Teller Elementary School
SUMMER HAPPENINGS NEWSLETTER
06/07/24, 3:15 PM
Hello Teller Families,
We hope everyone is enjoying the first few days of summer break! The goal of this letter is to keep all of our current and new families up-to-date on summer happenings and beginning of school year information. The first section is focused on Teller specifically while the second portion focuses on Summer events and available programs. This letter is lengthy, but we promise it is worth the read!
Before you get started, if you have received this letter and are not planning on having your child(ren) attend Teller for the 2024-2025 school year, please fill out the attached form so we can plan accordingly.
1. Wanna Stay Connected!?
2. Save the Dates!
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For those of you who enjoy long-range planning, you can access the 2024-2025 school calendar here.
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Outside of the 2024-2025 school year calendar, below is a list of important dates you will want to add to your calendar. Detailed information about these events are included in this letter.
- Thursday, July 25th: Fall 2024 Enrichment Registration Opens at 6am
- Monday, July 29th: Fall Registration Opens
- Monday, August 12th and Tuesday, August 13th: Medication Drop Off with Nurse Reba at Teller
- Thursday, August 15th: New Family BBQ in the Teacher Parking Lot
- Thursday, August 15th: Teacher Meet & Greet
- Monday, August 19th: First Day of School
- Wednesday, August 28th: Back to School Night
- Monday, September 2nd: No School (Labor Day)
- Thursday, September 5th: Gifted and Talented Information Night
- Friday, September 13th: Teller’s Community Block Party
- Friday, September 27th: No School (Professional Learning Day)
- Saturday, November 9th: Totally Teller @ Denver Nature and Science Museum
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3. Fall Enrichment Registration
Fall enrichment registration will open at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 25th. Our enrichment catalog can be found here. As a reminder, all enrichment payments will be accepted through MySchoolBucks. As a reminder, if you are a “new to Teller family” you will not be able to set up an account until July 1st.
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- Information on how to use and purchase enrichment programs on MySchoolBucks can be found here. Please pay attention to class times, grades, and spot availability.
- Spots fill up VERY FAST, please be on at 6am to secure your spot
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4. Fall Registration!
Register online this spring and avoid paper forms and save time at school during the fall. To register online, sign in to Parent Portal, click on “See All Apps”, then click on “Online Registration” to verify or update your student’s information. Online registration can only be completed by the parent/guardian listed in the primary household of the student record.
All families MUST register their students via Parent Portal prior to the first day of school. Failure to do so could result in your child(ren) missing the first day of school.
Need a Parent Portal Account?
Navigate to the Parent Portal and click on “Create a Parent account” below the "Login to Parent or Student Portal" button. Fill out the form on the next screen. You will need the ID number of one of your students in order to create a Parent Portal account. If you do not know your student’s ID, go to Student ID Retrieval or contact your student’s current DPS school.
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- Once the form is completed, click “Submit”. You will be prompted to select your username and password; click “Submit”
- An activation email will be sent to the email used to create your account. Please click the link in the email in order to activate your account. Once completed, you will receive another email informing you that your account is now active (this may take up to 15 minutes).
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- If this is your first time using Parent Portal and you need support navigating this online platform, you can If you need help in navigating the Parent Portal, check out the Family Navigation Guide.
- All parents/guardians will need their child(ren)’s student ID number, you can retrieve it here.
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5. Medication Drop Off!
We will have a medication drop off table at Teller on August 12th and 13th at the front of the school. Please make sure to bring the medication order sheet or healthcare plan for your student, both the doctor and parent/s need to sign the order and bring the medication in a Ziplock bag for drop off.
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- Please label the Ziplock bag with the student's name and grade. The medication provided needs to be in a prescription bottle with the student's name, medication name, dosage, and expiration date noted (pharmacy label).
- For nonprescription medications please drop off an unopened original box from the manufacturer.
- Please keep in mind that we have a limited amount of space for medications and try to bring a small to medium size medication container (for example Benadryl Liquid).
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Teller’s school nurse will collect medication orders, healthcare plans, and medications to have everything ready for the kids on day one of school. Parents can also use the Teller Medication Drop off table for dropping off immunizations and health appraisal records.
If you have any questions, please reach out to reba_rembold@dpsk12.net, Teller’s full time school nurse!
6. New Family BBQ +Teacher Meet & Greet!
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NEW FAMILY BBQ: We will be hosting a new family BBQ at Teller on Thursday, August 15th from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the staff parking lot. All new to Teller families are encouraged to come!
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TEACHER MEET AND GREET: Join us on Thursday, August 15th from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to reconnect with friends and meet the 2024-2025 Teller staff. Kona Ice will provide FREE snow cones for all Teller students.
