From the Fox Den

Dear Families,

Happy New Year! As we start the second half of the year, I wanted to share some celebrations from the first half of the year:

• We rolled out our new acronym for our school-wide expectations (BELONG).
• We implemented a new literacy curriculum for Kindergarten-5th grade aligned with the Science of Reading.
• We have seen high growth for many students on the mid-year STAR assessment!
• We celebrated Ms. Shelia Phillips' 50th year of teaching!
• We honored our veterans at our annual Veteran's Day Celebration, including a performance by our 2nd graders.
• We celebrated our diverse community at a well-attended Multicultural Night.
• Our choir performed to a packed gym!
• Our 3rd grade team took 1st place at the Rich Marrow Math Challenge!
• Our 5th graders showcased their acting and singing talents at the 5th-grade musical.
• Our 2nd graders collected socks for a crisis center for Socktober.
• We moved off of an Improvement Plan with the state and became a Performance school, which is the highest rating of schools the state gives on the School Performance Framework (SPF)!
• The Board of Education recognized us for our growth on the School Performance Framework.
• We hosted three BELONG Assemblies to celebrate our students.
• We partnered with Aurora Mental Health and Hazel Health to provide mental health support to our students during the school day.

I am so proud of our students, staff, and community for their hard work, and I can't wait to see what this next half of the year brings!

Kind regards,

Kelsey Jones

Principal

On the morning of Tuesday, February 6, we are inviting parents/guardians to join us at Arrowhead for a Learning Walk! You will have the opportunity to walk through several classrooms and see the learning that is taking place, followed by a debrief with the Arrowhead leadership team and teachers. So that we can make this experience meaningful for participants, we will be limiting the number of people able to attend. More details and a link to RSVP will be sent out in a couple of weeks, but for now, please save the date!

Congratulations to the following Arrowhead staff members who were honored by Superintendent Smith in December for their commitment to Cherry Creek's core value of equity:

Carolyn Brumfiel

Linda Castillo

Lacy Hardaway

Lisa Rincon

Micaela (Miki) Villarreal

We are so proud of them and all they do for our Arrowhead students, staff, and community!

Arrowhead's PASS (Partnerships for Academically Successful Students) Committee is comprised of parents/guardians, teachers and administrators, and community members. Our goal is to foster an inclusive and safe environment to support the success of students of color. We do this by:

• Engaging community members in meaningful and effective partnerships
• Building relationships between schools and family communities
• Providing parents and guardians of students of color voice and direct access to the administration

Our next PASS meeting is tomorrow, Friday, January 12, at 8:00 am in the Arrowhead Library. We will be planning the Family Learning Walks and would love your insight to make it meaningful for families!

There is also a District PASS Committee that meets monthly. Their next meeting is Wednesday, January 31 from 6:00-7:30 pm at Grandview High School. Email CCSDEquity@cherrycreekschools.org for more information.

Apply now for school meal benefits! While all students now receive free lunch, qualifying families will receive additional benefits, including discounts for CCSD before/after programs and waived activities and athletic fees. It also helps our school earn additional federal funding.

To apply for school meal benefits, please complete this application as soon as possible. You can apply the following ways:

Online: Click here to apply. The application is available in English, Spanish, Burmese, Chinese, French, Korean, Russian, and Vietnamese.

Download a paper form and return to school: English, Spanish

Please pick up a paper copy at school, in the Main Office.

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

English

Spanish

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

Drop-Off/Pick-Up (Blue): This space allows you to quickly drop off and pick up at the beginning and end of the day. This is a fire lane, so you must always remain in your car. Students should enter and exit the car on the curbside (right side), as vehicles will pass 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 curve safely.

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

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 a spot is unavailable, please park on the street and walk in.

Right Turn Only (2:45-3:00 pm, 1:45-2:00 pm Wednesdays): When exiting the parking lot during afternoon dismissal, all cars must 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).

Loading Dock (Red): This area is used by pedestrians at the beginning and end of the school day. No vehicles may enter this area or park in the loading dock.

