Dear Swigert Families,
Last week we had so much fun hearing about all of the happenings over Winter Break. We took the week to really get kids "back in the swing" of school by focusing on routines, expectations, classroom essential agreements, etc. Your kids really rose to the occasion and classrooms are already humming along like well oiled machines. Students across the school spent time setting goals for themselves for 2026. Ask your students about the goals they have set either personally or as a class. It's so powerful to hear their ambitions and how they plan to reach their goals!
On Wednesday, our Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Committee met. We discussed some of the amazing things happening in the school related to diversity, equity, and inclusion and had really rich discussions about plans moving forward. One of the goals of the group is to support the school community across all areas, becoming part of the very fabric of what Swigert is. To this end, the DEI committee is partnering with our literacy team to support our Family Literacy Night that will be happening on February 19th. We can't wait for you to come and learn from our diverse group of experts that will be presenting on all things literacy related. It will be such a fun night for the whole family, and we hope to see you all there. More information on the event will be coming in the next couple of weeks.
Finally, we would like to give you an innovation update. It looks like the superintendent has recommended that the board approve both our innovation plan and that of the LLN. This is fantastic news, but we still have work to do to make sure the board knows just how much we value our innovation status prior to them voting on our plan. If you would like to get involved, please consider doing one or both of the following actions:
- Follow this link and sign a letter of support for the LLN, if you haven't done this already https://form.jotform.com/253364649840061
- Consider writing letters in support of Swigert's innovation plan and the LLN Zone plan to the school board members. You can find a template of a letter here.
Thank you for your partnership.
Sincerely,
Amber Holthus-Pera, assistant principal
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January 14th - SAC (5pm) and PTA Meetings (6pm)
January 16th - Last day for yearbook orders
January 19th - NO SCHOOL, MLK Jr Day
January 22nd - 3rd-5th Grade Family Social
February 2nd - Spring Enrichment Sign up opens (view classes starting on 1/20)
February 5th - 1st and 3rd Grade Music Concert
February 13-16th - No School (Green Day and President's Day)
February 19th - Family Literacy Night
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Last day for Yearbook orders - THIS FRIDAY! |
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The last day for yearbook orders is this Friday, January 16th! I've been working really hard on making this year's yearbook a great record of all the fun events we've had along with a great collection of classroom pictures. Take a sneak peak at these two pages from Halloween and the 5th grade wax museum.
PLEASE ORDER BY FRIDAY.
BUY HERE!
If you don't remember if you ordered a yearbook already, you can put your email in here and check: https://yearbookforever.com/order-history. Or feel free to email Emily Pool as well! :)
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ECE4 & 5th Grade families - SchoolChoice Forms Due Jan 20th! |
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To our current ECE4 and 5th grade families:
Reminder: Submit Your SchoolChoice Application for Kinder and 6th grade.
SchoolChoice Round 1 is open until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20. To apply, visit schoolchoice.dpsk12.org/apply, rank up to 12 schools in order of preference and submit by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20. You’ll be notified of your results in late February.
Learn more on the SchoolChoice website. If you have any questions, review our FAQs, call 720-423-3493 or email schoolchoice@dpsk12.org.
Feel free to reach out to Emily Pool with questions too!
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3rd-5th Grade Family Social |
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FlyteCo Tower Jan 22nd
5pm-7pm
Join us for a Swigert community event for 3rd-5th grade families at FlyteCo Tower. Come socialize with other families in the upper grades. Get dinner for your family, play games and make some connections.
RSVPS APPRECIATED TO STACY BABBITT AT STACYBABBITT4@GMAIL.COM
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Hook and Harmony Showcase |
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Hook and Harmony Showcase: Mrs. Bresnahan is working with Polaris GT Teacher, Sarah Holdeman and musicians, Paul Hoffman (Greensky Bluegrass) and Travis McNamara on an exciting new program! The Hook and Harmony Songwriting Program is bringing together 18 creative students from Swigert International School, Polaris Elementary, Denver School of the Arts (DSA), and George Washington High School for a four-week journey — from blank page to big stage.
