Arrowhead Update

Dear Families,

Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! This year our theme is “The Power of Story.” We all have individual stories, while collectively we have an Arrowhead story. This year we will focus on writing our Arrowhead story together while learning the stories of our students, community, and staff.

This year brings new opportunities for Arrowhead. As you may remember from last spring, Senate Bill 21-116 was passed, which bans the use of Indigenous American mascots in public schools. Our previous mascot, the Thunderbird, is an important figure to several Indigenous tribes. For the 2022-2023 school year we are starting without a mascot, but will be beginning a selection process for a new mascot in the coming months. Through this process, we will talk a lot about who we are and where we are going as a school in order to identify a mascot that best represents Arrowhead. Our SOAR expectations have been retired and we will work together to develop new expectations in alignment with our new mascot and vision for the school. You will have many opportunities to share your ideas and thoughts as part of this process and hope that we will get to hear your voice!

Also new to Arrowhead is our status as a Title 1 school. Title 1 funding is federal funding to ensure that all children have a fair, equitable, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and close educational achievement gaps. Arrowhead was identified to receive this funding based on our numbers of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. This is a big celebration for our community as it allows us to hire more staff, provide more resources to our students and community, and increase professional development opportunities for our staff. To learn more about Title 1 funding and how Arrowhead is benefiting from these funds, please join our Title 1 Family Meeting on Wednesday, August 31 from 5:30-6:30 pm.

Below is important information as we start the school year. This information is also available on our website. We look forward to seeing you soon and please feel free to reach out if you have any questions! We are excited to see what's ahead in the 2022-2023 chapter of the Arrowhead story!

Kind regards,

Kelsey Jones

Principal

Arrowhead Elementary

As a reminder, all students need to be checked in before starting school. To check-in, please go to my.cherrycreekschools.org, enter your username and password, and go to the Parent Forms tile to complete check-in. If you have any difficulties, please call the Main Office at 720-886-2800. Please note that students will not receive their class assignment if check-in has not been completed.

Please make sure that you have correct email addresses and phone numbers listed, as that is how teachers and school staff will contact you. This is also how school and district communication will be sent to you.

It is recommended that you use a laptop or desktop computer to complete the Parent Forms. If you need to use one of our school computers to check-in, please feel free to stop by the Main Office between 9:00 am-3:00 pm and you can use one of our devices.

The school supply list is posted on our website, which can be found by clicking here.

Thursday, August 4 and Friday, August 5: Kindergarten Interviews (Kindergarten families: please see below for more information)

Wednesday, August 10 at 3:00 pm: Class Assignments Announced! You will receive an email with information about who your child's teacher will be. As a reminder, only students who have been checked-in will receive this information.

Friday, August 12 from 7:45-9:15 am: Meet and Greet! Stop by Arrowhead for an informal visit to meet your teacher, visit your classroom, and drop off your school supplies. You can stop by any time between 7:45-9:15 am.

Monday, August 15: Phase-In Day for 1st and 2nd graders! Only 1st and 2nd grade students will attend school this day and will be there all day (8:00 am-2:45 pm). They will focus on building relationships with their new classmates and teachers as well as learning the routines of their new classroom.

Tuesday, August 16: Phase-In Day for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders! Only 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will attend school this day and will attend all day (8:00 am-2:45 pm). They will focus on building relationships with their new classmates and teachers as well as learning the routines of their new classroom.

Wednesday, August 17 8:00 am-1:45 pm: First Day of School for Everyone (Kindergarten-5th grade)! Please note that students will be dismissed at 1:45 pm.

Thursday, August 25 5:30-7:00 pm: Back to School Night (more details will come in future communication).

Wednesday, August 31 5:30-6:30 pm: Title 1 Family Information Night. Learn more about Arrowhead's new status as a Title 1 school, how funds will be used, and provide input on how to best serve our community with this funding. Pizza will be provided. Please RSVP here if you plan to attend so that we know how much pizza to order!

