September 10, 2024
Dear Swigert Community,
Did you know that in 2015, Swigert was only about 20% students of color? We have worked hard to increase this number and this year we are at 43.26%! We are so proud of our diverse student community, and want to continue to ensure that ALL of our students are supported and included in all ways at Swigert.
Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Parent Group meets several times a year to help guide this work at Swigert. It is a thoughtful, courageous and caring group of folks dedicated to helping Swigert create a welcoming, equitable and inclusive environment for all students and families. It is a time for honest conversations, brainstorming, and planning actions to support the school community. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, we would love to have you join us. All are welcome, and there is no long term commitment. Come whenever it works for you! Our next meeting will be on Monday, October 21st, at 5:00 pm in the Library.
There are so many great ways to get involved at Swigert. As we dive into our fourth week of school and start to get settled in, consider joining us in whatever way calls to you! Here are some other great options:
School Accountability Committee (SAC)- the SAC is a parent/teacher organization that provides input on the school programing, staffing, budget and calendar. There are elected SAC members, but anyone is welcome to attend and provide input. We start every meeting with open comments for parents and staff to ask any school related questions. The next SAC meeting will be this Wednesday at 5:00 in the library.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA): The PTA is a parent organization that works to promote community activities, connect parents with the school, and coordinate fundraising opportunities to enhance school programming. At Swigert the PTA’s mission is to to support the IB (International Baccalaureate) program, high academic standards and a positive learning environment at our school through educational and social programs, parent outreach, and community involvement. Anyone is welcome to attend PTA meetings, our next one will be on Wednesday September 11th at 6:00 in the library.
Garden Committee: We are so fortunate to have a robust and thriving school garden. Our students use the garden for science lessons, art class, planting and harvesting. We have a parent volunteer committee that helps to support the garden throughout the year and they are always looking for extra help. Please reach out to Alison Owen if you have time, passion or expertise in this area- Owen.allison.m@gmail.com
Multilingual Educational Parent Association Committee- MLE-PAC is the organization in charge of communication between parents and the school regarding Multilingual Education programming. This group is specifically designed for our families with students speaking a different language at home. It meets three times a year to support the family to school partnership by sharing important school information and providing information about the MLE program at Swigert. Megan Tate, our MLE teacher, is the main contact for this group. Please reach out for more information - Megan_Tate@dpsk12.net
Have a great week!
Amber Holthus-Pera
Assistant Principal
Over the last several weeks we have been watching both the pick and drop off of students at Swigert. We know that this is a chaotic time of the day, with folks in a rush either to get to work, or ready to get kids home or off to practice. With that in mind, the most important thing is that we as a community work together to make sure that this process is safe and successful. Please be reminded that it is required that all people drive slowly in the parking lots, stop at all stop signs and make sure to be aware to stop at crosswalks. This is particularly true due to the fact that many of our students are difficult to see due to their smaller size, and all the larger vehicles.
If you are looking for alternative places to park, please consider parking in the street along 33rd, or taking advantage of parking on neighborhood side streets.
The bus lane is reserved for buses, and if you choose to park there please be advised that the police may choose to write you a ticket.
Thanks for keeping our community safe.
Yearbook Cover Contest
2024-25 Cover Contest Rules
Contest open to all Swigert 5th Graders.
Entries will be judged by the Swigert Staff.
All entries should reflect the theme “What will IB” however the student chooses to interpret the theme.
Cover art may be photos or student-created. However, content must be owned by the student/family. Do NOT take photos/artwork from the internet (unless you purchase the rights).
Cover may include the heading “What will IB” and 2024-25. However, this is not mandatory: we can add those to the winning artwork.
Cover may be for the front only or for front and back. Please note: if making for front and back, it should be landscaped and go back, middle, front. Examples are included for Front Only with words, Front Only without words, and Full Cover (back, middle, front).
Artwork may be submitted as hard copy or emailed to djolley@dpsk12.net. In the case of electronic entry, please submit as a high-quality photo that will be clear when printed at 300 dpi. For a front cover only, the minimum size is 2400 x 3000 pixels. A picture that will span both front and back of the yearbook should be at least 3600 x 5400 pixels.
Please include the student's name and teacher on the back of the artwork (if submitted hard copy) or in the email. All entries will be printed out or copied (without student name) so that all entries are made to the staff anonymously.
By entering this contest, both students and parents agree to have the artwork used without compensation. However, credit will be given to any artwork used in the yearbook – either as the cover or within the book!
Entries are due by noon on Friday, September 20th.
2024-25 Yearbooks
Yearbooks are now available to purchase. They will be distributed at the end of the school year. Final pricing is $35 for a softcover, $40 for a hardcover. However, we do offer earlybird discounts. Buy now for the best price! The discount schedule is as follows:
Now - 9/30:
Softcover $20
Hardcover $25
11/1 - 11/30:
Softcover $30
Hardcover $35
10/1 - 10/31:
Softcover $25
Hardcover $30
12/1 - 1/31:
Softcover $35
Hardcover $40
You can purchase them in the following ways:
By credit card directly through Walsworth at yearbooksforever.com (type in Swigert as the school name, then select either Swigert - Hard or Swigert - Soft for your cover preference)
By cash (exact change only, please!)
By check (made out to Swigert) at the front office.
Online at myschoolbucks.com. Please email Daphne to tell her you paid this way as she doesn't always get notifications from them.
