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Happy New Year – 2026! My hope is that you were able to spend time with family and friends during the break! I’m excited to start our second semester with our families, students, and staff. As school started back yesterday, I spoke to so many families that reflected on how excited their preschoolers were to start school again — especially with getting to see their friends and teachers again, as they shared stories about how their children were ready to learn and play again. We are ready too! We thank you for your partnership, your trust, and the joy your children bring to our school each day. I appreciate all of our incredible families, and I’m so grateful to know and serve you!
Soon you’ll get an email from the school with information to sign up for parent/family/teacher conferences, which will happen in late January / early February. At these conferences, our staff will be prepared to spend time with each family updating them about the growth and progress each child is making, and they will partner with families in the creation of individual learning goals for each preschooler.
Next month, we’ll be celebrating Valentine’s Day, and we go big in celebrating LOVE. Rest assured, you’ll get lots of information about in-class celebrations. Also, there will be the opportunity to come get materials from our resource area if you’d like to engage in making cards at home with the family.
Paige Gordon, Principal – Spark! Discovery Preschool
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A Huge Thank You – PJ and Book Program
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who donated books and pajamas for students in need at Spark! Discovery Preschool. Your generosity has made a meaningful difference for our preschool community. We know we had several families who donated many items in order to support his initiative, and we thank you!
A special thank you to our health clerk, Amanda Rivera, and her mother, Gail Rivera, who organized a Giving Tree at Solidigm Enterprise in Longmont. Through the incredible generosity of Solidigm employees, approximately $800 worth of pajamas and bedtime books were donated to support our preschoolers. Gail and her team went above and beyond to ensure these children received comfort items that will be cherished. We are truly grateful for the kindness and support shown to our students and families.
Also, if you feel your child could benefit from another book and PJs, we have some extra sets, if you would like to stop by the office and ask Amy, Amanda, Kara, Paige, or Stacey.
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Positive Trait of the month: Kindness
This month, our preschoolers are learning about kindness—being caring, gentle, and thoughtful toward others. We are defining kindness with our students as, “I am friendly and help other people.” Teachers will model and reinforce kind behaviors throughout the day and celebrate moments when children show kindness to others.
You can support this at home by talking about what kindness looks like, reading books about being kind, and praising your child when they help, share, or use gentle words. Together, we can help our children build empathy and create a caring classroom and school community
“There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind.The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.” ~ Mr. Rogers
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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:
- Monday, January 12, from 8:30 am – 10:00 am
- 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 5 – 9, 2026
- 7 TRAITS FOCUS – KINDNESS
- FUNDATIONS weekly focus for PK: n & m
- The Big Ideas of Early Mathematics for January: Patterns
- STEM Unit #3 – will start for all students on Monday, January 26
Monday, Jan 5
- Non student contact day. No school for preschool students
Tuesday, Jan 6
- Preschool resumes after winter break
- Library day for some students – have students return their books!
Wednesday, Jan 7
- Library day for some students – have students return their books!
- No Late Start in January, for the whole school district
- School Tour 12:30pm – 1:00pm. Please call Stacey at 720-652-7906.
Thursday, Jan 8
- Library day for some students – have students return their books!
Friday, Jan 9
- Pajama day sponsored by the Spark! PTO (suggested $1.00 donation)
- Friday folders go home
- Preschool tuition is due for the month of January.
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Important Dates Jan 12- 16, 2026
- 7 TRAITS FOCUS – Kindness
- FUNDATIONS weekly focus for PK: i and u
- The Big Ideas of Early Mathematics for January: Patterns
- STEM Unit #3 – will start for all students on Monday, January 26
Monday, Jan 12
- Dental Screenings with Salud Clinic – Information will be sent home about this event from our health clerk, Amanda Rivera.
- Library day for some students – return your books!
- Volunteer Training- In the cafeteria, from 8:30 am to 10 am. Training will be held with the school principal, Paige Gordon. Please call the office and speak with Stacey, the school secretary, she can send you the link to sign up (this helps us to know if we need to get an interpreter).
- 10:30 am – School tour – call 720-652-7906 to sign up (ask for Stacey)
- Educator of the Year Nominations window – SVVSD Education Foundation
Tuesday, Jan 13
- Library day for some students – have students return their books!
- Educator of the Year Nominations window – SVVSD Education Foundation
Wednesday, Jan 14
- Library day for some students – have students return their books!
- Educator of the Year Nominations window – SVVSD Education Foundation
Thursday, Jan 15
- Library day for some students – have students return their books!
- Educator of the Year Nominations window – SVVSD Education Foundation
Friday, Jan 16
Educator of the Year Nominations window – SVVSD Education Foundation
Friday folders go home
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Monday, Jan 19
Martin Luther King Day – Preschool is closed this day.
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