All Kindergarten families need to sign up for a 20 minute time slot for your child's "interview." It is nothing to worry about, it is just an opportunity for our Kindergarten teachers to get to know your child and assess their academic skills so that they can best meet your child's needs right from the start! If you have not signed up for a time yet, please do so here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054FAEA82DA64-arrowhead2

The federal government is no longer funding free breakfast and lunch for all students. If you would like your child to purchase breakfast and lunch at school, they will need to pay for it unless your family qualifies for the National School Lunch Program (free and reduced-price meals). Information about school meals can be found here: https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/Page/4035

Many families will qualify for the National School Lunch Program, which provides free or reduced-price school meals for students who qualify. We highly recommend that all families apply. In addition to receiving free or reduced-price meals, students who qualify will receive discounts at CCSD before/after programs, reduced or waived activities and athletic fees, and reduced or waived school fees. Information can be found here:

English

Spanish

To apply for free or reduced-price school meals, please complete this application as soon as possible. You can apply the following ways:

Online: https://family.titank12.com/application/new?identifier=7E9BB5. The application is available in English, Spanish, Burmese, Chinese, French, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese.

Download a paper form and return to school: English Spanish

Pick-up a paper copy at school: We have paper copies available in the Main Office and we will have them available at Meet and Greet and Back to School Night.

Instructions for filling out the paper forms can be found here:

English

Spanish

Further information about the National School Lunch Program can be found here: https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/Page/4041.

8:00 am-2:45 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

8:00 am-1:45 pm Wednesday

If your child is eating breakfast at school, they may arrive at 7:40 am and enter through door 8 on the south side of the school (Cafeteria doors). Students not eating breakfast may arrive between 7:45-8:00 am and should enter through the doors closest to their grade level (see map below). Please note that supervision will not be provided before 7:45 am except for breakfast. The bell rings at 8:00 am and students who arrive after 8:00 am need to enter through the main office doors. Students eating breakfast in the cafeteria will be sent to their classrooms at 8:00.

The school day ends at 2:45 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. On Wednesdays, the school day ends at 1:45 pm. Students will exit from the same doors they entered.

If you are interested in our before and after school child care program, please contact Bobbie Smith at 720-886-2853. They open at 6:30 am to provide before school care and are open until 6:00 pm to provide after school care. They can only accept students who have been registered in advance. They accept Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) for families who qualify and give discounts for families who qualify for free or reduced price meals.

Like last year, all Cherry Creek elementary schools will have early release days every Wednesday at 1:45 pm to enhance professional development and training opportunities for our elementary teachers. By having this specific time set aside, there will be less of a need to pull teachers out of the classroom during the day, which creates continuity for students and less of a reliance on substitute teachers. For families who participate in after school child care, the after-school program is extended every Wednesday at no additional cost. You can register for after school care by contacting Bobbie Smith at 720-886-2853.

If your child will be absent, please call our attendance line at 720-886-2895 to report the absence.

If you or someone you know is interested in working at Arrowhead, please fill out an application and apply to our positions here. The positions we have open are:

Severe Needs Para Educator (7 hours/day): Support students in our ILC program by providing accommodations, academic modifications, and supporting students in self-care as needed. Experience is preferred but not required, as new para educators will be provided with extensive training.

School Support Para Educator (4 hours/day): Provide recess and lunch supervision to ensure students are safe, healthy, and happy while at recess and lunch. Para educators will have the opportunity to work alongside a Play Coach from Playworks to learn how to engage students in group games, resolve conflicts, and support students in developing social emotional skills while on the playground.

School Support Para Educator (7 hours/day): Work in the Main Office to provide clerical support and support with attendance and reception duties. Additionally, part of the day will be spent providing recess and lunch supervision in the cafeteria and/or on the playground.

Crossing Guard (7:35-8:00 am and 2:40-3:00 pm): Help students and families safely cross the street. Training will be provided. If you don't want to commit to working every day, we also need substitute crossing guards. Please contact April Hrovat at 720-886-2806 or ahrovat@cherrycreekschools.org if you are interested in this position.

We are also always looking for substitute para educators who are able to fill in when one of our para educators is out. Please contact our Assistant Principal, April Hrovat, at 720-886-2806 or ahrovat@cherrycreekschools.org if you are interested.

