SCE Weekly News - Friday - January 27, 2023

Message from Principal Pekarek

January 27, 2023 


Dear SCE Families,


It’s that time of year for us to start preparing our school budget for the upcoming school year. Staff and parent feedback is very important to us to ensure our school funds are being spent on priorities that our school community values. Please provide us with your feedback to help us plan for the 2023-2024 school year by completing this Parent Budget Priorities Survey by Friday, February 3, 2023. 


We are so excited about our NEW ELECTRONIC SIGN that was recently installed at our school this week!! Our team is working hard to learn all about how to program the sign, so we can easily communicate with our families about the cool events happening at SCE!! We can’t thank our PTO and school community enough for their support with fundraising efforts to make this purchase possible!!  We will have a special “lighting” celebration on February 7th at 12:30pm with special guest, Mr. Ian Wells, our Executive Director of Schools! Feel free to stop on by and join us.

 

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for Parent-Teacher Conferences coming up on February 21st and 23rd. Your student’s teacher will be sending out a Sign-Up Genius in the next few weeks for you to choose a time on one of those nights that works best for you. This collaboration between teachers and families is invaluable to student success!


Have you purchased your tickets for the upcoming Mother/Very Important Grown-Up and Son Night at the Main Event on January 30th from 5:00-9:00 pm? It will be a night filled with FUN! Use this link to get signed up! We hope to see you there! 


Proud to be an Eagle!

Pamela Pekarek

Principal, Sand Creek Elementary

***Por favor haga clic aquí para ver en español

Important Dates

 

January 30th - PTO Mother/Son night at the Main Event - 5-9 pm. Last to purchase for $25 each is Saturday night, Jan 28th(click here to purchase tickets)

February 7th - PTO Meeting - 4:15-5:15 pm

February 7th - Save the Date for the MVHS Wish Week Fair - Click HERE to view the flyer

February 6th - 10th - Wish Week - Stay tuned for lots of fun activities

Notes from the Front Office

Donation Box--please be reminded that the Donation Box on the north side of campus is for used clothing/shoe donations. Part of the proceeds are given back to SCE.


Please call the Attendance Line if your student will be late or not attending school - 303-387-6602

It is great to notify your teacher, but please call the attendance line to notify the office. Thank you.

PTO Updates

PTO Restaurant Night Fundraiser

January 25th - I Heart Mac and Cheese - 5-9pm


MOTHER/SON

Join us for a Mother/Son night on January 30th from 5p-9p. This is an ALL ACCESS event! Ticket price includes 4 hours of 'All You Can Play' activities including bowling, laser tag, gravity ropes and a 2 hour Fun Card for games. Pizza and drinks will be served as well.

Mother/Son Main Event Party Tickets


FATHER/DAUGHTER

Join us for a Father/Daughter night on February 13th from 5p-9p. This is an ALL ACCESS event! Ticket price includes 4 hours of ‘All You Can Play' activities including bowling, laser tag, gravity ropes and a 2 hour Fun Card for games. Pizza and drinks will be served as well.

Father/Daughter Main Event Party Tickets



We are so thankful for our Sand Creek community helping us raise the funds necessary to make upgrades to the front of our school. Last year you helped us cross the finish line to get a new LED sign installed that will make all our lives easier (installation starts in December), and this year we’re hoping to finish raising the funds necessary to install some much needed outdoor space.


Now you can literally put your name on Sand Creek when you BUY A BRICK that will be used in the building of the new outdoor space in the front of school (see attached). This buy a brick campaign will help us raise the remaining $15,000 we need to complete this project this summer. We can’t wait to host Meet The Teacher next fall and show off our new digs that will allow students and teachers to spend more time outdoors in a safe and comfortable environment.


A few facts:

  • You can buy the brick online - CLICK HERE

  • Buy now! The deadline is January 31 - cross this off your to-do list early!

  • Ground breaking will be this Spring/Summer.

  • Anyone who wants to buy a brick can! Help us meet the goal by sharing with alumni families!


Thank you for helping us cross the finish line on this project!