January 12- PASS Meeting 8:00 am in the Arrowhead Library

January 15- No School (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)

January 19- BINGO Night 5:30 pm

January 25- Skate City Night 6:00 pm

January 31- District PASS 6:00-7:30 pm at Grandview High School

February 1- Mod Pizza Spirit Night, Husky Highlight Night for 5th graders 5:30-7:00 at Horizon Community Middle School

February 6- Family Learning Walk (time TBD, but will be in the morning)

February 12-March 1- Raise Craze Fundraiser

February 19- No School (President's Day)

February 20- No School (Non-Contact Day)

February 21- District PASS Meeting 6:00-7:30 pm at Smoky Hill High School

February 23- BINGO Night 5:30 pm
Week of March 4- Spring Conferences

March 7-8- No School (Conferences)

March 13- PTCO Meeting 5:30 pm at Arrowhead

March 16-24- Spring Break

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 and academic modifications and supporting students in self-care as needed. Experience is preferred but not required, as new para educators will receive extensive training.

Instructional Para Educator (4 hours/day): Supervise students at recess and lunch—some light clerical work to support teachers as needed.

Behavior Regulation Technician (7 hours/day): Work with our Social Emotional Wellness Coordinator to support students who need breaks and help with regulation. Reinforce positive social skills during recess by supporting students with conflict resolution and engaging in play.

We are also always looking for substitute para educators and crossing guards who can fill in when one of our para educators is out. Please get in touch with 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.

Hi, Arrowhead Fox Families! Did you know that in addition to all the events the PTCO puts on, there are other ways to support the Arrowhead Elementary PTCO?

Questions? Feel free to reach out to your Arrowhead PTCO

arrowheadelementaryptco@gmail.com

arrtreasurer@gmail.com

arrowheadptcosecretary@gmail.com

The PTCO is looking to bring back the Spring Carnival! We cannot do this without volunteers. If you are interested in helping, please email: arrowheadelementaryptco@gmail.com

Our next BINGO Night is Friday, January 19 at 5:30 pm in the Arrowhead Gym! We hope you can join us!

Kindergarten-5th Grade

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

8:00 am-1:45 pm Wednesday

Pre-Kindergarten

AM Session: 8:00-10:55 am Monday-Thursday

PM Session: 11:50 am-2:45 pm Monday-Thursday

Enrichment: 8:00 am-2:45 pm Monday-Thursday

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.

All Cherry Creek elementary schools have early release days every Wednesday at 1:45 pm for Kindergarten-5th grade students to enhance professional development and training opportunities for our elementary teachers. PreK students continue to dismiss at their regular time. 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.

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 the end of the day, they will need to use the Main Entrance regardless of which grade they are in.

All visitors must use door 1 (Main Entrance) 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 help us keep our students safe by driving safely around the school. The streets surrounding Arrowhead (Bates and Ceylon) are no u-turn zones. Please slow down, be vigilant, and do not double park along Bates or Ceylon. Children should only exit vehicles on the curb side and we ask that you pull all the way up to the curb before letting them out. Please model pedestrian safety for your child by using crosswalks.

If you see unsafe driving, please report it to Aurora Police Department. As a school, we do not have the authority to enforce traffic violations.

We understand that birthdays are special days for children, and we will celebrate your child's birthday both in the classroom and with a school-wide announcement! While it isn't necessary, if your child would like to bring treats for their classmates, they are welcome to bring non-food items to celebrate. This allows us to be a community that is inclusive of children with food restrictions. Some ideas for birthday celebrations can include:

• Stickers
• Pencils
• Bookmarks
• Small trinkets/toys (school appropriate- no pretend weapons or items that can be used as weapons, no whistles, etc.)
• Goodie bags with non-edible items
• A book donation to your child's classroom (have your child sign the book so the class remembers who donated it!)

Each grade level celebrates birthdays differently, and your child will be recognized on their birthday, regardless of whether they bring in something to celebrate with. If you wish your child's birthday not to be celebrated, please notify their classroom teacher.

Please refrain from sending flowers and balloons to school for your child. Any flowers and balloons received will be delivered at the end of the school day.

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

Email: kjones100@cherrycreekschools.org

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