HOMESTEADER Homestead Elementary

Homestead Elementary
HOMESTEADER
October 10, 2014
Dear Homestead Families,
We have so much to celebrate here at Homestead in the month of October!
Just two weeks ago, the U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced
that our wonderful school was one of only four schools in the state of Colorado to be recognized in 2014 as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
This coming Monday, October 13th, the Board of Education will recognize
Homestead at the CCSD Board Meeting, which will take place at Coyote Hills
Elementary at 6:45 pm. Feel free to join us if you can! We offer our sincerest
thanks to the entire Homestead community for their support in this great
achievement. After winter break, we will have a Blue Ribbon celebration here
at the school. Stay posted for details!
On Friday, October 3rd, our students also had a chance to celebrate after all
their hard work fundraising for Run4Funds during their Prize Day. Students
enjoyed an array of exciting activities and rewards, including an inflatables party, delicious Kona Ice and even a Human Hamster Ball. Thanks again for all
your contributions to our Run4Funds campaign! Prize Day was a huge success,
students were smiling throughout the day.
Yet another celebration to note is our incredible Fall Festival. This afternoon,
Homestead families, community members and staff will come out to support
our school by participating in festivities that include hay rides, a dance party
and pumpkin-picking in Homestead’s own pumpkin patch. Thanks to PTCO
for coordinating this outstanding event, which is always a huge success, rain or
shine. It will be so wonderful to see the community come together to celebrate fall!
We’d like to remind everyone that we have a PTCO Accountability meeting
coming up this Thursday, October 16th at 6:00 pm in the library here at
Homestead. We’d love to have you join us!
Thanks again for giving us all so much to celebrate!
Olympia Stefanski
English Language Acquisition Specialist
& Administrative Intern
In this Issue:
1
Letter from our Intern
2
Important Upcoming Dates
3
Justin Matott is Coming
4
P E Intramurals;: Session 2
5
From the Art Room
Fire Prevention Month
Gifts from the Heart
6
Homestead Book Fair
7
Nurse’s News
8
Homestead Remembers
Veterans Day
9
Accountability Committee
10
Parent Information Network
11 Parenting Coaching
Workshop
School Climate Survey
12
Parent Academy
13
New Flyers at the Entrance
HOMESTEADER
Page 2
October
13 PE Intramurals – grade 3, 8:05-8:40am
14 Green Choir, 7:45-8:45am
PE Intramurals – grades 1 & 2, 8:05-8:40am
1st Grade Field Trip to the Butterfly Pavilion
15 Walkin’ Wheelin’ Wednesday
Student Walk and Bike 2 School Committee
8:00-8:45am
16 PE Intramurals – grades 4 & 5, 8:05-8:40am
Author Justin Matott - Enrichment Assembly
K-2 9:00am; 3-5 10:30am
17 Student Walk and Bike 2 School Committee
8:00-8:45am
1st Grade Going Buggy Day – all day -1st grade
area
19 Education Support Professionals Day
20 to 24 Community Outreach Food Drive
5th Grade Colonial Days
20 Student Council 8:00am Library
PE Intramurals – grade 3, 8:05-8:40am
21 Hearing Screening, Grades K-2
Green Choir, 7:45-8:45am
4th Grade Symphony Field Trip
PE Intramurals – grades 1 & 2, 8:05-8:40am
22 Walkin’ Wheelin’ Wednesday
Student Walk and Bike 2 School Committee
8:00-8:45am
23 PE Intramurals – grades 4 & 5, 8:05-8:40am
24 Walk and Bike 2 School Committee 8:15 8:45am
Colonial Museum 9:00am-12:00pm – gym
4th Grade Pumpkin Palooza 2:15 - 3:15pm
27 to 31 Fall Break
November
3 PE Intramurals – grade 3 8:05-8:40am
5 Student Walk and Bike 2 School Committee
8:15-8:45am
Picture Retakes – Cafeteria
6 PE Intramurals – grades 4 & 5, 8:05-8:40am
PTCO Board Mtg. 8:45am – Conference
Room
7 All Choir 7:45-8:45am
Student Walk and Bike 2 School Committee
8:15-8:45am
Send Progress Reports Home Today
October is Fire Prevention Month
South Metro Fire is celebrating by offering FREE ice cream. South Metro Fire Rescue is wanting families to practice home escape drills (Fire Drills). If families make a map, practice their drill, and take a
family picture of themselves at their meeting place we will send Cold Stone Ice Cream coupons to all
children under 13. Please help South Metro Fire become a safer fire district. Please see attachments
for more information.