For information on working for Cherry Creek Schools, please visit the Cherry Creek Human Resources page: https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/domain/1417

The map below shows where to drop your child off in the morning and pick them up at the end of the day. Students enter and exit doors based on their grade level. If your child arrives after 8:00 am or leaves before 2:45 pm (1:45 pm on Wednesdays), they will need to use the main doors at the front of the school regardless of which grade they are in.

All visitors must use door 1 (main doors) no matter the time of day. Visitors must show ID in order to access the building or pick-up a child. There are no exceptions to this policy and we appreciate you helping us keep students safe by bringing an ID every time.

Please note that dogs are not allowed on school grounds. If you would like to bring your dog to drop-off or pick-up your child, please remain on the sidewalks around the perimeter of the school or in the field past the last goalpost.

Please help us keep kids safe by following our parking lot procedures. Please refer to the map of our parking lot below for where you can safely drop-off/pick-up.

Drop-Off/Pick-Up (Teal): This is a space for you to quickly drop-off and pick-up at the beginning and end of the day. This is a fire lane, so you must remain with your car at all times. Students should enter and exit the car on the curb side (right side), as cars will be passing in the through lane on the left side of the car.

Red Curve: This is a no parking or waiting zone, as our buses need to be able to get around that corner safely.

Bus Parking (Yellow): Only buses may park here. Cars parked in this space will be asked to move to make room for buses. Once the buses have departed, this may be used as additional space for pick-up.

Through Lanes (Green): These lanes should continuously move. Please do not wait or park here and at no time should cars be double parked.

Parking: The only space where you may park is in a marked parking spot. If there is not a spot available, please park on the street and walk in.

Right Turn Only (2:45-3:00 pm): When exiting the parking lot during afternoon dismissal, all cars need to turn right out of the parking lot and loop through the neighborhood. For safety reasons, please do not make a u-turn in the areas around the school (signage indicates where u-turns cannot be made).

It is with a great sense of pride and excitement that I am writing to introduce myself to you! My name is April Hrovat, and I will be your Assistant Principal next year. For the past three years, I have served as the Assistant to the Principal at Challenge School, a Cherry Creek K-8 school. I am honored to continue my journey in Cherry Creek with each and every one of you, and I would like to take a moment of your time to share more about myself.

Prior to working at Challenge, I had the privilege of working at Creekside, Independence, and Altitude Elementary Schools. While teaching 4th and 5th grade I have had the opportunity to collaborate with brilliant educators and partner with caring and supportive communities. My teaching and administrative experiences in multiple environments are reflected in my approach with kids. I am committed to the development of students in a way that supports our next generation of creative, collaborative, and critical thinkers while also considering students’ experiences, backgrounds, ideas, and personalities. I look forward to opportunities to leverage my instructional leadership and individualized approaches to meeting the needs of the students at Arrowhead.

Personally, I am the proud mother of 4 kids and two dogs. I am the parent of two sons and two daughters, all of who have attended Cherry Creek Schools. My youngest daughter will graduate from Grandview next year! As a graduate of Eaglecrest High School, I am pleased that my children have continued the tradition in a district I am rooted deeply within. When I am not hanging out with one of my kid crew, you can find me walking the dogs, working out, getting lost in the mountains, or finishing my doctorate (so close). I care a great deal about the communities and experiences that Colorado has to offer, and I appreciate the opportunity to become a part of yours.

Thank you for welcoming me to the Arrowhead Elementary School community. I am

committed to serving the needs of our students, and I look forward to partnering with you in a collaborative effort to provide the best educational experiences for every student at our school. Please reach out to me if you have any questions. In the meantime, I look forward to meeting you in person very soon!

Ms. Baird is not new to the Arrowhead community, as she has been an Arrowhead parent, substitute teacher, PTCO President, and student teacher. This year though, she joins us as a 2nd Grade Teacher!

