Summit Elementary

Whether it is Siri, Google, Alexa, or ChatGPT, AI is seemingly making our lives easier. With every click, we appear to be one step closer to perfection. The world wide web is at our fingertips ready to give us the obscure data we need in the midst of conversation and to help us edit our work with a professors approach! It is truly amazing!

Yet, having all the 'right answers' sitting in our pockets makes it difficult to accept anything less than perfect all the time! Are we unintentionally creating a need for an error free world?

I would argue that the AI we need more of would be our Authentic Interactions! We need to be in the moment with the people in our community. This includes our family community, our work community, and our school community! During those interactions we need to allow ourselves to be perfectly imperfect as we are striving to be better while knowing that perfection isn't the end goal. We need to listen to understand, share in empathy, and brainstorm new ideas and new approaches! We need to learn how to give grace when someone bumbles up and practice grit so we can keep trying after a misstep!

So next time you go to consult AI, consider leaning into some Authentic Interactions and see if your outcome is actually closer to perfect than you thought!

Your partner in learning ~

Katie Rexford, Principal

It didn't take long to get back into the rhythm of school! The calendar is filling up fast so put these big events on your calendar and don't miss a thing!

September 1 and 2...No School

September 5...Open Gym from 5:00 - 7:00

September 8...SOS Meeting at 4:00

September 8...Bring donated items for staff basket giveaway!

September 10...Picture Day; Class Pictures will be taken as well!

September 10...Walk-a-Thon Kick Off

September 24...Walk-a-Thon - YAY!

September 24...Homecoming Parade in Woodland Park(Student Council will walk in the parade)

October 1...Walk-a-Thon rain date

October 3...Open Gym from 5:00 - 7:00

October 9...School Accountability Committee (SAC) from 5:00 - 6:00

October 16...Parent Teacher Conferences

October 16...Volunteer Training at 12:00

October 23...Learning Together from 6:30 - 8:00

Remember to check your e-mail and GOLD folders! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you ever have any questions! The best way to reach me is by e-mailing me at krexford@wpsdk12.org. You can also call the front office at 719-686-2401! I am looking forward to a fabulous, action packed school year!

Thank you for your feedback and input! Based on the survey results I have set up the following opportunities for us to learn together!

Thursday October 23 from 6:30 - 8:00...Focus = Screens

Thursday December 4 from 6:30 - 8:00...Focus = Math

Thursday February 12 from 6:30 - 8:00...Focus = Reading and Writing

Thursday April 30 from 6:30 - 8:00...Focus = Routines and Structure

My plan will be to have some information to share and then we will have an open forum discussion with each other! I will also plan on recording the sessions and share them in the following newsletter. I am excited to engage in some learning with the fabulous folks of Summit! Click the button below and let me know if you can come!

Make sure everyone is wearing their smile on Wednesday September 10th! We will have individual and class pictures taken that day! To order photos you can send in the form that went home with children (or it will be coming soon in the GOLD folder) or you can go directly to Inter-State and order online!

• Inter-State
• Event Code: 0241BFF

We meet the 2nd Monday of every month. Our next meeting is Monday September 8 at 4:00 and everyone who wants to support Summit is invited! Children are welcome! Our goal is to come together as a school community to support Summit in all aspects! We will look ahead at future opportunities and work together to provide the very best for our children! See you there!

Can't come in person?! Join us remotely! CLICK HERE

We have parents who are committed to linking up parents and teachers throughout the year! Please click the link below and share your e-mail with your grade level link! We are unable to share parent contacts as a school, however, you can share them with each other! This is a way for you to build your community with the families in your child's grade level! Our grade level links are:

Preschool - Corinna Reynolds

Kindergarten - Eileen Robertson

1st Grade - Brandon Connelly

2nd Grade - Megan Dimenza

3rd Grade - Becky Jannotte

4th Grade - Becky Masias and Andrea Gardener

5th Grade - Heidi Crippen and Amber Koehler

6th Grade - Kristin Woodward and Becky Masias

Special Education and Specials - Genevieve Fisher

Currently, we have between 30 - 50% of parents per grade level connected! Let's aim to get 75% of our parents connected with each other and the school!

Click the button below to access a copy of the school breakfast and lunch menu! You can always check the menu online by CLICKING HERE!

Breakfast and lunch is available free of charge for all children! Your family may qualify for additional support with school fees! If you complete the application and you qualify, everything from bus fees to activity fees can be waived! To complete the application...