If you have any questions please email or call me.
Colleen Potton
Life Safety Educator
South Metro Fire Rescue
720-989-2274
Page 3
HOMESTEADER
JUSTIN MATOTT IS COMING TO
HOMESTEAD!
Thanks to Homestead’s PTCO Enrichment committee,
Colorado author, Justin Matott, is going visit Homestead
on Thursday, October 16. Mr. Mattot will present assemblies and facilitate writing workshop sessions during the day.
Mr. Matott is the author of both picture and chapter books including Go Ask
Mom, Ol’ Lady Grizelda, and When Did I Meet You Grandma? To prepare for Mr. Matott’s visit, teachers will be sharing some of his books with their classes.
Students will also have the opportunity to purchase some of Mr. Matott’s books
that will be delivered on the day of his visit. (See attached order
form.) Orders and payment need to be returned to Ms. Merritt in
the library by Tuesday, October 14.You may have the books personalized and autographed by indicating this on the order form.
Please make checks payable to Homestead Elementary. If you
would like to preview Mr. Matott’s books, please come by the
Homestead library at your convenience.
To see a sample of a presentation by Mr. Matott, please click on the following
link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSz8TSMoePk#t=163
Thanks to PTCO for providing the funds for this enrichment opportunity.
Page 4
HOMESTEADER
P.E. INTRAMURALS
SESSION 2
Starting Monday, November 3 and finishing on Thursday, December 18
The second session of Intramurals will begin on Monday, November 3. Every student
wishing to participate must fill out and return the permission slip below to the P.E. office
by Wednesday, October 22.
Session 2 will include BASKETBALL activities
Monday: Grade 3
Tuesday: Grades 1 & 2
Thursday: Grades 4 & 5
We want intramurals to be a safe and enjoyable experience for every participant.
Therefore, there will be a limit of 25 participants. So, please turn in your sign up form
ASAP. Parents will only be notified if their child is wait listed.
Students who sign up for intramurals are expected to attend every class. Attendance
will be taken at each class. If your child is unable to take part in before school intramurals
please call the P.E. office to let us know. Students who are repeatedly absent without a valid
reason will be removed from the intramurals program. In the unlikely event that intramurals
must be canceled, parents will be notified before the end of the school day. Please note, that if
school is on a delayed start due to bad weather there will be NO intramurals. Feel free to
contact me at 7-5543761 or fjans@cherrycreekschools.org if you have any questions.
Thank you.
Flori Jans
_________________________________________________________________________
P.E. INTRAMURALS
Session 2 BASKETBALL activities
Starting Monday, November 3 and finishing on Thursday, December 18
8:05 - 8:45
STUDENT’S FIRST AND LAST NAME:_______________________________________________
GRADE / TEACHER:____________________________________________________________
MEDICATION TAKEN:__________________________________________________________
MEDICAL CONDITION, ALLERGIES:________________________________________________
PHONE #:__________________________EMAIL ADDRESS:____________________________
PARENT’S SIGNATURE:_________________________________________________________
Please return this slip to the P.E. Office and keep the top half for your frig/calendar.
Page 5
HOMESTEADER
From the Art Room:
Have you just bought new shoes recently? I'm needing shoe boxes if you still have them!
Also, if anyone has an old, but working electric skillet, I would be interested in taking it off your hands
instead of throwing it away.
Thank You!
