2300 S. St. Paul St., Denver, CO 80210
720-424-3410
Principal
UPark is beginning the planning process for the upcoming 2022-23 school year. We would like to get a full picture of what our enrollment for next school year will be at each grade level. We want you all to come back next year, but we understand that you might choose other options. So please let us know if you are on the fence and we will take that into consideration when planning. It is very helpful for us to know if you are choosing other options so we can plan our staffing and keep class sizes as low as possible. We will always welcome you back with open wings should you want to return.

All families (except 5th grade families that will be moving on to Middle School), please fill out this Google form: https://forms.gle/WfbUdws1eQnoBAUo6 by end of day Friday, February 17th.

This information will help us better understand who is coming back in order to plan for staffing and manage choice enrollment. Please contact the main office at 720-424-3410 with questions.

Thank you so much!

Team UPark
Eric Atonna
UPark Principal, Team UPark
PTA
Join Us for the February PTA Meeting- Tuesday, February 14th at 6pm

Please join us for the February PTA meeting on Tuesday, February 14th at 6:00 pm. Join us in-person in the Art Room or remotely via zoom following the link below. 
Restaurant Night at Modern Market TODAY!
Modern Market Restaurant Night
Please join us for this month’s restaurant night at Modern Market in Cherry Hills (3475 S University Blvd). On Thursday, February 9th, from 11am-9pm, make a purchase from Modern Market and they’ll give 30% back to UPark. Orders can be made over the phone (dial 720-650-0884 and mention the UPark fundraiser before placing your order), in-person (again, mention you are with the UPark fundraiser before placing your order), or online at modernmarket.com (enter our promo code: giveback005). Great food for a great cause—we hope you'll join us in supporting our community!
Black History Living Museum
The second annual Black History Living Museum will be taking place this Friday, February 10th! Ask your child about what they are learning in class and what they are seeing in the halls around UPark.

Thank you to our amazing PTA and Kate Winn for creating such a beautiful display case to celebrate Black History Month!
BESS Social/Emotional Screener: Families of K-2nd Grade Students Please Fill Out Parent Form Below!
Dear parents/guardians,

As part of our effort to support the Whole Child, our school is implementing the BESS social/emotional screener, which is a universal social and emotional screening for students. This screener will be completed 3 times throughout the school year, with our second screening occurring between 2/2/23-2/10/22.

Universal social and emotional screenings can provide a fair and impartial way of looking at how students are progressing in their social and emotional development. Screenings can also help identify areas where school personnel can improve or adjust our supports. Please understand that screening is NOT an assessment or an evaluation. 

For students in grades K-2, we will utilize a parent form. The parent form will be accessible from today through Friday, February 10th. Please click here to access the online form.

The survey is 29 questions and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. You will need your child’s six-digit student ID and birth date to log in. Only one survey can be completed for each student. If you have multiple children in grades Kindergarten through 2nd grade, please complete one survey for each child. Information from this survey will be used to help our staff identify the supports our students need during this time. 

For students in grades 3-5, we will utilize a self form. Students will be administered the self-form in their classrooms. Some sample questions include: "My school feels good to me", "I feel safe at school", and "I am good at making decisions." Teachers will select a day to administer the screener between February 6th and February 10th. If your child is new to UPark and you do not want them to participate, you can access the opt-out form here. If you would like to opt out your child, please return the completed form to your child's teacher or Alicia Vega no later than Friday, February 3rd at 3:30pm. Please note if you have already completed the opt out form for this school year, you do not need to return another form.

If you have any questions regarding the social/emotional screener, please reach out to Alicia Vega (alicia_vega@dpsk12.org or 720-424-3458). We appreciate your assistance as we work together to educate and support your student(s)!

Sincerely,
Alicia Vega, PsyD NCSP
720-424-3458
Caring Week Activities 2/13-2/17
From 5th Grade Student Council:

Caring Week and Canned Food Drive 2023 February 13th- February 17th

During Caring Week, students will participate in the following activities
  • Monday: Caring Bingo
  • Tuesday: Caring quilt square
  • Wednesday: CARING letters at recess 
  • Thursday: Caring classroom swap
  • Friday: Decorate Meals on Wheels bags

Student Council will also be hosting a canned food drive that will benefit the Food Bank of the Rockies. Collection boxes will be located near the office. Donated items could include:

- Apple sauce, canned vegetables, canned beans, cooking oils, canned meat, crackers, spices, dried pasta, granola bars, peanut butter, rice, soups, whole grain cereals

Thank you so much for helping make UPark a caring place! 
Vote for UPark in the Colorado Sun "Best of" Contest by Feb. 28
The Colorado Sun is launching its first Best of the Colorado Sun contest, and wants you to vote for your student’s school! The Colorado Sun is seeking to find out Coloradans’ favorite businesses and people. Businesses from across the state will be competing for the top spot. 

Rules for the contest are as follows:
  • Participants can vote once per region.
  • Participants can vote for multiple regions.
  • Participants must fill out 10 categories to be submitted.
  • If a name/company does not populate in the menu, please type the name in and choose the category at the bottom of the survey. Participants can type in their favorite businesses in more than 100 categories.

Winners will be announced in the late spring and will be recognized by the Colorado Sun. 

Email sunevents@coloradosun.com for more information. 
Call for Yearbook Photos!
The yearbook committee needs your photos! Please submit pictures from school events, playground shots, or any great pictures you may have of our owls about town to yearbookupark@gmail.com. 
SchoolChoice Window Closes February 14th!
Is your child transitioning to kindergarten, sixth or ninth grade? The SchoolChoice window is open from January 13 - February 14.

If you know of a family that is interested in attending our great neighborhood school let them know that we are accepting new students for next school year starting January 13th! All interested new families are encouraged to join one of our upcoming school tours here to learn more about our great school and community!

For all students that will be new to UPark for the 2023-2024 school year, please complete the online Choice Process. This includes siblings of current UPark students that will be new to the school next year. If your student currently attends UPark you DO NOT need to complete the choice process for next school year.

Visit schoolchoice.dpsk12.org once the Choice window opens to fill out your application.
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.
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.


Create Playdate at Denver Art Museum 2/5 from 10-12
Looking Ahead

February 9: 4th & 5th Field Trip
February 10: Black History Living Museum
February 13: School Tour
February 14: 2nd Grade Field Trip
February 14: CSC Meeting
February 14: PTA Meeting
February 20: NO SCHOOL-President's Day
February 21: NO SCHOOL-DPS Planning
February 23: 3rd Grade Field Trip

March 9: Class Pictures
March 14: CSC Meeting
March 14: PTA Meeting
March 16: 2nd & 3rd Performances and Art Show
March 27-31: NO SCHOOL-Spring Break

April 3: NO SCHOOL-DPS Planning