General Information

**** LABEL everything with your child's FIRST and LAST name ****

Labeling EVERYTHING helps us return items to the correct children/families & keeps teachers happy & less stressed ;-)

• lunch boxes

• snacks

• clothing & shoes

• outwear: coat/jackets, mittens/gloves, snow boots

• backpacks

• water bottles

Absences and Arriving Late/Leaving Early - Campus Parent

• log into your Infinite Campus (IC) Parent Portal to report absences - learn how to use the BVSD Excused Absence Form 

• in addition to reporting absences on IC, you can report absences to your child's teacher (email)

• if the office or teachers do not receive notification of absences, children will be marked as an "unexcused absence" and you will receive a call

• let the front office and your child's teacher know if children will be arriving late or leaving early - children need to be walked into the office and signed in if arriving late or signed out if leaving early

After School Care - School Age Care (SAC) 

Backpacks - label with child's FIRST and LAST name

• K students need a "regular" sized backpack - usually measuring around 15"H x 11"W x 6"D (NOT a mini/toddler backpack 9"H x 9"W x 2"D)

• backpacks need to hold: large Friday Folder, lunch box if bringing lunch from home, 2 snacks

• children should practice zipping and unzipping to encourage independence

• children should practice placing items in backpacks and taking items out to encourage independence

• make sure children know what their backpacks look like

Birthdays

• INVITATIONS

  • you may send birthday invitations to school if the whole class is invited

  • it is up to families to deliver invitations

• TREATS 

  • please do not send in food or other treats for your child's birthday

Breakfast

• breakfast is optional and can be purchased through BVSD meal accounts

• breakfast is served in the Café before school from approximately 7:40-7:50

• if children ride the bus to school, they should get off the bus and go directly to the Café for breakfast

Change in Routine - if children are going home a different way than they usually do...

• you MUST send in a note or email your child's teacher

• you MUST email or call the office at 720-561-3800 with the change(s)

• if children are riding a bus home with a friend you MUST send in a note telling us what bus your children are riding home and with whom - this note needs to be signed and dated by the front office and then is given to  bus drivers

• help us keep your children safe by telling us of any changes - both the front office and the K Team

Class Lists - our process may change due to COVID-19 health and safety guidelines

• for the first three days of school, K teachers will share ALL students

• by the end of the first week of school, teachers will make class lists and let families know which teacher is theirs

• we work very hard to make balanced classes (boys/girls, English as first language/English not as first language, introverted/extroverted, who learns & plays well together, etc.)

• we do not take parent requests, although we do take information shared with us into account 

Contacting Teachers

• CALL

  • 720-561-3800 and leave a message with the front office or a voice mail

  • we tend not to answer our learning space phones so as to not interrupt instruction and learning

  • if it is important, leave a message with the front office and they will make sure we get the message

  • when you leave a voice message, we will to get back to you within 24-48 hours after we receive it

• EMAIL 

  • all BVSD staff have this basic email address: firstname.lastname@bvsd.org

  • we try to respond to emails within 24-48 hours

  • please DO NOT email us with important change of plans after 12:00 p.m. - call the front office at 720-561-3800 and leave a message with them

District Professional Development Days (PD DAYS)

• check the BVSD calendar 

• children do not attend school on these days - it is up to families to find childcare if needed

Family Involvement and Volunteering

• CREEKSIDE PARENT ORGANIZATION (CPO)

  • find more information on the CPO website on the Creekside site about how parents, the principal, staff, and the larger community work together to support Creekside 

• VOLUNTEERING

  • go to the Creekside website for more information about volunteering at Creekside

  • go to the BVSD website for volunteer information

  • once you have completed a BVSD background check, families members can volunteer in learning spaces (classrooms), the Curiosity Center (library), in the art room, for field trips, and many other Creekside events

• click on BVSD Get Involved to learn about ways to stay informed and involved in your children's education

Friday Folders

• important part of communication between home and school

  • field trip permission forms

  • whole school events and information

  • children's work

• goes home every Friday in backpacks - empty every weekend!

• comes back to school every Monday - send back any important signed forms

Home Visits - we will follow COVID-19 health and safety guidelines

• the K Team may conduct home visits to build communication and success for all

• home visits support the children's team working together - families, teachers, and students

• visits are conducted in late September and October - may be canceled 

• more information is shared in September

Independence - even the youngest children can be independent and find joy and pride in doing things for themselves

• children can practice...

