March 31, 2023

NRE Class Assignment Process for 2023-2024

In the following weeks, our staff will begin building next year’s class rosters. This communication to parents is to clarify the process for class assignments for the upcoming school year and give parents an opportunity to provide input so we can better address each student's educational experience. We understand class placement can be a highly personal and often an emotional process for our students and their parents, so please know that we will handle this process with respect and integrity, keeping the needs of our students as the first priority.

Class lists will be developed with attention to the following areas, to provide balance in all classrooms and to promote universal student success:

Heterogeneous academic grouping

Learning style

Special needs and/or accommodations

Social and/or behavioral considerations

Gender

Parental input

Our goal is to assign the best possible placement for each child.  Our staff is involved in the class placement process by communicating individual student needs.   We also understand children have unique needs, which you would like us to consider in classroom selection as well. While we do not take specific teacher requests, we would like to give you the opportunity to share your thoughts about considerations for placement for your child's specific needs.  Parents who would like their input considered should submit this form no later than Friday, April 14, 2023.  

Thank you for your support with this process,

Katie Lynch

NRE Principal

Please fill out the form here if you would like to make a recommendation for the placement of your child.

Dear NRE Community - 

I cannot start this letter without addressing another school shooting that happened in the United States this week. It absolutely tears me apart to see a gunman (woman in this case) come into a school and kill incident people. It is so upsetting to me that I find it extremely difficult to even find the words to type this...again. Here's what I know:

I know that I love all of the people in Northridge Elementary School. I know that our students and staff feel like my family and I have lost countless hours of sleep thinking of all the ways to protect them. I have spent many hours talking with Director Jonny Grusing who is the Director of Safety and Security and who presented to our SAC last Friday. We have updated our windows, security cameras, locks etc to provide safer options for our community. I have attended multiple safety and security meetings to learn more and share ideas. I have attended many safety seminars throughout the state and additional ones at the National Association for Elementary Principals. Safety is my number one priority. How do we do this? The answers always comes back to relationships. 

We must make connections with one another in order to do right by people. Are we perfect? No. Does everyone like me or every teacher? No. Does every student like every student? No. We must make an effort to understand each other's perspectives and extend some grace. We don't always have to agree with one another but we must be kind to one another.  I will get off my soap box but please know that the topic of safety is always my first priority.

Speaking of kindness, Dina is our Vice President of the PTA, and she surprised our teachers with testing baskets this week. These baskets had extra snacks and water bottles for kids who forgot them as well as pencils, tissues, and mints to help our 6th grade get through CMAS. The baskets were so thoughtful and were very appreciated! Thank you so much for all your work with this Dina!

What is CMAS and why do we give it? CMAS  (Colorado Measures of Academic Success) measures what students know and are able to do starting from grade 3 through grade 10 across the state of Colorado and it also shows if students are showing growth, are stagnant, or are regressing. It is required both federally and by the state. We have amazing teachers, families and students at NRE and last year, because of our CMAS testing scores, NRE earned both the John Irwin Schools of Excellence and Governor's Distinguished Improvement Awards! All of our hard work paid off! Northridge Elementary was one of the seven elementaries in DCSD that earned both awards and I am so proud of our students and staff.

We will be celebrating two of our staff members tomorrow night at the annual Apple Awards. Becky Lansville is our certified representative and Caren Kurlander is our classified representative. Becky has earned her bachelor's degree  in Social Sciences and her master's degree in Special Education and has been in DCSD for 23 years (teaching for 25 years). A fun fact is that Becky Lansville inspired one of our teachers to become a teacher at NRE years ago and then we hired her to teach her this year! Caren Kurlander earned her bachelor's degree in psychology. Caren worked as a editor, editor in chief, and senior editor for more than a decade prior to coming to NRE. Caren has been at NRE for just over 5 years in the front office and regardless of the situation is so patience and calm.

Another NRE celebration is that Holly Garin was nominated as a 22-23 Shining Star. A Shining Star is someone nominated for outstanding service by a parent and/or caregiver of student receiving special eucation services. Holly will be in the running to win one of their prize baskets. We are so thankful that Holly brought consistency to our 4th grade discovery classroom this year. She is a very gifted, delightful, and kind teacher.  Congratulations Holly!