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7. First Day of School & Teller Bell Times
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The first day of school will be Monday, August 19th. Please see the 24/25 DPS calendar here.
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Teller Bell Times:
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Monday-Thursday→ 7:40am-2:40pm
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Friday→ 7:40am-12:30pm
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8. Back to School Night!
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Back to School Night will be held on Wednesday, August 28th. Our teachers will host two, identical back to school night information sessions.
Here are the session times:
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K-2nd: 5pm-5:45pm Virtual, 6pm-6:45pm in person
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3rd-5th: 5pm-5:45pm in person, 6pm-6:45pm virtual
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Classroom teachers will send out virtual session links by Tuesday, August 27th.
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Please note, teachers will not be available to stay longer either in person or virtually. Teller’s leadership team will be making announcements and clearing out classrooms so teachers can leave on time.
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9. No School Days!
All Denver Public Schools will be closed on Monday, September 2nd in observance of Labor Day and again on Friday, September 27th for a professional learning day.
10. Gifted and Talented Information Night
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Join on Thursday, September 5th for a gifted and talented information meeting. Our GT teacher, Mrs. Dorsey will host a session starting at 5:00 p.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m. Families who have children who have been identified as Gifted and Talented (GT), Highly Gifted and Talented (HGT), or Magnet Eligible (ME) are encouraged to attend, in addition to any families interested in learning more about our program.
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There is a virtual meeting on the Teller website that you can find here
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11. Teller’s Community Block Party!
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We will be hosting our annual block party on Friday, September 13th from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. We will have a variety of food trucks, obstacle courses, rock climbing wall, SpiderJump 4-Way Bungee Trampoline, and a family-friendly movie shown under the stars. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors to this FREE event as our hope is to continue to build our strong community.
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12. Totally Teller!
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On Saturday, November 9th our amazing PTA will be hosting Totally Teller at The Denver Nature and Science Museum. Once a year we come together around a theme to socialize and raise money for our school. After soliciting donations from local vendors, our fundraising committee organizes a silent auction and a live auction filled with trips, experiences, and retail items. The money raised during Totally Teller supports the PTA's annual financial gift to the school, programs and events, and one-time, specific needs that are requested by school leadership. These funds directly support Teller's dedicated team of teachers and staff, and allows them to invest in all of our kids. If you are interested in volunteering to help with this event, please email Emily Musser at fundraising@tellerpta.org.
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13. Construction at Teller!
Our entire ECE playground is going to be under construction and redone throughout this Summer. They will break ground June 10th. Please note, various parts of the Teller field will be off limits to the community throughout summer.
Our amazing muralist is back in Denver and will be finishing the entryway mural by the front door/main office! We are so excited to see it completed!
14. Who is my child’s teacher?
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We strive to ensure that all classrooms are diverse, equitable learning environments. Our primary consideration in developing class lists is equity. Additionally, the second round of School Choice is open now through August, which means our enrollment numbers continue to shift throughout the summer, therefore, class lists will not be available until August.
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We will place class lists on the cafeteria windows in addition to posting them on Parent Portal.
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15. School Supplies for the 24/25 School Year:
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At Teller, we offer a unique opportunity to save money and support our cause by harnessing our bulk purchasing power for school supplies. By doing so, we aim to build equity within our classrooms right from the start of the year, ensuring that every student has access to the same essential resources. Research has indicated that providing students with the requested, basic, yet high-quality supplies such as pencils, paper, and notebooks fosters a sense of pride in their work and can significantly impact their motivation to succeed. Moreover, by reusing supplies from previous years and reducing excessive packaging and shipping, we actively contribute to Teller's sustainability goals.
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All returning and new Teller students (ECE - 5th grade) are asked to purchase their school supplies through the PTA. Take advantage of an "early bird" price of $55 now through July 15. To make your payment here and for additional info scan:
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The following items are NOT included in this school supply purchase, but are needed for use on the first day of school:
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- ECE - 5th Grade: Backpack, Reusable Water Bottle, Lunchbox
- Kindergarten - 5th Grade: Headphones (must be wired)
- ECE - Bedroll, Two Reusable Wet-bags
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We are committed to keeping our school supplies affordable.
Scholarships are available upon request, contact Treisi_Martinez@dpsk12.net
16. School Lunch Update!
Denver Public Schools will provide breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge for the 2024-2025 school year, regardless of students free or reduced price meal benefit status. Students must bring money or have money in their MySchoolBucks accounts to purchase second entrees items. All families are still strongly encouraged to complete an application for their household as the information determines critical funding for Denver Public Schools. Applications can be found here.
