The Ute Pass Press

Families,

It has been an absolute honor and privilege to serve your students, families, and this amazing community this school year, and will continue to be throughout this very busy month of May! I had the unique opportunity to join 6th grade on their 3-day camping trip to the Sand Dunes this past week (hence my delay on this newsletter) and I'm in awe of the experiences we are able to offer students. There were so many moments where I looked around and listened to the pure joy of the students (when I wasn't wheezing my way up the Dunes, that is) and couldn't believe how lucky we are. Fourth graders will venture out on a three day camping trip this week and fifth grade goes the following week! This is all a testament to a staff that consistently puts kids first- even when it means little to no sleep for them!

We continue to show that a little school can make a BIG difference! I'm so proud of the year we've had, the experiences we've provided, the hands-on learning that has occurred, and the lives that have been forever changed! It's been a really incredible year of growth, learning, and service! Our school data continues to soar as we continue to bust down the walls of a traditional classroom and focus on providing students a voice in their education, the chance to learn through experiential learning, and surrounding our young people with staff who believe wholeheartedly in their abilities and unique gifts.

Please note important dates below as we've had a couple changes due to scheduling conflicts.

This week, we will celebrate teacher/staff appreciation week! I like to go all out on this week and celebrate the staff each day. My theme for this year is "Camp Find a Better Staff Than You." Each day, we will have different ways to appreciate them. How can you help? Well, that's easy (and free)! Please click the link below to download a "Camp Mail" template and have your child draw a staff member a picture, or write a letter! These can be returned to the front office and we will deliver the camp mail on Friday as a way to show your appreciation! They all have incredibly difficult jobs, and they do their jobs with grace and care for every single child in this building.

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.

#watchusgrow

Your partner in education,

Jackie Powell, Ute Pass Principal

Our amazing Dean of Students, Mrs. Wood, has been out for a couple weeks and will be having back surgery in the upcoming months. We wish her quick healing as she embarks on this journey. In the interim, Natascha Leonardo, our district instructional coach, will be serving in the role of Dean. Mrs. Leonardo has two students at UPES, and is a wealth of knowledge. I wanted to make sure to share that news in case you get a call from her and didn't recognize the name. Again, we wish a speedy recovery to Mrs. Wood, who will be out the rest of the year!

May

1- Principal's Day, 6th grade returns from camping

2- Lunch Heroes day, 5th grade service day/hike, 4th grade bird study/hike

4- Superhero Day at Marcroft Hall in Cascade 1-4 pm

5- 3rd Grade to Safeway

5-9- Staff Appreciation Week- please send in Camp Mail to the front office to be delivered!

6- Nurse's Day, 6th Grade Band Concert Rehearsal- 2 pm

7- 6th Grade Band Concert/Art Show 5 pm***This is a date change due to a track meet

7- Late Start, Trout Release (families invited- students don't need lunch), 4th Grade leaves for camping

8- 4th grade camping

9- 4th grade returns from camping, 6th grade fly fishing, K-1 to Red Rocks, 5th grade lock-in, Yearbook order forms due

12- Honor Choir Field Trip to sing at Bear Creek Nursing Home

13- PAC Meeting 3 pm, 5th leave for camping, MSHS students graduation walk at UPES 10 am

14- K-5th grade concert and art show (rehearsal 2 pm, show at 5 pm), 5th grade returns from camping

15- Board Meeting 5:30 pm at MSHS Media Center

16- 6th grade rafting, 1st-4th hiking and plant sale

20- Field Day at Bear Creek Park (families invited- students don't need a lunch)

22- Last day for students, yearbook signing, slideshow, noon dismissal

23- Staff Work Day- Have the best summer!

We ask that all parents and guardians complete the Intent to Return Survey as to whether or not your student will attend MSSD14 for the 2025-2026 school year.

Please complete one form for each student currently enrolled at MSSD14. For additional submissions, a link will be available to begin the survey again after submitting responses.

Parents/Guardians of graduating seniors do not need to complete this survey.

All parents and/or guardians of returning students will receive instructions to complete the 2025-2026 Returning Student Registration Form in the beginning of July. The Returning Student Registration will need to be completed prior to the first day of school on Friday, August 15, 2025.

Individual schools will send specific information during the summer months such as calendars, activity/sports information and required check-in days.

Your participation in this survey is appreciated.

https://forms.gle/Kra1KdEDECsvviAd8

When your child is going to miss school, please call the front office (685-2227) as soon as you can. You are welcome to leave a message before we open, or even email Mrs. Dudley at tdudley@mssd14.org. If you call your child out for a reason, such as illness, it is counted as an excused absence. Once you accrue 10 excused absences, you will receive an initial attendance letter. At that point, you have 5 more excused absences (for a total of 15). We will meet to problem solve how to better help your child be at school, as they would've missed 3 whole weeks of learning at that point. After the 15 excused, it moves to unexcused (even if you call in). That begins leading towards the truancy process. Our handbook describes "Habitual Truancy" as a student who has reached age six by August 1 and is under age seventeen and who has four total days of unexcused absences from school in any one month or ten total days of unexcused absences during any school year. At that point, the district would move forward in the truancy process, which may result in different interventions and possibly include truancy court through the state of Colorado. If you take your child to an appointment (doctor, therapy, dentist, etc), and you provide a note to the front office, that absence does not count towards excused absences at all, and is coded differently in our system. We know there are so many viruses and illnesses that can impact school attendance, but our goal is to have every kid here learning in our amazing school as often as possible! Thank you for your support with getting your child to school on time and as much as possible!

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!

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!

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:

• January 15
• February 5
• March 5
• April 2
• May 7

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.

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/