October Newsletter
Hello Dutch Creek Community,
I hope this newsletter finds you happy and healthy, enjoying everything that Colorado’s fall has to offer. I know I am enjoying the beautiful weather, with lots of sunshine, brisk early mornings, and a break from extreme heat! As we start to see the first brief “peeks” of leaves changing colors it makes me so excited about all things fall…hiking, the many soccer games my kids are in, making soup, picking apples in our backyard, and of course, watching football. (Even when the Broncos need…well actually, I’m not sure what they need…but they need something for sure!)
Here at Dutch Creek, we got to kick off the fall season with a hugely successful Fall Carnival! Thank you to PTSA and the many, many volunteers who made this celebration an amazing event. We had a live DJ, food trucks, games, a bouncy house, and prizes galore! And of course, we had the dunk tank! A special shout-out to Mr. Grudowski, Mr. Meyer, Ms. Ita, and Ms. Mills who braved the chilly plunge, ensuring that I was not alone in my dunking adventure. It takes true CREW members to sign up and volunteer for something like that…I was “voluntold” by the community upon meeting our goal in last year’s fun run, but these brave souls actually volunteered! Thank you CREW! I would also like to thank our many teachers and staff members who volunteered their time and/or joined the carnival with their families after a long week and busy days of learning. Thank you all for making the Fall Carnival something to remember.
Yet another celebration that I’d like to recognize with our community is the building of our garden. As some of you know, this has been a long time in the making. Students in last year’s 5th-grade class along with PTSA and Garden Club helped write a sustainability grant, get materials for a garden, work with Jeffco Facilities, and ultimately build the garden beds on the West side of Dutch Creek. While we haven’t planted anything as of yet, those empty beds hold a lot of potential. We have a small committee of teachers who will partner with community volunteers this year to begin the gardens. We want to ensure that our community garden meets the needs and original vision of last year’s 5th-grade students, matches our EL Curriculum, and becomes a place of belonging for students, staff, and our community. As we embark on this gardening journey, keep an eye out for ways to contribute and be a part of our first-ever community garden!
Lastly, our CREW committee has been busy planning new ways to focus on our vision and highlight leaders who are kind, respectful, and determined. To begin, we are focusing on the importance of kindness and the impact small acts of kindness can have on our community, our world, and ourselves. Students will learn about kindness, focus on kindness with their YO Buddies, and be recognized for being kind.
If you are looking for ways to be involved, please consider joining the School Accountability Committee (SAC). Our first meeting will be held on October 25th from 8:00-9:00 am. Your voice matters and your opinions are important. This is a great opportunity to enjoy some coffee and a snack after you drop your students off, and to talk about how to make Dutch Creek an even better school. I hope to see you there!
Thank you for your support and I hope you enjoy this beautiful season!
Sara Oliver