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A Huge Thank You!
We are so grateful to our wonderful families and our amazing PTO for providing delicious dinners, desserts, and drinks during conference week. Your thoughtfulness kept our teachers and staff fueled, cared for, and smiling. We appreciate your generosity and support more than words can say! Sincerely- Stacey Petering, School Secretary and the Spark! Team
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Positive Trait of the month: Curiosity
This month, we’re focusing on CURIOSITY, which is a strong desire to know or learn something. From birth, children show a desire to explore their environment, notice new things, and ask questions. In the preschool years, this curiosity becomes more purposeful and complex, fueling learning across cognitive, social, emotional, and physical domains. Key aspects of curiosity development in early childhood include: Exploration and Observation, Questioning, Problem-Solving, Imagination and Play. and Social Learning.
Supporting Curiosity: Early childhood educators and families can nurture curiosity by providing safe, stimulating environments, offering open-ended materials, asking thought-provoking questions, and giving children time to explore without rigid instructions. Celebrating discoveries, encouraging risk-taking in learning, and modeling curiosity also reinforce the natural drive to explore.
Fostering curiosity in early childhood lays the foundation for lifelong learning, critical thinking, and a love of discovery that extends well beyond the preschool years.
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St. Vrain Valley Schools Presents Band Night
St. Vrain Valley Schools invites families to attend Band Night on Wednesday, October 8, at 6:00 p.m., at Everly-Montgomery Field in Longmont. The evening will feature performances from high school bands across the district, concluding with a drone show presented by the St. Vrain Student Performance Drone Team. This event is a great opportunity to bring students and the community together in support of local feeder local feeder high schools. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for students, and free for children age six and under. Eighth grade students will be admitted free with a valid student ID. Purchase Tickets Online
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Instrument Collection Drive
St. Vrain Valley Schools invites the community to donate gently used instruments during the Annual Instrument Collection Drive on Thursday, Oct. 2 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 3 from 8 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Lincoln School Building. All donated instruments are cleaned, tuned, and repaired before being placed in classrooms or offered for student rentals, expanding access to music education across the district. Most instruments are welcome (except drum sets and upright pianos). Donors will receive a receipt from the St. Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation. Learn More
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Book Exchange in the Cafeteria
The book exchange is located in the cafeteria. It’s a place to bring new or used books to trade for other new or used books. All children’s books that are in good condition are welcome; there are two bins for donations to be dropped in so staff can sort them. When coming in the building to use the book exchange, check in through the front office and then go to the CAFETERIA. You’ll see the books organized in wooden library bins on a rug. Children can then pick out new books to take home. If families bring more than one book, their child may bring home the same number of books home in return. Even if a child doesn’t have a book, they are welcome to come pick out a book. There are no restrictions on how many visits a child or family can make to the book exchange. Want to make a Donation? Donations help keep our book exchange going, your support makes a big difference! Please consider donating to our book exchange program when you are cleaning out the nursery, children’s book collections, etc. We have a partnership with Legacy Elementary too, so if chapter books are donated, we’ll send them to Legacy Elementary.
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Spark! Library Opens 9/25/25
There’s big news at Spark! Our Preschool Library is officially open on Thursday, September 25! 🎉 We are welcoming Jennifer Nusbaum, our new Media Tech on Tuesdays and Thursdays (read more here about Jennifer). Ms. Amy Yanez, attendance clerk/registrar will be helping out on Wednesdays too.
Our shelves are filled with colorful picture books, silly stories, and exciting adventures just waiting to be discovered. Children will get to snuggle up in cozy reading spots, listen to special story times, and let their imaginations soar with every page they turn. Starting in October, our preschoolers will even begin checking out books to bring home! Until then, we’ll be busy practicing library routines so the transition into regular checkouts is smooth and fun. Families will be receiving a permission slip for their child(ren) to be able to check out books from the library; without this, we won’t be able to check out a book to them.
Library visits will take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for 25 minutes each week— we can’t wait to watch our little bookworms dive into the magic of reading!
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Halloween Celebration Changes at Spark!
We’re excited to celebrate Halloween with our preschoolers this year, and things will look a little different than in the past. Instead of Trick-or-Treat Street (which has been held after school), celebrations will take place in preschool classrooms during the school day on Friday, October 31, 2025. Teachers are busy planning fun and festive activities, and the school will be sharing more details in a separate email. Stay tuned for all the spooky (but preschool-friendly!) fun!
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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 our office, and we’ll send you the form — sign up is required. The latest training opportunities will be on:
- Tuesday, Oct 21, 12:30 – 2 pm
- Thurs, Nov 20, 4:30 – 6pm.
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Parking Reminder
For the safety of our school and community, please do not park in front of the fire hydrant on 8th Street during drop-off or pick-up. Keeping this space clear ensures emergency vehicles have access if needed. Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe!
