WEEKLY HAWK

Here we are, the first week of school! I know these days can bring so many emotions for both children and parents. There is excitement, anticipation, a few butterflies, and maybe even a little sadness as summer comes to an end. As you send your children through the doors at Homestead, please know that we are going to take the very best care of them. Your children are at the heart of everything we do, and we are honored to spend each day with them. Our staff has been eagerly preparing for their arrival, and we cannot wait to welcome them back.

I hope your students are as excited to see us as we are to see them! It is going to be a fantastic year filled with growth, learning, friendship, and fun at Homestead. Thank you for trusting us with your amazing children. We are ready for an awesome year together!

Most of the remaining information in this week's Weekly Hawk is a repeat of our Thursday, August 13th email with the "beginning of the year" information from my email on August 3 all the way at the end. There is SO much information below. Please take some time to scroll through.

As a reminder, our first days are staggered:

Monday, August 17 - Grades 3,4,5 Only

Tuesday, August 18 - Grades 1,2 Only

Wednesday, August 19 - PreK-5th Grade and early release at 1:45pm for K-5th grade.

The Back to School Night (Parents Only) schedule is posted below for easy reference. We are very excited to welcome everyone into the building on Tuesday, August 18 to share all of the learning and experiences for the year ahead!

Take care,

Katie

We’ve updated our front lobby check-in process with a new sign-in kiosk to keep our school secure and make your visits smoother:

1. Scan Your ID: Scan your driver’s license or state ID at the kiosk when you enter the front lobby.
2. Take a Photo: Have a quick picture taken at the kiosk for your badge.
3. Select Your Visit Reason: Choose whether you are volunteering, visiting a classroom, or picking up a student.
4. Receive Your Badge: Front office staff will print your visitor badge with your photo for you to wear while on school grounds.

Thank you for helping us keep our students and staff safe!

Colorado legislation has prompted greater need to screen and document volunteers in our schools. As of January 2022, we began asking every volunteer to complete a brief application to support activities in CCSD schools.

If you are currently volunteering or plan to volunteer in the future, please complete the CCSD online volunteer form. To access the form, click on the following link: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/NzU0OmVuLVVT or scan the QR code. It should only take a few minutes to complete and you will only need to complete this form once a year to meet the requirements to volunteer in all CCSD buildings.

Please note: if you completed this application more than one year ago, it is time to do it again!

The safety and security of our students and staff remains our top priority. Every person entering our buildings must have a badge printed from our Raptor system or a District ID.

We want to thank you in advance for your support of our schools and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Homestead main office at 720.554.3700.

This year, intramurals will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 3rd and 4th graders on a first come, first serve basis. The fall and spring sessions will be capped at 25 students, and the winter session will be capped at 20 students.

See attached picture for this year's Intramurals program schedule.

NEW this year: Wednesday morning option for our 5th grade group ONLY from 7:05–7:50 a.m. before school starts. Fifth graders will additionally have the opportunity to apply and interview to serve as mentors during the Tuesday and Thursday sessions for 3rd and 4th graders after school.

Please register your child for the upcoming intramurals program by completing the online Google Form and submitting the updated waiver. Registration will be live on Wednesday, August 19th at 8:00 am. Please note that each grade level has a maximum capacity of 25 or 20 students for safety reasons. Once a session reaches capacity, students will be placed on a waitlist and families will be notified via email.

The intramurals program will begin in the gym immediately following school dismissal. Activities may take place indoors or outdoors depending on weather conditions. If your child will be absent on a scheduled day, please notify me by email at hbrownell@cherrycreekschools.org.

Parents are kindly asked to pick up their child promptly at 3:30 p.m. in front of the school. After two late pickups, the student may be removed from the intramurals program. Students who walk or bike home must check out with me before leaving.

3rd & 4th Grade REGISTRATION OPEN ON

To register, click on this link:

https://forms.gle/nxxSDqfErzkUqKtF6

or use the QR code below

________________________

5th Grade REGISTRATION OPEN ON

August 19th at 8:00 am

To register, click on this link:

https://forms.gle/USUrAnLRqJVPDqxF8

or use the QR code below

Order now by scanning the QR code in the flyer or click on this link:

https://redheartrebel.com/collections/homestead-elementary

Deadline is September 1, 2026

We are excited to share that we are expanding our use of MySchoolBucks to provide a more convenient way for families to handle school costs.

