Posted April 26, 2022
Dear Swigert Families;
It’s been a really challenging two years, surreal in many ways and as I reflect on what we have experienced together, I am so grateful for our community- inside and outside the school walls. In the next few weeks we have several events for our community to come together to celebrate, reconnect and connect as a school community. I wanted to highlight a few:
International Night – Thursday May 5th 6-8 pm Swigert playground
As an IB school, we focus on celebrating cultures from around the world. Join us with your family to partake in different cultural activities – including Mexican Folk Dancing, Taiko Japanese Drumming, Chinese character writing and more- make a salad from our community garden and bring a cultural dessert to share.
Service Day– Friday May 13th 8:30-1:00 at Swigert
This is one of my favorite days of the year. We partner with different non-profit organizations and spend the morning dedicating our time to service and giving back to the community. This year we are working with There with Care,Project Angel Heart, Harvesting Hope, and Safe Outdoor Spaces.
Swigert Auction – Saturday May 14th- Woot!
I love the theme and location of the auction this year ( the Denver Botanic Gardens) – it fits so well for our current time and place and provides a wonderful opportunity for us to come together again – outside in a beautiful setting – and celebrate our school community. Your generous support means a great deal to our students and staff. We would love to see you all at the auction on May 13th. Here is the link to get tickets- to help us plan, please get tickets as soon as possible!
Swigert Auction 2022 | Powered By GiveSmart
Sincerely,Shelby Dennis
shelby_dennis@dpsk12.net
Thank you to the parents who wrote and signed the letter to the Board about their proposed Healthy Start Initiative. You can view and/or add your name here.
We are so excited to host our first in-person Scholastic book fair since 2019! Our book fair will be open to families at the following times:
Monday, May 2nd: closed for AM 3:00-6:30 PM
Tuesday, May 3rd: 7:45-8:30 AM and 3:00-6:30 PM
Wednesday, May 4th: 7:45-8:30 AM and 3:00-6:30 PM
Thursday, May 5th: 7:45-8:30 AM and 3:00-8:00 PM
We will also be allowing students to shop during school hours when their class visits the book fair. If you would like your child to have the opportunity to shop, consider using the E-wallet. You can find more information on the attached flyer or on our homepage. The E-wallet allows you to add money into your child’s account for use at the book fair. They are unable to spend over the amount issued on the E-wallet. There is also an opportunity for others to add money to the E-wallet (perfect for grandparents).
Please visit our homepage for more information at https://www.scholastic.com/bf/swigert1
We are still looking for volunteers. Click on the link to sign up. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4ca5ac29a5fa7-swigert
1: Choose your favorite book.
2: Design your own cover or do your best to replicate the cover.
*Include the title and author of the book
*All entries should be on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper
*Include your name, grade, and teacher on the back
3: Submit entry to your teacher by April 29th
We will select one First Place winner from each grade level, and they will receive a price. All artworks will be displayed at the Book Fair on May 2nd-5th. This is a hugely popular and fun event! Please encourage your students to participate. Questions? Email EMercerOT@gmail.com
The Early Bird Online Registration window is May 2-20. Online Registration allows families to register early for the 2022-23 school year. Please note: All families with students returning to DPS for the 22-23 school year must complete registration every year. Even if your child was just accepted through School Choice, you still need to register. If you register during the Early Bird window, you do not need to register again when it opens in July (date TBD).
To register, you will need a Parent Portal account. All students for a family should show up on the same Parent Portal account. If a student is missing, please contact that student’s school office (for Swigert, email Daphne).
To access an existing Parent Portal account, go to https://myportal.dpsk12.org/ with Chrome or Firefox. Once you’re logged in, click “See All Apps,” then scroll down to select “More.” Once Online Registration is open, that option will be listed and can be selected. Once you click on “Online Registration,” a new page will open. A table will provide the student(s) listed in your household. If a student is missing, please contact that student’s school office (for Swigert, email Daphne or call 720-424-4802). If all students are listed, click “Begin.” Please note: if your child is entering DPS for the first time, select “yes” when asked if this is your first time registering your child. The SchoolChoice application does not include the federally required Home Language Questionnaire for your student.
If you have forgotten your Parent Portal login information, click on “Forgot Username” or “Forgot Password.” You will have to have access to the email address we have on file for you in our database. If you no longer have access to that email address, or if you forgot which one you used, please either email Daphne or call 720-424-4802.
To create a new Parent Portal account, go to https://parentaccountcreation.dpsk12.org/#/. You will need to have your student’s ID and access tp the email associated with you in our database. If you need the ID for a student who is/will be attending Swigert, please email Daphne or call 720-424-4802. Please note: Parent Portal will also be used to access your student’s grades, bus information, and records throughout his/her/their DPS career.
