News from the Nest — November 8, 2024
Posted November 8, 2024
SPECIAL REMINDER:
Support McKinley During Colorado Gives Day!
Join us for McKinley-Thatcher Elementary’s VERY FIRST Colorado Gives Day campaign on Tuesday, December 10!
What Is Colorado Gives Day?
Organized by the Colorado Gives Foundation, Colorado Gives Day is a special day each December where donations made to Colorado nonprofits, including McKinley-Thatcher, are automatically boosted by the Foundation!
Early Giving Is Open NOW!
From Friday, November 1 through Tuesday, December 10, every donation will be boosted by a $1 million Incentive Fund, thanks to the Colorado Gives Foundation and FirstBank. Plus, set up a new monthly donation, and your first gift will be matched up to $100! It’s a powerful way to double your impact and support our amazing students and teachers at McKinley-Thatcher.
How to Give:
- Visit our donation page at https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Mct-Donates.
- Select monthly giving, and your donation will be matched.
Help make our first Colorado Gives Day a success! Thank you for supporting our school and students.
With gratitude,
MCT PTA
Winter Weather Policies & Procedures
After all our cold and snowy weather this week, we wanted to share some information with families about our school winter weather policies and procedures!
- Recess: when it is 20 degrees or lower, or if there is active rain or snow, we will have indoor recess in our gym. Otherwise, we’ll be outside! Please dress your child in warm winter gear (coat, gloves, hat, etc.).
- Delayed start due to winter weather: when DPS schools are on a “late start” due to winter weather, McKinley-Thatcher will operate on a two-hour delay, opening at 9:30 a.m., with drop-off beginning at 9:15 a.m. During a late start, our morning school bus will also run on a two-hour delay.
- School closure due to winter weather: during extreme weather, the decision to close all district schools may be made. In this situation, all after-school programs will also be canceled.
- DPS weather closure information: The DPS superintendent will make a decision about a school closure or late start based on information provided by the DPS Transportation team, local transportation agencies, and the weather bureau. If the decision is made to close or delay schools due to weather, the DPS Communications Office will notify local television and radio stations, which will broadcast regular announcements of school closures or delays. School closures will also be posted on the district’s homepage, and families whose contact information is on file with our school will receive an automated phone call and email.
- For more information about the district’s winter weather policies, please see this flyer. We’ll share translated versions of the flyer as soon as they are available!
Our Fall Book Fair Is Monday, November 18 to Friday, November 22!
Our Fall Book Fair is running from Monday, November 18 to Friday, November 22 after school in our gym and art room! To help keep our building secure, fair visitors may not enter or exit the fair through our building or main doors. Instead, please plan to access the fair through our alleyway doors — simply follow the book fair signs in the alley!
Our fair is a great opportunity to pick up holiday gifts and stock up on books for winter break, and every purchase benefits our school! Check out our fair’s digital catalog here!
In-Person Fair Schedule
- Monday, November 18 – 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 19 – 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 20 – CLOSED!
- Thursday, November 21 – 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Friday, November 22 – 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (open during our Glow Dance!)
For full details about our book fair, visit our website here.
You’re Invited:
PTA’s Glow Dance FUNdraiser Is Friday, November 22!
The McKinley-Thatcher community is cordially invited to our PTA’s third annual Glow Dance fundraiser on Friday, November 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in our cafeteria! Admission to the dance is FREE, and we’ll have food, glow accessories, face paint, and other fun available for sale by purchasing raffle tickets at the door.
To RSVP or sign up to volunteer, please click here. You can also support the Glow Dance by purchasing dance supplies via this Amazon wish list!
Other School News
- Mark your calendars: we have NO SCHOOL from Monday, November 25 to Friday, November 29 for our fall break! School resumes on Monday, December 2.
- Volunteer with Free Book Friday to help our students build a love of reading! We still have a few Free Book Friday volunteer spots open in late November and most of December – if you’d like to assist, please sign up here!
- If your student participated in our Picture Retake Day on Wednesday, October 23, their retake pictures are now available through our online galleries! Click here for instructions on accessing your gallery. And, just a reminder to order school pictures if you’d like to but haven’t had a chance to do so yet!
Community News & Resources
Upcoming School Events
Click here to view the McKinley-Thatcher school calendar.
- Tuesday, 11/12 – 4th Grade Field Trip: Cherry Creek State Park
- Monday, 11/18 to Friday, 11/22 – PTA Fall Book Fair
- Friday, 11/22 – Monthly School Value Assembly, 7:45 a.m.
- Friday, 11/22 – PTA Glow Dance, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Upcoming DPS & Community Events
