Posted October 17, 2023
Dear Swigert Families,
I hope everyone enjoyed the Fall Break and beautiful weather. Our staff collaborated yesterday on ways to elevate math thinking strategies, develop student confidence in math and engage in real world application problems.
I wanted to share about one of our partnerships with a local education organization. The Denver-based non-profit Public Education and Business Coalition (PEBC) offers teacher professional development as well as a residency-model teacher preparation program. We have partnered with PEBC’s teacher preparation program- hosting student teachers who work alongside a mentor teacher for an entire year and participate in regular professional development. Rachel Adler, Chris Jones, Aarti Vipani, Erica Ueda and Susan Cohen- all current Swigert classroom teachers- participated in the PEBC teacher program. Rhonda Margulies, Craig Ziegler, Catherine Kline and Meghan Montgomery all hosted student teachers as mentors.
Swigert’s partnership with PEBC is growing with classroom lab professional learning. For a number of years, 3rd grade teacher Holcomb Mosley has served as a PEBC “lab host,” welcoming visitors from around the country to facilitate classroom visits as part of their professional learning with PEBC. Her math lessons demonstrating student engagement and understanding are inspirational! This year, Kindergarten teacher Sumeera Aggarwal is participating in a Kaiser Permanente-sponsored PEBC Lab Fellowship program and will soon join Holcomb in hosting national visitors to her classroom. This past week, Sumeera and her students impressed a group of visitors from DPS curious about high quality math instruction in the primary years as part of a DPS / PEBC initiative.
Your opportunity to learn with PEBC is coming soon: on October 26 from 5:00 – 6:00 pm, Swigert will host a district-sponsored Math Parenting Night for all interested adults in the Swigert community. At this event, PEBC Senior Director and author Wendy Ward Hoffer will share some accessible ways that we as adults can each support our children’s success in school math and beyond. Hope you can join us! Please note that this is an adult only event.
Here are a few photos from our staff engaging together on Monday and enjoying our annual Chili Cook Off. There was quite a selection of veggie, white bean and traditional bean chilis.
Sincerely,
Shelby Dennis
shelby_dennis@dpsk12.net
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 today, 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
DPS at-large board candidates Kwame Spearman and John Youngquist answer key questions in this week’s Central Park Education News (cpednews.org) Weekly Roundup. Also, good overall story on the board election on Nov. 7 and what’s at stake from Chalkbeat.
And don’t forget to sign up for the free nonprofit www.CPEdNews.org Weekly Roundup!
https://cpednews.org/overview-of-dps-board-election-whos-running-and-whats-at-stake/
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
4th and 5th grade:
Mark your calendars! The 4th and 5th grade concerts are on Thursday, November 9.
See you there!
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!
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.
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.)**
Halloween is right around the corner! This year parties and the parade will take place during the afternoon on Friday, October 27th. Specific details about times will come from your student’s teacher soon. As you are starting to shop for costumes, please keep these guidelines in mind:
If your family does not celebrate Halloween, please let your child’s teacher know so that we can plan a fun alternate activity for them!
Here is your official invitation for Swigert’s Trunk or Treat! If you would like to decorate your trunk, please sign up below. There will also be a candy drive to collect candy to give out at the event… the class that collects the most candy will win a PIZZA PARTY!
Sign up here to host a trunk (candy will be provided) – https://www.swigertpta.com/trunk-or-treat
You can also join GW High School on Wednesday, October 25th for more Trunk or Treat fun.
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 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 16 – 5th Grade Wax Museum, 5pm
November 20-24 – Thanksgiving Break!