December 12th, 2025

 
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Happy Friday!

Only one more week until Winter Break! 

Make sure you take a look at next week's finals schedule below if you have not already familiarized yourself with it. 

Congrats to both our vocal and instrumental music departments for their incredible performances this week at their winter concerts. Don't forget that the Snowball dance is tonight, students! We hope to see you there.

Have a great weekend!

- Principal Terita Walker

 

Important Upcoming Dates

2025-26 School Year Calendar

East Events

December 12 Snowball (7 pm)

December 13 Artist Workshop (10 am)

December 15 - 17 1st Semester Finals

December 22 - January 2 School Closed for Winter Break

January 5 No Classes - Professional Development

January 8 Choice of Studies Informational Night (6 pm)

January 14 Class Fair (3 pm)

January 16 MLK Jr. Assembly

January 19 School Closed - MLK Jr. Day

January 27 Arranging Projects Night (5:30 pm)

January 28 Level 4 Performance

 

Please find our most up to date calendar with all East events here.

Community Events

Additional Events:

Youth on Record, an organization dedicated to empowering young people through music and creative media. We have a bunch of FREE program offerings for young musicians!

  • Creative Enrichment Classes for middle and high school students. Classes next session include Beatmaking, Songwriting, and Piano Lab.

  • Studio Bookings young musicians can book out space in our Youth Media Studio for recording, mixing, band rehearsals, songwriting sessions, and jam sessions

  • Drop-in Fridays - Youth and Families are welcome to drop in on Fridays for tours, studio access, and a regular schedule of events and activations including First Friday Open Mic!

Here is our registration link. Once registered, artists and their families will have access to our scheduling system. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, and we hope to connect with you soon.

FREE Afterschool Meals for Youth All Year

Support Group for Parents of Asian Students with Disabilities

Monthly Know Your Rights and Safety Planning with Servicios de la Raza

Free Museum Days in Denver (Kids 18 and under always free at History Colorado, and Clifford Still Museum)

Tuesdays 5:30 p.m - 9 p.m: Free Walk-in Health Clinic at Center for African American Health

We Don't Waste Mobile Food Market Weekly Calendar

Free Eviction and Legal Resources

 

Testing Information

ACCESS

ACCESS testing for multilingual students will take place on January 14-15th in the library for students who are not in a designated ELD class and Feb. 4-5th for students in a designated ELD class. Please make sure to have a fully charged school Chromebook on testing days! This test is required, and students who miss the test will be required to make up the test by February 12th. 

iReady

iReady mid-year testing for any student who is currently on a READ plan will take place during students’ English classes on January 21st and 22nd. The student's English teacher will ask that your students to go to the library to participate in the test. This test is required for any student on a READ plan. 


Spring Testing Dates for PSAT/SAT & CMAS and Opt Out Option and Instructions 

SAT - April 14th (Students classified as Juniors)

CMAS - April 15th (Students classified as Juniors)

PSAT 10 - April 16th (Students classified as Sophomores)

PSAT 9 - April 17th (Students classified as Freshmen)

While we encourage all students to participate in state testing, parents and legal guardians of Denver Public Schools students may excuse their child from the assessments listed below.

State assessments like CMAS and PSAT|SAT provide important insights into student progress across Colorado. The data helps families, schools and the community understand if students are meeting academic goals and are prepared for college and careers.

For more information on the importance of state testing, please see The Role of State Assessments in Increasing Academic Achievement document. You can also visit the DPS State Assessments website or contact your school’s leadership team.

To excuse your student: Follow the instructions linked below

2026 Updated Parent Opt Out

If you still wish to exempt your student, use the instructions above to fill out the application. The application will be open through February, giving families time to decide and schools time to plan for spring testing.

 

We Are Here For You!

 

We know the holidays can be a challenging time, and we want to ensure our families feel supported. If you are experiencing an urgent need for food, clothing, housing, medical assistance, or other essential resources, please take a moment to fill out this Google form.