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Nutrition Services
Families who believe they may qualify for free or reduced-price meals are encouraged to complete an application by Oct. 1. While all St. Vrain Valley students receive one free breakfast and one free lunch daily through Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All program, submitting an application provides additional benefits to families such as fee waivers, college exam discounts, and reduced internet and utility costs, and also helps bring federal funding to support classrooms, after-school programs, technology, and additional meals and snacks for students. Applications are available online or at Nutrition Services, 2929 Clover Basin Dr., Longmont. Learn More
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Picture Retakes
We are excited to announce that individual picture retakes for our preschool students will take place on Wednesday, Oct 22, 2025. This is a great opportunity for any child who missed the original picture day or if you would like a new photo taken. If you wish to have your child’s photo retaken, please notify the teacher, so we can ensure they are included. We want to make sure every family has a picture they love, so don’t hesitate to take advantage of this chance! The office has extra order forms if needed, so stop by and pick one up, on Monday – Friday between 8 am – 4:00 pm
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Important Dates Oct 6 – 13, 2025
- 7 TRAITS FOCUS – Curiosity
- FUNDATIONS weekly focus for PK: Kk and Ll
- The Big Ideas of Early Mathematics for October: Number Sense
- STEM Unit #1- 9/22 – 10/24
- Ooh-Aah Science! – Ms. Danielle, Ms. Marie, and Ms. Amy
- Transportation- Ms. Tori, Ms. Polly, and Ms. Kiersten
- Drama & Theater- Ms. Noreen and Ms. Miranda
- Life Cycles of Animals- Ms. Kelli Weaver and Ms. Kaylee
Monday, Oct 6
- Believe Fundraiser- due 10/6 LAST DAY
Tuesday, Oct 7
- Hearing and Vision Screening day 1 of 2 – Amanda Rivera, Health Clerk is coordinating this event.
- Families Moving Together with Ms. Mimi – 4:30 – 5:15pm- at the Gym
Wednesday, Oct 8
- Hearing and Vision Screening day 2 of 2- Amanda Rivera, Health Clerk is coordinating this event.
Thursday, Oct 9
- Friday Folders will go home this day even though it is Thursday.
- Fire prevention sessions during preschool: 9 am, 9:30 am, and 1:30 pm
Friday, Oct 10
- World Inclusion Day
- Non-Student Contact Day – no preschool or childcare
Monday, Oct 13
- Non-Student Contact Day – no preschool or childcare
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Support Staff Job Fair
St. Vrain Valley Schools invites community members to the Support Staff Job Fair on Monday, October 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Opportunities are available across the district in roles including paraprofessionals, custodial services, transportation, maintenance, nutrition services, and more. Attendees will meet with district leaders, explore current openings, and receive support with the application process. St. Vrain offers competitive pay, excellent benefits, and the chance to positively shape the educational experience for students.
Learn more and register online
Childcare Information from Tasha Lugg
Are you looking for an extension of your child’s preschool day? We still have spots available in wraparound child care right in the building! SVVSD Community Schools provide onsite extended learning day opportunities by tying student achievement to our programming, expanding educational opportunities for preschool children ages 3 to 5. Additionally, our programs offer indoor and outdoor recreation and nutritious snacks. We encourage parents and students to suggest ideas, toys, materials, and snacks that would improve their children’s experience. Our childcare programs are licensed through the Colorado Department of Human Services.
**Hours:** 7am – 5:30pm (closed on non-school days)
**Registration Fee:** Single Child $50 / Family $75
**Tuition:**
- – $45 a day when also enrolled in preschool
- – $55 a day when not enrolled in preschool.
- – 2 Day a Week Minimum Attendance Required
Please reach out to Tasha Lugg Program Manager at 720-652-7908 or [email protected] with any questions.
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Registrar/Attendance news – Amy Yanez
Our goal this year is to work together, hand in hand, to ensure that every student attends school regularly. Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and in life. Key goals of the month:
- To inform students, families, and educators about the direct link between attendance and academic success.
- To promote positive attendance habits that contribute to a student’s overall development, including social connections and responsibility.
- To encourage communities to work together to reduce chronic absence and support students’ ability to thrive academically and personally.
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Health Clerk – Amanda Rivera
We will have Hearing and Vision screenings at Spark! Discovery Preschool on October 7th & 8th, 2025. The screenings are a noninvasive test performed by our district audiology department. Your student(s) may be on the list to be screened if we do not have a record of any screenings completed in the past. Please encourage your student(s) to bring/wear their glasses to school these days if they have a prescription for glasses. If our screening indicates that your student(s) needs further evaluation, you will be notified by mail. Please contact our health clerk Amanda Rivera ([email protected]) if you have questions or concerns.
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Campus Supervisor news – Kara Mahan
Please remember that parking in fire lanes, even for just a few moments, is prohibited. This is a fire code violation, and it’s critical that these areas remain clear for the safety of our school community and first responders. Kindly use a dedicated parking spot and walk children into the school.
Drop-off and pick-up times often experience heavy traffic. We encourage you to talk with your student about parking lot safety. Holding hands and looking both ways are great first steps. At this age, students can get excited and may run off unexpectedly. Your ongoing coaching on these safety tips will help instill good habits for the future, especially when you’re not there to guide them directly.
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Trunks N’ Treats here at CETC Career Elevation & Technology Center.
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Spark! Discovery Preschool website
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