September 9, 2025
Dear Swigert Families,
We greatly value and appreciate our partnership with families and the broader community at Swigert. It truly takes a village and there are so many different ways you can engage together. I wanted to take some time to share about three parent committees that are beginning in the next few weeks.
School Accountability Committee (SAC): The SAC is a parent/teacher organization that provides input on the school programing, innovation plan, 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 question. Our first SAC meeting will be on Wednesday at 5:00 pm 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 this Wednesday at 6:00 pm in the library.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEI): To help us build an increasingly inclusive and welcoming school community, we have our Family and Community Inclusion Committee! If you are interested in meeting families of all backgrounds committed to celebrating diversity, building International Mindedness and making Swigert even more inclusive, please join us! Our first meeting will be October 8th from 5-6 pm. Please reach out to Amber Holthus-Pera (amber_holthus@dpsk12.net) if you are interested in joining.
Multilingual Educational Parent Association Committee (MLE-PAC): The 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 to her for more information - Megan_Tate@dpsk12.net
We appreciate you. Thank you,
Shelby Dennis
Safety Reminders
For the safety and security of our students, all adults entering the building must use the main entrance. Even in quick situations—such as retrieving a forgotten water bottle from a locker after school —please walk around to enter through the main door.
Also, please remind your students that they should not be riding bikes, scooters, etc. on school grounds. When they ride to school, they need to dismount before entering the playground and walk their bike or scooter. We have had multiple near misses, and want to keep everyone safe.
Parking!
A few reminders about parking safely in our parking lots:
Swigert has Kiss ‘n Go lanes on both the east and west side of the school. These areas, indicated with a yellow curb, are designed for parents who want to quickly pull into the parking lot, let their kids out, and then continue on to work in the morings.
We can also utilize the bus lane (on the Syracuse side) in the morning because our morning buses have already dropped off by 7:50.
Please do not double park if you plan to leave your vehicle to pick up your child from the playground. Parking behind other cars and leaving your vehicle unattended is not permitted, as it blocks others and creates significant disruptions for families and staff who need to exit the lot. If this continues, towing will be enforced.
There is ample parking in the Sam’s Club parking lot if you need to park and pick up and there are no more room in parking spots and along non-yellow curb.
We will be placing parking warnings on vehicles starting this week that are not following safe and legal parking procedures.
Hiring a Para-Professional
We are hiring a Para Professional for our Autism Classroom. If you or someone you know is interested, please reach out directly to Shelby Dennis! shelby_dennis@dpsk12.net
4th grade families:
4th grade families, if your student is coming in late, PLEASE have them come to office first before heading to specials. Because 4th grade takes attendance outside before heading right to specials, students who arrive late and don't tell the office are being marked absent.
School Picture Days!
Picture Days were today and tomorrow! We take pictures outside and there will be a full body picture along with some close ups. All previewing and ordering of the pictures is done through Bloom's website. No preordering is necessary. You'll get a chance to view all your child's photos before deciding if you want to order anything.
See the schedule and more details here: https://thebloombeehive.com/swigert
Community Coffee
Join us for a community coffee this Friday! Bring any of your questions that you have around school, safety, systems, etc. Our admin team will be there to chat and answer anything!
Friday, September 12th right after drop off, in the library.
Coffee from Einstein’s will be provided.
If you need translation services for this event, please reach out to Megan Tate at mdonald@dpsk12.net.
Yearbook Photos
You take great photos every day! We’d love to gather those photos from you this year. Have pictures from the first day walk to school? Halloween party? Field trip you chaperoned? Please drop them into this google drive or email them to Emily Pool (emily_pool@dpsk12.net) and we’ll possibly use them in the yearbook this year!
September Artist of the Month!
September’s Artist of the Month is Braylen Banks! Braylen is a 4th grader in Ms. Burdett’s class. Braylen is always so caring to everyone and reflective about his art! Here he is holding a lovely aspen tree masking tape project he made in class. Way to go, Braylen!
BESS Mental Health Survey
What is the BESS ?
