Welcome to The Met!

We know that families have a choice for their child's education. We want to thank you for taking the time to learn about our school, complete our application process and become an active part of our school community. There is so much to share about our amazing school and we also want to be there to support your transition. Whether you are coming from another school, enrolling a sibling of a current student or your child is attending school for the first time, we have a team ready to support you! Please take a minute to take a virtual tour of our beautiful school here: http://wpstours.org/met/.

We are here to support you with answers to your questions and look forward to meeting your child in person in the fall. Please take a minute to like our Facebook page to see all of the happenings for the remainder of our school year as well!

https://www.facebook.com/MetropolitanArtsAcademy

1. Community and Support:

- PK-8 Community of Learners: Our school is a tight-knit community where students of all ages learn and grow together, fostering a sense of camaraderie and support.

- A Safe and Sustainable Learning Environment: Metropolitan Arts Academy PK-8 provides a safe learning environment that is sustainable from PK-8, ensuring continuity and stability in education. Here, students not only thrive academically but also develop a strong sense of belonging, and families feel welcomed and included.

- Amazing Customer Service: We pride ourselves on offering amazing customer service to support families with all things related to the school. Whether it's addressing concerns, providing information, or facilitating engagement, our staff is dedicated to ensuring that families feel supported and valued throughout their journey with us.

- Diverse and Caring Staff: Our staff members are not just educators; they're mentors, guides, and advocates. With diverse backgrounds and expertise, they meet students where they are and embrace their unique learning styles, needs, and interests, creating a nurturing and inclusive learning environment.

- Comprehensive Arts Curriculum: Our comprehensive arts curriculum integrates various forms of art, including visual arts, music, theater, dance, and more. Students have ample opportunities to explore and develop their artistic talents both in specials classes, humanities, and in their core studies.

- House Structure: Through our unique house structure, students participate in monthly activities that promote teamwork, leadership, and a sense of belonging.

2. Holistic Learning Approach:

- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Every week, students engage in dedicated social-emotional learning sessions in the classroom. These supportive connection circles help build positive learning communities, healthy friendships, and strong work ethics, all tailored to the appropriate developmental level of each student.

- Peer Mentoring: Students have the opportunity to mentor and be mentored by their peers, fostering leadership skills and building meaningful relationships.

- Restorative Practices: We believe in resolving conflicts and building community through restorative practices, creating a positive and supportive school culture.

- Innovative, Personalized Teaching Methods: Our innovative teaching methods promote creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills within a competency-based learning model. Students are empowered to progress at their own pace and are supported in reaching their individual learning goals. We support all students' needs through IEPs, 504’s, and Gifted and Talented learning plans.

3. Diverse Performance and Learning Opportunities:

- Arts Galore: From dance and musical theatre to instrumental music, visual art, and choir, our students have access to a wide range of performance and learning opportunities.

- Age-Appropriate Performance Opportunities: Students from Kindergarten to 8th grade have the chance to participate in age-appropriate performance opportunities in the arts, allowing them to showcase their talents and creativity at every stage of their development.

- School-wide, Audition-Based Professional Musical: Our school proudly presents a school-wide, audition-based professional musical each year, providing students with a chance to experience the excitement and discipline of a professional production while showcasing their talents to the community.

- High-Quality Academics:Our rigorous academic curriculum includes personalized learning, arts integration, and project-based learning, ensuring that every student reaches their full potential.

4. Engagement and Leadership:

- Parent Volunteer Opportunities: Parents are encouraged to get involved both in and out of the classroom, strengthening the bond between home and school. We have a tiered incentive program for our parent volunteers and recognize them annually in conjunction with our district.

- Student Leadership Opportunities: From peer mentoring to leading house activities, student chaperones for field trips, and audition opportunities for lead roles in school productions, our students have ample opportunities to develop leadership skills and make a positive impact.

- Collaborative Learning Environment: We offer a collaborative learning environment where students work together on projects, performances, and exhibitions. We have a housing structure where students of all levels meet monthly for activities that foster a culture of respect and care. As a restorative justice-centered school, students learn advocacy, problem-solving, teamwork, and communication. We also have a peer mentoring program.

