What Does The Fox Say?

Dear Inspire Parent/Guardian,

Fifteen years ago, I was sitting on my living room couch watching TV. Suddenly, my chest got really tight and I couldn't breathe. It seemed like something invisible had slammed into my body. I clutched my chest as if my fist pressed up against my ribs would somehow reverse what ever was happening to me. With every gasp of breath I took, it seemed to get worse. Between stabbing pains I grabbed my husbands arm and said something was wrong. I told him it felt like a heart attack but I didn't have any pain down my arm. He looked at me and said, "I think you're just having heart burn." I insisted it couldn't be. The pain was excruciating. He said if it didn't go away shortly, he would take me to the hospital. Ten minutes later, it started to dissipate. I'll skip past the part where my husband gave me the I-told-you-so-look. Occasionally, Tums and Pepto are my best friends. Sometimes, we aren't okay until after we figure it out, find out, or fall down - and that's okay. Not to compare chest pain to parenting (or maybe so) but it brings me back to when I thought I lost my daughter in Target, when I sobbed after dropping her off at pre-k on the first day of school, when she climbed up to the edge of a steep rock, when a rattlesnake slithered near us on a hiking trail, when she quietly cried in the middle of the night in her room, and every time I see pain behind her eyes. It. Kills. Me. But here's the thing... Every time, each and every time, she got through it and it was okay. Most days at Inspire, we know things will be good or great for your kids. On the days when it's not, like maybe during the first week of school when they have to leave you at the door, please know they will eventually be okay. We have an incredible staff that knows how to educate and care for your kids. If it has been a tough start, I promise it will get easier.

Sincerely,

Linda August

Principal

Important Dates

8/23/24: Friday Celebration, 7:40am-8:00am

8/27/23 - 8/29/24: Picture Day

8/30/24: Friday Celebration, 7:40am-7:55am

9/2/24: NO SCHOOL, Holiday - Labor Day

9/3/24: Spirit Day: Labor/Career Day - dress like what you want to be when you grow up

9/3/24: Career Day - Morning Meeting Career Talk

9/6/24: Friday Celebration, 7:40am-7:55am

9/11/24: CSC Meeting, 4:00pm-5:30pm

9/18/24: PTO Meeting, 6:00pm-7:00pm

9/24/24: K-2 Curriculum Night, 5:00pm-6:30pm

9/27/24: NO SCHOOL, PD Day

9/30/24: NO SCHOOL, PD Day

10/1/24: PTO Fox Trot Fundraiser

Friday Celebrations

Our Friday Celebration is a K-5 student assembly. It's a time to get together, it's organized chaos and community building! Our first Friday Celebration is Friday, 8/23 at 7:40am. Families are welcome to attend in person.

• Parents do NOT need to sign in at the front office. Walk into the building (go straight to the exterior gym door) with your child.
• On Fridays, all K-2 students enter the exterior gym door (by the driveway) and 3-5 can come through their regular door (door #4) and head o the gym.
• Parents/Guardians sit separately from students, in the bleachers.

Bi-Weekly Teacher Newsletters Begin this Weekend

Teachers will begin sending bi-weekly newsletters this week. You can expect a notification in Bloomz when the newsletter is available. If you need to refer to a newsletter and do not want to scroll through Bloomz, you can find newsletter links on our website under "Family Information" and "Weekly Newsletter".

Picture Days, 8/27/24 - 8/29/24

Picture Day is next week! Check the school calendar description to see what date your child's class will be taking their individual photos. Please note:

• Parents do not come to picture day. Teachers and photography staff are present to provide student support with photos.
• We do have a picture make up date on 10/9 if your child is absent on their date and/or you do not like the photos.
• Individual photos are only taken during the fall.
• Class photos will be taken in the Spring.
• Questions? Email Ginger Torres, Office Manager at ginger_torres@dpsk12.net.

NO SCHOOL, Monday - 9/2/24

No School due to Labor Day holiday.