Check out this link to learn about the BESS- Parent Friendly Overview of the BESS screening system
We're asking parents to do a quick screening form for their child
DIRECTIONS:
1. Scan or click the QR code below or follow this link: tinyurl.com/bessparent
2. Enter your student’s DPS ID and date of birth (MM/DD/YYYY).
3. Complete the screening form.
To learn more, view our Frequently Asked Questions at tinyurl.com/bessoverview.
DUE 10/31/2025
Middle School Tours
DPS Choice has moved up it's timeline this year. This means our we'd love to be able to support our 5th grade families as they start to tour middle schools soon. Most of our Central Park middle schools have tour sign-ups posted. We’ve listed them all here to help put it all in one spot for you! https://swigert.dpsk12.org/middle-school-info/
For 2026-27, the Round 1 window will open on Dec. 2, 2025 at 10 a.m. and close on Jan. 20, 2026 at 4 p.m.
What's with the DPS app?
DPS is rolling out their app which will be a way to see communication in one spot from DPS and every school you may have students at. Our building and staff has not been trained in this software yet, so you can download the Denver Public Schools app (from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store) but it will be a bit before you see Swigert as an option. It will be a slow roll out later this year and we'll keep you updated!
DPS School Board Candidates
Please note that our school does not endorse any candidates running for the DPS School Board. While we encourage our families to learn about their local candidates and VOTE, we remain neutral and do not promote certain candidates. If you see candidates at any of our school-wide events, we encourage you to save political conversations for somewhere off campus.
1st PTA Meeting!
All parents are invited to the first PTA meeting that will take place September 10th at 6pm in the school library. Come hear an update from Shelby, learn what the PTA does, and leave with options to get involved in your child's school!
Spirit Wear
New spirit wear is available for all Eagles! Browse great designs and place your order online. You will be contacted when your order is ready and all items can be picked up at the school. No shipping is available.
See something you like but your size isn't available? Reorders and new items will be added throughout the year and communicated here in the Eagle Post. Small t-shirts will be restocked very soon. We look forward to seeing all the adorable Eagles in their Swigert Blue! swigertpta.com/spirit
Outdoor Movie Night
Please save the date for our first Outdoor Movie Night on the field at Swigert on September 26th at 6pm! All families are welcome to bring a picnic, socialize, and enjoy a giant movie.
Don't feel like packing a picnic? Head to Panera Bread from 4-8pm and mention Swigert to have them donate 20% of your order back to the school! Bring your to-go order and come enjoy the fun!
More info to come.
Classroom & Grade Level Communication
We will be sharing guardian emails with our room parents so they can launch all the fun classroom communication around class parties, filling Friday folders, and supporting our teachers.
We will also be sharing one email per family for a grade level directory. This will make it easier to families to reach out to grade level friends and families about playdates or birthday parties.
If you do NOT want to be included on either of these lists, please reach out to Emily Pool (emily_pool@dpsk12.net) and we will remove you.
DenCoKID Dyslexia Simulation
Free Experience Dyslexia Simulation: October, 8, 2023, 10:30 am -12:30 pm
3239 E 2nd Ave, Denver, CO 80206
In recognition of Dyslexia Awareness Month, DenCoKID is excited to be able to offer a free simulation to the Denver community. Participants will experience some of the challenges and frustrations faced by people with attention, processing and language-based learning differences. Participants are guided through learning tasks commonly encountered in the classroom or workplace. This empathy-building experience benefits everyone, including parents, guardians, grandparents, caregivers, educators, principals, students, coaches, employers, clergy, and anyone with an interest in dyslexia or learning differences. Light refreshments will be provided and childcare for school-aged children is available upon request via email. Space is limited so RSVP today!
We strive to have great communication about all things Swigert. Please visit our website at www.swigert.dpsk12.org to learn more about Swigert and 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.
September 9th & 10th - School Picture Days
September 10th – SAC 5pm, PTA 6pm
September 22nd – No school, Professional Development Day
September 26th – PTA Fall Family Movie Night on the Field
September 29th - October 3rd –SPIRIT WEEK/COLOR RUN WEEK!
October 7th - Sweet Cow Dine and Donate
October 10-13th - No school, Fall Break
October 30th - Halloween Parties & Parade, Trunk or Treat
October 31st - No school, Parent/Teacher Conferences