2300 S. St. Paul St., Denver, CO 80210
720-424-3410
|
|
As we head into the final few weeks of the school year I want to share with you our End of Year iReady scores. As you should know our students engage in taking the iReady reading and math diagnostic assessment three times a year. This assessment is used as our READ Act assessment as well as our overall interim assessment to gauge student learning and to plan for future learning. I am so happy to share that all of our students have made tremendous growth this school year!
One of our Major Improvement Strategies is accelerating learning to address the gaps caused by two school years disrupted by COVID. In September our first iReady assessment showed 48 percent of our students in grades 1-5 reading at grade level. Our third assessment, which was administered last week, shows that we now have 77% of our students reading at grade level! That's a jump of 29 percentage points!!! Equally as exciting we saw a huge drop in our students reading significantly below grade level from 11% to start the school year to only 4% this month. If you click on the presentation linked here you will also see that we've made great gains as we work to eliminate the achievement gaps we've seen with historically underserved groups of students. Equity is also a major improvement strategy for us this year.
It's very appropriate that we were able to celebrate this data during a staff meeting on Monday as the culminating event following Teacher Appreciation Week. Our teachers have done such an amazing job of reinventing how they teach students in support of accelerating learning for all students. Our brilliant students are soaking it all up and learning so much each and every day and our families have supported us every step of the way as we pushed through disruption after disruption into a more normal school year this year. This is truly a collective effort to get us back to where we need to be as a school. The sky is the limit for our Wise Owls!
|
|
Thank you,
Eric Atonna
UPark Principal, Team UPark
|
|
UPark Online Auction ENDS TONIGHT! |
ONLINE AUCTION Get your final bids ready and keep an eye on your favorite items as the online auction will be closing tonight. Each category has a unique closing time that can be found by looking at the info for any listing. Don’t let someone sneak in last minute and outbid you! Be ready!
And remember to check out our amazing teacher experiences. This is a unique opportunity to interact with your favorite teachers after school in a small group setting while doing some pretty cool stuff. Definitely a memory-making experience for the students! https://uparkpta.cbo.io
PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT - Friday, May 13th at 6pm, The Pioneer Bar
Remember to join us for Parents’ Night Out at The Pioneer Bar on Friday, May 13th at 6pm. Dress in casual attire and represent your home state, home country, or favorite university. The $40 ticket include a fajita dinner and drink of your choice. If you’ve already purchased tickets, just show up and we will have your name on the list! If you decide to join us last minute you can purchase tickets at the door.
This evening will support UPark with 3 highly desirable LIVE AUCTION ITEMS! You definitely want to be at this gathering for a chance to be the winning bidder on:
+ A 2-night stay at the C Lazy U luxury dude ranch
+ A 2-night family getaway at Camp Cheley
+ A 3-night stay at a Modern Keystone Condo
It’s shaping up to be a fun evening and we look forward to seeing you there! Questions? Email the PTA at uparkpta@gmail.com
|
|
UPark Fun Run and Carnival - Important Info! |
1. T-shirts, Lunch Tickets and Wristbands - Teachers sent home Fun Run and Carnival items (t-shirts, lunch tickets, carnival wristbands) on Wednesday this week. Please keep the envelope containing lunch tickets and wristbands in a safe place and be sure to remember it on the day of the event - we cannot replace lost carnival wristbands under any circumstances. If your student was absent and did not receive their items, your items will be waiting for you at the registration table on the day of the event.
2. Volunteer NOW - There are still a few critical volunteer vacancies. Sign up to volunteer here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A044FA4A92FA2F49-funrun (make sure to click over to page 2 if you are viewing on mobile). On Sunday, volunteers should check in at the registration table by the school parking lot 10 minutes prior to their volunteer time slot.
3. Day of the Event - Student athletes should gather near the paved entrance to the school track with older kids gathering near the front of the chute and younger students filing in behind. Ms. Hartin will lead the group in warm ups at 10am. Parents are encouraged to line the track and cheer for our runners. Runners are able to self-select their number of laps, 5 laps is approximately a mile. When runners are finished the lunch station and carnival games will open and everyone is welcome to stay until 1:30pm and enjoy the festivities. Please help to keep our school grounds nice, there will be compost, recycling and trash bins available. Day-of race registrations, lunch tickets, and carnival wristbands will be available for purchase at the registration table by the school parking lot. Cash is preferred for ease but we have the ability to accept credit cards.
|
|
Order your yearbook now or buy one at the Fun Run and Carnival! |
The UPark 2021-22 Yearbook can be ordered online HERE or purchased at the Fun Run and Carnival on Sunday. This year’s book is $15 and features cover art by our very own 5th grader, Elsie Chen. Families may pick up their yearbook at the Fun Run and Carnival or it will be sent home with your student in the coming weeks.
*if the cost of a yearbook presents a financial hardship for your family contact Alicia Vega at alicia_vega@dpsk12.org
|
|
Multilingual Family Open House TODAY! |
OPEN HOUSE!
Come visit our Multilingual Classroom!
