Shaw Weekly news!!

Drop-Off and Pick-Up

Getting kids to school on time is no easy task. As a parent myself, I know the morning (and afternoon) rush can feel like a battle, getting everyone ready, dropping them off, picking them up, all while managing work and everything else life throws our way.

That’s why I want to thank you for all you do and also remind everyone how important it is that we keep drop-off and pick-up safe for our students. We have many moving parts: cars merging, students entering and exiting vehicles, and families trying to get to work on time. Sometimes cars don’t signal, a driver makes a quick U-turn, or someone goes against the flow of traffic. These actions, even small ones, can cause confusion, delays, and unsafe conditions for our students.

At Shaw Heights, we put staff outside each day to help manage safety, but we need your partnership. Please:

Use blinkers to indicate your direction.
Stay patient, even if someone else isn’t following the rules.
Avoid leaving the lot going the wrong direction to skip traffic.
Always drive slowly and watch carefully for students.

Thank you for working with us to make drop-off and pick-up safe, smooth, and stress-free for every Falcon family.

School Funding is based on Attendance

October Count is almost here, and it’s one of the most important times of the year for our school. The official count window is September 24 – October 8.

Here’s why it matters:

Funding depends on attendance. Public schools in Colorado, including Shaw Heights, receive money based on how many students are enrolled and actually attending during this window.
It affects everything we do. Nearly 70% of our funding comes from this count. That money pays for teachers, electives, technology, books, after-school programs, and even the support staff who help our students every day.
Every student counts. If a student isn’t present during October Count, the state doesn’t include them in our numbers, and that means less money for our school.

To encourage strong attendance, Shaw Heights will be holding daily drawings and prizes during the count window. By simply showing up on time, your student will be entered to win gift cards, AirPods, and even a grand prize TV.

We are so proud of our Shaw Heights Falcons this year. With your support, we can make sure every student is present, learning, and helping our school secure the funding it needs to give them the best possible education.

Thank you for making attendance a priority, it makes a real difference for our students and our entire school community.

Mrs. Jeter-Tonjes loves doing lots of fun things! She enjoys running to stay active and healthy. She also likes watching true crime shows because she finds the stories really scary and captivating all at the same time! Reading is one of her favorite ways to relax and learn new things. She is even in a Shaw Heights Book Club with other teachers! More than anything, she loves spending time with her kiddos and watching them play in their marching bands! On a fun note, she has been trying out a cool new hobby—making colorful pictures with tiny diamonds that her students showed her. It’s a fun and sparkly way to be creative!

This week in 6th grade, we started a super fun project about geography using our creativity and design skills! The students get to pretend they are the designer of a brand-new amusement park. Their job is to make a map that helps visitors find all the cool rides, yummy food places, and fun spots to explore. They know a good map should be easy to read, colorful, have a key or legend to explain the symbols, and use directional lines called longitude and latitude. This project will help them complete their Geographic Tools learning target! They’ve been having a great time planning and drawing, and everyone is really excited to see the finished maps!

We are so excited to kick off Spirit Week at Shaw Heights Middle School from September 15–19! 🎉 This is a fun way for our students and staff to show their school spirit, creativity, and community pride. Each day has a special theme, from cozy pajamas and Disney magic to fancy outfits, fall colors, and our grand finale—Teacher/Student Dress Up Day! We can’t wait to see all the amazing outfits and the positive energy fill our halls. Let’s make this Spirit Week one to remember!

We’ve been back in school for couple of weeks, and we’re so glad to see your students learning and growing! 💙 To keep everyone safe and healthy, it’s important that all students are up to date on their vaccines.

If your child still needs a vaccine, no worries — there’s still time! Please make an appointment soon and send the updated record to the office. Taking care of this now helps make sure your child can stay focused on learning without any interruptions. Thank you for partnering with us to keep our school community strong!

Our goal is to give students the best chance to learn without distractions. Phones are a big part of life, but in the classroom, we keep it phone-free so students can stay focused, connect with their teachers, and do their best work. Students are expected to keep their phones in their lockers at all times during school hours. Thank you for helping us reinforce this expectation at home!

Lockers aren’t just for backpacks and jackets — they’re also the safest place for Chromebooks! 💻 Please remind your child to keep their Chromebook in their locker during lunch.This helps prevent damage, loss, or accidents in the cafeteria and keeps devices safe for learning.

Getting around 8 hours of sleep each night is super important for students. Sleep helps the brain process what was learned during the day, improves focus and memory, and gives the body energy to stay healthy and strong. When students get enough rest, they’re more alert in class, better at problem-solving, and in a happier mood overall. Making sleep a priority sets the stage for success both in school and in life!