Mammoth Tracks

May 1, NO SCHOOL, non contact day

May 4-8, Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week

May 5, Incoming Pre-k and Kindergarten Orientation (more information below)

May 7, Pre-K field day

May 13, Community Night, Marco's Pizza

May 14, Pre-K field day (Rain Day)

May 15, Field Day/Parent Appreciation

May 18, Field day (Rain Day)

May 19, One book/one Author- Finding Gobi

May 20, Pre-K End of the year Celebration (more information below)

May 21, 5th Grade Celebration

May 22, Last Day of School, EARLY DISMISSAL @ 11:00am

Dear Mammoth Families,

As we move into the final stretch of the school year, it is hard to believe how quickly the months have flown by. The school year is coming to a fast close, and April has been a full and productive month at Mountain Vista. There is so much to be proud of as we begin bringing another wonderful year to an end.

Our students worked incredibly hard during CMAS testing this month. We were so impressed by the focus, perseverance, and effort shown by our third through fifth grade students. They represented themselves and our school community well. We know assessments can ask a lot of students, and we appreciate the support families provided at home to help them feel ready each day.

After this week, we will begin our final round of STAR testing for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Each student will complete one literacy assessment and one math assessment. This is an important opportunity for us to celebrate the growth students have made this year and reflect on the impact of our instruction. Families will be able to access STAR scores shortly after testing is complete, and more information about how to view results will be shared soon.

As we celebrate the many milestones that come with the end of the school year, we also want to take a moment to recognize Ben Naccarato as he prepares for retirement. Ben has spent the last six years of his long career in education serving the Mountain Vista community as a valued and integral member of our staff. His care for students, support of teachers, and unwavering dedication to helping all learners succeed have left a lasting mark on our school community. We are incredibly grateful for all he has given to Mountain Vista and wish him joy, relaxation, and all the best in this next chapter.

Upcoming Events

Kindergarten Exploration – May 5 | 5:00–6:00 PM

We’re excited to welcome future kindergarten families for an open house-style evening to learn more about kindergarten at Mountain Vista. Come explore classrooms, meet staff, and get your questions answered as we prepare for the 2026–27 school year.

PreK Orientation – May 5 | 6:15 PM
Following Kindergarten Exploration, we are excited to welcome families for our PreK Orientation. This open house style evening is a great opportunity to meet our teachers, learn more about our PreK program, and visit the classrooms. If you or someone you know is interested in PreK for the upcoming school year, now is the perfect time to enroll. Flyers with additional information are attached to this newsletter, and we would greatly appreciate your help spreading the word

PreK Field Day – May 7
Our littlest learners will enjoy their own special field day on May 7. The PreK AM field day will be from 9:30-10:30am and the PM PreK field day will be from 1:30-2:30pm. More information will be shared by your PreK teachers.

Field Day K-5 – May 15
Join us for Field Day, one of our favorite end of year traditions. Field Day is a fun-filled event where students rotate through outdoor activity stations, games, and team challenges as they celebrate teamwork, movement, and school spirit. Volunteers are needed to help make the day a success, so please see the sign up shared by PTO if you would like to lend a hand.

PreK Celebration – May 20
Come celebrate this special milestone for our Mini Mammoths as they complete PreK and get ready to begin full day kindergarten next year. Our PreK AM celebration will take place from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m., and our PreK PM celebration will be held from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. Both celebrations will take place in the PreK classrooms.

5th Grade Celebration – The morning of May 21
We’ll be sending out more details soon, but mark your calendars for a special celebration to recognize our 5th graders and their time at Mountain Vista. Classroom teachers will be in touch with event-specific information.

Thank you for your continued partnership, support, and trust throughout the school year. We are grateful for our Mountain Vista community and look forward to finishing the year together by continuing to dream big, believe in ourselves, and achieve great things.

