So Glad You're Back!
Week of 8/18/24
School Dismissal Manager is up and running!
Click on the picture for a video on how to use it.
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Picture day is coming soon. Please remember to add .8% tax to any package you purchase.
ID: EVTWGK2V9
You can pay by credit card online, check made out to Lifetouch or cash (exact amount, no change will be given as photographers do not open the envelopes and do not handle money. The office does not have change on hand.)
Girls on the Run Returns to Aurora Quest! We need coaches!
Coaches are needed for Girls on the Run this fall at Aurora Quest! You don’t have to be a runner. We are looking for women (18+) to help empower girls to thrive and shine emotionally, socially, and physically, while training for a 5K. Using the Girls on the Run curriculum, teams of 2 - 4 coaches and 16 - 20 girls meet twice a week for 10 weeks.Training provided. Interested? Register at www.girlsontherunrockies.org. Contact Brynn Wiessner at bwiessner@aurorak12.org/ 303-326-3182 or learn more at www.girlsontherunrockies.org/coach.
Pheonix Feathers - Support your PTA by Uplifting Quest Students!
If you're in the building at some point, come check her out. She is located just outside the office in the lobby near the courtyard exit.
Birthday Celebrations...
We love to celebrate your children and the day they were born, but we do have many students with food allergies that are contained in the usual celebratory food options like cupcakes and cookies.
In order to make sure all our students can partake in your child's celebratory day, please consider other ways to celebrate your child's special day with their classmates. Click on the picture for idea options.
6th Grade Ropes Course - Permission slips reminder!
Aurora Quest Robotics Challenge Season 2024
WHO: This is for 4th-8th graders!
Please note: 1st - 3rd will have a separate session that starts in January called FIRST® LEGO® League Explore
WHEN and WHERE: Registration and informational meeting will be virtual this coming Thursday August 22nd at 7:00pm. Please use the following LINK to attend this meeting.
WHAT: FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) is a fun, exciting program designed to ignite enthusiasm for the discovery of the basic principles of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The club is limited to students in 4th – 8th grade.
Each year, a themed challenge is introduced. This year’s theme is SUBMERGEDTM. Teams compete in four key areas:
Core Values (Teamwork): The Core Values are the fundamental elements that distinguish FIRST LEGO League from other programs of its kind. Participants learn that friendly competition and mutual gain are not separate goals and that helping one another is the foundation of teamwork.
Project: Teams research the challenge, select a real-world problem and create an innovative solution. They present their solutions as part of the competition.
Robot Design: Teams design, build and program a robot using LEGO Mindstorms to score points on a themed 4’ x 8’ playing field.
Robot Performance: Teams compete on a themed 4’ x 8’ playing field.
Schedule: Practices will be on Thursdays starting September 5th 2:30 – 4:30 pm in Mrs. Johnson's classroom. Students who want to attend Quest sports after school, will still be able to do so. Please attend to find out more.
The first few weeks will be spent learning the current challenge and project research. Regional tournaments are on Saturdays in November, and the State Championship is typically in the first week of December (for teams that qualify).
Fee: This year's fees are still being processed. They include national registration with FIRST, regional tournament registration, competition field kits, and supplies. More information will be presented.
Parent/Volunteers: Each team requires two registered coaches that undergo a youth protection screening process. Coaches DO NOT need any technical experience. In FIRST LEGO League, the children do the work! Please consider the amazing opportunity to have a lasting impact upon Aurora Quest youth. We will have as many teams as we have coaches! If there aren’t enough coaches for your child to be on a team your registration will be refunded. We also have space constraints this year.
Expectations: Please keep in mind that Lego Robotics is a sport (of the mind). Students are expected to attend every meeting where possible. Please discuss with your student the level of commitment they are willing to put forth.
Reema | Coordinator
Aurora Quest K-8 Robotics
FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) to create a generation of young people who are passionate about science and technology, and help foster self-confidence, learning, and future success.
From Nurse, Susan Golden
Welcome from your school nurse.
