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A Note from the Principal:

Dear Families,

Can you believe we’ve already reached the end of 2025!? It feels like just yesterday we were labeling notebooks and getting to know one another. As we head into winter break, I wanted to send a quick note to say thank you and celebrate everything your kids have accomplished.

So Much to Celebrate! I am so incredibly proud of the growth I’ve seen in the classroom. From seeing them tackle tough new lessons to watching new friendships form, it’s been a joy to watch their personalities and confidence shine. They’ve worked hard, asked great questions, and really stepped up to make our classrooms a fun place to be.

A Huge Thank You to You- I also know that none of this happens without you. Thank you for the homework help, the snacks, the emails, and for being such a great support system at home. It truly makes a world of difference when we’re all on the same team, and I feel so lucky to work with such a supportive group of families.

Enjoy the Break! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday break filled with lots of rest, relaxation, and fun. Your kids definitely earned it! I’m already looking forward to seeing their smiling faces back in classrooms on January 6th, ready for a whole new semester of adventures.

Wishing you a very happy and cozy holiday season!

Warmly,

Jenn Byxbe 

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Centennial Giving Tree

For those who donated for our 2025 Centennial Giving Tree event, a heartfelt thank you for blessing our Centennial families! The hearts of this Centennial Community are truly inspiring and we are overwhelmed with gratitude!

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Winter Break

12/22/25 – 1/5/26

No School (Front Office Closed)

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No Late Start in January

Just a reminder that there is not a Late Start day in January. Please make a note on your calendar. Thank you!

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ELD Parents and Guardians-

Each January, the ELD (English Language Development) students in the state of Colorado are assessed with the ACCESS test.  This English language test has 4 parts (speaking, listening, reading and writing). The ACCESS test helps us determine the English proficiency levels of our multilingual learners. This is a very important assessment for your student as it determines eligibility for ELD services and demonstrates their growth in the acquisition of the English language.  

The Kindergarten-Fifth grade ACCESS testing window is January 20 – 29. Please try to have your student at school those days so that they won’t have to make up tests on a different day.  Like all state tests, it is imperative that students get a good night’s sleep the night before the test and eat a healthy breakfast on the morning of the test.  

• 1st-5th Grades: Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking Tests – January 20, 21, 22, 23
• Kindergarten testing – one-on-on assessment from January 20th-29th 
• If you have any questions regarding the ACCESS testing that your student will be taking, please contact Dana Foster [email protected] 

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Skate City Spirit Night

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, January 13th, for a night of family skating fun. Join us from 6-8pm at Skate City in Westminster. Bring your family and friends! Click the button for more information.

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Is your child missing a coat, hoodie, gloves, water bottle, or something else of value? Most likely it’s in our school’s Lost and Found! Please encourage your child/children to search the Lost and Found for their lost items or feel free to stop by and search with them. We would love for these lost items to find their home!

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Student Safety First: Traffic Reminders

To ensure the safety of our students and keep traffic flowing smoothly, please keep these essential guidelines in mind during drop-off and pick-up:

• No Left Turns: Please do not turn left out of the parking lot unless the cones have been officially picked up by staff. This prevents gridlock and keeps our students safe.
• Cross at Crosswalks: Only cross the street at designated crosswalks. Modeling this behavior for our students is the best way to teach them road safety.
• Park Properly: Please park only in designated, marked parking spots. Avoid blocking fire lanes, driveways, or “no parking” zones.
• Be a Good Neighbor: Be courteous to our neighbors. Avoid blocking residential driveways or double-parking on side streets.
• Keep the Line Moving: In the drive-through line, please pull forward as far as possible to close gaps. This allows more parents to get off the main road and into the lot.

Pro-Tip: Having your student’s backpack and gear ready to go before you reach the front of the line helps everyone get to class on time!

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Cafeteria Update

Our cafeteria will now be selling a variety of snacks at lunch time for students to purchase. Students may put money in their lunch accounts or bring cash. Additional information can be found HERE. 

Please reach out to Jenn Byxbe or Vicki Uhlry with any questions at [email protected]. 

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Sunshine Dental Clinic

The Sunshine Club, in cooperation with the SVVSD, hosts annual dental clinics in all elementary schools (and K-8 schools) within the District.

Centennial Elementary’s screening day is Wednesday January 21, 2026

Watch for permission forms in Friday folders. Please return the form, filled in, if you’d like for your student to be screened. 

Thank you,

Karley Benyamna

Health Clerk

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Order Your Yearbook Today!

Order your Centennial Elementary yearbook today. Order deadline is April 3rd, 2026. Click here to order now or click below for ordering details.

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Centennial Fundraising Challenge

Fundraising Challenge Card! The goal is to collect each dollar amount and punch out all numbers 1–15. Once your card is complete and the money is collected, return it to your teacher to claim a prize from the PTO!

You can fill out as many cards as you’d like between September 5th and March 13th. Didn’t complete a whole card? No worries, you can still turn in your collected funds by the end date to receive a prize.

