UPE News Update
September 29, 2017
Reminders
Tuesday, October 3 at 3pm - PTO Meeting
Friday, October 6 - Bike/Walk to School Day (see detail further down in newsletter)
Talk To Us:
We are running last week's survey one more time in the hope of getting more responses: We are curious to learn how valuable assessment data is to you and your family. For this Talk To Us survey, I'll ask you about the data your child's teacher collects as well as assessments that are required by the State. Let us know your thoughts!
Thank you for taking a few minutes to help us know what you value! Your input is very important to us.
Chris
What We Learn When We Camp With Students
When we camp with kids, we learn amazing things about them. Certain strengths, such as compassion, strength, or a knowledge of nature, appear only outside. And when they do, it's magical.
Not only are children researching, writing, and reading about the science in our montane environment, but they are working together to build an experience that is powerful, bonding, and rich. Long conversations while hiking shed light into the incredible motivations and talents of our students. Campfires lead to hilarious stories and wonderful memories. Archery reveals aim and strength, games reveal compassion and fairness. Connecting with our High School Helpers build the Mustang Spirit and a desire to grow up to be a future High School Helper. Building stick forts reveals creativity and imagination. The outdoors demonstrates to children, in a way that a classroom can't always, that we desperately need each other's unique abilities. Nothing builds team like being outdoors together.
For the staff at UPES, there is always the "before they went camping class" and the "after they went camping family." What we bring to the camping trip is ourselves. What we bring back is compassion for each other.
Enjoy the attached photos of the Fifth Grade Camping Trip! As of this writing, our 6th graders are camping as well - we'll feature their photos in next week's Update!
C
Original Works
Dear Families:
We are excited to announce that Ute Pass Elementary has teamed up with
Original Works to offer an art-based program at our school. Through this
program, you will have the opportunity to purchase a variety of products featuring
your child's very own artwork.
All funds raised will be used for: the Art Program at Ute Pass Elementary.
Information and your child’s artwork will be sent home next week!
Beth Romano
Art Teacher
Ute Pass Elementary School
Counselor’s Corner
Our last round of guidance lessons has been focused on training our brains to STOP and THINK before reacting. Depending on the grade your student(s) is in, this may look different. Pre-school through 3rd Grade discussed different examples of when it is best to STOP and THINK instead of reacting with our instinct to fight, flight, or freeze. Each student colored a STOP sign to bring home or put in a place that would help him or her to remember to STOP and THINK before making a poor decision leading to unwanted consequences.
Fourth and Fifth grade each received a graphic of a brain that identifies the part of the brain that is hard-wired to react to incoming information (our Lizard Brain) and the part of the brain that we train to help us make good decisions (our Wizard Brain). We learned that we need to STOP before reacting long enough to access our Wizard Brain since our natural instinct is to respond with fight, flight, or freeze. While our response to fight, flight, or freeze may have been beneficial to our ancestors for survival, we have evolved as a society to a place that allows us time to STOP and THINK to produce the best reaction to most circumstances we come across in our daily lives.
Sixth grade guidance time was spent identifying our Sources of Strength. Each student took the time to list what people, activities, and resources they have that they know they can turn to when faced with challenging problems or emotions. For more information on Sources of Strength, visit sourcesofstrength.org.
It has been a joy having the opportunity to work with your students in the classroom environment and watching each engage with their unique personalities!
Ute Pass Elementary Activity Report
Mon Oct. 2, 2017
Arts 14 Classes
Tue Oct. 3, 2017
Arts 14 Classes
STAR, Landsharks
PTO Meeting 3pm
Wed Oct. 4, 2017
Arts 14 Classes, High Altitude Youth Choir
Thu Oct. 5, 2017
STAR, Landsharks
Fri Oct. 6, 2017
Walk/Ride your Bike to School Day
3rd to the Zoo 8:30am-12:45pm
Sick Policy
Illness: Please DO NOT send a sick student to school. This is for the benefit of not only your child, but for the other students and school staff. You should keep your child home if they have any of the following:
● Constant runny nose – especially if the discharge is yellow or green
● Congestion (lung or nasal)
● Persistent coughing and/or sneezing
● Elevated temperature (over 100 degrees)
● Vomiting and/or diarrhea within the last 12 hours
● Sore throat, especially with swollen neck nodes
● Red eyes with discharge (not allergy related)
● Sores that are “weeping” (especially around the mouth)
● Rashes that are not diagnosed
If your child becomes ill at school you will be contacted immediately so that you can take your child home. Please keep your contact information current and provide alternate contacts in the event that school staff is unable to contact you.