A bit about me. I have about a million years of experience in nursing with a graduate clinical
specialty in maternal infant/pediatric nursing, nursing education, and child/adolescent psych. My
post-graduate education included women’s health, pharmacology/psychopharmacology, and
research. Prior to coming to Quest, I worked in higher education as a faculty member, nursing
program director, and Dean of Health. Clinically, I ran pediatric units, helped start a CASA, Rape
Crisis Center, Juvenile Alcohol Council, and served as an education coordinator for a psychiatric
unit in a large hospital. And more. Outside of Quest world I love to read, quilt, cross-stitch, walk
my grand dog Harry (Harrison Ford), and watch shows ranging from mindless to documentaries
on serial killers. My four adult children are spread through the way upper East coast, NYC,
Dallas, and West Texas. Come see me. I want to know you and your children.
A couple reminders:
- Please send your child’s immunization record or proof or exemption as soon as possible,
- If your child has life-threatening allergies, asthma, or other medical conditions that require medication at school please send it with the required documents as soon as possible.
- On these warm days please apply sunscreen prior to sending your child to school.
- Please ensure your child has a water bottle.
Please let me know how I can help.
Be Part of a Great Team of 3rd through 8th Grade Students!
Quest Families and Students:
We are starting up our Student Council again for this year! The meetings will be held on Thursday afternoons from 2:30-3:30, with prompt pickup for students no later than 3:30.
What is the Quest Student Council about?
The Quest Student Council is an organization where students hold a voice for themselves and their peers. We work to improve our student community, our local community, and our global community. In years past, we have accomplished this by replenishing school equipment, having clothing and shoe drives for our community, along with donating funds to help our Costa Rican school connections.
We would love to have students from 3rd grade through 8th grade involved! Please reach out to Ms. Colquhoun and Ms. Cornella if you are interested in joining us at our first meeting on September 5th, 2:30-3:30 in Ms. Trail's classroom, 130.
If you have any questions feel free to reach out to Jen Colquhoun @Jennifer Colquhoun.
Tips for Morning Drop Off
K-5
This week, K5 students met their school counselor. These quick classroom visits were to ensure that students know who their counselor is, what role the school counselor plays at Quest, and to explain how students can access their school counselor.
It is common practice to visit kinder’ and elementary classrooms weekly to provide social-emotional learning lessons. The exception being this first week of school. We want students to have uninterrupted time to adjust to their classrooms, connect with their classmates, and learn specific classroom norms’ and expectations. Next week some students will be introduced/reintroduced to the Zones of Regulation, while others will discuss the learning potential that comes with making mistakes.
It is not uncommon for students to experience separation anxiety at the start of the school year during morning drop off. Here are a few practices that have the potential to support a smooth morning dropoff:
Role model patience and calmness, called coregulation. If you become dysregulated, your child will often do the same. First use empathy, then provide a redirection. For example, " I completely understand that saying goodbye to one another in the mornings can feel hard (empathy), however, your friends look forward to seeing you, and we want you to learn your grade level information (redirection).
Make a plan for after school, i.e. let's read a book, take a walk together, etc. (something to look forward to).
Plan and organize as much as possible the night before school to remove roadblocks. Determine what outfit will be worn, what will be eaten for breakfast, what will be packed for lunch, make sure that your student’s backpack and water bottle are ready to go.
Practice together with regulation breathwork in the car on the way to school (We use the Smell the Roses and Blow out the Candles).
Create a special and unique goodbye for the school day ritual that you use each morning; a special handshake, high five, fist bump, or triple kiss.
As much as possible try to create a consistent and repetitive drop off pattern. Park in the same general area, use that special handshake or hug, make a plan for after school.
When saying goodbye, give your undivided attention, say goodbye rather succinctly, and move on. Do not say goodbye and then linger.
At pickup, after a successful day at school, congratulate your student. Recognize that your child did a good job.
~ Rob Lipson, Aurora Quest K-5 Counselor
Middle School
Good Afternoon Middle School Parents!
I am delighted to be working with your students this year, and would like to extend an invitation for you to reach out to me any time with anything that I can help with. I will have all my contact information listed below weekly, and it can also be found on our school website.