You likely already use this platform to add snack money to your student's lunch account. Beginning after spring break, you can use that same login to take care of other items, such as:

• Lost library book fees
• Club or Grade Level t-shirt sales
• Other school-related fees

What You Need to Do:

• Existing Users: Simply log in as usual. You will see these new options available in the "School Store" or "Invoices" section.
• New Users: If you don't have an account yet, please create a free account today. Having your login ready now will ensure a quick and easy checkout for upcoming sales.

Thank you for helping us consolidate our school payments into one easy-to-use location!

If you have any questions about getting started with MySchoolBucks, call (855) 832-5226. For any general questions, please contact Homestead’s front office at 720.554.3700.

“Music Makers”

Fall Choir at Homestead Elementary

3rd, 4th and 5th Grade

Tuesdays 2:45-4:00pm

Choir rehearsal dates: September 8-December 15

Music Makers: Homestead Choir will be meeting on Tuesdays from 2:45-4:00 pm every week. We will be learning songs and making new friends. Our first performance will be the national anthem at the Rockies game on Saturday August 22nd at 6:40pm. We will then prepare for a performance at an Artisan Fair, (date and time to be announced). We will also be performing for the school on Friday, December 18th. If your child would like to participate in this session of choir please use the link below as soon as possible to register.

Rehearsals: We will meet in the gym and then immediately go to the music room once school is dismissed. Students who are repeatedly absent without a valid reason will be removed from the choir. Please try to schedule all appointments and conferences on a different day since we only meet one day a week. Parents should plan on meeting their child in front of the school at 4pm. If students plan to walk or bike home please have them check out with me before leaving Homestead so that all children are accounted for.

Choir is a place for positive attitudes and full participation is expected. Please use this link to sign-up for Choir for this Fall session. Choir sign up

Join us as we sing the National anthem for the August 22nd Rockies game.

If you are thinking about joining choir, this is a great opportunity to give it a try.

Your commitment will be to rehearse on Friday August 21st 2:45-3:30 and perform at the game.

Use this link to sign up Sign up to sing

What is student council?

A group of fifth-grade student leaders who collaborate to positively impact their school community. It provides students with the opportunity to help with school activities, share student concerns, and develop leadership skills. We collaborate with different members of the Homestead community on fundraisers, service projects, and wellness events. Meetings take place on Thursdays after school.

We are looking for students who:

• want to make a positive impact at Homestead
• consistently show HAWKS behavior
• are willing to work hard on projects that make Homestead a better place
• are respectful and kind with the ability to contribute positively to a group

How to apply:

1. Interested students will receive an informational form with an application on Monday the 17th. This is due by Friday the 21st.

2. Interviews will be scheduled by the advisors on August 25th during school hours. Practice questions for the interviews are provided ahead of time in the application.

3. Student council members will be notified by August 28th.

*The first meeting will be on September 10th.

*Students interested in running for an officer position will receive more information at a later date.

Deadlines/Dates:

August 21st: Applications for student council are due

August 25th: Interviews

August 28th: Student council members are announced.

September 10th: First meeting

Student Council Meeting Dates:

Time: 2:45-4:00

September 10, 24

October 22

November 12

December 10

January 14, 28

February 18

March 11

April 8, 22

May 6 *last meeting

Dear Homestead Community,

I wanted to let you all know that I have accepted a new position with the CCSD Fiscal Services Department and will be starting my new position within the next few weeks.

Working with our incredible staff and wonderful Homestead community has been an absolute privilege. Thank you for making my time here so special. While I’ll miss seeing everyone daily, I’m glad I won’t be far away in my new district role.

Wishing you all a fantastic school year ahead!

Best,

Liz Palizzi

Office Manager

Looking for After School Activities?

We have several after school clubs and activities offered at Homestead through outside organizations such as Chess Club and Coding Club. Stop by the front lobby of our school to see what is offered and pick up a flyer for more information. Or, click on this link to access the flyers electronically.

