News from the Nest — March 23, 2023

Posted March 23, 2023

Vol. 7, No. 28

In Case You Missed It: NO SCHOOL Tomorrow, Fri., 3/24!

Just a reminder that DPS has determined that tomorrow, Friday, March 24, is a NO SCHOOL day for the DPS community. Due to spring break next week, school will resume on Tuesday, April 4.

For more information about tomorrow’s closure, including a list of Discovery Link care sites, food pick-up locations for breakfast and lunch, and a list of community and national mental health resources, please visit this webpost. 

To read this information in Arabic, please click here.
To read this information in Spanish, please click here.

NO SCHOOL: Spring Break is Mon., 3/27 to Mon., 4/3!

Just a reminder that we have NO SCHOOL from Monday, March 27 to Monday, April 3 for our Spring Break! School resumes on Tuesday, April 4. Enjoy your break!

Help Us Celebrate:
Paraprofessional Appreciation Day Is Wed., 4/5!

National Paraprofessional Appreciation Day is Wednesday, April 5, 2023! Paraprofessionals (also known as paras) are the amazing people who support our teachers and students in our classrooms. 

Join us in celebrating our school’s dedicated and passionate paras by taking a moment to recognize their hard work on Wednesday, April 5! Families and students are welcome to give flowers, cards, or even just a simple “thank you!” to our paras. Thank you for helping us show our appreciation!

3rd-5th Grade Families:
CMAS Testing Is Coming in April 2023!

Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will be participating in our annual Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) testing in April 2023. CMAS measures student proficiency on the Colorado Academic Standards. These standards provide clear and consistent guidelines on what students should know and be able to do at the end of the year, across grade levels and subject areas. These assessment results are intended to provide one measure of your child’s academic progress.

3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will each take math and literacy tests. Our 5th graders will also complete additional science testing. 

• CMAS Literacy Testing (3rd-5th grade): Tuesday, April 11 to Thursday, April 13
• CMAS Math Testing (3rd-5th grade): Tuesday, April 18 to Thursday, April 20 
• CMAS Science Testing (5th grade only): Monday, April 24 to Wednesday, April 26 
• Please see our full CMAS calendar here!
• See tips for helping your student succeed during CMAS on our website!

In Other News!

• K-4th grade families: families of students going into 1st through 5th grade next school year (this year’s current kindergarten through 4th graders) are invited to register for Denver Public Schools’ FREE Summer Connections 2023 program! For dates, times, and locations + registration information, click here!

Upcoming School Events

Click here to view the McKinley-Thatcher school calendar.

• Fri., 3/24 — NO SCHOOL: DPS Mental Health Day
• Mon., 3/27 to Mon., 4/3 – NO SCHOOL: Spring Break
• Tues., 4/4 – School resumes! 
• Wed., 4/5 – Paraprofessional Appreciation Day; help us celebrate!
• Thurs., 4/6 – Monthly PTA meeting, 7:30am (right after drop-off!)
• Sat., 4/8 – Fri., 4/14 – Online Auction bidding!
• Tues., 4/11 to Thurs., 4/13 – 3rd-5th Grade: CMAS (Literacy) 
• Fri., 4/14 – Flourish, the McKinley Annual Auction, 7:00pm-10:00pm @ Moss Denver

Upcoming DPS & Community Events

• Wed., 4/5 – DEADLINE for DPS Science Fair Registration