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Dear Families: We’re thrilled to announce our Valentine’s Day celebrations on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Spark! Discovery Preschool. Our celebrations will be held in the classrooms during the school day, offering a fun and engaging experience for our preschoolers! We hope to see our families and parents there as we create memorable moments together. Here’s the schedule for our Valentine’s Day celebrations:
- AM Preschool Classes: Thursday, Feb 12, 10:30 – 11:10 am
- PM Preschool Classes: Thursday, Feb 12, 2:25 – 3:05 pm
- Full-Day Preschool Class: Thursday, Feb 12, 2:25 – 3:05 pm
The festivities will include a variety of activities like crafts, games, treats, and sharing of Valentine’s Day cards! Each classroom teacher will share the specific details of their celebration, including any special instructions they have for families and parents about their special plans.
Treats & Goodies: Our teachers will be planning “goodies” for the celebrations, which may include goody bags to take home or treats to enjoy during the party (potentially with or without edible items). Please note that due to health and allergy concerns, it’s important to consult your child’s teacher before purchasing or providing any items. Each teacher will provide guidelines about what’s safe and appropriate for their class.
Alternative Activities: If your family prefers a child not to participate in the Valentine’s Day celebration, please let your child’s teacher know by Monday, February 9, 2026. We will provide alternative activities for any children who opt out. If you’d like to pick up your child early, that’s fine too.
We’re excited to celebrate Valentine’s Day with you, and we look forward to creating a fun and festive day that everyone can enjoy.
With gratitude – Paige Gordon, principal
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Free Family Movement with Ms. Mimi-
Parents and Families: We are happy and excited to announce we will continue our ongoing family engagement partnership with Mimi Ferrie-Lee of Anima Arts (https://animaarts.org/). We have partnered with Ms. Mimi since 2022, through dance, drama, and family movement. With the financial support from the Spark! Discovery Parent-Teacher Organization, we are proud to offer FREE Creative Movement Classes for Spark! Discovery Preschool Families in January / February after school on Mondays from 4:30 – 5:15 pm. There won’t be any classes on Monday, Feb 16, due to President’s Day.
We sent a confidential form last week and have not put it in the newsletter, as we are restricting sign up for families that have children enrolled; please see your email from last week. In the event more than 12 families sign up for a class, the class will be filled in a first-come first-served manner. Ms. Mimi will monitor this and contact families to confirm registration and class placement. An additional 4-week sessions will be offered again in the spring of 2026.
Best regards,
Paige Gordon, Principal, Spark! Discovery Preschool ( [email protected])
Mimi Ferrie-Lee ( [email protected])
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Nothing Bundt Cakes PTO Fundraiser
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Family Session- brought to you by the SVVSD Early Childhood Education
St. Vrain Valley Schools will host a training session for parents and families on February 4, from 4:30–6:00 p.m. at the Innovation Center. This interactive session will focus on supporting behavioral development in early childhood by exploring the root causes of behavior and practical ways to incorporate social-emotional learning (SEL) into daily routines. The session will be led by Allison Roeser, MHS, PCC, author, former educator, and leadership coach with over 20 years of experience in social-emotional learning.
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Celebration of Excellence- SVVSD Education Foundation
The Celebration of Excellence (formerly Tribute to Teachers) awards program is a cherished opportunity for the community to celebrate and honor exceptional educators from across St. Vrain Valley Schools. This event recognizes individuals who exemplify excellence in their roles and make an extraordinary impact on student success. By highlighting the achievements of these outstanding educators, the Education Foundation and the community aim to honor the dedication and contributions of all teachers who inspire, innovate, and shape the future.
Based on nominations from students, parents, volunteers, fellow educators, school staff, community members, and business partners, one teacher from each St. Vrain Valley School, including Spark! Discovery Preschool, will be honored as the Educator of the Year for their school during the Celebration of Excellence event on April 10, 2026. From the school Educator of the Year honorees, a district wide Educator of the Year will be selected and honored at the event.
