Cherokee Trail

You are invited to our Fall School Counseling Advisory Council Meeting

Monday, November 13 from 9:00-10:00 at Cherokee Trail 

All CTE community members are invited! Families and community members are the foundation to student success. During this presentation, counseling program information and data will be shared.  Discussion and feedback will be encouraged throughout the presentation. Coffee will be served!  

This meeting will also be available virtually via google meet using this link. 

Attendance and Its Impact on Learning

Why does attendance matter in elementary school? 

Children who are chronically absent in kindergarten and first grade are much less likely to read at  grade level by the third grade. Students who cannot read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than proficient readers to drop out of high school (US Department of Education). 

When is a student considered chronically absent?

Chronic absence is typically defined as missing 10 percent or more of school for any reason: excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions. Principal emails and district attendance letters are sent to students who are chronically absent.

What can schools and families do to reduce absences?

Reducing chronic absence goes hand in hand with cultivating positive conditions for learning. When schools provide engaging, supportive, welcoming, and culturally responsive environments, families are inclined to help their children get to school. Students are motivated to attend, even when there are hurdles to getting there. (Attendance Works) 

When should students stay home from school? https://cdphe.colorado.gov/child-care-health-regulations 

Our school nurse is available to consult with parents to answer any questions on illness and medical concerns related to attendance. 

*If your family needs support to help improve attendance, please feel free to contact your child’s school counselor (Heather Naumovitz, Grades K-2 and Jane Steiner, Grades 3-6).  

Safer, Smarter Kids!

Social Skills K-1 lessons are currently focusing on the Safer, Smarter Kids curriculum, an abuse prevention education curriculum. It is a developmentally-appropriate, light-hearted curriculum that arms students with tools and language they need to better protect themselves from abuse. Some lesson concepts include Grown Up Buddies, Trusted Triangle, and I Mean Business voice. Newsletters have come home in students’ backpacks about the curriculum in general and will continue to come home about each lesson on the days students receive that lesson. If you have any questions, please reach out to Heather Naumovitz, the school counselor for grades K-2 (contact information below).

Parent Articles:

How Teen Puberty Impacts Mood

Family Resources:

Does your child need additional support to learn/practice social skills?  Denver Behavioral Consultants facilitate social skills groups in the Parker area.  Click for more information

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

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.

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

Heather Naumovitz, M.A.
Grades K-2 
[email protected]

Jane Steiner, Ed.S.  

Grades 3-6

[email protected]

Check out the counseling website for more information!