2300 S. St. Paul St., Denver, CO 80210
720-424-3410
REMINDERS: UPark Enrichments will end Friday, May 26th. There will be no before an after school enrichment classes the last week of school, May 30th-June 2nd.

Discovery Link will continue through AM programming on June 2nd, the last day of school. All students will be picked up at 12:20 on this day. Bus riders will be able to take bus transportation home at the 12:20 dismissal.

There is no school on Monday, May 29th for Memorial Day.
Principal
Fun Run and Carnival This SUNDAY!
The Fun Run and Carnival is this Sunday from 10:00am- 1:30pm at UPark! Wristbands, lunch tickets and a limited number of t-shirts will be available for purchase at the registration table. 

Orders received prior to May 12th were sent home with students this week. Orders placed after May 12th (or without a student/teacher noted on the order) will be available for pick-up at the registration table. 

We can't run the Carnival without the support of volunteers. Please sign up for a volunteer shift here: UPark PTA: Fun Run and Carnival Volunteers (signupgenius.com)
UPark Art Night TONIGHT!
Join us for the all-students Arts Night TONIGHT, May18th from 5:00-7:00! Enjoy various art activities such as origami and marble art in the gym, and check out the 4th and 5th Grade art show! We hope to see as many of our UPark Owls as possible!


UPark Book Fair and Library Update-Shop Tonight During Art Night
The UPark Book Fair is Back! The UPark Book Fair runs through Friday, May 19. Students will shop during their regularly scheduled Library time throughout the week. Check with your child's teacher for the date. The fair will be open for parents to join their students Thursday (Art Night), May 18, from 3:20 p.m. to 6:30 pm. Note: Shopping will only be available during the above dates and times, when the library is staffed. Remember, University Park earns a portion of the proceeds from all purchases. Click here for all the details including E-Wallet information. 

This past week was the last week of library book checkout for the year. ALL library books must be returned this week. Please scour your home for UPark books and return them as soon as possible. 
Early Bird Online Registration for 2023-24
Current DPS families – save time by updating your student’s information online! By completing this process using your Parent Portal account, you can quickly update all of your student's information before we leave for Summer break. You will be able to register during one of the widows listed below:
  • The “Early Bird” window, May 8-19
  • Regular window, July 30 - August 30
To register online, primary legal guardians of current DPS students must have an active DPS Parent Portal account. Visit myportal.dpsk12.org to complete Early Bird Online Registration.

For more information on how to complete online registration, contact the front office or visit schoolchoice.dpsk12.org.

**New UPark families -- you will be able to complete the online registration during the regular window which will open in late July. Be on the lookout for information over the summer.**
Tomorrow is your last chance to save on your yearbook purchase!!
Save $2 when you pre-order your students’ 22-23 yearbooks before May 19th (regularly $17). This year’s yearbook features cover art by our talented 5th grader Audrey Downes!

Yearbooks will be distributed at the Fun Run & Carnival where students will also be able to gather friends’ signatures and well wishes at our Yearbook Signing Table!!!

Any yearbooks not picked up at the Carnival will be distributed to classrooms the following week. 


*if the cost of a yearbook presents a financial hardship for your family contact Alicia Vega at alicia_vega@dpsk12.org
Add Some UPark Plant Starts to Your Garden!
Family and friends, the UPark garden excess plant starts are ready to go home and find a loving garden for the summer!!! Stop by the UPark blacktop after 3:15pm this Friday 5/19 to get your favorites. We have 3 types of basil, oregano, jalapeño and shishito peppers, 3 types of tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, tomatillo, and broccoli. 
Summer Chromebook Check Out
Over the summer of 2023, UPark students have an opportunity to check out a Chromebook and a Chromebook charger for use over the summer. 

If you are interested in this option for your student, the parent/guardian must complete this Chromebook Check Out survey before Friday, May 19. Students who check out a Chromebook for the summer will bring the same Chromebook to their DPS school at the start of next school year.

If you do not want your student to check out a Chromebook and charger for the summer, please ensure they return the Chromebook and charger to UPark by the end of the school year, otherwise, a MySchoolBucks fee will be added to their account for replacement costs.

Students and families can find additional resources and information regarding Chromebooks and Internet access at mytech.dpsk12.org.

For Chromebook support over the summer, you can contact the Department of Technology Services (DoTS) Student and Family Tech Support line at 720-423-3163.
UPark Staff Updates
We have some exciting staffing updates to announce!  Mr. Davis, current 3rd grade teacher will be filling the Kindergarten teaching position that is open due to Judy Cardenas' retirement. Ms. Bohcali, current 1st grade teacher, will be teaching 3rd grade at UPark starting next school year and Ms. Allie Eno, current UPark student teacher, has been hired as our new 1st grade teacher. We are also excited to announce that we will be adding a second full time psychologist to our team. Ms. Jordan, who has been working part time at UPark, has been hired full time for next year, bringing us to two full time psychologists!

