News from Glacier Peak
February, 7th 2020
Principal Remarks
Dear Glacier Peak families,
I would like to begin the newsletter with a shout out to all of the parents and students for adjusting to this week's weather conditions and the two delays that we had this week. On all three days, Mr. Grant, our head custodian was at Glacier Peak ready to clear snow and ice for safe arrival for our students. Conditions were extreme this week but I am thankful for the collective effort to get students to school safe.
I am pleased to announce that we ended January on a positive note at Glacier Peak. Students are back in the routine and staff and students alike are gearing up for an important stretch of teaching and learning in February and March.
We are looking forward to connecting with each of our families on Wednesday, February 12th during the spring semester Parent / Teacher conferences. If you haven’t done so already, please sign up via the Sign Up Genius or other forms of communication that were sent out to families from teachers. Please ensure you sign up for our February conferences so you can gain valuable insight into your child’s academic, social, and behavioral progress. Please also consider contributing to our potluck dinner for our teachers who are at school from 8:00 am - 8:00 pm on the 12th. You can see if there is something easy to bring by clicking the link HERE.
Beginning back on January 27th, families have had the opportunity to give feedback via the 2019-2020 Family-School Relationships Survey. The annual survey provides year-over-year feedback allowing us to measure trends over time so we can continue to best serve you and your child. The survey is specific for our school and will help us know where we are succeeding and where we can improve. A link was sent to all families for access to the survey, and the survey should take approximately 5-10 minutes. You can also click HERE to take the survey. We love to hear great things that are going well and areas for improvement.
State testing for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders begins at the end of March. Please be on the lookout for more detailed information, including a testing schedule in early March. Please remember that once the testing calendar is out, to make your best attempt to not have any appointments or meetings that your child will need to miss school for scheduled outside testing times. While students will take make-up tests if they are absent, it is best for students to take the test in their classroom, which is the most comfortable surrounding for them.
The students get a long weekend in the middle of the month! The students will have no school beginning on Wednesday, February 12th through Monday, February 17th, due to conferences, teacher professional development days and in honor of Presidents' Day. We’re hoping families can make the most of their time off, and experience something new!
In closing, I want to thank you all for your continued support of our students, school, and programs. Please follow us on social media to stay abreast of things happening daily in our school. If you have any comments, questions, feedback or compliments, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email at tim.griffin@adams12.org.
Sincerely,
Tim Griffin
Principal ~ Glacier Peak Elementary
720-972-5943
Events
Spring Conferences are next Wednesday!
Spring Conferences will be held on Wednesday, February 12th from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm here at Glacier Peak Conferences are an important time during the school year when teachers can review student progress and set academic goals for students for the remainder of the year. Having recently completed math and literacy assessments at every grade level, teachers have strong indicators of student growth and achievement. We look forward to seeing all of our families to celebrate student learning. The best outcomes for students can only be achieved when teachers and parents work together. Please contact your child's teacher for your conference appointment time.
Schedule for the rest of the week:
Parent Teacher Confrences- Wednesday, February 12th- No School for Students
Teacher In Service Day-Thursday, February 13th -No School for Students
Teacher Work Day-Friday, February 14th-No School for Students
Presidents' Day Holiday-Monday, February 17th-No School
A long weekend for our Grizzlies! Enjoy this time with your family and we will see everyone on February 18th!
Supports for families at Parent Teacher Conferences
At conferences, there will be a table that will be supported by our amazing SELS (Social Emotional Learning Specialist) Mr. Brown. There will be resources for parents and an opportunity for our school to connect with families that might need support. I also will begin providing suggestions or tips for families to connect with each other to ensure the social-emotional well being of our precious students. Please do not hesitate to chat with Mr. Brown at the resource table that will be located in our main hallway.
Thank you!
Glacier Peak Spirit Night at Freddy's Steak Burgers
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2020, 04:00 PM
14255 Lincoln Street, Thornton
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Conference Dinner for GPE Teachers
Staff Conference Food, Wednesday, February 12, drop off donations by 3:30pm
We need your help to supply dinner for our wonderful Glacier Peak staff on Wednesday, February 12th during conferences. Please consider signing up to supply food and/or help! From scratch or from the store - all donations are greatly appreciated! If you can't bring food, we need help with set up and clean up. Use this link to sign up. Thank you!