- Art Facilities: The school is equipped with arts focused facilities, including newly renovated classrooms, art space, stage & performance space, dance studio, piano lab, music rooms, and one-to-one technology for every student PK-8.

5. Enriching Afterschool Programming:

- Student Interest Clubs: After the bell rings, students can explore their passions through clubs like Lego Club, Jewelry Making, Kindness Club, Board Game Club, STEAM Club, Book Club, and more.

At Metropolitan Arts Academy PK-8, we're committed to providing a well-rounded education that inspires creativity, fosters collaboration, and empowers students to become confident, compassionate leaders in their community. Join us on this extraordinary journey of learning and discovery!

To help each student foster personal and academic potential through the lenses of inquiry, creative expression, service to others, and a commitment to excellence.

The Metropolitan Arts Academy is a visual and performing arts public innovation school that fosters a safe and rigorous learner-centered environment resulting in academic achievement and excellence. We will realize our vision by…

• Offering students the opportunity to utilize critical thinking skills through project-based instruction and artistic expression in context to the visual and performing arts.
• Partnering with local and professional artists, organizations, community members, and arts advocacy groups to provide students with authentic learning experiences.
• Balancing academic rigor with a focus on character education and restorative practices in service to our community.
• Encouraging an environment of creativity, agency, collaboration, and community
• Emphasizing a drive for continuous personal and collective improvement.
• Delivering personalized learning to every learner through competency-based education.

To ensure your child is fully enrolled at our school, please complete the WPS application and submit the following documents:

• Your child’s birth certificate
• Proof of address
• Vaccination records

You can upload these documents or drop them off at the office.

https://met.wps.org/enroll/registration

For Pre-K (PK) students, in addition to the above, please also complete the UPK application and submit the student’s physical.

https://upk.colorado.gov/

The first day of school for Kinder through Level 8 is Wednesday, August 13th.

The first day of school for Preschool is Thursday, August 14th.

We’re excited to welcome our students back for a great school year!

• K-8 Students: Classes start at 8:10 a.m.
• Pre-K Students: Clasess start at 8:30 a.m.

Please do not arrive prior to 8:05 a.m., as there will be no supervision before that time.

Important

• Mondays: Early dismissal for all students.

• Pre-K exits at 1:00 p.m.
• K-8 students have a staggered release starting at 1:30 p.m.

Students are not to remain on school grounds after 2:00 p.m. unless involved in extracurricular activities or supervised by an adult.

• Tuesday through Friday:

• Pre-K exits at 3:00 p.m.
• K-8 students have a staggered release starting at 3:30 p.m.

Students are not to remain on school grounds after 4:00 p.m. unless involved in extracurricular activities or supervised by an adult.

• Monday: 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
• Tuesday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Students enrolled in Metropolitan Arts Academy are required to attend classes, unless excused for good reason in accordance with Colorado Compulsory Attendance Law and approved by the principal. Regular school attendance and being on time is essential for the student to attain the maximum benefit from school. Metropolitan Arts Academy allows 8 absences per school year. Families are required to sign an attendance contract agreeing to a maximum of 8 days of absence per year. Parents make notification of an absence to the school but only the school Principal or his/her designee may excuse the absence. All excusals are determined by the school Principal after notification by parents is given to the school.

Tops:

Black polos without logos, except for the school logo or a yellow shirt from our apparel store. Middle school students may wear a gray polo in place of the black polo.

Bottoms:

Black pants, shorts, or skirts are permitted, but they must not have any logos, lines, or designs.

Sweaters:

• K-5 Students: All K-5 students should wear a yellow sweater from our apparel store or an all-black sweater. These sweaters must be free of any designs or logos, except for the school logo.

• Middle School Students: Middle school students should wear a yellow sweater from our apparel store, an all - black or gray sweater, also without any designs or logos other than the school logo.

Please Note: Ripped jeans and slippers are not allowed, even on dress-down days.