Medication:
If your child must have medication of any type (prescription or over-the-counter, this does include cough drops and ibuprofen) during school hours, you may:
1. Come to school and give it to your child at the appropriate time.
2. Discuss with your doctor an alternative schedule of medications so that it can be given outside of school hours.
3. Provide a completed PHYSICIAN’S AUTHORIZATION FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION BY SCHOOL PERSONNEL form (available in the school office and on MSSD14 website). This must be completed and signed by the physician and parent. Please do not send your child to school with any medication without the proper documentation.
You must provide prescription medication in a labeled pharmacy container that includes: students name, name of drug, dose, instruction for administration. You must provide over the counter medication in its original and unopened container.
This is school policy and protects not only your child, but also the staff administering the medication. This policy must be strictly followed and is the only way that we will be able to administer medication to your child.
Cold Weather Procedure
Children should come to school dressed appropriately for the unpredictable Colorado weather. Our practice is to hold recess outdoors if at all possible. Current weather conditions such as temperature, wind conditions, wetness of grounds, and rain/snow conditions are taken into consideration in making the decision of whether or not to hold outdoor recess. Wind chill factor below 10 degrees will always prompt indoor recess.
It is our expectation that students well enough to attend school are well enough to participate in all activities, including outdoor recess. If your child is not to go out for recess for any reason, you must send a note to your child's teacher. Otherwise your child will be required to go outdoors as usual. We will not honor requests that exceed 3 days to keep your child indoors, unless a doctor's certificate is presented.
Meet the MSSD 14 Board of Education Candidates
A Message from the Ute Pass Triangle Chamber of Commerce
SCARECROW ALLEY & SCAVENGER HUNT
The Chamber will have Scarecrows on display from Oct 10th – Oct 31st throughout the Town of Green Mountain Falls. Each scarecrow is built by a local chamber business or family. If you would like to sponsor a scarecrow, please contact Amily Beidelman-Almy at 684-2008. You may build your own scarecrow or the chamber can build one for you for a $30 donation. The display will also include a sign that states the scarecrow display is sponsored by your business or family (for residential members). If you would like to participate in scarecrow alley, we ask that you contact us by October 1st, so that we can plan the locations for the scarecrows. If you would like the chamber to create your scarecrow display, please let us know if there is a specific theme that you would like and we will do our best to incorporate that into your display. Please see below for additional details.
***New for this year ***
Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt – Locate the scarecrows throughout town and bring your completed scavenger hunt map to Trunk or Treat to win prizes. Scavenger hunt maps will be located at various businesses throughout town or can be downloaded from this page (map will be posted by Oct 10th).4TH ANNUAL TRUNK OR TREAT – OCTOBER 31ST
The Ute Pass Triangle Chamber of Commerce will host the 4th Annual Trunk or Treat!
When: Tuesday, October 31st 5:30-7:30 PM
Where: Joyland Church Parking Lot
What: Trunk or Treat is like Trick or Treating, but instead of going door to door, kids will go from car to car. Cars that participate will be decorated with different Halloween themes and hand out candy to the kids. Free hot chocolate, hot apple cider, and lots of candy!
Prizes will be awarded for best costume and best decorated trunk! If you would like to participate in giving out candy with a trunk display, please fill out this form: Pre-Registration and e-mail it to:discoverutepass@gmail.com
2017-18 School Calendar
Show Your School Spirit!
Ute Pass Elementary
Spirit Store
Show your school spirit with one of our
t-shirts or hoodies!
.
Youth and adult sizes available while supplies last.
You can purchase in the front office.
Hoodies- $20.00
T-shirts- $10.00
Here's how you find us!
...at the foot of Pikes Peak in the Rocky Mountains
Email: cbrigggshale@mssd14.org
Website: http://upe.mssd14.org/
Location: 9230 Chipita Park Road, CO, United States
Phone: 719-685-2227
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ute-Pass-Elementary-234424271585/