Dear Columbine Families,

Happy February! We hope this newsletter finds you well and staying warm during these chilly winter days.

Celebrating Kindness and Friendship
February is a month focused on kindness and friendship, and we’re excited to celebrate with our students. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Classroom celebrations will take place on Thursday, February 13th. Please be on the lookout for communication from your child’s teacher regarding party details and any classroom needs.

Late Start Enrichment Class

Starting Feb. 5th, we will offer enrichment classes during late start (8:30am-11:00am). Registration is $5 per child, if you register in advance. If you pay at the door the day of, it is $10 per child. Registration covers childcare from 8:30-11am, all materials for the crafts and activities done during this time, as well as snack. The theme for the class this month is Valentine’s Day.

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for February 11th-13th. This is a great opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and set goals for the rest of the year. Sign-up information will be sent out soon, so please mark your calendars!

No School Days

• Friday, February 14th – Non-Student Contact Day
• Monday, February 17th – Presidents’ Day Holiday

Project Launch: M-Th, June 2-26

Teachers will be sharing information regarding Project Launch Summer Program (held at Columbine) during conferences. Be on the look out for application materials for all students by the end of February.

Tax Season Reminders

As tax season approaches, we want to be sure you have what you need to file. Thanks for understanding that we need 24 hours to have requested tax documents or records ready for pick up. Thank you!

Reminders for Winter Weather
As the temperatures continue to drop, please make sure your child comes to school with warm clothing, including jackets, hats, and gloves. We will go outside for recess as long as the weather permits, so it’s important students are dressed appropriately. If you want your child to be allowed to play in the snow, they must bring snow boots. This is to keep them from having wet feet during the day and prevent them from getting sick.

Thank You for Your Support
We want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support. From volunteering in classrooms to attending school events, your involvement makes a big difference in our school community.

We’re looking forward to another fantastic month of learning and growth. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Warm Regards,
Julia Cooper, Principal
Columbine Elementary School

Upcoming Events

• February 5: Late Start (school starts at 11am)
  • Childcare offered 8:30-11:00am through our enrichment classes (drop-off at the kinder doors off Atwood).
  • Cougar of the Trimester Assemblies 2:00-2:30 (PreK-2) & 2:35-3:05 (3-5)
  • Last day to nominate a teacher for the Celebration of Excellence Award
• February 7: Cafecito (theme: mental health, part 2)
• February 10: Book Fair 3:15-4:00
• February 11: Parent Teacher Conferences from 3:20-8:00; Book Fair 3:15-7:30
• February 12: Parent Teacher Conferences from 3:20-8:00; Book Fair 3:15-7:30; Preschool Open House 4:30-6:00pm
• February 13: Parent Teacher Conferences from 3:20-6:00; Book Fair 3:15-4:00
• February 14: No School
• February 17: No School
• February 18: Dental Screenings
• February 18-21: Random Acts of Kindness Week
• February 21: End of 2nd Trimester
• February 27: incoming kinder information night (5:30-6:00pm)

More Information on Upcoming Events!

Please click this link for the details to register. The event is entirely in Spanish, celebrates culture, and has great free food:) 

Our annual 5210+ challenge starts in February. You will receive flyers from teachers. We encourage your student (and your family) to participate as it’s a great opportunity to help teach and practice healthy habits. Every year during the challenge we always have some students tell us that they have less tummy aches, less headaches, do not get sick, have more energy, and feel happier. It is estimated that close to 90% of Americans are considered to be metabolically unhealthy!  It does not have to be this way. The 5210+ Challenge is a wonderful opportunity to create healthy, life-altering habits. Join us in the challenge!

Celebration of Excellence

🎉 Nominate an Educator of the Year!
The Celebration of Excellence (formerly Tribute to Teachers) is your chance to recognize exceptional educators across St. Vrain Valley Schools. Based on nominations from students, parents, volunteers, staff, and community members, one educator from each school will be honored as their school’s Educator of the Year during this cherished event on April 11, 2025.
🏆 Know an educator who inspires and makes a lasting impact? Nominate them!
👥 Who can nominate? Students, parents, volunteers, fellow educators, staff, community members, and business partners.
✔️ Eligibility: Nominees must be licensed educators in Colorado, employed at a St. Vrain school this year, and not have received their school’s Educator of the Year honor in the past two years.
📅 Nominations are open January 13 – February 5.
💻 Submit your nomination here:
https://stvrainfoundation.org/programs/celebration-of-excellence/
Together, let’s honor the dedication of the educators who shape the future of our students and
community! 💙

Cafecito: February 7th / All welcome!

