Greetings RASA Families!

We have made it through the first week. We hope the week has gone well for your students and yourselves!  As we are rolling out our systems and structures please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns. 

 The  purpose of this week’s communication is to provide you with pertinent school information regarding the week of August 25, 2025.  Again, please know that we are here to answer all of your questions, Here’s to another great week at RASA!

In partnership,

RASA Administration, Teachers, and Staff

Principal: Dr. Anthony McWright | anthony_mcwright@dpsk12.net 

Assistant Principal: Mrs. McClellan McRoberts |myrtis_walcott@dpsk12.net  

Dean of Culture: Mr. Steven Jones | steven_jones1@dpsk12.net

We’re updating our school website to reflect new schedules, teacher assignments, supply lists, and more. Keep an eye out for those updates!

Student Drop Off will begin through the east driveway of the school near the school marquee.  Please note this is a one way entrance. Please be mindful of students and staff in the crosswalk entering the school.  The exit from drop off will be located in  the south center area of the staff parking lot. You may follow the driveway around the parking lot and it will lead you directly to the exit. Again, note this is a one way exit. 

Parents will be able to drop off students as early as 7:45am. For arrivals prior to 8:05am students will need to report directly to the playground area located on the east side of campus. The building will open at 8:05am for breakfast. Students who choose to eat breakfast should do so prior to 8:20am. Students who desire breakfast will be provided a grab and go breakfast. Upon completion of breakfast, students will be sent to the playground until the bell rings, where they will line up and be escorted to class by their teachers.

NEW!

To promote additional safety for students and families, parents / guardians who wish to walk their students to the playground in the morning will be allowed  to park in the adjacent parking lot next to the east playground! Please be reminded that if you park in this lot you will not be allowed to depart until students have left the playground for class at 8:25am.

NEW!  Students arriving after 8:20

Students who arrive after the teachers have departed the playground for class in the morning, will be directed to the main office for check in and escorted to class.

A complete Breakfast and Lunch will be offered free of charge to students during the 2025-2026 school year. 

Second entrees and any a la carte items may be purchased with cash or using a student’s MySchoolBucks account.  Adult meals are available for $4.00 for breakfast and $5.00 for lunch.

All DPS families are encouraged to complete a You Benefit! form to receive other benefits, including fee waivers, P-EBT, and to maximize funding for the district and for additional funding for your child’s school.

Elementary Lunch Menu may be found here.

Dismissal will be similar to morning drop off. Just a reminder, pick-up will begin through the east driveway of the school near the school marquee.  Parents / Guardians may line up along the driveway and along the east side of 62nd street to await student release. We ask if you do so, to please not block the driveway for bus arrival.  As you exit with your student(s)  again we ask that drivers please be mindful of students and staff  in the crosswalk exiting  the school. Again, please note this is a one way entrance.

The exit from drop off will be located in  the south center area of the staff parking lot. You may follow the driveway around the parking lot and it will lead you directly to the exit. Again, note this is a one way exit. Students will be lined up with their teacher and classmates on the sidewalk of the main driveway. 

Bus riders will be escorted to their buses at the designated time by a staff member.

Please review the included RASA bus form. Do not hesitate to contact our main office if you have any questions.

School Supplies may be found on our school website under school information. (This site is currently updating. In the coming weeks some information may be subject to change)

If any families are interested in registering for Denver Public Schools Extended Learning and Community Schools program, please use this Arux for Denver Public Schools  Link to register: 

Hours are below: 

3:35 - 6:00 PM (MON, TUES, WEDS, FRI)

1:10 - 3:30 PM (THURS)

For any questions, your point of contact will be Andrea Ramirez-Hilton. 

720-423-1781  phone

Discovery_link@dpsk12.org

Students with an IEP, ALP, and/or Section 504

If your student will be new to RASA this year and they have an IEP or a Section 504 Plan, and you have not yet shared that documentation with the appropriate district personnel, please reach to the appropriate RASA staff member for support:

IEP’s:                                Lauren Epps            Lauren_epps@dpsk12.net 

ALPs:                                Shannon Larsen    Shannon_Larsen@dpsk12.net 

Section 504 Plans:      Mindy Heu               Mindy_heu@dpsk12.net    

Medications & Immunization Requirements 

Medications - if you are planning on having medications available at school for your child for this school year, please bring all the required paperwork, and non-expired medication to the health office the week BEFORE school starts (August 11-15). Medication forms for the upcoming school year can be found on the links below. You are also able to download the appropriate form(s) for your student(s) and return to Nurse Garcia’s office. If you have any questions, please contact our school nurse at consuelo_garcia@dpsk12.net. Additional nursing support may be found here.

• Anaphylaxis/Allergy Form

• Asthma Care Plan and Medication Order

• Medication Release Form

• Seizure Care Plan and Medication Orders

• Special Dietary Need Forms

If you have any questions, please contact the district health office at 720-423-1416 or the school’s nursing office at 720-424-2310.

Our school day is 8:20 a.m. to 3:35 p.m., with a 1:10 p.m. release time on Thursdays. We are dedicating the Thursday early release days to professional development activities and  opportunities for our RASA staff. Please know that we have done our best to develop this calendar, but dates may change - we will communicate any changes via this newsletter and via district portals, as appropriate.

Bell Schedules:  Please bookmark this bell schedule for your reference: SY 25-26 Bell Schedule.

School Supplies may be found on our school website under school information. (This site is currently updating. In the coming weeks some information may be subject to change) If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to your student’s teacher or para. 

