Asbury Thursday Folders – December 12, 2024

Posted December 12, 2024

Principal Message:

Dear Asbury community, 

We are nearing winter break and there is so much to celebrate in this first semester! We have started or are wrapping up PBL projects including:

  • Kinders Save the Trees PBL and Shapes PBL
  • 1st Grade’s Habitat PBL and Best Part of Me PBL
  • 2nd Grade’s National Parks PBL
  • 3rd Grade’s Water PBL
  • 4th Grade’s Advocacy and Poetry PBL
  • 5th Grade’s Decimal PBL and ongoing Mural PBL

Each of these projects bring a sense of community to Asbury through student’s engagement and excitement in learning! We are so proud of each student and their learning! 

In addition, we have been on field trips to DU, Safeway, Ameritowne, and many more! Each field trip brings new learning and joy! We believe that getting out there and seeing the world supports our learners in all aspects of educational growth!

Let’s keep up the wonderful work to support our amazing students!

Sincerely,

Jeanna Doung  

What’s top of Mind? 

Winter Break Dates

  • Winter Break: 12/19- 1/6- Students will return to school on January 7. Teachers have staff development days on 12/20 and 1/6 , so they will be working hard to set students up for success upon their return to school!

PBL Support Request!!!  

  • Looking for a parent or someone you know who is either an architect or a city planner who might want to come in and talk with our kindergarteners in January.  
  • The students are working on a new Shapes PBL and they will be using their knowledge of shapes to build cities.  
  • Please reach out to Amy Ravel (Amy_Ravel@dpsk12.net) if you are interested or know someone who we could convince to be interested!!  Thanks!

Student Council 2024-2025

The Student Council has been hard at work so far this year.  Here are this year’s representatives: 3rd Grade: Emery, Zoe, Beckett, and Jimmy, 4th Grade: Adrienne, Stella, and Wilson, 5th Grade: Callen, Sloane, Lucille, Eli, and Jack. Student Council Advisors: Mrs. Baker and Mr. A (5th Grade)

Student Council Message:

Winter Spirit Week: December 16th-19th

Let have some fun the week before Winter Break (participation is optional)

Monday: Holiday Colors (wear your favorite colors of the season)

Tuesday: Winter Swag (scarves, hats, gloves, etc.)

Wednesday: Holiday Bling (accessories, glasses, headbands, necklaces, etc.)

Thursday: PJ Day

Friday: No School

Winter Coat/Clothing Drive: December 16th-19th

Please donate any gently used winter gear for kids and adults such as jackets, gloves, hats, and even winter boots.  Donated clothing will support both our Asbury and Denver communities.

Message from 5th Grade:

Coming Soon!  5th Grade is asking for donations for our yard sale that will be coming in the new year.  More information to follow, but for now, as you are going through things over the holidays and doing a little winter cleaning, please pull aside some things that you could donate to the fifth graders’ yard sale.  Thanks so much!

Read-A-Thon Bookmarks

Calling all artists! If you would like to submit a design for the Read-A-Thon bookmark contest, you can create your design on a 2″ by 7″ piece of paper or pick up a template from the office. Designs are due on January 13, so there’s plenty of time to do them over winter break. Happy creating! If you need a blank one see Ms. Baca in the office!

Message from Mr. Howard

Speed Stacking Tournament:  “2025 WSSA Colorado Open” (all ages and levels) Information Flyer

I just wanted to quickly share that Speed Stacks, Inc. is hosting a cup stacking competition at Douglas County High School on Saturday, Feb. 15th, 2025 in Castle Rock, CO. 

I would love to have your students participate in this event, whether they’re new to cup stacking or experienced. This competition is for students for all ages and abilities! We’ll have individual events and if they want, they can participate in relay events too. Plus, students can participate in only certain events such as 3-3-3, 3-6-3 or even the cycle – it’s not mandatory to do them all. 

