WEEKLY HAWK

Welcome to the week before Winter Break! It’s hard to believe we’re already nearing the halfway point of the 2025–26 school year.

Last week brought several memorable events. On Tuesday, our kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students enjoyed a visit from Anden Wilder, author of Tulip’s Mess. Signed copies of the book are still available—see below for more information. Then on Wednesday after school, Voices of Color partnered with Hawks Nest to host our first Winter Community Gathering. Students and families came together to share snacks and create crafts representing the holidays they celebrate throughout the winter season. It was a wonderful event, and we hope even more families will join us next year. On Friday, our intermediate students stretched their brains as they competed in the spelling bee. Students spelled words that your average adult would struggle with!

Please take a moment to look over our Spirit Week themes below. We hope students will join in the fun! This Friday, December 18, we’ll wrap up the week with our Winter Assembly. During the assembly, we’ll announce our Educator of the Year and take a schoolwide photo to celebrate CCSD’s 75th Anniversary. Students will also bring home a few small gifts from Homestead in honor of this milestone.

Wishing you and your family a restful and joyful Winter Break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday, January 6! Don’t forget to encourage your child to relax with a good book during their time away from school :)

Take care,

Katie

This week's Hawks Highlights were:

Lainey - Being kind

Agnes - So focused in 2nd Step

Hannah - I picked up trash

Ian - I didn't quit when things were hard in PE

Marisa - Picking up trash without being asked!

Marvelous Monday (Dec. 15th): On Marvelous Monday, you may dress up like any superhero you want or dress up like your marvelous self.

One Color Challenge Tuesday (Dec. 16th): Tuesday is one color challenge day! Challenge yourselves by dressing up in one color.

Wacky Wednesday (Dec. 17th): Wacky Wednesday is where you dress up funny! Mismatch things, make your hair look crazy, or wear something wacky.

Team Takeover Thursday (Dec. 18th): Thursday team takeover is where you wear your own team uniform, a jersey, or any sports clothes.

Fuzzy Friday (Dec. 19th): Fuzzy Friday is where you can wear PJs to school! You can even bring in a stuffie for the cost of $1 to raise money for winter wishes!

4th graders recently completed their Cyanotype Surreal Landscapes. On the back of their artwork, each student wrote about something they learned.

“One thing I learned was that science can be art at the same time.”

“One thing I learned was that cyanotypes react to sunlight.”

“One thing I learned was that hydrogen peroxide makes your cyanotype darker.”

“One thing I learned was that I love doing printing!!”

2:45-4:00 in the 3rd Grade Cafe

October 9, 30

November 13, 20

December 11

January 15

February 5, 19

March 12

April 9, April 30

Our school has started using Talking Points, a secure app that makes it easy to communicate with teachers and the front office via text. It's a great way to stay connected! If you need help or have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to the front office at 720-554-3700.
Download Talking Points and get more information here!

Please see attached picture for the IA schedule for the year.

Do you have a connection or know someone who might be willing to donate to our upcoming Silent Auction at 2 Penguins Tap and Grill on February 1, 2026?

We are looking for a few donations from local businesses, restaurants, or individuals—whether it’s gift cards, unique experiences, or other exciting items. Every donation helps support our students and programs, raising much-needed funds for their success.

If you need more information about donating, please email us at homesteadptcovp@gmail.com.

Thank you for your support in making this event a success!

January 29, 2026

This event is open to 5th grade families as well as current middle and high school students.

Promises Made, Promises Kept! The 2024 bond projects are well underway with improvements being made at every school across the district. I encourage you to learn more about the bond projects at our school here (link to school page on interactive map). To see the progress on the entire 2024 bond package, check out the districtwide bond dashboard here.

Please click on this link to access the flyers in different languages.

Sungate Kids, in partnership with Cherry Creek Schools, presents an ‘Opportunity to Prepare for Safe Family Experiences for the Holidays’

For more information and if you would like to attend this training, please click the link below.

Sungate Kids Participation Form

All meals (breakfast and lunch) remain free for all students due to the Free Meals For All legislation that passed in November of 2022. We encourage families to complete a meal application to take advantage of other benefits offered to them and to support Title I funding in CCSD.

Meal Application: www.myschoolapps.com

Online Payments for Meal Accounts: www.MySchoolBucks.com (there is no fee for this service).

