News from the Nest — September 5, 2025
Posted September 5, 2025
Join Us for Back-to-School Night:
Thursday, September 18
All McKinley families are invited to join us for our annual Back-to-School Night event on Thursday, September 18 from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM! Back-to-School Night is an opportunity to sit down with your child’s teachers to learn more about classroom rituals and routines, curriculum, and school policies. It’s also a great chance to ask questions!
Teachers will offer two identical presentation sessions. Families can attend the one that works best for them, and families with multiple students can attend both!
- Session #1: 4:00 PM to 4:40 PM
- Session #2: 4:45 PM to 5:25 PM
Does Your Family Want Interpretation?
We are happy to provide interpretation services to families who would like them! Please contact Mrs. Erin Thiagarajah on ClassDojo or via email at Erin_Thiagarajah@dpsk12.net to request interpretation.
We’re Offering Back-to-School Night Childcare!
To support our families, we are offering free childcare during our Back-to-School Night event! Childcare will be provided by school staff for ECE through 5th grade students.
Back-to-School Night Childcare Policies
- Children must be a McKinley-Thatcher student.
- Families must check their children in and out with staff.
- Food is not provided; plan to eat before you come or after you go home.
- Students already attending Discovery Link (DL) may stay in DL during Back-to-School Night.
I Have Questions or Need More Information!
Please call our main office at (720) 424-5600, email us at McKinley_Thatcher@dpsk12.org, or stop by our main office!
Other School News
- Meet River, our school therapy dog! Our Gifted & Talented teacher, Ms. Stephanie Thielen, and her certified therapy dog, River, work in our building on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week. To read more about River and his role at school, please click here. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Ms. Thielen at Stephanie_Thielen@dpsk12.net.
- September 2025 lunch menus: in case you missed it, please see below for our September 2025 lunch menu in English and other languages.
- 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)
Community News & Resources
- Hero Fest: tomorrow (Saturday, September 6), families are invited to Hero Fest, a metro area event for all community members at South High School. This is a FREE event giving youth and their families the opportunity to meet many different first responders in our community. There will be many types of emergency vehicles to explore (helicopter, bearcat, firetrucks, ambulance, police cars, and horses!), numerous activities, and career exploration opportunities for youth at this event. For more information in English and Spanish, please see this flyer.
- Rosedale Harvest Sale: tomorrow (Saturday, September 6), from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, the Rosedale Community Garden is hosting their harvest sale at 2333 S. Logan St. Come by for local honey, baked goods, jams & sauces, organic produce, flower bouquets, crafts and more. You can even tour the garden! Please click here to view the event flyer.
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.
- Tuesday, 9/16 – 2nd Grade Field Trip: Bear Creek Park
- Tuesday, 9/16 – 3rd Grade Field Trip: Hammond’s Candies
- Thursday, 9/18 – Back-to-School Night, 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
- Friday, 9/19 – NO SCHOOL: McKinley-Thatcher Staff Planning Day
- Monday, 9/22 – NO SCHOOL: DPS Staff Planning Day
Upcoming DPS & Community Events
