Back to School Bulletin
Dear Families of the Hollys,
We hope this letter finds you knee deep in summer fun and excitement with a hint of rest and relaxation. The staff at the Hollys is excited about the upcoming school year, and we anxiously await the arrival of your children. The first day of school is fast approaching. Please review this list of answers to the most frequently asked questions. Additional information will be given to you and your child/ren during our back-to-school festivities. Don’t hesitate to call our front office to ask questions.
WHAT IS THE “PHASE-IN" SCHEDULE FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL?
Message from the Superintendent for the Cherry Creek School District, Mr. Chris Smith:
Many of our students experienced trauma during the past year due to the isolation and stress of the pandemic. My goal for next year is to ensure all students have the social-emotional and mental health support they need to transition out of the pandemic and into a successful school year.
To aid in that goal, we will have a Phase-In start to the school year during the first three days of school in August. That means some grades will come to school on Monday, August 16, and some grades will come on Tuesday, August 17. All grade levels will be back in the classroom starting Wednesday, August 18. Please see the following table for details about elementary and middle school dates. All kindergarten students will receive specific information from their schools. High school students will hear directly from their school about the Phase-In schedule.
Monday, August 16 - ONLY Grades 3, 4 and 5
Tuesday, August 17 - ONLY Grades 1 and 2
Wednesday, August 18 - All grades
WHAT IS THE KINDERGARTEN ASSESSMENT APPOINTMENT AND FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL?
Kindergarten families will have an individual appointment to visit the school in person sometime Monday, August 16 or Tuesday, August 17. You will receive a communication from your child’s teacher with a link to sign-up genius to select an appointment. Kindergarten families will have an orientation and students will take the kindergarten screening assessment. The first day of school for kindergarten will be Wednesday, August 18. The kindergarten entry and dismissal doors will be on the south end of the building by the yellow and blue playground, DOORS #4 AND #5.
Entry doors are open from 7:40-8:00 am. All staff members will be on duty outside and in the hallways at entry and dismissal time to ensure students are supervised and heading in the right direction. If students arrive after 8:00 am, families must drop students off in the main office, DOOR #1. For safety and security purposes, family members are not permitted in the building beyond the main office unless you have a formally scheduled appointment or volunteer experience.
Our Parent Teacher Community Organization (PTCO) will host a short Kindergarten parent/guardian social on the playground immediately following drop off on the first day of Kindergarten. Adults are invited to join us for coffee and donuts from 7:45-8:15 am on Wednesday, August 18.
WHEN IS THE HOLLY RIDGE/HOLLY HILLS OPEN HOUSE and WHICH TEACHER WILL MY CHILD HAVE THIS YEAR?
The Open House will be hosted on Thursday, August 12, at both buildings from 4-5 pm. Meeting your child’s teacher is one of the primary reasons for this event. It is also an opportunity to bring in school supplies and see the classroom setting. Class lists will be posted on the entry doors at both buildings 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the Open House. If your child’s name is not on a list, please stop by the main office so we can make a classroom assignment.
Holly Ridge Primary K-2
3301 S. Monaco Pkwy.
720-747-2400
Holly Hills Elementary 3-5
6161 E. Cornell Ave.
720-747-2500
WHAT IS THE ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURE FOR ALL GRADES?
- Children should arrive at school between 7:40-8:00 am. Students will have separate entry doors to prevent large crowds of students from multiple grades coming through the same doors and hallways.
- Kindergarten: HOLLY RIDGE DOOR #4
- First Grade: HOLLY RIDGE DOOR #7
- Second Grade: HOLLY RIDGE DOOR #8
- Third Grade: HOLLY HILLS DOOR #4
- Fourth Grade: HOLLY HILLS DOOR #1
- Fifth Grade: HOLLY HILLS DOOR #13
- All staff members will be on duty outside and in the hallways at entry and dismissal times.
- Breakfast will be served in the classrooms.
- The school day starts at 8:00 am.
- Children arriving after 8:00 am will be considered tardy. A tardy student must be signed in by an adult at the main office.
- On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday school will conclude at 2:45 pm. Buses will pick up Holly Hills students at 2:35 pm and then move to Holly Ridge to pick up K-2 students at 2:45 pm. New this year: On Wednesdays school will conclude one hour earlier at 1:45 pm. Students are expected to go directly home from their bus stops.
- Bus routes and schedules will be communicated by the District Transportation telephone messaging system.
