News from the Nest — September 18, 2026
Posted September 18, 2026
NEXT WEEK: School Picture Day Is Thursday, September 24
We are holding our School Picture Day with Bloom School Pictures on Thursday, September 24! Students will have both their group class pictures and their individual school pictures taken during Picture Day.
Picture Day Schedule
- Thursday, September 24 — School Picture Day
- Bloom School Pictures is taking both class pictures and individual student pictures during the morning of Thursday, September 24.
- Thursday, October 22 — Retake Day
- If your student misses Picture Day, they will be photographed on Thursday, October 22 during our Retake Day (individual pictures only).
How Do I Order Pictures?
Families will receive an online, password-protected gallery via Bloom’s website that will contain 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!
Visit our School Picture Day post on our school website here.
In Case You Missed It:
2026-2027 McKinley-Thatcher School Year Calendar
We are resharing our 2026-2027 McKinley-Thatcher school year calendar for new families and anyone who hasn’t seen it yet. A printed version of the calendar is also coming home in our September 18 Friday Folders.
Please note that we have four NO SCHOOL days specific to McKinley-Thatcher on:
- Monday, November 2, 2026
- Friday, February 12, 2027
- Monday, March 1, 2027
- Monday, April 5, 2027
School News
- Mark your calendars: we have no school on Monday, September 28. This is a district-wide staff professional development day. School resumes on Tuesday, September 29.
- Reminder about cognitive testing for gifted and talented identification: if you are interested in nominating your McKinley-Thatcher student for cognitive testing for potential gifted and talented identification, please complete the 2026 Fall Gifted and Talented (GT) Cognitive Testing Nomination Form before Friday, October 2.
Please note: all students in 1st and 5th grade automatically participate in GT cognitive testing as part of the Denver Public Schools Universal Screening process. If your student is in 1st or 5th grade, you do not need to nominate them as they are already scheduled to complete testing this month.
If you have any questions about cognitive testing, gifted and talented identification, or programming available at McKinley-Thatcher, please reach out to our Gifted and Talented teacher, Stephanie Thielen, at Stephanie_Thielen@dpsk12.net.
Upcoming School Events
- Tuesday, September 22 – 3rd Grade Field Trip: Hammond’s Candies
- Thursday, September 24 – School Picture Day
- Thursday, September 24 – 1st Grade Field Trip: Commons Park
- Thursday, September 24 – 4th Grade Field Trip: Tattered Cover
- Friday, September 25 – Monthly School Value Assembly
- Monday, September 28 – NO SCHOOL: District Staff Planning Day
Click here to view the McKinley-Thatcher school calendar.
PTA News
- Join us for our first double-header restaurant fundraiser with both Sweet Cow & Park Burger on Wednesday, September 23rd! Sweet Cow on S. Pearl Street will donate 40% of proceeds back to McT from orders placed on this day from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM, including pints or cakes. Make sure to mention McKinley-Thatcher when you order.
Enjoy dinner on the same day from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Park Burger Pearl (or order online for takeout!) and they will give McT 15% of sales made with the code MT923 (enter the code during online ordering checkout or inform a team member during dine-in service). View details in your Friday Folder and on our website here.
- A reminder that if you haven’t stopped by our neighbor Lavender Coffee yet for our September fundraiser, be sure to visit! When you make your purchase, mention McKinley-Thatcher and they’ll donate $2 back to our school. You have until the end of the month!
- Mark your calendar for our first evening PTA meeting on Wednesday, September 30 at 6:30 PM. We’ll meet in the school cafeteria (a small kids craft area will be set up if you need to bring your kiddo) and get into more detail with topics like events, budgets, school staff updates, and new ideas.
- Make sure you’ve filled out the survey for our Volunteer Database! We’re streamlining our PTA volunteer system by encouraging people to fill out our volunteer survey NOW to express interest in specific events and programs that will take place throughout the year. And when the time comes when that help is needed, we will reach out! Click here to complete the form.
- A reminder as ski season approaches to save the date for October 5-12 when we’ll have our fundraiser with Denver Ski Co (just around the corner from school) for a discount on season ski rentals with a percentage going back to our school! We’ll share more details as it gets closer.
Upcoming PTA Events
Community News
- Families & community members are invited to join Denver Fire Department Firestation #21 for their annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, September 26 from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Please see this flyer for details (PNG file).
Upcoming Community Events
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!
