Cory Caregivers,
As we look back on an incredible school year at Cory Elementary, we remain dedicated to our mission of engaging every student in challenging and meaningful learning experiences while building authentic relationships. This reflection highlights our ongoing commitment to the "whole child" and our focus on creating a community where everyone feels safe, known, and that they belong.
On May 15th, our team will dedicate a full work day to Class lists and EOY data review. We are excited to use this time to be highly intentional with classroom placements for the upcoming year. Our priorities for student placement include:
Optimal Learning Environments: Using great care to place each child in a situation that ensures both academic and social-emotional success
Integrated HGT/GT Model: Ensuring HGT students are placed so they have a core of peers to interact with daily while all students benefit from differentiated instruction.
Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing diagnostic data to group students by their specific needs rather than simple cutoffs.
We are continuing to refine our Transformative Social Emotional Academic Learning (TSEAL) block to ensure it provides intentional skill-building.
Daily Skill Building: Our 20-minute daily block (8:15–8:35 AM) utilizes the TRAILS curriculum and Responsive Classroom approach to teach fundamental intra-personal and decision-making skills.
Identity and Equity: We are revising the block to be even more intentional with Identity Goals, helping students feel good about their own identities without making others feel negatively about theirs.
Explicit Instruction: We treat behavior like academics—requiring repeated practice, feedback, and review to ensure students have the tools to succeed.
Student Equity Experience: We are committed to ensuring that each student and family feels supported and represented in our learning community and that we provide education so students can build bridges of connection and understanding.
A major focus this year has been revising our systems to ensure all students feel safe and supported at school.
Behavior as Communication: Grounded in the "DPS Matrix" philosophy, we view all behavior as communication and strive to address root causes through relationships.
The BIT Team: Our Behavior Intervention Team (BIT) meets weekly to streamline communication between families and educators, identifying trends and creating proactive support plans.
Preventative Culture: We prioritize the "Emotional Bank Account," maintaining high ratios of positive interactions to build resilience and help students utilize their "Wizard Brains" during challenges.
Staffing and Onboarding: We are thrilled to share that hiring is nearly complete for the next school year. Our Personnel Team has worked diligently to bring the "right talent" to Cory to support our integrated model. We are now shifting our focus to our onboarding systems, ensuring our new staff are seamlessly integrated into the "Cory Way" culture and that our master schedule is "staffable" and respectful of our team's time.
Updates with hiring:
We have hired a .5 4th grade literacy teacher. We would like to welcome Scott Jahnke to our team.
We have hired a student support liaison. We would like to welcome Ashley Lorenz to our team.
We look forward to finishing the year strong and preparing for a successful 2026–2027 school year!
Parent / Caretaker Dashboard:
Please share this link with your families so they can view and order their student’s photos:
https://thebloombeehive.com/cory
On this dashboard, families can:
• View and order their spring individual photos and the 5th grade group
• Contact us directly for any questions or support
Class photos are available for families to view and order, but they're listed under Fall 2025 for them. So, they'll need to view/order them from that separate gallery. Both are available on the picture day dashboard https://thebloombeehive.com/cory.
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 10th - Mother’s Day
May 12th - Girls on the Run Bake Sale
May 12th - 5th Grade Cory Cafe - Music & Art Show @ 5:00
May 13th - PTA Spring Dance 5:30 - 7:30 (This is not a Drop Off Event Parents MUST STAY)
May 14th - Field Day
May 14th - Library Books Due
May 15th - NO School for Students - Teacher work Day
May 15th - Report Card Window Open
May 18th - Spring Band Concert @ 6:00 - 7:00
May 20th - Senior Alumni Reunion @ 3:45 on the playground
May 21st - Merrill Students Reading @ 10:00 - 2:00
May 21st & May 22nd - Talent Show Auditions during Lunch recess 11:07 - 12:45
May 25th - NO School Memorial Day
May 26th - 5th Grade Field Trip AmeriTowne
May 26th - 3rd Grade Field Trip to Observatory Park
May 26th -5th Grade Continuation @ 5:30
May 27th - Talent Show
1st - 3rd 8:30 - 10:45
4th - 5th - 1:00 - 3:00
May 28th - 4th & 5th Field Trip to Wash Park
5th Grade Clap Out @ 3:10
May 29th - SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER @ 12:15
5th Grade VS Staff Kickball game @ 9:00
Online Registration for 2026-27
Current DPS families – save time by updating your student’s information online! By completing this process using your Parent Portal account, you can avoid paper forms and save time at the school during the fall return. All SchoolChoice applicants must have an accepted seat before registering their student. Select one of the windows available to register your student(s) online for 2026-27:
The “Early Bird” window, May 4-22
Current year, late July-August 31st
To register online, primary legal guardians of current DPS students must have an active DPS Parent Portal account. Visit myportal.dpsk12.org to sign up, or to check that your account is active and ready.
Medication Pick Up Letter
Dear Parents/Guardians,
All medications and medical equipment must be picked up from the school health office at the end of the school year. Please make a plan with your school nurse or health office staff for pickup.
Medications cannot go home with your student.
Medications will be disposed of if they are not picked up by: 11:45 AM
Date: May 29th
Summer Programming: If your student is participating in a summer program, parent/guardian must pick up the medication/equipment on the last day of school and bring it to the summer program on the first day.
Medication forms for the upcoming school year can be found on the DPS Nursing website.
If you have any questions, please contact your school health office.
Have a great summer and we look forward to seeing you next year!
Tiffany Stevenson MSN, BSN, RN, NCSN
Parents, your 2026 school supply kits are now available! Skip the store lines and start next year stress-free with the exact supplies your child’s teacher requested. Ordering now ensures you’re ready for back-to-school, no guesswork, no last-minute shopping. Give your child the confidence of being prepared on the very first day. Order today and cross one thing off your list! http://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/gs/18266