• Log into the Parent Portal through Infinite Campus - CLICK HERE
• On the left hand side click MORE
• Go to Meal Benefits
• Complete the Meal Benefits Application

You must complete a new application each school year! If you have already received an email about being directly certified through the state, you do not need to complete the meal benefits application.

Parents are always welcome to join their child for lunch! It can be a nice way to surprise your little one and engage with them in their school environment. Check the list below to see when your child has lunch.

• Preschool ~ 11:35 - 11:55
• Kindergarten ~ 11:35 - 11:55
• 1st Grade ~ 12:00 - 12:20
• 2nd Grade ~ 12:25 - 12:45
• 3rd Grade ~ 12:25 - 12:45
• 4th Grade ~ 11:10 - 11:35
• 5th Grade ~ 10:45 - 11:05
• 6th Grade ~ 12:50 - 1:10
• HEA ~ 12:50 - 1:10

All visitors must check in at the front office and go directly to the cafeteria! Thank you for help in maintaining a safe and productive learning environment.

As we kick off the school year we do some initial testing to see where students are in their learning! Our kindergarteners through 3rd graders complete the DIBELs assessment which tracks reading skills. All grade level complete iReady for ELA and Math. These results will be coming home in the next week, be on the lookout! If you have any questions about your child's data or our approach to their growth, don't hesitate to contact Katie Rexford at krexford@wpsdk12.org or Kim Ehlers at kehlers@wpsdk12.org. You can also reach out to their teacher!

Remember, this data is just a starting point! Celebrate your child's effort and engage with them on how they want to grow this year!

Landsharks is a running club that meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 - 4:00. Students who ride the bus are able to participate and they are released a little early from practice so they can catch their ride! Runners participate in 3 meets during the season on Mondays! This is a fun and wonderful way to get involved in a sport!

CLICK HERE to go to the Landsharks website and learn more about it!

We have learning opportunities that allow our children to run, paint, create, and explore! Each specialty may require a little preplanning so you child is set up for success!

PE - Wear sneakers and comfortable clothes because we are running around!

Art - Wear older clothes because we are using paints, markers, and glue!

Library - Bring your library books back when you are finished reading so you can check out new books!

CKH - This stands for Capturing Kids' Hearts and it is lessons on our monthly character trait!

Music - Nothing needed! Just bring a willingness to try!

The first Friday of every month we are offering open gym from 5:00 - 7:00! This is an opportunity to come and play catch, throw a frisbee, shoot some hoops, kick the soccer ball around, or whatever you choose to do with your child! We want families to have a safe, wind-free, and flat space to play!

Come any time between 5:00pm and 7:00pm! You will enter through the doors by the gym (to the right of the main doors) and parents must stay with their child. Come and play!

The school district hosts an annual staff BBQ at the start of the school year! All the schools come together to share a meal and then support our high school sports teams at a game! This year the BBQ will be held Thursday September 11 and we will enjoy volleyball and soccer after the meal!

To help celebrate ALL the district staff, this year each school is going to bring a basket of goodies to go to a lucky winner! I need your help in putting together a basket from Summit! Our basket can have anything from candy, to gift cards, to socks or chapstick! Every little bit helps!

If you want to donate an item for the basket, please bring it to the front office by Monday September 8! Thank you for your support!

Each school has a School Accountability Committee (SAC)! This committee comes together about once a quarter to hear about the happenings of school while also sharing input and insights on things like budget, safety, and family engagement! This year our meetings will be on the following days:

• Thursday October 9th from 5:00 - 6:00
• Thursday November 13th from 5:00 - 6:00
• Thursday January 22nd from 5:00 - 6:00
• Thursday March 19th from 5:00 - 6:00

Applications to join this committee will be coming soon! If you served last year and you would like to be on the committee again, please let me know! Thank you for your continued support!

In Colorado, it is never too early to start planning for inclement weather! In case of a weather event, the district will notify you based on your preferences set in Infinite Campus! Check your preferences and make sure you receive this important information in a timely manner! We also post updates on our website!

If we have a 2-hour delay, we are asking that all elementary children complete a short google form prior to coming to school! These simple questions will get us all in a school frame of mind so we can have a productive day of learning, even if we don't start school until 9:55! Click the button below to access the 2-Hour Delay google form!

