Grizzly Monthly News

Dear Grizzly Families,

Happy New Year and welcome back! We hope you had a restful winter break and are feeling refreshed for a strong start to the new year. At Grant Ranch, we are excited to continue building momentum as we enter Semester 2 with a focus on student success, strong instruction, and a welcoming school community.

We are proud to share that we hosted our first Grizzly Winter Sports Camp for students in grades 3–8, offering both basketball and volleyball, and it was a huge success. Students had an amazing experience learning new skills, building confidence, and having fun together. A huge shout out and thank you to our incredible staff for organizing, coaching, and creating such a positive camp experience for our Grizzlies.

We are also excited to highlight a special opportunity for our students as Grant Ranch will proudly represent our community at the National Western Stock Show Parade. In addition, students will have an opportunity to attend the Stock Show and experience the tradition, culture, and learning that comes from this historic Colorado event. We are grateful for experiences that connect our students to the community beyond the classroom.

As we begin the semester, we want to remind families that Open Enrollment is currently open. Please register your students as soon as possible and help us spread the word to family, neighbors, and friends. Enrollment helps us plan staffing and resources to strengthen our programs for next year.

We also want to share that the BESS Mid-Year Window is open. We appreciate families completing the BESS Parent Screener, as it provides valuable insight to support student social-emotional and behavioral needs. In addition, we will have Family Support in the Lobby with computers available during school hours for anyone needing help with SchoolChoice and/or BESS completion.

Finally, we are proud to continue supporting our community through the Grizzly Food Pantry, which is open to help families with essential items. Please reach out to the main office if your family needs support, Grant Ranch is here for you.

Thank you for your continued partnership. We are proud to be Grizzly Strong.

Attendance Matters!

• Goal: 93% attendance

• Every day counts — lessons build on each other and missing class can set students back.

• With your support, we can keep our Grizzlies learning and growing!

With Gratitude,

Dr. CG and Mrs. Urbanowski

School Leaders at Grant Ranch ECE-8 School

Every day counts — lessons build on each other and missing class can set students back.

With your support, we can keep our Grizzlies learning and growing.

• No School: Monday, January 19

• School Resumes: Tuesday, January 20

• Saturday School Begins: Saturday, January 24 (9:00 AM–12:00 PM)

We are excited to begin our next cycle of Saturday School on January 24, 2026. Students will receive targeted academic support in math and literacy while also participating in fun enrichment activities.

Enrichment Activities Include:

• LEGOs / STEAM challenges

• Esports

• Basketball, Volleyball, and Flag Football

Student Incentives & Experiences

• Two field trips this semester for students who attend at least 3 sessions

• Attendance raffle daily and monthly (students can win great prizes)

• Snacks and special treats, including ice cream

• Register using link: https://forms.gle/LSpSSBYHzWGG4nep8

We successfully hosted our first Grizzly Winter Sports Camp for students in grades 3–8, offering basketball and volleyball skill-building sessions. Students strengthened skills, built teamwork, and had a great time.

Huge shout out to our Grant Ranch staff for hosting and supporting our Grizzlies.

Grant Ranch Grizzlies were proud to participate in the National Western Stock Show Parade, representing our school with Grizzly pride. Students were also able to attend the Stock Show and experience the tradition, culture, and learning that comes from this historic Colorado event.

Thank you to all staff and families who supported this experience for our students.

Families are invited and encouraged to complete the Universal Social Emotional and Behavioral Screening (BESS). This short form provides valuable input on your student’s behavioral and emotional well-being.

A form can be completed in less than 5 minutes.

Directions

1. Scan the QR code or follow the link: tinyurl.com/bessparent

2. Enter your student’s DPS ID and date of birth

3. Complete the screening form

Learn more: tinyurl.com/bessoverview

We’re here to help! We will have a table set up in the main lobby with computers available for families who would like support completing the SchoolChoice application and/or the BESS Parent Screener.

The table will be available during school hours: 8:50 a.m.–3:50 p.m.
Please stop by the main office if you need assistance—we’re happy to support you through the process.

Open Enrollment is now open! Please register your student(s) and help spread the word to family, neighbors, and friends. Enrollment helps us plan staffing and resources for the coming year.

