Explore's Frequent Flyer

Happy Sunday, Explore Families, and GO BRONCOS!! 🏈💙

Welcome to a new week! We hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween weekend. A huge thank-you to our students, families, and staff who joined in our Halloween Parade and festivities. We loved seeing all the creative costumes, smiles, and excitement! What a fun way to celebrate our Explore community!

As we head into November, we have another exciting week ahead! Be sure to check out this week's newsletter for important updates and information, including:

• 🏕️ 6th Grade Cal-Wood Trip

• 🦷 Chopper Topper Dental Program

• 🐔 Explore Chik-fil-A Spirit Night

• 📸 Picture Retakes

• 🪺 NEST Community Group Meeting

We are so grateful for our wonderful students, families, and staff. Thank you for your continued partnership, support, and involvement. Together, we make Explore such a special place to learn, grow, and belong!

A friendly reminder: Monday the 2nd is Preschool Professional Development (No Preschool Classes) and Friday, November 6, is Teacher Trade Day, so there will be NO SCHOOL for all students. We hope everyone enjoys the extended weekend!

Have a wonderful week, Explore families! Thank you for being part of our community!

With gratitude,

Mr. Klaver

Principal, Explore PK-8

• NO SCHOOL ALL STUDENTS ( Trade Day )

See the Explore Community Calendar! --> Link Here

Thank you to all for joining in our Halloween Parade and Festivities. We work hard and play hard!

Chopper Topper Dental Preventive Program / Programa de Prevención Dental Chopper Topper

English: The Chopper Topper Dental Preventive Program is visiting our school on November 2nd! They provide free dental screenings, fluoride varnish, sealants, and preventive care for PreK–3rd grade students.

• No money is collected from families or the school.

• Your child can participate even if they already have a dentist.

• Action Needed: Please sign and return the consent form sent home with your child so they can participate!

Español: ¡El Programa de Prevención Dental Chopper Topper visitará nuestra escuela el 2 de noviembre! Ofrecen exámenes dentales, barniz de flúor, selladores y atención preventiva gratuita para estudiantes de PreK a 3.º de primaria.

• No se recoge dinero de las familias ni de la escuela.

• ¡Su hijo/a puede participar incluso si ya tiene un dentista!

• ¿Qué debe hacer? Por favor, firme y devuelva el formulario de consentimiento que se envió a casa con su hijo/a para que pueda participar.

Huge congratulations to our Third Graders, who brought in the MOST donations for our Explore Run for Funds! 🏆🍕

Because of their incredible effort (and your amazing support!), third grade has officially earned a PIZZA PARTY!

A massive thank you to all our students, families, and community members who donated and cheered us on during the Run for Funds. Your generosity and partnership mean the world to us and make Explore such a special place to learn and grow.

We’ve got T-shirts on order and more prizes to dish out in the coming weeks!

@ExploreEagles

#ExploreRunForFunds

#ThirdGradeVictory

#PizzaParty #SchoolCommunity

#ExploreProud

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are excited to launch our Volunteer Reading Listeners Program, and we need your help to make it a success!

Reading aloud to a supportive, patient adult is one of the most effective ways for children to build reading fluency, vocabulary, and confidence. We are looking for parent and community volunteers who can dedicate just 1 hour a week to sit with our young students and listen to them read.

• Time Commitment: Flexible (1 hour/week or as your schedule allows)

  
  

• Location: On-campus during school hours

  
  

• Requirements: No prior teaching experience necessary! A brief orientation and background check will be provided.

  
  

If you are interested in spending a little time making a big impact, please complete our quick interest form using the link below:

👉 [https://forms.gle/2TbHr9yhBtdBPgMP8]

Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping us nurture a lifelong love of reading in our students!

Consistent attendance is key to your student's academic and social success. Mapleton Public Schools requires daily attendance for all enrolled students (Preschool–12th Grade).

To report an absence, please call our attendance office:

Excused Absences

Absences are excused only when approved by school administration. Examples include:

• Illness or medical injury

• Family emergencies or death in the family

• Medical or dental appointments (that cannot be scheduled outside school hours)

• Religious observances

• Court appearances

• School-sponsored events

  
  

Note: Students with excused absences are allowed to make up missed work for full credit within reasonable deadlines.

