**December 11-15: Chopper Toppers at Stedman

**December 11-5: **Spirit Week!!**

**Thursday, December 14, 6pm: 3rd Grade Musical

**December 16-January 3: No School for Students

**Thursday, January 4: Stedman Students return

**Monday, January 15: No School (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)

(The Stedman Calendar can always be viewed HERE)

Stedman News!

Each week we'll share a glimpse into the school and what we're up to along with important updates and information from Principal Atkins. Don't miss it!

Cada semana compartiremos un vistazo a la escuela y lo que estamos haciendo junto con actualizaciones e información importantes del director Atkins. ¡No te lo pierdas!

HOLIDAY SPIRIT WEEK!

CHIC AT THE MUSEUM FOR BLACK GIRLS

STEDMAN WINTER READ-ATHON!!

Got plans over Winter Break? PTA is sponsoring a Winter Break Read-athon! Students who read the most minutes during December 18 - January 3rd for the chance to win a Pizza Party for your class courtesy of PTA! Teachers will also receive a gift card for the class with the most minutes read. Reading to young students counts! Return this form Winter Read-athon to teachers between Jan 4-11th. A copy will also be sent home next week. Happy Reading!

¿Tienes planes para las vacaciones de invierno? ¡La PTA está patrocinando un maratón de lectura durante las vacaciones de invierno! ¡Los estudiantes que lean la mayor cantidad de minutos entre el 18 de diciembre y el 3 de enero tendrán la oportunidad de ganar una fiesta de pizza para su clase, cortesía del PTA! Los profesores también recibirán una tarjeta de regalo por la clase con más minutos leídos. ¡Leer a los jóvenes estudiantes cuenta! Devuelva este formulario del Winter Read-athon a los maestros entre el 4 y el 11 de enero. También se enviará una copia a casa la próxima semana. ¡Feliz lectura!

5th Grade at Balarat!

TOY DRIVE

Stedman community - we are collecting donations of new and unwrapped toys to share with families who could use a little extra support this winter. If you are able to drop any off before Wednesday, December 13th, that would be VERY much appreciated!! Toys can be dropped off at the main office.

THANK YOU!!

Comunidad Stedman: estamos recolectando donaciones de juguetes nuevos y sin envolver para compartir con familias a quienes les vendría bien un poco de apoyo adicional este invierno. Si puedes dejar algo antes del miércoles 13 de diciembre, ¡te lo agradeceríamos mucho! Los juguetes se pueden dejar en la oficina principal.

¡¡GRACIAS!!

FREE DENTAL SCREENINGS AT STEDMAN

Dear Stedman Families in ECE and 1st-4th Grades,

Chopper Topper Dental Sealant Program will be visiting our school December 11th-15th. This program is available to Stedman students in ECE or 1st-4th Grades, at no cost to the families. Students can participate even if they already have a dentist. All students will receive a dental screening, a toothbrush, referrals, fluoride varnish, and/or sealants as needed. To participate, you must sign and return the form located here for your student to participate (paper forms are also going home with students). There are a few English/Spanish videos that you can watch for more information.

Many thanks,

Stedman Elementary Health Office

Estimadas familias de Stedman en ECE y en los grados 1.° a 4.°,

El programa de sellador dental Chopper Topper visitará nuestra escuela del 11 al 15 de diciembre. Este programa está disponible para los estudiantes de Stedman en ECE o de 1.º a 4.º grado, sin costo para las familias. Los estudiantes pueden participar incluso si ya tienen un dentista. Todos los estudiantes recibirán un examen dental, un cepillo de dientes, referencias, barniz de flúor y/o selladores según sea necesario. Para participar, debe firmar y devolver el formulario que se encuentra aquí para que su estudiante pueda participar (los formularios en papel también se enviarán a casa con los estudiantes). Hay algunos videos en inglés/español que puedes ver para obtener más información.