Visit:

• https://schoolchoice.dpsk12.org

• https://grantranch.dpsk12.org/

Our Grizzly Food Pantry is open and here to support all Grizzly families with essential items.

What’s Available

• Non-perishable food

• Fresh items (as available)

• Kids’ jackets (various sizes)

• Shoes (limited supply)

Hours of Operation
Monday–Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Please stop by the office for access.

Location: The Grizzly Honey Pot Room
Contact: Ms. Corina Martinez

Donations welcome: gently used jackets, new shoes, and non-perishable food items.

A huge thank you to the National Western Stock Show for collaborating with Grant Ranch and giving our Grizzlies the opportunity to participate in the parade and attend the Stock Show for free. We appreciate your partnership and support of our students.

🏀 Middle School Sports – Basketball Season (Boys & Girls)

Grant Ranch Middle School students can participate in DPS Athletics. All student-athletes must have required paperwork completed, including a pre-participation physical and Arbiter Registration.

Early Spring Season

February 22, 2026 – April 13, 2026
Boys & Girls Basketball

Registration Deadline: January 30, 2026

To register your student-athlete, complete the following:

1. Register online using the Grant Ranch ECE-8 registration link

2. Complete a sports physical (must state student is cleared for sports)

   • You may use your pediatrician or a clinic such as:
     Ultimate Health Medical Clinic
     7735 W Long Dr, Unit 12
     303-904-0331
     (Little Clinic and DPS school-based clinics also accepted)

   • Upload the physical during registration OR give Ms. Fox a hard copy before tryouts/practice.

3. Pay the sport fee

   • $36 standard

   • $26 free/reduced lunch eligible

Important Note: If you need registration assistance with the fee, please reach out to the office for scholarships that are available.

Please register ASAP so we can confirm we have enough athletes to host teams.
If you cannot get a physical before January 30, please still register and skip the physical section, then turn in a hard copy before practices begin.

Thank you,
Ms. Fox
Athletic Director, Grant Ranch ECE-8

From now through January 30, students will participate in the Midyear DIBELS assessment, a Denver Public Schools literacy assessment used to monitor reading progress.

DIBELS helps teachers understand student growth in key reading skills such as:

• letter sounds and decoding

• reading accuracy and fluency

• comprehension and grade-level readiness

This midyear assessment helps us:

• identify student strengths and areas of need

• plan small-group instruction and interventions

• ensure students are on track for strong reading outcomes

How Families Can Support at Home

• Encourage your child to read every day (10–20 minutes)

• Practice sight words and reading aloud

• Ask questions like:

  • “What happened first?”

  • “Who were the characters?”

  • “What was the problem and solution?”

If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher for additional details.

Thank you to all Grizzly families who participated in our Collaborative School Committee (CSC) election voting. We appreciate your engagement and partnership in helping strengthen shared decision-making at Grant Ranch.

We are excited to announce our CSC Parent Leaders for the 2025–2026 school year:

• CSC Chair: Amy Flores White

• Parent Representatives: Selena Silva and Anthony Vigil

We look forward to working together to support the implementation of our Unified Improvement Plan (UIP) and strengthen systems that support student success.

Our Grizzlies are continuing to grow through hands-on learning opportunities, including our Bike Club and Bike Repair Club. Students are learning practical life skills such as bike safety, basic maintenance, repairs, and teamwork—while building confidence and responsibility.

This club supports student leadership, problem-solving, and healthy outdoor activity. We are proud of our students for taking ownership of this exciting program and learning skills they can use for life.

Bike Club Donations Needed

To support this program, we are accepting donations of:

• Gently used bikes (student sizes preferred)

• Bike helmets

• Bike locks

• Bike repair tools/stands

• Bike tubes / tire pumps

• Reflectors / safety gear

If you are able to donate, please drop items off at the Main Office. Thank you for supporting hands-on learning and helping our students build real-world skills.

Safety is part of our 3 R’s (Respectful, Responsible, Ready to Learn), and it remains our top priority.

• Arrival & Dismissal: Our front entrance is a Kiss-and-Go system. Please do not park in the lane outside the entrance. If you need to exit your vehicle, park in the lot or along the street. This helps us keep everyone safe and traffic moving smoothly.