News from the Nest — April 26, 2024

Posted April 26, 2024

K-5th Grade Families:
Our Student Learning Showcase Is Next Week!

Just a reminder that our Kindergarten to 5th Grade Student Learning Showcase is next Wednesday, May 1 from 4:00pm to 5:30pm! During our showcase event, students will present key aspects of their learning from their grade level classes and from their STEM, art, and drama classes to their families. 

This is an ‘open house’ style event — families may come anytime after 4:00pm! No RSVP is required, but children cannot attend alone. Please come with your children so they can share their hard work with you!

Please Let Us Know Your Plans for Next School Year!

ECE-4th grade families, please help us plan ahead for next school year by letting us know here if your family will be returning to McKinley-Thatcher! Please complete this form by Monday, May 6, 2024.

If you are NOT returning, completing this form helps us fill empty spots and make sure our school budget is accurate. 5th grade families do not need to respond.

If you have completed the paper version of this form in your child’s Friday Folder, you do not need to submit the digital version. Thank you!

Help Ms. Farnum Install Art Displays on Tuesday, 4/30!

Ms. Chelsey Farnum, our art teacher, would love to have parent volunteers help her hang the art displays for our May 1 K-5th Grade Student Learning Showcase! Volunteers are needed on Tuesday, April 30 right after school – you are welcome to bring your kids! Please contact Ms. Farnum at Chelsey_Farnum@dpsk12.net if you are interested in helping or need more information.

Share Your School Photos for Our Yearbook!

Do you have photos from school events that we can include in the yearbook? We’d love to include your submissions so we can have the best chance at representing the whole school community! 

All parents, guardians, caregivers, students, and staff are invited to please submit photos to our Lifetouch yearbook upload here.

We’re Looking for Photos of…

Events, library, staff appreciation, snow days, Movie Night, Glow Dance, field trips, Field Day, Discovery Link, enrichments, and more!

Some Tips:

  • If you already have a Shutterfly account, you might have to log in with that account, or try using a different email address altogether!
  • If you get prompted for a passcode for our school, it’s MKT_YEARBOOK-24.
  • The Lifetouch link is the preferred way to submit, but if that doesn’t work, feel free to upload your photos via Dropbox here.

Have Questions Or Need Help?

The submission tool is easy to use, but for any questions, reach out to Matt, our yearbook committee volunteer, at matthew.l.safran@gmail.com.

Other School News

  • Save-the-date: kindergarten through 5th graders will be invited to audition for our May 31 Talent Show starting on Friday, May 3! Students who are interested in participating can submit an audition video digitally from May 3 until May 19. Participation is optional. If your student would like to audition, please encourage them to start thinking about and practicing their acts now – we will share more information next week!

  • Save-the-date: our PTA’s May restaurant fundraiser is all day at Sweet Cow’s Platt Park location on Wednesday, May 8!

  • Seeking Clothing Donations for Our Health Office: our school’s health office is in need of donations of gently used clothing, especially gender neutral sweatpants/joggers with stretchy waistbands. We’re also specifically looking for boys’ pants and shorts (sizes 4 to 12) and NEW boys’ underwear (sizes 6 to 12). Thank you!

  • We Need Your Help: volunteer with our Free Book Friday giveaways to help spread the love of reading to our children! Volunteer shifts are from 2:00pm to 3:00pm on Fridays from now through May. We need volunteers on:
    • Friday, May 3
    • Friday, May 10
    • Friday, May 17
    • Friday, May 24
    • If you’d like to assist, please sign up here!

  • PTA RIF Days: all McKinley students are receiving a FREE book from our PTA’s Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) days on April 29 and 30! Children will visit the RIF giveaway during school hours. 

Community News & Resources

  • DPS Discount Days: buy Colorado Rapids tickets for the May 11 or June 15 games through the DPS Foundation link and have $5 from your $25 ticket donated back to the Foundation!

Upcoming School Events

Click here to view the McKinley-Thatcher school calendar.

  • Fri., 4/26 – DEADLINE for Summer Connections registration
  • Mon., 4/29 – 3rd Grade Field Trip: Balarat (day trip)
  • Mon., 4/29 – ECE-1st Grade: RIF Book Giveaway
  • Tues., 4/30 – 2nd-5th Grade: RIF Book Giveaway
  • Wed., 5/1 – K-5th Grade Student Learning Showcase, 4:00pm-5:30pm 
  • Fri., 5/3 – Denver Parks & Rec visits PE classes
  • Wed., 5/8 – PTA May Restaurant Day: Sweet Cow
  • Wed., 5/8 – 3rd Grade Field Trip: History Colorado
  • Fri., 5/10 – School Garden Work Day, 2:30pm-4:00pm 

Upcoming DPS & Community Events