To Complete the Online Registration:Once you’re logged in to Parent Portal, click “See All Apps,” then select “Online Registration”. Scroll down to select “More,” and can be select “Online Registration” again. A new page will open. A table will provide the student(s) listed in your household. If a student is missing, please contact that student’s school office (for Swigert, email Daphne or call 720-424-4802). If all students are listed, click “Begin.” Please note: if your child is entering DPS for the first time, select “yes” when asked if this is your first time registering your child. The SchoolChoice application does not include all the federally required Home Language Questionnaire for your student.
Hi Swigert Families!!
A few updates from the PTA! First I want to reiterate how amazing this year’s auction is going to be!! This will be our first in person auction in two years and I know how excited the school community is to re-engage with one another at a party! Swigert Auctions are always a blast and I can guarantee this one will be truly special! Molly Lacy, Amanda Jozsa, April Slater, and countless other parents have worked tirelessly to ensure this auction is a night to remember and more importantly, we raise the needed funds for our school. Please, if you have not yet purchased your tickets, do so!! https://swigert22.givesmart.com
One area that Swigert prides itself on is our school garden. The garden is a part of our school education plan which helps to teach children about our outdoor education mission. In addition, Swigert uses the vegetables grown for our school garden to help support our Critical Needs Program, and we use the lettuce grown to feed our whole school community salad for the upcoming International Night. It is so exciting to see how proud our children are when we eat the salad that they have all helped to grow. Over the past several years Gretchen Everett has spearheaded our amazing garden which can be found on the east side of our school playground. The garden is funded through our school’s PTA and is run by PTA members of our school. Gretchen is now ready to pass the torch to a new parent to take over the responsibilities of the garden come the end of the school year. We are searching for a parent who will take over this responsibility effective this June (Gretchen can work to train this parent to transition responsibilities in May). Summarizing the job of garden: over the summer the duties include determining the summer garden crops and layout, securing seedlings/seeds, helping to coordinate May planting (Gretchen will help you this May), coordinating and securing summer volunteers to support in garden maintenance, monitoring the garden irrigation, harvesting and ensuring beds are maintained over the summer months. Come spring the duties include lettuce planting and harvesting for International Night, organizing garden bed clean up, securing lettuce seedlings, coordinating lettuce planting, monitor irrigation, hoop houses and growth, coordinating harvest and prep beds for replanting in May, harvest and package veggies for critical needs. Please please email or call Courtney Percival if you would like to take over this PTA role. I can be reached at 720-280-6092 or email president@swigertpta.com.
Next Wednesday we will have our final PTA Meeting of the 2021-2022 school year!! The final meeting of the school year will be a big one so please mark your calendars. The meeting will be on May 4th from 6-7 in the STEM lab or you can join us virtually through zoom at
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87829606139?pwd=N0dPK1NZV1ZHbFFsRWpaeXZKUVA4UT09
Meeting ID: 878 2960 6139
Passcode: 9YzJWZ
At this final meeting all due paying members will be voting on the adoption of our new bylaws, the updated budget, and we will be voting in the new executive board which consists of the President, Vice President of Fundraising, Vice President of Community Engagement, Secretary and Treasurer. To view the bylaws please go to www.swigertpta.com. Please plan to join!
During the first week of May we bring back the Swigert Book Fair in person!!! The book fair will be May 2nd from 3:00-6:30, May 3rd from 7:45-8:30 and 3:00-6:30, May 4th from 7:45-8:30 and 3:00-6:30, and May 5th from 7:45-8:30 and 3:00-8:00. The May 5th date coincides with the school’s International Night so please also plan to hit up the book fair while you are celebrating at Swigert! The Swigert Summer Reading Program will be kicking off shortly so buy those books so your kids are motivated to read all summer long!!!
Thanks all and I hope to see you at the PTA Meeting!!
When: Sunday, May 1, 2022 from 9am – 12pm
Where: Wash Park, Denver, CO (Cross streets Franklin & Mississippi)
What: Best Buddies Colorado Friendship Walk
Cost: FREE
Register: www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/colorado
The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the leading walk in the country supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (also known as IDD).
Since 2009, more than 150,000 participants in 60 cities have walked to raise awareness for inclusion, friendship, leadership development and integrated job opportunities for people with IDD. Funds raised at the Friendship Walks help move our mission forward by funding local Best Buddies programs. It also provides a unique opportunity to see our mission in action at the local level. Every dollar raised goes towards making the world a more inclusive, accepting place.This community, family-friendly event features:
….and MORE!
Questions?
