Friday, August 28, 2015

Highlights of the Week
Digger Dash Kick Off
We were excited to kick off the Digger Dash today with an assembly.  The Digger Dash is our annual all school race.  Each year students and staff run as many laps as they can to raise money for our school.  This event not only promotes health and wellness and community, but it also benefits our school.  This year we are hoping to raise enough funds to support a shade structure for our front playground.  Our fastest runners at each grade level will also be celebrated and allowed to douse the principal and assistant principal with water!  Pledge sheets went home with your child today and include additional information.




Settling In
Students are settling into classroom routines and beginning instructional units.  We are proud of how hard students are working and how they are applying what they remember from last year.




Western Night
We hope to see you at Western Night tonight from 5-7 at Gold Rush.  This is our first spirit event of the year.  We thank the PTO for organizing this event!



Facebook Page
Check out our school facebook page by clicking here.  This is a great way to get additional information and see what is happening at GRE!

Drop Off & Pick Up Reminders
* Please drop off students no earlier than 8:55AM when supervision begins.
* Please only drop off and pick up students in the front of the building.
* Please do not bring animals on school grounds. 

Upcoming Events
·      September 15 @ 5-6 PM: School Advisory Committee Meeting
·      September 17 – Picture Retakes: Click here for additional information.
·      September 29 & October 1: Parent Teacher Conferences

·      Link to Fall & Winter Douglas County Schools Events.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Highlight of the Week
Student Council Speeches
This week several students expressed interest in assuming leadership roles in Student Council.  Students gave persuasive speeches stating why they would be the best candidate for certain positions.  Their speeches were convincing and creative!  We are proud of all the students that took a risk and shared their ideas and qualities with their peers.  We thank Mrs. Wilson and Ms. Lautenbauch for facilitating this event and Student Council this year.



Back to School Night
It was great to see many of you at Back to School Night!  Back to School Night was an opportunity for teachers to share their classroom practices and procedures with you.  Teachers also provided parents with an overview of the District’s guaranteed and viable curriculum, which outlines what students are supposed to know and be able to do by the end of each grade level.  If you were unable to attend, teachers shared that the District curriculum is comprised of the following four parts: world class outcomes, content standards, the 4cs and 21st century skills.  World class outcomes are board, higher level targets that require students to create, evaluate and analyze.  Content standards define specific subject areas students learn at each grade level.  The 4cs, or collaboration, creativity, communication and critical thinking, are woven into instruction so that students are able to practice essential life skills.  The 21st century skills, including resiliency, problem solving, civic responsibility, financial literacy systems thinking, health and wellness, are themes that vary by grade level.  The 21st century skills also allow subject matter to be taught at higher levels.  



CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) at GRE
CogAT testing at GRE will take place from September 14 - 16 for all students in grades 3 and 5.  This assessment is one piece of data that is used inform instruction for each student.  This data is also used to identify students for Gifted and Talented programming.  Testing at grades 1, 2, and 4 is done on a referral basis only.  Students’ parents and teachers may refer them for testing.  If you would like to recommend your child for testing, please contact Kristi Barta, Professional Learning Specialist, at 303-387-7711 or kjbarta@dcsdk12.org.

Legend Feeder Area Band & Orchestra Program – Grades 4 & 5
High School students showcased the different instruments that students can learn to play through the Legend Feeder Band and Orchestra Program.  An instrument rental night will be held at Legend High School on Thursday, August 17, from 6:45-9:00 PM.  Visit the Legend Music Feeder website for additional information or here for the informational flyer.

Running Club Registration begins today at 4:30PM
Click here to register for Running Club.  Two sessions are offered and each session is limited to 75 participants. Sessions fill up quickly so sign up today!

Upcoming Events

·      August 28 @ 5-7PM - Western NightClick here for more information.

School Pictures
The deadline to order school pictures is this Sunday at midnight.  Click here for website (picture ID: CG875219Y0)  Picture retakes will be September 17. 

GRE Spirit Wear
The last day to order Gold Rush spirit wear is Monday, August 24.  Click here for the order form.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

First Week of School Highlights!
We had a wonderful first week of school!  Students have settled into classroom routines and they are starting their first instructional units.  Students are happy and showing genuine excitement for the new year!



Go For the Gold Assembly
This week students reviewed what it looks like to Go for the Gold, or  Give Respect, Own Your Actions, Listen and Learn and Do Your Best!  Students corrected teachers who purposely demonstrated unexpected behaviors and modeled what it should look like in different parts of the building.  They also sang a Go for the Gold Song to the tune of YMCA!  It was a great way to remind students of these important behaviors.

