Mammoth Tracks

February 2, Pre-k and Kindergarten enrollment opens. (More info. below)

February 10, Community Night, Village Inn

February 11, Mammoth Moves Family Game Night, 4:30-6 pm

February 16-17, NO SCHOOL

February 18, Community Mtg., 6pm in MVE Library

February 20, Community Night, Urban Air

February 24, Community Night, Chick-Fil-A (Quincy Location)

Hello Mountain Vista Families!

It has been so wonderful welcoming our Mammoths back into the building and settling into the second half of the school year together. The energy in the halls and classrooms has been a great reminder of how special it is to have our community back in full swing. Since returning from break, students and staff have been working intentionally to reset routines and structures that help make Mountain Vista a place where learning can thrive.

You may have heard your student talk about our Mammoth Moments, which are short videos from Mrs. Pratt and me that focus on staying emotionally regulated and ready to learn. This month, we have been working with students on taking ownership of their learning and using strategies to work through tough emotions when challenges come up. These skills help students recognize what they need and get themselves back on track in the classroom. Thank you for all you do at home to support your child’s readiness to come to school each day as a learner. Your partnership makes a meaningful difference.

As we head into the final hours of our PTO Silent Auction, we want to share our sincere gratitude for the incredible support from our community. The auction has been open for just one week and we have already reached over 95% of our fundraising goal! This success is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of our PTO, who secured so many thoughtful and exciting items for our students and families. The auction closes tonight at 7 pm during the Snowball Dance. You can check it out here: https://www.32auctions.com/MVE2026. We hope you or your child finds an item you love, and we would love to see many of our Mammoths at the Snowball Dance tonight at Sky Vista from 6 to 8 pm for an evening of fun, connection, and celebration. Please note that parent/guardian presence is required.

Looking ahead, spring parent teacher conferences will take place March 2 through March 5. These conferences are an important opportunity for families and teachers to connect, celebrate student growth, and discuss next steps for learning. A Sign Up Genius will be sent out in the coming weeks so families can select a time that works best for them. We appreciate your continued partnership and the time you take to engage in these meaningful conversations.

We are also excited to invite families to our first Mammoth Moves Family Game Night on February 11. This evening is designed to celebrate student learning while giving families a chance to play games and connect together. Doors will be open from 4:30 to 6 pm and families are welcome to come and go as it works for them. Students who attend will be entered into a drawing to win their very own family board games. We hope you will join us for a fun and relaxed night of learning, laughter, and community.

Finally, we are beginning to plan for next school year and are now enrolling students for PreK and Kindergarten. Early enrollment helps us plan thoughtfully for staffing and class sizes and supports a smooth transition for our youngest learners. If you have a child who will be joining us next year, or if you know families in the community with incoming PreK or Kindergarten students, we encourage you to spread the word. We would love to welcome them to Mountain Vista.

Thank you for your continued support of our school and for being such an important part of our Mountain Vista community. We are looking forward to the months ahead and all the learning, growth, and connection they will bring.

In partnership,

Megan Carkhuff

Principal

As we settle back in after break and navigate typical Colorado winter weather with cold mornings, possible ice, and snowy roads, we want to remind everyone to please use extra care in our pick up line.

Slow speeds, full stops, and staying attentive help keep our students, families, and staff safe. Thank you for your patience and partnership as we work together to make dismissal safe for everyone.

Please use extra caution when entering and exiting the main entrance to the parking lot. Our crossing guard is working hard to keep all students and families safe, and patience is essential.

Please do not speed through or block the crosswalk. We also have middle and high school students beginning their walk to school, so students may be coming from multiple directions at the same time. If you are waiting to enter, only pull forward when there is enough space for your vehicle without covering the crosswalk. Always follow the crossing guard’s directions, and when in doubt, slow down and wait.

Thank you for helping keep our community safe.

Hello from the music room!

Congratulations to our 5th graders on their amazing performance, Space!

Please make sure your calendars are marked for our upcoming performances,

The 3rd-grade performance is on March 10th. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the performance will begin at 6:15 p.m. in the gym.

