Fall Semester 2022 Achievements – Spark! Discovery Preschool

Enrollment increased by 61%. From December ’21 to December ’22, we have increased enrollment again by 18%. Also, 100% of available CPP and district-available Scholarships were filled by early October 2022. 

Successfully implemented, maintained, re-evaluated 110 Individual Education Plans (IEP) for children with special needs, approximately 35% of our school’s population. At mid-year we have space for 30 other students with special needs to be placed before the end of the school year when they turn 3.


Offered full-day preschool for 16 families, 8:30 – 3:05 pm daily in order to intervene for our students who are most at-risk due to home-based factors in order to positively impact Graduation Rates at FHS in 2035. 


Teachers are administering five common units of STEM-based learning integrating the design-thinking process, the scientific method, and inquiry-based learning, which have been designed by staff using 2020 CDE standards, SVVSD curriculum, and Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment objectives. 


100% of classroom staff are trained in Inter-Rater Reliability scoring related to the use and implementation of Teaching Strategies GOLD. 


Blair Hunter, SSN teacher, has written a successful Grant for more inclusive playground equipment sponsored by the Weld Trust and our Parent-Teacher Organization. This will provide outdoor play opportunities for children with physical limitations.  


Three teachers wrote successful Education Foundation grants for early literacy (Mary Stivison), alternative seating (Amy Newsom), and sensory needs (Blair Hunter) of our students. 


Hosted an outside Fall Celebration, called Trick-or-Treat-Street, in collaboration with our community, PTO, and staff. 


Implemented a variety of family literacy activities:  Book Swap activities, free books for take home, activities at Trick or Treat street, etc. 


Partnered with Colorado Feeding Kids to offer access to a school-based food back for our families. 

Offered a Halloween-costume exchange / donation so families could get new costumes at low to no cost. 

Successful school-wide Canned food drive to benefit the Carbon Valley Help Center – November 2022.

Successful coat / hat / boot / gloves drive to build a stock of free items for families in need – December 2022. 

Successful PJ and Book drive for our students in the most need – December 2022.

Successful entry in the September 2022 Miners Day parade. 

Hired a Campus Supervisor — a role which is positively impacting our students, staff, community, and school.  Thank you for this resource!

“Colorado Preschool is Building Partnerships to Grow Their Farm to Early Childcare Program” U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 7/25/22 

Blair Hunter, SSN teacher, was recognized as the Stapp Toyota Educator Highlight in October 2022.

Reinstated a full-slate of staff and parents for our school’s Parent-Teacher Organization who ran a successful fall fundraiser, helped with Trick or Treat Street, sponsored staff dinners for conferences, implemented a school-based grant opportunity for all teaching staff, and a myriad of other events and activities.  August – December 2022

Recruited and are developing three P-teach Apprentices, in collaboration with Nicole Rudman, who work part time and attend classes at CU-Denver and FRCC – August 2022. One apprentice was a P-teach student from FHS, who began last year as a senior and is continuing to pursue teaching after a springtime practicum.  In January 2023 we added a new P-Teach high school student to support in one of our classrooms.

Successfully oriented and transitioned students and families who are new to the school-setting this school year; this comprises approximately 36% of our school.  These, with on-going evaluations in child find, continue all year long at a rate of about 10 families per month throughout the school year. 

Conducted a successful in-person licensing visitation in October 2022. 

Offered summer 2022 Childcare at an alternative site (due to construction) for 30 families in the Carbon Valley area.

Offered Kinder Launch in the summer of 2022 – Two classes at Legacy Elementary and two classes at Centennial Elementary during June to increase kindergarten readiness for our most at-risk students, through fiscal resources in a Weld Trust grant.


Noreen Reeder, teacher, officially graduated with her Masters Degree in December of 2022 in ECE. 

Set school-wide, data-based goals for preschool readiness in literacy as a part of our school’s supervision/evaluation process, year goal-setting, data collection, professional-development focus, etc. based on students’ ability to recognize letters and letter sounds. 

Partnered with many local volunteers, guest speakers, etc. to bring in guest speakers and real-world experiences:  Car show, Fire Protection agencies, En- Face Dance, Ms. Tracy’s Music, CV Gymnastics center, Frederick Post office, TVK8 SRO Officer Davies, Legacy School of Dance, and more.

Hosted four volunteer 90-minute training sessions for volunteers who are now back in our school assisting our students and staff. 

Researched, attended training/webinars, and began to prepare for Universal Preschool changes which are coming up. 

Created a Wellness Room for staff, in collaboration with our PTO. This is a private area where employees can retreat for a break, to reset, to stretch or do yoga, etc.

Spark! Discovery Preschool