Teller Elementary School

PRIDE Post: November 9th, 2023

11/09/23, 3:32 PM

1. School Choice: Jan.11- Feb. 24

The DPS SchoolChoice Round 1 open enrollment window for the 2024-25 school year opens at 10 a.m. on Jan. 11 and runs through Feb. 12, 2024 at 4 p.m. 

 

SchoolChoice Round 1 is for any student who wants or needs to attend a new school for the following school year. This particularly impacts transitioning students who are typically incoming kindergarten, sixth- and ninth-grade students moving into a new school due to their grade level. 

 

All incoming ECE students, as well as incoming students who reside in an enrollment zone, must complete an application. Learn more about the ECE application process here. 

 

Keep an eye on schoolchoice.dpsk12.org and visit our School Finder to start researching schools. Call the SchoolChoice Hotline at 720-423-3493 or email schoolchoice@dpsk12.org if you have questions.

 

2. Open House Evenings at Denver School of the Arts

 

Pursue your artistic passion at Denver School of the Arts! Come learn more about our school, which serves students in grades 6 through 12, at one of our open house events next week: 

• High School: Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 5-7 p.m. 

 

These evenings are intended for prospective students and their families to see the building, learn about DSA's programming and meet our fantastic staff. We will have building tours, a live rehearsal, and a warm welcome from our teachers, support staff, and school leadership. No RSVP is required! Denver School of the Arts is located at 7111 Montview Blvd. 

 

Audition-specific information is available on our school's website and it will be shared at the pre-audition meetings in the coming weeks. If you have questions, please email Assistant Principal Anna Conley.

 

3. The DPS 'Your Voice/Tu Voz' Family Survey Closes Nov. 15

 

The DPS “Your Voice/Tu Voz” Family Survey is open now through Wednesday, Nov. 15! Families who complete the survey by Nov. 15 will be entered to win one of 10 $20 King Soopers gift cards. 

 

Responses to the survey inform decisions on how we can better serve our DPS community. Unlike previous years, DPS will administer the survey to families once in the fall and will administer to students once in the spring.

 

4. Message from the Teller Pantry!

We have a new website! You will find information on the program as well as how to volunteer and donate. Updates are still being made so please check back often.

Next week, we will have our annual Thanksgiving Dinner box event!

• Box pick up - If you signed up for a box, please pick it up from the Pantry (located in the cafeteria) during the following times:

        Friday, 11/17: 12:00pm-4:30pm

Saturday, 11/18: 10:00am-12:00pm

• Volunteers needed - We will be packing and distributing boxes on Friday, November 17th and Saturday, November 18th. If you would like to help us in our effort to provide a Thanksgiving Dinner box to the 35 families that have requested one, please sign up here.

Another volunteer need: We will also need some help on Thursday, November 16th during the school-wide Thanksgiving Lunch event. We will have the Tiger Angel Giving Tree up and ready for "decoration adoption". We could use help to ensure all runs smoothly in collecting information as decorations are taken. Please see additional information and sign up for this opportunity here.

 

Pantry Closure Notice - The pantry will be closed from November 12th-27th. This is so that we can prepare for the Thanksgiving Dinner box event, which is followed by the school closure for Thanksgiving break. Please plan for this and stop in during our remaining open hours on Friday, November 10th (7:15-9:30am & 1:30-4:30pm) and Saturday, November 11th (10am-12:30pm). After this, we will not reopen until Tuesday, November 28th. If you could use assistance with food access during our closure, please check out the Food Bank of the Rockies Pantry Locator.

 

5. Candy Buy Back!

I-Orthodontics is having our Candy Buy Back event at our Cherry Creek office next Friday, 11/10, close to Teller. We're giving $1 per pound of candy brought in!

 

Stop by and recoup some of the funds you spent this year on candy!

 

6. From the PTA

Thanks for supporting Bill and Bush and Teller this week.  Your support and dedication to our community does not go unnoticed! Next dining out night is coming up!

