Parent Post 3/17/2023

Posted March 17, 2023

Please stop by the Lost and Found to locate items your child may have forgot at school. 

Congratulations to Presley who represented Cory at the State Spelling Bee! We are so proud of you!!
2nd grade students tending to the chickens! 
A huge shout out to our PTA for organizing the Irish Dancers! The students enjoyed watching them and learning about the Irish culture.

If your families contact information has changed,  or if you have other people picking up your students that are not on your list, please let the office know so we can update all information  

Cory Families,

We had a wonderful week at Cory.  Students were frantically trying to find all the leprechauns at Cory today! Ask your student if they found the leprechauns. 

Families of students going into 1st through 5th grade next school year (this year’s current kindergarten through 4th graders) are invited to register for Denver Public Schools’ FREE Summer Connections 2023 program!

  • Who: current DPS students going into 1st-5th grade for the 2023-2024 school year.
    (this year’s current K-4th graders).
  • What: FREE 5-week summer academic full-day program that focuses on preparing all elementary students for future success by exposing them to content from their upcoming grade. Content centers around literacy, math, science and hands-on learning.
  • When:
    • Summer Connections Kick-Off event with students: Friday, June 9
    • Program Dates:Monday, June 12, 2023 to Friday, July 14, 2023
      • No program on Monday, June 19 or Tuesday, July 4
    • Program Times: 8:20am to 3:30pm, Monday through Friday 
      • Breakfast served beginning at 7:50am. 
      • Lunch will be served daily. 
  • Where: 10 DPS elementary schools across the city (see location map!)
  • How: register through Parent Portal or using this Google form.
  • For full details, visit the Summer Connections website.

A Note about Program Locations

Students are assigned to a Summer Connections host school based on its proximity to their boundary school, not their school of choice (if applicable). If you do not wish to attend your host school, in the application process, click “no”. This will allow you to see a list of schools available to you. Please note, selecting a school that is not your home school will disqualify you for transportation.

A Note about Transportation

Summer Connections offers transportation in the morning and in the afternoon to students who live more than 1.0 mile from their assigned Summer Connections location. Students must register before April 15 to be guaranteed a bus stop. Distance is calculated from the student’s home address to the Summer Connections location. You will be notified if your student is eligible for bus service.

Have Questions or Need Assistance?

Please contact the Office of Expanded Academic Learning at (720) 423-3629 or EAL@dpsk12.org.


CMAS will be starting when we get back from Spring Break for grades 3-5.  


This month, Cory students will be focusing on courage in March and April. COURAGE IS BEING BRAVE WHEN FACING NEW OR DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. Students will discuss the connection between KINDNESS and COURAGE. We may think of courage as being fearless and brave. However, one of the most courageous things we can do is be kind to others, even if for no reason at all! As a group, brainstorm ways to show kindness to others.

Looking for a way to stay in shape while having some fun? The north gym at Merrill has been reserved on Thursday nights between 7 and 8pm for parents and staff of Cory, C3, and Merrill to play pickup basketball.  Please reach out to Tyson Sollenberger if you have any questions at Tysollenberger@gmail.com


The Cory Elementary Equity Committee is excited to present the Cory Elementary Parent Equity Education Series!

Thank you to all who attended the second Parent Equity Ed night! It was wonderful to engage with you in this learning!

This series will include 2 more learning opportunities for parents in the Cory community to gather together and engage in learning around different topics that impact equity in education. 
Session 3 (Color Blind vs. Color Brave) – Thursday, April 13, from 5:30 – 7:00 pm, in the Cory Cafeteria 
Session 4 (Summer opportunities and Equity BINGO) will be after school on Monday, May 1, from 3:20 – 3:40 pm, on the Cory blacktop 

Please RSVP for session 3 by Tuesday, April 11!

You may RSVP by emailing Amber Bourgeois, at amber_bourgeois@dpsk12.net.

* Pizza will be provided for sessions 3! Please indicate if you are a vegetarian when you RSVP. 

** If you need child care, it will be provided in a different room at Cory Elementary. Please indicate if you need child care and the age of the child when you RSVP.

*** Please let us know if you will need an interpreter and for what language when you RSVP.

A couple reminders: 1. Cell phones and smart watches are not allowed in school. They may be kept in back packs. If you need to get in touch with your child, then please contact the front office 
2. School begins at 8:15. With the tardy bell ringing at 8:20
3. If a student is late they must come into the front office and get signed in taking a tardy slip with them to class. 
4. We go outside every day we can. Please make sure you children have the correct clothing  coats, hats and boots if needed on cold weather days. 
5. Students have a snack  during the day with their class. Please try and remember to pack a daily snack. 
6. If you are picking up your student early you must come into the building to the office and sign them out. This is for their safety along with ours to insure we know where all students are all day. We prefer you are here before 3:00 to check out your students. We understand there are times when this is not possible as emergency’s happen. When you arrive to pick up your student we will call the classroom to have your child come to the front to meet you, we do not want students sitting in the office waiting for parents.
7. School is over at 3:20. If you have not picked up your students by 3:30 they will be waiting in the front office for you. 
8. Sometimes the lunch menu changes in the cafeteria due to food not being delivered on time to the warehouse. We try to keep the menu consistent with what they say. Please understand Food Services is doing everything they can to provide the best meals to our students. Please feel free to call Food Services with questions or concerns. 720-423-5600.
9. Please do not sent your student to school sick. Please see the below guidelines from The Department of Public Health. 

