Cherokee Trail

• PSP NEWS
• DCSD RECRUITMENT FAIR
• HEART CHALLENGE
• PLE PARENT NIGHT - RESILLIENCE
• BE EPICER
• WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WELLNESS
• COUNSELOR'S CORNER
• CALENDAR
• FROM THE PRINCIPAL
• NEW FLYERS 

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 EMPATHY. The indicators for empathy at CTE are:

   * I actively listen to others to understand their feelings and the situation

   * I  can put myself in someone else’s shoes 

   * I notice clues about how others are feeling: their words and body language

   * I celebrate how I am the same and how I am different from others

   * I consider other people's feelings/wants/needs when I act

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WELLNESS - NOELLE DUNKER
Grades K/1/2: Teamwork will be our focus this week. Teamwork required essential social skills. We will talk about how to cooperate, problem solve, communicate, listen, and create to be successful in life.

There is so much wonderful learning happening in our classrooms! 

In Kindergarten, we had a blast exploring different careers.  I read “Whose Hat Is This?” by Sharon Katz Cooper.  Students were then able to create their own career hat with a career that they are interested in.

In first grade, we will be continuing the 7 lesson series from the Safer, Smarter Kids curriculum.  So far, we have covered safety rules and the “trusted triangle”.  Next, I look forward to teaching “I mean business voice” and Think, Feel, Act.  First grade parents receive a parent newsletter after each lesson is taught.

In sixth grade, we started our bully prevention unit from Second Step.  In our last lesson, students learned the definition of bullying (includes repetitive, imbalance of power, and purposeful behaviors) and 3 common types of bullying (physical, verbal, relational).  Our next lessons will cover recognizing bullying and responding to cyberbullying.  If you are interested in reading more about bullying or how to help your child, take a look at this website.  Bullying can also be reported to Safe 2 Tell Colorado.

Sixth grade classes were also visited by Kelly Stewart, a school counselor from Sierra Middle School.  Students were given general information about middle school as well as how to request electives for 7th grade.  If your child is attending Sierra Middle School next year, their electives should have been submitted.    

I look forward to teaching the fourth and fifth grade students the bully prevention unit from Second Step next!

Parent Information

Is It Okay for Teens to Keep Secrets?

Publications about Anxiety Disorders

Mental Health Resources

* Is your child or someone you know struggling with anxiety?  The district has partnered with Dr. Scott Cypers to release a series of videos for parents with a ton of information and how to help someone.  All the videos can be found here.

* I Matter – Parents and youth (ages 12 and older) can take a brief mental health screening and schedule 3 free counseling appointments.

* STEM Center for Strength – mental health and well-being resources

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 ...
The sun has finally come out, for a little while there I thought we were living in Cleveland where the sun never shines. It is budget season here at CTE and after receiving my budget last week, it has been non-stop planning and meeting and then more planning and then more meetings, all with a deadline of Feb 10th to turn everything in. I enjoy working through the budget but it is a pretty stressful time since there are so many conversations that need to be had, decisions to be made, and even looking into the magic 8 ball to see what the future may hold. It certainly isn't easy to predict now what our school will need come August. Having said that, our budget looks really good this year and if everything falls into place we should be more than set up for success in 2023-24.
On the home front, the week is Ground Hog's Day aka the greatest day of the entire year. If you are unfamiliar, each year Puxatawney Phil rises from his perch on Gobblers Knob and looks around. If he sees his shadow then 6 more weeks of winter (BOOOOOO) but if he does not then that means spring is right around the corner. So fingers crossed that no shadow will be seen. I'm fairly confident that each of my loyal readers will be up at the crack of dawn to watch this amazing event this Thursday, Feb 2nd. Happy Ground Hog's Day everyone. 
That is it for this week's episode, stay tuned to next week when the Principal Chronicles continues....

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.