Summit Elementary

When we think of February, there is generally a quick connection to Valentines Day. However, there is another important day on the calendar in February - Groundhog Day! Every February 2nd the famed groundhog Punxsutawney Phil peaks his head out in Western Pennsylvania and predicts whether spring is on its way or we are in for another round of winter before things perk up! Do we get to move forward or do we cycle back?

Beyond weather predictions, Groundhog Day has been given credit for its own psychological, philosophical, and practical lesson guide known as the Groundhog Day Effect! This idea highlights what would happen if you relieved the same day over and over again! Knowing that you had the opportunity to try again until you got it right! You had the choice to change directions forever altering your pathway forward! This is exactly what we are doing in school every day!

We do not simply repeat the game plan from one day to the next living in monotony. Rather we build routines and structures that we rely on to help build consistency and predictability. Students have the opportunity to learn from yesterday, grow today and change their tomorrow! We are creating the design board to allow students to write the future they desire! We learn from our mistakes and change our trajectory!

Let's celebrate the lessons February provides us! From kindness, love and gratitude to the idea that we get to continually learn from our mistakes and create our best future!

~ Katie Rexford, Principal

January was jam packed with excitement! Busy days, cold temperatures, and more! Everyone worked hard to start the second semester on a great note! Now we get to welcome February with open arms and we are ready to continue filling our days with all the right things!

February 7...Parent Meeting for our 6th Grade overnight! Come at 9:00 or 4:00! CLICK HERE to join remotely!

February 10...SOS Meeting at 4:00! All are welcome!

February 11...Spelling Bee at 4:00 for students in grades 3 - 6!

February 14...Parent Teacher Conferences! No school for students!

February 14 - February 18...No School for Students!

February 19 - 21...6th Grade Overnight Camp

February 20...Kindergarten and 1st Grade start E3

February 25...SAC Meeting at 4:00

March 1...Destination Imagination Teams compete at Regionals

March 10...SOS Meeting at 4:00

March 13...Literacy Night from 5:00 - 7:00! Plan on coming!

These are just some of the biggest items that are happening! Events are subject to change! Stay in the know by reading e-mails, checking GOLD folders, and reaching out if you have any questions! The number for the front office is 719-686-2401! Not to mention, you can always e-mail me at krexford@wpsdk12.org!

In March, we will kick off our read-a-thon! The read-a-thon is one of my favorite events because we celebrate reading together! This year my theme for the school year has been 'Linked Together'! I would like to thread that theme into our read-a-thon by being Linked through Literature. I have asked families and staff members to share book ideas, now it is time to VOTE on the book that we will read as a building! We will build a connection with the Read-a-Thon incentives to the winning book! Your choices are:

The Wild Robot by: Peter Brown

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by: Roald Dahl

National Park Mystery Series: Mystery in Rocky Mountain National Park by: Aaron Johnson

Summit will buy a copy of the winning book for every family! We want families to share in a story together and then we can share in the story as a school! We will be Linked through Literature and our combined experience with books!

We meet the 2nd Monday of every month. Our next meeting is Monday February 10 at 4:00 and all are welcome! Children are welcome! Our goal is to come together as a school community to support Summit in all aspects! We will look ahead to all of our 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

This is the Summit PTA, PTO, Parent Group, Booster Club...pick the name that you relate to! We are here to come together and strengthen our school! Do you have something to share with us so we can be better? Click the link below and your comments. ideas, and suggestions will come up during our meeting!

The District is registered in the Scripps Spelling Bee! Summit will host a spelling bee for all interested students in grades 3 - 6 on Tuesday February 11 at 4:00! If your child is interested in participating their teacher has copies of the permission slip! Or you can click the link below! Mrs. Frick will be offering practice sessions this week (February 3 - February 7) from 10:30 - 11:00. Students will need to be in good academic standing in order to miss any class instruction to attend the practice sessions.

While we are not in school on Friday February 14, students will create a special Valentine for someone in their lives during their Capturing Kids' Hearts lesson with Mrs. Ross starting on February 7th through February 13th. We will not have class parties, however we will celebrate kindness and friendship throughout the month!

Please join us for conferences this month! We are excited to discuss student progress and plans for the remainder of the year! Don't miss this opportunity to connect with your child's teacher! Remember to check in with our specialists and our interventionists too! We are all an important part of your child's day! We enjoy connecting with you!

Our K-Kids, Student Council, and Destination Imagination Teams are all partnering together to support the Seniors of Teller County! We are collecting items to put in care packages for the Teller Senior Coalition! The packages will be delivered to our local seniors to warm their hearts on these cold days! We are collecting items until February 28! Items to send include but are not limited to:

• Chapstick
• Lotion
• Activity Books/Puzzles
• Blankets
• Gloves
• Toothpaste
• CLICK HERE for the full flyer

Thank you for your support as we help our local seniors!

