Explorer Express
Happenings Around Dry Creek Elementary
We are officially back to school! As we begin this year, I wanted to provide a few important updates. First, Dry Creek will not host an in-person Back to School night. Instead, teachers will share and record the information typically shared during these events and it will be sent to you on Thursday, August 24th. We prefer to connect with you individually with Family Connection Meetings. Therefore, if you have not had a Family Connection meeting yet, please reach out to your student's teacher and schedule a time to meet. We would like all families to participate in these meetings.
Also, there are many opportunities for parent engagement. I encourage you to support the school in the manner that suits you best. There are numerous ways to volunteer here at school. We have classroom support, PTCO events, art and library support, formal committees, and other ways to get involved. For specific school committees, please see the list at the bottom of this newsletter. One way to volunteer is with the PTCO. The first PTCO meeting will be this Wednesday, August 23rd at 6:30 pm.
Lastly, if you have not done so, please download the Talking Points App on your phone. This app is the primary source of communication between parents and your student's teacher. You will also receive school-wide communication through Talking Points. In order to stay informed and connect most efficiently with your student's teacher, we encourage all parents/guardians to use the Talking Points app. The directions are listed below.
Thank you for being part of the Dry Creek community. We are going to have a great year!
Go, Explorers!
Mr. Watanabe
Principal, Dry Creek Elementary
New Families - Download the Talking Points App
To download the app, click here: https://families.talkingpts.org/welcome, or scan the QR code below from your iPhone or Android.
When registering, please use the same phone number that is listed in PowerSchool, you will be automatically connected to your student's classroom teacher. Parents may also receive an initial text message from their child's teacher to help set up the parent app.
Dining Night Out - Modern Market - Friday 8/25
Join the Dry Creek Choir! (For Grades 3-5)
HOW: Use the link below to sign up
WHAT: Choir is a singing and performing group.
COST: $15 donation payable through RevTrak, by check made out to Dry Creek Elementary, or cash https://cherrycreek.revtrak.net/elementary-schools-a-k/dry/#/list
WHEN: Mondays after school from 2:45-3:30 pm beginning September 11th.
WHY: To be a part of a mixed-age group that loves singing and performing. We will perform the national anthem by ourselves at the Colorado Rockies game on Wednesday, September 27th. More information will be coming home once sign-ups are complete. We will also go on a field trip to perform for assisted living homes in December - date TBD.
COMMUNICATION: All communication will be sent via the Talking Points app.
Cub Scouts
Coding & Robotics Club
Goal Getters Club Workout Club
Lunch & Breakfast Menus
Free Meals for All - Meal Application Needed to Maximize Benefits
Colorado voters have approved new legislation that will provide free breakfast and lunch meals to all students effective August 2023. Although meals will be free, it is still important for families to complete a new meal application every school year after July 1 to maximize family and district benefits. Please visit the CCSD Food and Nutrition web page for more information and the application.
Safety Reminders
- Cross streets at designated crosswalks, we have crossing guards at all intersections before and after school.
- When driving around school, drive slowly and be aware of pedestrians
- Use the designated drop-off lanes when dropping off or picking up
- If using the drop-off lane, please do not leave your vehicle unattended
- No dogs or pets on school property during school hours
- Playgrounds are unsupervised before and after school and will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian during these times.
Thank you for doing your part to help keep our school safe. For a detailed map of the arrival and dismissal locations, please see the map below.
Parent, Teacher, and Community Organization (PTCO)
The Dry Creek PTCO-Parent, Teacher, and Community Organization is a volunteer driven partnership between the parents of our students, our incredible teachers and staff, and members of our extended community, grandparents, former teachers, Dry Creek families, and local businesses. We welcome everyone that is committed to our school and our children's education!
The Dry Creek PTCO supports our school by coordinating fundraising events, sponsoring community activities that engage our families, updating classroom technology, and providing staff grants for curricular endeavors. A significant portion of the funds raised by PTCO provides compensation for our para-professional teaching assistants who enhance the adult to student ratio in our classrooms. These are the amazing people that give their time and energy every day to our children and provide supplemental help to our busy teachers. The funds that the PTCO raises provide materials and resources that support student learning.
The PTCO is here to represent everyone in our school community. We want to know what’s important to our members and keep our goals in line with what our community wants and needs. All voices and viewpoints are welcome at our meetings and on the board. We can’t wait to see you at our next meeting!
If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about Dry Creek's PTCO, please reach out to Monica Barrett at monica_zaltsberg@yahoo.com.
PTCO General Meeting Dates:
August 23, 2023
September 19, 2023
October 24, 2023
November 21, 2023
January 16, 2024
February 13, 2024
March 12, 2024
April 16, 2024
May 14, 2024
All meetings will be held at Dry Creek Elementary at 6:30pm, unless otherwise specified.
