News from the Nest — May 3, 2024

Posted May 3, 2024

Help Our PTA Celebrate:
Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week Is 5/6 to 5/10!

Join our PTA as they celebrate Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week from Monday, May 6 to Friday, May 10 (NEXT WEEK!)! Choose a day or two (or all five!) to show our teachers & staff members how much they are loved and appreciated. Please know that participation is optional!

  • Monday, 5/6 – Relax & Recharge Day – bring something to help them relax and rest, or energize and recharge. (And remind your kids to be extra considerate in class and around the school!)

  • Tuesday, 5/7 – Notable Memories Day – write them a note or make a bookmark and let them know some of your favorite lessons and memories from the year, and how they’ve impacted you.

  • Wednesday, 5/8 – Resupply Day – pick up any supplies they’re running low on for class and projects, or any items on their wishlists.

  • Thursday, 5/9 – Yummy Treats Day – treat them to their favorite snack, drink, or homemade treats.

  • Friday, 5/10 – Gift Card Day – bring a gift card for one of their favorite stores, restaurants, coffee shops, a massage, or a special surprise for them to enjoy over the summer.

K-5th Grade Families:
Student Talent Show Auditions Are Now Open!

Kindergarten through 5th graders who would like to perform in our May 31 Talent Show may now submit their audition videos here! We are accepting audition videos from today (Friday, May 3) through Sunday, May 19. Talent Show participation is optional. 

Talent Show Audition Guidelines

  • Auditions will be reviewed based on preparedness of the act.
  • Performers can sing, dance, rap, act out a skit, do a comedy routine, demonstrate a special skill or any other fun thing you can think of!
  • Acts should be well-practiced, entertaining, age-appropriate, and around 2 minutes long. 
  • If your act includes music, please choose a song that is appropriate for school! 

PTA May Restaurant Fundraiser:
Sweet Cow Platt Park on Wed., 5/8!

Families are invited to enjoy our May Restaurant Fundraiser at Sweet Cow’s Platt Park location (1882 S. Pearl St.) on Wednesday, May 8! Be sure to mention McKinley-Thatcher at the register in order to have a portion of your order total donated back to our school!

A Message From Our Librarian:
Collecting All School Library Books!

All school library books are due on Friday, May 10 so that our librarian, Ms. Goldberg, can complete our library’s end-of-year inventory! Overdue library book notices are sent home to families in Friday Folders every week. Please help your children locate any overdue library books as quickly as possible and return books to the library by May 10. If a child still has a library book checked out on May 10, Ms. Goldberg will send an additional reminder home the following week. 

If a child has a lost library book after May 17, you may be responsible for paying a replacement fee. Please do not buy a replacement book from an outside vendor – this actually makes it more difficult to get the book into our library collection! If you need to have the replacement fee waived due to financial difficulty, please contact our principal, Ms. Geerdes, at Sonia_Geerdes@dpsk12.net or (720) 424-5602. 

If you have questions or need more information, please email Ms. Goldberg at MaryKaren_Goldberg@dpsk12.net. 

Other School News

  • Here’s our May 2024 lunch menu in English, Arabic, Spanish, and Vietnamese!

  • REMINDER: 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.

Community News & Resources

  • MY Denver Card for Kids: Denver kids, ages 5–18, get free access to recreation centers, swimming  pools, and various cultural facilities around the city when they sign up for their MY Denver card! Get yours here before summer break!

  • The 7th annual University Hills Farmers Market runs on Saturdays from May 11 to October 26, 9:00am-1:00pm at 2500 S. Colorado Blvd. Check out this flyer for more information!

Upcoming School Events

Click here to view the McKinley-Thatcher school calendar.

  • Mon., 5/6 – Fri., 5/10 – Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week
  • 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 
  • Tues., 5/14 – May CSC Meeting, 5:00pm on Google Meet
  • Wed., 5/15 – Multilingual Education Parent Advisory Committee Meeting, 7:30am
  • Thurs., 5/16 – LAST DAY: Girls on the Run
  • Sat., 5/18 – Fishing Day with Mr. J at Wash Park, 11:00am–1:00pm

Upcoming DPS & Community Events