Your Sand Creek Elementary PTO



Here is the link to the PTO 1-stop shop – we refer to it as “Quick Links” generally you can find all things the PTO wants you to know/have here.  New this year (and amazing) we have loaded out all of the volunteer opportunities through the end of the year.  We will promote them and ask for volunteers as the events get closer – but we have a sign up genius posted for EVERY volunteer opportunity through the end of the year.  Please make sure this is in the weekly newsletter, under the PTO section. Thanks!


The Sand Creek Elementary Merchandise Shop is open to the public! Check out the website for a nice selection of SCE-branded products for purchase. 


Our Merchandise Shop is special as not only is everything approved by the school but we get more per purchase. For every item sold, we get between $8 to $50!!! These dollars go right into our PTO budget to pay for things like programs, teacher grant, and classroom subscriptions that make your kids' learning environment stronger! 


SHOP THE PTO MERCHANDISE SHOP and show your Sand Creek pride! Sand Creek Elementary SOARS above the rest and we are so excited to be able to show the community our colors! 


SHOP NOW! 

Counselor Corner


Mental Health Resources: 



  • Colorado now provides every child in the state with a free mental health evaluation and 3 free counseling sessions. Good news! This has now been extended through June 2023! Here is the link with more information: https://imattercolorado.org/



  • Trained Crisis Counselor Hotline: (844) 493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255


  • 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.



Weekly Photos


Please go to our Sand Creek Elementary Facebook page to look at pictures from this week.  Click here to go to the page.


Please Note: There is no expectation of privacy during school assemblies or other large school gatherings, sporting events, off-campus field trips or extra-curricular activities. Privacy cannot be guaranteed in public locations.

Library Corner


Library News

 

New Year, New Books


Come check out our New Releases, Recommended Reading, and Award Winning shelves in the library!


January 16th was Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Chinese New Year 2023 falls on January 22, Sunday, starting the Year of the Rabbit!

Clubs/Activities

Basketball Club 

before school with Mr. Bolser: 
K-3rd Grade: Tuesdays
4th-6th Grade: Thursdays



Volleyball Club 

before school with Mr. Bolser
K-6th Grade: Mondays


Join the SCE Garden Club! 

Meets 2 x per month on Mondays 4:15-5:15PM. Information and sign-up: Garden Club Google Form and MySchoolBucks 

Parents are welcome to come to the first meeting on Monday, January 23rd and see what it is all about! Students will learn about sustainability, plant some cool things and MAKE an IMPACT in our community. 

Sign-up for Sand Creek clubs and activities: MySchoolBucks

CogAT Information

Dear Parents/Guardians,


DCSD is committed to implementing equitable practices to increase access to advanced/gifted learning opportunities. Based on state and national recommendations and requirements, we implement Universal Screening for students in 2nd grade (February).

 

2nd Grade Universal Screen

As part of this process, ALL students in 2nd grade not identified for gifted programming will take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) the week of February 6th.  This assessment indicates the level and pattern of cognitive development of a student in comparison to grade and age mates.  These general reasoning abilities, which start developing at birth and continue through early adulthood, are influenced by experiences gained both in and out of school.  


If your child is already identified for gifted programming, they will not participate in this universal screen testing. Your Gifted Education Facilitator will contact you directly with information about this process. 

Kindergarten/ 1st Grade Gifted Identification Referral Testing 

  • If your child is in K or 1st  grade and you believe he/she needs evaluation for Gifted Identification and Services, you may refer your child for testing by initiating the Gifted Identification Process.  

  • NOTE:  Requesting this assessment automatically initiates the process to evaluate for Gifted Identification. 

  • Please request CogAT testing for your child by completing the Referral for Gifted Identification linked HERE.

  • Upon receipt of this form the Gifted Education Facilitator will connect with you to discuss next steps in the gifted identification process.

  • HARD Deadline for referral testing request is February 3, 2023.


Mrs. Lindsay Ensign
Gifted & Talented Facilitator
*Available on Mondays & Tuesdays*

Get Your Merch Here

Sand Creek Gear


Get your Sand Creek merch from www.SandCreekMerch.com.


$4 per item goes to the school! Go and show your school spirit. Thank you for your support!