17. Volunteering at Teller
If you would like to volunteer (including chaperoning field trips) at Teller during the 2024-2025 school year, you must complete a FREE background check. You can do so here. As a reminder, background checks must be completed yearly, so if you volunteered at Teller last school year, you will need to complete a background check for the upcoming school year.
18. Teller Pantry Friends:
WE WILL HAVE SUMMER HOURS beginning Friday, June 14th!!
The pantry will be open weekly on Friday at 9:00 am-12:00 pm for any Teller family that wants to utilize it! Summer hours will occur from June 14th through August 16th, with the exception of July 5th.
Please check our website each week before visiting, to make sure there has not been a change to the schedule. This is our first go at keeping the pantry open outside of the school year and we know that family schedules change during the summer. We may not have the manpower on occasion, and we will update our website as timely as possible to ensure changes are communicated with as much advance notice as possible.
We are looking for volunteers to ensure a successful summer of pantry access. We will need help picking up produce from partner programs, working in the pantry, and helping reduce food waste by spreading the love. Please check out the sign up for opportunities - Summer Pantry volunteer opportunities
Partner opportunity - Grow Local Colorado. Grow Local Colorado provides us with freshly picked, hyperlocal produce. We are starting our second grow season with them and are very excited! They are holding a fundraising event on June 22nd, described as "A celebration in support of local gardens and global chefs in a urban farmette". Please consider learning more about GLC and supporting their work. Event info can be found HERE.
Last, but not least, as we are embarking on yet another new and amazing opportunity, we are excited and a little nervous. Being open during the summer will bring additional as well as new costs we haven't had before. We are up to the challenge! We know how to stretch our limited funds and ensure the pantry is stocked for all Teller families to visit and take what they choose. However, we would be grateful if you would consider a donation in support of our efforts and to ensure the continued success of Teller Pantry Friends!
19. DPS Contacts
If you are new to DPS, you may not be aware that there are SEVERAL internal DPS departments. Feel free to reach out to Teller with all of your questions, however it may be a good idea to save these numbers just in case!
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- General information: 720-423-3200
- Athletics: 720-423-4054
- Board of Education: 720-423-3210
- Child Find: 720-423-1410
- Communications Office: 720-423-3414
- Discovery Link (formerly Kaleidoscope Corner): 720-423-1781
- Disbursing: 720-423-3715
- Donations/DPS Foundation: 720-423-3553
- Early Childhood Education (ECE): 720-423-2678
- Family & Community Helpline: 720-423-3054
- Gifted and Talented: 720-423-2056
- Home Schooling: 720-423-3222
- Human Resources Help Desk: 720-423-3900
- Multilingual Education (MLE): 720-423-2040
- Safety: 720-423-3911
- School Boundary Info: 720-423-3400
- SchoolChoice & Enrollment: 720-423-3493
- School/Facility Use: 720-423-4087
- Special Education: 720-423-2400
- Student Records: 720-423-3552
- Superintendent: 720-423-3300
- Transportation: 720-423-4600
- Volunteer Services: 720-423-1817
- Weather and School Closures: 720-423-3200
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We wish each and every one of you a fantastic summer filled with joy, relaxation, and cherished moments with loved ones. It has been an incredible journey together, and we are immensely proud of the hard work and dedication exhibited by our students, staff, and families throughout the year. As we embark on this well-deserved break, we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to welcome you all back in the fall, rejuvenated and ready to continue our pursuit of academic excellence.
Enjoy your summer, stay safe, and we look forward to seeing each one of you in the upcoming school year!
Best,
Sabrina Bates, Principal
Jason Smartt, Assistant Principal
Cheryl Ruiz, Dean of Operations
Summer Events Around Town:
Summer Camp Guide 2024!
Be sure to check out this 20-page guide created by the Denver Post to learn of different summer options for your student! This guide contains overnight and day camps as well as family camp options! Check out this guide today!
Denver Parks and Recreation Summer Activities
Registration for summer activities with Denver Parks and Recreation is open! Visit denvergov.org/ActivitiesPrograms to browse this season’s offerings. Activities include hiking excursions and other outdoor adventures, painting and music classes, sports for all ages and a variety of youth summer camps.
Safe Summer Kick Off on Get Outdoors Day
Southwest Denver Coalition, Denver Parks & Recreation & My Outdoor Colorado are joining forces to host Safe Summer Kick Off Get Outdoors Day (SSKO GO), Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 10am to 3pm at Garfield Lake Park. This free, family-friendly event is designed to promote access to healthy and safe outdoor spaces, support under-resourced communities, and celebrate nature exploration.
