Little School Newsletter

What a great month November is! It is the start of the holiday season and celebration of light in many countries around the world! There are around 30 globally recognized holidays in November and December, and most of them have to do with light in some way.

I want to let you know that you and your children are MY light. I enjoy the relationships you have all built with my staff and me. I appreciate your smiles. I appreciate your respectful natures and for allowing us to join you on this journey in raising your beautiful children. I am grateful for all of you. I hope as the holidays approach, you are able to let some things go and find time to appreciate yourself too!

We have a lot of important information in this newsletter so I will keep this section brief!

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Native American Heritage Month!

Kelly Amadeo

Director and Principal

-October 27th: ButterBraid/Integrity Fundraising Event Kicks off!

-November 1st-November 11th: Canned corn donations accepted (see below)

-November 3rd and 4th: Free Vision Screenings

-November 4th and 5th: Chapel for Students: Theme: Noah's Ark and Eric Carle Books

-November 5th: Parent Teacher Organization Meeting @1:30

-November 10th: Parent Teacher Conferences NO REGULAR SCHOOL (see communication from your child's teacher)

-November 9th: Last day to order from Integrity Fundraising

-November 13th: Explorers Transition meeting at 9:30am in the sanctuary and Live-streamed! See email for the link

-November 16th: Universal Preschool Parents meeting in the sanctuary at 9:30am. Join us for this important meeting with our UPK liaison who will show you how to register and answer all your questions (for students who will be in our 4-year-old classes in the 2027-2028 school year).

-November 17th: Kindergarten Transition meeting in the sanctuary at 9:30am. Join us for a chance to learn how to register for kindergarten and tips for helping your child transition.

-November 18th and 19th: Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Celebration Days!

-November 18/19th: ButterBraid/Integrity Fundraising Items dropped off at Little School to take home.

-November 23rd-27th: NO SCHOOL: Thanksgiving Break

-November 30th: Current Family Registration Opens up for the 2027-2028 school year online at 10:00am.

November is Native American Heritage Month, and we have a wonderful opportunity for our students! Reverend Matt Franks, will be visiting Little School to tell our preschoolers about his Native American heritage and culture. **Parents and siblings are invited to join us in the sanctuary for this presentation. Look for more information coming soon!

Here is a short bio about our presenter:

Rev. Matt serves as the Senior Pastor at Arvada United Methodist Church, beginning his ministry there in 2026.

He is originally from Miami, Oklahoma and is a proud member of the Cherokee Nation with Sac and Fox heritage, often engaging in Southern Straight Dancing, which is a prestigious Native American powwow dance style.

Pastor Matt holds a B.A. in Religion from Oklahoma City University, an M.Div. from Phillips Theological Seminary, and an MBA in Nonprofit Management for Ministry Leaders from Dakota Wesleyan University. Ordained in 2013, his ministry focuses on facilitating genuine worship, guiding individuals in their spiritual discernment, and demonstrating love for community. Outside of ministry, he enjoys time with his family, reffing youth soccer and co-hosts the “Bearded Theologians” podcast.

Universal Preschool (UPK) Informational Meeting 9:15am in the Sanctuary on November 16th

Current Families and Alumni Families: Registration Opens Monday, November 30th at 10:00am

UPK Registration Begins: December 8th

New Families: Registration Opens Monday, January 11th at 10:00am

IMPORTANT:

Families of four-year-olds ( four on or before October 1, 2027) must complete TWO separate registrations to secure a spot at Little School for the 2027–2028 school year!

Step 1: Register with Little School on November 30.
All current and alumni families must register directly with us on November 30th to receive priority consideration for the upcoming school year.

Step 2: Register through Universal Preschool (UPK) AFTER you hear from us about what option to pick with UPK.
Within two weeks of your Little School registration, you will receive an email from lsregistration@stlukeshr.com with instructions about which UPK program to select. Because Little School participates in Colorado’s Universal Preschool program, you must register with both Little School and UPK. Do not register for UPK until you have received your class placement option from us.