Tokyo Joe's Cherry Creek Wednesday 11/15 4-8:30 pm. They will donate 25% back to Teller!  Mention Teller Elementary when ordering in person, can order online through Tokyo Joe's website only and put in code SCHOOLFUND in all caps to get your school credit for the order.

 

 

7. Teller’s Annual Scholastic Book Fair!  

                                                                                                            

PLEASE HELP!!!

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR FAMILY DAY, 11/16

VOLUNTEER HERE!

 

SCHOLARSHIP BOOKS

We want to ensure that all students can participate in the Book Fair.  If your student would benefit from a scholarship book, please click the link and fill out the form.

APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS HERE

                               

SHOPPING INFORMATION: 

IN-PERSON SHOPPING

Students and families can shop with cash, credit/debit card or a Scholastic eWallet. Please note: Unused eWallet funds automatically convert to an eGift card balance that can be used to shop Scholastic online or to fund an eWallet for a future fair.

 

ONLINE SHOPPING (During the Book Fair)

During the Book Fair, families can connect through a link on Teller’s Book Fair homepage to shop online in The Scholastic Store. During the Book Fai r, Teller earns 25% of every online purchase in Scholastic Dollars.  

 

MORE INFORMATION: 

To find details, shop online and set up an eWallet, access the Teller Book Fair Homepage here: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/teller

 

DON’T FORGET TO SUPPORT CLASSROOM LIBRARIES!!

Contribute to teacher eWallets and look for Teacher Wish Lists at the Book Fair to help teachers fill their classroom libraries with great selections for our students!

 

OUR BOOK FAIR SCHEDULE:

Monday, November 13-Wednesday, November 15:  

Students will visit the Book Fair with their classes.  Individual teachers will let families know when their classes are scheduled.

 

Thursday, November 16 

8:30am-3:30pm:  BOOK FAIR FAMILY DAY  

Come in to browse and shop before or after joining your student for Thanksgiving lunch.

 

Friday, November 17:

8:30am-12:00pm:  Book Fair Open

12:00pm:  Pack Up/Clean Up 

8. Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day- 11/14

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day (RBWTSD) is the perfect opportunity to teach children about the civil rights movement and make connections to today's collective efforts for change. RBWTSD gives children the opportunity to celebrate Ruby's courage by walking to school.

                                                                                       

In 1954 the US Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Brown v. the Board of Education ended racial segregation in public schools. However, southern states continued to resist. Ruby spent kindergarten in a segregated classroom. In 1960 a federal court ordered Louisiana schools to desegregate. The school district created an entrance exam to see if African American students could handle being in an all-white school. Ruby and five other students passed the exam. The six students were to be sent to two different all-white schools. The school district delayed their start and Ruby's first day of school was November 14, 1960. A few days before the start of school, the two African American students who were going to attend with Ruby, decided to stay in their home school. Ruby braved William Frantz Elementary School on her own. 

 

9. November MLE-DAC

Join us for the November MLE-DAC on Wednesday, November 15th at Place Bridge Academy from 5-7pm!

                                                                   

 

 

Not sure what the MLE-DAC is? The MLE-DAC stands for the Multilingual Education District Advisory Committee and they are here to support you and your multilingual families! This month's session will be on the Seal of Biliteracy.

                                                               

 

Dinner, interpretation and childcare will be provided to all that attend! Be sure to spread the word using the flyers found here.

 

10. Thanksgiving Lunch- 11/16

Our Thanksgiving Lunch will take place on Thursday, November 16th!  

Thanksgiving Lunch is a great way to have families engage in the school community and share quality time with their students. You will be able to attend lunch with your student(s) and enjoy recess with them as well. Thanksgiving Lunch prices are $7 adults and $5 non Teller students. Purchasing tickets will go live on MySchoolBucks on November 2nd at 8am and the last day to purchase lunch tickets, November 9th by 5pm.  Pre-purchased tickets are required to ensure that you have a meal on the day of the event.

