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Weekly News from Steele Elementary

04 28 2016   
Contents
From the Principal
School News
PTA News
Community News
Quick Links
Dates To Remember
From the Principal
Parent Satisfaction Surveys-This Year and Last
I hope that everyone has had time to complete and send in the Parent Satisfaction Surveys that were sent home a few weeks ago. If you have not, you still have time! The surveys need to be postmarked by May 13, 2016.
 
In the past Collaborative School Committee (CSC) has always reviewed the survey and determined the greatest areas of strengths and challenges for our school and parent community. Due to the school not receiving a School Performance grade this year we did not review the parent satisfaction survey until recently.
 
We agreed that we should not share our findings until after the survey date is complete but I did want to share some general news with you and some action steps we will take. Overall we did very well and have seen growth in parent satisfaction. There is one area where we are significantly low and want to do better. That area is providing parent workshops and trainings to the community.
 
When we discussed this in our last CSC meeting one member noted the low turnout for our information session on Math Common Core Standards in the fall. We thought the best way to move forward would be to provide our parents with a survey so we can determine which parent workshops and trainings would be most beneficial for parents. Please take 2-5 minutes to fill out our Survey. You can get their by clicking on this link:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HPG772N
 
New Parent Letters!
If you are a new parent at Steele you should have just received a letter with important information about registration, New Parent Orientation and other fun facts (like signing up for the Steele Stallion Press).
 If you did not receive this letter please contact the front office so that we can send it to you.

Screen Free Week
Someone just brought to my attention that next week is National Screen Free Week. Unfortunately we do not have time to organize this at the school level but I would like to let families know about the challenge. I am hoping this is something my own family can take on. I think it will be nice to unplug and connect. If you're interested in more information here is a link: http://www.screenfree.org/
 
Thanks to all of you for all that you do-cheers Kevin

School News
teacherTeacher Appreciation Week: May 2-6 
Monday, May 2nd is the start of our annual week long celebration of Steele teachers and staff!  Students are encouraged to bring a small token of appreciation one or more of the days next week.  Let's show our teachers and staff members how much we appreciate all their hard work and dedication!

Monday is FLOWER Day (cut one from your garden?).
Tuesday is DRINK Day (lemonade, pop or Starbucks card?).
Wednesday is TREAT Day (sweet or salty treat?).
Thursday is CARD Day (handmade note or card?).
Friday is YOUR CHOICE (be unique or repeat a favorite).

bikeBike to School Day is Wednesday, May 4th 
Ride, walk or roll to school on Wednesday and join students nationwide get healthy and help the environment! Coach Tim Welch will welcome students on the playground before school to sign Steele's banner and enter a raffle for fun prizes.

artSteele Art Show
Thursday, May 12, 2016
6:30 - 8:30P.M.
Please join us on this very special evening to celebrate our Steele Artists.
Each student will have a 2D piece of art work of their choosing and a 3D collaborative piece.
This is a treasure hunt and the prize is your child's artwork.
Background music by Steele students along with refreshments.

diDestination Imagination Fundraiser 
Please join our Movement Madness Class on Friday May 6th from 5:30 - 8:30 at Steele Elementary.
This class is a fundraiser for Steele's Destination Imagination Team ' Nashville or Bust' who are heading to Gobals for the 2nd straight year.  They finished 1st place in the Regional and State Tournament.  All funds raised will go towards the cost of travel and room and board.  They will be staying on campus at The University of Tennessee from May 23rd - May 29th . 
They are raising funds to help cover some of the teams costs which are around $5000.00 total. 
Please see attached flier and we hope to see your kids on May 6th!!

