News from the Nest — December 5, 2025

Posted December 5, 2025

Donate to Our December Food Drive NEXT Week!

We are excited to hold our annual December Food Drive next week from Monday, December 8 to Friday, December 12. Our food drive donations will be handed out to McT families on Monday, December 15, 2025 after school. The grade level that collects the most donations during the drive wins a special Wintertastic Popsicle Party from our PTA! 

What Can We Donate & Where Do We Drop It Off?

We are looking for donations of the following items:

  • Nutrient-rich canned and shelf-stable goods: canned fruit and vegetables, canned meats like tuna and chicken, soups, beans, pasta, sauce, cereal, boxed milk, crackers, peanut butter, jelly, bread, dried fruit, rice, baking mix, oil, frosting, etc.
  • Dishwasher & laundry detergent
  • Hygiene products
  • $25 gift cards to Target, Walmart, Safeway, or King Soopers

Please check expiration dates on all donated food items!

Donations can be sent with your child or dropped off in the lobby any day from December 8 to December 12! Gift card donations can be dropped off in our main office.

We Need Volunteers to Help Us Pack & Distribute Our Donations!

  • Friday, December 5, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM – Sign Up HERE
    • Check in at the office and get a visitor badge.
    • Set up boxes and signs for each grade level donation station. 
  • Monday, December 15, 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM – Sign Up HERE
    • Check in at the office and get a visitor badge. 
    • Organize, sort, and pack donations.
  • Monday, December 15, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Sign Up HERE
    • Check in at the office and get a visitor badge. 
    • Support families collecting items after school.

2026-2027 SchoolChoice Round 1 Is Open!

Round 1 of the 2026-2027 SchoolChoice application is open from December 2, 2025 to January 20, 2026! SchoolChoice is the Denver Public Schools application process designed for any student who wants or needs to attend a new school next school year, as well as for students going into ECE and kindergarten.

McKinley-Thatcher families with students who will be attending ECE, kindergarten, or 6th grade next school year should please submit a SchoolChoice application by the January 20 deadline. 

For more information about SchoolChoice, visit our website here, call our main office at (720) 424-5600, or email us at McKinley_Thatcher@dpsk12.org. 

Other School News

  • December 2025 lunch menus: in case you missed it, here is our December 2025 lunch menu in English, Arabic, Dari, Nepali, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese!

  • December Collaborative School Committee Meeting: Our Collaborative School Committee (CSC) is meeting virtually on Monday, December 8 on Google Meet at this link. For more information about our CSC, visit our website here.

  • PTA RIF Days: all McKinley students are receiving a FREE book from our PTA’s Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) days on December 8 and 9! Children will visit the RIF giveaway during school hours.

  • Mark your calendars: we have NO SCHOOL from Monday, December 22 to Monday, January 5. This is our winter break! School resumes on Tuesday, January 6.

  • Volunteer with Free Book Friday: our school librarian, Ms. Goldberg, is looking for volunteers to help out with Free Book Friday, a recurring book giveaway organized by school staff for the McKinley-Thatcher community! To see more information and to sign up, visit our SignUpGenius here.

Community News & Resources

  • Holidays en Comunidad: families are invited to the Holidays en Comunidad event on Thursday, December 18. This event offers food baskets, local resources, winter gear, and toys for children. Items are free while supplies last. To receive a toy, a child must be present, or you may bring a school ID or birth certificate. The event runs from 9:00 AM until supplies last and is located at 3131 W. 14th Ave., Denver, CO. 

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.

  • Monday, 12/8 – December Collaborative School Committee Meeting, 5:00 PM on Google Meet
  • Monday, 12/8 & Tuesday, 12/9 – PTA’s RIF Book Giveaway
  • Monday, 12/8 to Friday, 12/12 – Winter Food Drive open for donations!
  • Tuesday, 12/9 – UPK 2026-2027 Application Window OPENS for next year’s ECE-4 students
  • Wednesday, 12/17 – ECE In-School Field Trip: Gingerbread Storytelling with the Children’s Museum of Denver
  • Thursday, 12/18 to Friday, 12/19 – 5th Grade Overnight Field Trip: Balarat
  • Friday, 12/19 – December School Value Assembly, 7:45 AM 

Upcoming DPS & Community Events

  • Thursday, 12/18 – Holidays en Comunidad (free food baskets, local resources, winter gear, and toys for children)