2300 S. St. Paul St., Denver, CO 80210
720-424-3410
Principal
UPark Garden Volunteers Needed!
Hello UPark community! The UPark Garden is starting to wake for the season! This year, we plan to continue growing diverse and interesting foods (bok choy and chives were a hit last year) and more beautiful plants that are shared with the students via our school garden engagement programs and with the broader community via farmers markets.

We are looking for volunteers to help us get the garden ready for action. This activity will require clean up of any leftover old plants, moving of, storage chests, setting up trellises, addition of dirt and compost, and finally turning the beds. We will host a few soil prep days in the garden – Sat-Sun, March 18-19, Sunday, April 2, Wednesday, April 5, and Sunday, April 15 (just in case weather doesn’t cooperate earlier). Please click HERE to register for a 60 min slot.

Last week, 5 UPark classrooms signed up to spend more time in the garden through our two programs – Adopt-a-Bed and Plant Starter Seed. All three 1st grade classes and one 2nd grade class (Mrs Archambault) will be planting starter seeds and will care for them through the end of the school year. One 3rd grade class (Mr Davis) has volunteered to adopt a bed where they will plant and harvest a spring garden.

Please Email Ralitza.Arafin@gmail.com to ask questions. We are looking forward to having a great garden season!
Eric Atonna
UPark Principal, Team UPark
Trimester 2 Grades Available
Report cards are now available in Parent Portal. To access report cards, follow the steps below.
  • Log in to the Parent Portal at https://myportal.dpsk12.org/
  • Grades will appear on the home screen after log in
  • The drop down next to "Student Performance" needs to be changed from T3 to T2 to view this past trimester's grades 
  • To view more details click on the "Report Card Key" and the "Full Report Card" link and change from T3 to T2
  • To view teacher comments view this video for instructions (video link can also be found in the Portal in the full report card section)
Pre-Register for the upcoming Online Auction (and other ways to support!)
We are thrilled to announce the return of UPARK’s annual online auction, taking place from April 20-27. This is the perfect opportunity to support both local businesses and our neighborhood school while snagging some amazing items and experiences. Here are three things you can do now:
 
1. Pre-register for the auction now: We recommend you pre-register now to receive timely communications and participate instantly when the auction goes live.
 
2. Consider donating a gift card, item, or service: We are looking for more items to add to our online auction, such as vacation homes, gift certificates, special passes or experiences, or services (e.g. graphic design, landscape design, etc). If you have something to donate, please email uparkpta@gmail.com.
 
3. Host a sign-up party: Sign-up parties (formerly called Parent Experiences) are a wonderful way to connect with the UPark community and support the spring auction efforts. We need parents (or small groups of parents) to volunteer to host a party or event. Examples of past sign-up parties include: a progressive dinner, pool party, whiskey tasting, and ice skating party. These events can be for adults, kids or families. Whether you have a specific idea in mind, or are wanting to host but needing inspiration, we can help with next steps! 
Tickets now available for Parents Night Out April 28
This year’s Parent’s Night Out gathering will be hosted at The Pioneer Bar and Grill on Friday, April 28 at 6pm. This event will mark the culmination of our online auction and is a great way to get to know other parents while supporting our wonderful school.Tickets are $40 per person and include an all-you-can-eat fajita bar, a drink of your choice, and more fun than you can handle. Come as you are and join your friends for a night of unforgettable fun in support of UPARK Elementary!

Tickets now available for purchase (click here).

Need a Babysitter for Parents Night Out? 
If you need help finding a babysitter for Parents Night Out, check out Piocare. For a flat service fee of $5, you can get access to sitters who are vetted through Piocare, most of whom are DU students or alumni. Email Maddy Gawler at maddy.gawler@gmail.com with "U Park Parents Night Out request". In the email please send her number of & ages of kids, location, pay/hr, if a car is needed, date/time, any other specific requests (e.g., allergy concerns, training requirements, etc.) 
Green Team Water Bottle Collection Drive!
Green Team is hosting a water bottle collection drive to ensure every student at UPark has access to a reusable water bottle at school! Please bring any clean, and gently used, water bottles you would like to donate to school the first week of April. If you have any questions reach out to Green Team at uparkgreenteam@gmail.com.
Fun Run and Carnival
We are actively planning for the Fun Run and Carnival on Sunday, May 21 and looking for volunteers to round out the committee. If you are interested in helping with planning this favorite UPark tradition, please email uparkpta@gmail.com.
2nd Grade Service Learning Project
As part of a community study and service learning project, second graders are planning to work with the Child Rescue Foundation and the Teddy Bear Project.
  
You can be a part of this 2nd grade project by: 
  • Collecting new or "slightly loved" stuffed animals of all kinds, not just teddy bears. 
  • Bring the animals to a second grade classroom (Rm #113, 114 or 119) or the office, anytime until April 7th.
  • With adult supervision, students can ask neighbors, friends and family to donate stuffed animals for the project.