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Mar 20th – March 24th – Last week for Enrichments Classes
  • Student Council Spirit Week
  • March 20th,  Monday – Crazy hat/hair 
  • March 21st, Tuesday – Sparkle magic rainbow unicorn day (plus Make A Wish fundraiser) 
  • March 22nd, Wednesday – Kids dress up, teachers dress down 
  • March 23rd, Thursday – 90s day (to match the auction theme) 
  • March 24th, Friday – Dress like Mr C!
  • March 23th – 3rd grade for  4/ 5 Math Information Night @ 5:30
  • March 27th – April 2nd – Spring Break
  • April 3th – No contact Day for Kids – Teacher Work Day 
  • April 5th – 14th – CMAS Testing 
  • April 10th – New Enrichments Classes Begin 
  • April 12th – PTA Dine out @ Zero Degrees
  • April 13th – Equity Night 5:30 – 7:00
  • April 21st – Cory Auction 
  • April 26th & 27th – Vision, Hearing & Dental Screening 
  • April 27th – One Campus Celebration 
  • May 1st – 19th – Early Bird Registration – Get your student Registered for next year before summer
  • May 4th – Spring Dance from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. 

Joan Wieser 
Principal
jwieser@dpsk12.net 

Amber  Bourgeois 
STL 
amber_bourgeois@dpsk12.net

Dear parents/guardians of students in Colorado kindergarten – 12th grade schools for the 2022-23 school year: 

We know you’re thinking of all the things you need to do to make sure your student is ready for school. Getting vaccinated is an important part of their school readiness and keeps children from catching and spreading diseases that can make them sick and potentially disrupt in-person learning. We wish you and your student a healthy school year! 

Required and recommended vaccines 

● Colorado law requires students who attend a public, private, or parochial kindergarten – 12th grade school to be vaccinated against many of the diseases that vaccines can prevent, unless a Certificate of Exemption is filed. For more information, visit cdphe.colorado.gov/schoolrequiredvaccines. Your student must be vaccinated against: 

o Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP, DTP, Tdap). 

o Hepatitis B (Hep B). 

o Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). 

o Polio (IPV). 

o Varicella (chickenpox). 

● Colorado follows recommendations set by CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Students must receive their final doses of DTaP, IPV, MMR, and varicella prior to kindergarten entry. Students entering sixth grade must receive one dose of Tdap vaccine prior to entry, even if they are younger than 11-years-old. You can view recommended vaccine schedules at 

cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/parents-adults/resources-parents.html. 

● Vaccines are recommended for hepatitis A, influenza, meningococcal disease, and human papillomavirus, but are not required for school entry. 

Exclusion from school 

● Your student may be excluded from school if your school does not have an up-to-date Certificate of Immunization, Certificate of Exemption, or in-process plan on file for your student. 

● If someone gets sick with a vaccine-preventable disease or there is an outbreak at your student’s school and your student has not received the vaccine for that disease, they may be excluded from school activities. That could mean lost learning time for them and lost work and wages for you. For example, if your student has not received a MMR vaccine, they may be excluded from school for 21 days after someone gets sick with measles. 

Have questions? 

Talk with a healthcare provider licensed to give vaccines or your local public health agency (LPHA) about which vaccines your student needs or if you have questions. You can read about the safety and importance of vaccines at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/FAQs.html, https://childvaccineco.org/, ImmunizeForGood.com, and cdphe.colorado.gov/immunization-education

Paying for vaccinations 

If you need help finding free or low-cost vaccines and providers who give them, go to COVax4Kids.org, contact your LPHA, or call the Mile High Family Health Line at 303-692-2229 or 1-800-688-7777 to ask about Medicaid contact information. You can find your LPHA at cdphe.colorado.gov/find-your-local-public-health-agency

Vaccination records 

● Please take your student’s updated Certificate of Immunization to school every time they receive a vaccine. ● Need to find your student’s vaccine record? It may be available from the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS). Visit COVaxRecords.org for more information, including directions for how to use the CIIS Public Portal to view and print your student’s vaccine record. 

Exemptions 

● If your student cannot get vaccines because of medical reasons, you must submit a Certificate of Medical Exemption to your school, signed by a health care provider licensed to give vaccines. You only need to submit this certificate once, unless your student’s information or school changes. You can get the form at cdphe.colorado.gov/vaccine-exemptions.

● If you choose not to have your student vaccinated according to the current recommended schedule, you must submit a Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption to your school. Nonmedical exemptions must be submitted annually at every new school year (July 1st through June 30th of the following year). There are two ways to file a nonmedical exemption. 

○ File the Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption WITH a signature from an immunizing provider, OR ○ File the Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption received upon the completion of our online education module. 