- Holly Ridge walkers and students being picked up by an adult will be dismissed from DOORS #5 and #6. K-2 students will not be dismissed from the building until an adult is present.
- Holly Hills walkers and students being picked up by an adult will be dismissed from the same location as in years past, from the grassy area outside DOOR #4 on Cornell Ave. at the south side of the building.
WHAT IS THE NEW PARKING PROCEDURE AT HOLLY RIDGE?
To increase student safety, a new parking procedure will begin for the 2021-22 school year and beyond.
Parent Parking & Student Drop Off/Pickup
Visitor parking and student drop off will occur in the parking lot of the Cottage Preschool immediately west of the Holly Ridge parking lot. Adults will park and walk students to grade level entry doors or pull up and drop off students comfortable walking independently to entry doors. School employee supervision will be provided until 8 am. When walking students from the Cottage parking lot or Floyd Ave. please use the sidewalk on the West side of the Ridge parking lot. For student safety, we kindly ask all visitors to avoid the Holly Ridge parking lot at arrival and dismissal.
Staff and Bus Parking
The Holly Ridge parking lot will be reserved for staff and buses only at arrival and dismissal. The lot will be closed off to families and visitors from 7:15-8:15 am and 2:00-3:00 pm. Buses will arrive and drop off students in the designated bus lane. All employee of Holly Ridge and our preschools will park in the Holly Ridge parking lot to provide plenty of space for visitor parking in the Cottage Preschool parking lot.
HOW DO YOU REGISTER FOR SCHOOL LUNCH OR APPLY FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH STATUS?
CCSD Food and Nutrition Services uses a meal account system called Titan and families can register at www.family.titank12.com. You may download the app Titan Family Connect to access your account. You will be able to look at the daily menus, add money to your child’s account, set spending limits and purchase restrictions to name a few. Menus can be accessed at https://family.titank12.com without setting up an account. Families who wish to apply for Free and Reduced Meals must complete a new application every year on the district website: https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/Page/4041. Paper copies are also available at your school’s front office. Breakfast is free for all students.
DOES THE HOLLYS HAVE A BEFORE AND AFTER CARE SCHOOL PROGRAM?
We have a fantastic Qualistar rated Before & After School Care Program called “Hawks Nest”. Lindsey Rastetter is the director of our program, and she has exciting things planned for the 2021-22 school year. For more information regarding enrollment and registration for CCSD Before & After School Care Programming, visit the CCSD website https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/Page/1740 or contact Hollys director, Ms. Lindsey, at lrastetter3@cherrycreekschools.org or (720) 747-2431.
HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THE PARENT TEACHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION (PTCO)?
Andrea Costantine-Ransom is the Hollys’ PTCO president for the 2021-22 school year. She and her team are always seeking volunteers to help coordinate community events and school fundraisers. This year they are focused on keeping our community engaged and connected. They have fantastic ideas for future events. Keep watch for virtual meetings and events scheduled this school year advertised in our bi-monthly school newsletter. If you would like to get involved or share an idea, send your communication to the Holly Hawks’ PTCO at hollyhawksptco@gmail.com.
IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS:
- Thursday, August 12 – Open House 4-5 pm
- Sunday, August 15 – PTCO “Chalk the Walk” 3-5 pm
- Monday, August 16 – Phase-in day for grades 3-5 only, kindergarten assessment appointments
- Tuesday, August 17 – Phase-in day for grades 1-2 only, kindergarten assessment appointments
- Wednesday, August 18 – First Day of School for Kindergarten and all students 1-5
- Tuesday, August 24 – Back-to-School Night Holly Hills and Holly Ridge 6-7 pm
Please take this time to enjoy the remaining days of summer break. We are energized and excited for the new year. We look forward to reconnecting with students, staff and community members. If we can be of help to you in any way, please contact Holly Ridge at 720-747-2400 or Holly Hills at 720-747-2500.
Sincerely,
Molly Drvenkar
Principal
Chris Toliver
Assistant Principal
The Hollys School Supply List
A Message from the Hollys PTCO
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Holly Ridge Primary School
Website: cherrycreekschools.org/Page/53
Location: 3301 S Monaco Pkwy, Denver, CO 80222
Phone: (720) 747-2400
Holly Hills Elementary School
Website: cherrycreekschools.org/Page/53
Location: 6161 E Cornell Ave, Denver, CO 80222
Phone: (720) 747-2500