These stuffed animals will be given to children in the Denver Community. Some organizations benefiting are Children's Hospital, Denver Rescue Mission, Tennyson Children's Home, Denver County Court Day Care and more. Our classes will hold a counting event where we will find out how many animals have been collected (i.e. how many children we've helped) through our service learning project.
 
Click here to learn more about the Child Rescue Foundation.
Health Information - Head Lice
Head lice are a common condition in school-age children—nearly 6 to 12 million get them every year. Personal hygiene and cleanliness of home, clothes, or hair, or where you live or play, have nothing to do with getting head lice. We wanted to pass along some information on head lice as there have been reported cases here at UPark.

As always, please refer to this How Sick is too Sick document if you have questions about whether your student is well enough to be at school.
Summer Connections Registration Now Open!
Registration is now open for Summer Connections, a fun five weeks where students will be exposed to content from their upcoming grade. All rising first through fifth-grade (current K-4th grade) DPS students are encouraged to apply! 
  • No cost to families.
  • Full-day programming from June 12-July 14. No school on June 19 and July 4.
  • Literacy, math, science, and hands-on learning.
  • Registration is now open! Visit Parent Portal to sign up. 
  • Summer connections spots are first come first served and registration will close when programs are full.

We encourage families to commit to the full five-week program. For more information on Summer Connections click here. For information on programs for students entering Middle School next year or for other summer programs click here.

If you have any questions, please contact EAL@dpsk12.net.
Spring Enrichment Begins the Week of April 4th
The Spring session of enrichment will begin the week students get back from Spring break, April 4-7.

If a class still has space available the Enrichment Department has decided to open up late registration for those classes. If you are interested in joining a registration class please email enrichment_extendedlearning@dpsk12.org. View the Spring Enrichment Brochure here for course listings.
2023-24 Discovery Link Registration Opens Soon!
ENGLISH
Discovery Link's 2023-2024 School Year registration opens soon! Please mark your calendars and be logged into your SchoolCare Works account at 6:00 am, Monday, April 17, 2023, to reserve your child’s space in the program. A non-refundable, non-transferable fee ($35 for one child or $50 for a family) is due at registration.

2023-2024 PRICING:
  • AM Discovery Link $9.75
  • PM Discovery Link $17.50
  • Camp Days $51.00    

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE & DISCOUNTS:
  • Sibling Discount: Discovery Link offers a 10% discount for siblings.
  • Financial Assistance is available for those families who qualify for DPS’s Free and Reduced Lunch program. The discount is 30% off the regular tuition rate. Families who wish to utilize this discount must email a copy of their Free and Reduced Lunch authorization letter to: discovery_link@dpsk12.org. A new authorization letter is required every school year.
  • Families who qualify for the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) are encouraged to apply. You can find more information and apply for CCCAP HERE!
Please call 720-423-1781 or email discovery_link@dpsk12.org with any questions.
__________________

ESPANOL
¡La inscripción para el año escolar 2023-2024 de Discovery Link se abre pronto!
Marque sus calendarios e inicie sesión en su cuenta de SchoolCare Works a las 6:00 am del lunes 17 de abril de 2023 para reservar el espacio de su hijo en el programa. Se debe pagar una tarifa no reembolsable ni transferible ($ 35 para un niño o $ 50 para una familia) al momento de la inscripción.

PRECIOS PARA 2023-2024:
  • AM Discovery Link $9.75
  • PM Discovery Link $17.50
  • Días de campamento $51.00    

ASISTENCIA FINANCIERA Y DESCUENTOS:
  • Descuento para hermanos: Discovery Link ofrece un 10 % de descuento para hermanos. El descuento se aplica al segundo hijo de una familia y a cada hijo adicional.
  • La asistencia financiera está disponible para aquellas familias que califican para el programa de almuerzo gratis o a precio reducido de DPS. El descuento es del 30% sobre la tasa de matrícula regular. Este descuento no se aplica a cargos adicionales que incluyen, entre otros: registro, excursiones, recogida tardía o asistencia no programada. Las familias que deseen utilizar este descuento deben enviar por correo electrónico una copia de su carta de autorización a: discovery_link@dpsk12.org. El descuento se aplicará una vez recibida la carta de autorización. Se requiere una nueva carta de autorización cada año escolar.
  • Se alienta a las familias que califican para el Programa de asistencia para el cuidado infantil de Colorado (CCCAP) a presentar su solicitud. ¡Puedes encontrar más información y aplicar para CCCAP AQUÍ!
  • Llame al 720-423-1781 o envíe un correo electrónico a discovery_link@dpsk12.org si tiene alguna pregunta.
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.
Looking Ahead


March 27-31: NO SCHOOL-Spring Break

April 3: NO SCHOOL-DPS Planning
April 4: Spring Enrichment Begins
April 5-7: 5th Grade Balarat
April 11: CSC Meeting
April 11: PTA Meeting
April 11-20: CMAS (3rd-5th Grade)
April 20: 5th Grade Shakespeare Night
April 28: Shakespeare Festival