Note – Your students do not need their own cups! I will provide cups for students who do not have their own.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Matt Burk

Director of Physical Education & Afterschool Programs

National Field Trainer Program

Speed Stacks, Inc.

www.speedstacks.com

Direct: 877.468.2877 

Cell: 319.541.9467

HR Updates

  • Welcome:
    • We want to welcome Mr. Chris, our new long term sub in Ms. Arza’s room. He will start on January 6. 
  • Please join us in thanking Ms. Elvira, our long term sub in third grade. Her last day will be December 19 and we are so thankful for her support and wish her a warm farewell!
  • Open Positions: 
    • We have a couple of DAS (1 on 1 paraprofessional) positions 
    • MI Special Education Teacher position open. If you know of anyone or are interested in yourself, please let Jeanna know.

What’s Still Relevant? 

Mark Your Calendars: 2025-26 SchoolChoice Round 1 Dates

SchoolChoice Round 1 for the 2025-26 school year will open on Jan. 15, 2025 and close on Feb. 18, 2025. These dates will be publicly announced in Our DPS Weekly on Friday, Nov. 1

Families can apply here. Families with existing Parent Portal accounts can log in using their username and password. Families who don’t have Parent Portal accounts will set up a new account. 

Information about GrandFriend’s Day!

  • Save The Date for One of the Most Special Days at Asbury!!!
  • On the morning of Thursday, February 13th, the Asbury community will be celebrating our third annual GrandFriends’ Day.  
  • What is this day???  GrandFriends’ Day is an event where older friends come visit their Asbury Eagle for a specific amount of time in the morning (there is a time for Kindergarten through second graders and another time for third through fifth graders.)
  • Who is a GrandFriend???  A GrandFriend can be a grandparent, a neighbor, a family friend, or another relative in the family.  The GrandFriend must be at least 18 years old.
  • What will the GrandFriends do?  They will be checked in and spend a short time in the auditorium having coffee and snacks while learning about Asbury.  They will then meet up with their Asbury Eagle to do fun activities like reading together, seeing work, learning about one another, playing games, etc.
  • What happens if my child doesn’t have a GrandFriend who can attend?  Ms. Batesmith, our incredible music teacher, works hard to find extra GrandFriends in our Asbury community to spend time with students who need a GrandFriend for the day.  The GrandFriends committee volunteers and teachers will pair up students to make sure everyone has a GrandFriend as well.
  • What can we do to prepare for the event?  You can act now and invite a GrandFriend to the event, so they can plan accordingly.  The Asbury students don’t have school February 14-17th, so this may be a perfect time for a GrandFriend to come to Denver to visit and spend a weekend with their Asbury Eagle.
  • More information will be coming soon, but until then, you can contact Meaghan McCabe at meaghanomccabe@yahoo.com if you have any questions.

Message from Ms. Werner – December Art Newsletter

  • Click HERE to access the December Art Newsletter

Lost and Found will be donated Friday December 20th. 

2024 BOND Work- AC at Asbury with an Update

We are thrilled to have members from DPS in our building planning for the upcoming work to bring AC to Asbury. With that in mind, there are some updates to our outdoor spaces that the team is looking at needing to complete in order for this AC to work in our older building. At this time, the machinery is going to need to be outside and the DPS central team is recommending that they put this equipment on the basketball court. They have promised that they will redraw the courts so we do not lose any of our court space. As an alternative, they have also suggested leveraging our parking lot and we would lose parking for teachers. In my mind, none of these are ideal, so we would like your input on where you would put this equipment. Please take 3 minutes to fill this survey out with your thoughts. 

Update/FAQs:

  1. Update: So far about 80% of respondents have indicated that they would prefer the A/C unit on the basketball courts and not in the staff parking
  2. What is the Timeline for getting AC? AC work may begin as early as this summer, but aimed to be completed by the 26/27 school year. The bulk of the work is set to be completed this summer and next with a completion date prior to school starting for the 26/27 school year!
  3. Why can’t the cooler go on the roof? We were told that the cooling system weighs too much for what our roof can support, so it can not be placed on the roof.
  4. Why can’t the cooling system go behind the pollinator garden? We were told it was too large to fit in this space with the other electric boxes already there. 
  5. How loud will it be? I have asked this question and am still waiting to hear back- answer to come soon!

