Cherokee Trail

• PSP NEWS
• MEET OUR NEW STAFF (part 2)
• STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS
• STEAM SPECIAL
  
• SEPARATION ANXIETY (from the Mental Health Team)
• AUGUST COUNSELOR'S CORNER
• CALENDAR
• FROM THE PRINCIPAL
• NEW FLYERS 

We would love your help this year! If you are interested in volunteering for any of our community events or fundraisers please fill out this short survey PSP Volunteer Survey. We would love to have you at our monthly meetings, but please note the meetings are optional. We appreciate help of all shapes and sizes!  

Don't forget to order your 2021-2022 Cherokee Trail Elementary Yearbook! You can now order online here: CTE Yearbook

4th grade: My name is Megan Long and this is my 13th year teaching and first year at Cherokee Trail. I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas but moved to Colorado for the gorgeous weather and actual seasons. My husband John and I have 2 children. Our daughter Piper is 7 and our son Logan is about to turn 3. We have two dogs, love to play outside, and enjoy trying and learning new things. I’m overjoyed to join the Cherokee Trail family and can’t wait to build more memories with students and families.

Kindergarten: My name is Danielle Friel. I am a Colorado native. This is my third year working for DCSD and my first year at CTE. I enjoy spending time with my niece and nephew and my dog, Finn. 
Kindergarten: Hi! I am Margaret Schmidt. I am so excited to be teaching kindergarten at Cherokee Trail! I have taught in Douglas County for many years and am happy to have a new challenge. My husband and I have four kids. Two are grown (Colter and Hadley) and two just started middle school (Chris and Hazel). As a family we like to hike, watch movies and go to the mountains. 

We are excited to offer Student Council to our 5th and 6th grade students this year! Student Council provides the opportunity for students to become leaders in our school and community by participating in numerous school and community functions to benefit Cherokee Trail and meet the needs of our school, community and town. 
Please find all additional information here.

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FROM STEAM - ANYA ZAVADIL

Welcome to the new STEAM special from Ms. Zavadil!

For the last 5 years I've taught kindergarten here, but I'm excited for this new role and opportunity for students at Cherokee Trail! Throughout my career, I've taught grades K-8 and always enjoy finding ways to integrate science and math. Now, it will be my focus! In STEAM class this year, students will be exposed to basic circuitry and robotics. Additionally, they will complete team and individual engineering challenges. The curriculum will also include student interests and challenges we will define together. I hope this class sparks new interests for your kiddo. Since STEAM is a class this year, expect STEAM days to look different as well! More details to come.

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Dear CTE Parents and Guardians,

We have been receiving a lot of questions regarding separation anxiety so we thought we’d share with everyone since it can occur at any age or grade level. Separation anxiety is an emotional response to being separated from a caregiver and/or trusted adult. As parents it can sometimes feel manipulative however, it truly is your child’s way of trying to keep themselves feeling secure in a new or non-preferred environment. Although it can be embarrassing as a parent, rest assured that CTE teachers and staff support students through this anxiety every year and it is in no way a negative reflection of something you’re doing as a parent or guardian. In fact, they love you so much they just want to stay with you all day instead of their friends...write this down for post-elementary reference : ) COVID-19 school closures and changes since March 2020 have also made this transition even more significant for some students. 

Here are some friendly tips to support you and your student(s) as they adjust back to school at CTE:
*Create a “see you soon” ritual with a beginning and an end (ex: this could be a song or 3 kisses or a silly face you make at each other)
*Be honest about when you are leaving and when you will be back. Try not to sneak away or disappear as this may increase their anxious response.
*In the beginning of the year, the day can seem LONG. Consider practicing separating from your student for a playdate or something positive that is shorter in time so they experience it with another trusted adult. 
* Try not to dwell on pending separations. You can validate them and then redirect them. (Ex: “Daddy, don’t leave me at school.” You could say something like, “Jade, let’s enjoy eating breakfast together. It isn’t time for school yet.”
* Talk about the fun things they will do while you’re apart and then ask about their experiences when you’re back together.
* Change is very stressful for some children (and adults!) so try to be patient with them and yourself. Typically within 2-4 weeks, most students adjust to their new routines. If you have continuing concerns about your child’s anxious responses, you may consider  checking-in with their primary care provider. 

