REMINDER: No School Friday, October 16th - Tuesday, October 20th. 
 In-Person students will all return full-time on Wednesday, October 21st. 

IN-PERSON HEALTH SCREENING: All in-person families must fill out the Safe Access Health Screening each day before arriving to school. You will need your student's ID to complete the screening. If your students are not yet back in-person, please familiarize yourself with the screening so you are prepared for your first day back.

DO NOT SEND YOUR STUDENT TO SCHOOL IF THEY HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS!


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 principal
Principal

We have had an amazing first week with our 1st graders! It was so great seeing our young owls in their classrooms this week. We are very much looking forward to welcoming back our 2nd-5th next week for our gradual return to school week next week as well. In preparation for next week, we'd like to invite all second-fifth grade families to join Natalie and me for a Q and A session this afternoon. We'll be reviewing health and safety guidelines as well as an introduction to a day in the life of a UPark Owl. Please take time prior to your student's return day to review school expectations for mask wearing, social distancing and hand washing. Also, this is a good time to build nightly charging of Chromebooks into your routine to ensure that devices are charged and ready to go every day. 
 
Have a wonderful day and stay UPark Strong!

Thank you,
  
Principal
Team UPark

Click here to submit your jokes!
 

kinder
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Details for In-Person Return

Please make sure to drop your students off right at the the arrival time listed below. Students will stand on marked socially distanced spots until their health screening has been completed and the classroom teacher has picked up the class. There will be no playing on school grounds before or after school hours. 

For the safety of all our students, please make sure to give your hugs and goodbyes away from the student line up spots so that we can continue to ensure proper social distancing measures. Adults must maintain 6 feet of distance between themselves and any other individual outside of your household. 

Before arriving to school each day, please also make sure to fill out your Safe Access Health Screening here. You will need your student's ID to complete the screening.


return
2nd-5th Grade In-Person Return and Virtual Programming Details

In-Person Days
Next week, October 12-15, we will have our in-person 2nd through 5th grade students return to school for one day of in-person learning to review health and safety procedures and get familiar with what a day will look like back in the building. Please mark your calendars with the date for your grade level listed below. Look for more information from your classroom teacher soon! There is no school October 16-20th and all in-person students will return full-time on October 21st.
  • Fifth Grade - Monday 10/12
  • Fourth Grade - Tuesday 10/13
  • Third Grade - Wednesday 10/14
  • Second Grade - Thursday 10/15

Virtual Students
Students that are participating in UPark's virtual programming will have asynchronous instruction on the day that their grade level has their in-person day. The new rosters that were sent out earlier this week will go into effect starting on October 21st.

funrun
PTA

PTA MEETING
The next UPark PTA meeting is coming up on Tuesday, October 13th at 6pm. 
JOIN US VIA ZOOM: 
 
If you haven't joined the PTA yet, membership is only $10 and you can join HERE. Everyone is welcome to attend this meeting - you do not have to be a paid PTA member to attend. 
 
funspirit
Fun Run & UPark Spirit Day

UPark Spirit Day Tomorrow - Friday, October 9th 
Students are encouraged to wear their new Fun Run T-Shirts or any other UPark gear. If your student doesn't yet have any UPark t-shirts, we suggest they wear UPark RED or anything with an owl on it.  
 
*If you purchased a Fun Run t-shirt, but weren't able to pick it up yesterday, please email uparkpta@gmail.com to make other arrangements to pick up your shirt(s). 
 
 
Virtual Fun Run Saturday - October 10th at 10 am 
Ms. Hartin will lead us in some stretches and warm ups on ZOOM before you head out to enjoy a run around your neighborhood, a local park, or anywhere that feels safe for your family.
 
