Posted February 2, 2024
Dear Cory Community,
Black History Month honors the contributions and sacrifices of African Americans who have helped to shape our nation. Black History Month celebrates the rich cultural heritage, triumphs and adversities that are an indelible part of our country’s history. Unless Black history is taught and celebrated throughout the year, it perpetuates the “othering” of Black lives and Black students. At Cory, we believe that the histories, stories and voices of Black people should be centered, honored, acknowledged and uplifted every day.
Introducing Cory’s Student Equity Experience! Cory’s Equity Team worked to create a scope and sequence that supports students in unpacking their identity, understanding diversity and biases, and working to build a belonging school culture. Our Cougars spent the week of January 29th engaging in our first
Student Equity Experience. Students worked with Ms. Murphy on creating identity masks as a way to support students’ understanding of their identity, specifically what they show to the world, and what they hide. Our goal is to create a belonging culture where students, staff, and families can truly be their most authentic selves. This lesson also includes home extensions and we encourage you to engage in this ‘table talk’ as a way to build cultural competence as a family. We will link the second lesson of our Student Equity Experience at the end of February.
ATTENDANCE
In order to help our students maximize their full academic potential, it is imperative that students show up to school frequently and on time. Please note that our Cory school calendar is slightly different from the regular DPS School Calendar.
Colorado School Attendance Law and Denver Public Schools’ “Denver Plan.”
These guidelines allow for roughly 10 absences during the course of a school year. Every month the school attendance team will review student attendance and send letters to parents for those students whose absences are excessive. Classroom teachers will call home prior to sending the certified letter.
If absences are chronic, excessive, unexcused, or otherwise of concern a child and their family may be referred to truancy court. Excessive tardies and early withdrawals are also subject to truancy law, and can add up to excessive absences.
SchoolChoice Round 1 for 2024-2025 closes 2/12/24
| To apply, create an account or sign in using your Parent Portal login. Then, rank your schools in order of preference and submit your application before 4 p.m. Feb. 12. Results will be released late March. Call 720-423-3493, email schoolchoice@dpsk12.org or visit schoolchoice.dpsk12.org for more information. |
IMPORTANT DATES:
Outdoor Activities Monthly Update
With this spring-like weather over the past few weeks, we have been able to enjoy a list of outside activities.
Here is an update on the outdoor activities for the month of January.
Indoor Herb Garden
Mr. Egland and Ms. Morrison’s classes planted our indoor herb garden with parsley, lavender, thyme, chives, oregano, and basil seeds. The grow light shelves are set up in the main entry hallway. Check them out.
Winter Watering Drip Buckets
Students made winter drip buckets for the fruit trees and raspberry plants for the garden. VooDoo Donuts donated three-gallon buckets for the project.
Fruit Tree Pruning
Ms. Keppler’s class learned how to prune our fruit trees, apples, pears, and plums and why it is essential for healthy growth and production.
Chicken Mitigation
Students are learning about mitigation with our chicken family. Humane traps have been set for our critter friends and released in open space areas to support the ‘circle of life.’
Tool Maintenance
Students did a tool inventory and winter tune-up on the garden tools using linseed oil to treat the wood handles.
Summer Connections 2024 is set to return as a free, five-week program starting June 17 through July 19. DPS students at eligible schools entering first through fifth grade are invited to participate in this full-day program. Designed for student readiness, the program introduces students to next year’s curriculum with a special focus on STEM subjects.
Students will also enjoy a variety of activities including Inventor’s Week, the Lego Challenge, career exploration and computer science. Plus, there’s an exciting field trip in store!
Registration for families begins mid-February. Please refer families to the Summer Connections website for more information and updates. Staff who are interested in applying may submit their interest through this form.
Student Equity and Opportunity
Department of Nursing and Student Health Services
Whole Child Supports
Success in schools, success in life
Denver Public Schools provides free vision, hearing and dental screenings for all students in identified grades (Early Childhood Education, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th).
The screenings are NOT an assessment or an evaluation and do NOT replace professional exams. Mass screening is considered best practice to identify students who may be at risk for health concerns affecting the student’s ability to learn, and who may need extra support to reach academic benchmarks.
Your student will receive screenings in the following areas:
Vision, Hearing, and Dental
YOU MUST NOTIFY YOUR SCHOOL NURSE DIRECTLY SHOULD YOU WISH TO REFUSE
ANY OF THE SCREENINGS FOR YOUR STUDENT.
The health screening components will be completed at your child’s school on:
Dates: Starting Feb 2st, The school nurse and health tech will begin screenings and the screening team will be here later in the year.
Please contact your school nurse for any questions or concerns about the health screenings. Parents/guardians of students who were absent or who did not have optimal hearing, vision or dental screening will be notified in writing regarding the results.
Thank you for your assistance as we work together to educate and support your students!
Sincerely,
School Nurse Tiffany Stevenson MSN
School Nurse Direct phone number 720-424-8384
School Nurse Email Tiffany_Stevenson@dpsk12.net
Upcoming Dates:
PTA Updates
Please make sure to follow us:
DPS Discount Alert!
DPS Discount Days are back! We wanted to share more discount offers with your families, students and staff. Please see the information below for an upcoming Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) production:
Join us in supporting the DCPA this winter from Friday, January 26 to Sunday, March 10 as they show Cebollas at Singleton Theatre! Receive a 15% discount on tickets in Premium seating, Price Level 2 and Price Level 3 seating for all performances. $5 from each ticket purchased will be donated back to Denver Public Schools Foundation!
Buy your tickets today and be sure to use discount code DPSFUND at check out: Tickets & Events – Denver Center for the Performing Arts.
You can also visit https://dpsfoundation.org/offers/ for more information on these discounts and other special offers. Any help you can provide in distributing these opportunities would be greatly appreciated.
Heartfelt thanks to the Cory Elementary School students who’ve learned Hands-Only CPR during Kids Heart Challenge, earned characters delivering heart-healthy messages, and are spreading awareness through texts, emails, and social media!
Our goal is to raise $30,000 donations so we can help American Heart Association and earn PE equipment for our school.
Want to help? Sign up, donate or get a donation, and complete Finn’s Mission!
Download the free app for iPhone or Android, or online: http://www2.heart.org/goto/CoryElementarySchoolCO.
Any student who raises $50 will qualify to purchase discounted tickets and get a special ON COURT experience with the Denver Nuggets! The class with the highest percentage of students register gets an EXTRA PE CLASS! And, any student who completes Finn’s Mission will get to come to the KHC Glow PARTY! Also, every student who raises $200 will get to turn Mr. C into a Human Disco Ball with GLITTER SLIME!
Congratulations to the following students who have already earned our school’s challenge: Carter M , Sloane S , Brody T , Harrison B , Kaylee G , Brincely B , Clara A , Alexa K , Mira Y , Ananth Y , Liam B , Mike Y , Sawyer S , Alvida Della J., Naomi S, Abe S
Inspire Others. “Being someone who can save a life, that’s a superpower if you ask me” – Damar Hamlin.See what he says about knowing CPR. Completing Finn’s Mission is the way inspire friends and family to get healthier, learn CPR, and to spot a stroke.
