Dear Park Hill Parents:

 Thank you for your patience, help, and support with the two days of Inside Morning and inclement weather last week. I fully recognize that it may have felt chaotic, and may have left you a bit unsure. I also recognize that this is new to some of you.  Please note, this is nothing new to Park Hill.  We’ve had several Inside Mornings in years past, but this one came a bit earlier in the season and therefore our planning was rushed.  I want to take this time to assure you that we have a game plan moving forward and that your student(s) will be safe and make it to class on time with a trusted adult.

On Inside Morning days, which occur when the weather is below freezing or there is rain or snow in the air, we ask all students to enter through the cafeteria doors up until 7:55 AM.  If we know in advance it will be an Inside Morning, we will send an email the night before. We will also put signs on our exterior doors.

Once inside the cafeteria, all second through fifth grade students will go to the auditorium to wait with our staff members.  They are welcome to get breakfast first if desired. From the auditorium, there will be a staggered dismissal to the classrooms, with fifth grade going first, then fourth, then third and second grades. This will help with the traffic in the hallways.

The kindergarteners and first graders will remain in the cafeteria. There will be assigned tables for both first grade and kindergarten. Again, we will have those areas properly staffed with Park Hill team members.

The first graders will dismiss early, around 7:50 AM, with either their teacher or a para professional. They will walk directly to class at this time. This will help keep the cafeteria and the hallways less congested.  Any first graders arriving into the cafeteria after 7:50 AM will be escorted to class through the hallways.

The kindergartners will remain in the cafeteria until the bell rings at 7:55 AM. They will then be escorted to class with either their teacher or their classroom para.

Anyone arriving after 7:55 AM, which is the time of the first bell, may enter through either the cafeteria or the main doors. Tardy slips will still be required after 8:00 AM as per normal school rules.

In all circumstances, we will ensure that students are safe and that they get to class with a Park Hill team member. I am asking that you trust us in doing so, as I believe this will work if we stick to the plan.  Please keep in mind that we have over 700 students in the building, so regardless of how we approach this, it will be crowded and it will be noisy.  We ask that you leave your student(s) to the are of our trusted team members in the cafeteria, as space and safety concerns make this a necessary hand-off point for the bad weather days. With less people in the space, the children will be calmer and the day can begin on a positive note. Thank you for your trust in this matter, and please remember that we always have the best interest of your student(s) at heart.

Thank you in advance, 

Ken Burdette, Principal
Continue reading Friday Folder Bulletin, October 17, 2019 →

ATTENDANCE & ABSENTEEISM

We have activated the attendance auto dialer.  If your student is marked absent at school, you will receive notification through the auto dialer.  Therefore, PLEASE notify the school office (it is not sufficient to just tell your child’s teacher), when you know your child will be absent from school, or more than 15 minutes late.  If you know your child is at school, but you receive an absence notification, please notify the office immediately. There are multiple ways to notify the office of an absence.  You may stop by the office, call the Main School Phone and attendance line – 720-424-4910, or download the Park Hill Elementary mobile app. and report your absence there.

*If your child is late, it is required that parents/guardians come into the office with your child to sign them in for the day.  If you do not accompany your child, they will be considered tardy (unexcused).

Please review the attendance & absenteeism guidelines as listed in the Parent Handbook:

In order for students to receive the full benefit of their Park Hill education, daily attendance is the first and most important step. The school calendar is published and distributed before the commencement of the school year and parents are asked to schedule any travel within the dates that classes are not in session. Please notify the school if your child will be absent or tardy by phoning the school attendance line at (720)424-4910 or using the school app. This should be done each day a child is absent.

Park Hill has an attendance and tardy policy in accordance with the Colorado School Attendance Law and Denver Public Schools’ “Denver Plan.” These guidelines allow for roughly 10 absences during the course of a school year. Every month the school social worker reviews student attendance and sends letters to parents for those students whose absences are excessive. The definition of “excessive” changes throughout the school year based on number of school days but parents can expect to receive the first letter after 5 absences or 5 tardies.

If absences are chronic, excessive, unexcused, or otherwise of concern a child and their family may be referred to truancy court. Excessive tardiness and early withdrawals are also subject to truancy law.

If it is necessary to pick up your child from school during the school day, please go to the office to sign out your child. Teachers are instructed not to release children from the classroom or playground without authorization from the office. This procedure is followed to protect your child and to hold classroom interruptions to a minimum. A child will not be released to anyone who is not listed as an emergency contact for the student or to anyone under 18 years of age, unless the school’s office has been notified in writing or by phone by the parent. Continue reading Friday Folder Bulletin, October 11, 2019 →

HIRING FOR A PARAPROFESSIONAL POSITION
Principal Burdette is looking to hire a full-time (7 hrs. per day, 5 days a week)) paraprofessional to work in our multi intensive program.  If you are interested in this position please email Ken Burdette directly at Ken_Burdette@dpsk12.org Continue reading Friday Folder Bulletin, October 4, 2019 →

STATEWIDE OCTOBER COUNT OF ALL STUDENTS ATTENDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS

October Count on October 2 this year is the official student membership count for all Colorado public school districts mandated by the Colorado Department of Education.  The school district receives an annual average of $7,400 in pupil operating revenue for each student counted accurately.

We appreciate the attendance of our students each and every day.  However, on October 2, we are asking families to bring their students to school on time and avoid scheduling doctor and dentist appointments on the day if possible.  We are able to count students if they are here only part of a day, but it is much easier if they are here all day.  Please do not bring your student to school if they are sick.  We will be able to count your student when they return after an illness.

