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I know this has been a challenging week with the news of our school consolidation. As I shared with our staff, I fully understand that everyone is processing this change in their own way, and we need to honor where each person is in that journey. From here, we will move forward together, planning the next steps to ensure the best possible outcome for our students, staff, and families.

Embracing the heart of February, I want to take a moment to reflect on the wonderful experiences we’ve shared this month. Our Valentine's Day "Parties with a Purpose" were truly a highlight! It was incredibly touching to see our classes come together to support good causes, especially the Livesay Family! The joy and generosity displayed by our students and families warmed my heart and exemplified the spirit of our community.

Happy New Year! We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season filled with joy and relaxation. As we step into February, we are excited to embrace new learning opportunities and continue our journey of growth together.

New Year, New Learning!
January is a time for fresh starts and renewed focus. Our students have been diving into new subjects and projects, and we encourage you to engage with them about what they are learning. Whether it’s exploring new math concepts, diving into reading, or discovering science, your support at home makes a significant difference in their educational experience.

Wish Week is the time of the year where the entire Mountain Vista High School community comes together to raise as much money as possible for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Make-a-Wish Foundation helps families with a child suffering from a life-threatening illness by granting their wish. This could be meeting a celebrity, going on a vacation, etc.  MVHS adopts one Wish Kid each year to rally around and fulfill their wish.  Wish Week is about something bigger than all of us, serving others who are less fortunate.

What an incredible December we’ve had here at Heritage Elementary! I want to take a moment to celebrate our amazing students and staff as we close out this calendar year together.

December Highlights

• Middle-of-Year iReady Testing Success Over the past few weeks, our students have been working so hard on their middle-of-year iReady testing. Their perseverance and dedication to learning truly shine, and I couldn’t be more proud of the growth we are already seeing. These assessments help us better understand how to support your child’s learning, and I am so excited about the progress they are making.

• Investing in Excellence Last week, I had the privilege of taking five of our dedicated staff members to a Professional Learning Conference in Denver. It was an inspiring experience as we explored new strategies to refine our teaching practices and ensure that all classrooms are aligned for student success. I am incredibly proud of our teachers’ commitment to continuous improvement—it’s part of what makes Heritage Elementary such a great learning environment.

• Holiday Dress-Up Fun We also had a blast with our holiday-themed dress-up days! From Ugly Sweater Day to Grinch Day, Reindeer Day, and of course, Polar Express Pajama Day, our halls were filled with festive cheer and smiling faces. I love seeing the creativity, joy, and community spirit that make Heritage such a special place. Thank you for helping your students to participate and helping us make these moments memorable!

Book Club Update: Navigating Challenges Together

• In our latest discussion on The Anxious Generation, we delved deeper into how today’s world of constant connectivity can impact young people’s emotional development. Haidt points to the importance of open conversations about stress and resilience, as well as setting boundaries around screen time, which can empower our children to manage their anxieties.

• A resonant quote from this week’s reading: “Resilience isn’t about avoiding stress—it’s about learning how to handle it.” Together, we explored ways to foster resilience by giving kids the tools to manage challenges while still feeling supported and understood.

Reminders...

Please note that Winter Break begins on Friday, December 20th. School will resume on Tuesday, January 7th. I hope you take this time to rest, recharge, and make wonderful memories with loved ones.

Happy Holidays and Winter Break

As we wrap up this semester, I want to wish all of our families a restful and joyful holiday season. We are so grateful for the strong partnership we have with our community. You bring so much warmth, enthusiasm, and support to our school, and it shows in everything we do.

Thank you for a fantastic first half of the school year, and I can’t wait to see all the incredible things we will accomplish together in 2025!

Warm holiday wishes,

Katie Lawson

Principal on the Shelf, Heritage Elementary

Kindergarten Registration 2025-2026 Opens December 2nd!  Heritage Elementary offers a free full-day kindergarten experience that is second to none! Our explorers engage in opportunities daily focusing on the whole child and creating a warm, welcoming environment for their first year of elementary school. Your child is about to begin an amazing adventure where they will meet new friends, learn from dedicated educators, and begin building the foundation for a lifelong education. As you get to know our staff you will see that they are passionate about children and learning and bring that spirit to the classroom every day.

As we embrace the spirit of gratitude this season, I want to take a moment to express how thankful I am for our wonderful community. Your support and involvement make Heritage Elementary a truly special place for our students to learn and grow. Let’s dive into the exciting happenings from this month!

Heritage understands the importance of choosing the best school for your child and we encourage you to visit our school!