All proceeds go toward providing hands-on learning opportunities for every Centennial Husky.

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Want to help PTO? Scan this QR code to help out this year!  -Centennial PTO

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Counselor’s Corner:

Preventing Winter Melt:

A Parent’s Guide for Keeping Students Engaged During Winter Break

Winter break is a much-anticipated time for students to relax, spend time with family, and recharge. However, the return to school after the holidays can be a real challenge for some students as routines resume and the excitement of the season fades away.

What is Winter Melt? 

Winter melt refers to the academic slump seen after students return from the long winter break. Without regular learning, students may forget important school lessons, struggle with skills they had been confident in, fall behind on their assignments, or lose the momentum they gained in the first part of the school year. This can be especially noticeable in subjects like math and reading, where core skills require continuous practice. While it’s important for students to unwind during their break, it’s also important to maintain a level of engagement to prevent winter melt and ensure they return to school ready to tackle new challenges. 

Strategies to Keep Kids Engaged During the Break

Preventing winter melt doesn’t mean filling the break with schoolwork. There are fun and engaging ways to keep your child’s mind active! Here’s how parents can help students stay sharp while enjoying their downtime.

Create a Flexible Routine: While it’s tempting to relax the schedule completely, maintaining a simple routine—like regular meals and bedtimes—can help children transition back to school smoothly after the break.

Fun Winter Reading Challenges: Turn reading into a fun activity by setting a winter reading goal. Celebrate every book or chapter your child completes, and consider small rewards for progress. You can even gift books that spark new interests, inspiring them to explore different subjects and expand their imagination.

Keep Moving: Even in the cold weather, staying physically active is important for mental health. Research shows that physically active children tend to demonstrate better memory and focus. Encourage outdoor activities like winter sports or even family walks—these not only boost mood and well-being but also help improve memory and focus.

Incorporate Learning Into Holiday Fun: Turn everyday tasks into learning opportunities. Writing thank-you notes after receiving gifts reinforces spelling and helps with handwriting and gratitude. Baking together involves measurement practice and strengthening math skills while spending quality time. Ask for help with online shopping—this boosts research and tech skills without feeling like schoolwork.

Set Small, Achievable Learning Goals: Break learning down into manageable chunks. For example, aim to learn one new vocabulary word each day (What does “Yuletide” mean?), or solve one math problem every other day (If we have 3 kids in the family and each has 5 gifts, how many are there total?). These small goals keep students’ minds engaged while allowing plenty of time for fun and relaxation.

Best,

Michelle Lawrence 

Centennial Elementary School Counselor  

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Attendance

We have partnered with the Colorado Rapids to reward and incentivize attendance here at Centennial Elementary by giving students who have perfect attendance, from January 6^th – February 2nd, a complimentary ticket to a Colorado Rapids match in the spring.  

The Rapids boast one of the most family-friendly and fun game day experiences in town. Students who qualify will receive a ticket link voucher to redeem their complimentary ticket with purchase of additional discounted tickets. Vouchers will be redeemable for select Spring dates.There are flyers going home today in Friday folders.

Please reach out to Sarah Coniglio – Dean of Students with any questions!  

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PBIS – Positive Behavior Interventions & Support

Our January Focus will be Conflict Resolution. We will share tips on daily announcements for how to disagree with someone in a respectful way and how to solve problems together. Students earned their December reward for 20 Mins. of Fort Building time this week. Classes will pick a new goal for their Class PAWS for January and work toward earning a PJ/All School Read In. Let’s continue to work hard at demonstrating those T.R.A.C.K. (Trust, Respect, Attitude, Cooperation and Keeping Safe) expectations! 

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988 Colorado Mental Health Line

988 Colorado Mental Health Line. The service provides free, confidential support 24/7 from trained specialists through calls, texts, or live chats. Families can learn more by visiting 988Colorado.com.

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Silver Creek Dance Team 

Silver Creek Dance Team is hosting a MiniRaptors Clinic on Feb 17th at Silver Creek High School. They offer reduced prices for students who qualify for Free and Reduced lunches. Athletes will receive a t-shirt, bow and learn choreography to perform at a basketball game! 

Here is a link to register: Mini Raptors

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Registration for St. Vrain Valley Schools’ 2026-27 preschool programs begins on Dec. 9, 2025. Families can choose from high-quality, five-day programs, including half-day and select full-day options at schools across St. Vrain. The Colorado Universal Preschool (UPK) application is included in St. Vrain’s form, and families are encouraged to apply early for the best chance of placement at their preferred school.

2026-2027 Preschool Program Locations

2026-2027 Preschool Registration Information

Learn More About Preschool Programming

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St. Vrain Valley Schools offers flexible options that support both learning and care for children ages three to four. Our licensed early childcare programs are designed to provide a full day of care for our youngest learners who are not yet of preschool age. Full-day early childcare care offers families a safe, enriching, and developmentally supportive environment led by highly qualified and experienced staff.

Learn more about full-day childcare

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Important Dates to Remember:

12/20 thru 1/5 – Winter Break

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