What’s going on with PTSO?

  • An enormous THANK YOU to everyone who donated to our PTSO’s first-ever Colorado Gives campaign! It was a huge success, thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of our community. Thank you, all!
  • THANK YOU, too, to everyone who has contributed to the Asbury Giving Tree this year! Please remember to turn in your donated gifts – wrapped or unwrapped! – to the front office by TOMORROW, Friday, Dec. 13! (Don’t forget to label any wrapped gifts with the number provided in the sign-up form!)
  • Skate City is offering Asbury families FREE skating passes to use this holiday break! See the flyer below for the passes and more information. 
  • DU Women’s Basketball is partnering with Asbury for a VERY COOL EVENT!
    • On Saturday, Feb. 8, Asbury students are invited to high-five players in the tunnel before the game, sing/play the National Anthem, and play basketball at halftime! If interested in any of these opportunities, please fill out this google form. 
    • Tickets are available now, and they are BOGO!! One free ticket for each discounted ticket. https://tinyurl.com/AsburyEagles-DenverPios
    • **Select seats in sections 6 or 7 to ensure sitting together.**
  • There are many ways to support Asbury this season!
    • Next Level Burger Dine-Out event on Thursday, Dec. 19.
    • We have a year-round partnership with American Furniture Warehouse! Let AFW know you’re with Asbury Elementary School at the time of your purchase, or use code ​​ASBE04 at checkout (in store or online), to make sure your purchase counts toward our fundraising efforts!
  • The Asbury Merch Store is still open! Yard Signs and Car Magnets are available for purchase in the office. Please pay by cash, check or Venmo.
  • Mark your calendars for a few fun upcoming DU Community Ticketing events!
    • DU Women’s Gymnastics: Sunday, 1/12 at 1:45 p.m. Get your tickets here! (Flyer)
    • DU Hockey vs Cloud State: Saturday, 3/01 at 6pm. Get your tickets here!

What’s going on with Enrichments?

Please visit the Asbury Website for more information and details about enrichments offered during this session: Asbury Enrichments Schedule (update in progress) 

Enrichment Flyers

Community Flyers

Upcoming Dates

  • 12/18- 2nd Grade National Park PBL Expo
  • 12/19 – Next Level Burger Dine Out Fundraiser
  • 12/20- No school for students- Asbury Release Day
  • 12/23 – 1/3 – No school for staff or students- Winter Break
  • 1/6 – No school for students- DPS Release Day
  • 1/12 – DU Women’s Gymnastics Community Ticketing Event 1:45 pm (Flyer)
  • 1/20 – No school for staff or students- Holiday
  • 1/24 – School Dance
  • 2/8 – DU “Asbury” Women’s Basketball Game (tickets)
  • 2/13 – Grand Friends Day (Flyer) (More Information)
  • 2/14 – No school for students- DPS Release Day
  • 2/15 – Speed Stacking Tournament – “2025 WSSA Colorado Open” (all ages and abilities) – (Flyer)
  • 2/17 – No school for staff and students- Holiday
  • 2/25 – 3rd Grade Field trip to Bluff Lake Nature Center (more information to come!)
  • 2/25 – 2/27: Book swap for Read a Thon
  • 3/1 – DU Hockey vs Cloud State Community Ticketing Event 6pm
  • 3/1-3/7 Read A Thon
  • 3/21 – No school for students- Asbury Release Day
  • 3/24 – 3/31- No school for staff and students- Holiday
  • 4/18 – No school for students- DPS Release Day
  • 4/22 – 4/23 and 4/23 – 4/24 – 5th Grade Balarat (Each 5th grade class assigned to a session soon)
  • 4/25 – Spring Wing!
  • 4/30 – Rockies Game – 5th Grade
  • 5/9 – No school for students- Asbury Release Day
  • 5/26 – No school for students and staff- Holiday
  • 6/3 – Half Day for students- last day of school