The Ute Pass Press

Happy October!

This season always brings me so much joy as I watch the leaves change! Similarly, your children are changing each and every day as they grow- not only in academics, but in their care of others around them and the earth. I can never thank you enough for sharing the most important part of your lives with us- these amazing kids!

Our students have been participating in Creek Week Clean-Up efforts throughout the week this week, and will continue on Friday. It's one of the small ways we help to give back to the community, protect our local watershed, and teach service and stewardship to the students.

Thank you to everyone who was able to come to our annual Open Outdoors event! It was such an incredible display of the learning happening throughout the building, but also what makes us different and special!

We are gearing up for another successful Fun Run this year- meeting and exceeding our goal! Students have enjoyed pop up challenges including pie the principal, decorate the dean, silly string the secretaries, pajama parties, popcorn parties, and so much more! Thank you so much for your support of this event, and in our fundraising efforts. These funds go directly back to our school and students to support the amazing work in this building. After the Fun Run concludes and we have a better idea of our total funds, we will celebrate reaching our goal with a visit from Kona Ice! Additionally, we have a glow dance in planning stages to celebrate hitting our stretch goal of $20,000!

We look forward to connecting with you during our Fall Family Conferences on October 22nd and 23rd. Similar to the last three years, we will have a Family Gathering space with crafts and snacks. Please see below for information on signing up for conferences.

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

October

1- Fun Run, Crazy Socks Day

2- Class Colors Day, Creek Week Clean Up Day for Pre-K, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th

5- All donations for Fun Run due

6- Fun Run Awards Assembly, PAC & SAC 3:00 pm in music room

7- 6th grade to Rocky Mountain National Park (leaving at regular time), Late Start for K-5th, 5th Hiking 12-2 pm

8- 6th grade at RMNP

9- 6th grade returns from RMNP, 4th grade to Pikes Peak

10- Manitou 5K

12- Board of Education Meeting 5:30

14- Picture Retakes, Bike/Walk to School Day!

15- Staff Work Day- No students

16- Fall Break, No School

20- 6th to Pikes Peak Reservoir

21- Unity Day- Wear orange!

22- Noon Dismissal, Family Conferences 12:40-7 pm

23- No Students, Family Conferences 8-12:00

27- Pre-K to Bear Creek Nature Center

30- Costume Parade (Families Invited) 2-2:30 pm

Fall Family Conferences are a great time to collaborate with your child's teacher and celebrate their growth! Several of our teachers do student-led conferences, so your children are very encouraged to attend. We will have a Family Gathering Space in the music room for you to visit before or after your conference. Feel free to check out the Lost & Found, stop by our Appreciation Station to drop a quick note for a staff member, and enjoy caramel apples in the music room! To sign up for conferences, please either scan the QR code or visit the link here!

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. We are all finished with vision and hearing screening.

Please note that all health-related forms must be renewed annually after July 1, including health care plans, medication authorizations, and vaccine exemptions. New physician orders and parent permissions are required each school year.

Health forms are available on the MSSD website under Our District → Health, or by visiting: https://www.mssd14.org/welcome/health

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.

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!

Student safety is paramount to everything we do at UPES. Per out Family/Student Handbook (linked above), 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!

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.

We are excited to welcome Savanna Anstedt back as our Preschool teacher at UPES! When UPES is on a late start Wednesday, students in preschool will follow their typical schedule (not the late start schedule). Preschool students do not attend school on Fridays.

Please reach out to Ms. Savanna at sanstedt@mssd14.org with any questions.

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 at 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/