PTCO Volunteer Opportunities for 2023-24
The PTCO is currently seeking parents to join the executive board for the 2023-24 school year. If you looking for a way to volunteer for the school, please consider volunteering for these open positions:
- Fundraising Coordinator
- Communications Director
- Fundraising Coordinator
- Fun Run Volunteers
- General Volunteers
- Teacher Appreciation Volunteers
- Morning and Muffins Volunteer
- Class Parent
There are also many more opportunities that are listed on the linked sign-up below!
Partnerships for Academically Successful Students (P.A.S.S.)
Purpose for PASS at Dry Creek:
To create opportunities to hear parent and student voices/perspectives/narratives as they relate to experiences at Dry Creek Elementary
To strengthen communication channels with Dry Creek parents and families
To increase the presence and engagement of families of color at Dry Creek to create new, positive and accurate narratives for students and staff and work to support all students.
P.A.S.S. meetings this year will be held on the following dates at 6:00pm.
- September 20, 2023
- October 25, 2023
- December 20, 2023
- February 21, 2024
- April 24, 2024
If you are interested in joining this committee, please contact Mr. Watanabe at kwatanabe@cherrycreekschools.org.
Dry Creek Accountability Committee
The School Accountability Committee is a parent group that works in collaboration with the principal in the areas of school achievement, unified improvement planning, school policies, and planning, budget decisions and staffing considerations with the focus on the improvement of Dry Creek Elementary. The committee welcomes participation from all members of the community.
Goals for Accountability Committee:
Understand how Dry Creek Elementary is working toward achieving school and district goals around College and Career Preparedness and Success and Inclusive Excellence.
Review and provide feedback on the draft Unified Improvement Plan (UIP).
Serve as a sounding board for school leadership on school policies, planning, and staffing considerations.
Provide updates on school programs and initiatives.
To be a voice in shaping a positive and inclusive school community experience.
Dry Creek Accountability Meeting will be held on the following dates at 6:00pm
- September 6, 2023
- November 15, 2023
- January 17, 2024
- March 13, 2024
- April 17, 2024
If you are interested in joining this committee, please contact Mr. Watanabe at kwatanabe@cherrycreekschools.org.
Coffee with the Principal
Coffee with the principal will meet in the Dry Creek Libary at 8:00am on the following dates:
- September 28, 2023
- October 26, 2023
- December 21, 2023
- February 22, 2024
- April 25, 2024
Connect with Us
Email: kwatanabe@cherrycreekschools.org
Website: https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/drycreek
Location: 7686 East Hinsdale Avenue, Centennial, CO, USA
Phone: (720) 554-3300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drycreekelementaryccsd/
Twitter: @DryCreekCCSD
Language Translation Resources
Families who need Dry Creek Elementary communication translated, please contact the liaison listed:
English:
Please contact Jill Exley at jexley@cherrycreekschools.org for support with this resource in your language.
Amharic
እነዝህን መረጃዎችን በተመለከተ በቋንቋዎ ዕገዛን ለማግኘት ከፈለጉ እባክዎን ተሊሌን በዝህ እሜይል ያግኙዋት thirpa@cherrycreekschools.org
Arabic:
يرجى الاتصال بـ (جميعة صباحي أو جاودة العلمي) على (jsebbahi@cherrycreekschools.org أو
jdajanialami@cherrycreekschools.org للحصول على الدعم مع هذا المورد باللغة العربية.
Chinese:
如有需要,请经由ahan10@cherrycreekschools.org,与韩馥联系,以您的语言获得此资源的支持。
Korean:
귀하의 언어로 이 자원에 대한 지원을 원하시면 (리아 리) 에게 (llee6@cherrycreekschools.org) 로 문의하십시오.
Russian:
Пожалуйста, обращайтесь к Ларисе Бака по адресу: lbaca3@cherrycreekschools.org для получения поддержки с помощью этого ресурса на своём языке.
Somali:
Fadlan la xiriir Omar Nur cinwaanka emaylka-onur2@cherrycreekschools.org si aad u hesho macluumaad ku qoran luqadaada.
Spanish:
Si necesita ayuda con este recurso en su idioma, póngase en contacto con Ilse Chavez Maldonado en ichavezmaldonado@cherrycreekschools.org, Rosa Han en rhan4@cherrycreekschools.org, Helena Gognat en hgognat@cherrycreekschools.org o Milagro Nuanes en mnuanes@cherrycreekschools.org
Vietnamese:
Vui lòng liên hệ với Thuý Ngọc tại Lchung2@cherrycreekschools.org để được hỗ trợ về tài nguyên này bằng tiếng Việt.