○ Downloadable certificates and our online education module are available at 

cdphe.colorado.gov/vaccine-exemptions

How’s your school doing on vaccinations? 

Some parents, especially those with students who have weakened immune systems, may want to know which schools have the highest percent of vaccinated students. Schools must report immunization and exemption numbers (but not student names or birth dates) to the state health department annually. Schools do not control their specific immunization and exemption rates or establish the Vaccinated Children Standard described in §25-4-911, CRS. Schools must include their MMR immunization and exemption rates from the most recently completed school year in this letter. Schools may choose to also include immunization and exemption rates for other school-required vaccines. Additional immunization and exemption rates can be found at COVaxRates.org.

School Name 2020-2021 MMR Immunization Rate REQUIRED IN LETTER2020-2021 MMR Exemption Rate REQUIRED IN LETTER
DPS MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) Immunization Compliance.xlsx


How Sick is Too Sick? 
When Children and Staff Should Stay Home from School or Child Care 
Evaluation of a sick child must consider which diseases are currently circulating  among students, staff, and the community. Known exposure to cases or an outbreak  of a contagious disease (including but not limited to those listed here), even without  a confirmed diagnosis, may necessitate more stringent return to school  requirements.  During Colorado’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, children and staff  who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should receive testing, and follow the  COVID-19 isolation guidance until testing is completed or if they test positive. If the  individual tests negative for COVID-19, the individual should then follow the  recommendations for their disease or symptoms using the below guidance.  There are four main reasons to keep children and adults at home:
1. The child or staff is at risk of infecting others with COVID-19 or another contagious illness, either because of symptoms or recent close contact.
 2. The child or staff member does not feel well enough to take part in usual 
activities. For example, a child is overly tired, fussy or will not stop crying. 
 3. A child needs more care than teachers and staff can give while still caring for the other children.  
4. The child or staff member has symptoms or an illness is on this list, and staying home is required.

Introducing the Cory Auction Student Raffle

The PTA is excited to hold our first ever student raffle with proceeds supporting our 2023 Auction. This is meant to be a fun, inclusive event that will spark excitement across our entire Cory community. With the help of student council, we hope to get students involved in raising funds that support our school.

Here are the details:

  • When: Tickets will be sold to students during lunch hours from March 20 through March 24
  • Where: Look for our table outside the auditorium doors
  • Prices: Students can purchase raffle tickets for $2 each or 3 for $5. This will be a CASH ONLY event! 

We have several prizes! Students may try their luck at winning any of the following: 

  • Cookies with the Cory Cougar: BE THE HERO! The Cory Cougar will bring cookies for the winner and their entire class. 
  • Librarian for Half A Day: Not just for book worms! This lucky winner will be Mr. D’s assistant for half a day. 
  • Lunch with a Staff Member of Your Choice: Miss seeing a teacher or para from last year? Win the opportunity to eat lunch with any staff member at Cory. 
  • Gift Baskets: We have two 90’s themed gift baskets with toys, books, candy and more. 
  • Jokester for a Day: Comedians, this one is for you! In addition to sharing your funniest jokes, take charge of the loud speaker and assist with morning and/or afternoon announcements.
  • Fire Drill Pull: Calling all Assistant Fire Marshals! Win the opportunity to pull the fire alarm at our next Cory fire drill. 

We will draw winners after lunch on Friday, 3/24 Your student does not need to be present to win.

2023-2024 Board Positions 

The Cory PTA is now recruiting for open board positions for the 2023-2024 school year. We are looking to fill the Secretary and Treasurer positions, and it’s a two-year commitment. If you are interested, or would like more information, please email us at coryelementarypta@yahoo.com

Volunteers Needed: One Campus Celebration 

The PTA is seeking volunteers to help coordinate with Merrill Middle School on planning the One Campus Celebration, a campus-wide event that brings together Cory and Merrill students. If you are interested in learning more, contact Stephanie Campbell.

Amazon Smile & King Soopers Community Rewards Program

Recently, Amazon announced that it is winding down its AmazonSmile program by February 20. All purchases made before that date will still accrue donations for our school.

Although AmazonSmile is ending, there is still an opportunity to raise money for Cory through the King Soopers Community Rewards Program, which is linked to the loyalty program (SooperCard/AltID) number that you typically use at check out! Be sure to link your loyalty number to Cory so our school can earn rewards. Learn more, and here is more information on registering on your laptop or mobile device.

Registration for Summer Connections Now Open

Registration is now open for Summer Connections — a fun, five-week program that exposes students to content from their upcoming grade. All rising first- through fifth-grade DPS students are encouraged to apply!

Summer Connections:Is no cost to families.Provides full-day programming from June 12-July 14. (No school on June 19 and July 4.)Centers around literacy, math, science and hands-on learning.

Click here for more information and visit the Parent Portal to register. If you have any questions, email EAL@dpsk12.net.
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  • SAVE THE DATE:  Incoming 6th grade Merrill students are invited to the Spring Fling on May 11th from 5 – 7pm to meet teachers and learn about their options for electives for the 2023-2024 school year.