We are also very fortunate to be continuing to have Ms. Morof teaching and Ms. Brett supporting our K/1 combo class again next school year. Additionally, we are excited to announce that due to an increase in enrollment for next year we are able to preserve a teaching position that we had planned on reducing. That additional position now allows us to solve for our large 4th grade classes by adding in a 3/4 combo class next year to be taught by Ms. Randall and supported by Mr. Grass. With our current enrollment, having a 3/4 combo allows us to have 25 or fewer students in each classroom in these grade levels. For the past few years we've had 28-30 students in our fourth grade classes.  

If you have any questions about staffing changes, combo classes, and the model for next year please reach out to Mr. Atonna as he loves to talk to parents about UPark and all of the great things going on at our school.  

We can't wait for a great school year ahead!

Don't forget that there will be a retirement party for Ms. Cardenas on Thursday, May 25th starting at 3:30pm in the UPark gym. All are welcome! Click here to RSVP.
4th Grade Performances-POSTPONED!
Due to unforeseen obstacles, the 4th grade performances scheduled for tonight, May 18th will be postponed until next week. We will reach out with additional details soon. We encourage all families to still come tonight from 5-7 for our fun Art Night events and art show as well as to shop the UPark Book Fair in-person!
Spirit Fridays! 
Student Council will be hosting Spirit Fridays for the month of May! 

May 19th: Fun Run Friday- wear a Fun Run t-shirt, UPark spirit gear, or the color red 
May 26th: Future Friday- dress as what you want to be when you grow up

 Thank you!
UPark Student Council 
2023-24 DPS Calendar and UPark Bell Schedule-UPDATED Calendar!
UPDATED! Click here to view the 2023-24 UPark/DPS calendar. This updated link has the two UPark specific planning days, which will be no school days for students (November 27th and May 6th). As a reminder the UPark school day will be 8:50-3:50. Students will be able to arrive no earlier than 8:30 am for breakfast or playground supervision.
Health Office Medications
Medications can start to be picked up today till 3:30 pm on June 2nd. All medications left after 3:30 pm on June 2nd will be destroyed per DPS protocol. If your student has scheduled medications or has needed inhalers/allergy medications this school year we recommend picking up the last week of school. Any non-essential or unused medications can be picked up at your convenience.
Celebrating UPark Owls!
A team of students from UPark participated in the Eco Diary Competition through the Panasonic Eco Citizenship Program. Our students competed with elementary and middle schools across the state and won awards in two categories! Congrats to Ms. Turrettini and her students for this exciting accomplishment!

University Park Elementary School, Denver, CO
Student team of Margie Turrettini
Topic: Trash pollution

University Park Elementary School, Denver, CO
Student team of Margie Turrettini
Topic: Food Waste/Waste
2023-24 School Year Transportation
The Transportation Opt-in Program is now live on the Parent Portal. If your student is eligible and you would like them to use DPS Transportation in the 2023-24 school year, please opt-in now. Click here for instructions on how to opt-in. Families have until Friday, June 16 to let us know if your eligible student will be using our services next school year. If you don’t opt-in by June 16, your student could experience a delay in service.

Note: McKinney-Vento, Special Education, Foster Care and newcomer students will not need to opt-in because they will automatically be routed for 2023-24 transportation service.
DPS Medicaid Department Supports
Denver Public Schools' Medicaid Department helps families apply for free or low-cost health insurance, including Health First Colorado (Medicaid) and CHP+ and SNAP food assistance. We offer one-on-one appointments at any DPS school site. Additionally, they assist families with re-enrollment and utilizing their benefits. If you or anyone you know needs assistance, please contact the DPS Outreach and Enrollment Specialists by calling 720-423-3661 or emailing outreach@dpsk12.org.
UPark Owl Ticket Students
Congratulations to this week's Owl Ticket students! They were recognized by their teachers for above and beyond positive behavior.
Owl Tickets are given to students for going above and beyond in one of our five core values: caring, cooperation, responsibility, respect and joy. Owl Tickets focus on the school's trait of the month, give students a chance to participate in the weekly "Owl Tickets" photo and will be posted on the "UPARK" letters in our main hallway.
University Park Elementary Calendar

To access additional calendar information click here or visit the calendar link on the University Park Website.