My name is Erica Baird and I’m so incredibly excited to be teaching 2nd grade at Arrowhead this school year! My love for the Arrowhead community began 9 years ago when my son began kindergarten there. Time has flown and he will be a freshman at Smoky Hill High School this upcoming school year. Since then, my daughter has also joined the Arrowhead community and will be in 5th grade this fall. As both of my children have grown through Arrowhead Elementary, so have I.

Through the years I have been a parent volunteer, PTCO co-president, a substitute teacher at many schools within the district, and for the last two years, I was a building substitute just for Arrowhead. All of these opportunities have led me to find and exercise my passion for working with all grade levels of elementary students. In March of this year, I graduated with my Masters in Elementary Education, which has allowed me to further my journey in education as a classroom teacher at Arrowhead.

My passion for teaching revolves around my belief that every child deserves to thrive, feel welcome and know they are important not only at school, but within this world. Every student matters and when a teacher allows a student to be his/her/their self, a passion for learning and personal growth can be instilled in even the youngest of learners.

It is such a privilege to be able to continue my journey into the role of a classroom teacher at Arrowhead and to continue to be surrounded by the staff, students, and families that make this special community what it is!

Hello! My name is Nuria Maldonado-Hernandez, and I will be joining the Arrowhead family as one of the 3rd grade teachers for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. I am both humbled and thrilled to be able to come along side of you all and pour into the lives of our students. I recently graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a Master of Arts in Elementary Education K-5. Prior to that, I attended Regis University where I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology with a minor in Philosophy. My mission for the upcoming school year is to establish deep, meaningful relationships with my colleagues and students, and create a classroom that becomes a place of inclusiveness and inspiration for lifelong learners. I am confident that with your support we will be able to do that and more. I am a mother to four wonderful (and busy) kiddos, three of them are students in the Cherry Creek School District, and I have been married to my husband Miguel for 15 years. I love to read and spend time with my family. I can’t wait to meet you all and start the school year!

I am so excited to join the Arrowhead community as a 5th grade teacher! A little about me... My family and I moved to Raleigh, North Carolina from Argentina when I was 9 years old. I attended college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Go Heels!) where I received my degree in elementary education. In NC, I taught 5th grade for 4 years and was a Gifted and Talented teacher for 2 years. I am excited to start my 7th year teaching with you all! When I’m not teaching, I enjoy hiking, traveling, reading, collecting sneakers, and playing with my dog Ozzie. I also enjoy spending time with my baby nephew. One interesting fact about me is that I’ve lived in 3 different countries!

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Amy Fiedler, and I am Moderate Needs Special Education Teacher at Arrowhead Elementary School. I have had the pleasure to teach for 21 years. I have worked in Douglas County for 15 years. Prior to working in Douglas County, I taught in New York State, where I was born and raised.

My education includes a Bachelor's Degree from SUNY Fredonia, in the area of Speech and Hearing. After obtaining my Bachelors Degree I was offered a position at Summit Educational Resources where I completed my student teaching. I worked at Summit for four and a half years. Summit is a private agency that services children who are developmentally disabled. During this time at Summit, I decided to pursue my passion for working with students with special and unique needs. I attended Niagara University and secured two Master's Degrees in General Education and Special Education.

After my formal education, I decided to pursue a dream of moving to Colorado. I moved to Douglas County, Colorado in the summer of 2007. From my experiences, I am familiar with many diverse teaching practices as well as working with children of many ages. I recognize the uniqueness of students and differentiate my instruction, providing interactive learning experiences so that students are able to make connections.

My greatest passion is working with my students! I truly look forward to seeing my students’ smiles and working with them every day. I love to build relationships, confidence, and independence.

I am Lisa Rincon, LCSW. I graduated from the University of Michigan in 2003. I’ve worked as a child and family therapist for nearly 20 years, with 10 years directly in schools. I’m an Arrowhead parent, with my daughter Quinn attending all 5 years at Arrowhead and my son Reid going into 3rd grade this year. I’m a diehard sports fan, go Blue! And go Broncos!!

Email: kjones100@cherrycreekschools.org
Website: https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/Arrowhead
Location: 19100 E Bates Ave, Aurora, CO, USA
Phone: 720-886-2800