SIERRA SCOOP
September 29, 2023
FROM FOERSTER'S DESK
We spent some time in preschool this week, and that was such a joy! Nothing brings a smile to my face like hearing the laughter and squealing of young children. You can just see the pure joy on preschool student faces as they play and learn together throughout the day. It is amazing to see the safe and welcoming classroom communities that have been created, and just how far these kids have come learning how to be in school in just over a month. Students are having fun exploring puzzles, sensory stations, and letters during purposeful play. We are so thankful and lucky to have preschool part of our Sierra community this year!
I hope you all have a fantastic weekend😃
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) at Sierra
Universal Screening of Social Emotional Skills using the SSIS SEL
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a framework used to create a safe, positive, and productive learning environment for all children. At Sierra, we teach and reinforce ROAR behaviors, which stands for: Responsibility, Ownership, Achieve, and Respect. Rewards and celebrations occur in classrooms and throughout the building to let students know that we see how amazing they are and how hard they are working every day to model these behavior expectations. Click on the image to view our ROAR matrix of expected behaviors at school.
Now that we've completed our first month of school, students are feeling comfortable. Along with this comfort, we often see students begin to test limits and demonstrate more unexpected behaviors. This is a great time to review the ROAR expectations we have at school, and talk about why it's important to show these expected behaviors. Consider creating your own ROAR matrix around expected behaviors at home. This will help align how we communicate and reinforce expected and unexpected behaviors across settings. Click HERE to access a sample ROAR at Home matrix and blank template to support this process.
OFFICE INFORMATION
OCTOBER COUNT IS HERE...MONDAY OCTOBER 2ND! ALL STUDENTS SHOULD BE IN ATTENDANCE THIS DAY!!! OCTOBER COUNT IS VERY IMPORTANT AS THIS IS HOW SIERRA GETS ITS FUNDING!!!
October 2 - One Day Count!! Make sure your student is in attendance!
October 8- Sierra Strides
October 13- ROAR Day (Cartoon Day)
October 13-18 - Book Fair
October 17 and 18 - Conferences (more information and signups will be sent next week)
October 19 - No School (teacher work day)
October 20 - No School
October 24- Coffee With T n B- Jenny Frederickson (GT Resource Teacher) will join us in the cafeteria at 7:50am
LIBRARY NEWS
Scholastic Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair will be open on:
Friday, October 13th, 8:00 - 3:30
Monday, October 16th, 8:00 - 3:30
Tuesday, October 17th, 8:00 - 6:30
Wednesday, October 18th, 8:00 - 6:30
Volunteers are needed to help run the fair! Please use this Sign Up Genius to sign up as a volunteer. We will need people to help sell books as well as pack up the fair when it ends.
A great way to provide your child with money for the fair is by setting up an eWallet. This can be done through our Book Fair Website.
If you have any questions, reach out to Kaela Lazek at kaela.lazek@jeffco.k12.co.us.
FAMILY PE WEEK- OCTOBER 2nd-6th
We invite you to participate in “Family PE Week” which is
officially held the first week in October. The goal of Family PE Week is to help families, schools, and communities understand the importance of physical education.
Active Schools has partnered with OPEN to provide teachers and schools with a variety of tools and resources. Learn how to celebrate and promote this event HERE. Families can also participate in the Active Family Challenge and discover creative ways to incorporate PE at home as a family.
Complete the "Active Family Challenge" (link is above) and turn in your sheet by 10/10, your name will go into a raffle for some PE equipment at home. You can send the finished chart to Maria.Peters@jeffco.k12.co.us or have your student take it to Mrs. Peters directly.
SIERRA STRIDES
Strides for Sierra 5K is almost here!!
Join us for the 3rd annual Strides for Sierra on October 8th at 9:00am.
Please click here for all the information and to register!
Not interested in running? We need Volunteers too! Click Here to sign up as a volunteer!
STRIDES FOR SIERRA SPIRIT WEEK!
Strides for Sierra is next weekend!
To help everyone get excited for the event we are doing a Spirit Week the week of Oct. 2nd thru 6th:
Mon., 10/2- Pajamas
Tues., 10/3- 80’s
Wed., 10/4- Sports Team Attire
Thur., 10/5- Mis-matched Clothes
Fri., 10/6- Sierra Spirit Wear (or Black and Gold)
DID YOU KNOW?
Parking Lot Reminders!
- Please partner with us to keep kids safe!
- Has everyone who drops off and picks up watched our Parking Lot video? Consider asking Grandma, Grandpa or anyone else who may be helping your family with drop-off and pick-up
- Use the crosswalk
- Pull all the way forward
- Don't drop off at a metal gate
- Thank you for your support!
Are you interested in being more involved in health and wellness in Jeffco Schools?
Jeffco District Health Advisory Council (DHAC) is looking for additional community members. DHAC works to elevate family/parent and community voices regarding wellness in schools and is responsible for the development, implementation, and review of the Jeffco School Wellness Policy. The group meets three times per year on Wednesday mornings. Email healthyschools@jeffco.k12.co.us to learn more.
Please ensure that you read through the Sierra Student-Family Handbook for additional school information.
PTA PARTICULARS
Conference Dinners Help Needed - Looking for volunteers to help spoil our staff October 17th and 18th during Parent/Teacher Conferences. The PTA sponsors 2 dinners for the teachers on the nights that the staff stay late for conference meetings. This year, the PTA has approved a budget of $800/meal, we just need someone to help coordinate with a local food vendor. Please let us know if you are interested. Reach out to Committees@SierraPTAArvada.org
Sierra Staff Appreciation - The teachers and staff of Sierra Elementary are a large part of our children's lives. Let's show them all some love and appreciation by providing individually wrapped snacks and treats for them throughout the school year. Sign-Up here to help out or reach out to Ashley Panyako for more information.
Join us for our first Sierra Parent Networking event! October 25 from 4-6pm at Jacks in Five Park's. This is a social event that is designed to help parents get to know one other for both personal and professional networking.
Want an easy spot to communicate with the Sierra PTA and school community? Join our Facebook group to connect with other Sierra parents, ask questions, and learn about school and PTA community events!
Chipotle Restaurant Night - Our first restaurant night fundraiser for Sierra is coming up in two weeks on October 11th! Join us for dinner at Chipotle. You can easily order online for pickup or show a copy of the flyer. Take a night off and help support our students.
Opportunity for Feedback for Arvada Streets
The City of Arvada reached out to partner with Sierra to help ensure student safety! Currently, feedback is being collected from Arvada residents pertaining to Arvada's first Transportation System Plan through October 1. This is an opportunity for you to share your thinking - especially when we think about Oak street in front of Sierra Elementary School or a nearby intersection like 80th and Oak. We all share the common goal of keeping kids safe!
To provide feedback to the city of Arvada, click here for an interactive map.
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