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Valentine’s Day celebrations:

AM class celebrations: Wednesday, 2/14/2023, 10:30 – 11:10 am – for Monday – Thursday AM classes in classrooms

PM class celebrations: Wednesday, 2/14/2023, 2:25 – 3:05 pm – for Monday – Thursday PM classes in classrooms

Full day Preschool Class celebrations: Wednesday, 2/14/2023, 2:25 – 3:05 pm – for students enrolled in Ms. Noreen and Ms. Kaylee’s classes

Please feel free to come to school for the celebration; we welcome you to celebrate with your child(ren)!  Your child’s preschool teacher will send out specific directions about what to bring, what not to bring (due to individual class allergy or health conditions), specifics of the classroom party, including the need for help. Please contact your child’s teacher (instead of another parent) if you have questions about what food, snacks, or treats can and cannot be brought into the classroom based on the health needs of all students.   We would love to see our families at school! 

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Pre-Registration Placement Letters for 2024 – 2025:

For any families that completed the pre-registration process during December and January for the 2024 – 2025 school year, we are mailing home placement letters via US MAIL today. Here are some things to know regarding placements.

AM or PM Schedules: Most students have been placed in an AM or PM schedule. We generally place older students in the PM (those heading to full day kindergarten after the 2024-2025 school year), as we need to have space available for children who are as young as two years old, turning three by October 1, 2024, as it is generally more developmentally appropriate for children who are very young (as young as 2 and 3) to have an AM spot for napping in the PM.

FULL DAY: At this time, the school and school district cannot guarantee we will be offering full day programming, as we are awaiting an update from the State to ensure it is an option for participating UPK locations for the 24-25 school year. We have conducted a tentative lottery process for a limited number of spots in full day programming. If a child has been placed in the full day program, documentation showing how a child has qualified for full-day UPK funding will be required.  The Early Childhood Department placement committee will be reaching out for this information from each family.  A fee of $404.00 per month (September through May) may be required to cover the remaining portion of the day for families who qualify for half-time UPK but desire a full day placement.  If for some reason full day programming is not available from the state, the children we tentatively placed in the full day classes will be guaranteed placement in another classroom at Spark! for a half-day session.  Anyone’s child not drawn in the full day lottery process has been placed on a waitlist for full day.

Retention Process: Our school district highly supports students moving on into kindergarten when they are age qualified. St. Vrain believes in the concept of each elementary school being a “ready school” for all children entering kindergarten, with no prerequisite skills/knowledge expected to enter kindergarten. It is on a rare occasion that retentions are accepted. If you’re interested in discussing retention, please let your child’s teacher know after the winter conferences, and a meeting will be scheduled with families/parents, the teacher, the principal, and the Early Childhood Coordinator for SVVSD.

I didn’t get a letter – what do I do? These are being mailed today, 1/29/24. Give it a day or two, and if you didn’t get a letter, please call Amy Yanez at 720-652-7906. If you haven’t completed a pre-registration, they can be completed here: https://sdpk.svvsd.org/2023/11/15/2024-2025-fall-preschoolpre-registration/

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PTO PJ DAY– WEDNESDAY, FEB 7, 2024: A suggested donation of $1.00 will go to help support the activities and events related to the Spark! Discovery Preschool PTO.  

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HIRING: We are hiring a half-time Counselor for the remainder of the 23-24 school year. Qualifying candidates must hold a “Special Services Provider” Credential through the Colorado Department of Education, with an active endorsement in “School Counselor (ages 0-21)” or “School Counselor (PK-12). Information can be found here. Please help us share! We are excited to have assistance with mental health needs.

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myON Reader Results from the Winter Break – HORRAY!

We had two students who are top winter Break myON reader challenge winners!

TOP READER #1: A boy (protecting privacy here) in Ms. Miranda’s PM classroom who read 393 minutes during break (6.55 hours)! Congratulations — enjoy your new t-shirt!

TOP READER #2: A boy (protecting privacy here) in Ms. Tori’s AM class who read 337 minutes during break (5.61 hours)! Congratulations — enjoy your new t-shirt!

TOP 3 Reading classes:

1. Ms. Tori’s AM and PM: 893 minutes total
2. Ms. Kiersten’s AM and PM: 600 minutes total
3. Ms. Miranda’s AM and PM: 547 minutes total

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Nominate a Spark! Teacher for our Teacher of the Year:

One teacher from each St. Vrain Valley School will receive the Teacher of the Year recognition for their school. Two other teachers from each school will be honored as Teacher of the Year finalists. The Teacher of the Year for each school will receive a financial gift. In order to qualify as a nominee, the teacher must be a licensed educator in the State of Colorado and employed at a St. Vrain Valley Schools campus for the current school year. If a teacher won the Teacher of the Year honor for their school the previous year they are not eligible. Click Here to see the 2023 winners. All St. Vrain Valley Schools are eligible for these awards! All nominations must be received electronically no later than Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 11:45pm.  The recipients and finalists all receive a certificate of recognition during the Tribute to Teachers event on April 20, 2024. From the school Teacher of the Year honorees, a district wide Teacher of the Year and four finalists will be chosen. More information can be found here —>>>> and families can Nominate a teacher Here!

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VOLUNTEER TRAINING: We are 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. A sign up form was emailed to families in a separate communication– please check emails for the link. If unable to find the email with link, please call Stacey Petering, principal’s secretary to confirm your attendance. Because of some sensitive topics, this training is best attended by adults (babies are okay to attend).  Childcare is not provided during volunteer training.  If translation is needed, please indicate this on the form. The dates for volunteer training for the next three months are:

Thursday, Feb 29, from 4:00 – 5:30 pm in the cafeteria.

