The Ute Pass Press

Happy November!

The month of October was a busy one in the best way! I keep thinking things are going to slow down a bit, but maybe that's part of the beauty of our amazing little school- we are constantly providing incredible experiences for our students!

Our UPES Fun Run was super successful on October 1st! We only had one 15-child pile-up, which taught us the importance of a staggered start! Students had a blast running laps. We want to thank our super PAC team for their work in organizing our Fun Run! Our students raised over $25,000 that will go directly back to the school!

Our sixth grade Mountain Academy of Arts and Sciences program enjoyed an amazing three day camping trip at Rocky Mountain National Park. The weather was perfect, and the students had an incredible time. They backpacked into the campground, set up their own tents, cooked their own food, hiked 9+ miles the second day, and saw several herds of elk! This is the first time we've taken a group to RMNP, and it was such a wonderful experience for the students and adults!

UPES participated in a Bike/Walk to School Day, and despite the weather being a little yucky, we had so many students and families participate! We are looking at doing another one of these in the spring! We also had some previous staff members, now local authors and illustrators, visit our school to read to each class and provide a copy of their book- The Packrat Motto. This book was inspired by the school and the Leave No Trace principles. It was a truly extraordinary day for our students, and everyone got a copy of the book to take home.

We celebrated Unity Day in October as well- a day to promote inclusion, acceptance, and kindness through National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. Students participated in kindness activities put on by our student council and we were able to get an all-school picture in the shape of an "I" (we've done U and N previously and are going to go until we can spell out the word UNITY). It was a great celebration of how we all bring unique strengths to our little community.

Conferences were a wonderful opportunity to connect with our families in such a special way! Thank you for coming to partner with your child's teacher to discuss growth and next steps. We also appreciate those of you that took the time to fill out cards of appreciation and to recognize the hard work of our staff! Hopefully you were able to stop in our Family Gathering Space and enjoy caramel apples and pumpkin painting. You are a very important piece of your child's educational journey, and we appreciate your engagement in making sure we are all on the same team!

Finally, we rounded out our very busy month with our Glow Dance Party and our Costume Parade on Friday! Whew! What a month! Students enjoyed dancing and playing during the Glow Dance Party, which was a celebration of meeting our stretch goal for our Fun Run. After that, students participated in our costume parade on the playground with a record audience of over 100 family members there to give high fives and cheer them on!

Now we're gearing up for a slightly slower paced November! This is a month to focus on gratitude, learning, and our focus of providing learning that lasts in each of our classrooms (and outside)! Looking ahead, we will celebrate our third annual Literacy Luncheon this month on November 20th. This is a time where all classes pick a book to read and then make a recipe from the book to share with the entire school! We pack our entire student body into the gym and sit on the floor and eat a family style meal while we reflect on all the things we are grateful for. Have I mentioned lately how much I love this school?

As you look through the pictures below, and as you listen to the stories from your amazing young people that we have the privilege to educate, I hope you feel the joy, hear the laughter, and appreciate this truly unique little gem that we get to call our school.

Your partner in education,

Jackie Powell, Ute Pass Principal

November

3- PAC Meeting 3 pm in Conference Room, Original Artworks Fundraiser Forms Due

4- Late Start

6- 6th grade to Corral Bluffs, Lockdown Drill, 4th grade hikes to GMF

9- Food Drive starts!

11- Veterans Day Concert 2 pm

12- Middle School Open Mic Night

13- 6th Grade to Incline

16- Last week for After School Classes and Tutoring for Semester 1

18- Late Start, Holiday Help Forms Due (if your family needs assistance)

19- 4th Grade to fountain Creek- Pueblo Reservoir, MSMS Dance, BOE Meeting 6 pm

20- Literacy Luncheon, Last day for Food Drive

23-27- Thanksgiving Break

Preschooler Jay goes through the volunteer tunnel at the end of the Fun Run!

4th graders Beatrix and Lucy help clean the earth for Creek Week!

Mrs. Weisheipl and her 4th Grade Naturalists helped picked up trash along the creek.

MAAS students prepared for their backpacking trip by training in the area!

MAAS students hiked over nine miles in Rocky Mountain National Park!

Over the river and through the woods... to the campsite we go!

It was a great trip to RMNP for MAAS students!

Our top Fun Run earners picked Principal Powell to Gatorade!

Merit, Jocose, and Juniper making their way to school on Bike to School Day!

5th graders having fun at recess!

More fun at recess!

MSHS football players came to recess on Unity Day to play with our students!

Leah Vankirk, Mel Cowman, and Charla Schwartz share their new book with our students!

Preschool student Taylor, and kindergarteners Hattie, Kai, June, Will, Torin, and Arman enjoy Luxury Lunch with Principal Powell for raising $350 for the Fun Run!

Third and Fourth graders Leif, Conor, Happy, Aspen, Krimson, Remi, and Cillian enjoy Luxury Lunch with Principal Powell for raising $350 for the Fun Run!

The trout eggs arrived for our sixth graders! They will spend the next six months taking care of them!

Preschoolers did pumpkin math to vote on the shapes of each part of their jack-o-lanterns!

1st and 2nd graders Campbell, Jenevieve, Pierce, Clay, Leo, Silas, Lawson, Truett, Asher, and Jackson enjoyed Luxury Lunch with Principal Powell for raising $350 for the Fun Run!

5th and 6th graders Adelynd, Emma, Declan, Bristol, Brooklyn, and London enjoyed Luxury Lunch with Principal Powell for raising $350 for the Fun Run!

