Gold Rush Elementary
OFF TO AN INCREDIBLE START!
We had an amazing first week of school! It was wonderful to have all of our students fill our classrooms and hallways. Our students did an amazing job transitioning to their new classrooms. They connected with old and new friends and began practicing classroom routines and school procedures.  
 
Our partnership with parents is essential to our success this year. We are excited to welcome parent volunteers back into the building this year! Many teachers put volunteer opportunities out to families during Meet Your Teacher and plan to do so during Back to School Night on Wednesday, August 25. At this time we are not able to accommodate parent visitors during lunch, but we are eager to have you in our classrooms. As always, we look forward to working together this year!
PRACTICING THE WORKSHOP STRUCTURE
Gold Rush implements a workshop structure across kindergarten through fifth grade during reading, writing and math. The workshop structure consists of the following three components:
 
  • A 10-15 minute mini lesson where the teacher teaches the students a critical thinking skill or strategy.
 
  • A 30 -45 minute (depending on age) independent portion where students practice skills and strategies that are differentiated based on each student's individual academic needs.
 
  • A 5-10 minute closing that highlights examples of students' work, smart thinking and meaningful strategies.
 
The workshop structure ensures students spend the majority of their literacy and math blocks working on goals and content that match their unique academic needs. Teachers select materials and targets for students based on their assessment data. Workshops also allow students to use the majority of time grappling with the work of reading, writing and math. They tackle challenging problems, read books at their instructional level and write authentically. 
 
This week students were already practicing the workshop structure. They were finding “just right” books, tracking their reading stamina and writing long and strong. Building these routines are essential as they are used throughout the year and are implemented across the grades. We are proud of students' ability to jump into these practices!
GOING FOR THE G.O.L.D.

Part of the Gold Rush’s mission is to create students who care for others. We do this by teaching students what it means to Go for the G.O.L.D, or Give respect, Own your actions, Listen and Learn, and Do your best.
 
This week, students reviewed what it looks like to Go for the G.O.L.D. in the classroom, hallways, playground and during specials. Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Bergner, the principal and assistant principal, visited each classroom and talked about what this looks like to demonstrate these behaviors in the cafeteria. Defining these expectations keeps our community safe and learning. 
REVISED DISMISSAL MAP & NAMEPLATES
We made some slight tweaks to our arrival and dismissal class locations. Please see our revised map above or click here. 
 
We also provided each family with a nameplate for carloop. To increase efficiency we ask parents to display your family's nameplate on the right hand side of your dashboard every time you use the carloop for dismissal.
AUGUST 2021
Gold Rush Elementary | 12021 S. Swift Fox Way Parker CO 80134
Main Line 303-387-7700 | Fax 303-387-7701 | https://gre.dcsdk12.org/