HPE Weekly Update 12/15/2024

Happy lifelong learners. Passionate and positive in every way!

Happy Sunday, Harris Park Families!

Tomorrow, December 16th is an early release day. School ends at 1:40 and there are no after school activities. If your child is already part of Scholars Unlimited, their pick up is at 4:15.

We have an exciting week ahead filled with spirit days to celebrate the season. Join the fun by dressing up with us each day:

• Monday - Mittens Monday: Wear your favorite winter hats, scarves, gloves, or mittens.
• Tuesday - Twinkle Tuesday: Brighten the day with festive colors, holiday lights, garland, or fun jewelry.
• Wednesday - Wacky Sweater Wednesday: Show off your fun, silly, or festive sweaters.
• Thursday - Thermal Thursday: Stay cozy in your favorite flannel.
• Friday - Snug As a Bug in a Rug Friday: Wear school-appropriate pajamas and bring a small blanket for extra comfort.

Winter Break Reminder
Our winter break begins on Monday, December 23, and students will return to school on Tuesday, January 7. We hope you enjoy this special time with your families!

Fun and Educational Activities for Winter Break
Here are some engaging activities your family can enjoy together:

• Winter Nature Scavenger Hunt: Search for pinecones, evergreen leaves, animal tracks, and icicles during a family walk.
• Baking Together: Turn holiday baking into a math lesson! Practice measuring, adjusting recipes, or doubling a batch.
• Family Reading Challenge: Set reading goals for each family member and create a cozy reading area to enjoy winter-themed books.
• Winter Science Fun: Try experiments like making ice sculptures, observing how snow melts, or creating a homemade snowstorm in a jar.
• Global Holiday Traditions: Use maps to locate countries and learn how people celebrate holidays worldwide.
• Creative Crafts: Make ornaments, design homemade holiday cards, or create winter-themed artwork.
• Game Night: Enjoy quality time with board or card games that everyone can play together.
• Movie Marathon: Snuggle up with blankets and snacks to enjoy family-friendly winter or holiday movies.
• Acts of Kindness: Write kind notes to friends, family, or community members, or volunteer for a small family project to help others.

Adjust these activities to fit your family’s interests, and enjoy creating lasting memories together!

Enrollment for the 25-26 School Year
Enrollment directly affects staffing and class sizes. Please help us plan for the upcoming school year by enrolling now using the link in your emailed weekly update. If you need assistance or help resetting your Infinite Campus password, contact the office at 303-428-1721.

A Note About Routine
Young children thrive on routine, even during breaks. Keeping a consistent schedule over the holidays will help them transition smoothly back to school on Tuesday, January 7th.

We wish you a warm, peaceful, and joyful holiday break. Enjoy this time with your loved ones as we transition from 2024 to 2025. I’ll call again on Sunday, January 5th with your next Harris Park update.

Take care of yourselves and your families!

With love,

Mrs. Mills (Richey)

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.

This year's average daily attendance goal is

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.

Monday, December 16

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

Monday through Friday, December 16-20

• Spirit Days!
• Monday - Mittens Monday - wear winter hats, scarves, and gloves...or mittens
• Tuesday - Twinkle Tuesday - bright colors, holiday lights, garland, festive jewelry, etc.

• Wednesday - Wacky Sweater Wednesday - wear fun, silly, unique, festive, etc. sweaters
• Thursday - Thermal Thursday - wear your favorite flannel
• Friday - Snug As a Bug In a Rug Friday - wear school appropriate PJs and bring a blanket

Monday, December 23 through Monday, January 6

• No School, Winter Holiday

Tuesday, January 7

• Students return from Winter Holiday

Monday, January 13

• 3:15-4:15 Preschool and Kindergarten Open House

Tuesday, January 14

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

Monday, January 20

• No School, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Tuesday, January 21

• 3:15-5:15 PK-5 Student Led Parent Teacher Conferences
• 4:45-5:15 PK & K tours (no conferences during these times)

Wednesday, January 22

• 3:15-5:15 PK-5 Student Led Parent Teacher Conferences
• 4:45-5:15 PK & K tours (no conferences during these times)

Monday, January 27

• 4:30-5:00 Music Program, Sasquatch

Monday, February 3

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

Friday, February 7

• Preschool - No School

Tuesday, February 11

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

Friday, February 14

• No School

Monday, February 17

• No School

Monday, February 24

• 4:30-5:00 Music Program, Ms. Potts

Tuesday, February 25

• Class Pictures, Picture Day

Monday, March 3

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

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, March 4, 5, and 6

• 3:15-5:15 Scholastic Book Fair

Monday through Friday, March 3-7

• Dr Seuss - Spirit Days!
• Monday - The Cat in the Hat - students may wear hats
• Tuesday - Green Eggs and Ham - Wear Green

• Wednesday - Wacky Wednesday - wear many colors
• Thursday - Fox in Socks - wear silly or mismatched socks
• Friday - The Sleep Book - wear school appropriate PJs

Monday, March 10

• 4:30-5:00 Music Program, Phoenix and Yeti

Tuesday, March 11

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

Monday, March 17

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

Monday, March 24 through Friday, March 28

• No School, Spring Break

Wednesday, April 2

• Wear Blue for Autism Awareness

Monday, April 7

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

Tuesday, April 8

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

Monday, April 14

• 4:30-5:00 Music Program, Ms. Myers & Mr. Giffen

Monday, April 21

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

Monday, April 28

• 4:30-5:00 Music Program, Ms. Nelson & Ms. Myah

Monday, May 5

• No School

Tuesday, May 13

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

Monday, May 19

• 12:00 - 1:15 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

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.

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!