Please see the following link for for more information about how to nominate a teacher here. THE NOMINATION WINDOW WILL OPEN ON JANUARY 12 AND CLOSE ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2026. Celebration of Excellence Home
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Preschool Classroom Volunteer Training
Our Principal, Paige Gordon, is excited to host Volunteer Training at various points through the year in our cafeteria at Spark! Volunteer training is required by the Department of Human Services, as we are a licensed preschool, in order to volunteer in the preschool classroom at our school. Because this newsletter is posted publicly on our website and Facebook page, where the public can get to the links, we have sent an email via Infinite Campus with a Google Form for families to use to sign up for volunteering within the preschool classroom on 8/15/25. If you didn’t get the information due to a recent enrollment, please reach out to Stacey, Principal’s secretary ([email protected]), in our office, and she’ll send you the form — sign up is required. The last training opportunities for the 2025 – 2026 will be:
- Thursday, January 29, from 6:00 – 7:30 pm (during parent/family/teacher conferences)
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2026-2027 Preschool Registration
Registration for St. Vrain Valley Schools’ 2026-27 preschool programs begin Dec. 9, 2025. Families can choose from high-quality, five-day programs, including half-day and select full-day options at Spark! Discovery Preschool. The Colorado Universal Preschool (UPK) application is included in St. Vrain’s form, and families are encouraged to apply early for the best chance of placement at their preferred school.
Colorado’s Universal Preschool (UPK) program provides free preschool for children who will be four-years-old on or before Oct 1 of the school year they are enrolling. Through UPK, families can receive up to 15 hours a week of state-funded preschool, with the option to add more hours through tuition.
’26-’27 Preschool Rates (childcare tuition is separate and not included in these amounts):
- Part-Time Preschool: $640.00/month
- Second Half of Full-Day Preschool (for families not qualifying for full-day through UPK): $765.00/month
- Full-Day Preschool: $1,450.00/month
2026-2027 Preschool Program Locations
2026-2027 Preschool Registration Information
Learn More About Preschool Programming
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Important Dates Jan 19 – 23, 2026
- 7 TRAITS FOCUS – KINDNESS
- FUNDATIONS weekly focus for PK: c & o
- The Big Ideas of Early Mathematics for January: Patterns
- STEM this week: Dance / Fitness / Health in all preschool classrooms.
Monday, Jan 19
- Educator of the Year Nominations window – SVVSD Education Foundation
- Martin Luther King Day– No preschool
Tuesday, Jan 20
- Educator of the Year Nominations window – SVVSD Education Foundation
- Library day for some students – have students return their books!
Wednesday, Jan 21
- Educator of the Year Nominations window – SVVSD Education Foundation!
- Library day for some students – have students return their books!
- Nothing Bundt Cakes Fundraiser- Brought to you by the Spark! PTO.
Thursday, Jan 22
- Educator of the Year Nominations window – SVVSD Education Foundation!
- Library day for some students – have students return their books!
- Nothing Bundt Cakes Fundraiser- Brought to you by the Spark! PTO.
Friday, Jan 23
- Educator of the Year Nominations window – SVVSD Education Foundation!
- Library day for some students – have students return their books!
- Friday folders go home
- Nothing Bundt Cakes Fundraiser- Brought to you by the Spark! PTO.
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Important Dates Jan 26- 30, 2026
- 7 TRAITS FOCUS – Kindness
- FUNDATIONS weekly focus for PK: a and g
- The Big Ideas of Early Mathematics for January: Patterns
- PBIS for February is Jan 26 – Feb 20 – PARACHUTE PARTY
- STEM Unit #3 starts with these teachers/classes and topics:
- Danielle, Marie, Amy – Drama and Theater
- Noreen and Miranda – Ooh-Aah Science!
- Polly, Tori, and Kiersten – Animals Study
- Kelli and Kaylee – Transportation
Monday, Jan 26
- Educator of the Year Nominations window – SVVSD Education Foundation
- Library day for some students – return your books!
- FEBRUARY PBIS – Reward is 2/20/2026 (Parachute party)
- 4:15 – 5:15 pm – FAMILIES MOVING TOGETHER with Ms. Mimi
- Nothing Bundt Cakes Fundraiser- Brought to you by the Spark! PTO.