Headsets available for simultaneous English translation!

Late Starts

Late starts occur on the first Wednesday of each month, with school beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Upcoming Late Starts

Wednesday, February 5th

Wednesday, March 5th

Wednesday, April 2nd

Wednesday, May 7th

Community Schools: Late Start

Scholastic Book Fair

Parent-Teacher Conference: Help us feed our teachers!

Preschool Open House

Join us for an engaging and informative Preschool Open House at Columbine on Wednesday, February 12th between 4:30-6:00pm. Learn about our new full-day, five-day-a-week preschool program and meet our dedicated teachers. Explore hands-on activities designed specifically for preschoolers and discover how our STEM-focused approach inspires curiosity and learning from an early age. You and your child will have the opportunity to tour our classrooms and facilities to see how we support early learners. We look forward to welcoming you to Columbine Elementary and sharing more about our preschool opportunities!

Incoming Kindergarteners Information Night

Interested in learning how kindergarten works at Columbine Elementary? Join us for Kinder Info Night on Thursday, Feb. 27th from 5:30-6:00pm. This information session is intended for incoming kindergarteners for the 2025-2026 school year. Come meet the teachers, get your questions answered and tour the kindergarten classrooms. Hope to see you there!

Extend Your Child’s Preschool Experience with Wraparound Pre-K Care

St. Vrain Valley Schools offers licensed Wraparound Pre-K Care for children ages 3 to 5 at six school sites, providing a safe and enriching environment to complement preschool or as a childcare option for younger learners. With activities in STEAM, literacy, and creative play, children will build skills and confidence in a nurturing setting. Registration for the 2025-2026 school year opens February 6.

Visit Community Schools online to learn more and register.

Career Day Presenter Request

Columbine Elementary, Rocky Mountain Elementary, and Indian Peaks Elementary will host a Career Day on Wednesday, May 7th. A team of staff members leads this collaborative event from three elementary schools and CENTRALongmont, a Presbyterian Congregation. We are looking for professionals within our community to share with our students the daily activities in your line of work and expose them to various career paths and opportunities.

The Career Fair will be from 11:00 am – 2:30 pm on Wednesday, May 7th, for intermediate students (3rd, 4th, & 5th grades) in the gym at Columbine Elementary, where you would have a table set up for any materials or items you would like to bring to inform our students about your career. Students would be encouraged to come ask questions and interact with you. Students will rotate in and out of the gym from 11:15 am – 2:30 pm. Available for part of that time? Even if you only can come for a portion of the event, we would certainly benefit from your participation and support! 

Thank you for your consideration. Please contact Ms. Owens if you have further questions or are willing to donate some of your time to Career Day.

Angelique Owens, Columbine Elementary, [email protected]

***Anyone who would like to participate in Career Day can register here. ***

Accessibility Night: Feb. 21

Columbine Spirit Wear for Sale

Upcoming Parent University Session, February 20

St. Vrain’s Parent University program provides training, information, and resources to parents and caregivers to support the well-being and success of their children.

Join us on Zoom, Feb. 20 from 5-6:30 p.m.

Adolescent RISE with Nicholas Thompson, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Adolescent RISE is a presentation that takes a fun and informative look at the developmental period of adolescence (ages 10-25). It includes debunking myths about adolescence, understanding the four qualities of adolescence (risk taking, identity formation, social reorientation, and emotional intensity), and learning about the tweenage brain. With this foundation established, ways to better support our kids will be discussed. 

Please register online to assist with planning purposes.

Learn more about St. Vrain’s Parent University and register for upcoming events

Pictures from our January Cafecito

Golden Cougars

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

Staff Spotlight: Nutrition Services

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

Students got to create catapults and practiced coding with ozobots and indi robots!

Robotics Team

Also, our robotics team participated in a tournament at Indian Peaks. It was wonderful to see them trouble-shoot as they had fun doing their best! They also won second and third place! Congratulations!

Interested in Volunteering?

If you want 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

Parents Involved in Education 2025 Calendar (coming soon)

Our Family Liaison is here to help!

He can help you with:

Columbine Social Media

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