I want to extend a special welcome to any parents that are new to Quest! I have been making the rounds to all Advisory classrooms and introducing myself this past week. We have a wonderful new group of 6th graders joining our crew, and I would like to do what I can to help them navigate Quest, and connect with new peers. One of the tools to assist with the latter effort, are our weekly Lunch Groups, and information about that is below:
Lunch Groups
Lunch Groups are a casual time for students to build community while playing games, eating lunch, and talking with each other and myself. The format is loose, and students may come and go as they wish session to session. There is no pressure to speak in front of a group if they prefer not to. Some students use the time to read a book, or do something else quiet. The Groups are designed so that both Extroverts and Introverts alike will feel welcome, and enjoy some low-key time in the middle of a busy day! :-)
Lunch Group Schedule:
6th grade Lunch Groups
Wednesdays: Students that are new to Quest this year
Fridays: Returning Quest students
7th Grade Lunch Group
Thursdays: All students welcome
8th Grade Lunch Group
Fridays: All students welcome
*For 6th graders, Mrs. Veen will meet students on the playground blacktop area during Recess (holding a “Lunch Group” sign). Once gathered, the group then stops to buy lunch in the cafeteria, and makes their way to the Enrichment Room.
Please note: 7th and 8th grade students can make their way to the Enrichment Room on their own if they like, as their recess is after lunch (Ms. Veen will also come to the Cafeteria and hold up a lunch group sign, for any new students, or other kids that are ready to go).
*If your student could use some support from our Middle School Counselor, please do not hesitate to reach out to Shauna Veen at: (303) 326-2000 x23727, or: snveen@aurorak12.org
Lost and Found
Please remind your students to check lost and found often.
Also, please talk to your student about taking an item left outside to the lost and found. We have had a some items thrown in the trash by other students. The rule is "treat other people's lost items as you would want your lost items treated." Thanks for your help with this!
PTA Meeting: Our next meeting is September 10th from 6-7pm. We welcome all parents and support parents to join us especially as we have several items on the table to vote on. If you want to be a member and have voting rights for decisions that affect the school membership is $10. You can become a member on the school website under the PTA tab or at any meeting or event we are hosting.
Join our private Facebook group: Please be sure to answer the questions when you ask to join. It's a way that we ensure that our Quest information stays within our community.
www.facebook.com/groups/1743613152521317/
Skate City: We are hosting our first Skate City fundraiser of the year on August 22nd from 6-8pm. It’s not limited to students only! Bring siblings, cousins, neighbors and let’s get those skates rolling. Come join us for fun, laughs, community, and a SUPER EASY way to donate to our year!
Phoenix Feathers:
Each year, our PTA spends an average of $60 per student to provide all of the signature learning experiences at Quest. Please keep in mind that $60 is the starting average so buying a feather chips away at our BIG goal. This is an option to buy your way out of fundraising for the semester by donating $60 for your student, directly to the Aurora Quest PTA. Next time you stop into the school be sure and check out our absolutely beautiful new Phoenix!
King Soopers Rewards: Help our school by buying your groceries! This is the easiest fundraiser and takes less than 10 minutes to set up so sign up if you haven't already. A huge THANK YOU to our current participants!!
Click on Enroll Now.
Sign in to your account.
Click on Community Rewards
Enter Aurora Quest K8 PTA or “BX352”
Shop as usual using your rewards card or alternate ID.
2024/2025 Aurora Quest K8 PTA Board
Dre Sneddon, President
Nidhi Kotecha, Vice President
Angelica Upton, Secretary
Susan Milo, Treasurer
Be a Volunteer!
Our parent volunteers make it so much easier for us to navigate through the school year. If you are interested in volunteering, here is how to get your badge and clearance.
STEP 1: In order to become a PV for this school year, you need to complete the Screening Process (Background Check). Click Here to be directed to the Aurora Public Schools' website for the screening process.
STEP 2: Send Mr. Adams, our Family Liaison an email with a picture of your valid driver's license (front only) and a picture of yourself with a plain background for your badge AFTER you have completed the screening process (STEP 1). Mr. Adams will submit the "Volunteer Approval Form" with both pictures to the Safety & Security Department.
STEP 3: After approval from the Safety & Security Department, your volunteer badge will be sent to the school and you will be informed so that you can pick it up.