Semper Alpaca Weekly Herd Word
August 31st
Dear Semper Families,
This week has been fantastic! I enjoyed meeting many of you at Back to School night! We talked about how we can partner with each other to improve student outcomes. Teachers have created work for students to practice at home. If you have questions about practicing at home, please reach out!
Students have been busy earning tickets for being Safe, Productive and Respectful. The prize wagon will be open next week! Blue pod on Tuesday, Green pod on Wednesday, and Purple pod on Thursday.
Remind your student(s) that they need to bring any tickets they have on their day!
Lastly, in honor of the Denver Broncos’ first regular season home game, next Thursday will be Broncos Day! Wear your orange and blue to support the home team!
As always, reach out with any questions or concerns.
In Partnership,
Marissa Duren
Mark your calendars! On Friday, September 5th, and Monday, September 8th, we'll be holding our student assessment days. Students will only attend school on one of these two days at their scheduled appointment time, so there will be no regular classes.
Your child's teacher will be sending an email with a Sign-Up Genius link for you to schedule an assessment time. These assessments are an important part of getting the school year started right, and we look forward to seeing you there!
📣 Families! Here's What's Happening at Semper
- September 1 - NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)
- September 5 - Assessment Day (School by appointment only)
- September 8 - Assessment Day (School by appointment only)
- September 10 - PTA Meeting (5:30pm)
- September 18 - Alpaca Fun Run
- September 19 - NO SCHOOL (Teacher Work Day)
STUDENT FEES
Your Family Could Save Money on School Costs!
Student fees are starting to appear on your accounts in Infinite Campus, and we want to make sure you know about a simple way to get help.
We are strongly encouraging all families to fill out the Student Benefits Application. It's a quick process that can lead to significant savings for you and crucial funding for our school.
Why should you apply?
Filling out the application can give your child(ren) benefits that cover the cost of:
School fees
Field trips
School meals (This is especially important to complete, as the free meal program may change after the November election.)
Many families who think they won't qualify are surprised to find out that they do!
This application also directly helps our school. When families complete the form, Semper Elementary receives additional funding that supports our students.
Your participation makes a real difference for both your family and our school community.
Thank you for your time and support!
Semper's 3rd Annual Alpaca Run:
Join us for Semper's biggest fundraiser of the year!
Help us raise $10,000 so Semper can purchase Mystery Science curriculum, resume communicating with families using the TalkingPoints family engagement platform, add two additional cameras to the Semper hallways, and fund any other projects you, the Semper community, vote onto this year's schedule at the Semper PTA's first monthly meeting on September 10, 2025 at 5:30 pm.
Over the next couple of weeks your student(s) will be encouraged to gather donations, participate in classroom activities and school wide spirit days. Our fundraising event will conclude on September 18, 2025, when all classes will participate during the school day in the Alpaca Run obstacle course.
Because of our dedicated PTA, administration, and volunteers who have created and organized this fundraising event, 100% of the donations collected by students will go directly back to our school.
In just 3 easy steps you can help us reach our $10,000 goal:
Register your student(s) on the Givebacks website: www.givebacks.com/causes/semperpta/campaigns/alpacarun2025/participant-center/register
Donate using the “Donate” button through the campaign link or by check made payable to: Semper Elementary PTA
Share your student(s) personalized link with your family and friends.
No amount is too small! Every little bit helps, and together we can meet our goal! Thank you for your support of our Semper community! Go Alpacas!!!
*Please consider leaving a "tip" during check out to cover the credit card processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30/transaction (3.5% + $0.50/transaction for Amex). Thank You!
Please return check donations (no cash will be accepted) to your student’s teacher by: Sept. 18th. Place donations in a sealed envelope with students' name, grade and teacher. Checks payable to: Semper Elementary PTA
If you have any questions, please email us at SemperPTA@gmail.com.
Volunteers Needed Day of Fun Run
We need your help!
We will need some parent volunteers on the day of our big event on Sept. 18th. Some tasks may include passing out water, marking laps, or directing kiddos on the course. Please sign up for an hour or two if you are able. Thank you for your support!
Sign Up Here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F49ABAE2AABFC1-58231270-alpaca
We understand that things come up, and we want to partner with you to make sure your student doesn't fall behind. Be sure to let us know if you student must be absent, tardy, or released early. Here are a few key things to know about our attendance policy:
Excused Absences
Certain absences are considered excused. These include:
Illness, injury, or physical, mental, or emotional disability
- Funerals
Legal obligations
Medical procedures
Religious observances
When a military guardian is on leave, called to duty, or has recently returned from deployment
Any other reason approved by the school administration
Pre-Arranged Absences
For absences that aren't covered by the reasons above, like a family vacation, you'll need to submit a pre-arranged absence form. This form must be submitted at least three days before the absence is scheduled. The school principal will review and decide whether to approve it. To be approved, the student must be in good academic standing, have no unexcused absences, and have four or fewer excused absences in a semester (or seven or fewer in a school year).
What You Need to Do
As a parent or guardian, your partnership is vital for your child's success. If your child is going to be absent, please:
Contact the school before 7:45 a.m. at
303-982-6480 or email carolyn.johnson@jeffco.k12.co.us to report the absence. You can also use the Absence Request Processing in Campus.
- Make sure your child completes any make-up work.
Communicate with your child about the importance of attendance. Remember that any absence, for any reason, can affect their academic achievement.