Located behind Homestead Elementary School in the NE corner (adjacent to the back parking lot where Pre-K, kindergarten, and first graders come out for recess), you will find the beloved Homestead Community Garden. For over a decade, Homestead Elementary parents, students, the Homestead PTCO, and the Homestead community have contributed time, talent, and treasure to grow the Garden and surrounding trees into a living example of the values held dear by our school and community. (Special thanks to Lezlie Roosa who has carried the torch for the last decade and will continue to give invaluable advice to the growing Homestead Garden Committee.)

The Homestead Community Garden has historically been a place of gathering, learning, and sustenance for students, families, and community members of all ages. This year, with the support and leadership of Katie Lloyd, Homestead Elementary Principal, the Garden will be re-incorporated into the school curriculum for all grade levels. The growing Garden Committee has worked over the summer to maintain the current season of crops that were made possible through the hard work of last year‘s fifth grade class as part of their legacy to Homestead. We invite you to stop by any time to check out the pumpkins, tomatoes, squash, beans, peppers, sunflowers, tomatillos, perennial berry plot, corn, etc.

You will hear more over the coming weeks, in the Hawks newsletter and on the WhatsApp threads, about how to get involved and what to expect from our Homestead Community Garden Program. We are of course open to any and all new members and new ideas. Stay tuned for exciting things ahead!

*Special thanks to our hardworking crew: Courtney Ricci, Ms. Crosier, Matt Chinn, Homestead PTCO, and all those who watered, weeded, planted, built, donated, funded, organized, and cared.

We are so excited to host our Fall Junior Poms Camp, Friday, September 4th! Come dance with the Cherry Creek Poms during their halftime performance when Creek plays Ralston Valley at Stutler Bowl Stadium on Spirit night!

Campers will be divided into age groups K-5 and advanced 6-8, for practice before the game from 4:30-6:00. Then parents and kiddos can enjoy the game starting at 7:00 with their campers, and their Junior Poms will dance in the halftime show! Specific details, parking, ticket info, where to meet your child etc...will be sent 1 week prior to game time.

Please sign up using this link: https://www.milehighsportscamps.com/creekjr-poms-camp-26

We can't wait to dance with you!

Cherry Creek Poms

Please join us for an evening focused on building and strengthening effective School Accountability Committees (SACs).

Whether your school already has an active SAC or you're looking for guidance on how to start one, this session will provide valuable information, practical strategies, and an opportunity to connect with others who are committed to supporting student success.

School Accountability Committee (SAC) Training

Tuesday, September 8
6:30 p.m.
Fremont Building
14603 E. Fremont Ave.
Centennial, CO 80112

Darcy Hutchins, Director of Family, School, and Community Partnerships at the Colorado Department of Education, will be our guest speaker. Darcy will share best practices for creating meaningful family engagement and developing effective School Accountability Committees.

This training is designed for:

• Parents and guardians
• SAC members and leaders
• School administrators and staff
• Anyone interested in learning more about the role of School Accountability Committees

Strong School Accountability Committees help strengthen partnerships between families and schools, provide meaningful input on school improvement efforts, and support student achievement.

We hope you'll join us for this informative evening.

Amanda Thayer, Chair

Missy Matthews, Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction, DAC Liaison

DAC Family & Community Engagement Subcommittee

All meals (breakfast and lunch) remain free for all students due to the Free Meals For All legislation that passed in November of 2022. We encourage families to complete a meal application to take advantage of other benefits offered to them and to support Title I funding in CCSD.

Meal Application: www.myschoolapps.com

Online Payments for Meal Accounts: www.MySchoolBucks.com (there is no fee for this service).

For questions or assistance with making payments please call 1-855-832-5226.

To view Menus: www.MealViewer.com

As we begin the new school year, our district encourages families to complete the online Student Benefit Form whenever possible. The online application is the preferred option because it is quick, secure, and available in multiple languages commonly spoken throughout the Cherry Creek School District community. If you would prefer a paper copy, please stop by the front office and we will provide one for you.

Beginning of Year Information:

First Days of School, Start Time, and Dismissal

Every day, doors will open at 7:50am with class beginning at 8:00am.

On the first day, teachers will come outside at 7:50am and walk in with their classes.

Monday, August 17: Grades 3, 4, and 5 ONLY

Tuesday, August 18: Grades 1, 2 ONLY

Wednesday, August 19: All grades PreK-5

At the end of the day, all teachers will walk students out their respective doors at 2:45pm (1:45pm on Wednesdays). Staff supervision after 2:45pm is brief and teachers will need to come back into the building to attend to other responsibilities.