Guided by critically acclaimed musicians Paul Hoffman and Travis McNamara students in grades 5–12 will explore songwriting, lyric writing, melody, and performance. The program will culminate in a live concert on Wednesday, January 28, at 6 PM at the Denver School of the Arts Concert Hall. You can learn more about the program here. Swigert has four 5th grade students participating; Olivia W, Cooper, Brock, and Mattie. We hope to continue the program and we are on the lookout for students who love to sing, write songs and play music to apply to be a part of the program in future years. We would like to invite the Swigert Community to attend the final showcase! It should be very entertaining and we hope to fill the DSA Concert Hall. The tickets are donation based and all proceeds go to the Hook and Harmony Programming. Get Your Tickets! (You must do a separate purchase PER ticket).
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Save the date for our Family Literacy Night! Some of the fun things this event will have:
- Swigert mom and poet kicking off a student poetry slam
- 2 author shares!
- parent only session about literacy at Swigert and Dyslexia (childcare offered)
- literacy games
- make your own bookmark
- book exchange
- and more!
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This after school chess club starts on Friday. Head here for more details: https://summitschoolofchess.com/schoolprograms/swigert-international-school/ |
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Music: 1st and 3rd Grade Concerts Save the Date |
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Mark your calendars! The 1st and 3rd grade concerts are on Thursday, February 5.
See you there!
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Art: January Artist of the Month |
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January’s Artist of the Month is Bodey Griffeth in Ms. Nguyen’s 4th grade class. Bodey did a wonderful job with his bubble gum machine, using blending techniques and heavy pressure. He is very knowledgeable and open minded in art class. Way to go, Bodey! |
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Wednesday, January 14th
6-7pm
It’s a bit early, but in about 30 days, we will have our 3rd PTA meeting and vote on the bylaws for next year. Every 3 years Colorado PTA requires we re-do the bylaws, so please come and help us vote. Only PTA members can vote, but everyone is welcome at the meetings!
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Carve out the date for the 2026 Swigert Auction where we will Apres-Ski in the City on April 18, 2026 6-10 PM at DaVita World Headquarters. The PTA proudly donates $200,000 to Swigert each year to support our school’s programs. Because we fund in arrears, the money raised at this spring’s auction pays for the programs your child experienced this year. These funds are essential to continuing the Units of Inquiry, teacher trainings, and IB curriculum that make learning at Swigert so engaging.
The auction is an adults-only event. Tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks—more details coming soon! If you have questions, please email fundraising@swigertpta.com.
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Carmella's Family Lasagna Night |
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Skip the dinner stress. Grab a Carmella's lasagna kit
when you pick up your kiddo — ready-to-bake 2LB
Bolognese or Veggie Pesto Lasagna, 1⁄4 pan of
Focaccia, Family Caesar Salad, and Banana Pudding.
Pickup at Swigert or Pearl Market
PICK UP WED JAN 21st
$60 PER KIT, $10 FROM EACH KIT GOES BACK TO SWIGERT PTA
1.Navigate to Carmella’s catering menu, via qr code (LINK)
2.Pick up Jan 21st
3.Notate in COMMENTS if you would like to pick up at
Pearl Market or Swigert
PRE-ORDER ONLINE BY JAN 16TH |
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Happy New Year from Camp Galileo! Summer may feel far away, but it’s the perfect time to start planning an unforgettable season of creativity, collaboration, and fun. Camp Galileo offers K–8th graders exciting hands-on STEAM projects, team design challenges, and classic camp adventures—running 9am to 3pm with optional extended care. When you enroll, don’t forget to use your school’s fundraising code 26CSWIGERT50 to save $50 and help your school earn a $50 donation per family. Let’s make this summer one to remember! galileo-camps.com/our-camps/locations/denver-park-hill-central-park/ |
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DPS Summer Camps - Extended Learning and Community Schools (ELCS) |
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We strive to have great communication about all things Swigert. Please visit our website at www.swigert.dpsk12.org to learn more about events that are coming up.
If you need translation services for ANY Swigert event, please reach out to Megan Tate at Megan_Tate@dpsk12.net
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.
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