With gratitude,

Megan Carkhuff

Principal

Come take a peek at the AMAZING new masterpieces on display throughout our school:

· Mrs. Vogel’s Kindies- “Maps” and “Catching Bugs”

· Mr. Palumbo’s Kindies- “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom”

· Mrs. Ash’s First Graders- “Flowers and Bees”

· Mrs. Ligon’s First Graders- “Monet Waterlilies”

· Mrs. Luna’s First Graders- “Clay Waterlilies”

· Mrs. Larson’s Second Graders- “Clay Donuts”

· Mrs. Vasilauskas’ Third Graders- “Clay Cupcakes”

· Mrs. Sherry and Mr. Nibecker’s Third Graders- “Tar Beach”

· Mrs. Baran’s Fourth Graders- “Clay Faces”

· Mrs. Poscover’s Fifth Graders- “Clay Fish”

· Mrs. Christian’s Fith Graders- “Blackout Poetry”

What an amazing school year of reading we have had! But now it's time to wrap things up and collect all of our library books so that they will be ready for next school year. Students should return all of their library books the week of April 27-May 1. If your child has lost a library book, please purchase a replacement book and send it to me with your child.

Thank You,

Mr. Berge

MVE Librarian

Congratulations Nurse Mandy Jackson and the entire Mountain Vista Elementary community on earning the Gold Recognition Level as a Colorado Asthma‑Friendly School!

"On behalf of the Colorado Comprehensive School‑Centered Asthma Program (AsthmaCOMP), along with our partners at the Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, we are delighted to acknowledge Nuse Jackson's dedication to implementing best practices that support a healthier and safer school environment for both students and staff.

Being recognized as a Colorado Asthma‑Friendly School reflects Mountain Vista Elementary commitment to a comprehensive approach to asthma management. When students receive high‑quality, asthma‑related care, they are more likely to attend school regularly and participate fully in their learning."

We are incredibly proud of this achievement.

Kindergarten Exploration Night!

Get ready for a fun-filled evening as we welcome our future kindergarteners! Join us on May 5th at 5:00 PM for Kindergarten Exploration Night—a special event designed for children who will be starting kindergarten for the 2026/2027 school year.

Little learners will have the chance to explore classrooms and meet teachers.

We can’t wait to meet our newest students and their families—come ready to explore, play, and imagine all the amazing things kindergarten will bring!

Join us for our Pre Kindergarten Orientation Night on May 5th at 6:15 pm!

This special event is designed for next years incoming Pre-k students and their families to explore the classroom, meet our awesome teachers, and learn what to expect in the upcoming school year!

We can't wait to welcome you and begin this exciting journey!

It is Kindergarten and Pre-K roundup time!

If your child will be 5 years old by October 1, 2026 you can enroll them for Kindergarten for the 2026-2027 school year. The enrollment process is all done online. Please follow this link to the Cherry Creek School District admissions webpage. https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/admissions/student-enrollment/pre-kindergarten-kindergarten-roundup

The Cherry Creek School District offers free, part-time Pre-Kindergarten (Universal Preschool) at all of our elementary schools. To enroll, your child must be 4 years old on or before October 1 of the upcoming school year and live within the Cherry Creek School District boundaries*. https://earlychildhood.cherrycreekschools.org/enroll/2026-2027-early-childhood-education-enrollment/4-year-old-preschool-enrollment-information

The Ronald McDonald House Charities collects soda can pop tops to raise funds for their programs that provide family-centered care to families and children.

The collection process is simple: please save any soda can pop tops you have at home and send them to school with your student to give to Ms. Bridgid at lunch.

The collected aluminum tabs are delivered to Ronald McDonald House, who then sells them for cash. The proceeds support the operations and supplies for the Ronald McDonald House and Family Rooms. The program is not only a way to recycle, but also a way to teach children about philanthropy and the value of their contributions.

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

Lost and found is overflowing! Please remind your student to stop by and see if anything belongs to them. Everything is laid out in the downstairs hallway right outside of the nurses office. All items not claimed by the end of the year will be donated.

• 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