ZOOM LINK:
Meeting ID: 834 6775 9304
Passcode: wFTz3e

apple
Apple Campaign Grade Level Competition Update
 
Our friendly grade level competition is off to a great start! Currently, 1st grade is in the lead with 20% of families donating. Where does your grade stand? Give today to make your dollars count toward earning a take home popcorn snack for your student. Mail a check made out to UPark PTA to 2300 S. St. Paul St Denver, CO 80210 or visit http://bit.ly/apple-upark to give online. Let's see those percentages grow!

restaurant
October Restaurant Night is To-Go!  
Monday, October 12th from 4-10pm

We're taking October restaurant night to-go from a UPark favorite: Esters (1950 S Holly St. in Virginia Village). Esters will be giving 20% back from all to-go orders that mention UPark. You can call in your order and tell them you're with us, or you can even order carryout online and write UPARK FUNDRAISER in the comments! 
 

masks
Mask Guidance

Please make sure to review this Mask Guidance Document to ensure that we are all safely using and caring for our masks. Please also help your child practice safely taking their mask on and off and washing hands thoroughly with soap for 20 seconds.  

food
In-Person Breakfast and Lunch/DPS Food Distribution

In-Person Breakfast and Lunch
Denver Public Schools is providing free breakfast and lunch through December 31st to any student that would like it. Breakfast will be a grab and go option that students will eat in their classrooms. For lunch, students will be able to choose between a meat and vegetarian lunch option at the beginning of the day. View the menu options by downloading the SchoolCafe app here.

Families can always choose to bring their own lunch to school as well. If you choose to send a lunch with students, please be sure to pack utensils. 

DPS Food Distribution 
Denver Public Schools is providing breakfast and lunch meals to any person, 18 years and under, whether they attend a DPS school or not through December 31, 2020. 
  • DPS can serve free meals to all children, 18 years and younger, through the end of the year.
  • Parents and guardians can pick up meals for their children at any school or bus delivery location, Monday - Friday, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. Click here for a list of the meal pick-up sites.

clothing
In Need of Clothing?

UPark currently has a large amount of donated clothing that needs to be given out to families. If your student is in need of clothing, shoes, and/or backpacks, please complete this form by Friday, October 9th. Bags will be packed by adults wearing masks and gloves, and will be distributed to families when completed. For families with multiple students, please complete one form, but indicate each size needed. If we do not currently have what you have requested, we will work to try and obtain it. If you have any questions, please contact Alicia Vega at alicia_vega@dpsk12.org or 720-424-3458.

healthoffice
UPark Health Office

As we plan to return to the building this year, the threshold for when a student will be sent home has changed drastically.  Symptoms of COVID, such as shortness of breath, runny nose, persistent cough, difficultly breathing, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, just to name a few, will all be reasons your student will be sent home from school. In order for a student who has any symptoms to return to school: 
  • symptoms must have resolved within 24 hours of onset without the use of medications OR
  • at least 10 days since the symptoms appeared, AND symptoms resolving, AND no fever for 24 hours without use of medicine OR
  • there is a known medical diagnosis with documentation from a medical provider (i.e. chronic conditions, asthma, allergies or other)

Allergies or Asthma
We understand that students with chronic medical conditions may have daily symptoms such as a persistent cough with asthma or runny nose with allergies. The Colorado Department of Education has provided the suggestion to parents and the school's registered nurse that letters from a student's provider would need to be submitted for a student to be present at school with specific allergy or asthma symptoms.  
 
This letter will need to specify your student's diagnosis, what your student's symptoms are expected to be with a student's "normal/healthy" baseline.  For allergies this letter would also include what triggers and what time of year your student will have these symptoms.  
 
Please understand, this is optional, however as we return to in-person school all students with COVID symptoms such as runny noses and coughs will be sent home and do require documentation from a medical provider to "explain" symptoms if symptoms have not resolved in 24 hours without the use of medications.    
 
