A warm welcome to our new 2026-2027 families!

Special Information for Our 2026-2027 Kindergarten Families

Posted May 21, 2026

Your student has been accepted at McKinley-Thatcher Elementary for the 2026-2027 school year. If this is incorrect, or if your plans for next year have changed, please let us know by calling our main office at (720) 424-5600 as soon as possible. Thank you!

Welcome Kindergarten Families!

We are excited for your family to join us for the 2026-2027 school year, and to share some special information with you about kindergarten at McKinley-Thatcher. 

ACTION REQUESTED: Complete Our “New Student Information” Form

Incoming families are invited to complete our school’s “New Student Information” Google form here. This short form is an opportunity for us to get to know your child better in order to guide our class placement decisions! (If you have already completed this form, thank you! You do not need to complete it again.)

Kindergarten Programming at McKinley-Thatcher

In the McKinley-Thatcher kindergarten program, students have one homeroom teacher who is their primary academic instructor for mathematics, literacy, science, and social studies. This is different from 1st-5th grade, where students have two core teachers. Kindergarten students also attend daily specials classes, which include visual arts, physical education, and technology. 

Please click here to learn a bit about our kindergarten team! (PDF file)

Kindergarten Classroom Information

  • Attendance matters! Please have your child at school every day by 7:25 AM, and report any absences to our main office at (720) 424-5603.
  • Arrival and dismissal routines: pick-up and drop-off for kindergarten is outside of doors 9 and 10 on the playground.
  • Send a healthy snack each day! Our school is a no-nut campus, so please be mindful of this when choosing snacks. 
  • Check ClassDojo (our school communications app) and our weekly Friday Folders for updates and communication. Reach out anytime with questions! (Families will receive an invitation to join ClassDojo in August.)

Required Items for Kindergarten in the Fall 

In the fall, your child will need the following items for school:

  • A full-size backpack
  • A water bottle
  • An extra set of clothes (shirt, pants, underwear, and socks)

To save families time and simplify supply shopping, our school asks each family to pay a $50 supply fee and a $25 field trip fee per student during our school registration window in August 2026. This helps teachers stock their classrooms with the right tools from the start of the year – without asking families to search for specific items. Scholarships are available – we ensure that no student goes without supplies and that all students can attend each field trip. 

How to Help Your Child Prepare for Kindergarten

In preparation for the beginning of kindergarten, here are a few things to practice this summer:

  • Toileting and washing hands independently.
  • Asking to use the restroom.
  • Putting on shoes.
  • Putting on jackets.
  • Writing their first name.
  • Counting to 10.
  • Using calming strategies.
  • Sharing and treating others with kindness and respect.

I Have Questions or Need More Information!

For kindergarten questions, please feel free to reach out to our kindergarten teachers via email at Grant_Bearfield@dpsk12.net or Anna_Poppy@dpsk12.net. 

For general questions, please contact our main office at (720) 424-5600 or McKinley_Thatcher@dpsk12.org. Please note that our building will close for summer break at 3:00 PM on Monday, June 1 and will reopen on Tuesday, August 11.

Thank you!