Muchas gracias,

Oficina de salud de la primaria Stedman

DPS BLACK FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NEWSLETTER

NEWS FROM DPS: Black Family Engagement Specialist, Iyana Hunter will be rolling out a newsletter for our Black Community across the district.  

If you are interested in receiving the Newsletter, please sign up HERE.

GIFTS FOR TEAM STEDMAN

Dear Stedman Families,

Please help us shower our amazing staff with love this holiday season! If you're able, donate gift cards in small amounts (around $10 each) for gifting to everyone who works at Stedman - we do this to spread the love more equitably and would love your support in making sure everyone feels appreciated. Cards to restaurants & coffee shops, local & minority-owned businesses, and Stedman supporters work especially well.

Bring your donations to the office by December 13th, and we'll make sure your support reaches everyone who works at the school. Thank you, and Happy Holidays!

Your Stedman PTA

Estimadas familias Stedman,

¡Ayúdenos a colmar de amor a nuestro increíble personal en estas fiestas! Si puede, done tarjetas de regalo en pequeñas cantidades (alrededor de $10 cada una) para regalarlas a todos los que trabajan en Stedman; hacemos esto para difundir el amor de manera más equitativa y nos encantaría contar con su apoyo para asegurarnos de que todos se sientan apreciados. Las tarjetas para restaurantes y cafeterías, empresas locales y de propiedad de minorías y partidarios de Stedman funcionan especialmente bien.

Traiga sus donaciones a la oficina antes del 13 de diciembre y nos aseguraremos de que su apoyo llegue a todos los que trabajan en la escuela. ¡Gracias y felices fiestas!

Su PTA de Stedman

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Denver Santa Claus Shop

It’s that time of year again! The Denver Santa Claus Shop (DSCS) is a nonprofit that collects and gives families the opportunity to shop for free toys each December.

Event dates

Dec. 8, 9, 11, & 12 

Qualifications for free DSCS toys include: 

• Be a Denver resident
• Have one child or more, 11 years or younger
• Receive services from Denver Human Services or a Community Partner

How to participate

Denver Santa Claus Shop invites parents who are referred to DSCS from Denver Human Services, Social Service Agencies and Community Partners to Shop for toys for their children ages 0-11 in early December each year. Note: Registration opened Nov. 15. More information to come!

The Urban Farm Scholarship Opportunities

2024 Summer Camp Registration

Mark your calendars and set your alarms, TUF’s summer camps sold out in record time last year!

In an effort to improve our registration process TUF has transitioned to Sawyer for camp registration. To expedite your registration process, you can create profiles for your child(ren) prior to our camp release dates. To re-iterate, this will allow you to select and register your camper(s) quicker the day registration opens. TUF’s camps will not yet be visible on the Sawyer platform, you can learn more about our 2024 Summer Camp Offerings HERE.

• TUF Family Member Registration:
• Opens December 11, 2023 @8am
• Sign up to receive a member discount discount and early registration for camps by signing up to be a family member today!
• General Registration:
• Opens January 11, 2024 @8am
• Summer Camp Scholarships Applications NOW OPEN- TUF offers scholarships for individuals and/or families that demonstrate financial need. Scholarships will be awarded until all allocated spots are filled. Scholarships will be reviewed by a committee and distributed based on factors. Learn more and apply for Financial Assistance & Scholarship for Camp Here.

INCLUSION CORNER

As we all engage in the journey towards greater inclusion and equity, we will be providing resources each week here in "Inclusion Corner". We hope you find these useful as we continue to learn and grow together.

A medida que todos participamos en el viaje hacia una mayor inclusión y equidad, estaremos brindando recursos cada semana aquí en el "Rincón de la inclusión". Esperamos que los encuentre útiles a medida que continuamos aprendiendo y creciendo juntos.

December 10th is Human Rights Day!

Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is a milestone document, which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Available in more than 500 languages, it is the most translated document in the world.



