News from the Nest — September 26, 2025

Posted September 26, 2025

Join Us for PTA’s 5th Annual Movie Night *TONIGHT*!

Everyone is invited to our PTA’s 5th Annual Movie Night on *TONIGHT* (Friday, September 26) on our field! We’ll begin with food and fun at 6:00 PM, and the movie will start at 7:00 PM.

Bring your own outdoor seating to get comfy (lawn chairs, blankets, etc.) and your own picnic, or plan to buy pizza at the event! We’ll also have movie snacks and Kona Ice for sale to benefit our PTA.

Support School Funding on October Count Day!

It’s official – October Count Day this year is next Wednesday, October 1. Much of public education funding from the State of Colorado is based on our October 1 student count, so it’s very important that we have all students in attendance. The most important action you can take to support our school funding is to make sure your student attends school on this day.

What’s October Count?

October Count is the official student membership count for all Colorado public school districts mandated by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) in order to distribute funding to schools. 

The State of Colorado “count window” runs from Wednesday, September 24 through Wednesday, October 8, but the most important student count day is Wednesday, October 1. If your student will be absent on October 1, please remember to report their absence via our attendance line at (720) 424-5603. Attendance during the “count window” will help counteract an absence on Wednesday, October 1.

Please reach out to our main office at (720) 424-5600 or McKinley_Thatcher@dpsk12.org if you have questions or would like more information. Thank you for helping to support our school!

Next Week:
September Restaurant Fundraiser Is Tuesday, 9/30!

Once a month, our PTA partners with a neighborhood restaurant to fundraise for our school! 

This month, families are invited to enjoy our September Restaurant Fundraiser at GB Fish & Chips (1311 S. Broadway) on Tuesday, September 30! On this day, 20% of all sales will be donated back to our PTA in order to support our school.

Check out the menu, hours, location, and more on GB’s website here.

Students Of Color Playdate Is Saturday, October 4!

McT parents are hosting a playdate for students of color (ECE-5th grade) and their families!

We hope to provide a safe and supportive space for you and your children to build camaraderie and belonging. Making time for our students of color to connect with each other can lead to increased self-esteem, confidence, and empowerment within and outside of school. Please join us for this opportunity to engage with other families of color, share experiences, and build a strong, supportive network within our school community.

  • When: Saturday, October 4 
  • Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Where: McKinley-Thatcher Playground
  • Who: All students of color and their families (children cannot attend without an adult)
  • What: Meet and play with other McT families of color
  • Snack: We will have popsicles and light snacks, but feel free to bring your own snacks and water in case we run out!
  • RSVP: Let us know you are coming if you can! Please text (303) 803-3008 to RSVP. 

Other School News

  • *REMINDER*: School Picture Day is Monday, September 29 with Bloom School Pictures! Students will have both their group class pictures and their individual school pictures taken during Picture Day. For more information, visit our Picture Day website post here.

  • Mark Your Calendars: we have *NO SCHOOL* on the following days in October.
    • Friday, October 10 – *NO SCHOOL* (McKinley-Thatcher Staff Planning Day)
    • Monday, October 13 – *NO SCHOOL* (DPS Staff Planning Day)
    • Friday, October 31 – *NO SCHOOL* (DPS Staff Planning Day)
      • School Halloween celebrations will be held on Thursday, October 30.

  • *REMINDER*: submit your information for the 2025 – 2026 PTA Contact Book! If you’d like to have your information included in PTA’s Contact Book for your child’s grade level, please complete one of the steps below if you haven’t done so already. 

    1. Complete and return the Contact Book form that went home in our September 12 Friday Folders.
    2. Fill out the online Contact Book Google Form by clicking here.

    For questions about contact books, please contact our PTA Secretary, Dan Droller, at McKinleyThatcher@gmail.com.

    Community News & Resources

    • None at this time!

    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.

    Upcoming DPS & Community Events

    • None at this time!