Contact RachaelFischer@BestBuddies.org
We have seen an increase in student CoVid cases over the past few days with a total of 7 students cases and 3 staff cases. DPS is continuing with the mask optional policy and five day quarantine for a positive case. We are also seeing more illnesses as the masks come off – flu, croup and stomach issues.
Friday Night Lights: Shining a Light on Mental Strength – Benefiting Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Pediatric Mental Health Institute
About this Event
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness month during May, NFL player Ben Garland will be hosting the second annual fun stair climb event for teens, kids, and their families – with a primary goal of raising awareness of mental health, reducing the stigma of asking for help, and equipping attendees with practical take-home tools to support their mental strength. Come check out special guests, a photo booth, giveaways, and tools for mental strength! Friday, May 6th.
Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-friday-night-lights-shining-a-light-on-mental-health-tickets-289728023317
May 14 will be here before you know it and we are so excited to celebrate our school in person with all of you at the Botanic Gardens! As a community you have come up HUGE with absolutely amazing class baskets! There are so many stellar items to bid on – truly something for everyone!
Please keep an eye on the website as we continue to preview not only live auction items but also silent auction items! Something new and special this year are kids art projects – these grade level masterpieces are stunning!
While you are on the site please get your tickets purchased! We need an accurate count so we have enough delicious food and beverages for everyone!
So… please book your sitters, buy your tickets, and get ready to gather for a beautiful, fun, and important night benefitting Swigert! https://swigert22.givesmart.com
Any questions please reach out: Amanda (amandatjozsa@gmail.com) or Molly (mollyelacy@gmail.com)
We cannot wait to see you May 14 at the Botanic Gardens and are so grateful for all the support from this community!
We still need help for the week of the Auction! Please sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0845A4AA28AB9-grow
Registration for Discovery Link care for next school year (2022-2023) opens on Monday, April 18th at 6am. For more details or to register, please go here: https://equity.dpsk12.org/extended-learning/discovery-link/
The Lunch menu is continuing to change based on availability, so we will keep you as updated as much as possible.
If your child will be coming in late and needs a hot lunch, please inform the office of their choice so their lunch can be added to the counts.
Lunch for the remainder of this week:
Wed 4/27: Cheeseburger OR Bean & Cheese Burrito OR PB&J
Thu 4/28: Chorizo Mac & Cheese OR Mac & Cheese OR Yogurt Basket
Fri 4/29: BBQ Pulled Pork OR Chicken Sandwich OR Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Lunch Next Week:
Mon 5/2: Beef Nachos OR Cheese Nachos OR PB&J
Tue 5/3: Chicken Nuggets OR Hot Boneless Wings OR Grilled Cheese Sandwich OR Yogurt Basket
Wed 5/4: Korean BBQ Beef Bowl OR Cheesy Bread Stick OR PB&J
Thu 5/5: Chicken Drumstick OR Mexican Chopped Salad OR Yogurt Basket
Fri 5/6: Cheeseburger OR Pulled BBQ Pork Sandwich OR PB&J
Blackjack has been moved back to Thursdays. Sorry about the last-minute change! The final Blackjack day will be Thursday, May 19th.
Please remember if your student will arrive late and will need a hot lunch, call the office at 720-424-4802 to order a lunch before 9:00am.
If your child has a peanut allergy and needs Wow butter (or other food allergy that requires accommodation), please be sure you’ve completed the attached Meal Modification Form. Food & Nutrition Services requires this form even if you have an allergy/anaphylaxis form on file with the nurse. You can return the form to our kitchen manager or the front office.
Home Lunches:
Please note that we do not have a way for students to heat their lunches. If you send a lunch to school with your child, it must be ready-to-eat. No microwaves or refrigerators are available.
International Night will be Thursday, May 5th from 6:00-8:00pm at Swigert.
If families do not opt-in by June 30th, they may experience a delay in service. If your child currently rides the bus with an Exception, a new Exception Request is required every school year. For more information, please visit transportation.dpsk12.org or email transportation@dpsk12.org.
Please see the attached flyer for information on the DU Ritchie Center PASS Camp.
Scholarships available!
Discovery Link will be offering as much outdoor programming as possible this summer. Please see the attached brochure, or click here for more information or to register.
Summer Connections (formerly Summer Academy) is a free, 6-week academic program that is open to all rising 1st through 5th-grade students. This full-day program was redesigned to prepare elementary students for future success.
There are a few programming options offered by DPS for students who have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Please contact the Special Education team if you are unsure which program is best for your student. Participation and attendance in the Extended School Year (ESY) program is a priority for students who are eligible for these services.
Students will engage with content they will see in the upcoming school year, which will include instruction in foundational literacy, math and science. Our enrichment partners will guide students for 60 minutes each day through hands-on activities aligned with that day’s academic lessons.
Please click here for more information and registration instructions.