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What Does The Fox Say?
February 22, 2024
Below, find a community letter from Ms. Fairbanks, Senior Team Lead & Math Interventionist
Dear Inspire,
It’s the middle of February. Mile 18 of the marathon.
For as long as I’ve known what a metaphor is, running has been my metaphor for life. Few things align themselves in my mind quite as well as the school year and running a marathon.
The first day of school, much like the first mile of a marathon, is full of excitement, anticipation, and nerves. You spend weeks or months preparing and for a long time it feels so far away...then all of a sudden, it’s here! As a teacher, and a marathoner, the phrase “ready as I’ll ever be” is near and dear to my heart.
The first few miles of the race, like the first few weeks of the school year, go by in a (sometimes chaotic) blur. When you look back, it’s often hard to remember what they even felt like. But you get through them and before you know it, you’ve settled into a rhythm. Students know the routines of school, families have defined their roles and rituals at home in order to get everyone dressed and out the door each day, and the pace feels natural and calm. The miles click by 5k, 10k, and before you know it, you’ve reached the half.
The halfway point of a marathon, much like December of the school year is a challenge. Thoughts teeter between, “we’ve made it halfway!” and “oh no, only halfway?”. Things have felt strong and smooth up to this point, but you realize you’re getting a little bit tired and question if you sustain the pace for a whole second half.
The school year provides a much needed break at this point, allowing teachers and students to rest, recharge, and spend time with family and friends. Similarly, at this point in the marathon, experienced runners know it’s time to take a deep breath, scan the body, sip some water and tear open a gel, and relax into the next few miles. In both cases, it’s a bit like the calm before the storm. The hardest part is just ahead.
Returning to school in January is met with a renewed sense of hope and excitement, like the second wind brought on by that caffeinated gel. Everyone quickly returns to a rhythm and things feel back to normal for a few weeks. But cold, dark days begin to wear on everyone as we approach February, which I liken to the dreaded “wall”.
Miles 18-20 of a marathon are when many runners hit “The Wall”. This is a result of glycogen depletion that causes a stark decrease in energy and significant fatigue sets in quickly. During the school year, teachers and families often feel a similar “wall” in February with events and deadlines happening left and right, on top of cold, snowy days, illnesses, and a painful lack of daylight hours.
But in marathoning and in life, we persevere! As a runner, it’s possible to avoid or overcome this wall with proper fueling. In the context of school, it requires the allusive concept of balance and setting aside time to prioritize rest. In both cases, there’s also a bit of grit and pushing through the pain involved.
Right now, we’re in the thick of it. Teachers, students, and families alike are tired. A long weekend provides a bit of a reprieve, but we know it can be a bit of a slog over the next few weeks until we’re met with warmer days, more sunlight, and the renewed sense of joy and excitement spring brings. February is like the hardest miles of a marathon, but once you make it through to 5k left to go, you feel like you can accomplish anything!
March is right around the corner and with that comes spring break to provide that final wind. April brings its challenges with CMAS testing and end of year preparations, but we can do hard things. I think of this time as miles 21-23, when it’s tough but at this point you know you can do it. Finally, May arrives and like the last 5k of the marathon, you get to soak it in. Teachers, students, and families revel in the hard work and achievements of students. The journey was long and it wasn’t always easy, but it’s worth celebrating every time.
I know it’s hard right now. Getting kids (and ourselves) out of bed is a struggle and it feels like the to-do list just keeps growing, but (literal) brighter days are just around the corner. Before you know it, we’ll be in the homestretch, about to cross the finish line of another marathon together. In the words of my favorite marathoner, Des Linden, “keep showing up”. We’ve got this.
Sincerely,
Ms. Fairbanks
Para leer este boletín en español, haga clic en el botón "traducir" en la parte superior de la página.
Important Dates
2/27/24: ECE Field Trip, Denver Botanic Garden
2/28/24: 1st Grade Field Trip, Denver Aquarium
3/1/24: First Friday, wear Inspire gear, colors or fox
3/3/24: PTO Open Gym 1:00pm-3:00pm
3/4/24: Spirit Day: Book Character, dress and your favorite book character
3/4/24: Read Across America Day
3/4/24: 4th Grade field Trip-Women's History Museum
3/7/24: 3rd Grade Field Trip, Arvada Center for Arts and Humanities
3/7/24-3/9/24: 5th Grade Overnight Balarat Trip
3/8/24: End of second trimester
3/8/24: No ECE Classes - RMECC Conference
3/11/24: Museo De Las Americas Field Trip
3/13/24: CSC Meeting, 4:00pm-5:30pm
3/14/24: Spirit Day - Math (Pi) Day
3/18/24: Science Fair Open House, 3rd-5th Grades
3/19/24: School Science Fair, 3rd-5th Grades
3/20/24: Class Picture Day
3/20/24: Art & Music Showcase - 1st Grade, 5:30pm-6:30pm
3/20/24: PTO Meeting, 6:30pm-7:30pm
3/21/24: Spirit Day: Pajama Day
Art & Music Showcase - 1st & 2nd Grades
Ms. Riehl and Ms. Weidner would like to confirm a change in the upcoming date for the 2nd Grade Art and Music Showcase.