Book Fair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Friday- Students will be visiting the book fair during school hours.
- Monday, 2/10-7:40 am - 3:00 pm
- Tuesday, 2/11-7:40 am - 3:00 pm
- Wednesday 2/12-8am-8:00 pm (Conference Day).
Also, our wonderful PTO is donating a $5.00 certificate for a free book for each student.
Be sure to come to check us out!
Peak Partnership (PTO) Updates
Please see the following link for the February PTO calendar and please consider supporting our staff dinner for Parent-Teacher Conferences.
Check us out in March as some future topics will be discussing what (Social-emotional Learning) SELS looks like in our district and some specific SELS learning that is happening at Glacier Peak Elementary and also the results from our student perception survey. There is always free childcare for those who may need it.
Our next meeting date is Tuesday, March, 3rd! Please save the date!
Kindergarten and New Student Registration for the 2020/2021 School Year
Kindergarten registration has begun for the 2020/2021 school year. We are also accepting registration for any students new to Glacier Peak in grades 1st- 5th.
At the time of registration, parents MUST have the following information:
PARENT/GUARDIAN PHOTO I.D.
- A driver's license or any other photo I.D. is acceptable.
- The biological, foster or adoptive parent ONLY may enroll the student (no neighbors, friends, other relatives, etc.)
- Guardians must have proper guardianship forms signed and notarized or a copy of court authorization
- Custody documentation is required, if applicable
DOCUMENTATION OF CHILD'S DATE OF BIRTH (must be 5 on/before October 1, 2020)
Please bring one of the following:
- Birth certificate (certified copy - not the commemorative hospital copy)
- Valid passport
- If you own your own home - please bring one of the following (only current originals will be accepted): Warranty deed, deed of trust, or bill of sale, purchase contract with closing date not more than 90 days out, current utility bill (i.e. Xcel, water, cable) or mortgage statement with your name and address clearly marked (both portions of a bill are required, property/service address must match the mailing address, additionally, the bill must be the last or current month), property tax bill for the current year (with service address matching address)
- If you rent - please bring one of the following (only originals will be accepted): Current signed lease or rental agreement, current utility bill (Xcel, water, cable), your name and address must be clearly marked (both portions of the bill are required, with property/service address must match mailing address, the bill must be last or current month)
- If you are living with another family - ALL of the following are required:
IMMUNIZATION RECORDS
Current immunizations, as required by state law, must include the following:
5 DPT, 4 polio, 3 Hep B, 2 MMR, 2 Varicella
We CANNOT accept incomplete registration paperwork. Please ensure that you have all the items listed above when you come for registration.
2019-2020 School Calendar
General School Business
New School Entry Procedure
We finally have our secured vestibule up and running in our entrance. In our ongoing effort to provide the safest and most secure environment for our students, please follow the procedures listed below to enter the building:
As you approach the school, the door on your left will be unlocked during school/BASE hours.
If you are coming to volunteer and have had your license scanned, you may enter your information into the computer, and press the doorbell to be admitted to the office. If you have not been to the school or have not had your license scanned, please ring the doorbell. Please make sure to bring your ID with you.
The BASE Program will answer the doorbell for their families and admit them into the building.
The doorbell is now located inside the vestibule on the brick wall.
An office member will release the door which will allow building access. Please do not hold the door open or open the door for others.
If you are dropping off a lunch, homework, etc., please label the item and put it in the secure box next to the computer. The box will be periodically checked and items delivered to your child. You do not need to call the office.
As an added safety precaution and to help avoid distractions during instruction, we do not allow visitors to the classroom, down the hall, or to the restroom during the school day. If you would like to meet with your child's teacher or have agreed to volunteer, please make arrangements in advance.
After School Program Dismissal
Important Reminder
Attendance
We appreciate your support in helping to establish positive attendance patterns. If a student must be out due to illness or emergency, please call the attendance line (720-972-5995) before 8:00am to report absences. Please do not tell the teacher only, it is important the attendance line is used for all absences.