Please know that this information is only shared with a small number of individual staff members dedicated to supporting our community with additional resources. Your information will remain confidential.

East Food, Clothing, Housing Resources Etc.
East Resources (Spanish)
Highly Mobile Youth Program

DPS's Highly Mobile Youth (HMY) program has begun its annual hygiene drive. The HMY program provides educational support for DPS Homeless, Foster, Migrant, and Military Students by offering tailored resources and assistance to students who face multiple school transitions beyond regular grade promotions. Our assistance includes, but is not limited to, access to school enrollment, community resources, and, on occasion, simple clothing and hygiene items.

If you would like to contribute to the drive, the most needed items are deodorant, body lotion, hair products for all hair types, toothbrushes (adult), toothpaste, travel-size combs and brushes, bar soap, and personal or baby wipes. You can also contribute to their Amazon wishlist. They have a Drop-Off location at 1617 S. Acoma St., Green Collaboration Space #212, Denver, CO 80223 (Monday - Friday, 8 am - 3 pm). Email highlymobileyouth@dpsk12.org to arrange additional drop-off or pick-up options.

 

Teacher Spotlight

Our very own Andy Bucher, East Wilderness Literature teacher, was recently featured by Denver Public Schools in an article celebrating his outstanding work in the classroom. We are so proud to have Mr. Bucher be a part of our East community and feel truly honored to have him lead the next generation into the future!

Want to read the full article? Check out the Denver Public Schools News webpage to learn more!

 

DPS Community Hubs Citizenship Workshops

The DPS Community Hubs will be hosting Citizenship Workshops starting January 2026 on Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays. Both English and Bilingual classes will be offered. In these workshops, you'll learn about the requirements and process to become a U.S. citizen, prepare for the U.S. Civics and History exam for citizenship, and practice English skills needed for the interview. For more information, please contact Edgar Medina at edgar_medina@dpsk12.net or 720-424-3711. You can also complete the form by scanning the QR code above or visiting this link.

 

Counseling Corner

Did you attend our recent Future Angels Night on December 8th? If so, we'd love to hear your feedback! Please fill out this form to leave us your feedback.

Families, we invite you to visit our Presentations & Slides page on the Senior Site! You’ll find helpful resources, including a recorded session for students interested in applying to colleges abroad, with guidance on application timelines and international requirements.

We’ve also added scholarship presentation slides where we shared opportunities for students who identify as Latino, so please encourage your student to explore and apply! As always, reach out to the Counseling Team if you have any questions or need support.

Last but, not least, the Senior Hub is updated and ready to go! Check it out on the East Website.

Be sure you take a look at the events happening below to stay up to date on all things related to our Counseling Department!

If your student is interested in courses and career options in CTE (Career and Technical Education), CEC Early College will be enrolling students through the School Choice process this year. For more information on classes and programs at CEC Early College, click here. For instructions on how to apply, click here. School Choice Round 1 is open December 2nd -January 20th. It is highly recommended that you complete the School Choice application during this window for the best chance at being enrolled at CEC part-time. Questions? Have your student reach out to their counselor.

 

Senior Yearbook Ads

Senior Families,

Buy your senior recognition ad in the yearbook before the price goes up! Current prices through December 31st:

1/4 Page - $140.00

1/8 Page - $105.00

Don't miss out on this opportunity to recognize your graduate. The deadline for all senior recognition ads is January 30th, and prices will increase in January.

 

East Spotlight Newspaper

East High has a 100 year history of student journalism. Along with publishing a monthly print edition, students in Casey Hudson's journalism class manage their own website: East Spotlight News website, and their own Instagram: Spotlight Instagram. Be on the lookout for more amazing student journalism this year!

 

Athletics

Our Winter Sports have officially started! We are excited for the new season and hope to see you at some of our games. Be sure to check the Athletics website for a schedule of all upcoming games. Please make sure you click the "Information" tab and then "East HS Schedules" on the Athletics website to access the most up-to-date schedules for all of our athletic teams. 