- 1st grade will still be Wednesday, March 20th 5:30pm to 6:30pm
- 2nd grade will now be on Thursday, April 25th from 5:30pm to 6:30pm
- Both events will be in the cafeteria. Cafeteria doors will open at 5:30pm to give families time to look at artwork before the full grade performance, which will start at 6:00pm
Science Fair 2024!
Grades K-2 will be completing whole class projects. All 3rd-5th grade students will soon begin completing a science fair project. This year's theme is "Be the Change." Whatever project students choose, they must explain how that will help people/society/the world in some way. Science Fair journals to help students have already been delivered. You can also find a digital version of this journal here. This is a very important part of the Science Fair journey that will help students navigate all components of the project, explain certain topics, and help keep them organized. Teachers will also be teaching about the Scientific Process during their science blocks.
Parents/Guardians are strongly encouraged to support their student(s) throughout the project. All components of the science fair project must be completed at home. Everything you need to know with the process can be found in the students' journal. Additionally, you can use this parent guide for other ways to help your student.
- Teachers will hold mini Science Fairs in their classrooms prior to the school science fair to determine the top 6 in each classroom to qualify. This will give us a total of 72 projects to be judged at the school Science Fair. The school Science Fair is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19th (sorry, no parents at this time) - where again we will have district judges come to determine our school winners to send to the District Science Expo scheduled for Saturday, May 4. Last year we had students place at each grade level at the District Science Expo!
- This year, we will hold a parent open house the evening before the school science fair on Monday, March 18, from 5:30pm - 6:30pm. This is a great opportunity for the classroom winners to practice presenting to parents before the judging and for parents to see all the other projects students will have worked so hard on!
- If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's teacher or Mr. Bryant directly at anthony_bryant@dpsk12.net.
Got Pennies?
At the end of the year, we will be giving students a "scratch off" during the final Friday Celebration. Students will need coins for this. If you have a bunch of pennies you don't mind giving us, please drop them off at the main office, marked "Pennies for Ms. August".
24-25 School Year - Withdrawing K-4 Families
If you are a K-4 family with children moving to another school district or private school for the 24-25 school year or attending another DPS school next school year. Please complete the withdrawal form and email to danielle_vialpando@dpsk12.net. This will allow the School Choice Office to enroll waiting families from the open enrollment list.
Summer Connections
Summer Connections is a free, five-week academic program that is open to all rising first through fifth-grade DPS students at eligible schools from June 17-July 19 (no classes will take place June 19 or July 4-5). This full-day program focuses on preparing elementary students for future success. Registration for Summer Connections is now open and spaces are limited! Please utilize this Summer Connections Principal Toolkit to share important information on this program with your school’s families. For more information, call 720-423-3629 or email EAL@dpsk12.org.
February MLE DAC Meeting
Wednesday, February 21st, 9am-11am
Location: Goldrick Elementary
- All families of DPS multilingual students and community members are encouraged to attend!
- This month, we will have representatives from Special Education, Gifted and Talented (GT), and Summer Connections (summer school program).
- Come learn about these programs and talk directly to the district experts.
- Breakfast, interpretation, and childcare will be provided. Click HERE to register.
23-24 CMAS (Colorado Measures of Academic Success) Information
Please click this link to access our CMAS schedule for this school year and directions for opt outs. Questions? Contact Anthony Bryant - anthony_bryant@dpsk12.net
Community Resources
Webinar Series: Learning to Advocate for Children and Families
When influencing the halls of power, whether in your town, your state capitol, or Washington, DC, advocacy makes a difference. In this free webinar series, updated with new content for 2024, participants learn skills to be an effective advocate for issues they care about and be engaged and informed members of their communities. From strategies for organizing stakeholders to methods for communicating your priorities, this series explores everything you need to make an impact on the issues most important to you. Register today!
- Episode 1: The Foundations of Effective Advocacy - Tuesday, February 27th from 10-11am
- Episode 2: Advocating for Systemic Change - Tuesday, March 12th from 10-11am
- Episode 3: It Takes a Village - Tuesday, March 26th from 10-11am
Spirit Day - 100th Day of School
5th Grade Mardi Gras
Valentine's/Friendship Day
4th Grade Idioms
Inspire Elementary
Email: linda_august@dpsk12.net
Website: https://inspire.dpsk12.org/
Location: 5650 N. Elmira Ct., Denver, CO, 80238
Phone: (720) 424-4850