January 6, 2025Updated on January 6, 2025

Spark! Newsletter Jan 6 – 20, 2025

Message from Our Principal, Paige Gordon

Families: We are excited to once again host our second semester Volunteer Training dates for Jan, Feb, and March of 2025. 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.

Please use this linked FORM if you are a parent or immediate family member planning to participate in volunteer training session at Spark! Discovery Preschool in order to volunteer in our school. Training and complete paperwork are required BEFORE starting any in-class volunteering in a preschool classroom.

Today are publishing the volunteer training dates for the next three months, which are varied from morning, afternoon, and after school to try to accommodate as many families as possible, while also accommodating for drop off and pick up at our schools and others for families with multiple children. Training will not be offered in April or May as it is so close to the end of the school year.

This volunteer training will include information about the following:

Purposes and roles of volunteers
Process of becoming a volunteer
Confidentiality
School Policies / Procedures while volunteering
Sensitivity to physical interactions
Standard Response Protocol
Recognizing Child Abuse
General Preschool policies / procedures

Because of some sensitive topics, this training is best attended by adults (babies are okay to attend). Childcare is not provided during training. If translation is needed, please indicate this on the form. Also, sometimes parents find out that volunteering in their child’s class causes too much of a distraction for their child or that their child is not able to be independent with a parent in class. Our front office team always has tasks that need to be accomplished that also support our students, staff, and school and would love to have volunteer assistance.

For parents/family members who were trained during the 23-24 school year, they do not have to complete training again, but will need to complete a new blue-colored form with the teacher for the 24-25 school year.

We thank you for your continued support and partnership! If you have any questions, please reach out to me at [email protected] or 720-652-7906.

With respect – Paige Gordon, Principal – Spark! Discovery Preschool, [email protected]

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Education Foundation of St. Vrain Valley — College Savings Informational Night

We will be hosting a College Savings Information Night on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 from 6:00-7:30 pm at the Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools. Please save the date and help us spread the word to your school community. Parents are invited to join us to learn about 529 College Savings plans, the 529 Jump program (for K-3rd grade students), and other state and federal matching programs. Representatives from a variety of financial institutes will be present to answer questions. Dinner and childcare will be provided.
We put together some basic information you can share with your community to save the date. Additional flyers (Spanish and English) and resources will be included in the January newsletter.
Please email Michelle Phelan at [email protected] with any questions.

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Counselor’s Corner – Dr. Sandy McTaggart

This week Dr. Sandy McTaggart will hold whole group counseling with students and working on friendship skills including: sharing/taking turns and managing conflicts with our friends. Here’s the most recent newsletter from Ms. Sandy, full of resources and an overview of what our preschoolers have been learning about their feelings, emotions, friendship skills, etc. Please visit our Counselor’s Corner inside the school to access printed handouts for use at home on various topics Ms. Sandy has taught all students. Here are some additional resources electronically: https://sdpk.svvsd.org/wellness/counseling-resources-for-home/.

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