Direct Giving Week Kick-Off Party
Direct Giving Week Kick-Off Party
September 14th, 2024, 6-9pm
6308 Dallas St. Denver, CO 8023
adults only
This is a wonderful opportunity to mix and mingle with Swigert parents and staff, and learn more about the first of the PTA’s two major fundraising efforts each year! Our fundraising goal for this campaign is $100,000! Everyone is invited and no ticket purchase is necessary! The Walk Family has generous offered their beautiful home to host this event, where you will enjoy a full open bar as well as a gorgeous array of appetizers courtesy of the PTA. Dress is whatever you feel your best in! You will see everything from sundresses and slacks to shorts and jeans! We sincerely want everyone to feel welcome to come as you are, ready to kick off one of the best weeks of the year!
Get Ready for Spirit Week!
Direct Giving Week is September 16th - 20th so get ready to help us chase the rainbow by wearing these colors:
Monday 9/16: RED
Tuesday 9/17: GREEN
Wednesday 9/18: SWIGERT BLUE
Thursday 9/19: YELLOW
Friday 9/20: COLOR RUN T-SHIRTS will be distributed to all students that day to wear during the Color Run. Wear bottoms that you don't mind getting dirty!
Color Run!
The color run is a fun run around the field where students will run through color chalk powder stations. For every $25K our community raises during the week, the kids will "earn" another color station for the run. The run will take place on the playground on the large grass field inside the gates. Parents are welcome to come watch by lining up on the outside perimeter of the fence! Classes will be brought outside starting at 2:30 pm starting with our younger grades. Each grade will make one lap around the field by grade level.
What should my student wear?
Every child will receive a t-shirt to wear over their clothes for the run. We are asking for a $5 donation for each shirt to offset the cost, but that is optional. You can donate for your shirt here: https://www.swigertpta.com/spirit/p/color-run-t-shirt.
Some helpful hints:
While not required you may want to send a pair of sunglasses to protect eyes from the powder
Don’t wear nice clothes because the kids will get messy
Send a towel with your kiddo so they can dust off after the run (it will also help protect your seats on the way home)
For more info on how to set the color in the shirts, how to remove color, or any safety questions (ingredients, asthma, etc.), you can visit www.wholesalecolorpowder.com/faqs/. This is the supplier we used for our chalk powder.
Time details:
All classes will come outside around 2:30. After all the runs are complete, they will head to their normal dismissal spots for pick up!
2:34-2:38 5th Grade
2:38-2:42 4th Grade
2:42-2:46 3rd Grade
2:46-2:50 2nd Grade
2:50-2:54 1st Grade
2:54-2:58 Kindergarten
2:58-3:05 ECE
Teacher Supply Fund
Head to https://www.swigertpta.com/spirit/p/teacher-supply-funds to contribute to your teacher supply funds! You'll add your teacher's name to your cart and then check out.
Questions? You can reach out to President@swigertpta.com.
We'd love to have contributions sent by September 13th!
Here are some examples of ways teacher's have used their teacher supply funds:
Ms. Aarti in 2nd grade has used some of her teacher supply funds for a new set of classroom clipboards that get used everyday. She also bought new classroom decor for her word wall and birthday bulletin board!
Ms. Aggarwal in kindergarten used some of her teacher supply funds for an awesome rolling while board that can travel to where she needs it and can be used for all sorts of large group learning help.
Ms. Susan in 2nd grade has used her funds for all new white bins to beautifully organize her classroom library. She also used funds to create a new bin storage system under her kids seats!
Ms. Burdett in 4th grade used some of her teacher funds to buy books that help support her IB units and math lessons.
Community Resource Hub
There is a NEW DPS Resource Hub from the Family and Community Engagement Department. It has links for things like Health Based Clinics, Food Support, and Mental Health resources.
DPS Black Excellence Summit
This summit offers parents, educators, and community members a unique chance to delve into many aspects of Black Excellence, and the DPS commitment to ensuring that all families/ students/educators are given resources they may need in order to put students first. This full-day event provides resources, student voice, community partners, amplify recent investments in the work of DPS Black Student Success Team.
When: Saturday, Sept. 14th 9 am - 3 pm
Where: University of Denver Education Building
We strive to have great communication about all things Swigert.
Please visit our website at www.swigert.dpsk12.org learn more about Swigert and events that are coming up.
You can also join our Friends of Swigert International School, a private Facebook page. We post pictures of events at school, interact as a school family, and you can see friendly reminders of upcoming events.
Wondering who to contact if you have questions about? See table below:
Swigert uses Google Calendar. Do you? If so, you can stay up to date on all school activities.
Just add the Swigert Calendar to your personal calendar. Learn how to do that here.
To reach Swigert International School:
Office: (720) 424-4800
Attendance: (720) 424-4740
September 11th
SAC Meeting 5pm, PTA Meeting 6pm
September 12th
Summer Reading Celebration 2:30, Library
September 14th
Direct Giving Party at Walk Family Home
September 16th - 20th
SPIRIT WEEK!
September 18-20th
5th Grade to Balarat
September 20th
Color Run
October 10th
Student/Parent Conferences, No school
October 11th - 14th
No school
October 23rd
Trunk of Treat
October 31st
Halloween Parties/Parade
WE LOVE OUR Silver, Bronze, and Friends of Swigert Sponsors!
Colorado Canine Club