Posted October 3, 2023
Dear Swigert Families ,
Spirit week has been so fun and colorful this week. It’s been joyful seeing the waves of color on the playground, in classrooms and cafeteria. Students and staff are quite creative with their selections including accessories, hair highlights, etc. I am looking forward to our color run on Friday afternoon, please see details here: Color Run Schedule
It was wonderful to see so many families on Friday at our Direct Giving Party. Thank you to Heather Weldon for opening up her home and to the PTA for organizing this event. These events are organized to raise school spirit and concomitantly raise funds for our school. These dollars truly allow us to be an International Baccalaureate school. They directly support the IB program including funding teacher professional learning, our Spanish program , IB coordinator and additional para professional support. We know everyone is not in a position to donate and that is absolutely okay, there are so many ways to support our school community. Tomorrow is a blue day! Here are some fun photos from the past two days:
I wanted to send my deep appreciation to the community for showing up and supporting Swigert’s first grade student Pippa Robinson and cancer research at our second annual head shaving event for St. Baldricks- Swigert Bald Eagle Event The number of staff, students and community members who shaved their heads was so heartwarming. Thank you! Here are a few photos from the event.
Last night we held a diversity, equity and inclusivity meeting for parents and staff. It was a great turnout and the conversation was valuable and important. Our goals as a group are to bring together families, staff and community members to build a diverse and inclusive learning community and to provide ideas to strengthen our school-wide diversity, equity and inclusiveness work.- Slide Show- Mtg We would love to see more families at our next meeting. I will reach out when we have our next date.
In appreciation,
Shelby Dennis
shelby_dennis@dpsk12.net
Swigert Community:
We are going to postpone the SAC (School Accountability Committee) meeting that was scheduled for this evening due to how busy many of us are with conferences. We will have our next meeting on Tuesday, October 17th at 5:00pm in the library. We would love to have more community members attend, the meeting is welcome to all. We discuss school programming,calendar, budget and staffing throughout the year and we appreciate parent perspective and input. Thank you!
Welcome Back to School!
Students are off to a great start thanks to the support of our families and the dedication and professionalism of staff.
While you probably chose for your student to attend our school because of its focus on innovation and supporting kids, you may not be as familiar that our school is part of the Northeast Denver Innovation Zone (NDIZ).
About Innovation Zones
Innovation Zones are networks of free, public schools that share a geographic region, and common goals and interests. Innovation Zone schools have flexibility in choosing district services and practices, and they retain the budget dollars associated with those services which can be redistributed to meet student needs at the local level.
Join the NDIZ Zone Community Council (Northeast Denver Innovation Zone)
Please help us create a richer education for our students through community involvement. Join the NDIZ Community Council. We will meet the 2nd week of each month, both in person and virtually To discuss community issues. Our first meeting is October 10th 5:30 at the Manual Library.
Our Purpose
Our Ask of You
NDIZ Community Council #1
Tuesday, October 10 · 5:30 – 6:30pm
McAuliffe Manual High School or on line
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/9468808212?pwd=Y1l0VEpLYzltcSsvVzlPMTNpdUtEdz09
Meeting #2 is November, October 8th
Please reach out to Colleen O’Brien Colleen@NDIZ.org to join the Zone Community Council
Bloom school pictures are now available to view and order! Go to https://smile.bloomschoolpictures.com/gallery/swigert_2023-2024/album/15886059. In order to see your child(ren)’s photos, you’ll need to use their student ID (AKA lunch number). You can order pictures directly from the website.
If your student was absent or you would like to have your student get a retake, please click HERE and scroll to the very bottom blue box and fill out your student’s information. Retakes will be on Wednesday, October 25th.
Questions? Email Maleia or Lynette
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. We have found that many parents like to purchase the recorders so students can practice at home as well as at school. 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 $6.00. This book is supplemental to the work the students are doing in class.
Here are some helpful practice hints:
If you choose to purchase a recorder, you can order online. Simply sign into your account at myschoolbucks.com. From there, click on “School Store,” then “Browse All Items,” then “Recorder-Swigert.” 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!
Caroline Dane, our IB Coordinator, has compiled a list of suggested activities to do with your child(ren) to encourage development of the IB Traits. Please see the attached file of Learner Profile activities.
2023-24 yearbooks are available for pre-purchase now through January 25th.. The final price is $36.25 for Softcover, or $41.25 for Hardcover. However, there are discounts for ordering early.
If you order by October 31st, yearbooks are only $21.25 for Softcover or $26.25 for hardcover. To pay by credit card, please order directly through Walsworth at yearbookforever.com. For cash or check (made out to Swigert), order through the school using this form. If you send the order form with your student(s), please email Daphne so she knows to look for it.
