Table of Contents  
 principal
Principal

Hello UPark Families,

We are having our Back to School Night earlier than we usually do to help answer any additional questions that are coming up. Please join us this Monday, August 17th from 4:00-5:30pm for the Back to School Night Q and A session on Zoom. Fill out this Google form to let us know what questions you have. You can also read the answers to previously asked questions here. 

You will use the Zoom link below to join us on Monday!
  • Topic: Back to School Q and A
  • Time: Aug 17, 2020 04:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
  • Meeting ID: 816 3430 0658
  • Passcode: GG5SfX
We are also really looking forward to seeing you all at our supply and device pick-up the week of August 17th. We want to see each family at our supply distribution to make sure that we can get all students the classroom materials that they will need at home for remote learning. Please note that Denver Public Schools will be guaranteeing every student a Chromebook this year, but at this time they are still limited. If you do not need a device right now because you have one at home we will be able to provide them to more students throughout the district that need them. Please reach out to us if you have questions about whether the device you have at home will work for remote learning. See the box further down in this email for the specific distribution schedule.

Class rosters, grade level welcome letters, and the general supply list were emailed out on Tuesday this week. Click here to read it again!


Thank you,
  
Principal
Team UPark
 
AFU
Complete Your Annual Family Update Now!
Closes August 21st!

Please complete your Annual Family Update as soon as possible to ensure that we have your registration details! Go to http://schoolchoice.dpsk12.org/ to get started. 

ALL FAMILIES must update student information before school starts each year through Annual Family Update. This year you will also choose whether your student is in a virtual program or in-person learning as conditions allow after October 16th. As stated in Superintendent Cordova's communication yesterday families will be able to change their enrollment decision into early fall. 

At this time if you would like your student to return to in-person learning as soon as it's available, please select the in-person learning option. If you're certain that you won't feel comfortable having your student participate in in-person learning for the fall semester (December 2020), please select the 100% virtual learning option. Please note that we are still confirming details of this process change and will share more information soon. Families who enroll in the Virtual Program will keep their enrollment slot at UPark.

Also note that due to COVID-19 there will be no in-person registration. All families (for new and returning students) must complete Annual Family Update online this year. Please reach out to Alexis Matter and Sharon Rusin if you need support with this process.

To complete Annual Family Update, you must have an active DPS Parent Portal account. 
Create or log into your Parent Portal Account here. If you do not know your student ID # you can find it here.

For FAQs and step by step instructions click here.
earlybird
Did you Complete Early Bird Annual Family Update in May? Addendum Required!
Due No Later Than August 21st

If you verified your family's information during the "Early Bird" Annual Family Update window this past May we want to collect your preference on the Learning Options (in-person/hybrid as conditions allow or 100% virtual) that will be offered to students this upcoming school year. An updated addendum form has been linked below with current language around the ability to change your choice. If you already filled the previous addendum out you do not need to re-send this updated one.

Download the UPDATED form HERE, fill it out and email it to Sharon Rusin at sharon_rusin@dpsk12.org.

**NEW! You can now complete your learning selection digitally in Parent Portal! Log into your portal account and you should find a digital "Learning Option Change Form" on your homepage. If you make your selection digitally you will not need to submit the PDF addendum linked above.
distribution
UPark Device and Material Distribution
Week of August 17th! All students will need to pick-up school materials!

UPark will be distributing computer devices as well as classroom materials the week of August 17th. Please see the schedule below to see when your grade level materials will be distributed. Our plans are in the works to make this a special pick-up day for our new incoming Kindergarteners. We can't wait to meet our little owlets! If the grade level times below do not work for you please reach out to Alexis or Sharon and we can arrange for you to come at one of the other distribution times. 


August 18
August 19
August 20

Drive Through Supply Distribution

3rd Grade: 11:00-1:00 
5th Grade: 1:30-3:30



Drive Through Supply Distribution

1st Grade: 8:30-10:30
2nd Grade: 11:00-1:00
4th Grade 1:30-3:30

Drive Through Supply Distribution

Cardenas:10:00-11:30
Havenar: 11:30-1:00
Jones: 1:00-2:30
Morof: 2:30-4:00 
library
UPark Library Book Return

Because of the abrupt shift to remote learning in the spring, the University Park Library currently has over 200 books that were checked out last school year and have not yet been returned. Families, please help your students look for any books that might belong to University Park Elementary, and return them the week of August 17 during our Supply Distribution. Thank you for helping us continue to keep University Park Library resources available for all of our students!
supplydrive
PTA School Supply Drive

In an effort to ensure that all UPark students have the supplies they need to be successful while learning online this fall, the PTA will be collecting school supplies to put together complete kits for families that need assistance.

The PTA will be purchasing a large number of headphones, but we'd love for the UPark school community to help in collecting the additional supplies needed to compile these kits. All donations can be dropped off in the donation box on Audrey DeHarty's front porch at 1970 S Clayton St (or shipped directly to her house if ordered online). We'd like to collect as many supplies as possible by next Wednesday, August 19th, but we'll continue to accept donations for the next couple of weeks.

We've noticed that many of the items on the supply list are currently only available in bulk quantities on Amazon, so if you're already ordering for your student, please consider donating the extras to our supply drive. 

Of course, you are welcome to purchase the supplies from any store that you like, but for your convenience, in the list below, we've included Amazon Smile links to products that appear to be a good value and that are currently in stock. 
Also remember to select "University Park Elementary PTA" as your charity in Amazon Smile, and the PTA will receive a small donation back from Amazon.

SUPPLY LIST WITH LINKS FOR CONVENIENCE
*PTA is purchasing headphones for families in need
supply bag (large enough to hold ruler and other supplies)
seesaw
Seesaw: Remote Learning System for All Grade Levels

Please familiarize yourself with the Seesaw Learning System to ensure that your student is prepared for learning on August 24th! On August 20, all families will receive an email invitation to create your Seesaw account. This account will then connect to your student and allow you to access to their learning. Parents with an existing account can use previously created login information. 
lunch
DPS School Lunch Program

To apply for or opt out of the Free and Reduced lunch program please click here. 

Click here to visit the Food and Nutrition Services web page.
dates
2020-21 Important Dates Updated!

July 27-August 21:  Annual Family Update (All families must complete online. There will be no in-person registration this year)
July 30: UPark Q and A session hosted by Mr. Atonna and Ms. Jacobsen. (click here for the recording)
Tuesday, August 11: Class rosters were sent out. Click here for the email.
Monday, August 17: Back to School Q and A
August 17-21: UPark Teachers will be connecting with families. More info to come.
August 18-20: School Supply Distribution
Monday, August 24: First Day of School 
Friday, September 4: Regular Instructional Day (We will no longer be having a no school planning day on this date)
Monday, September 7: No School-Labor Day

Helpful Links:
 
Please email Alexis Matter or Sharon Rusin with questions.
calendar
University Park Elementary Calendar

Click on the calendar icon to the right, look below, or visit the University Park Website to access calendar information!
Thursday Extras
This is where you will find a list of flyers that DPS or approved organizations have asked we pass out to our community.  Simply click on the flyer name to view in its entirety.  Please ask our office staff if you need a paper copy.


Quick Links



Looking Ahead:

July 27: Online Annual Family Update Opens
July 30: Q and A Session (Zoom)

August 17: Back to School Q and A
August 17-21: UPark Teachers to Connect With Families
August 18-20: Supply Distribution
August 24: 1st Day of School (Remote Learning)

September 7: NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)
September 28: NO SCHOOL (DPS Planning Day)



Click here for past newsletters.