Uniforms will be strictly enforced Monday through Friday. Black is an industry standard and will give students the ability to use them during performances and while working onstage and backstage. We encourage you to show your personality whenever possible. Shoes and accessories are the choice of the student.

Click on the link below to shop at our apparel store. A portion of the proceeds will benefit our school. Thank you for your support!

https://www.geminipromos.com/ws/ws.dll/Showroom?DistID=22940&StoreID=235061

PK students are not required to wear uniforms, but must still follow dress code policy.

We have children in our school identified with life-threatening allergies to peanuts and nuts. We ask for your cooperation in ensuring that food items brought by your child be nut-free. In the case of severe allergy, even inhaling peanut fumes or trace residue left on a piece of playground equipment, a door handle or any other surface and subsequently touched can trigger an anaphylactic shock in a severely allergic person. If your child has ingested nut products prior to school, please ensure that you he/she has washed his/her hands and face prior to arriving at school.

Thank you for your help in ensuring the health and safety of all our students!

Zuni St.:

Please do not park on the corner of Sherrelwood and Zuni St. It holds back the bus driver from getting into the bus lane and it is very close to the cross walk. If you park on the west side of Zuni St, please walk your student to the crosswalk. Our amazing Ms. Veronica will safely walk your student across the street.

Sherrelwood Dr.:

Please pull to the sides to drop off your students. The students must walk to the crosswalk. Our wonderful Ms. Kyah will safely help your students cross the street. Also, please do not block our neighbors driveways.

Bus Lane:

Parents, please do not park/drop off/pick up students inside the bus lane.

Parking Lot:

Please do not park behind parked cars in the parking lot. In case of an emergency, we must have clear access. This will also clear the parking lot for parents that are coming into the parking lot. As a courtesy, please do not lean on parked cars.

Thank you for helping us keep our students and neighbors happy and safe!

All families with students attending The Metropolitan Arts Academy are expected to pay the annual Student Fees. Your support with this process is very important, as these fees help fund our school and directly benefit all students during the current school year.

Payments can be made:

• In person or by phone: Tuesday–Thursday, 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

• Online: Anytime through the Parent Portal

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.

At Metropolitan Arts Academy, we value celebrating our students' birthdays and creating memorable experiences while maintaining a focused learning environment. To achieve this balance, we have established a monthly Birthday Bash to honor all students with birthdays in that month. Here are the guidelines and expectations for our Birthday Bash celebrations:

Parent Volunteers:

Parent volunteers are welcome to join the Birthday Bash if they have been pre-arranged with the classroom teacher.

Volunteers must have an active and approved background check form on file. We encourage parents to complete this well in advance to ensure they are eligible to participate in volunteer opportunities.

Snack Food Items Only:

Only snack food items are permitted for the celebration. Full meals, including pizza, will not be allowed.

We recommend considering healthy snack options.

Remember that our school is peanut-free. Please ensure that all snacks comply with this policy.

Delivery of Snack Items:

All snack items should be delivered to the main office by 10:00 a.m. on the day of the Birthday Bash.

This helps us manage and organize the celebration efficiently.

Packaging Requirements:

All food items must be in sealed store packaging with the ingredients and expiration date visible.

This ensures the safety and well-being of all our students.

Gifts and Decorations:

Please do not send large balloons, flowers, or other gifts for students.

We are unable to interrupt learning to deliver these items.

Personal Birthday Party Invitations

If parents would like to hand out birthday invitations for personal parties, this must be done before or after school, outside the school premises. We are unable to print invitations, hand them out and we cannot give out personal information for other students or parents.

This policy helps us maintain an uninterrupted and inclusive learning environment for all students.

By following these guidelines, we can ensure that our Birthday Bash celebrations are enjoyable and safe for everyone involved. Thank you for your cooperation and support in making these events special for our students.

If you have any questions or need further clarification, please feel free to contact the school office.

To see all the amazing things happening at Metropolitan Arts Academy!

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/MetropolitanArtsAcademy

X:

https://twitter.com/WPSNewsNow

Phone: 303-428-1884

Fax: 303-657-3865

Address: 2341 Sherrelwood Dr, Denver, CO 80221

Adiaz@wps.org