At Spark! Discovery Preschool, students are empowered to meet their sensory needs and participate in activities that facilitate better focus and learning through sensory rooms. Students are taught to regulate their own behavior before participating in other academic related activities.

According to Spark! Discovery Preschool teacher Jess Harbison, students have access to the sensory room as a part of the daily schedule and practice a core vocabulary word to communicate when they are ready for sensory activities. “For some students, these activities include heavy work with deep input to their body. For example, climbing, jumping into the crash pad, and going through the obstacle course,” says Harbison. Other students prefer quieter activities like solving puzzles, swinging, or playing in the bubble tube or with sensory toys. “We conclude our time by listening to a calming song while students roll on a roller or ball. As students leave the sensory room, their bodies are calm and ready to learn.”

The sensory room at Spark! helps students be successful in a variety of ways. Students discover what types of activities are calming for them, helping to curb aggressive and disruptive behaviors. They are able to recognize when they need to self-regulate and request a break and a specific activity in the sensory room. This leads to a more controlled learning environment for students and teachers, helping to advance academic excellence at Spark!

We wish to thank our sponsors: Spark! Discovery Preschool Parent-Teacher Organization, The Weld County Trust, and SVVSD Special Education Department

“Being a teacher is the most impactful and fulfilling profession there is,” shared Leticia Melendez. “As little as the impact may be, being part of kids’ lives and seeing them do great things, you always hope that you can become one of those teachers that opened the door for them.” With more than 18 years of experience, Ms. Melendez’s passion continues to thrive in everything she does for her students. It is important for her not to forget the teachers that opened the many doors for her along the way. “That is what I want to do for my students, I want to open those doors for them.” shared Melendez. 

Rocky Mountain Elementary School is home to her, and it holds a very special place in her heart. “Being a student here when I was younger, allows me to see myself in so many of these kids – knowing where they came from, being able to identify with them and give back to them, is what it’s all about for me,” shared Melendez. Reflecting on her career, Ms. Melendez sees public education as a space for all students to receive a quality education, and have a space for extracurricular activities. “The diversity of public education and all that it offers to every student is the platform for a well rounded education for all students,” said Melendez.

The love she has for her community is centered in building relationships, and connections with her parents and students. As an English Language Learner teacher, Ms. Melendez has the opportunity to work with newcomer students. “I make myself resourceful to them, I meet them upfront when they come see the school for the first time, I give them la bienvenida,” she shares. “I do anything possible that I can do to make the students know that they belong and that they are safe, and once they feel that inner peace, that’s when they know they are going to be okay, and this is where they belong.”

Her hope is that her students know that she sees them and that she’s there for them every step of the way. “I want them to remember the relationships we had and that they pay it forward, because just like the teachers I had, everything they did for me and the impact they had on me, is what I want for my students,” said Melendez. “We don’t always see our fruits right away, we plant the seed, and they have to do the rest – it’s a privilege and a responsibility of mine that the same help and resources that were given to me, that I pay it forward to my students.”

“Public education is where citizens learn how to be a part of society. Our country is based on the idea that everyone has a right to learn, and a right to grow as people,” says Christina Stamper, a 5th grade teacher at Central Elementary school. “We provide that because it’s important to learn how to be critical thinkers and know what is ethically important to the rest of the world, and it all starts in public education.”

Ms. Stamper has been a teacher at Central Elementary for 13 years. She says that the Central community, although small, is very inclusive and welcoming. Everybody in the community wants to participate in sharing it. “It is a great environment for students where they learn academically but also grow as people. We foster global awareness and want students to think of themselves as global citizens,” says Ms. Stamper. 

At Central Elementary, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme greatly contributes to this sense of global awareness and frame of mind. “IB gives kids another lens on their learning. Learning happens from different perspectives and many viewpoints. IB encourages that and helps teachers give a more well-rounded experience for all students,” says Ms. Stamper. 

Her favorite part about teaching is watching students become independent learners. “All kids are curious. Watching them be able to take curiosities and turn them into understanding is amazing,” she says. Another part of teaching that Ms. Stamper enjoys is the mental creativity involved. Classrooms are fast-paced environments that require teachers to have strong improvisation skills so they can instill confidence in all their students. Oftentimes, students are hesitant at the beginning of the year. “They think the teacher has to answer all the questions, but then they become independent in their understanding of finding answers,” says Ms. Stamper. 

Ms. Stamper says that her mother, who taught Kindergarten and Preschool, inspired her to become a teacher herself. She spent time helping out in her mother’s classroom. “It seemed like a fun way to contribute to a positive future. I wanted to make a positive impact and teaching was the way to do that. I know I am helping students create ideas that will last a lifetime.”  

The Innovation Lab at Centennial Elementary School enhances student learning by helping them develop transferable skills, and providing support to a broad range of content areas. Students explore science in ways that utilize collaboration and critical thinking skills, all while incorporating language arts, social studies, and other areas of study. During a student’s weekly visit to the Innovation Lab, they may participate in a variety of learning experiences that help them become solution seekers, collaborators, and innovative thinkers. “I genuinely enjoy teaching in the Innovation Lab – not only does it enhance my teaching experience by providing new challenges each day and strengthening my ability to plan and deliver effective instruction, it allows me the opportunity to try new things and make mistakes,” shared Sarah Larson, Innovation Lab Teacher. 

During their time in the Innovation Lab, students can engage in challenging and interesting standards-based STEM learning experiences, with an additional emphasis in developing an innovator’s mindset. Students can learn how to examine and define real-world problems, develop questions and conduct research, and present their findings in an organized way.

“We are fortunate to have two 3D printers, a TeacherGeek Makerspace Cart with thousands of components, several different robots (Dash & Dot, Cubelets, Spheros, Mini Spheros, and Blue Bots), MergeCubes, and many reusable building materials,” shared Larson. Once a month, students have the opportunity to participate in a one-of-a-kind philanthropic event learning experience. 

“At Centennial Elementary, we want our students to know that they are capable of making a large impact on our community through developing empathy for others, sharing ideas, and accomplishing subsequent actions – Centennial Cares is one way to allow students to voice their concerns and ideas while becoming more proficient at collaborating and using the design thinking process,” shared Larson.

Literacy development is an essential process that begins during the first years of a child’s life and helps support their language development, reading, writing, and overall learning. For students at Spark! Discovery Preschool, a new opportunity to strengthen their literacy skills will come through Project Launch Preschool thanks to the Weld Trust Grant that was awarded to the Carbon Valley Community.

The $40,000 grant was awarded in December of 2021 and helps support the pilot of Project Launch for preschool students. “Project Launch Preschool was initially piloted in Longmont in 2021 with support from the Mile High United Way, and showed strong results,” shared Hilary Sontag, Director of Competitive Grants & Strategic Partnerships. The project was built on these lessons and expanded access to students in the Carbon Valley Community.

“Because of licensing and regulations which limits the number of students that can be in a classroom at the same time, students will be selected and invited to take part in the Project Launch Preschool this summer,” shared Paige Gordon, Principal, Spark! Discovery Preschool. This full-day literacy program will be implemented in June 2022, giving students the opportunity to participate in literacy-related activities. 

The focus of Project Launch Preschool is to “accelerate students’ reading skills and ensure that every child has the literacy skills they need to be successful in kindergarten, which is when the building blocks of reading are established,” shared Sontag.

This program will be offered at Legacy Elementary, and Centennial Elementary, introducing students to their new school. Through Project Launch Preschool, students will have a great head start on building the necessary literacy skills required to grow and develop throughout their academic careers.