From the Desk of Schuba...
In this edition of Notes from the Dragon Cave, we're sharing a note from IBCS School Psychologist, SuBeckah Florczak, about mindfulness, and her training and implantation of the topic within education.
Greetings Izzi B. Community. I am enjoying my first year as the school psychologist here. Thank you for being so welcoming and kind. I know I have not had the opportunity to meet everyone, nut please know I am available if you have concerns or questions I may be able to navigate with you.
Schuba asked me to share a quick note about one of the school-wide interventions I have begun teaching in some of our classrooms. I am pleased to share I am teaching mindfulness curriculum. I received my training from a well-researched, evidence-based organization called, Mindful Schools. If you would like to learn more, please visit www.mindfulschools.org.
Mindfulness can support and sustain us by helping to manage stress of today's world. Mindfulness is shown to have a positive impact on stress, attention, and even relationships. The American Psychological Association shares research on a range of benefits of mindfulness, including:
Stress-reduction
Boosts to working memory
Focus
Less emotional reactivity
More cognitive flexibility
Relation satisfaction
I enjoy sharing mindfulness because it provides students and teachers with strategies to assist with focus, attention, emotional-regulation, and so much more. You can read more about the research and benefits online. The benefits of mindfulness can take us beyond the terrain of managing symptoms to a place where we develop our deeper human capacities for awareness, attention, empathy, kindness and compassion.
For questions or conversation about mindfulness in education, reach out to SuBeckah via email Su_Florczak@dpsk12.org or phone 720-423-9900.
Take Action....
Picture Day
Picture Day is Tuesday, Sept. 24. Picture packets were sent home this week. All students take individual pictures and class photos to be used in the IBCS yearbook. Families can purchase photos by filling out and returning the paper form, or online. Pictures packets contain specific information. Say cheese!
Harvest Tickets on Sale NOW
Join your fellow Isabella Bird families on the playground, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2-5 p.m., for our 6th Annual Harvest Festival. This is a fundraiser for the school and a great way to meet and enjoy an afternoon with our school community. Food is available for purchase from Biker Jim's; free popcorn and cider; games, crafts, inflatables, climbing wall, tattoos, live music, pumpkin patch and hayrides. Event tickets are $20/person and available online. Purchase tickets by Friday, Sept. 27 to receive a free hayride ticket. See Main Office Staff for discount ticket options.
Harvest Volunteers: Grab a friend or fellow classmate’s parent and sign up to give an hour of your time during the festival. We need a minimum of six volunteers for ECE and 15 volunteers for all other grades. Each grade will win a popsicle party, if they meet this minimum. Register today and pick your perfect volunteer spot!
For questions about Harvest Festival, contact IBCS Parent and Harvest Fest Chair, Catherine Schurger.
Highly Gifted & Talented Testing Request
Have you noticed your child...Learns subjects quickly? Displays an unusual intensity or feels emotions quickly? Has a strong sense of justice and/or injustice? Shows exceptional curiosity? Has deep intense feelings and reactions? Demonstrates abstract, complex, logical and insightful thinking? Is incredibly sensitive? Enjoys solving problems, especially with puzzles and numbers? Has rapid language acquisition? If so, you may be interested in our Highly Gifted & Talented (HGT) testing. Testing occurs at IBCS in November. To have your child tested, you must complete an online nomination form. If you would like a hard copy of the form, these are also available. The form must be completed and received at 1860 Lincoln St., by Friday, Nov. 1. Results from testing, along with a body of evidence, are utilized for Gifted & Talented (GT) identification. For questions, please teach out to our GT Teachers, Rebecca Mercer and Meg Torres. Review more characteristics of gifted learners.
What's Going on With...
Welcome Lisa Cohen, IBCS Social Worker
After 15-years in public health and, more specifically, infectious disease, Lisa Cohen is now a part-time social worker at IBCS. In this role, Lisa will work with families on attendance and tardies, 504s and accommodations, and within the Family Community Resource Center (FCRC) (read more about the FCRC below). Lisa believes young people thrive and have the potential to be their best self when they have robust supports, and when social-emotional learning is commensurate with academic development. In her free-time, she enjoys hiking and biking in the mountains, and reading and yogaing at home. Her most favorite activity is traveling with her kindergarten-aged daughter and husband to off-the-beaten-path places. Please stop by the FCRC to welcome Lisa, or contact her via email (coming soon).
IBCS' Family Community Resource Center, Call for Costume Donations
Because IBCS recognizes and values the integral relationship existing between family-success and student-success, we work to provide direct supports and/or connections to resources available in the larger community via the school’s Family Community Resource Center (FCRC). The FCRC is located in the Front Office and is home to our donations-based food pantry and child-sized clothing supply. Occasionally, the FCRC seeks donations of non-perishable food items and clothing; these requests are communicated in a variety of ways, including Notes from the Dragon Cave.
Current FRCR Needs: The FCRC is in need of new or gently used Halloween costumes, sizes 6-14. Donations can be dropped off with Joannie in the Front Office now through Wednesday, Oct. 30. For questions, please contact Izzi B. Parent and Volunteer, Susan Lorimor.
Garden Update, Call for Help
The Izzi B. Garden is coming to the end of its life cycle. Fifth Graders will soon uproot and compost the existing crops later this month. This is the first step in “putting the garden to bed” for winter. We'll plant cover crops in each bed once existing crops are out. Cover crops will stay all winter and then be worked into the soil to provide extra nutrients come spring time.
Put the Garden to Bed Day: Parent volunteers are needed Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., to plant cover crops. Please text IBCS Garden Volunteer and Parent, Sarah Lopez at 720-335-8435, if you are able to help.
