HPE Weekly Update 4/20/25

Happy lifelong learners. Passionate and positive in every way!

📆 Early Release Reminder – Tomorrow, April 21st

Just a reminder that tomorrow, Monday, April 21st, is an early release day.

• 🕐 Students will be dismissed at 1:40 PM.

• 🚫 There will be no after-school programming, so please make arrangements for your child to be picked up no later than 1:50 PM.

📅 Our final early release of the school year is coming up on Monday, May 19th, which will also be our Field Day celebration! 🎉

📢 Important Traffic Update: New All-Way Stop at Winona Ct & 75th

We want to inform you of an upcoming change that will affect drop-off and pick-up near our school. We’re excited to announce that the intersection at Winona Ct and 75th Avenue will soon become a 4-way stop!

🚧 Installation Timing and Visibility Aids

The 4-way stop will be installed in the coming weeks, depending on the city’s workload and weather.
To help increase visibility and awareness:

• 🏁 Temporary flags will be added to the new stop signs

• ⛔ Stop bars will also be installed

🚦 What This Means for You

Morning Drop-Off:

• All drivers must follow standard 4-way stop rules

• School staff will only stop traffic to help students cross safely

• We will not direct vehicle movement beyond that support

• Please approach with caution and take turns respectfully

🛑 Basic 4-Way Stop Rules

• First Come, First Go:
  The first car to arrive and come to a full stop goes first

• What if two cars arrive together?
  If two or more cars arrive at the same time, the car on the right goes first
  (If you're on the left, let the driver on your right go before you)

• Going Straight vs. Turning:

  • A car going straight goes before a car turning left

  • If you're turning left, wait until the intersection is clear and it’s safe to go

• Always Stop Completely:
  Bring your vehicle to a full stop—not a rolling stop
  Look in all directions and make eye contact with other drivers if needed

• Be Patient and Safe:
  Even if it’s your turn, wait until it’s safe to proceed. Some drivers may be unfamiliar with the rules—let’s all look out for each other

Afternoon Pick-Up:

We will continue to direct traffic into the pick-up line one vehicle at a time in a rotation.
Please continue to wait for my signal before moving through the intersection.

🙏 Thank you for your continued support in keeping our students safe during arrival and dismissal! 💙

🕰️ 2025–2026 Harris Park School Hours

Building Opens & Drop-Off: 7:15–7:25 AM
Monday (All Students): 7:25–1:30 PM

• Please note: Every Monday is an early release day next year, which make Mondays a great day to schedule afternoon appointments!

Tuesday–Thursday Preschool: 7:25–1:40 PM
Tuesday–Thursday K–5th Grade: 7:25–2:40 PM
Pick-Up by: 2:50 PM

🎒 Thank You for Your Partnership!

We are so grateful for your continued support in your child’s education—it makes a world of difference!

Seeing students arrive on time, joyful, and ready to learn brightens every day. Thank you for helping make that possible. 💫

💙 We love our Harris Park students. Let’s make it a great week!

This year's average daily attendance goal is

Last week's average daily attendance was

March's average daily attendance was

Monday, April 21

• 7:35-1:40 Early Release Day, student pick up at 1:40 PM
  

Monday, April 29

• Primary Field Trip to the Zoo

Monday, May 5

• No School

Tuesday, May 6

• 4:00-6:00 Skate City Harris Park Event

Friday, May 9

• Last Day of Scholars Unlimited

Tuesday, May 13

• 4:00-4:45 BAAC / PTA Meeting, Library

Monday, May 19

• 12:00 - 1:30 Field Day
• 7:35-1:40 Early Release Day, student pick up at 1:40 PM

Thursday, May 22

• 1:45-2:30 Reading Partners Celebration
  

Friday, May 23

• Final Day of School for 2024-2025
• 1:00-2:30 5th Grade Continuation and Music Performance, gym

For the 2025-2026 school year, enrollment opens on December 11, 2024.

Families who live in-district

Click here to view the in-district enrollment page.

Who should register for In-District enrollment?

• Families who live in our district boundaries and want to continue at their same WPS school for the next academic year.

• Families who live in our district boundaries and need to choose a new WPS school because their student has reached the highest grade level at their current school. (Example- 8th graders who need to choose a high school or 5th graders who need to choose a middle school or PK-8).

• Families who live in our district boundaries and want to switch their student from one WPS school to another.

• Families who live in our district boundaries and want to enroll their student(s) for the first time in a WPS school.

Families who live out-of-district

Click here to view the out-of-district enrollment page.

Application Process

Each year, Westminster Public Schools accepts School Choice applications during two separate open enrollment windows. At the end of each enrollment window, WPS will complete a review of the student’s education records to determine the student’s enrollment eligibility, including residency, appropriate grade level placement, and programmatic enrollment criteria. This review will also help the District determine whether the choice school(s) can meet the student’s educational needs.

