th & Elementary April 27th-May 2nd.
For more specifics, please refer to this document 2024 Art Exhibition Dates.
Mental Health Resources
National Parent & Youth Helpline
The National Parent & Youth Helpline provides vital information, support, and referrals through calls, texts, and chats to diverse parents, children, and youth seeking help nationwide. The National Parent & Youth HelplineTM is operated by Parents Anonymous® and available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Learn more. >>
Parent Test: Your Child’s Mental Health - Pediatric Symptom Checker
This questionnaire from Mental Health America can be used to see if your child is having emotional, attentional, or behavioral difficulties. These results are not meant to be a diagnosis. Please talk with a doctor or therapist to get a diagnosis and/or access therapy or medications.
Mental Health Resources
Below is a list of resources, should you have a concern that a loved one (or yourself) may be experiencing behavioral changes, mood swings, depression, or suicidal thoughts.
Call 911 if there is an immediate threat to the child or others
988 - Suicide and Crisis Hotline
Call or text “988” any time, 24/7 for free, confidential support.
Colorado Crisis Services: 1-844-493-TALK (8255)
Trained Crisis Counselor Hotline: (844) 493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255
Chat online (open from 4pm-12am daily): Click Here
Walk-in Locations (open 24/7): Location List
Information About Types of Services and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado Crisis Services
Douglas County has an anonymous reporting system available at all times. Anyone with a concern for someone’s well-being or safety can use Safe 2 Tell (1-877-542-7233) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Bus Cancellation -
NRE Bus Cancelation Schedule for Routes 53 & 58 -
Highlands Ranch Routes: 53
April 1 - 5
May 6 - 10
Highlands Ranch Routes: 58
April 22-25