  • getting items into and out of backpacks by themselves

  • zipping and unzipping their own backpacks

  • zipping and unzipping their own coats/jackets/shoes

  • taking coats and shoes off and putting them back on

  • opening snack and lunch items

  • getting onto and pumping on swings

  • climbing playground equipment safely and going down slides feet first

  • using the bathroom and washing hands by themselves (at school, adults cannot help wipe)

• article from Today's Parent : 8 Tips for Teaching Kids to Be More Independent

• article from verywellfamily: How to Encourage Independence in Your Child

Lunch Boxes - label with child's FIRST and LAST name

• many children like fun lunch boxes but anything that can hold your child's lunch is fine (Ziploc bags, paper bags, etc)

• all lunch boxes are taken to the Café in the mornings

• pack lunches from home and snacks separately (snacks stay in learning spaces/classrooms)

• make sure children know what their lunch boxes look like

Lunch and Snacks - label lunch boxes and snacks with child's FIRST and LAST name, please use plastic or other reusable containers - no glass!

• Meal Information can be found on the BVSD website and on the Creekside website

  • this is where you set up a lunch account

  • you need to know your child's student number

  • your child will not need to know their number for kindergarten, but will need to learn it for 1st grade

  • find free and reduced lunch information 

• para educators are with children outside and in the Café during recess and lunch

• lunches from home and snacks need to be packed separately - lunch boxes go to the Café each morning and snacks stay in learning spaces/classrooms

• label lunch boxes and snacks (containers, bags) with your child's FIRST and LAST name

• COLD LUNCH = nutritious lunch brought from home

  • hot items can be put in a thermos - there are no microwaves for children or teachers to use

  • cold items can be kept cold with ice/cold packs

  • children can buy milk in the Café through their meal account

  • children can get water in the Café or bring their own healthy drink (no soda)

• HOT LUNCH = lunch from the Café 

  • hot lunch can be purchased from the Café - go to BVSD online payments

  • milk is included

  • there are vegetarian and gluten free options

• SNACKS = brought from home (label with names)

  • we have 2 snacks a day - a morning snack and an afternoon snack

  • pack snacks separately from lunches brought from home

  • pack nutritious snacks for good brain and body energy (examples: vegetables, fruits, crackers, pretzels, cheese, yogurt, small muffins/bread, hummus)

  • children need to be able to peel oranges and bananas independently or bring fruit that is already peeled

  • please keep cookies, cakes, and potato chips at home

  • families can donate pretzels for your child's learning space for teachers to use with children who do not bring snacks or need more to eat

  • make sure children know what their snacks look like and what they are packed in - label containers/bags with children's  names!

Shoes and Clothes - label everything with FIRST and LAST name

• children need to wear shoes that have straps and are safe for running and playing on the playground, in PE, and walking in the learning spaces

• keep flip flops and shoes that come off easily at home

• if dresses/skirts are worn to school, it's a good idea to wear shorts under them

• children will keep an extra set of clothes at school in case of accidents - a Ziploc bag will be sent home at the beginning of the year for you to put clothes into and send back to school (label each clothes item with first and last names ;-)

• we will go outside if the weather is above 19 degrees F and if it is not too wet - children need a jacket and other appropriate outdoor clothing (if you need help with clothing, we can help!)

• make sure children know what their shoes and clothing looks like

Sunscreen

• must be put on at home

• teachers and other staff are not allowed to put sunscreen on children

Toys

• keep ALL toys at home - children get very sad and upset when toys from home are lost or broken

• toys that are brought to school need to stay in backpacks, teachers/staff may take them to keep them safe, or families may be asked to pick the toys up at school

• weapons (including toys from home, sticks, fingers/hands) and weapon-play are not allowed at Creekside to keep ALL children, families, and visitors safe 

• help explain to children that pretend weapon-play rules may differ at home and school

Transportation - bus schedules

• teachers do not have busing information

• go to BVSD Transportation to find out information about busing

• click on New Riders to find out if busing is available for your new K students

• you can also call the front office at 720-561-3800 to get support

Water Bottles - label with child's FIRST and LAST name

• water bottles are kept in learning spaces and can be taken outside during snack and morning recess

• make sure children know what their water bottle looks like