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Weekly News from Steele Elementary

02 11 2016   
Contents
From the Principal
School News
PTA News
Community News
Quick Links
Dates To Remember
From the Principal
Thank You!!
I am continuously overwhelmed with gratitude for the work our parents do to help make Steel a great place for our children. Once again, as I sat in our PTA meeting last Tuesday night, I was blown away by the detail, passion and effort that our parents display in their work at Steele. Your energy and passion takes on so many different shapes and forms and is truly inspiring to me, thank you.

At this time, I'd like to highlight our Stallion Fund committee and all of the generous community members who have helped us reach our goal of raising $115,000 by the 100th day of school. In true Steele fashion our community blew this goal out of the water by raising $126,731 to date. Holy Cow!! This is truly a team effort that is helped by every community member that donates money no matter how large or small. This money is put to great use and allows us to have 2nd educators in every classroom, supplement technology in the classroom, provide supplemental programs to students (archery for 4th and 5th graders) and also allows us to increase our GT and intervention services!

Below are some details about how our money has been donated:
  • Havana Nights net proceeds represents 78% of the total ($98,747)
  • Colorado Gives makes up the remaining 22% ($27,984)
We also have some incredibly generous donors ... 
  • 1 time donation of $10,000
  •  1 time donation of $5,000
  •  1 time donation of $2,000  
  •  5 donations of $1,000

We also have four families that donate generous amounts of money each month.

I am awed by your generosity. Thank you so much for helping to make Steele such a great school with so many resources for our students. This is truly a special place for adults and children and that is in large part due to the work that you do for our students, thank you!


School News
Introducing a Private Steele Facebook Group
In response to requests for a forum to have more informal communication, we're rolling out a new Private Steele Facebook Group!
 
Unlike our public Steele page (which can be viewed by anyone on Facebook who has "liked" the page), the new group is open only to Steele parents/guardians and staff. Think of it as a "virtual playground" where we can chat among ourselves. It's a great place to post information that doesn't fit in the Steele Stallion Press or on the website. You can ask questions, discuss issues, and post news/events that do not come from the school or PTA.
 
To gain access to the new group:
  1. Click here: facebook  
    (Or, if you are already logged into Facebook, search for Steele Elementary Private Group    .)
  2. Click "Request Access"
  3. Once you have been approved by an administrator (Shaleen DeStefano or Kevin Greeley), you will receive a notification via Facebook that you can now use the group
There are guidelines in a pinned post at the top of the group. Before posting or commenting, please familiarize yourself with the guidelines.
What if you don't want to be in the group? No problem! This is a resource for you. If you might find it valuable, then sign up. If not, then don't. (You can also leave the group at any time.)
 

Student Council Box Top Contest

Student Council is collecting Box Tops for Education! We are challenging each classroom to collect at least 100 box tops by March 24th. In addition, the class that raises the most box tops will earn
Box Tops for Education logoa pizza party (with a salad and pop) on the day before Spring Break, Friday, March 25th! :) 
We will continue a school-wide collection for the remainder of the year but any box tops collected between now and March 25th will be a part of the competition.
Containers will be stored in each classroom for students to put their box tops in.
If you have any questions please contact Michelle Parks, Room 306 or via e-mail at michelle_reedy@dpsk12.org  

Spelling Bee
Cade Ramirez, Hayden Dempsey and Kate Kotowski competed at Brown Elementary School last month in a district spelling bee.  They competed against students from four other schools: Brown, Edison, Wyatt and Munroe. Hayden went clear into the 4th round.  Cade  is only a second grader and went deep into the first spelling bee in December and did well at this bee.  
Kate Kotowski took first place!  So, Congratulations Kate! and Congrats to Hayden and Cade for going out and taking risks and showing our Stallion pride.
The next competition is the City Wide Written bee next week.
Good Luck, team!

MUSIC NOTES
Upper elementary classes have been learning African American songs and early American songs in January.  Now they are working on irregular meter and changing meters. (5/4,5/8).  An example of this is "Take Five".  Lower elementary classes are learning rhythms using Popsicle sticks to write what they hear and identify rhythm.  They also have learned seasonal songs and will continue singing seasonal songs. Kindergarten has improved on walking the steady beat, patching and clapping beats and matching pitches!    Have your children sing with you and enjoy music together!

Marilyn Kopperud
Music teacher
 
After School Enrichment
There are many wonderful after school programs being offered at Steele this spring to allow children to broaden their cultural horizons. Visit the Steele website for further details on these and other programs offered. 
 

PTA News
Steele Dines Out at Blackbird: February 16
Dine in, or take out, any time on February 16, from 11:00 am to close, and 15% of the proceeds will be donated back to Steele!   Located just a block from Steele, at 305 S. Downing St.
 
Wash Park Home Tour Planning Meeting: February 17 
The Wash Park Home Tour on May 7th, Steele's biggest fundraiser of the year, relies on the hard work of a slew of volunteers. It's also a lot of fun! Interested in learning more? Plan on attending the next Wash Park Home Tour meeting on February 17 from 6-8pm at the home of Wash Park Home Tour Chair Danielle Vitale (627 S Corona St.). Please bring a bottle of wine or appetizer to share.

Steele All-School Winter Dance: February 19 
No Dates, No Drama...Just Dancing!!!! Friday, February 19, 6-8pm, Steele Auditorium.
Tickets: $5pp  (Steele students and parents only due to space limitations. Everyone will need to buy a ticket.) Family fun, DJ entertainment and light snacks provided!  Not a drop-off event; students must have an adult responsible for them present.
   
Ticket sales will be after school from 3:00-3:20 thru tomorrow, 2/12. Tickets will also be available in the school office throughout the day until Wednesday the 17th, or until sold out.
 
Parents are needed to help set-up, during and clean-up.  See all available volunteer opportunities by logging into MySchoolAnywhere
Questions? Email Crissy Lucado.
 
Community News
South High School President's Day Basketball Camp 
Is your student interested in basketball? If so, South is offering a basketball clinic from 1:00-4:00 on February 15th. Click here for more information.

Sock Donations Needed
Girl Scout troop 67593 (4th and 5th graders from Steele) is collecting socks for the homeless.  Please leave a donation of new socks in the bin located outside the cafeteria and help some of our neediest neighbors.  Thanks in advance for your support!

South Mini-Rebels Cheerleading
If your child is 4-10 and interested in performing with the South cheerleaders at a South basketball game they can sign up for the mini-rebs clinic on February 13th and perform on February 19th. Click here for more information.

Lacrosse for 1st and 2nd grade boys
Washington Park Lacrosse is seeking 1st and 2nd grade boys for their U8 lacrosse team.  Players must be born after June 1, 2007 to qualify for U8.  The Wash Park Lacrosse program is administered through Denver Parks & Recreation.  Any experience level is welcome, and beginners are strongly encouraged to join.  Please contact Robby Eder, Program Administrator, at washparklax@gmail.com, or call 720-865-3408 for more information.  Registration is open for the spring season.

Merrill News
To check out what's happening at Merrill Middle School, click here.
To submit information to this newsletter, send it in edited, final-draft format to the appropriate person from the list below by 5 PM on Tuesdays:
For all other questions, please email Cynthia Swanson and Liz Marvan (parent volunteers) at steelestallionpress@gmail.com.