Tuesday, March 12, from 8:30 – 10:00 am in the cafeteria (this will be the last offering this school year)

If you have questions, please call (720-652-7906) our principal, Paige Gordon, and she can help you make a reservation if you can’t find the link to sign up.

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Important Dates

Feb 5 – 9, 2024

• All week: Big Ideas of Early Mathematics: Measurement (see info sent home in Thursday folders on 2-1-24)
• All week: STEM PROFILE OF THE MONTH: Risk-Taker (see info sent home in Thursday folders on 2-1-24)
• All week: Fundations letter and letter sound learning: d,s
• Mon, Feb 5, 3:30 – 7:30pm – Winter Conferences at Spark! – Night 3 of 3. Thank you PTO for sponsoring dinner for staff!
• Tue, Feb 6, 9:00 am Childcare registration opens for families (see details below).
• Wed, Feb 7, 2023- Late Start for K-12 but not preschool — Please come at your regularly scheduled time for childcare and preschool
• Wed, Feb 7, 2024- PTO PJ Day- $1.00 suggested donation
• Wed, Feb.7, 2024 – AM and PM Drama/Theater performances for Ms. Tori’s and Ms. Kiersten’s classes in the cafeteria
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Feb 12 – 16, 2024

• All week: Big Ideas of Early Mathematics: Measurement
• All week: STEM PROFILE OF THE MONTH: Risk-Taker
• All week: Fundations letter and letter sound learning: e,r
• STEM UNITS: #4 for 2023-2024
• LIfecycles of Animals:  Ms. Noreen and Ms. Kaylee
• Transportation: Ms.Blair, Ms.Miranda, and Ms.Amy
• Drama and Theater: Ms.Julia and Ms.Moira
• Moving and Grooving- Dance and Fitness: Ms.Mary, Ms.Kelli, and Ms.Marie.
• Ooh-Aah Science: Ms.Kiresten and Ms.Tori
• Mon, Feb 12, 4:45pm – Anima Arts (Winter) Families Moving Together – with Miss Mimi- in the Gym (reservations required) – Thank you PTO for sponsoring this family engagement activity!
• Wed, Feb 14, AM classes, 10:30 am- Valentine’s Day celebrations
• Wed, Feb 14, PM and Full day classes, 2:25 pm- Valentine’s Day celebrations
• Thur, Feb 15- Deadline for Teacher of the Year Nominations (see info above)
• Fri, Feb 16- Non-student contact day — no preschool / no childcare
• Monday, Feb 19- President’s Day (National Holiday) – No preschool or Childcare

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Message from the Community Schools Manager, Tasha Lugg, [email protected]

About Childcare at Spark! 

Community Schools provides a nurturing, caring, educational and fun filled childcare program, under the direction of St. Vrain Valley School District in partnership with the school. All of our Child Care programs are licensed through the Colorado Department of Human Services. At Spark! Discovery Preschool, we offer a Pre-K Care program for 3 and 4 year olds. For program details reach out to Tasha Lugg, Program Manager, at [email protected] or 720-652-7908 or contact the Community Schools central office at 303-702-7924.

Pre-K Care Fees:

• $40 per day if enrolled in SVVSD Preschool 
• $50 per day  if not enrolled in SVVSD Preschool
• All students must attend two days a week minimum

How to register for Pre-K Care Wraparound at Spark! 2024-2025

Go to: https://stvrain.revtrak.net/

Login or make a new account if you are a new family to SVVSD or Community Schools. 

Find CS Spark! Discovery Preschool

Click on Pre-K Care Program

Click on 24-25 Spark! Pre-K Care.  Make sure it is for the ‘24-’25 school year

Please pay attention to prompts asking for the parent name or the child’s name. This will save families/parents from re-doing their child’s registration paperwork. 

Registration opens Tuesday, February 6th, 20024 at 9:00 am. 

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Tasha Lugg, Program Manager, at [email protected] or 720-652-7908.

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A message from our Campus Supervisor, Alicia Sheahan Hall–[email protected].

At Spark! Discovery Preschool we take safety and security seriously and want to ensure that every student can learn and grow in a nurturing and safe place.

Please be sure to check out our lost and found bin inside the school. We have several jackets and winter gear that has been misplaced. We donate all items not claimed at the end of the school year. 

In accordance with school board policy EJ and EJ-R, we kindly request that non-service animals refrain from entering school grounds. This policy is designed with the safety of our students in mind, as untrained animals can be unpredictable, especially in the presence of young children who may become overly excited and approach them. Your understanding and cooperation in maintaining a safe environment for everyone are greatly appreciated.

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A message from the Spark! Registrar/Attendance clerk, [email protected]

Attendance Matters!

As a school, our goal is to have students attendance be above 96%. There is a noticeable increase in absences when the weather is cold. Please try and make every effort to bring your student to school. Children do not get ill from cold weather, they get sick from viruses. In addition, it can be very refreshing to get out of the house and into the cool fresh air. Call the office, at 720-652-7906, if you have questions about how to check your student’s attendance in Infinite Campus.

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A message from the Spark! Health Clerk, Amanda Rivera, rivera_aman[email protected]

Please make sure students have backup clothing in their backpacks. With the temperatures changing often, it would be a good idea to have several options, just in case. We do our best to keep the grounds clear of ice and snow, but who doesn’t love a good puddle?!

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SVVSD Nutrition Services- Lunch and Snack Menu- https://linqconnect.com/public/menu/DCN3CB?buildingId=482fe7e5-3406-ee11-a17a-83fe6e630216

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We invite our families to join us on social media and on the web:

Facebook: Spark-Discovery-Preschool-of-St-Vrain

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparkdiscoverypreschool/

Twitter: @SparkDPS

Website: https://sdpk.svvsd.org/

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