The Spring Choir concert is April 21st. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the performance will begin at 6:15 p.m. in the gym.

WAY TO GO, STUDENTS AND PARENTS!!!

In December I challenged the students to try to read more than the teachers and staff over winter break. They didn’t, but they still put up some very impressive numbers! The kindergarteners, first graders, and second graders read nearly 30,000 minutes, while the third, fourth, and fifth graders read over 27,000 pages. WAY TO GO, STUDENTS!

However, they would not have read all those minutes and all those pages without you reading with them or you giving them lots of reminders and encouragement. So, WAY TO GO, PARENTS! WELL DONE! It takes all of us—teachers, staff, and parents—to make our kids great readers.

Reading is the number one activity that makes kids smarter. Not only do they gain knowledge as they read, but kids’ brains are activated to better comprehend. It also builds their vocabulary, which helps them communicate and write better. Parents, please continue to read everyday with your kids, especially if they are in pre-school, kindergarten, and first and second grades.

Parents, encourage your third, fourth, and fifth graders to read everyday on their own, but don’t stop reading with them. Reading books together creates positive emotional feelings in kids as they associate time spent together with you with time spent reading.

Thank you!

Nels Berge, School Librarian

We have been WRITING in the art room! What? Write in the art room? Yes, from written reflections, menus, and sentences, the students have been writing in response to their artwork and writing with their artwork.

Writing and art are similar by both being wonderful forms of expression as well as helping develop fine motor and critical thinking skills. I hope you have seen this cross-curricular integration as students start to bring home their artwork AND writing. Ask your students what their art and writing is about? What did they learn? What would they do differently next time?

Come check out the special new masterpieces hanging throughout our school:

· Mrs. White’s 1st grade- “Alphabet Soup”

· Mrs. Luther’s 2nd grade- “Martin Luther King, Jr. Portraits”

· Mrs. Larson’s 2nd grade- “Chris Uphues’ Hearts”

· Mrs. Berger’s- “Dragon’s Love Tacos”

Winter can be hard for kids with asthma. Cold air, indoor allergens, and respiratory illnesses can make breathing more difficult. Here are some simple tips to help.

Common Winter Triggers:

· Cold air can make airways tighten and cause breathing problems.

· Indoor allergens like dust and pet dander build up when windows stay closed. This can irritate airways and cause coughing.

· Colds and flu can make asthma worse by adding mucus and swelling in the airways.

Tips to Help Your Child Stay Healthy:

· Reduce allergens: Change air filters, clean often, and use an air purifier or humidifier (keep humidity between 30–50%).

· Avoid irritants: Limit candles, strong scents, and sprays that can bother sensitive lungs.

· Prevent illness: Get a flu shot, wash hands often, and keep away from people who are sick.

When to Call a Healthcare Provider:

· Your child is coughing or wheezing more than usual.

· They need their rescue inhaler more often than normal.

· Breathing looks hard or fast, or you see skin pulling in between their ribs when they breathe.

· Symptoms don’t get better after using rescue medicine.

· Anytime you are worried about their breathing or overall health.

With these easy steps, you can help your child with asthma breathe easier and stay healthy all winter long!

The CCSD Chess Tournament will be held on February 28th. All entries need to be turned in by February 21st. Space is limited, only the first 200 students who sign up will be able to participate.

In case of sickness or absence, please call the 24 hour attendance line at 720-886-2795.

When leaving a messages please include:

• Students first and last name, include the spelling of their last name.
• Teacher's name and grade
• Reason for absence
• Your name
• Contact phone number
• Brief description of symptoms

Please check our Lost and Found rack frequently.

• CCSD participates in Safe2Tell which allows you to anonymously report any threatening behavior that endangers you, your friends, your family or your community.
• Contact at: www.safe2tell.org or 1.877.542.SAFE (7233)

Looking for a phone number? Want to learn about upcoming community nights and events? Curious when Preschool and Kindergarten enrollment begins? You can find all this and more at our school website: mountainvista.cherrycreekschools.org