UPES Staff dressed up as Beaning Babies for Halloween!

The Glow Dance Party was a hit!

The Costume Parade was so much fun!

Student safety is paramount to everything we do at UPES. Per out Family/Student Handbook (linked below), please note the following expectations for all visitors and volunteers to Ute Pass Elementary:

Partnerships with our schools are an important piece in a child’s education. Volunteers are expected to make arrangements prior to volunteering in the school or classroom. Volunteers at school will need a background check completed prior to volunteering. Please complete the Google survey below if you are interested. If you think you’ll want to chaperone for events, please contact your child’s teacher to find out about needs and opportunities. For the safety of our students and staff, during school hours, all family members, visitors, non-district workers, and volunteers must sign in at the office and receive a badge to be visible at all times when in our building. State-issued identification is required by school personnel for check in through our Raptor system. Visitors during lunch will sit at a visitor’s table with their child(ren). When leaving, all visitors must check out at the office.

In the mornings, family members may walk their child(ren) to the entryway, but we ask that you give all your "have a great days" and "goodbyes" at the door. This helps us ensure that only staff members and pre-arranged visitors are in the building once school begins. Thank you for helping us provide a safe learning environment for all students!

Duty/supervision/breakfast begins at 7:35.

The first bell for students to enter classrooms is at 7:55, and the tardy bell will ring at 8:00. Dismissal is at 2:50.

Here are the ins and outs of our pick up/drop off lane:

• The family drop-off/pick-up lane will allow children to be picked up all the way to the end of the central sidewalk (to the gas meters against the street).
  
• Teachers will supervise students in the locations noted on the map above.
• No car will move into or exit the lane until every car has been loaded. (If you do not have the time to wait, please consider parking and walking in the areas marked above.)
  
• When all cars are loaded, the line of cars will exit together.
• The crossing guard will then allow walking parents to cross the parking lot at crosswalks to gain access to their vehicles.
  
• When these vehicles are loaded and moving, the next line waiting on Chipita Park Road will be allowed in to begin the process again.
• Furry Friday dismissal- on Fridays, bring your dogs through our pick-up lane for a treat!
  
• Friday afternoon concerts- Mr. Poole will be playing trumpet on select Friday afternoons at dismissal (weather permitting)!
  
• Do not utilize the bus lane parking lot for drop-off or pick-up.

Please note the available areas for parking and walking above. If your child is sitting on the wall with their teacher, please ask a staff member to get your child for you to avoid excess traffic near the pick-up lane. As always, your patience is deeply appreciated!

Cindy Mahaney is our health tech at Ute Pass Elementary! If you have any emergency medicine or health information that the school needs, please submit that to Cindy as soon as possible. Her email is cmahaney@mssd14.org.

This is a friendly reminder that all students must have documentation of required immunizations on file with the school, submit a valid exemption, or an in-process immunization plan. Please send records from your health care provider to the school health tech/nurse or front office. If you choose an exemption, exemption forms are available through the school or the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

If you’ve already submitted paperwork, thank you — no further action is needed. If you have questions or need help, please contact the school health tech/nurse here. We appreciate your help keeping our school community healthy and safe.

If your child’s health needs change, or if you have questions about medications or forms, the Health team is happy to assist. Please don’t hesitate to reach out—we are here to support your family.

Ms. Sherwood is here to support all of our students and families again this year. If you need anything at all, please reach out to her at csherwood@mssd14.org.

Free Meals for Students, Plus Important Reminders for Families

We are excited to share that all students in Manitou Springs School District will receive free breakfast and lunch through the Healthy School Meals for All program! This new statewide program, approved by Colorado voters, is helping Colorado children and teens have access to nutritious food at our schools.

Even though breakfast and lunch will be provided for free, we need families to continue sharing household income information through this form in order for our school to receive full access to federal funding.

Be sure to fill out the form as part of your back-to-school registration! If you have questions or would like additional support, please reach out to Paula Faucette-Director of Nutrition Services, 719-685-2005 or email pfaucette@mssd14.org for more information.

The school district will be providing supervision for a limited number of students during all late start Wednesdays for the 26-27 school year. To sign up, follow the Google Form link below and register your student(s).

It is important that registration is completed only for students who would otherwise not be able to attend school if not for late start childcare.

Late Start Sign-Up

Late Start Wednesdays for first semester:

• September 2
• October 7
• November 4
• November 18
• December 9

Champions provides before and afterschool childcare to better support our families at Manitou Springs Elementary School. Visit www.discoverchampions.com to sign up today! They offer weekly rates, or even drop-in rates if you just need assistance on certain days. Champions is in over 1,000 schools and provides students with engagement, enrichment, and fun!

We have a very active and incredible Parent Action Committee who supports our little school in BIG ways!

The PAC meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 3:00 pm in the music room or conference roomat UPES. Moving into the 26-27 school year, the PAC is excited to have a larger presence in the school, continuing to take care of the amazing staff at UPES, putting on events and meeting new families, and to get new members! They will have a table set up at our Open House/Open Outdoors with more information and opportunities to join in on the fun! Please contact Janelle, PAC President, at upepac@gmail.com with any questions.

Email: tdudley@mssd14.org
Website: http://upe.mssd14.org/
Location: 9230 Chipita Park Road, Cascade, CO, USA
Phone: 719-685-2227
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/utepasselementaryschool/