Mrs. DeWeese
_________________________________________________________________
Gifts From the Heart
Annie Basham and Erin Pfaff would like YOU to join them in the
cafeteria next
Wednesday, October 15th at 8:45 a.m.
to learn more about Gifts From the Heart, an annual
Homestead event.
We want to make this year the best one yet, but we need
volunteers to
make this happen. Please come even if you do not have a craft in
mind,
we already have several ideas. If you do have a gift/craft idea
please bring it to share - the more the better!
See you next week.
Page 6
HOMESTEADER
Homestead Book Fair
November 10 – 13
The Homestead Fall Book Fair is scheduled for November 10 - 13 in the Homestead Library. Students will have a chance to be preview books on either Friday,
November 7 or Monday, November 10. During that time, students will create and
bring home a wish list.
The Book Fair will be open for business Monday from
8:00 – 4:00, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:00 – 6:30 and Thursday from 8:00
- 4:00. Setup and previews will take place on Friday, November 7 between 8:30
and 3:00. The Book Fair will be open daily during student lunch times so that
students with money may purchase books. Profits from the book fair will be
used to buy new materials for our library.
If you are interested in helping with set-up, take-down, or sales, please
contact Alecia Hadden at jahadden1@gmail.com, Joni Ann Morella morella3@earthlink.net or Mana Merritt at mmerritt@cherrycreekschools.org.
___________________________________________________________
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HOMESTEADER
I want to thank everyone who
donated their gift of time on vision
screening day. It was a huge
success and the day ran so
smoothly because of you! I also enjoyed getting to know all of you a little bit better. Thank you for everything you do to make
Homestead such a great place to be!
Nurse Barb
“Flu season is just around the corner in Colorado! There
is no way to predict in advance how severe flu activity will
be so prevention is the best strategy to stay healthy. The
single best way to avoid getting influenza is to get vaccinated each year. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged 6
months and older, who do not have a contraindication to the vaccine. Most health insurance
companies (including Medicaid) cover the cost of getting a flu vaccine so families with health
insurance can go to your in-network health care provider to receive a vaccine at no
cost. Many pharmacies will bill your insurance and not charge a fee for flu vaccine (check
with your local pharmacy). If you are uninsured, or your insurance won’t cover vaccines, or
you have Medicaid or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), you can call Tri-County Health Department at 303-451-0123 to be vaccinated in one of their clinics.You can also visit http://
flushot.healthmap.org/ to find flu shot clinics near you.”
HOMESTEADER
Page 8
Homestead Remembers Veterans Day 2014
To commemorate Veterans Day, 2014, students at Homestead will have the opportunity to recognize veterans and active military personnel in their family or in their neighborhood. Using the form below, students will be able to share information about the honoree including his/her relationship to the student and the branch of service s/he represents.
These recognitions will be displayed in our school. Hard copies of the form below should
be completed and returned to your child’s homebase teacher on or before Friday, October
17.
On November 13, recognized honorees, that are able to attend, are invited to participate with
Homestead students in an assembly at 9:00 a.m. The flag will be presented, students will sing our national
anthem, and the honorees will be introduced. After completing the indoor portion of the tribute, honorees,
students, and staff will go out to the flagpole to raise the flag, say the Pledge of Allegiance, and sing a song
together. Students who have guests will then go to the cafeteria to share refreshments.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name of Honoree
______________________________________________________________
Branch of service
______________________________________________________________
Location of service
______________________________________________________________
Dates of service
______________________________________________________________
Connection to Homestead student
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Student’s Name _____________________________
Teacher __________________
Honoree will be able to attend the ceremony _____/no
_____/yes
If yes, please provide the following contact information for the honeree:(please print)
email _______________________________________________________________
or
U.S. Mail ____________________________________________________________
HOMESTEADER
Page 9
Please come to Homestead’s first Accountability Meeting of the school year! Ms. Kenyon will
provide us with a “State of the School” update to include information about the programming
Homestead uses in all subject areas. Hope to see you next Thursday! Bring a friend! See full
agenda below.