We had some incredible artists submit artwork for our cover. The winners are:
1st Place (Cover): Quincy C.
2nd Place (Title Page): Lilah F.
All other artwork will be incorporated into the yearbook, as well. Thank you to all the talented students who submitted cover art!
Do you love pastries,cookies, brownies,or coffee? Why pick one when you can have them all!
Mrs. Ross (4th Grade Teacher) and Ms. Bea (Kindergarten Para) are raising money for their annual Mission trip to Missouri this summer. We are selling butter braid pastries, yumbana gluten-free treats, and kona coffee to help fundraise. Our youth group will make a 40% profit on each item we sell. If you love pastries or would like to contribute to their youth group please make an order online using the following link. Online Link https://store.myfundraisingplace.com/020bf13d-f051-42db-a0a8-cfb1a5cae4ff
Steps to make an online order
1. Click the link: https://store.myfundraisingplace.com/020bf13d-f051-42db-a0a8-cfb1a5cae4ff
2 Scroll down to click on Mrs. Ross name (Sandra R.) or Ms. Bea name ( Bea D)
3. Select what you would like to purchase and pay online.
4. In the note section please write your child’s name, teacher’s name, and classroom number so we can deliver the items to your student at school when your items arrive (This is very important to ensure that you get the items that you purchased)
Thank you for your support!
Mrs. Ross and Ms. Bea
In Central Park Education News (cpednews.org) this week — Only three candidates remain in DPS at-large board race as Paul Ballenger drops out. Also read about how discipline is supposed to work in DPS. And that DPS paid a $3,500 legal bill for board member Auon’tai Anderson, but the board didn’t know about it.
Don’t forget to sign up for nonprofit CPEdNews.org’s free Weekly News Roundup!
Please go to our Swigert Gives page to donate and read about everything your donation does for our school. And remember it’s not just you, please search and see if your company will match.
To see our progress, donate https://www.swigertpta.com/swigert-gives
What is the Color Run?
A fun run around the field where students will run through color stations. By reaching a daily fundraising goal, they “earn” a color station for the FUN.
Where is the Color Run?
The run will take place on the playground on the large grass field inside the gates during school hours October 6th. Parents are welcome to come watch by lining up on the outside perimeter of the gates.
What should my student wear?
Every child will receive a t-shirt to wear over their clothes for the run. We are asking for a $5 donation for each shirt to offset the cost, but that is optional. Shirt can be purchased here https://www.swigertpta.com/spirit/p/color-run-t-shirt.
Who can I contact with additional questions or to volunteer?
Yes, please email president@swigertpta.com to help with this event.
Thursday, October 26
5pm
in the library
Math PARENT night is designed to offer adults strategies and skills to support children as math learners. We will talk about ways that you can set a mathematical example, notice and discuss math in the world around you, and support school math and homework.
**This is not a “math night” of games and activities but rather an adult learning experience.)**
Here’s a quick reminder for classroom funds. If you haven’t already and you’re able to, please click the link below and submit your classroom funds for the year. These funds go to help support our fantastic teachers and subsequently our students in their pursuit of learning for the year!
https://www.swigertpta.com/classfund
More details coming, but here’s a heads up on our plans for the Halloween holiday!
We’d love to connect with you as much as possible. You will be automatically added to our weekly Swigert Eagle newsletter that comes out every Tuesday during the school year. Please also visit our website at www.swigert.dpsk12.org to learn more about Swigert and events that are coming up. You can also join our “Friends of Swigert International School” private Facebook page – www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofswigert. When requesting to join, please include a note to say you are a new family. We post pictures of events at school, interact as a school family, and you can see friendly reminders of upcoming events. Who to contact if you have questions about:
| ROLE | NAME | |
| Instruction, Programing, etc | Shelby DennisAmber Holthus-Pera | Shelby_Dennis@dpsk12.net Amber_Holthus-Pera@dpsk12.net |
| Daily School Life | Emily Pool | Emily_Pool@dpsk12.net |
| Registration | Daphne Jolley | Djolley@dpsk12.net |
| Technology and events | Richard Fisher | Richard_Fisher@dpsk12.net |
| Health | Nurse Hoang Tran | Hoang_Tran@dpsk12.net |
| IB Program, Service Learning | Caroline Dane | Caroline_Dane@dpsk12.net |
| Swigert PTA | Cortney Dickey | president@swigertpta.com |
Key Dates
October 2-6 – Spirit Week!
October 6 – Color Run!
October 12-16 – No school for students
October 25 – Picture make-up and retake day
October 27 – Halloween Parade, classroom parties and PTA Trunk or Treat
October 31 – Halloween (no costumes or parties, students can dress in orange and black)
November 9 – 4th & 5th Grade Art show and Music Concert
November 20-24 – Thanksgiving Break!