Each student will be asked to either sign a special class roster on October 2 or complete a special assignment just for October Count.  Any classroom with perfect attendance will be given an extra recess (when the teacher decides) and each student will be given 5 roar tickets just for coming to school on October 2. Continue reading Friday Folder Bulletin, September 27, 2019 →

Direct Giving/Outdoor Movie Night – THIS FRIDAY September 20 starting at 5:30 pm
Direct Giving is one of our top three fundraisers throughout the year. There will be a half dozen food trucks, some bounce houses, and “Pets 2” will play on a huge screen in the grass. Bring lawn chairs and/or a picnic blanket. Enjoy the food truck offerings (rumor has it there will be sushi!) and/or bring a picnic supper from home. Continue reading FRIDAY FOLDER BULLETIN, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 →

PLAYGROUND CLEAN UP  AFETR DIRECT GIVING– Saturday, September 21 from 8:00 am – 11:00 am

We will pull some weeds, pick up some litter, and do a general clean up before it gets hot. If you’re interested in helping out please sign up here so we have an idea of how many ice cold drinks to provide.

DIRECT GIVING PARTY / OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT – NEXT FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

Park Hill Playground – 5:30pm festivities, music, food trucks, 7:45pm Movie featuring “The Secret Life of Pets 2.”

Direct Giving is one of Park Hill’s most important fundraisers of the year, and a super fun FREE community event. We are screening “The Secret Life of Pets 2” outdoors and there will be bouncy houses and food trucks aplenty! This is open to everyone in the neighborhood, so please invite your friends, family, and neighbors! Although the event is free and everyone is encouraged to attend, this is the one event of the year where we ask those who are able to, please make a direct donation by cash, check, or credit card.  Teachers will have class wish lists, and all donations received that night have an immediate impact as they go directly to your child’s classroom and to additional school resources THIS YEAR.  Donation links for those who cannot make it will be available next week.

We are in need of a volunteers to help monitor bouncy house chaos, collect money, and Saturday morning cleanup.  !! Sign up here !!

STATEWIDE OCTOBER COUNT of ALL STUDENTS ATTENDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS

October Count on October 2 this year is the official student membership count for all Colorado public school districts mandated by the Colorado Department of Education.  We appreciate the attendance of our students each and every day.  However, on October 2, we are asking families to bring their students to school on time and avoid scheduling doctor and dentist appointments on the day if possible.  We are able to count students if they are here only part of a day, but it is much easier if they are here all day.  Please do not bring your student to school if they are sick.  We will be able to count your student when they return after an illness.

INDIVIDUAL PICTURE DAY IS COMING!! – October 2 – 3

Stay tuned for more information regarding when and how to order your child’s photos.  Teachers will be communicating the day / time your child will have their photo taken.

GIFTED AND TALENTED UNIVERSAL SCREENING

This fall all DPS students in 6th grade, 2nd grade, and kindergarten will be tested during the universal screening. This fall at Park Hill we will be administering the Gifted and Talented Universal Screening Assessment to our kindergarteners and 2^nd graders.  Prior to testing, you will receive an intent to test letter with the specific dates.  

For students in grades 1, 3, 4 or 5 who are interested in Magnet Program testing, the application deadline is November 1, 2019. For more information about this and for the application, see the following link: https://studentequity.dpsk12.org/gifted-talented/

Please contact Mary Lauth if you have any questions. Mary_Lauth@dpsk12.org

UPCOMING DATES:

September 14:  8:00 am – 11:00 am – Playground Clean Up

September 16 – 20:  Enrichment Classes Begin

September 17:  Pizza Day in the Panther Cafe

September 18:  3^rd Grade Fieldtrip to Balarat (Shomaker / Main)

September 20:  No ECE Classes – Professional Day for ECE Staff

September 20:  Direct Giving Party – 5:30 pm and PTSA Movie Night

September 23 – 27:  School Spirit Week – details below

September 25:  3^rd Grade Fieldtrip to Balarat (Gates / Connelly)

October 2:  Statewide October Count Day – all students will be counted for state funding for schools

October 2 – 3:  Individual Picture Day

October 6:  Park Hill PTSA Auction Kick-off Meeting

October 7:  10:00 am – 1:00 pm – 3^rd Grade State Capital Tour

October 10:  4:00 pm – CSC Meeting

October 10:  5:30 pm – PTSA Meeting

October 11:  8:00 am – Coffee with Ken

October 16:  3:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Parent / Teacher Conferences

October 17:  3:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Parent / Teacher Conferences

October 18:  NO SCHOOL for students – Parent / Teacher Conference Day

October 21:  NO SCHOOL for students – Planning / Assessment Day

October 22:  NO SCHOOL for students – Planning / Assessment Day

October 23 – 24:  Fifth Grade to Balarat (Ash, Cowen, Ferguson)

October 28 – 29:  Fifth Grade to Balarat (Mills)

October 31:  9:15 am – 1:30 pm – 1^st Grade to Denver Center of Performing Arts

October 31:  9:00 am – 12:30 pm – 3^rd Grade to Denver Zoo 

October 31:  1:30 pm – School Halloween Parade with class parties to follow

 

PLEASE REFER TO THE COMMUNITY BOARD (ACROSS THE HALL FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICE), TO GET THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION REGARDING EVENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, CAMPS / ENRICHMENTS FOR STUDENTS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, FAMILY RESOURCES, ETC.

Park Hill School Office Staff

Office Hours – 7:30 am to 3:30 pm

Main School Phone and attendance line – 720-424-4910, or download the Park Hill Elementary mobile app. and report your absence 

Google Play

http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_phesco.layout

Apple App Store

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/park-hill-elementary-school/id1223634513?ls=1&mt