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What Does The Fox Say?
August 17, 2023
Dear Inspire Parent/Guardian,
My 10yo started school last week. I made the obligatory "First Day of 5th Grade" sign the night before. I tried to print a nice border but of course the printer wasn't working. I did the best I could with my limited artistic ability. This was already much better than a couple of years ago when I made the obligatory "First Day of Second Grade!" sign, which should have been lovely except it was actually her first day of third grade. Welp! Since I couldn't do anything but wait I used the fifth grade sign and took a picture of my 10yo while she was still knocked out sleeping. It took ten minutes to wake her up. It didn't help that we could not get her into bed the night before until 11pm. I know... I know! Of course it was going to be a rough morning. We did a terrible job of undoing two months of sleeping in! She eventually got there... I could see in her eyes that she was becoming more alert, that she was realizing it was a special day and she said, "Im tirrrrreeed!" and pulled the covers back over her face. It was like watching molasses on a turtle... change the clothes, brush the teeth, eat the breakfast, double check for the snack and grab the bookbag. After we parked, I realized I did not bring the obligatory first day of school sign. Already messing up on day one of school. Ooooooh well. When I dropped her off at the door, she gave me a deep hug and said, "I'm almost a middle schooler." No. Noooo, I'm not ready for that. Her class list came out a couple weeks ago so we knew none of her friends would be in her class. It was a bummer but we knew she would be okay. She's introverted and struggles sometimes but she'll eventually warm up. We are pretty proud of who she is becoming. She's much stronger than I was at that age. We waved a slow goodbye and as I turned around a friend of mine was right behind us. She had tears in her eyes. I asked her if everything was okay. She cry-talked and between holding back tears and her trying to take breaths she explained she just dropped off her youngest in pre-k. I remembered what that felt like, in a distant way but not a memory I will forget. I screamed, "I love you friend!" as she quickly walked away before she completely lost it. As I headed out I thought about how the years are passing by so fast, that I remember feeling the angst, the worry, and pain wondering if she would be okay. I'm not sure when I realized it but I know she will be okay. We didn't do or say all the right things and neither did she. But she's good. Well, until maybe middle school and high school... If your child is a ball of nerves, feel free to come by early to take some deep breaths together. Teachers will come outside at 7:25am and will start heading in at 7:35am. You'll say your goodbyes outside and then your kids will head inside to start their transitions, welcomes and first day activities. We'll see you soon!
Sincerely,
Linda August
Principal
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Important Dates
8/18/23: Meet & Greet (in-person), 1:00pm-3:00pm
8/21/23: First Day of School (for K-5)
8/22/23 First Day of School (for ECE only)
8/25/23: Friday Celebration, 7:40am-7:55am
8/30/23 - 9/1/23: Picture Day
9/1/23: Spirit Day: First Friday - wear Inspire or fox gear, school colors
9/4/23: NO SCHOOL, Holiday - Labor Day
9/5/23: Spirit Day: Labor/Career Day (dress like what you want to be when you grow up)
9/13/23: CSC Meeting, 4:00pm-5:30pm
First Day of School - ECE Only
Per DPS, the first day of school for ECE students is Tuesday, 8/22
Students attend half the day for one day (morning or afternoon)
See the schedule below, by last name which varies according to the homeroom teacher:
Foote: Student last names A-P 7:40am-10:55am, Student last names Q-Z 11:40am-2:40pm
Klinzing: Student last names A-Ha 7:40am-10:55am, Student last names He-Z 11:40am-2:40pm
Please adhere to the denoted last name schedule denoted above. ECE has ratio (adult to student) requirements, which this schedule accounts for
Regular / Full day schedule begins Wednesday, 8/23
Back-to-School (virtual) Meeting Recording
Designed for our new families, if you were unable to attend the Tuesday (8/15) meeting, you can access the meeting recording here.
First Three Days of School
Teachers will come outside to greet students as they adjust to the start of a new school year. Please note:
- Teachers will come outside at 7:25am
- Teachers will have signs with their names on it
- Students will begin entering at 7:35am to ensure students get into the building by 7:40am
- There will be NO breakfast during the first three days of school as all staff will be greeting/assisting students outside
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
Arrival and dismissal can be stressful times of the day. Please read the arrival and dismissal procedures for respective grade levels to ensure you know how to help it run smoothly.
