PTA

Apple Campaign Closes on December 1st - and we still need more donations!

We are $7,500 away from reaching our $80,000 goal for the Apple Campaign and there are two weeks left to donate. That’s right, we’re ending the Apple Campaign on Friday, December 1st. If your family has been intending to donate, now is the time. 

As a reminder, there are many ways to donate: 

1. Go to http://bit.ly/apple-upark to donate via CheddarUp 
2. Send a Venmo @uparkpta
3. Mail or drop off a check at the front office Attn: PTA Apple Campaign
4. Make a stock transfer (just email uparkpta@gmail.com to find out how)

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email uparkpta@gmail.com. 

December Spirit Fridays!

Join us for some fun Friday spirit days in December. Students can wear items that fit the themes below. Participation is not required, but is encouraged.

• December 1st: Hat day- wear your favorite hat to school
• December 8th: Sports day- wear your favorite sport’s team gear or your own sports jersey
• December 15th: Pajama day- wear your cozy clothes, but you must wear shoes, no slippers :)

Yearbook Cover Art Contest!

Calling ALL 3rd – 5th graders: Your artwork could be on the cover of the upcoming yearbook!

• Download and print out the submission form here or just use a blank piece of 8.5x11 paper. Use the full page for your illustration - we encourage colorful, eye-catching drawings. 
• For inspiration, think owls, core values, friendship, reading, math, science, or anything else that makes Upark such an awesome school.
• Include this text somewhere in your design: University Park Elementary 2023-24.
• Include your name and class on the back side of the artwork.
• Artwork Submission: Please return completed artwork to your teacher or the front desk by Monday Dec 4.

The winning artist will be notified the week of Dec 12 and will receive a free copy of the yearbook with their design on the cover, as well as their picture featured on the inside. Good luck and we can’t wait to see your ideas!

Social Emotional Tip of the Month

From our UPark Psychologist

If something frustrating happens, pause and talk your child through what you are doing. “I just paused because X was making me frustrated” “I am noticing that my heart is beating really fast” (put hand over your heart) “I am also noticing that I feel hot and my brain is going all over the place. I am going to sit down and go to my happy place instead of doing something like yelling or leaving the room.” This is called “scripting.” Our youngest learners have difficulty matching their feelings to their bodies which can lead them to having a difficult time labeling what they need or how they feel. Getting them to do a body scan (ie seeing how fast their heart is, how their temperature feels, the amount of thoughts they have running through their minds) can help slow them down so they do not have a large reaction.

Student Council Toiletry Drive

UPark Student Council is hosting a toiletry drive from Monday, November 13th- Friday, November 17th. Bring in items like toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, bar soap, deodorant, laundry detergent, and diapers.

Drop off items in the boxes near the office or the library. 

All items will go to The Action Center, a nonprofit organization that provides low/no cost household items and goods to those in need.

Thank you!

UPark is Hiring!

UPark is looking for a Long Term Substitute to take over for Ms. Randall's 3rd and 4th grade class when she goes on her maternity leave! The position will begin on January 2nd and run through the end of the school year. This would be a great way for anyone wanting to get into DPS to gain valuable experience working with an amazing group of educators and students. Let us know if you or someone you know is interested in the position! Applications can be submitted at the DPS careers webpage using posting number #64270.

UPark Art Update

Ms. Cassie from the main office will be filling in as art teacher until she goes on maternity leave! Cassie is a licensed sub with the district and is excited to use her art background to support students in the classroom. Cassie has experience teaching in ECE and Special Education and we are so happy that she is able to support our owls in this capacity!

For any attendance notifications or other office questions, please begin sending them to alexis_matter @dpsk12.org and kathleen_riddle@dpsk12.org.

UPark Spirit Store Now Open!



We are excited to offer the UPark community an opportunity to purchase branded gear! We have revamped the store with new items and designs. Click here to access the store.

The store is open for orders now through Sunday, November 26. A few things of note:

• In order to receive your items in time for the holidays, you must have orders in no later than November 26. We anticipate receiving orders the week of December 11.
• All sales are final and orders will be delivered to UPark. Pick-up logistic details will be provided in early December.
• A minimum number of each item is required in order for the company to fulfill that particular item. In the case a minimum is not met, the item will have to be canceled, and you will be notified.

We will begin taking orders again in the Spring and hope to have new items available for purchase. Please reach out to sales@wearepromosapien.com with any issues or questions related to the store website. Katie Hartung (malone.hartung@gmail.com, 303.829.5425) or Kelli Kelsall (kelli.e.kelsall@gmail.com, 303.775.7921) are available to answer other questions, take suggestions of items you’d like to see in the future or receive feedback on current items. Go Owls!

Kindergarten and 1st Grade Performances

All Kindergarten and 1st Grade Students and Families, please join us on Thursday, December 7th in the auditorium for our dance performances and The Share Bears musical! The performance schedule will be as follows:

5:00-5:30 p.m. Ms. Morof’s Class

5:45-6:15 p.m. Ms. Gilmore’s and Ms. Hale’s Classes

6:30-7:00 p.m. Mr. Davis’s and Ms. Gutierrez’s Classes

7:15-7:45 p.m. Ms. Laurent’s and Ms. Eno’s Classes

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your student's performance time and enter through the main doors on South Saint Paul Street. After dropping students off in their classrooms with their homeroom teachers, families may find a seat in the auditorium. Please reserve the chairs for adults and have children sit on the floor in front of the stage. Students will meet their families outside the rear auditorium doors immediately following the conclusion of the performance. Please proceed to view the visual arts show outside the gym. We ask that everyone exit through the doors to the staff parking lot on East Iliff Avenue to help us with the flow of traffic in the building. 

Each student has been assigned dialogue to be memorized at home. Copies of the scripts were sent home in students' Thursday folders on November 9th. 

Students may dress up for their performances (think Picture Day.) They will be given bear hats to wear on stage as well as kazoos that they can keep afterwards. We can't wait to see you all on December 7th and we appreciate your support of arts education at U-Park!

Prospective Family School Tours

Our amazing PTA has begun giving prospective families tours of UPark. If you have friends or neighbors that are looking for an outstanding school for their kiddos let them know about our school tours. See the dates below and visit the UPark Tour webpage for more details.

• Friday, December 8th at 9:30am
• Wednesday, December 13th at 2pm
• Tuesday, January 16th at 9:30am
• Wednesday, January 17th at 2pm
• Friday, January 19th at 9:30am
• Tuesday, January 23rd at 9:30am
• Wednesday, January 24th at 2pm
• Friday, January 26th at 9:30am
• OPEN HOUSE Saturday, January 27th 10am-noon
• Monday, February 12th at 9:30am

2023-24 African American Young Ladies Summit (AAYLS)

The 2023-24 African American Young Ladies Summit (AAYLS) Program invites African American ladies in third-grade through college to a full day of empowering and exciting activities on Thursday, Dec. 7 from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Colorado Community Church (14000 E Jewell Ave., Aurora, CO 80012). 

The agenda includes career exploration, overcoming racial barriers in society, Afro-beauty, community engagement and financial stability, health, leadership, worth of love and confidence. See the event flier here. If you have questions, please email Dr. Plashan McCune at higherlearningu@gmail.com.

UPark Owl Ticket Students

Congratulations to this week's Owl Ticket students! They were recognized by their teachers for above and beyond positive behavior.