Barney Ford Elementary

Weekly Update: April 3, 2025

04/03/25, 5:31 PM

Dear Families,

 

Happy April! We hope your spring break was relaxing and fun. This is a very important time for student learning. In April, we focus on CMAS testing and going deeper into learning throughout the school.

Tomorrow: First Friday

Tomorrow, April 4, is our April First Friday Coffee and Conversations with the Principals. We will learn about online safety and next year’s schedule.  Please join us in the library from 8:00-8:45 to learn about the latest school news. Everyone is welcome.

 

CMAS Testing

Next week, students in grades 3-5 begin CMAS testing. Most students will test in the mornings on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. These are very important tests for students and our school. The results provide families with information about how well your student is growing academically from year to year. The results are also used to rate our school and determine what is working well and how we can improve.

 

You can help your child by: 

• Talk with your child about testing. Assure them it is just one aspect of school. 
• Help your child get a good night's sleep and eat a good breakfast before test days. 
• Please remind your child to go slow, check their work, and answer all the questions.
• Do not schedule appointments or miss school days during the CMAS Window, April 8-28.

 

 

Toys & Snacks

Please keep all toys, Takis, soda, and large bags of chips at home. These items are not allowed at school because they distract from the learning environment. Sharing food at school is also not permitted because many students have allergies, and sharing food often causes conflicts between students.

Complete the BESS Screener

DPS uses the BESS screener to provide a quick and reliable way of assessing the behavioral and emotional strengths and potential risk levels in children. Just as students participate in screenings for vision, hearing, physical health, reading, and other academic areas, the BESS provides an indicator of a student’s mental health risk level. Screening allows for early identification of supports that can help offset current or future mental health risk in students.

 

Please use this link to complete the screener for your children. You will need their student's ID number and date of birth to access the form. Contact our school psychologist, Beulah Morman (beulah_morman@dpsk12.org) for more information.

Attendance Update

Our attendance rate the week before Spring Break was 86.5%. Our third-graders had the best attendance at 92.1%. Please help us get our attendance rate back up as we begin CMAS testing next week.

 

Upcoming Events

• April 4: First Friday Coffee and Conversation @ 8:00-8:45
• April 8 - April 28: CMAS testing for grades 3 - 5
• Aprill 11
  • ECE field trip to Denver Aquarium 
  • Vision and Hearing Screening
  • Spring class picture day
• April 25: Dollar Dress Down Day

 

View the April Monthly Calendar here.