Columbine News: December 2024

Happy Holidays from Columbine Staff!

Columbine staff picture

Did you know, Columbine Elementary received the state’s highest rating of PERFORMANCE!

Dear Cougar Family-

As we enter the final month of 2024, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support and partnership in making our school a wonderful place for learning and growth. Here are some important updates and events happening this month:

Key Events

  • Columbine Dance Crew Recital: December 2nd, 3:30pm. Come see what our dancers have been working on!
  • Open Enrollment: December 2-16 are open enrollment dates LINK HERE
  • Late Start: December 4th, school starts at 11:00am
  • Literacy and STEM Night: Mark your calendars for Thursday, December 5th, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. It’s a great opportunity to engage in fun, educational activities as a family!
  • Cafecito: December 6th, 8:45–please join us as we explore cultivating cultural roots followed by making piñatas! Translation for English-speaking families provided.
  • Spirit Week: Students will have a spirit week December 16-19.
  • Preschool Registration Begins for 2025-2026: Dec. 17th you can start registering for preschool. For the 25-26 school year, Columbine will offer a full-day, 5-day a week program!
  • Columbine Community Caroling: December 18th, 5-6:30. Please join us as we sing winter melodies to our community, followed by cookies and hot cocoa.
  • Winter Break: School will be closed from Friday, December 20 to Monday, January 6, 2025. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.

Reminders

  • Cold Weather Prep: Please ensure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for winter weather. Jackets, gloves, and hats are essential for outdoor recess.
  • Attendance: Let’s finish the year strong! Daily attendance is key to your child’s success.

Update

  • Upgrades due to passage of the bond: We’re so grateful the bond passed and are excited to share the proposed areas of improvements at Columbine!
    • – Safety & Security
      – Critical Infrastructure Upgrades
      – HVAC & Air Quality
      – Repurposed & Updated Spaces
      – Technology & Efficiency Upgrades
      – Roofing & Paving
  • Community Schools: Starting with the new year, we will be offering community schools for late start days here at Columbine (ready for our next late start in February)! Next year, we will expand our community schools to offering after school care as well, and if there is enough interest, before school too!

Thank you for all you do to support your child’s education. We are excited for what’s to come in the new year and look forward to continuing to work together for our students’ success.

Wishing you and your family a joyful and restful holiday season!

Warm regards,

Julia Cooper, Principal

[email protected]

More Information on Upcoming Events!

Literacy and STEM Night: Dec. 5th

Literacy and STEM night flyer in English: Dec. 5th 5:30-7pm
Literacy and STEM night flyer in Spanish: Dec. 5th 5:30-7pm

Cafecito: Dec. 6th / All welcome!

Headsets available for simultaneous English translation!

Cafecito flyer

Community Caroling: Dec. 18th

Columbine Community Caroling flyer in English
Columbine Community Caroling flyer in Spanish

Columbine Spirit Wear for Sale

Flyer for spirit wear shirts and sweatshirts for sale

Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment Dates:

  • Applications open December 2, 2024, and close December 16, 2024.
  • The 2025-2026 Open Enrollment application will be available online starting December 2 on the SVVSD
    Open Enrollment site.

Important Notes for Transitioning Students:

  • If your child is currently in grade 5 or grade 8 and wishes to stay in the same feeder system, you must submit a new open enrollment application for their next school.
  • Any time a student transitions to a new building (e.g., elementary to middle school or middle to high school), open enrollment is required.
  • APPLY HERE BEGINNING 12/2/24
    • For questions, you can email or call our COEL registrar: Karen Flores

Spirit Week: Dec. 16-20

Spirit Week: Dec. 16-20
Spirit Week: Dec. 16-20

Upcoming Dates

  • Dec. 2: Dance Crew Recital
  • Dec. 2-16: Open Enrollment Window
  • Dec. 4: Late Start
  • Dec. 5: STEM/Literacy Night 5:30-7:00 dinner and activities for the whole family!
  • Dec. 6: Cafecito
  • Dec. 7: Robotics at the Innovation Center (11:30-2:30)
  • Dec. 9-13: Winter season store
  • Dec. 11: Last day of AAA for session one. We restart with session two on January 14th
  • Dec. 16-20: Spirit Week
  • Dec. 17: Preschool registration begins
  • Dec. 18: Community Caroling (5-6:30)
  • Dec. 20-Jan. 6: Winter Break–no school

Pictures from our student Thanksgiving meal

Student Thanksgiving Meal image

We are so proud of our students who participated in the Elementary Choral Festival.

Elementary choral festival

Golden Cougars

Each month, we recognize a class that had the best attendance, behavior, and hard work the previous month. November winners were Ms. Condray’s class!

Picture of students who earned the Golden Cougar for October.

Cougars of the Trimester

Each trimester, we also get the opportunity to celebrate students for their hard work, academic achievements, and their strong citizenship! They make us so proud each and every day.

Pictures from Cougar of the Trimester Assembly

Staff Spotlight: Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grades

3rd-5th grade teachers

Congratulations to our first graduating class of Escuela de Madres y Padres!

Community Schools Interest Survey

STEM Focus

Columbine Elementary is a STEM focus school. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. We know that the world is changing faster than it ever has due to discovery of new science technology and its applications.

Here at Columbine, we are preparing students for a future where innovation, communication, collaboration, global competency, critical thinking, and problem solving will be essential.

This month in STEM, our students learned to code Ozobots. We will be hosting our Literacy and STEM night on December 5th from 5:30-7pm. We hope to see you there!

Picture of students doing coding.

Winter Break

St. Vrain’s Winter Break Reading Challenge:

Interested in Volunteering?

If you are wanting to volunteer this year at Columbine, please complete the following volunteer training. You will not be able to volunteer until this training is complete and we would LOVE to have you! Click the button above.

Clothes Donations Needed

clothes for kids request

Parents Involved in Education 2024 Calendar

PIE 2024 calendar of events
PIE calendar of events in Spanish

Our Family Liaison is here to help!

Our family liaison, Mr. Montes, is here full-time to support YOU! If you need any resources he can help! Please call: 303-776-2840 and ask for Mr. Montes

He can help you with:

  • Free and Reduced Lunch Application
  • Submitting school fees
  • Getting materials and supplies for school
  • Needed technology (internet and student iPads)
  • Access community resources (including help with medicare, food, housing, jobs, etc)

Columbine Social Media

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Columbine Elementary School