We acknowledge that students thrive when all parties are working in tandem to support educational efforts and the whole child. With that sentiment in mind, we encourage all stakeholders to be active participants in their students’ learning process.  In concert, our staff is committed to work diligently with all stakeholders in a professional and collaborative manner that celebrates, supports, and encourages each student's unique and specific potential. WELCOME to RASA! We look forward to working with you!

In case you missed it, DPS recently launched a new two-way messaging feature, Rooms and the DPS app! Families can Download the app to communicate with teachers directly:  

• Download the Denver Public Schools app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

• Once installed, open the app, then tap “Rooms,” then “Continue to sign in.”

• Type in your guardian email address or phone number.

• If you typed in your email address, tap “Log in with code.” If you typed in your phone number, you will automatically receive a code. Type this code in when prompted.

• You will be prompted to select your preferred communication language.

• You will be automatically signed into your students’ Rooms.

Still have questions about Rooms? Visit the Rooms FAQ page.

Please review the RASA School Support Letter for information and questions about parent involvement.

As we enter the school year, please be aware of our visitor policy. We currently use DPS Safety & Security’s Raptor System, which ensures that any visitor to the school is safe to be around students. ALL visitors to the building during the school day must first make an appointment through the main office staff and sign in at the front office before entering the building. Please also make sure to let your student’s  teacher know, especially if you are planning to visit in class during the school day. We honor and value both the connection to home/families as well as the safety of our students and appreciate your cooperation in following these procedures.

Information pertaining to the DPS Rapture Visitor management  systems may be accessed here.

Denver Public Schools Volunteer Services provide resources to the greater community that supports the engagement of volunteers. At RASA, we welcome  and actively encourage your involvement  in the school community. We believe the overall success of the whole child depends upon the entire community working together for the betterment of all students. However, prior to volunteering, individuals must take specific steps to qualify to participate. 

The steps below include the following:  The process takes about 30 minutes.

1. Fill out the Application form first.
   This will give you the links you need.

2. Complete your background check
   Use the Sterling Volunteers link (below).

3. Watch the Volunteer Orientation video
   And read the Volunteer Handbook (link below).

4. Sign the online Confidentiality Agreement, Release and Waiver.

5. Submit your application
   After you finish all the steps above.

Check your email (Junk/Spam) for confirmation of submission from Sterling Volunteers.
When you get the email from Sterling Volunteers, send a message to: Volunteer Services Manager, Sarah Rice.
📧 sarah_rice@dpsk12.net
We’ll help you get placed at a school!

In support of students' social and emotional well being, DPS provides the BESS survey each year!  The parent window for the BESS survey is open now until Oct 31,2025.   We are asking parents / guardians to complete the BESS survey as soon as available.

If you are unsure about the process or have questions, please reach out to RASA’s main office for support.  Be reminded that parents / guardians have the right, upon request, to review the items on the BESS survey. This can be accomplished via in-person, phone call, or through district approved electronic platforms with the student’s school. However, due to copyright protections, school personnel are not allowed to send a copy of the materials or questions home prior to screening.

 Information on how to access the survey in English and Spanish has been provide below via the screening flyers. Note, parents / guardians will need to have set up their Parent Portal account to access this survey. In addition, parents / guardians will need to know the student’s DPS identification number and date of birth to complete the screening process.

Bess Family Screening Flyer (English)

Bess Family Screening Flyer (Spanish)

Throughout the school year 25/26 , students may be photographed, videotaped, or recorded during classroom activities, school events, and special programs. These images and recordings may be used in school publications, on our website, in newsletters, on social media platforms, or shared with local media outlets to highlight the wonderful things happening at our school. However we understand some may not wish to have their student’s photo released. Attached is a media release form that we ask families to complete and return to the main office in regard to media publications..

School picture day will take place on September 3, 2025 during the school day.  Families may purchase picture packages at that time from www.lifetouch.com. More information to follow. Stay tuned!

RASA Transportation will remain the same as last year. Denver Public Schools Transportation notifies families of their eligibility and availability for identified students. Yellow bus transportation is provided for certain school students within DPS boundaries. All transportation requests are completed in the Parent Portal.  

The FarNortheast shuttle schedule can be accessed through this link.

The RASA shuttle schedule can be accessed through this link:

Any concerns or questions regarding stops/transportation should go directly to DPS Transportation: 720-423-4600 or transportation@dpsk12.org  

There is an exception process for students who would like access who do not currently have it. Please visit this link for more information. If you have questions regarding DPS transportation, please contact their customer service center at 720-423-4600.

August 13: Meet the Teacher Option 1 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

August 15: Meet the Teacher Option 2 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

August 18: First day of school for all K-2 students 8:20 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. 

August 18: Building Orientation and Tour for new families 8:20 a.m. to 10:00 a.m

August 18: New Parent Welcome Coffee - in the Commons   10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

August 19: First day of school for ECE students 8:20 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. September 1: Labor Day - No school

September 3: Student Picture Day

September 10: Back to School Night - More information to come

September 22: Staff Planning Day; No school for students

Principal: Dr. Anthony McWright | anthony_mcwright@dpsk12.net 

Assistant Principal: McClellan McRoberts | myrtis_walcott@dpsk12.net  

Dean of Culture: Steven Jones | steven_jones1@dpsk12.net 

Office Support  / Registration : Angelica Contreras | angelica_contreras@dpsk12.net

Office Manager / Registration : Miriam Arneros | miriam_arneros@dpsk12.net