For questions or assistance with making payments please call 1-855-832-5226.

To view Menus: www.MealViewer.com

Colorado legislation has prompted greater need to screen and document volunteers in our schools. As of January 2022, we began asking every volunteer to complete a brief application to support activities in CCSD schools.

If you are currently volunteering or plan to volunteer in the future, please complete the CCSD online volunteer form. To access the form, click on the following link: https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/NzU0OmVuLVVT or scan the QR code. It should only take a few minutes to complete and you will only need to complete this form once a year to meet the requirements to volunteer in all CCSD buildings.

Please note: if you completed this application more than one year ago, it is time to do it again!

The safety and security of our students and staff remains our top priority. Every person entering our buildings must have a badge printed from our Raptor system or a District ID.

We want to thank you in advance for your support of our schools and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Homestead main office at 720.554.3700.

We have several after school clubs and summer activities offered at Homestead through outside organizations such as Chess Club, Coding Club and Tennis and Pickleball Club. Stop by the front lobby of our school to see what is offered and pick up a flyer for more information. Or, click on this link to access the flyers electronically.

Download Today! Search in your app store for Homestead Elementary. Or use these links:

iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1115937231

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sia.homestead

What's on the app?

Attendance form

Contact info for staff

Parent calendar

School Supply Lists

Weekly Hawk Newsletters

Other resources

English:

Please contact (name of liaison) at (email) for support with this resource in your language.

Amharic:

እነዝህን መረጃዎችን በተመለከተ በቋንቋዎ ዕገዛን ለማግኘት ከፈለጉ እባክዎን ተሊሌን በዝህ እሜይል ያግኙዋት thirpa@cherrycreekschools.org

Arabic:

يرجى الاتصال ب )جميعة صباحي أو جاودة العلمي( على ) jsebbahi@cherrycreekschools.org أو

jdajanialami@cherrycreekschools.org للحصول على الدعم مع هذا المورد باللغة العربية .

Chinese:

如有需要，请经由ctaylor9@cherrycreekschools.org 与凯瑟琳•泰勒联系，以您的语言获得此资源的支持。

Dari:

لطفا برای کمک در مورد اين منابع به زبان خودتان با قزافی مهرزاد با اييمل qmehrzad@cherrycreekschools.org تماس بگيريد .

Hindi:

अपनी भाषा में इस संसाधन के समर्थन के लिए कृपया जेम्स रसाइथिी को jrasaily@cherrycreekschools.org पर संपकथ करें।

Korean:

귀하의 언어로 이 자원에 대한 지원을 원하시면 (리아 리) 에게 (llee6@cherrycreekschools.org) 로 문의하십시오.

Nepali:

कृपया जेम्स रसाइथिीिाइथ jrasaily@cherrycreekschools.org मा तपाइथको भाषामा यो संसाधनको सहयोगको िागी सम्पकथ गननथहोिा।

Russian:

Пожалуйста, обращайтесь к Ларисе Бака по адресу: lbaca3@cherrycreekschools.org для получения поддержки с помощью этого ресурса на своём языке.

Somali:

Fadlan la xiriir Omar Nur cinwaanka emaylka onur2@cherrycreekschools.org si aad u hesho macluumaad ku qoran luqadaada.

Spanish:

Si necesita ayuda con este recurso en su idioma, póngase en contacto con Ilse Chavez Maldonado en ichavezmaldonado@cherrycreekschools.org, Rosa Han en rhan4@cherrycreekschools.org, Carmen Vargas-Ball en cvargasball@cherrycreekschools.org o Monica Pantoja en mpantoja@cherrycreekschools.org.

Ukrainian:

Будь ласка, зв'яжіться з Зоряною Герман по електронній пошті zherman@cherrycreekschools.org, щоб отримати підтримку з цього ресурсу на українській мові.

Vietnamese:

Vui lòng liên hệ với Thuý Ngọc tại Lchung2@cherrycreekschools.org để được hỗ trợ về tài nguyên này bằng tiếng Việt.

You can keep up to date with the Homestead PTCO by visiting www.homesteadptco.org and our Facebook page.

Location: 7451 South Homestead Parkway, Centennial, CO, USA
Phone: (720) 554-3700