Tuesday, Jan 27
- Library day for some students – have students return their books!
- Educator of the Year Nominations window – SVVSD Education Foundation
- FEBRUARY PBIS – Reward is 2/20/2026 (Parachute party)
- 8:00 AM- Meet The Teacher conference scheduler closes
- 6:30 – 7:30 pm – Tour (we’ll stay out of classrooms). Call the office and ask for Stacey if you need the link to sign up for this class. 720-652-7906.
- 3:30 – 7:30 pm – Winter Parent/Family – Teacher Conference night #1
- Nothing Bundt Cakes Fundraiser- Brought to you by the Spark! PTO.
Wednesday, Jan 28
- Library day for some students – have students return their books!
- Educator of the Year Nominations window – SVVSD Education Foundation
- FEBRUARY PBIS – Reward is 2/20/2026 (Parachute party)
- Nothing Bundt Cakes Fundraiser- Brought to you by the Spark! PTO.
Thursday, Jan 29
- Library day for some students – have students return their books!
- Educator of the Year Nominations window – SVVSD Education Foundation
- FEBRUARY PBIS – Reward is 2/20/2026 (Parachute party)
- 3:30 – 7:30 pm Winter Parent/Family – Teacher Conference night #2
- Volunteer Training- In the cafeteria, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Training will be held with the school principal, Paige Gordon (see above)
- Nothing Bundt Cakes Fundraiser- Brought to you by the Spark! PTO.
Friday, Jan 30
- Educator of the Year Nominations window – SVVSD Education Foundation
- FEBRUARY PBIS – Reward is 2/20/2026 (Parachute party)
- Friday folders go home
- Nothing Bundt Cakes Fundraiser- Brought to you by the Spark! PTO.
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News from the Health Clerk
Illness Guidelines Reminder: To help keep all of our students and staff healthy, our preschool follows the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) “How Sick is Too Sick?” guidelines. These guidelines help determine when a child should stay home from school due to illness, such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or other contagious symptoms. We appreciate families’ partnership in monitoring children’s health and keeping them home when they are not feeling well, so we can maintain a safe and healthy learning environment for everyone. If you have any questions about these guidelines please reach out to our Health Clerk, Amanda Rivera: [email protected] or 720-652-7906.
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News from the Attendance/Registrar
At our school, regular attendance is very important for helping children feel comfortable, confident, and successful. We strive for all students to maintain attendance above 96%, and we truly appreciate your partnership in making preschool a priority. If your child will be absent, please call and leave a voicemail or send an email. When leaving a message, be sure to include your child’s full name and the reason for the absence. If we do not receive a voicemail or email, the school will follow up with a phone call to verify the reason for your child’s absence.
Is my absence excused or unexcused?
- Excused Absences – Illness of the student, Day of religious observance, death in the family, professional appointment (such as a lawyer, doctor, or a counselor), birth of a sibling, Military deployment of parent, grandparents, or sibling.
- Unexcused Absences – Family vacations (with notice these days may be approved), family celebration, sports, and visiting relatives.
Please contact Amy Yanez, registrar/attendance clerk if you have any questions. [email protected] or 720-652-7906.
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News from the Campus Supervisor
Student safety remains our highest priority, and we appreciate your continued partnership in helping us maintain a safe and welcoming school environment. As part of our ongoing safety efforts, we would like to share a few important reminders regarding student backpacks.
Backpack Safety Guidelines
Backpacks should be used to carry school-related items only. To help ensure the safety of all students and staff, families are encouraged to regularly check backpacks with their children. Items that could cause harm, disrupt learning, or violate school policies should never be brought to school. This includes, but is not limited to, imitation weapons, toys from home, topical creams, medications, and any prohibited materials.
Keeping Our School Safe
School staff may conduct backpack checks regularly, in accordance with school policy. These measures are not meant to be intrusive, but rather proactive steps to ensure a secure learning environment for everyone. We ask for your understanding and cooperation in supporting these procedures.
By working together, we can continue to create a school environment where students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Thank you for your cooperation and for being an essential part of our school community.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kara Mahan at [email protected] or 720-652-7906.
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