Welcome back to school
-
Tuesday August 16th is our Open House! Join us from 4:30 - 6:00pm for tours of the new building and food (hot dogs, kosher hot dogs, chips, drinks) provided by Walmart. Class lists will be posted and students will get to meet their teachers too. Please remember to sign your child up for an assessment the afternoon of the 18th or 19th when at the Open House. A Community Open House will take place from 6:00 - 7:30pm.
-
August 18th will mark a historic day as SMIS opens its doors to the Stapleton community for its first day of school. Please join Principal Raisch as he leads the kids to school to line up for the first bell.
What: Walk to school with the principal, teacher, and classmates!
Location: Pocket park on 35th Ave and Xenia (dog picnic art is displayed here)
Time: Please arrive between 8:05 and 8:15. We will be leaving at 8:15 SHARP!
Route: We will walk down 35th Ave, cross Central Park Blvd at the light, and proceed down 35th to SMIS. The walk is 0.6 miles, so all of the kids should be able to participate.
-
Thursday August 18th is the first day of school. On the 18th and 19th, school hours are from 8:40 - 11:45. There will be no lunch. ECE-3 AM students and ECE-4 AM students will attend only on the 18th. ECE-3 PM students will attend only on the 19th.
-
Please sign up for a student assessment time during the afternoon of the 18th and 19th. Sign-up sheets will be available at the Open House on the 16th.
-
Back to School Night for parents of ECE students is August 17th from 5:00 - 6:00pm. For parents of K, 1st, and 2nd graders, Back to School Night is Sept 1st from 6:00 - 7:30pm. Please remember that Back to School Night is for parents only.
S.O.A.R. with Swigert-McAuliffe's Direct Giving 2011 Campaign
Let's help our kids S.O.A.R. to new heights! Supporting Outstanding Academics & Resources is our Direct Giving slogan and we are going to have a fantastic direct giving party season! The "top" elementary schools in DPS have a goal to raise at least $500 per student in PTA fundraising. Most of these schools achieve, and surpass this goal, raising upwards of $250,000 each year. This money makes a difference in the lives of our students and teachers by providing innovative curriculum, such as IB, paraprofessionals for our classrooms, specials programming, and more. Do not feel intimidated by these numbers; every donation, no matter how small, helps. Everyone is encouraged to attend at least one party to learn more. And of course, you're welcome to attend all three!
What is direct giving?
Well, the answer is in the name. A family contributes an amount of money, and it goes to the school. Since your contribution is tax-deductible, you will receive about 25% of it back.
Why the parties?
They are incredibly fun, social, adult-only nights out where you can chat it up with other parents and neighbors. Wine, beer, cocktails, and food are provided. Teachers and staff are encouraged to attend too. Computers are set up in private rooms where you may pledge your donation, opting for the oh-so-easy monthly withdrawal. At the parties, top donors are thanked with great prizes, including an SMIS paver for all donors over $1000.
When are these shindigs?
Wine tasting party - Friday September 9th, 6:30pm, 2870 Xantha Ct. Hosted by the Boley and Owen families.
College night party - Thursday September 15, 6:30pm, 8729 E 23rd Ave. Hosted by the Guinness and Smithburger families. Remember to
wear your favorite college sweatshirt!
Las Vegas party - Saturday September 24th, 6:30pm, 8234 E 25th Dr. Hosted by the Kaplan and Stello families.
How do I find out more?
To be added to the Direct Giving email list and receive an Evite to the parties, please email
Brandi Wright.
Mark your calendars and we'll see you there!
Your Direct Giving Chairs,
Jen Carabetta
Brandi Wright
Kristin Kaplan
Rainy day kits
The sun did not shine.
It was too wet to play.
So we sat in that house
All that cold, cold, wet day.
This year, when the weather does not permit students to play outside for recess, children will get a chance to play with their "rainy day kits." We ask that parents prepare one for their child. Please bring a one gallon bag with your child's name on it filled with appropriate activities to your child's teacher. Fill it with games, toys, puzzles, blocks, legos, markers, coloring books, activity books, reading materials, etc.
Hot lunch
SMIS is part of the one-year old DPS "
scratch cooking program." Cooking school lunches from scratch means staff will be "combining basic ingredients to prepare a menu item. Basic ingredients would include flour, sugar, oil, yeast and salt if you are baking bread. For a fruit and veggie bar, it would mean using fresh fruits and vegetables and homemade dressings. For sandwiches, it would mean putting them together ourselves rather than using a packaged product. Using bread or buns we baked ourselves. For main dishes, it means cooking raw meats and poultry, and our own seasonings, sauces and gravies."
Lunch $1.40 per student. A lunch account can be created at
mylunchmoney.com with a school ID.
Monthly menus are available online.
Meet the Staff
Liz Tencate - IB Coordinator
I am leaving the world of DPS administration to join SMIS as the IB Coordinator. I come to SMIS from Fairmont Dual Immersion Academy, a Title 1 school, focused on graduating bilingual and globally aware, internationally minded students. I have six years administrative experience in the Denver Public Schools as well as several years teaching in DPS. I have also worked in museum education as the Educational Director for the Women of the West Museum and as a consultant for the Rosa Parks Museum. I have experience working on a partnership between DePauw University and the Peace Corps in both Ecuador and Guatemala. I have also lived and worked in Spain.
One of the reasons I was drawn to SMIS was the IB philosophy and educational approach of the inquiry model. As the Principal of a dual immersion school, I learned a significant amount about how students learn a second language and about how to approach curriculum from an international mindset. I look forward to building our school's IB program into a model for Colorado and the nation. I am also thrilled at the opportunity to build a school from the very earliest stages. This is every educator's dream!
PTA meeting schedule for the year
This is the PTA meeting schedule for the upcomming school year. With the exception of the first meeting, all meetings will take place the first Tuesday of the month at 6:00 pm at SMIS. The meetings will alternate between open meetings and board meetings. Elections will be held for our executive board at the first meeting. Anyone is welcome to attend the open meetings and everyone is encouraged to join the PTA!
OPEN MEETINGS
August 30th -- Passing of by laws and Officer Elections
October 4th
December 6th
February 7th
April 3rd
May 22nd (Year End Close Out and Officer Elections for Next School Year)
BOARD MEETINGS
August 23
September 6th
November 1st
January 3rd
March 6th
May 8th
8th Annual Stapleton Kickball Tournament
The 8th Annual Stapleton Kickball Tournament is September 17th in Central Park from 10am - 2pm. This year's Tournament proceeds will benefit Stapleton Elementary Schools, including SMIS!
The website is now open for teams to sign up for the tournament. Currently, there is no SMIS team. Each team can have up to 20 people; at least 9–14 players must be on the field, including four males and four females playing at all times. Registration for each team is $175 which includes 10 t-shirts (additional T-shirts: $10). Each participant will also receive a lunch donated by Chipotle and a beverage donated by IZZE. Because SUN, who organizes the Tournament, is a 501(c)(3), this may be considered a tax-deductible donation.
Even if you don't plan to compete in the Tournament, you are still welcome to attend. There will be music, food vendors, and entertainment for the entire family. And remember, all proceeds from this event benefit SMIS, Westerly Creek, Bill Roberts and Odyssey.