Back to School Night:

There will be a parents-only Back to School Night on Tuesday, August 18 from 5:00-6:30pm. This is a great opportunity to hear from your student’s teachers regarding important information about this school year. We will use the schedule below for meeting times. Please note that Kindergarten will run a little differently than other grade levels at this event. Families are welcome to attend the first or second session - know that the two presentations are exactly the same. We hope you can make it!

Other Important Information - Yearlong

School Start and End Times:

Kindergarten-Grade 5 - 8:00am-2:45pm (M, T, Th, F)

Kindergarten-Grade 5 - 8:00am-1:45pm (Wed)

Doors will open Monday-Friday at 7:50am for students. There is no supervision for students on campus before 7:50am.

PreK:

Half Day - 8:00am-10:55am (M,T,W,Th)

Full Day - 8:00am-2:45pm (M, T, W, Th)

No school for PreK students on Fridays

Breakfast:

Mon-Fri 7:40am-8:00am

School Office Hours:

7:30am-3:45pm

All Visitors to our School:

We are so happy to welcome visitors and volunteers into our building. Whenever you come to Homestead, please bring your driver's license or state issued ID with you for check in. There is a new self-service check-in kiosk located in the front office vestibule. You will need your ID EVERY time you sign in, so please make sure you carry it with you. Once you have signed in at the kiosk, a badge will print and our front desk will hand it to you and let you into the building.

Attendance *This is a change for this school year*:

If your child will be tardy or absent, please let us know as soon as possible. Using the Homestead Absence Form found here (or on the school website under Our School>Attendance Information) is the most preferred way to communicate. If you would prefer, you may call 720-554-3795 and leave a message. There is no longer a Homestead App.

Back Parking Lot Helpful Hints:

• For everyone’s safety, end all cell phone use before entering the parking lot. The traffic in the back lot goes ONE WAY only. Enter from the north side and exit through the south side. DO NOT ENTER AGAINST THE ARROWS!

• There is no left turn out of the back parking lot onto Homestead Parkway. Vehicles must turn right.

• Pull your vehicle all the way up to the crosswalk when possible before dropping off or picking up your child.

• Have your child enter and exit the car from the PASSENGER SIDE ONLY. Drivers may not exit vehicles in the drop off lane for any reason. If you need to assist your child, please find a parking space, or use the front parking lot.

• If you have dropped off your child, you may pull out and pass the cars that are curbside in order to exit the parking lot. Please pull forward slowly and anticipate that the drop off lane merges back into one lane after the crosswalk.

• Only use the designated crosswalk when going to and from the parking lot. It is very important to show students where it is safe to cross, even when they are accompanied by an adult.

• Remember that there are hundreds of students walking next to moving cars – drive slowly and attentively!

Bikes and Scooters:

“Walk Your Wheels”… remind kids to walk their bikes and scooters in crosswalks and once they get onto school grounds. This reduces the risk of accidents with pedestrians.

Breakfast:

At this time, breakfast remains free for all students. If your student wishes to have breakfast at school, they can come through the front entrance beginning at 7:40am.

Cell Phones and Smart Watches:

Per Board Policy, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that their "electronic communication device" is turned off and out of sight during unauthorized times. Both smart watches and cell phones cause a disruption to our learning environment. Due to this, we respectfully ask that students put their smart watches, cell phones, or similar devices in their backpacks at soft start before the beginning of the instructional day at 8:00. Upon dismissal, students may retrieve them from their backpacks. Staff will provide one warning if they see a phone or smart watch out during the day. Upon a second warning, the smart watch or cell phone will be taken to the office for the day.

If you need to communicate with your student, you are always welcome to call the front office and we will relay these important messages.

Clubs and After School Activities:

We have several after school clubs and activities offered at Homestead through outside organizations such as Chess Club and Coding Club. Stop by the front lobby of our school to see what is offered and pick up a flyer for more information. Or, click on this link (also found in the Weekly Hawk) to access the flyers electronically.

Communication:

Weekly communication from the school will come via email and text (if opted in) on Sundays at 9:00am. The Weekly Hawk is filled with important information and updates from the school and PTCO.