Please see the times/locations of the lunches on this Thanksgiving Lunch Flyer. 

For families who will be joining us, please note the following information: 

• There will be a vegetarian option available.

• Students must attend their own lunch. Meaning that, siblings will not be able to come down to join one another if their lunch is not at that time. 

• Pre-purchased tickets are required to ensure that you have a meal on the day. There are no late purchases allowed.

Everyone must take the full meal, this is to ensure an expedited process and consistent flow as we have over 500 students at Teller.

 

If you do not want a meal, but would like to join, you can absolutely do so! You do not have to preregister online since you are not taking a meal. 

 

11. Kinder NNAT (Nov. 13, 14, and 15)

 

All Kindergarten students  will participate in cognitive testing in class as part of the GT identification process. This assessment is nonverbal, done digitally, and takes about an hour to complete.  

 

Scores will be sent home to parents/guardians in December.

 

Additional information regarding the NNAT can be found here.

 

If you have any additional questions, please email marian_dorsey@dpsk12.org.

 

12. Upcoming Mental Health Series for Parents - Virtual Sign-Up

DPS Family and Community Engagement Department develops learning opportunities for families based on what families want to learn, and what DPS departments have to offer. 'Face U is By families, for families.' 

 

The theme for our November and December parent learning sessions is mental health. Click here to visit our website and RSVP. All sessions are recorded, so if you can't attend live or in-person, sign up for our newsletter here to receive regular updates on recordings and new learning opportunities. If you need translation for our flyer or virtual interpretation, please email Jasmine Rigby.

 

13. Student Chefs Needed for One Plate Challenge!

Colorado School Nutrition Association seeks student teams for the fifth episode of the One Plate Challenge, a filmed mystery basket cooking competition. Student teams are critiqued by a panel of celebrity judges and compete for glory and prizes. Team applications are due Friday, Nov. 10.

The competition will be Friday, Feb. 15, at the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus and will be aired at the CSNA Summer Conference and on social media. Find more information and a promotional flyer to share with students.  

For more information, contact Shannon Murray at murray_s@cde.state.co.us.  

14. Picture Retakes- Rescheduled for 11/30

Did you miss picture day or want to take a new picture? Retake day is 11/30!  If we did not see you on picture day or you would like a new image, Dorian Studio will be taking pictures at your school again soon. Do not miss out on ordering pictures of your student.

 

Orders may be placed online by searching for your school name at mydorian.com and selecting the green Order button next to your school retake day event. Online orders are available up to 4 days after retake day.

 

If you already ordered and want a new picture taken please be sure to return your original picture packet to the photographer on retake day.

 

15. Upcoming and Important Dates:

• November: Native American Heritage Month

• 11/10: Fall Enrichments Ends (not including makeup days)

• 11/11: Veteran’s Day

• 11/12: Diwali

• 11/13-11/17: Book Fair in the Library

• 11/14: Ruby Bridger’s walk to school day!

• 11/14: School Tour #3- 9am-10am

• 11/16: Thanksgiving Lunch

• 11/19: Trimester 2 starts

• 11/20-11/24: No School- November Break

  • 11/20 and 11/21 are DL camp days

• 11/27: Winter Enrichment Starts

• 11/27: T1 Report Card Window Closes 

• 11/27: STAR Testing 1-5

• 11/27-11/30: NNAT and COGAT Makeups

• 11/29: Native American Cultural Celebration 9-10am

• 11/30: T1 Report Cards Go Home

• 11/30: Assessment Binders go Home

• 11/30: Picture retakes (rescheduled from 11/3)

• December:

• 12/1: ISIP K-5

• 12/1: NNAT and COGAT Makeups

• 12/2: DEN Day

• 12/4-12/8: MAP Testing Window 12/4-12/98

• 12/7: Hanukkah Starts

Best,

Sabrina Bates, Principal

Jason Smartt, Assistant Principal

Cheryl Ruiz, Dean of Operations