Click here for some kid-friendly resources to talk about this day.

2023 Theme: Freedom, Equality and Justice for All

In the decades since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, human rights have become more recognised and more guaranteed across the globe. The UDHR has since served as the foundation for an expanding system of human rights protection that today focuses also on vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and migrants.

However, the promise of the UDHR, of dignity and equality in rights, has been under a sustained assault in recent years. As the world faces challenges new and ongoing – pandemics, conflicts, exploding inequalities, morally bankrupt global financial system, racism, climate change – the values, and rights enshrined in the UDHR provide guideposts for our collective actions that do not leave anyone behind.

The year-long Human Rights 75 initiative seeks to shift the needle of understanding and action towards greater knowledge of the universality of the UDHR and the activism associated with it.

HAPPY HANUKKAH, DECEMBER 7-15

The word Hanukkah comes from the Hebrew word meaning “to dedicate.” Over 2,000 years ago, the Jews won a battle for religious freedom and lit an oil lamp as part of the celebration. It only had enough oil to light its holy light for one night, but it miraculously burned for eight days.

It became a yearly tradition to remember or “dedicate” the day with an eight-day Festival of Lights. One candle is lit for each night of the celebration using a menorah – a nine-branch candelabrum.

The tallest candle in the center of the menorah is the shamash (servant) which is used to light the other candles. The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left and are lit from left to right.

Learn more about Hanukkah with your children here or here.

Watch a short video about Hanukkah for kids here.

HEALTH INSURANCE FOR FAMILIES

Open enrollment with Connect for Health Colorado continues through January 15, 2024. 

Connect for Health Colorado is the official marketplace for you to:

1. Shop online and compare plans from multiple health insurance companies.

2. Apply for financial help to lower the cost of your health insurance.

3. Get help from certified experts who can guide you through the enrollment process, give advice and answer your questions.

You can apply for coverage and financial help in any of the following ways:

1. Online – at ConnectforHealthCO.com

2. With a local, certified expert 

3. Telephone – Call 1-855-752-6749, TTY at 1-855-346-3432, Monday- Friday, 8 am to 6 pm.

The application process is designed to protect and ensure the privacy of personal information. That

means when people apply through Colorado Connect:

● We won’t ask for their immigration status.

● The information they do provide is stored with Colorado Connect only, and we use it to determine eligibility for financial help.

● Colorado Connect does not share personal information with federal partners for any purpose.

● The information customers provide when they apply cannot be used for immigration enforcement.

Learn about what the benefits of applying in English here or in Spanish here!

Need Help With Energy Bill?

DPS DISCOUNT DAYS

DPS Discount Days are back! We wanted to share more discount offers with your families, students and staff. Please see the information below for an upcoming production at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA):

Join us in supporting the production of A Little Night Music at the Wolf Theatre from now until October 8, 2023! Use discount code DPSFUND to receive 15% off tickets in select seating locations. $5 from each ticket sold will be donated back to the DPS Foundation! Buy your tickets today: Tickets & Events - Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

You can also visit https://dpsfoundation.org/offers/ for more information on these discounts and other special offers. Any help you can provide in distributing these opportunities would be greatly appreciated.

INFORMATION FROM PTA

We are launching a new fundraiser this year! We are encouraging everyone to make a monthly donation of what you can give instead of a one time giving in the Spring. By the end of the year, we will still meet our goal through your donation! Click the link or scan the QR to get started. https://app.memberhub.gives/stedman

¡Estamos lanzando una nueva recaudación de fondos este año! Animamos a todos a hacer una donación mensual de lo que puedan dar en lugar de una donación única en la primavera. ¡Para fin de año, aún lograremos nuestro objetivo a través de su donación! Haga clic en el enlace o escanee el QR para comenzar.  https://app.memberhub.gives/stedman

THANK YOU SPONSORS

If you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring Stedman, please reach out to pta.stedman@gmail.com.