HPE April Family Newsletter 4/6/25

Happy lifelong learners. Passionate and positive in every way!

🌷 Happy Sunday, Harris Park Families! 🌷
Hello, April! Spring is a season of growth—and a wonderful time to strengthen positive relationships. At school, we talk every day with students about choosing kindness. We encourage you to continue those conversations at home too.

⏰ Early Release Reminder – Monday, April 7
Tomorrow is an early release day! School will dismiss at 1:40 PM, and all students must be picked up no later than 1:50 PM. There is no after-school programming on early release days (with the exception of Scholars Unlimited).
Please also note the final two early release days of the school year:

• Monday, April 21

• Monday, May 19

📚 April PTA Meeting – Tuesday, April 8
We’d love for you to join us in the Harris Park Library from 4:00–4:45 PM. For more information, feel free to email Laurie Perila at lperila@wps.org. Your voice matters!

📝 CMAS Testing (Grades 3–5) – April 7–25
Our 3rd–5th grade students will take their state assessments between April 7 and April 25.

• Students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th will complete English Language Arts and Math assessments.

• 5th graders will also take a Science assessment.

These assessments happen during regular school hours. Please help your child do their best by:
✅ Making sure they get a full night's sleep
✅ Providing encouragement and positive reminders
✅ Avoiding scheduling appointments during this window, if possible

If your child will be absent at any time between April 7 and 25, please let us know as soon as possible.

🧥 Lost & Found is Overflowing!
Please remind your child to check the lost and found for any missing coats or jackets.
Families are also welcome to stop by and look through items between 8:15 AM and 2:15 PM—just check in at the front office.

📆 Every Day Matters – Attendance Reminders
As we enter the final stretch of the school year, we need your support to ensure daily and on-time attendance. Your child’s classroom experience includes hands-on learning, group discussions, and social interaction that cannot be replicated outside of school.

Please remember:

• Students may enter the building no earlier than 7:30 AM (there is no supervision before that time).

• Students arriving after 7:35 AM are considered tardy.

• Tardies are just as disruptive as absences—every minute counts!

We love our Harris Park students! Looking forward to a great week together! 💙

This year's average daily attendance goal is

Last week's average daily attendance was

March's average daily attendance was

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, Level 1

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 6

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

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

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.

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!