Cherokee Trail

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At Cherokee Trail we focus on six traits, teaching and fostering them in our classrooms and school-wide in order to create learners who are strong academically and socially. They are:

ENTHUSIASM * PERSEVERANCE * INTEGRITY * COURAGE * EMPATHY * RESPECT
Read more on the EPICER page!
In January we will be focusing on COURAGE. The indicators for courage at CTE are:

   * I am willing to take risks in my learning

   * I stand up for what's right at all times

   * I have self confidence

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WELLNESS - NOELLE DUNKER
Grades K/1/2: This week our focus is on what it means to be kind, how to help one another, and how to grow kindness.

Happy New Year!  Wow- I can’t believe we are starting the second half of the school year! What a great time to reflect with your child and discuss what short- and long-term goals they are working toward. Discussions could include refining household habits, academic efforts, or setting personal goals such as increasing physical activity or saving money. 

Classroom Lessons  

This month, I will be finishing a lesson series on Human Rights with all of the 5th grade classes. So far, students have learned the history of how the concept of Human Rights evolved and have begun diving into several of the 30 rights. 

In first grade, I will begin a 7-lesson series teaching different aspects of safety. Topics will include identifying unsafe situations, “trusted triangle” of adults, using an assertive voice, and safe and unsafe secrets. Parents will receive an informational sheet after each topic is presented to be able to reinforce these important concepts within their family.

Kindergarten and first grade classes will also be taught a lesson on career exploration. This lesson is intended to begin widening their knowledge about various career areas and begin thinking about what areas they may be interested in.

Later in the month, I will begin a 4-lesson series with all 6th grade classes on Bully Prevention. I will be teaching the Bully Prevention unit from our Second Step curriculum. This unit will cover topics such as recognizing common types of bullying, different perspectives of bystanders and targets, and using various upstander strategies.  

Family Resources

DCSD Virtual Calming Corner

Life can be challenging at times! The great news is you have the power to overcome these challenges by integrating purposeful pauses throughout the day to calm both your brain and body. Maybe you need a quick nature fix, a guided relaxation practice or some quiet music in the background. Enjoy it all and explore! Be careful, some of these links can be rather mesmerizing -- you may want to use a timer ;-).

Safe 2 Tell Colorado

Do you know how to report a concern that threatens you, your friends, your family or your community? Safe 2 Tell Colorado is an anonymous reporting tool for parents and students. There are 3 ways to make an anonymous report – via website, app, or phone call.

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

Free/Reduced Meal Benefits

The Principal Chronicles continue ...
Winter break is over, the holiday season is over, let the track meet until the end of the school year begin!! It was really fun to see the students in all of their new clothes and to see how much they grew after Winter Break. It was also nice to see our staff come back rested and refreshed. The next few months are great teaching months leading into our state testing. We also have lots of four-day weeks in the next two months which no one is complaining about.
On the home front, my break was not overly eventful. My daughter and I didn't travel, we simply spent time with family and with each other. It was pretty nice but didn't really make for any good stories. Since she is 15 now, I am just grateful for any time I get to spend with her as once she gets her license in the summer, I don't think I'll see very much of her unless she needs money. That is it for this week's edition. Stay tuned for next week's episode when the Principal Chronicles continue ...

NEW FLYERS

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.