The Woodland Park School District has been partnering with the fabulous outdoor educators from Catamount Institute for many years! Our 4th and 5th graders have already experienced E3 this school year! In the coming weeks, kindergarten and 1st grade will begin their outdoor work! The Catamount instructors will join us at Summit for 5 Thursdays! They will deliver 45-minute interactive outdoor lessons for our children!

Our 2nd and 3rd graders will have their opportunity in March with 2 lessons on campus and then they will travel to Aspen Valley Ranch in Woodland Park for 3 more extensive learning opportunities!

We have already experienced several school day closures for snow and fire! Looking ahead to our snowy season, we have prepared school closure activities for students to complete in the event of a closure. All students have hard copies of these activities in their GOLD Folder. If there is a school closure, we will have students complete 1 ELA and 1 Math activity. Students will turn the completed work in on the next school day. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to your classroom teacher, to Ms. Brown at abrown@wpsdk12.org or to me at krexford@wpsdk12.org.

To update your household and contact preferences, log into your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account. If you are unable to log into your Parent Portal account, please click here to request an account or have your password reset.

• To update your address, click MENU > MORE > ADDRESS INFORMATION > UPDATE.

• To update your household phone number (usually the parent's number who filled out the OLR), click MENU > MORE > ADDRESS INFORMATION > UPDATE.

• To update your cell, home, work or other numbers for the household family, click MENU > MORE > FAMILY INFORMATION > UPDATE .

• To update/add/remove non-household contacts or emergency contacts, click MENU > MORE > DEMOGRAPHICS > UPDATE or ADD.

• To remove a household member from the household, email the district registrar: registration@wpsdk12.org

Ever wonder who is who and what they do at Summit?! We have the best staff around and it is exciting to be on this educational journey together with you and your family! You should know who is a part of your child's education! Click on the button below and see a list of the Summit Staff and what everyone does around the building! If you ever need to e-mail anyone, our e-mail is firsinitiallastname@wpsdk12.org. For example Katie Rexford is krexford@wpsdk12.org!

The temperature can change drastically throughout the day! Please send children ready to be outdoors! This time of year, it is good to always have a coat, gloves and a hat! If you need help getting the right winter gear, let us know! We are here to help!

A day here, a day there! A little late maybe! Leave a little early!

There are reasons that take us out of school! I will always support family needs and student health and well-being! However, the more consistent students are with attendance, the more successful they will be! They are learning routines and practicing structure! We are intentional about making our time meaningful. Every time a child is absent, it impacts their learning! We are establishing work habits and we want our children to be able to be productive Monday - Friday! Plus we miss them when they aren't at school!

If you need help making that happen, reach out! I am your partner in learning and we can find solutions together! Thank you for your partnership in getting our children to school on a regular basis!

The district has partnered with Champions to provide before and after school care options for our families! If you have any questions you can reach out directly to the site supervisor Audra Boe by e-mailing her at audra.boe@discoverchampions.com.

Champions also has a child care available throughout the summer! Check out the flyer for more information!

Champ Camp

Our children are still relying on us to help them make the best choices as they prepare for the day! I trust our parents and your judgement as you send your children to school ready to learn! A few things to keep in mind as a general rule of thumb when it comes to clothes...

• No pajamas or costumes (save those for special reward days)!
• Don't reveal any B's - bellies, bottoms, or bras!
• Shoes for playing and running!
• Easy for students to use the restroom (i.e. rompers might be hard for some girls because they can't unzip themselves)
• Nothing that is going to take their attention away from learning!
• Makeup is not necessary at our level! Our children are already as lovely as can be!

Thank you for your support and know that I am here to be your partner as we set our children up for success as studious learners!

If you see it and you think it...SAY IT! With a focus on kindness this month, let's show our gratitude and appreciation for one another!

Thank you K-Kids for creating these Gratification Stations so we continue a culture of GRATITUDE and APPRECIATION!

Our K-Kids have been collecting pop tabs to support the Ronald McDonald House! We turned in 137lbs of pop tabs already! Our collection cube is nearly spilling over with pop tabs! The K-Kids will be making another donation soon! Let's work to refill that cube and support the families who rely on The Ronald McDonald House!

Keep poppin' those tabs and sending them in!

Our children have a long day of learning! We appreciate families sending in healthy snacks for their children to munch on to get them through the day! Our children that ride the bus have an EXTRA long day! They are welcome to have an additional snack at the end of the day! If your child(ren) ride(s) the bus, please send a little extra something for them at the end of the day!

Healthy Snack Examples:

• Trail Mix
• Piece of Fruit
• Cut Veggies
• String Cheese
• Granola Bar

If you ever need help providing a snack, please reach out and we will help!

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 your shopping!

LET'S SHOP

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

Check out flyers for numerous activities around the school and around the town by going to the DISTRICT 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. Please bring your license with you when you come to volunteer or visit! Thank you!

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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: www.wpsdk12.org/summit
Location: 490 Meadow Park Drive
Phone: (719)686-2401