Gold Rush Elementary School
August 16, 2019
A WONDERFUL WEEK WITH ALL STUDENTS!
We were excited to welcome our kindergarten students for their first week of school! The building felt complete with all of our students present. We are impressed with all students' transition.

We hope you will join us at Back to School Night on Wednesday, August 21, to learn more about the upcoming year. You are welcome to attend either the 6:05-6:35 PM or 6:40-7:10 PM parent session. The principal will share school celebrations and upcoming goals in the gym from 5:45-6:00 PM. Just a reminder that this informative event is for parents only. We hope to see you there!
ASSESSMENT HOUR & PICTURE DAY
AUGUST 27
In an attempt to gain more targeted information regarding your child’s academic strengths and needs, every child K-5 will come to school for one hour only on August 27th to complete reading and math assessments. The assessments administered allow educators to alter their instruction to meet your child’s individual needs and learning style.
 
Because we value the information we obtain on these days, it is mandatory that all children complete their assessments on August 27th. Please bring your child to the front vestibule and teachers will escort him/her to his/her testing location. Kindergarten students will meet their teachers outside their classroom doors.

Students will conclude their assessment hour in the gym where your child will take his/her school picture. Our Before and After School Enrichment program (B.A.S.E.) will be available on the 27th. Please contact B.A.S.E. as soon as possible as spaces are limited.

BUILDING STAMINA & ROUTINES FOR READERS' WORKSHOP
Gold Rush implements the workshop model in reading, writing and math because it allows students to spend the majority of their instructional time applying targeted skills and strategies modeled in brief mini lessons. Literacy research indicates that students need to engage in high volumes of successful reading and writing and the workshop model allows students to do this.

Students in grades K-5 are currently building workshop routines. All classrooms have focused on stamina, or students' ability to read and write for a prolonged period of time. Students have also been talking about selecting just right books, or texts that they can comprehend and read fluently and accurately. We know that establishing these positive reading behaviors, in addition to providing targeted instruction and coaching, will result in academic gains and a love of reading.
ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL REMINDERS

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping students safe during arrival and dismissal. Please see additional safety reminders below.


* Morning supervision begins at 8:20 AM.
Please do not drop students off prior to this time.

* Please move your car seat to the passenger side of the car so students can exit curbside.

* Please do not bring dogs on school grounds.

* Please do not park in the handicapped parking unless you have a permit.

* Please do not move into oncoming traffic to pass cars.
You will be ticketed.

* Please always cross at a crosswalk that is staffed with a crossing guard.

PARENT REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED FOR SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE
Our School Accountability Committee (SAC), which is comprised of three parents, school administrators, one teacher and a community representative, provides feedback regarding our school goals and priorities. We meet after school once a month for approximately one hour. While the number of voting SAC positions are limited according to the bylaws, all parents are welcome to attend meetings. Click here for additional information.

We are currently seeking one voting parent to serve on our committee. If you are interested please contact Jenny Brown by Wednesday, August 21. This is a great way to get involved in the school.
UNIVERSAL SCREENING
As part of the Douglas County School District’s Universal Screening Process, all students in Grade 3 and 5 will take the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT 7) the week of September 9th. This assessment indicates the level and pattern of cognitive development of a student in comparison to grade and age mates. These general reasoning abilities, which start developing at birth and continue through early adulthood, are influenced by experiences both in and out of school.

Scores and reports from universal testing will be used as one piece of data to inform instruction for all students, not only for advanced learners.  
As a Universal Screening tool, all students scoring at the 95th percentile or above on one or more of the batteries will be referred for the gifted identification process if they have not already been identified for gifted programming.

If your child is in grades K, 1, 2, or 4 and you believe he/she needs evaluation for Gifted Identification and Services you may refer your child for testing by initiating the Gifted Identification Process. If your child is not in third or fifth grade, p lease request CogAT testing by completing the Referral for Gifted Identification linked HERE . The referral form is due Friday August 23rd.
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 21: Back to School Night @ 6:05-6:35 PM or 6:40-7:10 PM
August 23: Western Night @ 5:00-8:00 PM
August 27: Assessment Hour & Picture Day
September 2: No School - Labor Day
Gold Rush Elementary | 12021 S. Swift Fox Way Parker CO 80134
Main Line 303-387-7700 | Fax 303-387-7701 | https://gre.dcsdk12.org/