Buddy Bench
After learning that buddy benches are places students can go to find and make new friends on the playground, a group of now fifth grade students took it upon themselves to bring two of these benches to Gold Rush.  These students presented this idea to administrators and the PTO.  This week students trained their peers on how to use the bench.  We are proud of these students’ leadership and for making our school an even friendly place.  


Back To School Night
·      Wednesday, August 19 @ 6:00-6:30 & 6:45- 7:15.  This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about your child’s curriculum and classroom procedures.  You may attend either session.

Morning Drop Off  Reminders
·      Please remember to drop off students no earlier than 8:55AM as supervision does not begin until then.
·      Dogs are not allowed on school property.

Procedures for Delayed Dismissal
We had the opportunity to practice our first delayed dismissal due to weather.  Who would have thought that would have happened the second day of school!  If we need to delay dismissal due to severe weather we try make the decision at 3:50 whenever possible.  If you signed up for the District messaging system, you will receive a text message and phone call from the school informing you that you need to come into school and sign your child out from his/her classroom.  Click here to register for this communication.  All parents will receive an email from the office indicating a delayed dismissal.  Students wait in the gym after 4:15.  Students who attend indoor after school clubs or BASE are dismissed to those locations and bus riders proceed to the buses when it is safe to do so. 

School Advisory Committee (SAC)
Our School Advisory Council (SAC), which is comprised of three parents, school administrators, a classroom teacher, a PTO representative and a community representative, provide feedback regarding our school goals and priorities.  We meet after school four times a year for approximately one hour.  We are currently looking for one parent to serve on this committee.  Serving on this committee is a two-year commitment and involves attending quarterly meetings.  If you are interested in serving on this committee please email me at jenny.brown@dcsdk12.org by Tuesday, August 18th.  If we have more than one parent interested, we will have parents vote during our Assessment Days for the parent who will serve as a voting member.  While voting members are limited to four parents, all parents are welcome to attend.


Running Club
Our physical education teacher, Mrs. Warner, is excited to offer two sessions of running club again this year starting August 31st.   A link to register your child will be posted on my blog on August 21st.  Spaces are limited to 75 students per session so please sign up as soon as possible if you are interested in this activity.  Click here for additional information regarding running club.

PTO
·      We were able to purchase several pieces of playground equipment because families turned in labels for education!  Thank you PTO for organizing this opportunity!

·      PTO is starting to collect pictures for the yearbook.  Please send any back to school photos to grephotos@gmail.com

Golden Nuggets
For more information regarding our policies and procedures, please click here for our 2015/2016 Golden Nuggets.

Assessment Day Information
Students will attend school for one hour on either August 20th or 21st.  Please see the assessment day checklist below for an overview of the day.


As you read, students will take the picture after their assessment hour.   Be prepared by ordering online at mylifetouch.com

  • No need to send cash or flyer back to school when you order online.
  • See more options online.
  • Use credit card or PayPal on our secure site.

Friday, August 7, 2015

Meet Your Teacher
It was wonderful to welcome students during Meet Your Teacher this Friday!  Students were excited to visit their new classroom, drop off their school supplies and learn more about their new teacher and classmates!  We thank our PTO for organizing and distributing Edukits!   If you were unable to attend on Friday or forgot to submit your emergency dismissal and student directory forms, please print the attachments and send them to school with your child on Monday.  We ask that parents bring all medications to the office with the attached medical release form.





Drop Off & Pick Up Reminders
During the first week of school all teachers will meet their students at their classroom line designated by an orange cone and name sign on either the front black top (grades K-3) or the back playground (grades 4 & 5).  Click here for specific drop off and pick up locations. 

Adults will also be available to assist your child at the rolling drop off loop, which is only located at the front of the building.  Here are a few important safety reminders regarding our parking loop.  Your cooperation is appreciated!

·      Students should be dropped off and picked up using the front car loop only.
·      Parents need to remain in their cars while staff assists students.
·      Students should exit their cars curbside.
·      Parents should pull all the way forward to the front of the line.
·      Parents should not pull around cars in the line or cut through the parking lot.

At dismissal all students exit the building through the same doors they entered.  For safety reasons, all students who are picked up in the car loop wait by the wooden fence near the front playground.

Golden Nuggets
Gold Rush’s Golden Nuggets outline important school practices.  Procedures range from regular and delayed dismissal routines, illness guidelines, online payments and phone numbers.  Click here for additional details on these important topics.

Up Coming Events
·      August 11 @ 6:30 - PTO Meeting
·      August 13 @ 8:30 AM -Student Council Informational Meeting (3-5 only)

Spirit Wear
Start the year out right by ordering school spirit wear through the PTO!  Click here to view our new shirt styles.  Order forms will be sent home in Thursday folders.