Lastly, we had out 2nd grade AESOP fable play last night and my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. The kids did an amazing job saying their parts, singing the songs, and knowing the choreography. It was such a beautiful evening! Ms. Davis and the 2nd grade teachers did a great job getting them prepared and we even had Ms. Anttila and Mrs. Brinkerhoff there to support students. It truly takes a whole village to helps students be there best and I love that Mrs. Jacque even came to support her class and brought her son even when she's on maternity leave.  A student was walking to school and said, "Guess what Mrs. Lynch? My best friend is coming to the play tonight! Mrs. Jacque of course!" My heart melted right in the middle of the cross walk.

I am lucky to be a part of this community and I hope you feel like you are too. Enjoy your weekend, don't blow away from the winds, and please be safe. 

Sincerely,

Katie

2022 John Irwin Schools of Excellence

This award is given to schools that demonstrate exceptional academic achievement over time. These schools received an Exceeds Expectations rating on the Academic Achievement indicator of the School Performance Frameworks reflecting exceptional performance in Math, English Language Arts, and Science. Congratulations to the following schools. These schools will be formally recognized by the state and by our Board of Education later this spring.

Academy Charter School, Arrowwood Elementary School**, Bear Canyon Elementary School, Ben Franklin Elementary, Buffalo Ridge Elementary School, Challenge to Excellence Charter School, Copper Mesa Elementary School, Cougar Run Elementary School, Eagle Ridge Elementary School, Eldorado Elementary School, Gold Rush Elementary School, Heritage Elementary School**, Lone Tree Elementary School**, Mountain Ridge Middle School, North Star Academy, Northridge Elementary School**, Parker Core Knowledge Charter School, Platte River Academy, Ranch View Middle School, Rock Canyon High School, Saddle Ranch Elementary School, STEM School Highlands Ranch, Stone Mountain Elementary School, Summit View Elementary School**, Timber Trail Elementary School**, Trailblazer Elementary School**, and Wildcat Mountain Elementary School

2022 Governor’s Distinguished Improvement Awards

This award is given to schools that demonstrate exceptional student growth. On the school performance framework that is used by the state to evaluate schools, these schools "exceed" expectations on the indicator related to longitudinal academic growth and "meet or exceed" expectations on the indicator related to academic growth gaps. Congratulations to the following schools. These schools will be formally recognized by the state and by our Board of Education later this spring.

Arrowwood Elementary School**, Castle Rock Elementary School, Flagstone Elementary School, Global Village Academy - Douglas County, Gold Rush Elementary, Heritage Elementary School**, Iron Horse Elementary School, Legacy Point Elementary School, Lone Tree Elementary School**, Northridge Elementary School**, Sage Canyon Elementary School, Soaring Hawk Elementary School, Summit View Elementary School**, Timber Trail Elementary School**, Trailblazer Elementary School**, World Compass Academy

**Schools that earned both the John Irwin School of Excellence and Governor's Distinguished Improvement Awards

Thank you Mrs. Peck and Mrs. Caren... We Love HPC!

We had our last Harry Potter Club meeting and end-of-term party on Wednesday. In the morning we had our dueling club and in the afternoon our party, where we announced that Gryffindor won the house cup. We had food, watched part of the movie, had a selfie station and a Honeydukes candy bar. 

Mental Health Supports:

If you are concerned that your child or another loved one may be experiencing changes in their mood or have suicidal behaviors or thoughts, please remember:

• Stay with the child or person until you are sure they are safe

• Call 911 if there is an immediate threat to the child or others 

• Call or text 988 for mental health crisis support

  • You can also chat with someone using the link: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

• Colorado Crisis Services: 1-844-493-TALK (8255) 

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

  • Chat online (open from 4:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. daily): Click Here

  • Walk-in Locations (open 24/7): Location List 

  • Information About Types of Services and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado Crisis Services 

• DCSD Mental Health Intervention website

• DCSD Sources of Strength website

• Mobile apps for wellness and recovery

• Let’s Talk Colorado (Douglas County Government and Tri-County Health campaign)

Douglas County has an anonymous reporting system available at all times. Anyone with a concern for someone’s well-being or safety can use Safe2Tell (1-877-542-7233) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Below is a list of community centers in our metro area:

• Colorado Crisis Center Walk-In Locations

• AllHealth Network: 303-730-8858

• Denver Springs: 720-410-6319

• Highlands Behavioral Health System: 720-348-2800

• Peakview Behavioral Health: 888-235-9475