SSKO GO is a collaborative project with community members, non-profits, local government, law enforcement, and other Colorado-based partners. They look to provide an intentional, inclusive, and safe outdoor space to explore adventure activities such as hiking, climbing, biking, boating, navigation, nature identification, connection to basic resources, and more. In addition, this event will host a resource fair, music, live entertainment, and activities.
Tutoring Opportunity with Ms. Hackney:
Hi Teller Families,
I hope everyone is doing well! As summer quickly approaches, a few of you have reached out to me about tutoring options for your children. My available tutoring hours this summer will be Monday and Wednesday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, offering tutoring in math and/or literacy. Each session will start on the hour and run for 45 minutes. I will begin tutoring the week of June 10th with the exception of June 13th, as I have a math professional development that day. I will also be out of town with my family the week of June 24th.
Ideally, I encourage you to commit to the same time(s) every week to ensure a consistent learning schedule for your child. Sessions can take place at your home, provided there's a quiet, distraction-free space available, or we can utilize the local library. The fee for each session is $60. If you're interested in securing a spot for your child please reach out to me directly with your ideal time, days, and what subject(s) you’d like me to focus on. Looking forward to working with your children this summer!
Parent’s Night Out!:
Let Ms. Gras watch your kids! Siblings welcome. Link here! Day off from school? Summer hikes and adventures with Ms. Gras. Siblings welcome. Link here!
SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM:
Every summer, Denver Public Schools students and families have access to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) starting in June. The SFSP is a federally-funded, state-administered program offering breakfast and lunch to all kids 18 years and younger at no charge. Adults can eat breakfast for $3.00 and lunch for $4.00.
There are no requirements to register or provide documentation to participate in the SFSP, and families can participate at numerous schools throughout the district. Start and end dates will vary per location, however, all locations will be closed on June 19 and July 4. For specific information regarding times and locations, visit the DPS Food Services Summer Meal website.
The DPS program begins in June running through the summer months and all locations will be closed on June 19 and July 4. Start and end dates will vary per location. For specific information regarding times and locations, visit the DPS Food Services Summer Meal website.
If you have any questions regarding the Summer Food Service Program, contact Yvonne Holland.
Volunteers Needed for Summer Garden Maintenance:
Our Teller Tigers have been hard at work getting the garden ready. Second and third grade have been prepping the garden, fourth grade planted the first seeds this week and first grade has been growing plants inside for the last two months that will be transplanted into the garden later this month.
To keep all of this awesome work going, we need families to help maintain the garden over the summer. Families can expect to spend approximately one hour in the garden on each day they sign up for doing weeding, pest control, watering the front planters, and other garden tasks as needed. In exchange, families are welcome to harvest ripe produce from the garden during their work day. Complete instructions (including pictures) will be provided prior to your scheduled day - no previous gardening experience is needed. We are looking for volunteers to come in on weekends (Saturday or Sunday) and midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) throughout summer break - sign up for one day or several. To sign your family up, please visit our Sign Up Genius page.
Find fun and friends at YMCA Summer Camp:
If you’re still working on summer plans for the kids, YMCA of Metro Denver Summer Camp has got you covered — with over 20 locations across the metro area, qualified and caring staff and lots of specialty options, like art, adventure, cooking and STEM. YMCA members get a discount on camp costs, and there is also financial assistance available for those who qualify. Join us for a summer of fun, friends and memories!
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- Your nearest YMCA Summer Camp: Morey Middle School
- More camps to choose from: https://denverymca.org/locations
- Denver YMCA Summer Camp: https://denverymca.org/programs/youth-programs/summer-day-camp
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March at DPS Pride:
DPS will march in the Denver Pride Parade on June 22! To get more information about marching with Team DPS, fill out this form so we know the best way to get in touch with you this summer. All DPS students, team members and families are welcome, but space is limited!
Sweet Ridge Studios:
Happy Monday! Thank you for signing your student up for Art Club with us this Spring. We have loved having your kids in the art club and hope to see them this Summer for Creativity and Magic.
As a Thank YOU for your enrollment in the art club please use Coupon Code "ACLove2024" for 15% off any of our programming through August 31, 2024. Good for new orders only, one per family, one time use.
Art For Life Summer Art Camp!:
Come join our Art Summer Camps! Each week we'll have a different theme, from Taylor Swift, to Jewelry & Zoo animals. Camps run mornings & afternoons all of June & July!
Our Summer Camp registration link is: https://www.homeroom.com/sites/art-for-life-denver/camp
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