Spirit Day, Tuesday - 9/3/24

• Labor Day - students dress like what they want to be when they grow up AND
• If you are interested in speaking to your child's homeroom during Morning Meeting about your career, let your child's homeroom teacher know. They will be sending out communication soon about the opportunity!

After School Enrichment Update

• Inspire Elementary, in partnership with the Inspire PTO, is excited to offer a robust schedule of after-school enrichment programs this fall! These programs are open to ALL Inspire students in grades K-5 (please note in the schedule that there are some limitations to which program students can participate in based on grade level.
• The Inspire PTO is (a) providing funding for Coach Hall's position, (b) is covering enrichment registration for families in need of financial assistance, and (c) managing and funding the enrichment registration process.
• Kerrie Hall (our PE teacher) will provide the operational support. Please email Coach Hall if you have any operational questions (kerrie_hall@dpsk12.net).
• If you are a family in need of financial assistance for your student to join an enrichment program, please reach out to Inspire Counselor, Michelle Hauck (michelle_hauck@dpsk12.net) before Tuesday, August 27.
• A link for registration will be shared in next week's WDTFS (8/29 at 5:30am).

Friendly Reminders for Enrichment Enrollments

• Many of our enrichment programs fill up quickly, sometimes within minutes. We encourage you to have a conversation with your child about the possibility of not securing their first choice to help manage expectations.
• Enrollment in all enrichments is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please remember that your order is not final until payment is processed and you receive a confirmation receipt, even if it was in your cart.
• Enrichments have a no refunds policy. Due to the amount of planning and work that goes into enrichments, we are unable to offer refunds for enrichments.
• If a student is acting disrespectful toward the instructor, fellow students or the classroom, we will notify the student's family. If the behavior is not improved, we will notify you a second time. If after the second notification the behavior has not improved, the third notification will be grounds for dismissal from the enrichment class without a refund. All school rules apply regarding behavior expectations during enrichments.
• Most enrichments run from 2:50-3:50, unless otherwise noted. Arriving late to pick up 3 times will be grounds for removal from the enrichment class without a refund.

A Message from Michelle Hauck, Counselor

• Click here for this year’s family welcome letter.
• If your family would benefit from additional food during the school year, we invite you to sign up for the Inspire Elementary Food Pantry. While the pantry will be operated by the Inspire Elementary PTO, all student and family information will be kept confidential. Each week a bag of food items will be sent home with your child (alternate arrangements may be made if this does not work for your family). The only requirements are that you have a child attending school at Inspire Elementary and indicate your interest by filling out this form. There is no cost to join.
• Additionally, we will do our best to connect you with DPS departments and community agencies that can offer assistance in other areas. Please use this form to let us know how we can help. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Michelle Hauck, Inspire School Counselor at (720)424-4884 or Michelle_Hauck@dpsk12.net.

A Message from the PTO

The PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) is excited to kick off the 24-25 school year! You can learn more about the current board members and the exciting things we support (curriculum, staff appreciation and supplies, community events and more!) at Inspire here.

• To get connected with us start by filling out our PTO membership form or email board@inspirepto.com for more information. By filling this out you’ll start receiving our PTO specific email, Foxtales, the first Wednesday of each month. Be on the lookout for the first one on September 4th!
• Our first official PTO meeting of the year will take place on Wednesday, September 18th at 6pm at Inspire. We hope you will join us! Enter at the Cafetorium door. We'll have pizza and non-alcoholic drinks for attendees. Kids are welcome!
• To encourage attendance and engagement in live PTO meetings, the PTO is proposing changing Article V – Meetings Section 1 of the bylaws to state that regular meetings of the organization will take place quarterly rather than monthly. We will vote on this at the upcoming meeting on 9/18.
• Our first major fundraiser of the year will be the Foxtrot on Tuesday, October 1st. More details to come soon but pencil in this favorite day for our community now!
• Ready to show off your Inspire pride? Order a yard sign today!

Email: linda_august@dpsk12.net
Website: https://inspire.dpsk12.org/
Location: 5650 N. Elmira Ct., Denver, CO, 80238
Phone: (720) 424-4850