Homestead Elementary School
School Accountability Committee
Meeting Agenda 10/16/14
6:00 – 7:15 pm
Welcome New Members (Welcome and Introduction of New Members or Visitors)
Celebrations
Approval of bylaws
District Accountability Update (DAC)
PTCO Update
Principal’s Update - "State of the School" & Process of Applying for the National Blue Ribbon Award
Our student numbers (how many from the neighborhood, in-district, open choice, children of staff members)
School achievement scores: TCAP
A brief outline of programming used in all subjects--e.g., Lucy Calkins for writing,
FOSS for Science, Words Their Way, Everyday Math, new Social Studies
Review of staffing design process
Discussion items
Set agenda for next meeting: guest speaker Dr. Floyd Cobb
Other
Closing and Wrap-up
Next Meeting: November 13, 2014
HOMESTEADER
Page 10
Tuesday, November 11th, 2014
Evening-Only Presentation
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
A Parent’s Battle Plan for
Enjoying Amateur Sports
Don’t miss PIN’s only evening presentation of the year featuring Rod Olsen, author and 21st
century coaching and parenting specialist. Rod has trained more than 100,000 leaders nationwide in both the worlds of sports and business. After a 20-year college coaching career, Rod has taught at the USA Olympic coaching schools, worked with Navy SEAL leaders, and is currently directing coach development for the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team.
Rod is the author of the critically acclaimed book on leadership and coaching, The Legacy Builder: 5 Timeless Principals for 21st Century Leaders.
Parents, school administrators and community members are welcome and encouraged to
attend PIN’s free presentations. No need to RSVP—just come!
Presentations are FREE and are held the first Tuesday of each month at:
Student Achievement Resource Center (SARC)
14188 Briarwood Avenue, Centennial
(south of Arapahoe Rd., between Potomac and Jordan Roads)
Come at 6:15 p.m. for appetizers and networking
Visit www.PINccsd.org for Podcasts and Meeting Highlights
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Dec. 2nd
Beyond Texting—The Fine Art of Face-to-Face Communication
Jan. 6th
The Positive Effect of Arts on Kids
Page 11
HOMESTEADER
Cherry Creek School District
School Climate, Safety, and Wellness Survey
As part Cherry Creek School District’s ongoing efforts to provide safe, supportive learning environments for students and effective partnerships among students, families, and school staff, during the month of November we will survey students, parents, and
staff about the climate of safety, wellness, and support that exists in our schools. Third through fifth grade students will be asked
to report on bullying, school climate, resiliency factors, and health/wellness. The student survey will be available for parent review
on the district website and at your child’s school.
In accordance with district policy, parents of students who are to complete the survey will be notified in a letter sent the week of
October 13th. Parents who do not wish for their child to participate will be given instructions in the letter you receive. This letter will also provide parents with information on how to com-plete the parent survey. Parents will be asked to provide their
feedback on student safety, bullying behavior, and overall school climate at their child’s school.
The district’s Safe Schools Design Team strongly believes that getting information directly from students, parents, and staff is a
very important part of making sure that schools are safe and inclusive learning envi-ronments for all children. The information
from the surveys is used to help guide future safety and preven-tion planning. All schools will be given summary reports of their
school’s data in Spring 2015.
If you have any questions about this survey, please call your school principal or safety chairperson. You may also contact Dr. Amy
Plog, Research and Data Coordinator, at (720) 554-4289. Thank you for your partici-pation!
Page 12
HOMESTEADER
Homestead Elementary
7451 S. Homestead Parkway
Centennial, CO 8011
Phone: (720) 554-3700
Fax: (720) 554-3788
Attendance: (720) 554-3795
New Flyers at the Front for Enrichment Opportunities
Mad Science
Crossfit on Campus
Join Cub Scouts
Rocky Mountain Conservatory Theatre
Mandarin Chinese Language Enrichment
KidzArt Art Education Classes
French and Spanish Language Classes
Chess Class
Homestead H.A.W.K.S.!
H—HONEST
A— ACHIEVING
W— WORKING HARD
K— KIND
S— SAFE
THANK YOU!