In case of a snow day, elementary children get to enjoy the day without any school activity requirements. We are hopeful that the weather will cooperate and we won't have to add learning opportunities to snow days! If anything changes, I will communicate that with families!

In future newsletters, I would like to feature our fabulous Eagles out and about soaring high! If you have a picture of your child and/or family in Summit gear send it my way! Please include your name and location! E-mail photos and information to me at krexford@wpsdk12.org.

I can't wait to see where all of our Eagles are soaring and sharing their Summit pride!

Each month we will focus on character traits in our morning meetings, our weekly lessons with our counselor and woven within our school day! As we step into September, our focus will continue to be TEAMWORK!

"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision… It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results." - Andrew Carnegie

Let's continue to build our team and model for our children how working together makes us stronger!

Our school bus company - Durham - is looking for additional drivers!

• Work school days!
• Receive paid training!
• Start and end the school day on a positive note for our children!
• Take students on field trips or special activities!

There are so many reasons to join the Durham team! CLICK HERE to go to their career center website!

Did you know that you no longer have to cut out box tops to earn money for the school?! You simply download the app and scan your receipt! If you register to donate to Summit Elementary, the school automatically gets credit for your box top donation once you scan your receipt! Click the link below for more information!

The district has partnered with Champions to provide before and after school care options for our families! Champions is committed to providing meaningful care so our children start and end their school day on a positive note! They even offer care during breaks and long weekends! If you have any questions you can reach out directly to the site supervisor Heather Lintner by e-mailing her at heather.lintner@discoverchampions.com.

Click the links below to learn more information!

FAQ Sheet

Pricing Sheet

Tuition Assistance

Our K-Kids have been collecting pop tabs to support the Ronald McDonald House! We recently emptied our collection cube! As a Summit Community we turned in over 170 pounds of pop tabs in support of the Ronald McDonald House! Let's fill that bin back up!

Keep poppin' those tabs!

We have an online store where families and friends can order Summit Swag and have it shipped directly to your home! Click the link and start shopping!

LET'S SHOP

Try it out and please share your feedback! We want everyone to have the opportunity to show their Summit pride!

There are policies in place! There are procedures we follow! We have flowcharts and checklists! And yet it really is simple...WE WANT CHILDREN HERE! There are only 163 days in our school calendar and we are committed to making each day meaningful and fruitful! The best school day is the one you're a part of! We can make up work and redo tests, but we can't recreate the authentic experience each day brings!

Did you know that last year, Summit reported 26% of students as chronically absent? Chronically absent is defined by the state of Colorado as missing 10% of all school days, or more! This means that 1 in 4 children missed 16 days of school or more! We can do better! Let's come to school! Here is a LINK to the data found on the Colorado Department of Education website.

I know that things happen! Children get sick! Families need to make plans! Obstacles get in the way! Please know that families will always have my support when it comes to meeting your needs! Coupled with that, I am asking for your commitment to school! Avoid appointments that pull your children from the classroom! Re-route plans that take children unnecessarily away! If you find a hurdle that is too big to overcome alone, reach out! Let's find a way together!

Every day is opportunity to learn and grow! Let's give our children the opportunities they deserve!

Check out flyers for numerous activities around the school and around the town by going to the DISTRICT VIRTUAL BACKPACK!

Do you have a flyer to share?! CLICK HERE to get your information added to the Virtual Backpack!

Our check in system is called - Raptor! It allows us to check volunteers and visitors into the building. In order to check you in, we must use your license or picture ID. Please bring your ID with you when you come to volunteer or visit! Thank you!

Want to get updates and highlights from the school?! Follow us on Facebook!

WPSD - Summit Elementary School

CLICK HERE

Check out the district calendar! Please try and schedule your family fun with school in mind!

School hours are 7:55 - 3:00

Drop off from 7:40 - 7:55

Pick Up at 3:00

Bus Pick Up at 3:50 (with after school opportunities available)

Email: krexford@wpsdk12.org
Website: https://www.wpsdk12.org/o/se
Location: 490 Meadow Park Drive
Phone: (719)686-2401

Your feedback matters! Click the link below to share your thoughts so we can continue to meet your needs! Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership!

I will continue to make our Family Handbook available! Please click the button below to view our handbook! This document was written in collaboration with our School Accountability Committee and staff input! If you ever have any questions, please reach out to Katie Rexford at krexford@wpsdk12.org.