October 14th, 2025
Dear Swigert Families,
I hope everyone enjoyed their fall break and soaked in some of the fall colors! I was able to head out to the University of Oregon to visit my daughter Friday night. Sko Ducks!
Friday the 10th was a professional learning day for our staff. As an innovation school and an IB school we appreciate the time to tailor our professional learning to the needs of our students and staff. This past Friday our staff engaged in professional learning around creating success criteria for math, trauma informed practices and unpacking and developing more understanding around autism. In the afternoon grade level teams met together to plan out their IB units. We are grateful for this important and necessary learning and planning time.
As we cap off Hispanic Heritage Month we wanted to share this Hispanic Heritage Month video! Swigert students and staff share about Hispanic and LatinX individuals they admire and the IB learner profile traits they embody.
Are you interested in being in an upcoming heritage month video? Videos to come this year include Native American Heritage Month, Black History Month and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We would love family members to join us in sharing about people you admire! Contact juliet_biagi@dpsk12.net if you are interested.
Thank you
Shelby Dennis
October 15th - Picture Retakes
October 16th - Community Event: Parenting Childhood Anxiety
October 17th - Community Coffee - All About IB
October 17th - 1st and 2nd Grade Family Meetup
October 18th - Swigert Community Night w/ CO Rapids
October 22nd - 4th Grade Social Action posters open house @ Stanley
October 22nd - Innovation Plan Meeting
October 24th - Yearbook cover contest due (5th graders only)
October 30th - Halloween Parties & Parade, Trunk or Treat
October 31st - No school for students, Parent/Teacher Conferences
November 3rd - Food Drive, Yearbook orders open
November 4th - Chick-Fil-A Dine and Donate
November 10-12th - Fall Book Fair
November 13th - 4th & 5th Grade Music Concert & Art Show
November 20th - Community Thanksgiving Lunch
November 22-30th - Thanksgiving Break, NO SCHOOL
School Pictures LIVE, Retakes Tomorrow!
Our school photos are LIVE! Here’s how to view them and place an order if you want.
Go to https://thebloombeehive.com/swigert. Scroll to the teal box named “Fall 2025 Galleries.” Press that button, then press view gallery. Enter your email address, then the pink continue button, then the pink Fall 2025 button. Kids are listed by last names and to view the pictures, you will need their student ID number. You can find that in your parent portal. You can order prints and packages directly from their website!
Retakes will be taken tomorrow, Wednesday, October 15th, first thing in the morning around 8:30. All kids that were absent have been automatically signed up for retakes. Bloom has closed the retake sign up form, so please email Emily Pool (emily_pool@dpsk12.net) if you want to sign up late tonight for a retake!
Community Event: Parenting Childhood Anxiety
Thursday, October 16 · 5:30 - 7pm
Come join us at Swigert International School for an informative workshop on Parenting Childhood Anxiety. This event is designed to give parents valuable information about childhood anxiety and help parents navigate the challenges of raising children who may be struggling with anxiety. Learn practical tips and strategies from Stacy Babbitt, LCSW. Stacy is a mom to two Swigert Eagles and a therapist with over 15 years of experience treating anxiety disorders and OCD. Connect with other parents facing similar situations and share your experiences. Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights and support. See you there! Please note that this is the same workshop that was offered last Spring
Register Here: Swigert Childhood Anxiety Workshop
Community Coffee
Join our admin team and IB Coordinator, Mrs. Dane to learn all about IB at our next Community Coffee.
This Friday, October 17th after drop off in the library
Innovation Status Info Meeting
Are you interested in learning more about Swigert's Innovation Status and Innovation Plan? Please join Swigert Leadership on Wednesday, October 22nd from 4:00-5:00 in the library to learn more about our Innovation Plan, Innovation Review Process, and Innovation Zone.
Community Event: 1st & 2nd Grade Family Meetup
1st and 2nd Grade Family Meetup
What: Please join us for a casual meetup for students and families to get to know each other and spend time together
When: Friday October 17th, 5pm-7pm
Where: Denver Beer Company
7070 E Lowry Blvd Denver, CO 80230
RSVP appreciated, not required: stacybabbitt4@gmail.com
4th Grade Social Action Posters
Please join us for the opening of our Swigert art exhibit:
4th Grade Social Action Posters
Stanley Marketplace: In the Walkway Above the Denver Biscuit Company
2501 Dallas St, Aurora, CO 80010
Wednesday, October 22nd
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Open house, come when you can!
The posters will be up from October 22 through November 3rd, so you are also welcome to come any time during the exhibit.
Reminder: 5th Grade Yearbook Cover Contest
Reminder to all 5th graders. Submission for the yearbook cover are due to Emily Pool by Friday, October 24th. See all the details here:
https://swigert.dpsk12.org/2025/09/08/5th-grade-yearbook-cover-contest/
October 31: NO SCHOOL, Conference Day
There is NO SCHOOL for students on Halloween, October 31st. Teachers are using the full day to host parent/teacher conferences. Some teachers are offering conferences ahead of that time as well. Please reach out to your classroom teacher for specific questions on scheduling your conference. We'd love to touch base with every family!
Music - 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade: Recorders
As a part of the music curriculum, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders are learning to play the soprano recorder. The 3rd grade classes are starting their recorder unit now. The 4th and 5th grade classes will have their recorder units later this year.
Every student has a recorder to use at school, but some families like to purchase a recorder so students can practice at home as well. We will be ordering 3-piece Yamaha recorders. Each recorder (including shipping) costs $5.00.
Students may also wish to purchase a copy of Recorder Express for $9.00. This book is supplemental to the work the students are doing in class.
Here are some helpful practice hints:
Cover all the holes tightly- leaks lead to squeaks!
Left on top-forget me not!
Blow gently with “warm” air.
If you choose to purchase a recorder, you can order online through MySchoolBucks.You will have the option to choose a recorder alone (standard), recorder and book, or book alone. Your student will receive their recorder during music class.
Thank you for your continued support of your child’s creativity in music!
Mrs. Baker
Color Run Professional Photos
Morgan Lynn Photography (https://www.morganlynnphotography.com/) took beautiful photos of your kids during the color run! Guests to the gallery can freely download the images without a pin.
https://galleries.morganlynnphotography.com/gallery/swigert-color-run-2025/
Auction Committee Meeting
Are you wanting to get involved with the auction committee? You're invited to their next planning meeting on Friday, October 24th right after drop off at 8:15 in a classroom TBD. Reach out to Cara (cara925@gmail.com) or Holly (hmaggio@gmail.com) for more info!
Trunk or Treat: Call for Creative Trunks
Save the date for Trunk or Treat on Thursday, 10/30 from 5pm until the candy runs out! More information and a giant candy drive will happen closer to the event, but we need all the creative, fun trunks to start crafting!
Please sign up here to decorate your trunk!
Who We Are: Luminary Learning Network
Every student deserves to be known, celebrated, and supported. At Luminary Learning Network, we empower schools with the freedom and flexibility to do just that. Together, we’re reimagining what’s possible in education. #LuminaryLearningNetworkem
Check out this video from the LLN: youtube.com/watch?v=uK37x4y-p3M&feature=youtu.be
DSA Open house
Denver School of the Arts combines conservatory-style arts training with some of the strongest academics in Colorado. Students study with board certified teachers and guest artists from across the country while also excelling in AP and college level classes.
Our students are consistently recognized on national stages, performing across the nation and internationally, while also ranking among the state’s best in college readiness.
If your child dreams big, DSA is where those dreams find support and challenge. Please join us for an Open House November 3 for MS or November 5 for HS.
DSA Leadership Team
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.