Library Books
All Steele library books are due May 20th.  There are currently 585 overdue books.  Please help your children find them and bring them in. To access a list of books checked out by your child, please log onto  lion.dpsk12.org, hover over My Lion and click on My Account.  (You will need your child's student number to do this.) I will also be sending home overdue slips in the next few weeks.
If you have any lost books, you may replace the book yourself or send in the cost of replacement. If you have any questions, I can be reached at 720-424-3733 or patricia_mather@dpsk12.org

Summer Camps
Looking for fun activities for your children this summer? Many terrific camps will be offered by our enrichment providers, teachers, and associated community partners (such as South High and SPREE). To view all current opportunities, click here -- and make sure to check back, as other camps will be added when information becomes available.
PTA News
PTA ExecutiveBoard Meeting: May 4
The monthly PTA Executive Board (EB) meetings are always open to the school community.  The next meeting will be Wednesday, May 4th and parents areNew PTA Logo invited to attend and learn more about the Executive Board's work. The meeting runs from 8:20 to 10:15 a.m. in the school office. Guests are welcome to arrive and depart as schedules allow. Please RSVP to Steelepresident@gmail.com.      

Wash Park Home Tour: May 7, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.            
Volunteering
Congratulations to Liz Marvan, this week's volunteer winner! 
Liz - who has been a Wash Park Home Tour volunteer for 13 years - won a gift certificate to Rosedale, courtesy of 1st grade parents Angie and Brian Midtbo.

There are plenty of volunteer spots yet to be filled - including several of our student greeter positions. Sign your student and yourself up today at MySchoolAnywhere! (If the system does not recognize your email, click here.) You could win a massage at The Work or dinner at the Wash Park Grille!
 
Tickets
Ticket sales are well underway, and the classroom competitions are heating up! Room 103 is in the lead among K and 1st classes, Room 212 is top among 2nd and 3rd, and 4/5 classes Room 301 and 306 are battling it out! There's still time to sell tickets to help your class earn Bonnie Brae Ice Cream gift certificates for every student!

Please turn in ticket money to the front office ASAP rather than waiting until right before the Tour - and make sure to include your child's classroom on the envelope. This helps us with accounting, staffing, tracking, etc. And if your child needs more tickets (hooray!), you can pick up more from the front office when you drop off the money raised so far.
 
Keep Up to Date
Make sure to follow us for the latest Home Tour details at Facebook. Sharing our page with your friends is also a great way to promote the event AND help your kids sell tickets!

Steele Garden "Dig It!" Day: May 14
"Dig It!" Day will be Saturday, May 14th from 9 a.m. -1 p.m.  Bring the whole family!  NO experience necessary; plenty of ways for adults and kids to help prepare the beds for the planting season!  Some tools are provided, but if you have garden tools at home we encourage you to bring them.  Breakfast and lunch will be provided. 

The Garden Committee is looking for new members to join and help make the garden flourish!  A Garden Volunteer Open House After Party will be hosted the evening of the 14th at the home of Shari and Ken Leidner from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Food will be provided; please bring a drink to share. Please, no children.  This open house is a great way to learn more about the work of the Garden Committee. RSVP to Shari if you plan to attend.  


Community News
SKCEE Spring Fling Fundraiser SKCEE (Stephen Knight Center for Eaely Education) is having a fundraiser on Saturday May 14th. Click here for more information.

USTA Junior Team Tennis Program through Denver Parks & Rec
Do you have a budding tennis player who is ready to play matches in a fun environment? USTA's Junior Team Tennis allows tennis enthusiasts to take their skills to the "next level" through positive coaching and competition!
  • Cost: $119 includes USTA registration, 9 practices, up to 7 matches, and all facility expenses
  • Practices: Fridays, 6/10 - 7/29  (City Park)
  • Matches: Mondays, 6/13 - 7/25 (various locations)
Practice and match times vary by participant age. Registration is open from 5/10 - 5/27. For more information, contact Keith Bell at Denver Parks & Rec (720-865-0691) or parent liaison Ann Shiveley (303-908-0550) or annshive1@gmail.com

GIVE Denver
GIVE Denver is collecting hygiene items through May 13th.  GIVE Denver serves our City's most vulnerable residents by connecting them with community resources and providing daily necessities.  Collection bins are distributed around Denver; our local site is the Wash Park Rec Center.  See online for the list of hygiene items most needed, other collection sites and to learn more about the Spring Showers Hygiene Drive.

Merrill Middle School 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.