News from the Nest — January 9, 2026

Posted January 9, 2026

NEXT WEEK:
Illegal Pete’s DU Fundraiser on Wednesday, 1/14!

Once a month, our Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) partners with a local restaurant to fundraise for our school! Families are invited to enjoy our January Restaurant Fundraiser at Illegal Pete’s DU (1744 E. Evans Ave.) next week on Wednesday, January 14! 

On this day, mention McKinley-Thatcher at the register and our PTA will receive 50% of your order total (including drinks) as a donation. Online orders through Illegal Pete’s website also count towards the fundraiser! Please note, this fundraiser is ONLY valid at the DU location (1744 E. Evans Ave.).

Families can also check out our PTA’s other upcoming restaurant fundraisers on the new PTA website here! 

Stop By Our PTA Auction Table While You Are There! 

The McKinley Auction Committee will be set up at a table at Illegal Pete’s from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on January 14 – grab your auction tickets, talk about PTA-sponsored childcare, or donate something! We’d love to see you and share more about our school’s flagship fundraising event.

Message from Ms. Geerdes Regarding Changes to Special Education Services Next Year

I’m writing to announce an important program change that will affect our special education services next school year. Beginning in August 2026, our current kindergarten to 5th grade Cross‑Categorical special education program will transition to a kindergarten to 2nd grade Multi‑Intensive Autism (MIA) program. This change reflects Denver Public Schools’ (DPS) commitment to better meet the needs of students with autism who require more specialized, intensive support.  

• Reason for the change: DPS has identified an increasing need for specialized programs for students who are profoundly impacted by their autism, and identified McKinley-Thatcher as an ideal location for this type of program. 
  
  
• Program focus: the MIA program is designed specifically for students on the autism spectrum who need multi‑layered, intensive instruction and support rather than the broader Cross‑Categorical model.
  
  
• Student profile: the new program will serve students who are often non‑verbal or are in the process of developing foundational communication skills. 

Thank you for your continued partnership and trust as we make this important transition. We are committed to supporting all of our students with the individualized services they need to grow and thrive. If you have questions please reach out to me at Sonia_Geerdes@dpsk12.net.

Other School News

• January 2026 lunch menus: in case you missed it, here is our January 2026 lunch menu in English, Arabic, Dari, Nepali, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese (PDF files)!
  
  
• Reminder: if your student participated in our Winter Reading Challenge during winter break, they may turn their completed cocoa cup papers into the office next Monday, January 12. All completed cocoa cups will be entered into a raffle for fun prizes the following week! Here’s a digital version of the cocoa cup paper (PDF file), in case you need it.
  

• Mark your calendars: we have NO SCHOOL on Monday, January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. School will resume on Tuesday, January 20.
  
  
• 2026-2027 SchoolChoice Round 1 Is Open: Round 1 of the 2026-2027 SchoolChoice application is open from December 2, 2025 to January 20, 2026! McKinley-Thatcher families with students who will be attending ECE, kindergarten, or 6th grade next school year should please submit a SchoolChoice application by the January 20 deadline. Families with incoming ECE-4 students must also submit a Universal Pre-K application as soon as possible. For more information about SchoolChoice, visit our website here!
  
  
• Volunteer with Free Book Friday: our school librarian, Ms. Goldberg, is looking for volunteers to help out with Free Book Friday, a recurring book giveaway organized by school staff for the McKinley-Thatcher community! To see more information and to sign up, visit our SignUpGenius here.

Community News & Resources

• You’re invited: Decker Library’s monthly Family Book Celebration is on Saturday, January 17! Come celebrate stories and reading with activities for the whole family! Share favorite books and connect with fellow readers to explore a book, series, or theme all together. All ages and abilities are welcome. This month, the theme is reading fiction or nonfiction books about owls and dissecting owl pellets! Materials are limited. 
  

• Denver Public Library temporary branch closures: we are aware of the disruption that the temporary closing of the Ross Broadway, Eugene Fields, and University Hills branch libraries may have on families at our school. Impacted families are welcome at the Decker branch while these branches are closed for renovations. If you have questions about the renovations, please visit the library’s Southeast Services page or call the Decker branch at (720) 865-0220. 

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.

• Monday, 1/12 – 1st Grade Field Trip: Denver Museum of Nature & Science 
• Monday, 1/12 – Collaborative School Committee (CSC) Meeting, 5:00 PM on Google Meet
• Tuesday, 1/13 – 2nd Grade Field Trip: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
• Wednesday, 1/14 – PTA January Restaurant Fundraiser (PDF file): Illegal Pete’s DU
• Monday, 1/19 – NO SCHOOL: MLK, Jr. Day
• Tuesday, 1/20 – SchoolChoice Round 1 CLOSES, 4:00 PM
• Thursday, 1/22 – 3rd Grade Field Trip: Wings Over the Rockies
• Thursday, 1/22 – 4th Grade Field Trip: History Colorado Center

Upcoming DPS & Community Events

• Saturday, 1/17 – Decker Library’s monthly Family Book Celebration