August Family Newsletter

Dear CFL Families,

Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful summer and are ready for an exciting year at Center for Family Learning!

I am honored and excited to step into the role of Principal at CFL. After serving as the Assistant Principal for the past three years, I am grateful for the opportunity to continue working alongside our amazing students, families, and staff in this new role.

My experiences as a teacher, instructional coach, Child Find Coordinator, and early childhood special education educator have strengthened my belief that every child matters, every child can learn, and relationships make a difference.

As we begin this year, I am committed to:

• Being present and building connections with our students, families, and staff.

• Prioritizing learning so every child has opportunities to grow and succeed.

• Building strong relationships where children feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.

• Creating a welcoming school community where every child and family feels valued and belongs.

Thank you for trusting us with your children each day. I look forward to celebrating their growth, creating memories, and making this a wonderful year together.

Together We Rise!

Nicole Hills

We are excited to welcome several new team members to Center for Family Learning! Please join us in giving them a warm CFL welcome. We are so happy to have them as part of our school family and look forward to all they will bring to our students and community this year!

🍎 Robin McMillian – Kindergarten Teacher
📚 Emily Jaeger – 1st Grade Teacher
💙 Regina Ellis – Special Education Paraprofessional
🌈 Rayna Snyder – Preschool Paraprofessional
🌟 Anabel Noriega Bustamante – Preschool Paraprofessional

We are so excited to see our students' smiling faces and begin another year of learning, growth, and connection. Our staff is ready to create a warm, supportive environment where every child can thrive.

Please see the scheduled school hours for CFL:

• Student hours are 7:35 AM – 3:00 PM

• Doors open at 7:15 AM

• Breakfast will be served from 7:15–7:40 AM

Students arriving after 7:30 will be offered a grab-and-go breakfast option to take with them to class. We hope this staggered start and end time helps families transition smoothly and makes it easier for those dropping off at multiple schools.

Some Helpful Reminders:

Late Students - If your student arrives late, you will need to bring and check in your child at the front office. There will be a grab and go breakfast option to ensure your child is offered breakfast

Early Check-Out - If you are checking your student out early, please call ahead and we will try to have your student ready by the time you get to the school. Please allow 10 minutes before you arrive. Students will still need to be signed out by a parent or guardian at the front office.

Changes in End of Day routines - If you need to change your child’s normal end of day routine please call the school before 2:00 pm to allow us time to ensure the message gets to the teachers before students are released. Parents are not allowed to go to buses to take their student. They will go to front office and if the buses are still at the school a staff member will bring them to the office for checkout.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the school! Veronica Duran and Miriam Baltazar, our friendly and super helpful secretaries. Our office is open Tuesday through Friday and can be reached from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call the school at (970) 285-5702.

August 11–12: Kindergarten & 1st Grade Pre-Assessment Days and Back-to-School Event
Kindergarten and 1st grade students will attend their scheduled pre-assessment time. During this visit, teachers will learn more about your child’s academic strengths and needs to help support a successful start to the school year.

Families will also participate in our Back-to-School Event during their child’s scheduled time:

• Families will begin by joining their child’s classroom.
• Teachers will share important classroom information, routines, expectations, and ways families can support learning at home during a brief 15-minute classroom meeting.
• After the classroom meeting, families will complete required school paperwork and forms.

We are excited to partner with families from the very beginning and help ensure students feel prepared, welcomed, and ready for a great year!

August 11–14: Preschool Home Visits
Preschool teachers will visit families at home to begin building relationships, learn more about your child, and help create a strong connection between home and school before the first day.

August 13: First Day of School for Kindergarten & 1st Grade Students
We are excited to welcome our K–1 students for their first official day of learning!

August 18–19: Preschool Soft Start & Back-to-School Event
Preschool students will attend their scheduled soft start time. During this visit, families will participate in our Back-to-School Event:

• Families will begin by joining their child’s classroom.
• Teachers will share important classroom information, routines, expectations, and ways families can support their child’s learning during a brief 15-minute classroom meeting.
• Families will then complete required school paperwork.
• Preschool families will participate in a Parent Orientation to learn more about preschool procedures, schedules, communication, and what to expect throughout the year.

• Required Documents

  Please make sure your child’s preschool file includes the following required documents before their first day:

  • A copy of their birth certificate
    

  • Immunization records
    

  • A completed Health Appraisal Form from your child’s doctor
    

  All documents must be turned in before August 20th in order for your child to start preschool. Please begin gathering these items now so you're all set.

  
  

August 20: First Day of Preschool
We are excited to welcome all preschool students for their first full day of learning!

August 21: School-Wide Pancake Breakfast @ 7:15-8:00
Join us as we celebrate the beginning of a new school year with our CFL community at our School-Wide Pancake Breakfast!

August 28: Picture Day!
Students will have the opportunity to take their school pictures. More information about picture day will be shared with families soon.

Every school day counts! Consistent attendance is one of the most important factors in a child's success. When students come to school every day and arrive on time, they build strong learning habits, stay on track with their learning, and develop meaningful relationships with their teachers and classmates.

Thank you for partnering with us by making school attendance a priority. Together, we can help every child learn, grow, and thrive!

Help Your Child Thrive at Home!

💬 Talk & Listen: Have conversations with your child and encourage them to share their ideas and experiences.

📖 Read Together: Read every day—even just 10–15 minutes! Talk about the story, ask questions, and let your child choose books they enjoy.

🌎 Explore & Learn: Take walks, visit the library, run errands together, and talk about the world around you.

⭐ Encourage & Praise: Celebrate effort, growth, and trying new things.

😴 Rest & Attend: Help your child get plenty of sleep and make regular, on-time attendance a priority. Every day of learning matters!

Thank you for partnering with us to help our children learn, grow, and thrive.

Together We Rise! 🌟