I've had a few questions about lunch and wanted to share our schedule, some of the adjustments we've made to better serve our students and some areas that we are observing to see if changes need to be made.

K/1 lunch/Recess: K/1 lunch/recess takes place from 11:40-12:25. Our kindergartners start out in the lunch room at 11:40 and when they are finished eating raise their hand to be dismissed. One of the three teachers in the lunch room checks in with the student, does their best to make sure they've eaten enough, and dismisses them to go outside for recess. The majority of kindergartners come outside between 12:05 and 12:10.

Our first graders go outside to recess at 11:40, at noon they line up and go into the cafeteria to eat. This gives students a little over 20 minutes to eat. We allow all first graders to finish their lunch; there are usually 3-5 students who finish up around 12:25.

Grades 2 through 5: At 12:15 our students in 3rd 4th and 5th grade go outside to recess and our 2nd grade students go inside to eat lunch. Our 3rd graders come in for lunch at 12:22; our 4th graders at 12:28 and our 5th graders at 12:33. We adjusted these times after it was brought to our attention that 5th graders did not have enough time to eat their lunch. Since implementing these new times I have not seen a student who has not completed their lunch before 12:58. Students are dismissed for recess when they have eaten their lunch and ask to be dismissed.

Miscellaneous information:

CMAS Social Studies and Science Scores

We will be sending last year's individual Social Studies CMAS scores home with our 5th graders this Friday. I will send out a blast with information on how to interpret these scores on Friday. In next week's Stallion I will send a piece about last year's assessments. This information will include

Thanks for all you do-cheers Kevin

Bike-a-Thon (9:40am registration opens; first wave of riders departs at 10am):All Steele students and their families are encouraged to participate in this fun and healthy activity. All pledge funds raised at the Bike-a-Thon benefit Steele PE, Art, Music, and Drama.

Please attend, with a friend! Agenda items will include presentations from Denver Board of Education District 1 incumbent Anne Rowe and challenger Kristi Butkovich. The election is November 3rd. Join us in the auditorium from 6-7:30pm; child care will be available in the gym for $3 per child. Drinks and conversation will continue at Wash Park Sports Alley following the meeting. If you plan to get involved but aren't yet a member, please join this month during our fall drive. PTA membership is only $10/individual and $6 for Steele teachers and staff.

Save the date to join the celebration of the harvest season end! Our annual garden "Dig It" Day will be Saturday, October 24th from 8:30am to 1pm.  Breakfast and lunch will be provided.