General Information

• Approval of School Choice enrollment is based on available space, programming, and staffing at the requested school. When the number of applicants exceeds the number of spaces available, students will be selected by a random selection lottery. Each School Choice window will have its own capacity limits by school.
• When an in-district resident student has been enrolled in any school under the School Choice program, that school becomes the “school of attendance” through the highest grade offered at the school.
• Out-of-district resident students must apply for a School Choice space on an annual basis.
• Students enrolled in a school rather than their district-designated neighborhood school are responsible for their own transportation. If space is available on an existing transportation route, parents/guardians may apply for the district’s ridership program.
• In addition to space and program availability at the selected school, enrollment may be denied based on attendance/truancy and/or behavior.
• Applicants for School Choice enrollment are initially accepted without regard to educational disability. However, if an accepted student has an IEP or Section 504 plan, the District will request a copy during the registration process, which occurs after acceptance but before enrollment. The District will use the IEP or Section 504 plan to determine whether the requested school can meet the requirements of the current IEP or 504 plan with existing staff and program elements. If not, an IEP or Section 504 team will be convened to determine whether the student can receive a free, appropriate, public education (“FAPE”) in the requested school notwithstanding the limitations at that school. If the IEP or Section 504 team determines the student cannot be provided FAPE in the requested school, then enrollment will be denied.
• Denial decisions about School Choice enrollment may not be appealed.

Remote Learning Day Options

On a remote learning day, students have two options for engaging in learning (they do not need to do both; choose one):

Option 1: Remote Learning Folders

Students can complete their remote learning day folders provided by their teacher. These folders must be returned to the teacher on the next school day to count the student as present.

Option 2: Remote Learning via Zoom

Teachers will provide live instruction on an adjusted schedule using Zoom.

• Accessing Zoom:
  Zoom links can be found on students' Clever pages, accessible from any computer through the district website here. Students will need their email address and password to log in. These details will be sent home with the remote learning folders.

• Start Time:
  All students will begin Zoom classes at 10:00 AM.

• K-5 Schedule Overview:

  • 10:00–10:35: Class 1
  • 10:45–11:20: Class 2
  • 11:50–12:25: Class 3
  • 12:35–1:10: Class 4
  • 1:10–1:45: Intermediate only – Class 5
• Preschool Schedule:
  

  Preschool classes will also begin at 10:00 AM and follow an adjusted schedule designed to be age-appropriate.

Your child's teacher will send additional details, including the specific schedule for their class.

Westminster Public Schools (WPS) has a two-hour delayed start as an option on days when snowy weather conditions make for a dangerous morning commute.

Harris Park Information

• If your child rides the bus, add two hours to when the bus usually picks up
• Students may enter the building beginning at 9:30am
• The school day begins at 9:35am
• The school day ends at 2:50pm
• There will be no after school activities on days when we have a late start

How will I be notified of a delayed start?

• The decision to close schools or to open with a delayed start will be communicated as early as possible, but no later than 5:30 a.m.
• If the decision is made for a two-hour delayed start, but worsening weather requires the closure of schools, an announcement will be made by 8 a.m.
• As in the past, parents and employees will receive a phone call in the early morning, and information will also be shared with local TV stations and posted on the WPS and all school social media pages.
  
  

Update Your Contact Information

• It is important for schools to have accurate contact information for all families and employees. If your phone number or email address changes, please share that information with your school's main office as soon as possible.

It is very important that we have current contact information for every parent or guardian. We use multiple methods to communicate with our Harris Park families. The primary way we communicate with you is through Sunday phone calls and emails. You will also receive a monthly newsletter by email. Teachers will use Class Dojo, email, and phone calls. Our office team will primarily use phone calls.

Please be sure that we have current phone numbers and email addresses for you. The best way to update your contact information is through the Parent Portal in Infinite Campus. If you need assistance with your Parent Portal, please call 303-428-1721. We can provide you with your user name and reset your password for you.

Breakfast: 8:00am - 9:00am

• Westminster High School
• Westminster Swim and Fitness

Lunch: Monday through Thursday 11:00am - 1:00pm

• Orchard Crossing Apartments
• Alto Apartments
• Zuni Apartments
• Orchard Park Academy

Lunch: Monday through Friday 11:00am - 1:00pm

• Westminster Park and Recreation
• Westminster Swim and Fitness
• Westminster High School

For the most up-to-date information about everything that is going on at the Dan Vallez center, please visit their website here.

• Breakfast and Lunch Menus: Click here
• Free and Reduced Lunch Application: Click here
• Family Handbook and Important Forms: Click here
• HPE Calendar: Click here

B: Brain & Body Posture: Focus and think. Sit up nice and straight.

E: Eye Contact: Eyes on the action. Track the speaker.

S: Speech: Know when to talk and when to listen.

T: Tone: Be Respectful and speak clearly.

Safety: Personal safety and safety for others.

Teamwork: Leadership of self, in small groups, & with peers.

Attitude: Positive scholastic and can-do-it attitudes.

Respect: Of your space, classroom, school, yourself & others.

★Responsibility: Personal, academic, and for the school.

Email: nmills@wps.org
Website: https://harrispark.wps.org/
Location: 4300 West 75th Ave, Westminster, CO 80030
Phone: 303-428-1721
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarrisParkElm/
Twitter: @WPSNewsNow

Happy lifelong learners. Passionate and positive in every way!