Attendance Matters!

This week, our Oakland eagles achieved 89.54% attendance. 4th grade achieved the top numbers with 93% attendance, followed by ECE and 3rd grade with 91%. Keep up the good work!

November 7th: No School

November 8th: No Saturday School

November 13th: November Picture Retakes, Friday Chat with your Principal

November 15th: Saturday School Field Trip - Denver Science Museum

November 18th: MLE PAC Night 4-6 p.m.

November 20th: Thanksgiving Lunch

November 24-28th: No School, Fall Break

Due to the ongoing government shutdown, November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be disbursed, impacting more than 100,000 Denver residents, half of whom are children. Now more than ever, it is critical that we come together to support one another and ensure our children don’t go hungry.

Access or Donate to Local Food Resources

As a reminder, our school meals at DPS will not be impacted. School breakfast and lunches will continue as normal and remain free to families.

If you need support securing food…

• City and County of Denver: Visit their website to find food assistance across the city.

• Tasty Food Program: After school meals for children will be offered at Denver recreation centers. Visit the Tasty Food website for locations and hours of operation.

• Food Bank of the Rockies: Find a food pantry near you using their Pantry Locator tool.

• Colorado 211: This confidential and multilingual service connects people to vital resources across Colorado. Call 2-1-1, 866-760-6489 or visit 211colorado.org. Note: The hotline is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, however, expect long wait times. To avoid waiting, use the call-back feature.

• Feeding Colorado: The collaborative effort of the 5 Feeding America food banks that serve Colorado and Wyoming to coordinate and enhance food resources, ensuring food insecure Coloradans have access to healthy, fresh foods. Visit feedingcolorado.org/find-food or email info@feedingcolorado.org.

• Hunger Free Colorado: Connects Colorado families and individuals to SNAP/food stamps, food pantries, free meal sites, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) and other nutrition programs geared toward families, children and older adults. Call 855-855-4626 Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

• Struggle of Love offers a food pantry every day Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Address: 12005 E 45th Ave, Denver, CO 80239

• FACE Community Hub offers support at John H. Amesse Elementary School. 

The City and County of Denver’s Department of Human Services (DHS) will continue processing SNAP applications and renewals to make sure benefits are processed in a timely fashion as soon as the government shutdown ends. SNAP beneficiaries will receive SNAP benefits retroactively once the government reopens. DHS strongly encourages families to continue submitting SNAP paperwork in the meantime.

If you would like to support local efforts…

• Denver Public Schools Foundation: Support the DPS community by donating to the DPS Foundation Food Security Fund.

• City and County of Denver: Visit their website to learn more about donating food, money and/or time.

• Denver Recreation Center Drop-off Locations: Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at any Denver rec center. Visit the City and County of Denver website to learn more.

• Denver Animal Shelter: Donate pet food to the Denver Animal Shelter located at 1241 W. Bayaud Ave. or through their Amazon wishlist.

• 10 Ways to Support Your Community Now:This slide deck from the City and County of Denver provides resources, suggestions and ideas on how to take immediate action in your community.

Interested in supporting our immediate community? Reach out to Ms. Long at rachel_long@dpsk12.net. Ms. Long will be leading an Oakland Family Drive to provide extra food and essential items to our families in need. This effort will be a collaboration among staff who wish to contribute or help organize donations. If you would like to join this effort, please reach out directly to Ms. Long to learn how you can participate.

We are bringing back morning chats with Dr. Cruz! Join us in the family room next Thursday, November 13th for coffee, light refreshments and conversation. 

For the remainder of the school year, we will have these chats on the second Friday of every month.

We’re launching our i-Ready Monthly Challenge—a fun and motivating way for students to build strong Reading and Math skills and earn presents all year long!

How it works:
👉 Students complete i-Ready lessons each week (2 Reading + 2 Math)
👉 Aim for 49+ minutes in Reading and 49+ minutes in Math
👉 We celebrate growth every month with trophies, medals, stickers, posters, diplomas, and fun prizes!

How to support at home:

1. Go to your district Clever portal or visit login.i-ready.com

2. Log in using your student’s school username and password

3. Encourage short sessions (10–20 minutes) throughout the week

Ask your student: “Did you hit your minutes and lessons this week?”

To further support individual student success, we are implementing an accountability system that helps students stay on track and take ownership of their learning. This system includes the following steps:

1. Warning

2. Seat Change

3. Focus Space + Reflection Sheet with a “Stay in the Game” Conversation

4. Call Home

5. Call office for Support

This is not a punishment system—it’s a proactive tool to help students self-regulate, reflect, and re-engage. Teachers apply this system only after giving clear, precise directions and offering three positive narrations to reinforce expectations. It is delivered in a neutral, supportive tone, always sending the message that we care too much about our students to let them disengage or miss out on learning opportunities.

Read the full letter here.

Thursday, November 20th

Join us for a delicious Thanksgiving lunch at Oakland! Families are welcome to share a meal with their student. Please RSVP by Friday, November 14th by returning the reservation form and payment to the Front Office. Tickets may also be purchased at the cafeteria on November 20th.

Cost:

• Adults: $7.00

• Children not enrolled at Oakland: $6.00

• Oakland students eat free

Please arrive on time. If you arrive early and your student is at recess, feel free to join them outside until their lunchtime.

Enter through the Visitors’ Entrance when you arrive. Visit the website here for more information. 

We can’t wait to celebrate together!

November 8- No Saturday School

November 15- Saturday School Field Trip - Denver Science Museum

November 29- No Saturday School 

November 22- Perfect Attendance Celebration for November

PTO is working hard each week to provide fun school events, academic opportunities, and more ways to engage with your students. Join our bi-weekly meetings after school on Thursdays at 3 p.m.

Take the short survey here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe0CAMPt16qkmkRfikXaIHoNj-PCnZtO8_y6xca8kUGLNry_A/viewform

Every school and student deserves a space to grow and learn about fresh food! Join our school nonprofit partner, SustainEd Farms, for their Secret Garden Fundraiser on Saturday, November 15th, at Number Thirty Eight in Denver. Enjoy a buffet dinner, two drink tickets, surprise entertainment, and live & silent auctions — all while supporting school garden programs like ours, and fresh food donations to Denver students. Learn more & get tickets: https://app.betterunite.com/SustainEdFarms-secretgarden2025fundraiserfloraandfauna

Quick Decision Tips for Parents - Ask Yourself: 

1. Does my child have a fever? → If yes, stay home 

2. Are they acting like their normal self? → If no, consider staying home 

3. Can they participate in regular activities? → If no, stay home 

4. Could they spread something to other kids? → If yes, stay home 

Remember: When in doubt, contact nurse Lupe. She is there to help you make the best decision for everyone's health.

Please note: Instant noodles that require microwaving are not allowed, as we only have one microwave available.