Unexcused Absences

Absences are unexcused if they lack administrative approval or valid cause. These include:

• Truancy / skipping school

• Absences without parent/guardian notification to the school

• Vacations or personal travel

• Any absence that does not meet excused criteria, regardless of parental permission

  
  

Important Terms & Policies

• Partial-Day Absences & Tardies: Arriving late or leaving early can be recorded as a partial-day absence, which counts toward total missed time.

• Truancy Warning: Accumulating 4 unexcused absences in a month or 10 unexcused absences in a school year triggers formal truancy protocols, which include mandatory parent meetings and attendance plans.

• Chronic Absenteeism: Defined as missing 10% or more of the school year (roughly 2 days per month or 17 total days) for ANY reason—excused or unexcused. Students identified as chronically absent may be required to repeat a course or grade level to earn credit.

  
  

How Families Can Help

• Communicate Early: Always call Ms. Tessa at 303-853-1175 when your student will miss school.

• Schedule Smart: Whenever possible, arrange medical appointments and family trips outside of school hours.

• Reach Out for Support: If your family faces barriers to getting your student to school on time, please contact our office—we are here to support you!

https://www.mapleton.us/about-us/board-of-education/board-policies-regulations-and-exhibits

Breakfast: 7:25–7:40 AM

K–1 Lunch: 10:15–10:50 AM
Grades 2–3 Lunch: 10:45–11:20 AM
Grades 6–8 Lunch: 11:20–11:55 AM
Grades 4-5 Lunch: 12:05–12:40 PM

Families can view daily breakfast and lunch menus through MealViewer. MealViewer allows families to check meal choices, nutrition information, and allergen information.

Meal Menu:
https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/MapletonExploreElementary

For the safety of all students, please follow our arrival and dismissal procedures.

🌅 Morning Drop-Off

• Pre-K & Kindergarten families: You may park in the parking lot for morning drop-off.

• Grades 1–8: Please use the first two drive-up lanes for drop-off.

• Please remain in your vehicle during drive-up drop-off.

• For safety reasons, do not release students before the designated crosswalk. Please wait until you reach the designated drop-off area.

• Please follow staff directions and keep traffic moving.

• Do not park in the bus lane. The bus lane must remain clear for school buses at all times.

🌇 End-of-Day Pick-Up

Please use the designated areas based on your student's grade:

• Pre-K & Kindergarten: Families may park in the parking lot for pick-up.

• 1st–4th Grade: Use the first two pick-up lanes.

• 5th–8th Grade: Use the last two lanes at the back of the parking lot.

Please remain in your vehicle while using the pick-up lanes, follow staff directions, and help keep traffic moving safely.

Explore aspires to be a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for all students and families. Please take a moment to briefly read through the Explore and Mapleton Policies which support that goal.

Explore Family Handbook

Cell Phone Policy

This year the Colorado State Legislature passed a law requiring all schools to adopt a Cell Phone Policy which keeps aims to limit student distraction from learning by removing call phones from the learning environment. Every school was given the autonomy to create a school specific policy.

To help keep our students healthy and safe, please make sure all required health documents are up to date before the school year begins.

If your student requires medication to be kept at school or has a health concern or allergy that requires support during the school day, please contact our Health Assistant, Ms. Romero, to complete the necessary paperwork and make arrangements.

Please also make sure your student’s immunization records are submitted to the school health office.

Pre-K Families:
All Pre-K students must have a current physical exam and updated immunization records on file before starting school.

📞 Health Office Phone: 303-853-1173

Thank you for partnering with us to help keep our students healthy, safe, and ready to learn! 💙

We can't wait to see everyone and kick off another amazing year at Explore PK-8! 📚🍎🎉

Main Office: 303-853-1170

Attendance Line: 303-853-1175

Please call the Attendance Line to report a student's absence.

Explore School Hours: 7:45 AM – 2:50 PM

Doors Open and Breakfast is available for all Students at 7:25am