School Meals
Per DPS, "All students in DPS will have access to free, healthy school meals beginning in the 2023-24 school year thanks to the Healthy School Meals for All program approved by Colorado voters! While meals will be provided for free to all DPS students through Healthy School Meals for All, families are asked to complete the “You Benefit! Form” (formerly referred to as the Meals Application) to ensure DPS gets full access to available federal funding." See below for one-pager explanation: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, French, Nepali, Somali
Meet & Greet (in-person), August 18th from 1:00pm-3:00pm
Families will have an opportunity to come in and meet their child's teachers
Come anytime between the hours of 1:00pm-3:00pm
Stop by the Specials classrooms: Art, Music, Physical Education, STEAM
Families are also welcome to stop by the School Counselor, Social Worker, SpEd, Interventionist Offices
PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) will be in the cafeteria so please stop by and see them for a scavenger hunt
After School Enrichments
- Fall Enrichment Offerings
- Inspire Elementary, in partnership with the Inspire PTO, is excited to offer a robust schedule of after-school enrichment programs this fall! These programs are open to ALL Inspire students.
- Kerrie Hall (our PE teacher) will provide the operational support. Please email Coach Hall if you have any questions. (kerrie_hall@dpsk12.net)
- The Inspire PTO is (a) providing funding for Coach Hall's position, (b) is covering enrichment registration for families in need of financial assistance, and (c) managing and funding the enrichment registration process.
- If you are a family in need of financial assistance for your student to join an enrichment, please reach out to Inspire Counselor, Michelle Hauck (michelle_hauck@dpsk12.net) before Wednesday, August 23.
- Registration information will be shared in next week's WDTFS (8/24).
School Supply Fee K-5
Parents/Guardians received a $110 invoice from MySchoolBucks (MSB) for School Supply Fee. You do not need to purchase school supplies on your own. This decreases shopping stress for parents and increases equity for students. Note: The fee is waived for families that are Free Reduced Lunch (FRL). FRL families do not need to pay the invoice. If you receive an invoice please contact Gabbi Rodriguez at gabriella_rodriguez@dpsk12.net to request a waiver.
School Supplies, ECE
ECE programming is tuition based and not included in the School Supply Fee. Click on the link for information on what supplies to purchase and drop off on the first day of school.
Lost & Found
Please please please write your child’s first and last name on all water bottles, lunch boxes, and outerwear (sweatshirts, jackets). If we find the item and your child’s name is on it, it’s like winning the lottery and your child will get it back (to their classroom). If an item does not have a name on it, then it will make its way to the lonely Lost & Found in the corner of the main entrance / vestibule. Lost & Found items are periodically donated.
Bloomz Messages Will Resume
If you are new to Inspire, you will receive a notification to join our school app messaging system. Be sure to accept the invitation to receive school and classroom announcements.
School Website
If you are not familiar with our website, be sure to check it out. There is a lot of helpful information regarding our school hours, the school calendar, becoming a member of PTO, purchasing Inspire gear, school supply, etc. Go to the Inspire Elementary website and click "Family Information"!
Friday Celebrations
If you are new to Inspire, you are welcome to attend our Friday Celebrations. Fridays from 7:40am-7:55am, we facilitate a weekly celebration in our gym. It ranges from announcements, cultural moments, student performance and jokes! The intent is to enjoy our time together as a whole school. We will host our first Friday Celebration on 8/25/23. You do not need to sign in at the front desk. Please walk into the school with your child and sit in the designated parent/guardian area (staff will direct you).
School Spirit Wear
To purchase school spirit wear visit inspirefoxes.com.
August PTO Meeting
Wednesday, August 30 at 6:30 p.m.
Cheluna Brewing Company - Upstairs Mezzanine
2501 Dallas St #148, Aurora, CO 80010
Join us for our first PTO Meeting of the year! This is a great opportunity to find out what's on the horizon for the PTO and how you can help. We'll be upstairs in the Mezzanine room at Cheluna Brewing Company in Stanley Marketplace.
Inspire Elementary
Email: linda_august@dpsk12.net
Website: https://inspire.dpsk12.org/
Location: 5677 North Galena Street, Denver, CO, USA
Phone: (720) 424-4850