Steck Elementary School

Steck Stars News

November 2025

Letter from Principal Teresa Klava

Dear Steck Families,

As the crisp Colorado air settles in and the leaves finish their colorful dance, we enter November with a spirit of gratitude and reflection. This month is a wonderful time to celebrate all that we’ve accomplished so far this school year and to look ahead to the excitement of the upcoming holiday season.

Our classrooms are buzzing with creativity and curiosity, and we’re so proud of the hard work our students continue to show each day. November also brings opportunities to focus on kindness, thankfulness, and community—values that shine brightly here at Steck.

Please take a few moments to read through this month’s newsletter for important updates, upcoming events, and ways to stay connected and involved. Thank you for your continued support in making our school such a welcoming and inspiring place for every child.

Principal Search Update

Our search for Steck’s next principal is underway! The position has been posted, and we’re gathering community input to help guide the process If you haven’t yet shared your thoughts, please complete the Community Input Survey by Friday, November 7:
👉 Community Input Survey

Next steps:

  • Nov. 11: CSC reviews community feedback and drafts interview questions

  • Dec. 2: CSC & DPS conduct interviews to select finalists

  • Dec. 9: Community forum and meet-and-greet with finalists

  • Week of Dec. 15–19: Superintendent announces final decision

We deeply appreciate everyone’s patience and participation as we move through this important process. Together, we’re ensuring Steck’s continued success and strong leadership for years to come!

Morning Routine Reminder — “Soft Start”

We want to remind families about our soft start routine. While school officially begins promptly at 7:30 AM, students may begin entering the building as early as 7:20 AM.

Students coming for breakfast are welcome into the cafeteria starting at 7:10 AM.

This soft start allows students time to visit their lockers, use the restroom, and prepare for the day ahead so they can be seated and ready to learn at 7:30 AM.

For safety reasons, parents should only enter the building if your child is tardy or if you are a parent of an ECE student.

Students are marked tardy after 7:30 AM. We have noticed a growing number of late arrivals, which disrupts the start of class and reduces valuable instructional time. These first few minutes are crucial for building community and participating in social-emotional learning activities that set a positive tone for the day. Thank you for helping us ensure a calm, consistent start to each morning!

News from PTSA:

November PTSA Meeting TUESDAY, November 4th

Please join us for our November PTSA Meeting on Tuesday, November 4, at 7:45 AM in the Auditorium. This is a wonderful opportunity to stay informed, connect with other Steck families, and hear about upcoming events and initiatives. We hope to see you there!

Please look below and bookmark the Steck PTSA Webpage to keep up with all the upcoming happenings!

We’re looking forward to a wonderful month filled with learning, gratitude, and togetherness. Thank you for your continued support and for helping make our school such a special place to grow and learn!

Thank you,

Mrs. Teresa Sena Klava, Interim Principal

Meet Steck Staff: Kindergarten and Early Childhood Education

ECE/Kinder teachers
ECE/Kinder paras

L to R: ECE Teacher Molly Kirschling, Kinder Teacher Nichole Hansen and Kinder Teacher Kelly Leonard

L to R: Kinder Para Krystal Arias, ECE Para Brooke Kupsche-Gann, Kinder Para Ky Moore-Wilson

October Steck Stars Assembly

october starbucks winners

Congratulations to October winners: ECE - Sylvia W., Kinder - Amal H. and Maddie C., 1st - Naomi A. and Everett B., 2nd - Dylan S.-L. and Preston M., 3rd - Sloan H. and Watson S., 4th - Marilyn R. and Elliott H., 5th - Emi F.-M. and Izzy S.

Minute ti win it October younger
Minute to win it older

Minute to Win It winners (Game "Mummy Wrap"): ECE - Vera G. and Nick K., Kinder - Rosie M. and Meran S., 1st - Rahm K. and Sofia H., 2nd - Micah K. and Marie K., 3rd - Luca M. and Cyrid L. 4th - Lucas W. and Jensen B., 5th - Nur Nur and Gunnar T.

Principal Appreciation Month

Students created original art for Principal Klava to show our appreciation of her leadership during this transition time for Steck.

Principal Appreciation art
Principal Klava
Kinder art

Colorado Measure of Academic Success

CMAS Testing for Grade 3-5

  • Mark your calendar for the CMAS Testing from April 6 through April 24

  • We need your help . . . Please refrain from scheduling appointments, vacations, etc. during the testing window

  • Testing schedule-coming soon

  • CMAS Resources

Steck Spirit Days of Fun

1st grade sports day

First Graders in Ms. Adatto's class celebrate Sports Day

5th moustache

Moustache Mayhem in 5th grade

ECE moustache

Moustache Mayhem in ECE

5th grade costume fun

5th grade costume fun

Classroom Happenings

4th and 5th grade students took a field trip to Young Ameritowne to enrich their understanding about finances and banking essentials, basic economics, ethics and civic responsibility.

Ameritowne 1
Ameritowne 2
Ameritowne 3

To kick off their animal classification unit, 3rd graders went on a field trip to the Denver Zoo. During the outing, students visited different stations throughout the zoo to learn about animal adaptations.

3rd grade zoo 1
3rd grade zoo 2
3rd grade zoo 3
3rd grade zoo 4
3rd grade zoo 5

Gym Class Fun

Steck stars have completed seven physical education units so far this year!  Younger students enjoyed teamwork, rolling/tossing, throwing/catching, target games, dance, scoops and fencing.  Older students experienced teamwork, four square, throwing/catching, disc golf, spike ball, scoops and fencing. 

