PHE Families:
December is a busy month for all of us as the Winter break quickly approaches. Despite it all, I wanted to point out some of the great work our students are doing at school and in our community. Our 4th and 5th graders are once again doing their Warm Fuzzies campaign to help our homeless neighbors on Colfax. They are still collecting supplies until the end of next week or you can view their need list and order from Amazon here.
Our 4th grade Sustainability Club students handed out hot chocolate to students who biked to school (and brought their own mugs) this past Wednesday. In addition, many spent a chunk of their Thanksgiving break and other free time over the past few weeks working on a student-led grant (to improve some of our outdoor spaces). They worked incredibly hard to put this together, and we hope to get positive news after the Holiday break.
Our 1st graders put on a terrific Winter Lights performance the past two nights as well. We had a great turnout and thanks to all the friends, families, and staff who supported their students!
Next week will be the last opportunity to participate in our gift card drive for families who can use a bit more support in our PHE community. We are collecting gift cards to King Soopers, Safeway, Target, and Walmart. If you are a family who could use some extra support this holiday season, or know of a family in need, please confidentially contact me or the office team for further assistance. We are here to support you and any family.
Finally, a fun spotlight on our amazing crossing guard, Nicole, who was featured in an article about her efforts to improve safety around the school.
Stay well,
Ken Burdette, Principal
GIFTED AND TALENTED UPDATES
Universal Screenings:
-Kinder NNAT testing is completed; results will be sent home with your student by 12/20
Breakout Boxes:
Breakout Boxes are similar to Escape Rooms. These games help develop problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and memory. When played in a group, collaboration, communication and team building are added to the benefits. Here are some digital Breakout games for some family fun.
Take a walk: 6 ways to take a walk
Looking for Talent Show Volunteers
The 5th Grade Talent Show is run by parent volunteers. If you are interested in helping, please contact Chantel Hayward at chantelm130@gmail.com.
Reminder: Pre-Enrollment open for new DPS students for 2025-26 school year
Pre-enrollment is now open for the 2025-26 school year. Pre-enrollment helps us get all of the information the district requires to get new students ready for SchoolChoice which opens January 15th. The pre-enrollment packet can be found on the front page of the website. This is requested only for new students to DPS or those transferring back into DPS from another school district. We do not need actively enrolled DPS students to complete this information. Please send completed packets to ann_kurth@dpsk12.net
Reminder: Lost and Found
We will be doing another donation of unclaimed items on Thursday, December 19. We have a full bin of hats and gloves, and our coat racks are nearly full. Feel free to stop by the school during school hours to look for items, or encourage your student to do the same. We try to return unclaimed items that are labeled with names.
Fencing in PE for 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders
Students will be fencing in PE class starting next Tuesday to Friday. This will only be 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. They will be wearing helmets. If there is a concern, they can bring a thin hat to wear under the helmet. This activity has been done every other year with the shared helmets and we never have had a problem.