The number of students late to school each day continues to be a concern. Students are missing out on valuable class time and teachers and other students are disrupted when tardy students enter the classroom. Even a few moments missed each day can have an impact on a student’s learning. We ask for your support in helping your child get to school on time each day.
The district allows 5 absences per semester. If your child is absent for a Dr. or dentist appointment, please remember to get a note from the Dr./dentist to excuse their absence.
Student Fees / Payments
Morning and Afternoon Drop Off Reminders:
Afternoon:
COOLER WEATHER AND RECESS
District Priority Texts
District outlines deadlines for 2020-2021 Choice process
Haga clic aquí para la comunicación de elección en español.
Last year, Adams 12 Five Star Schools received more than 4,500 Choice applications for the 2019-2020 school year. In accordance with the state’s open enrollment law, the district’s Choice program allows for students to apply to attend schools outside of their attendance area boundary.
If you move outside the Glacier Peak attendance boundary, you may apply to stay at the school through the District Choice Program. Failure to apply through the Choice Program may result in your child not being able to attend Glacier Peak for the 2020-2021 school year.
Both in-district and out-of-district students can apply for Choice. Out-of-district Choice requests are considered after in-district requests. Acceptance to a Choice school is based on several criteria: availability of space, sufficient teaching staff, appropriate programs and the necessary facilities for special needs students.
Adams 12 Five Star Schools will publicize the schools open to Choice for the 2020-21 school year on December 1, 2019. The Choice application and list of open schools are available online at www.adams12.org/choice. For families without computer access, a computer kiosk is available at all schools and at the Educational Support Center located at 1500 E. 128th Avenue in Thornton.
Please click here for more information on the choice process.
Traffic Safety
It is imperative everyone plays a role to ensure the safety of all of our students. While the
morning and afternoon are busy times, we still are asking for your help and patience.
- Please do NOT beckon students across the street. We have crosswalks and it only takes a few more seconds to cross the street in a safe manner.
- Do NOT make U-Turns on Jasmine Way. This is incredibly risky for other drivers and pedestrians alike.
- Please PULL ALL THE WAY FORWARD in the Hug and Go zone. This ensures there is not a back up on Jasmine Way. As cars get backed up on the main street, it elevates the confusion for the right of way for drivers.
- To maintain a safe line of sight, please do not park within 20 feet of crosswalks.
Community News
Gratitude for Horizon High School!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I want to take a moment to share an amazing experience that our SSN program here at Glacier Peak was able to participate in last week. Recently, Horizon HS joined numerous other high schools throughout the state and nation in their mission to spread inclusion and what this means for students with intellectual disabilities. As part of this movement, Horizon High School annually hosts a spirit week dubbed "Wish Week" which was designed to support their winter sports teams but also to envoke the Horizon community in an organized effort to give back and pay it forward to the local community.
The Horizon community landed on the goal to raise money and support schools within the Adams 12 boundary, more specifically, schools that serve as a feeder to HHS. We were chosen to receive some adaptive PE or recess equipment that would benefit students with special needs that may include adaptive hoops or modified monkey bars. All of last week, the Horizon students, families and staff were raising money to support this cause.
This past Friday, I had the honor of attending the pep assembly where our entire SSN population here at GPE was able to take a field trip over to Horizon and be recognized at a whole school assembly. This experience meant the world for our students and staff. In one of our student's words; "Horizon Rocks"! I think that was the best summary anyone could give. I felt so amazing knowing this was an amazing experience for our students. The best part is that all of the work around the celebration of inclusion and organization of the activities, fundraising and community involvement was carried out by a student at Horizon. we were so moved by the opportunity that students are provided to do the things that matter within our district and at Horizon High School. When barriers are removed students will overachieve every time. I love that it gives us a model to aspire to with our students.
Job Opportunities
Mr. Tim Griffin
Email: tim.griffin@adams12.org
Website: https://glacier.adams12.org/
Location: Glacier Peak Elementary School, Jasmine Street, Brighton, CO, USA
Phone: (720) 972 - 5943
Facebook: facebook.com/GRIZZLYgpe/