In November, students will be excited for two of their favorite units, bowling (k-2) and skateboarding (3-5)!

If your child enjoyed fencing at Steck, consider taking them to Cheyenne Fencing for two free weeks of after school fencing classes. They also run day camps during all of DPS's breaks. Visit coloradofencing.com for more information.

Mr. Parker's teacher treasure event for the auction will be a 3rd-5th grade Inline Skate Night on Friday, December 5th from 5:00-6:30. No equipment or experience is necessary. Sign up at the auction.

fencing
gym class frisbee 3
gym class frisbee 2
gym class frisbee

Garden Club

Garden Club had one final sale and then cleaned up our school grounds and laid the garden to rest.

garden club final sale
garden club final sale 2
Garden club sale
Garden club clean up

Nurse's News

Greetings from the Nurse’s Corner!

  • Thank you to those families who have begun stocking their child with spare clothes in their lockers for emergencies! It is already making a difference for students who have had potty accidents recently.

  • A request: As it gets colder outside, it is also getting more dry. If your child is prone to chapped lips or dry skin, please send them to school with chapstick and a tube of skin lotion in their backpack that they can apply as needed in the classroom. My recommendations for chapstick are Vaseline or Aquaphor brands, as they’re thicker formulations and stay on longer. For lotion, any gentle, unscented lotion designated for dry skin will work. If your child has skin sensitivities or allergies, please check that the product doesn't bother them before sending it to school!

  • Please verify you are set up to receive messages through the DPS app. The Steck health office uses teh DPS app predominantly to communicate with parents about non-emergency issues.

  • As a reminder, if your child starts showing symptoms of a respiratory virus (cough, sore throat, congestion, etc.) please refer to page 2 and 3 of DPS's How Sick is Too Sick manual for guidance, or send me a message!

    Thank you, and as a reminder I can be reached every school day at 720-424-3898 or emily_epstein@dpsk12.net. 

How sick is too sick? English

How sick is too sick? Spanish

Gifted and Talented News

Cognitive Testing Updates:

NGAT 1st Grade: Done! Scores will be sent your way by Friday 11/7.

NGAT 5th Grade: 1 Non-verbal session on 11/4 (Ms. Stanton’s AM class)

Make-ups will be completed by 11/21

NAGT K/2nd: Done! Scores will be sent home by Friday 11/14.

CoGAT 3rd & 4th: 11/3-11/14 Testing (Week 1 Mon, Tues, Wed & Week 2 Make-ups)

Scores sent from the GT department in December.

Spring Cognitive Testing Nomination: Link will be available in December through February for students that did NOT participate in any of the testing noted above. Students that are identified or Magnet Eligible do NOT need to sign up for any cognitive testing. Spring testing info and the link will be in the next update

ALPs: Finalized and coming your way by 11/7.

IDENTIFICATION:

November: New Talent Pool letters home, SIGS Classroom Observation surveys assigned to teachers for talent pool and Magnet Eligible students

December: New ID for HGT & GT (HGT includes a cognitive score; GT is typically i-Ready & CMAS or i-ready & SIGS surveys). New ALPs begin in January.

If you ever have any questions, contact Kat Zimmerman at kathleen_zimmerman@dpsk12.net GT Family Website: gt.dpsk12.org

Take care,

Kat Zimmerman, Steck GT teacher

PTSA Update

  •  Lunch and Recess volunteers always needed

    https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/9040E45A4AD28A6FE3-58793106-recess

  • Monthly PTSA meeting

    Tuesday, November 4th 7:30 in the cafeteria

    Agenda coming soon

  • Veteran’s Day 

    Friday, November 7th 7:10 am in the Auditorium

    Please join us in celebrating our community veterans

    2nd graders will be performing 

    Coffee, juice, bagels & donuts will be served

  • Steck Auction 

    Saturday, November 8th Get Ready for CaddySteck 2025 

    • DATE: Saturday, November 8th, 7-10pm 

    • LOCATION: The Local Drive @ Stanley Market, 2501 Dallas Street

    • THEME: CADDYSTECK - take a few swings (or just have a few drinks) and raise big for Steck!

    • TICKETS: Click here to buy your tickets ASAP and benefit from early bird pricing! 

    • SPONSOR OR DONATION IDEAS? Email steckstarsauctioninfo@gmail.com

    • PRIORITY: We are looking for sponsors, donations, and buy-share ideas.  Want to host a buy-a-share or have something to donate, link it here! or email steckstarsauctioninfo@gmail.com

  • DAVE & BUSTERS GIVE BACK: Another easy way to raise money for our school?! Steck Elementary PTSA is excited to launch our Dave & Buster’s Fundraising Campaign! Get a $20 Power Card, and 50% of your purchase will be donated to Steck Elementary PTSA!  Whether it’s a family day or you're hosting a birthday party, you can play games, win prizes, and have endless fun while supporting a great cause!  Here's how it works:

    • Purchase online via our campaign page.

    • Redeem your Power Card at your nearest Dave & Buster’s.

    • Play and enjoy!  

    • Campaign ends December 31, 2025.

    • Get yours: https://www.groupraise.com/offer-campaigns/58990-steck-elementary-ptsa-dave-busters-fundraising-campaigns

  • Steck Food Pantry

    now through end of calendar year Donate to the Steck Food Bank

Steck Food Drive begins NOW (until Winter Break)

Steck Food Drive