UPK uses an algorithm to match children with preschool programs. Following our specific instructions about which program to select is important to help ensure your child is matched with Little School.

What about new families?
If you have friends who are interested in Little School, please let them know that we will repeat this process for new families when registration opens in January. New families must wait until their designated registration dates to register with both Little School and UPK.

Please don't wait until January to register if you are a current or alumni family! Families who wait until January will be placed in a lottery with new families, and we cannot guarantee a space for their child.

We want to help every eligible family navigate this process successfully, so please watch for our registration communications and follow all instructions carefully!

Why Universal Preschool (UPK)?

Colorado’s Universal Preschool (UPK) program helps make preschool more affordable for families by providing free or reduced tuition for eligible children. Children who turn four on or before October 1st of the school year for which they are registering may qualify for UPK funding, regardless of family income.

As a participating UPK school, Little School is proud to offer this opportunity to our four-year-old families! Depending on the UPK program your child is matched with and the number of funded hours, families may receive free or significantly reduced preschool tuition.

Our four-day and five-day class options have an additional monthly fee to cover tuition costs beyond what UPK funding provides. Please keep in mind that UPK funding covers tuition only and does not cover additional expenses, including beforecare, aftercare, school supply fees, or registration fees.

We are proud to participate in this program because we believe every child deserves access to high-quality early childhood education. Research consistently demonstrates that quality preschool supports children’s growth and development while helping build a strong foundation for future success in elementary school, middle school, high school, and beyond.

At Little School, we are excited to partner with Colorado’s Universal Preschool program to help more families access the benefits of a strong preschool experience!

Ms. Alyssa!

Each year, Little School joins forces with St. Luke's UMC and surrounding churches to provide Thanksgiving boxes to those in need. This year, we have been tasked with collecting 300 cans of corn. Between now and November 11th, feel free to donate corn. You may hand these to your child's teacher. On November 12th, a group at St. Luke's will assemble the boxes to be ready in time for those in need.

We hope you all had a wonderful Halloween! It’s hard to believe November is already here, and we’re looking forward to sharing another month of sweet songs and smiles with your little ones.

As we begin preparing for our much-anticipated Christmas program, you may hear some familiar Christmas favorites, like “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” and “Go Tell it On The Mountain”.

Our chapel song this month will be “Noah Brought the Animals,” which is always a big hit!

We feel so blessed to share the joy of music with your children and to be part of their lives. Thank you for sharing your precious little ones with us! From our music team to your family, we wish you a beautiful Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter, good health, and many special moments together.

With love and blessings,

Ms. Sheri
Ms. Marisa
Ms. Siena

Welcome to November! I am Erika Foster, Nurse Consultant for St. Luke's Little School. I enjoy working with the Little Schoolers and their teachers each month. Here are some resources for keeping your family healthy and happy this month.

https://tinyurl.com/47p7cu5e

-Erika, RN.

November at St. Luke’s UMC

St. Luke’s UMC invites you and your family to join us for these upcoming events!

November 14th 9:00 AM–12:00 PM: Parents Morning Out

Parents, enjoy a few hours to yourselves while your children, ages 2 years–9 years-old, enjoy a morning of fun and fellowship at our church nursery. Cost: $30 per family. For more information, contact Sam at sam@stlukeshr.com.

November 29th: Tree Lighting Service and Children's Pageant at 5:00pm. All are welcome. Children pick out a costume and get instructions for their part at 4:30pm. The Bells Choir will also play during this service!

Sunday services at 9:30am and 11:00am. Live Stream available on our website. Sunday School available at the 9:30am service (nursery care for infants and toddlers, Sunday school for Kindergarten through High Schoolers).

The Performing Arts Academy Presents: Live Musical Theatre!

Elf Jr.
November 12th & 13th at 6:30 PM: Come enjoy the magic of live musical theatre and support these talented young performers! Tickets: tickets.paacolorado.org