News from the Nest — September 19, 2025

Posted September 19, 2025

You’re Invited:
PTA’s 5th Annual Movie Night Is Friday, September 26

We are excited to invite all members of our school community to our PTA’s 5th Annual Movie Night on Friday, September 26 on our field! We’ll begin with food and fun at 6:00 PM, and the movie will start at 7:00 PM.

Bring your own outdoor seating to get comfy (lawn chairs, blankets, etc.) and your own picnic, or plan to buy pizza at the event! We’ll also have movie snacks and Kona Ice for sale to benefit our PTA.

Please RSVP for Movie Night!

Please RSVP using our Google form by clicking here, especially if you’re planning to buy pizza! And, please note that this is a FAMILY event, so adults must attend with their children (childcare is not provided).

Help Make Movie Night a Success!

Movie Night is one of our school’s most popular events, and PTA needs some help to make it a success! If you’re interested in a 30-minute volunteer shift to help direct folks around the grounds or sell pizza & snacks, please let us know on the Google RSVP form here.

Save-the-Date:
School Picture Day Is Monday, September 29

We are holding our School Picture Day with Bloom School Pictures on Monday, September 29! Students will have both their group class pictures and their individual school pictures taken during Picture Day.

Picture Day Schedule

• Monday, September 29: School Picture Day – Bloom School Pictures is taking both class pictures and individual student pictures during the morning of Monday, September 29!
  
  
• Wednesday, October 22: Picture Retake Day – If your student misses Picture Day, they will be photographed on Wednesday, October 22 during our Retake Day (individual pictures only).

How Do I Order Pictures?

Families will receive an online, password-protected gallery containing just their student’s pictures about three weeks after our Picture Day. Ordering instructions will be communicated in our school newsletter. There is no fee for students to participate in Picture Day, and families have no obligation to order photographs!

I Have Questions Or Need More Information!

Click here to visit our school’s special homepage on Bloom’s website, where you’ll find their Picture Day guide and ordering information, or contact our main office at (720) 424-5600 or McKinley_Thatcher@dpsk12.org.

Students of Color Playdate Is Saturday, October 4

McT parents are hosting a playdate for students of color (ECE-5th grade) and their families!

We hope to provide a safe and supportive space for you and your children to build camaraderie and belonging. Making time for our students of color to connect with each other can lead to increased self-esteem, confidence, and empowerment within and outside of school. Please join us for this opportunity to engage with other families of color, share experiences, and build a strong, supportive network within our school community.

• When: Saturday, October 4 (NEW DATE!)
• Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Where: McKinley-Thatcher Playground
• Who: All students of color and their families (children cannot attend without an adult)
• What: Meet and play with other McT families of color
• Snack: We will have popsicles and light snacks, but feel free to bring your own snacks and water in case we run out!
• RSVP: Let us know you are coming if you can! Please text (303) 803-3008 to RSVP. 

Other School News

• Mark Your Calendars: we have NO SCHOOL on the following days in September.
  • Friday, September 19 – NO SCHOOL (McKinley-Thatcher Staff Planning Day)
  • Monday, September 22 – NO SCHOOL (DPS Staff Planning Day)
    

• Reminder to Submit Your Information for the 2025 – 2026 PTA Contact Book! Last week, families received a yellow PTA Contact Book flyer in their Friday Folders. If you’d like to have your information included in PTA’s Contact Book for your child’s grade level, please complete one of the steps below if you haven’t done so already. 
  
  1. Complete and return the Contact Book Information form that went home in our September 12 Friday Folders.
  2. Fill out the online Contact Book Google Form by clicking here.
  3. Download, print, and return the Contact Book information form by clicking here.
  (This is the same form that went home in Friday Folders!)  
  
  For questions about contact books, please contact our PTA Secretary, Dan Droller, at McKinleyThatcher@gmail.com.

Community News & Resources

• None at this time!

Share Your Feedback with Us!

Please let us know how we are doing! Send us a shoutout, an idea you have to help us get better, or a concern that you would like addressed. Responses can be submitted using this Google form. Thank you! 

Upcoming School Events

Click here to view the McKinley-Thatcher school calendar.

• Friday, 9/19 – NO SCHOOL: McKinley-Thatcher Staff Planning Day
• Monday, 9/22 – NO SCHOOL: DPS Staff Planning Day
• Friday, 9/26 – Monthly School Value Assembly
• Friday, 9/26 – PTA’s 5th Annual Movie Night, 6:00 PM – click here to RSVP on PTA’s Google form!
• Monday, 9/29 – DEADLINE to submit PTA Contact Book Forms
• Monday, 9/29 – School Picture Day (Individual + Class Photos)

Upcoming DPS & Community Events

• Friday, 9/19 – Platt Park’s Annual Movie Night, 5:30 PM on the Platt Park field