The Tiger Times
Sanders Elementary School, August/September, 2025
Administration and Support:
Carey Miller, Asst. Principal,
carey.miller@jefferson.kyschools.us
Christy Luther, Counselor, christina.luther@jefferson.kyschools.us
Tamara Dunlap, FRYSC,
tamara.dunlap@jefferson.kyschools.us
Marcie Helm, MHP,
marcie.helm@jefferson.kyschools.us
Scan QR Code to access the school website.
A Note from the Principal:
Dear Sanders Elementary Families,
What a fantastic start we’ve had to the school year! The energy and excitement throughout our classrooms and hallways have set the tone for what promises to be an incredible journey of learning and growth.
Our theme this year is “Level Up,” and we’re already seeing students rising to the challenge. Whether it’s in academics, behavior, or personal goals, our focus is on helping every child take the next step in their learning journey. Leveling up means pushing past comfort zones, embracing challenges, and celebrating progress—and we’re here to support every student along the way.
We’re excited to partner with you throughout this school year. Thank you for all you do to support our school and your child’s education. With your continued involvement, we know this will be a year full of success stories.
Here’s to an amazing September and a year of leveling up!
Warm regards,
Mrs. Dahlgren
Principal, Sanders Elementary
Sanders Staff Spotlight:
- "Mrs. Hagan in 2nd grade. I want to nominate Mrs. Hagan for being a wonderful teacher. This is my daughter's first year at sanders. Kylie comes home everyday bragging about how much she loves Mrs. Hagan."
Sam Colyer. She has gone above and beyond to support ECE students in her classroom. She has started behavior reinforcement systems for multiple kids, and they are off to such a good start! Additionally, she has put other systems in place to support a gen ed student who needed some assistance.
Lisa Fletcher, she is the best mentor ever! She has been helping me out so much and I really appreciate her.
- Use this link to recognize a teacher or staff member: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScAO1Qjfd0Snf-bRIqj9hgO9l7HDkIFJDZyzhTNi70YxCuSoQ/viewform
Focus on the Family:
Please see important FRYSC August updates here: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGtcYPw2-M/Li9CJ-3F-CQDYzyj4BtbQg/edit?utm_content=DAGtcYPw2-M&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton
There are some new updates for September also! You can check those out here: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGvZ1OVNNs/9Qgg9i9rDHo24UdUtJ1TAQ/edit?utm_content=DAGvZ1OVNNs&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton
If you need to refer a student to the Sanders Family Resource Center please feel free to complete the online form at:
Thanks!
Mrs. Dunlap
Counselor's Corner:
Dear Students and Families,
Welcome back to a brand-new school year at Sanders Elementary! Hopefully you had a fantastic summer full of fun and relaxation. As we prepare to dive into the exciting adventures of this school year, we wanted to take a moment to introduce your mental health team and share some information about how we can support you.
Mrs. Luther is your school counselor and Mrs. Helm is your mental health practitioner. Our roles are designed to help all students feel happy, safe, and successful at school. We see students in their classrooms as a whole group, with small groups, and even individually. Whether you need support with your emotions, friendships, or even just figuring out how to organize your school supplies, We are here to help!
This year Sanders is proud to introduce CharacterStrong as our Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum. CharacterStrong is designed to help students build important life skills such as empathy, resilience, respect, and responsibility—skills that will serve them well in school and beyond.
Through engaging lessons and activities, students will practice positive character traits, strengthen relationships, and learn how to make choices that align with their values. Our goal is to support the whole child—helping them grow not just academically, but also socially and emotionally.
We look forward to partnering with you in this journey as we help our students become compassionate leaders, thoughtful friends, and responsible citizens. Look for monthly newsletters in the Wednesday folders that share our character trait of the month as well as family connection ideas.
Feel free to reach out if you feel your student needs additional support. Here’s to a wonderful school year filled with learning, growth, and joy. I can’t wait to see all the amazing things we will accomplish together!
Warm regards,
Mrs. Luther & Mrs. Helm
School Counselor & Mental Health Practitioner
Sanders Elementary
502-485-8322
A Message from Mrs. Miller
Dear Sanders Elementary Families,
Welcome back to a brand-new school year! I am so excited to partner with our students, staff, and families to make this year a safe, positive, and successful one for all.