The IBCS garden is successful because of Vermicomposting (and lots of love, of course). To continue its success, we'll host two worm bins in Anne and Andy’s second and third grade classrooms. Students will learn the process of nurturing “Red Wiggler” worms, utilizing newspaper and fall leaves as bedding substrates, turning bedding to aerate contents, feeding appropriate food material and utilizing “aged” castings in our school garden.
King Soopers, Community Rewards Program
King Soopers gives back 5 percent of what you spend to IBCS, when you use and link your loyalty number to Isabella Bird. If you shop at King Soopers, please take a moment to link your King Soopers card to IBCS to participate in the community rewards program. Its super easy to do! Here's how:
Log into your King Soopers account via kingsoopers.com.
Click on "My Account."
Select "Community Rewards."
Add IBCS Council - Isabella Bird Community School; or our organization number: CC756
You can invite family and friends to do the same! For questions, contact Izzi B. Parent and Volunteer, Susan Lorimor.
IBCS Classroom Liaison, Group Meeting
Classroom Liaisons are all signed up and the official IBCS Classroom Liaison kick-off meeting is slated for next Thursday. During the meeting, the group will discuss liaison initiatives for the school year, show off new technology for volunteer sign ups and answer any and all questions members of the group may have. Look for messages from your Classroom Liaison soon!
Art-n-Motion Opportunity at Neighborhood Art Studio
The Neighborhood Art studio is offering a six-week, hands-on introduction to stop-motion animation for students ages 8-13-years-old. The session runs Sept. 18 - Oct. 23, 4:30-5:30 p.m., and is $196. Participants will bring art-creations to life, while exploring essential storytelling elements, such as timing, actions, sequencing and sound. This course is an introduction to stop-motion animation; intermediate-level skills can be incorporated. For more information or to register, visit the Neighborhood Art Studio website; space is limited. Use code animate50 for 50 percent off the registration fee. Mention Isabella Bird in your registration and our school receives 10 percent back per student.
Save the Date...
New Family Happy Hour
If your family is new to Isabella Bird, or you have a kindergarten or ECE student, make plans to join fellow families and community members at Los Chingones (10155 E. 29th Dr.) Thursday, Sept. 26, 6-7:30 p.m., on the upstairs patio. For questions, contact Izzi B. Parent, Tricia Houston.
Stapleton Community Food Drive
The Stapleton Community Food Drive is coming up soon - Sept. 28 - Oct. 7, to be exact. Keep it on your radar as our school gets to keep the food donations for our pantry, when you drop AT school vs. leaving it on your porch to be collected. The IBCS food pantry is used to meet the needs of our Backpack Program. Izzi B. Parent and Volunteer, Susan Lorimor is heading up the coordination of our backpack program this year. Contact her for more information or with questions.
Another Scholastic Book Fair, Volunteer Opportunities
Join us in room 212 for an Arctic Adventure Book Fair during Izzi B. Teacher-Student-Parent Conferences, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 3-7 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 10, 3-7 p.m. There's also a GRAND event with students and invited guests on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Room 212 will be transformed into an arctic adventure filled with books and gifts for all reading levels for families to purchase to add to their home-collections. The Izzi B. Library receives about 60 percent of proceeds to purchase new Scholastic books for our still-growing library collection! Last year, the Library raised more than $12,000 from both book fairs for new books. Last Spring, we broke a record amount of sales AGAIN. Woohoo! Everybody loves new books and more great reads!
Make Our Fair a Success:
Our Scholastic Book Fairs are run by volunteers! This event is family-friendly and a great way to volunteer at a fun event with your student. Please consider signing up (link to sign-up) for a shift during the two-days and bring the family along! All adult volunteers receive a $5 gift certificate to be used on any $20 purchase at our book fair!
Unable to Attend?
Bummer, you will be missed during all the fun... you can still order books and gifts through our Online Book Fair! Beyond having a larger selection than what can fit into our library, prices are the same and shipping to the school is FREE! Online sales also go toward helping our library grow - so do not delay. The Izzi B. ONLINE book fair is OPEN until Friday, Oct. 11! Shop online.
Mark Your Calendars...
Tuesday, Sept. 24, All Day: Picture Day
Tuesday, Sept. 24, 3:30-5 p.m.: Brave Coalition Book Study Group
Thursday, Sept. 26, 6-7:30 p.m.: New Family Happy Hour (Los Chingones)
Monday, Sept. 30, 5:30-7 p.m.: Council Board Meeting
Tuesday, Oct. 1, 5:30-7 p.m.: Fundraising Committee Meeting
Thursday, Oct. 3, 5:30-7 p.m.: Council Meeting (Community meeting)
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2-5 p.m.: Harvest Festival
Tuesday, Oct. 8, 3:30-7:30 p.m.: Teacher/Student/Parent Conferences
Tuesday, Oct. 8, 3-7 p.m.: Arctic Adventure Book Fair
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Arctic Adventure Book Fair GRAND Event
Thursday, Oct. 10, 3:30-7:30 p.m.: Teacher/Student/Parent Conferences
Thursday, Oct. 10, 3-7 p.m.: Arctic Adventure Book Fair
Wednesday, Oct. 16, 3:30-7:30 p.m.: Teacher/Student/Parent Conferences
Thursday, Oct. 17 - Tuesday, Oct. 22, All Day: No School
Friday, Oct. 25, 8:15-9:15 a.m.: Coffee & Conversation
Thursday, Oct. 31, 2-2:45 p.m.: Izzi B. Annual Costume Parade
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