Dogs:

Do not bring dogs onto school property. Even on a leash, dogs can still present a risk to kids - some are afraid, some are allergic. Please help us make sure they feel safe here at school by leaving your dog at home.

Hawk’s Nest, our Before and After Care Program:

If you need child care before or after school, click here to learn more about CCSD’s extended child services.

Items Dropped off for Students:

Deliveries of forgotten items are distracting to productive learning in class. If your child forgets something at home, you may drop it off in the front vestibule with the information sheet. We will do our best to get these items to students in the least distracting way possible by waiting until an appropriate instructional time to deliver them.

Lunch:

Students are welcome to have the free, school provided lunches, or they are welcome to bring lunch from home. Parents are always welcome to join their students for lunch after checking in at the front desk. You can access the daily lunch menu by clicking here.

Students have lunch at the following times:

PreK: 11:35-12:05

K: 10:35-11:00

1st: 11:05-11:30

2nd: 11:50-12:10

3rd: 12:15-12:35

4th: 1:05-1:25

5th: 12:40-1:00

Playgrounds After School:

Playgrounds are closed after school until 3:00pm. We ask that all families clear campus until 3:00pm so we can make sure all of our kids are safely on their way home.

Picture Day:

Mark your calendars: Picture day for PreK-5th will be on Tuesday, September 29.

PreK Pick Up:

Families that pick up their PreK 3 or 4 year old students at 10:55am and do not stay for enrichment cannot play on campus after they are signed out. The playgrounds are in use by other grade levels and our staff need clear lines of supervision for those students.

English:

Please contact (name of liaison) at (email) for support with this resource in your language.

Amharic:

እነዝህን መረጃዎችን በተመለከተ በቋንቋዎ ዕገዛን ለማግኘት ከፈለጉ እባክዎን ተሊሌን በዝህ እሜይል ያግኙዋት thirpa@cherrycreekschools.org

Arabic:

يرجى الاتصال ب )جميعة صباحي أو جاودة العلمي( على ) jsebbahi@cherrycreekschools.org أو

jdajanialami@cherrycreekschools.org للحصول على الدعم مع هذا المورد باللغة العربية .

Chinese:

如有需要，请经由ctaylor9@cherrycreekschools.org 与凯瑟琳•泰勒联系，以您的语言获得此资源的支持。

Dari:

لطفا برای کمک در مورد اين منابع به زبان خودتان با قزافی مهرزاد با اييمل qmehrzad@cherrycreekschools.org تماس بگيريد .

Hindi:

अपनी भाषा में इस संसाधन के समर्थन के लिए कृपया जेम्स रसाइथिी को jrasaily@cherrycreekschools.org पर संपकथ करें।

Korean:

귀하의 언어로 이 자원에 대한 지원을 원하시면 (리아 리) 에게 (llee6@cherrycreekschools.org) 로 문의하십시오.

Nepali:

कृपया जेम्स रसाइथिीिाइथ jrasaily@cherrycreekschools.org मा तपाइथको भाषामा यो संसाधनको सहयोगको िागी सम्पकथ गननथहोिा।

Russian:

Пожалуйста, обращайтесь к Ларисе Бака по адресу: lbaca3@cherrycreekschools.org для получения поддержки с помощью этого ресурса на своём языке.

Somali:

Fadlan la xiriir Omar Nur cinwaanka emaylka onur2@cherrycreekschools.org si aad u hesho macluumaad ku qoran luqadaada.

Spanish:

Si necesita ayuda con este recurso en su idioma, póngase en contacto con Ilse Chavez Maldonado en ichavezmaldonado@cherrycreekschools.org, Rosa Han en rhan4@cherrycreekschools.org, Carmen Vargas-Ball en cvargasball@cherrycreekschools.org o Monica Pantoja en mpantoja@cherrycreekschools.org.

Ukrainian:

Будь ласка, зв'яжіться з Зоряною Герман по електронній пошті zherman@cherrycreekschools.org, щоб отримати підтримку з цього ресурсу на українській мові.

Vietnamese:

Vui lòng liên hệ với Thuý Ngọc tại Lchung2@cherrycreekschools.org để được hỗ trợ về tài nguyên này bằng tiếng Việt.

Location: 7451 South Homestead Parkway, Centennial, CO, USA
Phone: (720) 554-3700