As the Assistant Principal, my focus is on three big areas that directly impact your child’s daily experience at school:
✅ Safety: Nothing is more important than making sure our students feel safe every day. We’ll continue practicing our safety drills, reinforcing arrival and dismissal routines, and keeping a close eye on building security so that our school remains a place where students can learn without worry.
✅ Behavior: We know that children learn best when classrooms are calm, respectful, and focused. That’s why we put an emphasis on setting clear expectations and teaching students how to meet them. Consistency between home and school is key, and we appreciate your support in reinforcing positive behavior.
✅ PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports): This year, we’ll continue to highlight and celebrate the great choices our students make every day. From earning classroom rewards to whole-school celebrations, PBIS helps students stay motivated while creating a culture where kindness, responsibility, and respect shine.
I’m looking forward to a fantastic start to the year. Together, we’ll build a strong foundation for student success in 2025–2026!
Mrs. Miller
Assistant Principal, Sanders Elementary
carey.miller@jefferson.kyschools.us
Facebook: @SandersElem https://www.facebook.com/SandersElem
Twitter: @SandersElem https://twitter.com/SandersElem
Mark Your Calendar:
Important LINKS and Dates:
September1: NO SCHOOL, LABOR DAY
September 9: HIGH ATTENDANCE DAY
September 15: FRYSC "Parent Cafe" 1:00
September 24: Parent/Teacher Conferences
September 29-October 3: NO SCHOOL, FALL BREAK
Check out the latest updates and information on the programs and resources used to teach your students for Reading and Math: Links to Educational Updates for Families for Reading and Math
Tech Time with Mr. Nethery
From the STEM Lab – Back-to-School Tech Tips with Mr. Nethery
Welcome back, families! As we dive into a brand-new school year, it’s important to remember that technology is an incredible learning tool—but balance is key. One of the best ways to help students succeed in the classroom is to make sure they are getting enough rest at night.
Here are a few quick tips to set healthy tech routines at home:
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Set a “Tech Curfew.” Power down devices at least 30–60 minutes before bedtime to give students’ brains time to relax.
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Create Charging Stations. Keep phones, tablets, and Chromebooks charging outside of bedrooms overnight to limit distractions.
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Model Good Habits. Kids are more likely to unplug if they see adults doing the same. Consider making evenings a “screen-free zone” for the whole family.
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Prioritize Sleep. A full night’s rest helps students recharge, focus better in class, and bring their best selves to school each day.
With consistent routines at home, we can make sure our students are ready to learn, explore, and grow this school year. Let’s start strong!
– Mr. Nethery, STEM Lab Teacher
I welcome you to please reach out to me if you have any additional technology questions or concerns. You may call the school or email me at: Troy.Nethery@jefferson.kyschools.us
Library News from Mrs. Billiter
News from the Library:
The school year is off to a great start in the library! Students are already checking out books, exploring new titles, and building strong reading habits that will support their learning all year long.
In September we are launching a special reading challenge called Fresh Finds! The goal of this challenge is to encourage students to read something brand new from our library shelves. Whether it’s a just-published title, a book that’s new to our collection, or simply a story your child has never read before, Fresh Finds gives students the chance to discover new adventures, characters, and ideas.
Each student who participates will select a new book from the library, read it, and share their “fresh find” with me.Paper forms will go home in the Wednesday, September 3 folder. The Google form will be available on the Sanders Library website then as well. All participants will receive a bookmark and be entered into a prize drawing and their names will be displayed on our Fresh Finds bulletin board to celebrate their participation.
Parents can help at home by encouraging children to talk about their library book, ask questions about the story, or even set aside a few minutes each night for family reading time. Reading something new helps spark curiosity, expand vocabulary, and build lifelong reading habits.
I’m excited to see what fresh new stories our students discover this month. Thank you for supporting reading at home and helping your child build a love of books!
If at any time you have questions about reading challenges, using the Ebooks resources, or other questions that may arise, please contact me at paula.billiter@jefferson.kyschools.us
Mrs. Billiter, Librarian
