Asbury Thursday Folders – January 9, 2025

Posted January 9, 2025

Thursday Folders

Principal Message:

Dear Asbury Community, 

I hope this message finds you well and that you all enjoyed the winter break. I spent my winter break with my family in Texas. We had a lot of fun catching up with my siblings and their children- though it was a lot of laughs, I am happy to be back at school. It always warms my heart to be with our Asbury students! 

As we embark on this new year, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for your continued dedication and support to our Asbury students- we could not do this without you all.

As we continue through this year, I want to raise that we will have a continued focus on our priority areas of rigorous learning through engagement. We know that implementing Project-Based Learning (PBL), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), and inclusion strategies will be integral to our success.

Reflecting on the first semester, I am proud of the accomplishments we’ve achieved together and am excited to carry that momentum into this semester.

As we move into this semester, I wanted to share some specific goals that we can focus on together to enhance our priority areas.

  1. Engagement in Rigorous Texts and Tasks: We will prioritize providing teachers with the tools and resources they need to plan for engagement in rigorous texts and tasks through their Project-Based Learning (PBL) projects. This will ensure that our students are challenged and motivated in their learning.
  2. Creating Supportive Learning Environments: Teachers will also work on setting up learning environments tailored to meet the individual needs of their students. This personalized approach will help every student achieve success and feel valued in our classrooms.

Thank you for your commitment to these goals and for your continuous support in making our school a place of growth and learning.

In Partnership,

Jeanna Doung  


What’s top of Mind? 

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. 

Asbury News in the Air Newspaper 

Message from 5th Grade:

5th Grade Asbury Community Yard Sale – Sat. 2/22 – Save the Date!  This is a NEW date from the originally announced one!

Purpose: To raise funds for the 5th Grade Legacy Mural PBL Project as well as to support other activities and PBLs in 5th grade.

Date: Saturday, 2/22

Time: 9:00am – 1:00pm

Coming Soon!  5th Grade is asking for gently used or new 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 that are in good condition to the fifth graders’ yard sale.  Thanks so much!

Donation Drop Off:  Before or After School starting Tuesday, January 7. 

Donations need to fit into a box or bag that can be carried into school.  Large-sized item type donations can be brought in after school on Friday, February 21st.  If you need other arrangements, please reach out to either Mr. A or Mrs. Ravel and we can work it out.

Stay tuned for more information to follow!

Thank you in advance for your support.

Mr. A – Steven_Altenburger@dpsk12.net

Ms. Baker – Jennifer_Baker@dpsk12.net

Mrs. Ravel – Amy_Ravel@dpsk12.net

Save the Date for the Winter Ball – January 24

Information Flyer

Register before Tuesday, January 21st at:

https://forms.gle/2e7mrxtNNPDD9Fzh9

$5 admission Fee goes to Asbury Office funds. You can bring $5 to event or Venmo @AsburyPTSO-AsburyPTSO

If you are interested in volunteering, either fill out the google form above or email Meaghan McCabe @ Meaghanomccabe@yahoo.com

Message from Mrs. Batesmith – Talent Show Committee Members Wanted!

Mrs Batesmith is looking for a few more people to be on the Talent Show Committee for this spring’s upcoming Talent Show! Members of this committee will serve as a think tank for logistics and processes on how to improve the Talent Show. Members of this committee may also have the opportunity to serve on the audition panel if that is a direction the panel chooses to go. The time commitment on this is low, culminating with the Talent Show performance, and will involve a handful of virtual meetings and information exchange via email.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send an email to Mrs Batesmith (tillifinney_smith@dpsk12.net) by Thursday 1/16. Thanks for your consideration!

Message from Mr Howard

On January 30, the Colorado Avalanche are coming to Asbury to do a special presentation for our students called Hockey 101 PE Takeover!  In order for your student to participate, parents must sign a waiver.  Click HERE to view the QR code to fill out the waiver.  

Or, you can click on this link directly – https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/e/X7BeRdPwgB4eywZqEMeavZ/

For participating in this event, Asbury families can order discount Avalanche tickets.  Click HERE for that QR code.  

PBL Request for 5th Grade

Do any of you have any connections to shoes!  We are looking to get new white sneakers (one pair for each student in their size ideally!) for a Geometry PBL that they will be working on coming soon.  Please reach out to Amy_Ravel@dpsk12.net if you have any connections or ideas on how to make this dream a reality!

Read-A-Thon Bookmarks

Last chance for any students to create a bookmark for the contest, they are due on Monday Jan 13! See Ms. Baca for a blank one and work on it over the weekend!

Talent Show!

Asbury’s Talent Show will be on Thursday, March 20th, 2025 at 4:30pm. Keep an eye out for more information about auditions in the near future!

HR Updates

  • Welcome:
    • We want to welcome Mr. Chris, our new long term sub in Ms. Arza’s room. He started on January 6. 
  • Open Positions: 
    • We have a few DAS (1 on 1 paraprofessional) positions that support our students with special needs. If you are interested, please do not hesitate to reach out! 
    • MI Special Education Teacher position open. If you know of anyone or are interested in yourself, please let Jeanna know.
    • 1st Grade Long Term Substitute Position is open. If you are interested, please reach out to Jeanna Doung

What’s Still Relevant? 

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


What’s going on with PTSO?

  • Attention all kindergarten families! The Asbury PTSO will be hosting Kindergarten Information sessions on Wednesday, Jan. 29 to answer all your pressing questions about the second half of the school year. We’ll offer one during the day and one in the evening. Stay tuned for more information!
  • Colore Italian Restaurant (2700 S. Broadway, Englewood) will be hosting a dine-out event for our school on Tuesday, Jan. 28! Eat some truly delicious Italian food (we recommend the ravioli) and give back to Asbury 😋
  • 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.**
  • Mark your calendars for a few fun upcoming DU Community Ticketing events:
    • DU Women’s Gymnastics: THIS Sunday, 1/12 at 1:45 p.m. Get your tickets here! (Flyer)
      • If anyone is interested in meeting up beforehand for a pre-game bite or beverage, join us at Illegal Pete’s any time after noon! We’ll walk over to the Ritchie Center around 1:30.
    • 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

  • 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
  • 1/25 – 5th Grade Asbury Community Yard Sale – Time to be determined
  • 1/28 – Colore Italian Restaurant Dineout (2700 S Broadway, Englewood)
  • 1/30- 4th grade Artivism Show at Free Cafe 
  • 2/11& 2/12 BOTH 2nd Star to the Right AND Chook Giveback/Dine Out
  • 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 Birdcall Dine Out and Giveback
  • 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
  • 3/18 Shake Shack Dine Out and Giveback
  • 3/20 Talent Show
  • 3/21 – No school for students- Asbury Release Day
  • 3/24 – 3/31- No school for staff and students- Holiday
  • 4/7 Skate City Asbury Night 6-8 pm
  • 4/16 Sweet Cow Dine Out and Giveback
  • 4/18 – No school for students- DPS Release Day
  • 4/22 – 4/23 (Baker’s Homeroom) and 4/23 – 4/24 (Altenburger’s Homeroom) – 5th Grade Balarat 
  • 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