*CTE SUPER TIP:* If walking to the classroom or line is drawing out the separation process for you and your child please consider using our “Child Valet” where you pull through in the car line and CTE staff will help them out of your vehicle. We won't judge you for driving, even if you live in the neighborhood. This strategy has helped many of our young students. Our staff members love students and we promise to take good care of them after you take a deep breath and drive away! Together, we’re going to make it a great year! 

Take good care! 

Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Smit, and Mrs. Steiner 

CTE’s Mental Health Team

Welcome Back! My name is Jane Steiner and I am the School Counselor at Cherokee Trail Elementary. I am excited and honored to start my 4th year with my amazing CTE family and my 16th year as a school counselor! I am committed to encouraging, supporting, and empowering our students to become their best selves. My primary task is to help ALL students become better learners by providing a comprehensive and developmental counseling program that meets their academic, personal/social, and career development needs.

While following district and state protocols, I will be meeting with students individually and in small groups, conducting classroom lessons while incorporating pieces from various Social-Emotional Learning curricula, and collaborating with parents and staff. 

Support provided can be therapeutic, but the role of a school counselor is not to diagnose or provide therapy. I am able to provide temporary/short-term support to help students overcome acute issues having an impact on their school performance. I am a resource similar to the school nurse in that she can provide help, but refers out for more serious problems. Licensed mental health counselors are the appropriate resource to provide ongoing therapy sometimes needed by families and children. 

As the counselor, I have the privilege of providing support to every student at CTE. Confidentiality is respected, unless they plan on hurting themselves, hurting someone else, or someone is hurting them. Although I do not require parental consent, if you would like to request I meet with your child for a specific concern, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

I look forward to a great school year and supporting all our wonderful students at CTE!  Feel free to email me @ [email protected].

Family Resources:

Weekly snack/food bags provided by Parker Task Force – If your family is interested in having a bag of snacks/food sent home in their student’s backpack weekly, please fill out this brief form.

Families with housing instability

Universal Free Meal Benefits

Parent Articles:

Transitioning to Kindergarten

Your Five Year Old

Winning Ways to Talk with Young Children

How to Help Your Kids with Homework (without doing it for them)

Communicating with Your Child’s Teacher

Tweens, Teens, Tech, and Mental Health: Coming of Age in an Increasingly Digital, Uncertain, and Unequal World 2020

The Principal Chronicles continue ... School is back in full swing and the lazy days of summer are definitely gone. This year is starting off pretty well with everything running smoothly with the exception of our brand new HVAC system which has been down to start the week causing some of our rooms to have some pretty high temperatures. Other than that, we are just working through systems and routines essentially getting into the flow of school. We have 85 new families this year so we have a lot of community building to do. 

On the home front, my daughter started her freshman year at Legend last week so we are in full-on teenager mode in my house. She tried out for the Volleyball team but was cut. Turns out you probably need a little more practice than 20 minutes over the summer and play a little more than middle school gym class. Fingers crossed she finds something to be involved in. She also has a boyfriend so double fingers crossed that she doesn't become overly involved in that arena. 

In addition, I have decided to move again. Now that my daughter is officially at Legend, I don't need to live where I do anymore. Plus living in an apartment is not my favorite so this February I'll be packing everything up once again and moving out. The destination is a bit unknown at this point but hopefully in the next few months, I can find a place that will suffice for the next few years until my daughter graduates. 

That's it for this edition, stay tuned for next week when the Principal Chronicles continue ...

NONDISCRIMINATION NOTICE: The Douglas County School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, age, marital status, genetic information, or physical characteristics, disability or need for special education services in admissions, access to, treatment of, or employment in educational programs or activities. The School District’s Compliance Officer is Ted Knight, Assistant Superintendent, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0067. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public.