Families,

What a month we had at Ute Pass Elementary! It was a time of gratitude, amazing learning opportunities, and connection. Our Thankful Thursday Literacy Luncheon was an incredible success and continues to be one of the most amazing events I've witnessed as a school administrator. It truly shows what can be accomplished when you have a team of people who commit to doing what's best for kids, even when it's outside the typical education "mold". Check out the video below if you missed it on our school's Facebook page. We also participated in a boxed food drive in November, collecting over 500 items for our local food pantry!

December provides a month full of concerts, art shows, special events, and a continued focus on providing instruction that is intentional and data-driven. It also provides another opportunity for me to celebrate and spoil the amazing team of educators at UPES. I will be doing all sorts of fun challenges and surprises for the staff this month. If you'd like to help support this incredible team, consider providing a small gift card (anything from $5 to $15) for me to use in the giveaways this month. Anything from Starbucks to Safeway to Amazon is so appreciated, you can simply bring the to the front office in an envelope with my name on it. If you are interested in being involved in other ways, we have several opportunities for you to do so:

• Attend PAC's Sweets with Santa event on Saturday, December 7th from 1-3 pm
• Volunteer for our Craft Day on Wednesday, December 18th by reaching out to PAC president Janelle Berndt at upepac@gmail.com or sign up here: Craft Day Volunteer Sign Up
• Reach out to your child's teacher about any special trips or class parties to see if they need help!
• Attend one of our upcoming Winter Concerts/Art Shows (dates below)!

We are always looking for ways to help you feel connected and involved with what we are doing at UPES. It truly takes a village to support these wonderful learners!

As you look through the pictures below, and as you listen to the stories from your amazing young people that we have the privilege to educate, I hope you feel the joy, hear the laughter, and appreciate this truly unique little gem that we get to call our school.

#littleschoolbigdifference

Your partner in education,

Jackie Powell, Ute Pass Principal

December

2- Students & Staff Return

3- 6th Grade Band Concert & Art Show (Rehearsal 2 pm, Concert at 5 pm)

6- 5th Grade Catamount Inquiry Showcase (All school 12:30-2, Family Showcase 2:15-2:45)

7- Sweets with Santa 1-3 pm at UPES Gym

10- PAC/SAC 3 pm in music room, Kinder-5th Grade Concert & Art Show (Rehearsal 2 pm, Concert at 5 pm)

11- 2 Hour Late Start

16- BOE Meeting and UPES Showcase, "Channel Your Flannel" dress up day

17- "Pajama Day" dress up day

18- Craft Day/ "Ugly Sweater" dress up day

19- "Tree Topper" dress up day

20- "Christmas Chaos" dress up day, last day for students/staff before break

21- January 7- Students off for Winter Break

Our November boxed food drive was super successful! Mrs. Wood told the kids if they collected 300 items she would wear a turkey costume on the last day before break. Well, 500 items later, she delivered! We all gathered in the gym to watch the boxes domino!

Student safety is paramount to everything we do at UPES. Per our Family/Student Handbook (linked above), please note the following expectations for all visitors and volunteers to Ute Pass Elementary:

Partnerships with our schools are an important piece in a child’s education. Volunteers are expected to make arrangements prior to volunteering in the school or classroom. In some instances where volunteers or chaperones are supervising students alone, a background check is required. If you think you’ll want to chaperone for events, please contact your child’s teacher to find out about needs and opportunities. For the safety of our students and staff, during school hours, all family members, visitors, non-district workers, and volunteers must sign in at the office and receive a badge to be visible at all times when in our building. State-issued identification is required by school personnel for check in through our Raptor system. Visitors during lunch will sit at a visitor’s table with their child(ren). When leaving, all visitors must check out at the office.

In the mornings, family members may walk their child(ren) to the entryway, but we ask that you give all your "have a great days" and "goodbyes" at the door. This helps us ensure that only staff members and pre-arranged visitors are in the building once school begins. Thank you for helping us provide a safe learning environment for all students!

Tech Corner: Help Boost Kids' Safety, Privacy, and Security

When kids start to go online, whether they're playing multiplayer games, using educational apps, or just following their curiosity on Google, it's important that they understand the basics of online privacy and safety. With some general guidelines around what information is and isn't OK to share, and some help from parents when they're unsure, kids can have fun and learn a lot in the digital world.

Discuss personal vs. private info.

Talk about the difference between what's OK to share online (favorite color) and what's not (home address)

Use privacy settings.

Together, go through the settings on all new apps to make sure you both know what information your kids are sharing. Especially in the beginning, it's better to share very little

Avoid location tracking.

Location-aware apps can be super helpful. But apps that use a device's location to help people find your kid or offer them ads for nearby businesses should be used with caution. Turn them off if you can.