Thank you for your diligence as we start this school year, 

Antoinette Schmitz, APRN, MSN, RN
University Park Registered Nurse

theater
Free Theater Workshops for DPS Students

DPS is partnering with the DCPA (Denver Center for the Performing Arts) to offer free, after school virtual workshops for 3rd-5th grade students. Click here for program details. Email UPark Drama and Music teacher Callie Ludwig at callie_ludwig@dpsk12.org to register. 


socialemotional
Social/Emotional Learning Information

Social/Emotional learning is a critical part of the work that we are doing at UPark, especially in these unique times. We will be sharing a Social/Emotional tip of the week each week to provide information and resources that can be used at home to support your students. Please check out the Social/Emotional Tips of the Week, by clicking the links below. 

As your students begin learning social/emotional skills through the Positive Action Curriculum, you may want to further develop their skills at home. If you'd like to access the family kit, visit the website linked below, and create a log-in. From there you'll be able to digitally access lessons to use with your child at home. Positive Action Family Kit

smoke
Protect Yourself From Wildfire Smoke

This year's wildfire season has been extraordinarily active, and Denver has seen changes in air quality and visibility. Fires in various parts of Colorado and the west coast impact Denver's air quality and can create unhealthy conditions. You can get email or text alerts about air quality in your region by signing up for air quality alerts from the Regional Air Quality Council. These air quality updates can help you make informed decisions about poor air quality. When air quality readings are in the "yellow/ orange" range, air quality is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. That includes individuals with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the elderly, and young children. When readings reach the "red" or "purple" zones, air quality has reached unsafe conditions. During periods of unsafe air quality conditions, consider indoor activities when possible to help reduce your exposure to the harms of poor air quality. 

Love My Air Denver provides communities access to real-time, local air quality data at DenverAQ.com. The program also empowers communities to make decisions regarding their health through education and behavior change. To do your part to help prevent wildfires and unnecessary smoke, don't burn yard or household waste, only use fire pits for cooking purposes, and limit firework use to open spaces. To learn more about what the city of Denver is doing to improve air quality and to learn more about the Love My Air Denver programUPark has an air quality monitor on the fence by the kindergarten playground to provide our neighborhood with information on air quality.

DL
Dear UPark Families,

Our Discovery Link Team at University Park is very happy to be reunited with our kids during Remote Learning! Check out the information below to see what Discovery Link has to offer families!

Registration re-opens
  • We will let you know soon when the before and after school programming begins for Kindergarteners. Discovery link Before School (Early Risers) program opens at 6:30 am for morning drop off and students are released to school at 9:00 am. After School DL programing will start at 3:30 PM Monday-Friday. Pick up for After School will be at 6:00 PM.
  • Registration for Remote Learning Support remains open for students in grades other than Kindergarten that don't return to in-person learning until October 21st. Remote Learning Support registration is open until the end of remote learning on October 15th. 
    • Remote Learning Support will take place Monday-Friday from 7:40 a.m. to noon.
  • Don't forget that families now have the ability to choose as many or as few days of childcare on a monthly basis as they need. I encourage all to visit the How to Choose/Remove Day Resource below for support!
Model:
Discovery Link (DPS's in-house before and after school program) and the comprehensive partners who have been running programs since July will return to the typical before and after school program model but with a reduced capacity.
  • Capacity of 60 kids per site, including ECE (10 ECE max)
  • Cohorts of no larger than 15 kids, with cohorts split by grade when possible
  • Cohorts will be outside as much as possible, weather permitting
  • Only children who attend in-person learning can come to before and after school

Safety:
Discovery Link and the comprehensive partners will maintain the safety procedures implemented over the summer and during Remote Learning Supports (currently occurring 8:00-noon daily in 55 buildings) 
  • Temperature checks and documentation prior to allowing children into programming
  • No adults permitted inside - drop off and pick up will occur outdoors
  • No enrichment partners, limiting the number of adults (except partners who can operate fully outdoors and go through Community Use to schedule)
  • Staff health protocols including temperature checks and daily health screens.

The Links To Register For Discovery Link Programs Are Below!

calendar
University Park Elementary Calendar

Click on the calendar icon to the right, look below, or visit the University Park Website to access calendar information!