Grizzly Monthly News

Grizzly Family Update – October Highlights

We’re excited to share some great news from Grant Ranch! Our students have completed their beginning-of-year diagnostic assessments, and we are proud to report 52% proficiency at or above grade level, one of the highest results our school has ever achieved. This progress is a reflection of the hard work of our students, teachers, and families. Let’s keep this momentum going as we prepare for our interim assessments later this month.

We’re also looking forward to connecting with you during Parent-Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, October 8th, and Tuesday, October 15th, from 4:15 PM to 8:00 PM. These meetings are a great opportunity to celebrate student growth and collaborate on next steps to ensure continued success.

Our Saturday School has officially launched, providing students with extra support in math and literacy, as well as opportunities to participate in engaging LEGO challenges. There’s still time to sign up—don’t miss out.

Finally, mark your calendars for two special events this month:

Middle School Dance – October 17th
Fall Festival – October 25th

Thank you for your continued partnership and support in making Grant Ranch such a strong and vibrant community.

Go Grizzlies!

Attendance Matters!

Goal: 93% attendance
Every day counts — lessons build on each other and missing class can set students back.
With your support, we can keep our Grizzlies learning and growing!

With Gratitude,

Dr. CG and Mrs. Urbanowsky

School Leaders at Grant Ranch ECE-8 School

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, October 8th, and Tuesday, October 15th, from 4:15 PM to 8:00 PM.
This is a great opportunity to meet with your child’s teachers, celebrate their progress, and plan next steps for continued growth.

Please reach out directly to your child’s teachers to sign up for a conference, or call the school office if you need assistance scheduling. We look forward to seeing all our Grizzly families there!

Parents and guardians—if you sign and return the Student Handbook acknowledgement form, your child will receive a FREE Grant Ranch Grizzly T-shirt!

This is a great way to show school spirit while making sure everyone is on the same page with our expectations and policies. Thank you for partnering with us to support our students and school community!

We are proud to introduce our Elementary and Middle School Student Council, representing students from 3rd through 8th grade. These motivated Grizzlies are already making a positive impact in our school community!

Our Student Council members have started the year strong by decorating the school in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, highlighting the vibrant cultures that make our community so special. They’ve also taken the lead in supporting our PBIS program, distributing items from the Grizzly Cart to celebrate positive behavior and school spirit.

In addition, our middle school representatives are helping plan the Middle School Dance on October 14th, ensuring it will be a fun and memorable event for all students.

We’re so proud of these young leaders for setting the example and helping to make Grant Ranch an even better place to learn and grow!

2024–2025 Student Council Representatives

3rd Grade: Jessica Kaivelata , Palden Agbortogho
4th Grade: Adam Gutierrez , Hannah Wetteland
5th Grade: Bryleigh Clark , Landon Lincoln
6th Grade: Sofia Hernandez , Lawrence Peters
7th Grade: Maddie Stearns , Arryn Sandoval
8th Grade: Kyla Stahl , Lucas Walz

We’re excited to give a big Grizzly shout-out to four incredible team members who go above and beyond to support our students, families, and school community every single day!

Ms. Elizabeth Pepin, our 6th Grade Math and Literacy teacher, is being recognized for her dedication to building strong relationships with students and creating engaging, high-quality instruction that pushes students to think deeply and grow academically.

Mrs. Tammy Addenbrooke-Fike, our Kindergarten teacher, continues to foster a warm, nurturing classroom where our youngest Grizzlies are supported, challenged, and celebrated every step of the way.

Ms. Heather Lococo, our School Psychologist, plays a vital role in supporting the academic, social, and emotional well-being of our students. Her expertise and care make a lasting impact every day.

Ms. Thuy Nguyen, our Social Worker, provides students and families with meaningful support, connection, and advocacy. Her work ensures that every child feels seen, supported, and valued.

Thank you, Ms. Pepin, Mrs. Addenbrooke-Fike, Ms. Lococo, and Ms. Nguyen for the amazing work you do to make Grant Ranch a place where students thrive. We appreciate you!

We are excited to introduce Staff Sergeant Lacy McDonald, founder of Outer Haven, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to youth mentorship, environmental education, and promoting healthy food in our communities.

This year, Staff Sergeant McDonald and his team are partnering with Grant Ranch ECE–8 to help create an Agriculture Hub — a hands-on learning space where students will explore gardening, sustainability, and the science of growing food. The goal of this project is to provide students with meaningful opportunities to connect with nature, learn new skills, and develop a sense of pride in what they grow.

We want to highlight that this project is fully funded through community partnerships and grants. Outer Haven’s involvement brings additional resources and learning experiences to our Grizzly students and staff.

Please join us in welcoming Staff Sergeant Lacy McDonald and the Outer Haven team to the Grizzly community as we begin building something special together: one seed, one student, and one season at a time

Our staff is providing great opportunities for students outside the classroom:

Current Club rosters will be ending October 15 and Reset for the October 16&17 week

Cowles = Homework
Delgado = Spanish 2
Pepin = Art Club
Welch = Chess & Strategy
Sgt. Mac= Urban Gardening
Middle School Sports –
Flag Football
Girls on the run

Assessments: Interim Assessments

Elementary Testing Schedule:

Thursday, 10/16 & Friday, 10/17: Language Arts and Math
Monday, 10/20 & Tuesday, 10/21: 5th Grade Science
Monday, 10/20: 4th Grade Social Studies

Middle School:
Week of October 14–17
- Tues. 10/14 – Math (45 min)
- Wed. 10/15 – Literacy (40 min) & Math (45 min)
- Thurs. 10/16 – Literacy (40 min) & 8th Grade Science (45 min)
- Fri. 10/17 – Literacy (40 min) & 8th Grade Science (45 min)
Week of October 20–24

- Mon. 10/20 – 7th Grade Social Studies (45 min)
- Tues. 10/21 – 7th Grade Social Studies (20 min)

Safety is part of our 3 R’s (Respectful, Responsible, Ready to Learn), and it remains our top priority.

Arrival & Dismissal: Our front entrance is a Kiss-and-Go system. Please do not park in the lane outside the entrance. If you need to exit your vehicle, park in the lot or along the street. This helps us keep everyone safe and traffic moving smoothly.