Power up passwords.

Work together with kids to help them come up with complex passwords. Think outside the dictionary. Use phrases and special characters that make passwords hard to guess but easy to remember. Remind kids to keep passwords private and change them regularly.

Skip quizzes.

Help kids identify and avoid clickbait, quizzes, special offers, and anything that asks for personal or private information. This helps keep information secure and devices safe.

Duty/supervision/breakfast begins at 7:35.

The first bell for students to enter classrooms is at 7:55, and the tardy bell will ring at 8:00. Dismissal is at 2:50.

Here are the ins and outs of our pick up/drop off lane:

• The family drop-off/pick-up lane will allow children to be picked up all the way to the end of the central sidewalk (to the gas meters against the street).
  
• Teachers will supervise students in the locations noted on the map above.
• No car will move into or exit the lane until every car has been loaded. (If you do not have the time to wait, please consider parking and walking in the areas marked above.)
  
• When all cars are loaded, the line of cars will exit together.
• The crossing guard will then allow walking parents to cross the parking lot at crosswalks to gain access to their vehicles.
  
• When these vehicles are loaded and moving, the next line waiting on Chipita Park Road will be allowed in to begin the process again.
• Furry Friday dismissal- on Fridays, bring your dogs through our pick-up lane for a treat!
  
• Friday afternoon concerts- Mr. Ferguson will be playing on select Friday afternoons at dismissal (weather permitting)!
  
• Do not utilize the bus lane parking lot for drop-off or pick-up.

Please note the available areas for parking and walking above. If your child is sitting on the wall with their teacher, please ask a staff member to get your child for you to avoid excess traffic near the pick-up lane. As always, your patience is deeply appreciated!

Free Meals for Students, Plus Important Reminders for Families

We are excited to share that all students in Manitou Springs School District will receive free breakfast and lunch through the Healthy School Meals for All program! This new statewide program, approved by Colorado voters, is helping Colorado children and teens have access to nutritious food at our schools.

Even though breakfast and lunch will be provided for free, we need families to continue sharing household income information through this form in order for our school to receive full access to federal funding.

Be sure to fill out the form as part of your back-to-school registration! If you have questions or would like additional support, please reach out to Paula Faucette-Director of Nutrition Services, 719-685-2005 or email pfaucette@mssd14.org for more information.

The school district will be providing supervision for a limited number of students during all late start Wednesdays during the 24-25 school year. To sign up, follow the Google Form link below and register your student(s).

It is important that registration is completed only for students who would otherwise not be able to attend school if not for late start childcare.

https://forms.gle/yM9kLatxQKw7eU1F6

Late Start Wednesdays for first semester:

• August 28
  

• September 11
• October 2
• November 6
• November 20
• December 11

Connect14 is an incredible opportunity for students that attend Manitou Springs School District 14. New this year, Connect14 will be run by individual schools. UPES is currently holding two after school summit classes and multiple tutoring sessions by invitation.

Manitou Springs Elementary School will host an after-school program through Champions After School Care. This opportunity will be offered to Ute Pass Families also, and transportation would be provided from UPES to MSES after school.

We have a very active and incredible Parent Action Committee who supports our little school in BIG ways!

The PAC meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 3:00 pm in the music room at UPES. Moving into the 24-25 school year, the PAC is excited to have a larger presence in the school, continuing to take care of the amazing staff at UPES, putting on events and meeting new families, and to get new members! They will have a table set up at our Open House/Open Outdoors with more information and opportunities to join in on the fun! Please contact Janelle, PAC President, at upepac@gmail.com with any questions.

SATURDAY, DEC 7

Holiday Craft Fair 9am-4pm CWW

Food Truck 11am Across from CWW: Grilled Cheese Food Truck

Ribbon Cutting 6pm Horse Wellness Meadow

Elite Equine Gala 6:30pm-9:30pm Joyland Church

SUNDAY, DEC 8

Ornament Painting 1pm-4pm Greenbox Studio

Cookie Decorating 1pm-4pm Greenbox Studio

Santa 2pm Greenbox Learning Center

Hayrides 2:30-5:30pm Skyspace Parking Lot

Yule Log Hunt 3pm Greenbox Campus & Gazebo Park

Cookies 4:15-4:45 CWW

Tree Lighting 5pm Gazebo Park: Carillon bells

Nite Caps After tree lighting Greenbox Campus/S’mores, hot chocolate, wassail

Plus, Bigfoot will be attending events on Sunday!

at the foot of Pikes Peak in the Rocky Mountains.

Email: tdudley@mssd14.org
Website: http://upe.mssd14.org/
Location: 9230 Chipita Park Road, Cascade, CO, USA
Phone: 719-685-2227
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/utepasselementaryschool/