East Athletic Signing Day 2025

Is your student athlete committed to play at the next level? Our annual Signing Day will be held on February 4th. Please have your student fill out this Google form by January 24th with their information about what school they will be attending next Fall and details about their athletic journey.

Interested in playing Football at East next year? Be sure to to check out this informational Google form to learn more!

 

East Teacher Appreciation

✨ This week's teacher appreciation goes out to Nick Vielhauer — one of our fantastic science teachers!✨

Let’s show him some love and support by helping fulfill his wishlist.

Here is a link to his wishlist:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2IZRF7U0V7J1F?ref_=wl_share

 

Activities Office

There is still time to get your Jostens order in. If you have questions or concerns about ordering or cost please see Tee MacDonald in room 100. A visit with Tee will save you money!

Senior parents: February 4th is National Signing Day for those planning to play a sport in college. While some seniors have already committed/signed, this day is still for you. At East High School we only do one big day where we celebrate everyone who has committed to play their sport. You are encouraged to click the link below and fill out the attached form as soon as possible so that we can get a head start on the program. If you have not committed, but hope to please keep us in the loop.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ZN3FN70usxOdOA9YaVBvExHgH__jZWTk-TpEcl2yOIM/edit?ts=69209999#responses 

Lost and found is in room 100 and overflowing. There are several pairs of glasses, numerous water bottles, lunch boxes, coats and hoodies. Please encourage your student to stop by and check it out. They will be donated at the end of the semester.

 

Return of the East PTSA

Are you interested in getting involved at East? The Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) a volunteer-led organization where parents, educators, students, and community members work together to make East the best it can be. If you are interested in joining, please fill out this form.

 

Family and Community Resources

 

Click on the event to learn more/register:

  • Monthly Know Your Rights and Safety Planning with Servicios de la Raza

  • Ultimate Denver Bucket List for Families

  • Easy Weeknight Recipes for Back to School

  • Free Museum Days in Denver (Kids 18 and under always free at History Colorado, and Clifford Still Museum)

  • Tuesdays 5:30 p.m - 9 p.m: Free Walk-in Health Clinic at Center for African American Health

  • We Don't Waste Mobile Food Market Weekly Calendar

  • Free Eviction and Legal Resources

 

STEM Opportunities

Impact Internship is running their nine, Saturday afternoon Zoom STEM immersion programs, from Jan 3rd to Feb 28th. In the Health Science Immersion Program (H-SIP) high school students hear from health professional speakers as they learn about the academic, research and professional care settings of the health sciences field. In the Computer Science Immersion Program (C-SIP), students explore the changing world of technology as we hear from tech professionals and explore fields such as web development, software and user design. In our Engineering Immersion Program (E-IP) we explore subjects such as chemical, civil and computer engineering. 

The application deadline for all programs is Sunday, December 14th. All class years can apply, and all programs are free for students who meet the family income qualification for the Free and Reduced lunch program. Students can learn more about the programs' curriculum and apply at impactinternships.org.

 

Coffee with the Principal

Coffee w/ the Principal

To sign up for Coffee with the Principal, please visit this link! Please use the live link to sign up for the next session. All sessions will be hosted from 7:15 - 8:15 am in the Social Room on the second floor of East.

The dates for each session are below:

  • 01/08/2026

  • 02/05/2026

  • 03/05/2026

  • 04/09/2026

  • 05/07/2026

 

Spirit Store

The Spirit Store is open for the school year and its operating hours are daily during the lunch break. The Spirit Store is run by volunteers and will be closed if a volunteer is not available. If you would like to confirm store hours, volunteer, or ask questions, please contact spiritstore@eastangelfoundation.org. All Spirit Store proceeds support the East Angel Foundation. For more on EAF, visit the EAF Website. Make sure you follow the Spirit Store on Instagram - @denvereastspiritstore.

Thank you for your support!

FOOTER