October 30, 2024

Dear Swigert Families,

It was wonderful to see so many families at our annual Trunk of Treat. We lost count but it was in the hundreds! Thank you Swigert PTA for putting together such a fun and inclusive community event, the trunks were so darn creative. I was blown away. Thank you all for contributing candy, we had just enough to get us through the hour long event. 

We are getting ready for our annual Halloween parties and parade this week. Parties and the costume parade will take place on Thursday, October 31st. The K-5th grade Halloween Costume Parade will be on the Swigert field from 2:30-3:10, and you are welcome to join. Students will walk around in a circular fashion beginning with our kindergarten and finishing with our fifth graders (please see the map below for line up spots). For our school costume parade there are some parameters: students cannot have any type of weapon associated with their costume and students should only wear masks for the parade itself. Costumes should be appropriate for school (not gory or overly scary). If your family does not celebrate Halloween, please let your child’s teacher know so that we can plan a fun alternative activity for them. 

Finally, we wanted to share about a visit from the Colorado Education Intiative (CEI) last Friday. CEI, an educational non-profit, brought school principals and district leaders from across the state to see why Swigert is a “sticky school.” Swigert was identified as a sticky school due to it’s high staff retention in addition to high academic data. The state and district average is around 72% retention, with Swigert averaging a 95% retention rate. The visitors learned from our administration and teachers about what practices were in place that kept them at Swigert, then the participants did a tour of the school to observe these practices/strategies. They concluded the day by identifying 11 strategies they observed and planned for their own staff retention. It was a productive and humbling experience, we were honored to be part of this important work - recruiting and retaining high quality staff is incredibly important. 

Looking forward to seeing many of you this week during the Halloween festivities. 

Sincerely,

Shelby Dennis 

Our DEI parent group would like to invite you to listen to the Embrace Race Podcast.  It is a fantastic resource for learning about how kids learn about race, and dives into some common myths about this topic.  We would love for you to join us on this learning journey!  We are in week 2, and  you can find the links to both episodes below. In addition we have an optional Google Form for people to fill out to record thoughts and wonderings from the podcast.  It can be filled out after any/all of the episodes (or none at all, if you would prefer not to). The Google Form is all anonymous unless you want to self identify.  

Here is the link to the first episode:

https://www.embracerace.org/resources/do-young-kids-and-babies-really-see-race

Here is the link to the second episode:

https://www.embracerace.org/resources/are-younger-generations-less-racist

Here is the link to the Google Form:

https://forms.gle/GAVrGXFYNarVrUXBA

The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos), is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration. An ofrenda is an altar or offering made in homes during this celebration to honor deceased loved ones. Ofrendas are a way to remember the dead, celebrate life, and express love. They are meant to welcome the deceased to the altar and to guide them back to the world of the living.

Ms. Jones has made a beautiful ofrenda in our hallway. We'd love to invite your students to bring in photographs of loved ones who have passed away to add to our altar.  Please write name and class on the back with a sticky note or piece of tape so that we can return them.

Thursday, October 31st

• 8:30am - ECE parade & parties

• 1:30pm - K-5th grade parties (may vary slightly by class)

• 2:30pm - K-5th grade parade - see map below

This year, Swigert’s Thanksgiving Lunch will be held on Thursday, November 21st. Parents and siblings are welcome to join their Swigert students!

Menu:

Roast Turkey (or grilled cheese sandwich for vegetarians), Mashed potatoes with gravy, Green Beans, Stuffing, Fresh baked dinner roll, Sweet Potato cake with frosting

Lunch schedule:

The schedule is slightly modified from their "normal times" to allow for everyone to have time and room. Each lunch last about 30 minutes but students are encouraged to head out to recess when they’re done eating.

ECE4 11:15 AM

Kindergarten 10:45 AM

1st Grade 11:35 AM

2nd Grade 11:05 AM

3rd Grade 12:00 PM

4th Grade 12:25 PM

5th Grade 12:50 PM

Tickets:

Thanksgiving lunch is free for students; tickets are $7.00 for adults and $6.00 for siblings and must be purchased by Thursday, November 7th. You can buy tickets from Daphne in the main office. (cash or check only right now, we're working on a possible SchoolBucks payment option). If you are unable to purchase them in person, you may send her an email (djolley@dpsk12.net) and send in the money with your student.

Tickets only need to be purchased if you want the meal. You're welcome to come and just be with your student. Or if you have a younger child who will share your meal, you do not have to buy a separate ticket for the sibling.

You are also welcome to pull any children with a later lunch time to join you and your other child at the earlier lunch time. Please note that we do not have coverage for students who have already eaten, so unless you are going to be with them, they will still have to go to the cafeteria at their regular time, although they don’t have to eat again.

Questions? Let us know!

https://swigert.dpsk12.org/2024/10/23/thanksgiving-lunch-2/

Hi families! Original Works order forms are here and will be coming home with your student! Each form has an individualized photo with your child's own unique student code. Orders can be made online until Wednesday, November 13th.

Original Works is a great opportunity to have your child's art displayed on a variety of keepsake items, perfect for keeping your child's art for years to come. Perfect for holiday gifts to loved ones. And, every purchase helps fund the art program here at Swigert.

Please let me know if you have any questions by emailing me directly at lisa_carlson@dpsk12.net. Thanks! ~Ms. Carlson

The Colorado Rapids are back in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs! Be there at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park as this young and hungry Rapids team led by Djordje Mihailovic, Rafael Navarro, and Cole Bassett take on LA Galaxy on Friday, November 1 at 7:30 PM in Game 2 of Round One. 

As an exclusive offer for Swigert, the first playoff ticket is 50% OFF with the purchase of at least one ticket to the game. A portion of each ticket purchased will be donated back to Swigert. Don’t miss the first Rapids playoff game at home since 2021 as the team looks to bring MLS Cup back to Colorado!

BUY TICKETS

Fall Book Fair 11/4 - 11/6

We have our fall book fair coming up November 4 - November 6. Students will attend the book fair with their class during the school day and we will also be open before and after school.

To keep the check out line moving please consider adding money to your student's e-wallet. These funds do not expire and can be used online or at a later fair. 

ECE families are encouraged to take your students before or after school and not set up the e-wallet.

Swigert Color Run Photos are available and FREE to download, courtesy of Swigert parent, Morgan Lynn Razi, owner of Morgan Lynn Photography. Please feel free to reach out to her for more information about her event or portrait work at morgan@morganlynnphotography.com or 720-938-8818

Gallery Link:

https://galleries.morganlynnphotography.com/swigert-color-run-2024

Access Code: 2024

Registration for winter activities is around the corner! Activities are now viewable.

Registration opens on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at noon.

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

WE LOVE OUR Silver, Bronze, and Friends of Swigert Sponsors!