Unfortunately, we are needing to lock our playground gates after school and on the weekends. As is many things in life, a few people can ruin something for everyone. The 'soccer group' of community members (completely unattached or related to any Dora Moore students) that play soccer games most evenings and on the weekends continue to operate with a sense of entitlement and general lack of concern for rules and regulations that are compromising the safety of our students and staff. This group refuses to go through the Community Use Office in DPS to secure the proper permission, insurance, and access to use our field. This is potentially leaving us liable for any incident or injury that might occur. They repeatedly arrive and begin to take over sections of the field during school sanctioned events and sports such as Girls on the Run, 4th/5th grade soccer and flag football, and Discovery Link. In the last week, members of this group have shown up intoxicated to play and harassed staff and students after school during school events. Furthermore, we found beer cans left on the field in the morning. Mr. Janson contacted the pseudo-point person for this group about the incidents from this week, while on the phone this individual called him a 'f*cking idiot'. It's unacceptable behavior around children in every way. We have repeatedly informed this group they are not welcome any more and have collaborated with DPS Safety & Security and the Community Use Department to support further enforcement.
Unfortunately, but for the safety of students and staff, the playground gates will be locked shortly after dismissal each day and remain locked over the weekends. This is in alignment with Guideline for Public Use from the Community Use Department.
Please know--Families and students are welcome to remain on the playground after school and play as long as they would like! We love our families using our facilities (which is why this such a hard decision for us). Should you want consistent access to the playground on the weekends, you can check out an access card through Community Use. This is not ideal, and hopefully temporary, but necessary.
What should you do if this group manages to show up and begins to play in the evenings or on the weekends? It's going to take a community approach since our staff can not be around at all times.
Call DPS Safety and Security at 720-423-3911 immediately and request an officer to remove them as this group does not and will not have permission to use our field. Should you witness drinking or the use of any controlled substance on school property or if a quicker response is needed, call 911.
The group members have proven unreasonable to talk to and we advise not getting into gaslighting conversation with them.
When you are playing with your children on the playground, ensure the green playground doors are closed and the garden gate is locked.
We are sorry these are the steps that are required right now. We appreciate your support!
