Asbury Thursday Folders – December 5, 2024

Posted December 5, 2024

Principal Message:

Dear Asbury community, 

As part of the Denver Schools Thrive Initiative, and using direction from Executive Limitation 18 (EL-18), the superintendent recommended 10 schools for closure or grade level restructure to the Board of Education earlier this month. At their Nov. 21 meeting, the Board of Education voted to approve the Superintendent’s recommendation of closing Schmitt Elementary. With the closure of Schmitt, this means that Asbury Elementary will become part of the new Southwest Central Elementary Enrollment Zone. 

Starting in the 2025-26 school year, Schmitt’s boundary will join the following schools in this new zone:

  • Asbury (K-5) 
  • Godsman (ECE-5) 
  • McKinley-Thatcher (ECE-5) 

I want to assure you that students currently enrolled in Kindergarten and above at Asbury will remain enrolled through the final grade offered at our school, regardless of the proposed changes to boundaries and enrollment zones. You will still have the ability to choose a school through the SchoolChoice process if you would like to explore other school options. SchoolChoice Round 1 application window opens on Jan. 15, 2025 at 10 a.m. and will remain open through Feb. 18, 2025 at 4 p.m. 

Enrollment Zone Transportation

Per existing Transportation policy, the following DPS students who reside in (existing and newly created) enrollment zones and attend a school within that enrollment zone are eligible for stop-to-school-to-stop service on yellow buses:

  • Elementary (K-5) students who live more than 1 mile away from the school they attend.
  • Middle School (6-8) students who live more than 2.5 miles away from the school they attend.

Additional Enrollment and SchoolChoice Information

  • Guaranteed Seats: Students residing within the new or expanded enrollment zones are guaranteed a seat within that zone, with transportation provided in some cases (see above).
  • Incoming Kindergarteners for 2025-26: Families of future kindergarteners will need to participate in SchoolChoice Round 1 to secure a seat.
  • SchoolChoice Timeline:
    • Round 1: Opens Jan. 15, 2025 at 10 a.m., and closes Feb. 18, 2025 at 4 p.m. Families will receive results by the end of March 2025.
    • Round 2: Opens April 8, 2025 and remains open through the summer.
    • Note: Round 1 provides the best opportunity to secure your preferred school.
  • Closing School Priority: If any nearby schools close, students from those schools in grades kindergarten through fourth will receive “closing school priority” for enrollment at any other DPS school.
    • This will be the highest choice priority at all DPS schools.
    • See this example of priorities for an elementary school that serves an enrollment zone
  • Bell Times: Bell times may change for some impacted schools; if this is the case there will be an effort to make minimal changes (less than 15 minutes). 

For more information, including frequently asked questions, including a summary of the impacted schools, please visit the Denver School Thrives webpage. If you have any additional questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly at jeanna_doung@dpsk12.net. 

Sincerely,

Jeanna Doung  

What’s top of Mind? 

Trimester 2

Trimester 2 began this past Monday, 12/2. Our school year grades and progress reports are broken into trimesters. Teachers share out grades and progress information 3 times a year. We wrapped up Trimester 1 before fall break and the new trimester begins now. 

Input on Bell Time at Asbury with an Update

Each year, we ask members of our community for input on our bell times. Our current Bell Times are from 7:40-2:40. As noted previously. DPS has the Health Start Times initiative that was created by the DPS Board. This initiative supports research with older students starting later. With that, elementary schools have started earlier. We ask that you take time to fill out this survey to give your input on our current bell times. 

Update: So far, the results show that around 80% would like to stick with the current bell time schedule. Many comments raise important points about having such an early start time and how difficult the working schedule is compared to the school schedule. We know that Discovery link helps support some of this scheduling conflicts and for that we are thankful for their support! That said, we hear you and understand the scheduling issues that do arise. Let’s continue to work together. 

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!

DCTA Big Bargaining Kick Off Event – Community Members and Students, join us!!

Wednesday, December 11 from 6:00-7:30 pm

Riverside Church (2401 Alcott St, Denver, CO 80211

Teachers, Staff, Students and Community Invited!!!

RSVP to the Big Bargaining Kick Off – Link 

Click HERE to sign up to receive the ongoing DCTA Community Newsletters

Click HERE for more information on pressing DCTA matters.

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 and Glass Fusion Class Opportunity!

HR Updates

  • Welcome:
    • We want to extend a warm welcome to Ms. Mercy, who started with us this week as a 1-1 paraprofessional with 4th grade! 
    • We also want to welcome baby Malara! Ms. Malara, our amazing 1st grade teacher, welcomed her beautiful baby girl last Monday. Her name is Rome Malara and we are elated that both mom and baby are home and doing well!
  • 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.
    • 3rd Grade Long Term Substitute Position starting 1/6-4/1. If you are interested or know anyone that is interested, please reach out to Jeanna!

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. 

ATTENDANCE

Parents and Guardians, any time that your child will be absent the protocol is to call our attendance line at 720-424-9797 and leave a message with your child’s first and last name, grade and reason for absence. If they are out for any appointments like doctor, dentist etc. please ask them for a school excuse and bring it to me (Ms. Baca) in the office so that time will be excused. The same applies if you pick your student up early or during the day for an appointment please get a school excuse. If you have left a message on the attendance line and you do get a communication that your student was marked without an excuse please disregard it and know that it will be marked in IC accordingly it just may have been a busy morning and I have not had the opportunity to do so. You can email the teachers if you would like but calling the attendance line is the protocol, we appreciate you all and know that when a student is out we want to streamline things for you as well, therefor the best practice is to call the attendance line. 

What’s going on with PTSO?

  • Tuesday, Dec. 10 is Colorado Gives Day! From now until then, any donations you make to the Asbury Elementary PTSO receive a boost from the Colorado Gives Foundation. And any new recurring monthly donations will be matched! Please consider donating, and spread the word to family and friends!
  • THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to the Asbury Giving Tree this year! Our community has really come together to make the holidays special for everyone. Please remember to turn in your donated gifts – wrapped or unwrapped! – to the front office by Friday, Dec. 13! (Don’t forget to label any wrapped gifts with the number provided in the sign-up form!)
  • There are so many ways to support Asbury this season!
    • Chipotle Dine-Out event on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
    • 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!
    • 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

  • 12/10 – Chipotle Dine Out Fundraiser
  • 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
  • 1/20 – No school for staff or students- Holiday
  • 1/24 – School Dance
  • 2/13 – Grand Friends Day (Flyer) (More Information)
  • 2/14 – No school for students- DPS Release Day
  • 2/17 – No school for staff and students- Holiday
  • 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)
  • 4/30 – 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