Chat with Mrs. Ritz
When: Thursday, May 12th
Time: 3:30 - 4:00
|
|
Restaurant Night-Birdcall |
We’re heading back to Birdcall on May 24th! All day long, at all three locations, Birdcall will be donating 35% back from all orders placed with our promo code: upark3. The code can be used for orders made online for curbside pick-up, as well as at the in-store kiosks. Just be sure you enter it into the promo code section before completing the order. If you’d rather use the drive-thru, mention the code to your server when placing your order! The more great food you order, the more we will raise, so be sure to spread the word, and order up!
|
|
Congratulations to Idaly, one of our amazing cafeteria staff who was awarded the School Lunch Hero award by the department of Food and Nutrition last Friday! UPark staff nominated Idaly for her hard work keeping our owls healthy and happy during their time at lunch. Thank you also, to our Cafeteria Manager Sabrina, for running such an amazing team!! |
|
We are so appreciative of the amazing work our teachers and whole building staff do each day to keep students on the path toward great futures! Thank you to the whole UPark community for making Teacher Appreciation week so special last week. We felt celebrated and couldn't do this work without you! 5th Grader Taya Jeffres said it best in the DPS Community Email last week:
“A teacher is a helpful person who teaches you so you are ready for life.”
-- Taya Jeffres, 5th grader at University Park Elementary; teacher Rhonda Rau
|
|
First UPark ECE-3 Class Graduates High School! |
Congratulations to the first UPark ECE-3 (2008) Class of Graduating High School Seniors. Their outstanding teacher, Ms. Judy Pottle, celebrated this milestone at her home, just as she did in 2014 for their 5th Grade Continuation. In her exemplary educator style, Judy has maintained contact with these students, attending their performances and celebrating personal achievements for 14 years and she made a map for futures and college choices. Keeping with the UPark environmentally green traditions, her send off included a sustainable laundry kit with solid detergent and wool dryer balls. UPark is so fortunate to have such an extraordinary community member dedicated to such excellence.
Pictured are students reunited with Judy Pottle, their Paraprofessional, Ms. Catherine (Lamana) Banks and their UPark Kindergarten Teachers, Ms. Reynolds and Ms. Cardenas.
|
|
The UPark Bands are proud to present their Band Concert on May 25th at 5pm in the UPark Auditorium! We've been working hard since reinstating band in October and we are very excited to show what we've accomplished in just a short few months. The 4th Grade Band is presenting the funky G Force 5, while the 5th Grade Band is performing the folk tune Guantanamera, and both groups will feature small ensembles and solos. All are welcome to come in support of these extraordinary young musicians! There will be a small reception to follow. For questions, contact jasonolneymusic@gmail.com.
|
|
UPark Arts Night and 4th Grade Music/ Dance Performances! |
Save the date for the all-students Arts Night and 4th Grade performances on May 26th from 5:00-7:00! Enjoy various art activities such as painting and scratch art in the gym and check out the 4th and 5th Grade ceramic art!
4th Grade Families, during the U-Park Arts Night please come see what we've learned in our Recorder Karate curriculum thus far and stay for a special dance performance! Students and families are welcome to arrive ten minutes prior to their performance time.
Ms. Morton's Class 5:30 - 6:00 in the Auditorium
Ms. Bryers' Class 6:00 - 6:30 in the Auditorium
Please contact art teacher Malia Moret at malia_moret@dpsk12.net if you would like to volunteer for the event!
|
|
Updated 2022-23 UPark/DPS Calendar |
University Park has updated the calendar for the 2022-23 school year to include 2 UPark Specific Planning Days: November 28th and May 8th. You can find these days indicated by the UPark owl logo on the updated calendar listed here. There will be no school on these days.
|
|
Early Bird Registration for the 2022-2023 School Year |
Early Bird Registration is open May 2nd-May 20th. If you would like to participate in the early bird registration, to update your student's information for next school year, please log in to your parent portal account beginning May 2nd. Click here for instructions and information on completing online registration.
If you do not yet have a Parent Portal Account click here to create one using your student's date of birth and DPS ID number. If your student is new to DPS or you do not know your student's ID number click here to look it up or call us in the main office at 720-424-3410.
|
|
2022-23 Discovery Link and Summer Enrichment Courses |
2022-23 Discovery Link Registration is Open!
It's about that time to start getting ready for the next school year at Discovery Link. Registration for the 2022 - 2023 school year starts on Monday, April 18th at 6am. Please make sure you're ready so you don't end up on the waitlist!
Register for Summer Enrichment Classes Now!
|
|
Views From UPark!
We've got a garden growing this Spring at UPark! Students in many grades have been learning all about plants and the process of growing delicious veggies from seed to cafeteria. Thank you to our garden volunteers and teachers for helping our owls get involved in such a fun and foundational learning experience.
|
|
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
|
|
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.
Discounted tickets to DCPA Quixote Nuevo Performance (English / Spanish)
|
|
Looking Ahead
May 12: Online Auction Closes
May 15: UPark Fun Run and Carnival
May 20: Early Bird Registration Closes
May 25: Band Concert
May 26: Art Night
May 30: NO SCHOOL-Memorial Day
May 31: 5th Grade Field Trip
June 1: Kindergarten Camp Day
June 1: 4th Grade Picnic
June 2: 2nd Grade Popsicles in the Park
June 2: 5th Grade Picnic
June 2: 5th Grade Continuation
June 3: Kindergarten Bridging
June 3: Last Day of School - Half Day
|
|
University Park | 720-424-3410 | 2300 S. St. Paul | Website
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
