Hawk Highlights
May 21, 2021
Dear Friends and Families of the Hollys,
I have been thoroughly blessed to serve this incredible community of students, staff and families during the 2020-21 school year. Believe it or not, in my 26 years in public education, this has been the most rewarding year of my career. It was challenging as staff, students and families navigated the obstacles and barriers of the pandemic, but we persevered and accomplished great things as a community, united. We came together. We problem solved. We excelled in academics. We mastered remote learning and video conferencing. We normalized mask wearing and social distancing. We celebrated and championed joy, relationships and connection at the Hollys. Thank you for your consistent support and dedication. Our staff will always reflect and treasure our partnership with students and families throughout the 2020-21 school year. I am immensely proud of all that we accomplished together.
Our family partnerships were a crucial component to our success. It’s hard to express the depths of our gratitude to our parents and community members, especially to the leaders of our PTCO. I must highlight our PTCO President, Mary Eisenstein. Mary has served as PTCO President for two consecutive years. It’s a huge job and we appreciate her years of service. She increased community participation, fundraising, celebration and engagement. We are grateful for her hard work and dedication. Mary will pass the baton to our incoming PTCO President, Andrea Costantine-Ransom. Andrea has served on our PTCO executive board and will continue the trajectory of success in family involvement and connection. We thank Andrea for stepping up to challenge! If you would like to get involved or share an idea, send your communication to the Holly Hawks’ PTCO hollyhawksptco@gmail.com.
The pandemic has been especially challenging for our student body in public education in transition years: grades 5, 8 and 12. We had to adjust plans to make their culminating year special. We have an incredible 5th grade student body! They worked hard and played hard within pandemic parameters. We wish our 5th grade students outstanding success in middle school. We are grateful to be able to celebrate them next week in outdoor continuation ceremonies. We are so proud of their resilience, perseverance and accomplishments throughout elementary school and especially in the months and years impacted by the pandemic.
As we prepare for the 2021-22 school year, I’d like to address a major change shared by our Superintendent, Dr. Scott Siegfried, in recent community communications. The Cherry Creek School District will implement 1:45pm early dismissal Wednesdays for the 2021-22 school year. This is a much needed adjustment, but it will certainly be an inconvenience for families and we recognize the impact this will have on families to accommodate the change. International research and revision of academic standards and instructional practices, heightened awareness around culturally responsive practices and the need for a more targeted approach to address mental health in public education prompted this needed shift. Change is happening at a more rapid pace than we have ever experienced before and we can’t implement change without dedicating more time to intentional focused professional development for staff. The Colorado Department of Education has revised state standards and CCSD has adopted several new curriculum resources to adapt to new mandates. We will also continue to bolster the goals we have been focused on for the last two years at the Hollys. Here are the topics we will address in our weekly 2 hour staff development efforts on Wednesdays:
- Culturally Responsive Education & Equity
- Trauma-Informed Education
- Two new literacy programs to cultivate a direct, explicit, multisensory, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and prescriptive way to teach literacy when reading, writing, and spelling: “Fundations” multisensory structured language program and the “Orton-Gillingham Approach”
- The Science of Teaching Mathematics
- Bolstering Student Voice
- Kagan Structures
- Social Emotional Learning Program: “Second-Step”
- Trauma-Informed Education with the HEARTS Grant
- New student mentor program developed by the Hollys
- Depth and Complexity icons to bolster rigor
- “The Playworks Program”: Six Simple Principles of Play
- A new social studies program that aligns with our new CDE Elementary Social Studies Standards (yet to be named by CCSD, a research committee will explore aligned resources and announce the new resource over the summer)
- CDE Science Standards are also under construction and a new resource will be announced in the spring for the 2022-23 school year
We have a fantastic Qualistar rated Before & After School Care Program for the students who attend the Hollys called “Hawks’ Nest”. Lindsey Rastetter is the new director of our program and she has exciting things planned for the 2021-22 school year. If you need childcare for early dismissal Wednesdays or any day of the week, this is an outstanding program for your consideration. For more information regarding Before & After School Care Programming, visit the CCSD website https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/Page/2640 or Click here for easy, step-by-step instructions on how to enroll your child with the ECS program at our school. If you have questions, please call 720-747-2431 or email Lindsey Rastetter at lrastetter3@cherrycreekschools.org.
Enjoy the remaining days of the school year and summer! We look forward to reconnecting with your children and developing our classroom learning communities in the 2021-22 school year! If we can be of service during summer months, please contact Holly Ridge at 720-747-2400 or Holly Hills at 720-747-2500 or contact me directly at mdrvenkar2@cherrycreekschools.org.
Thank you to all our students and families for all your personal efforts to partner with your Hollys team this school year. We are so blessed to work in this great community!
Together in education,
Molly Drvenkar
A Message from the Superintendent
Early Release Wednesday for Elementary School
Two years ago, Cherry Creek Schools and the Cherry Creek Education Association agreed to dismiss all elementary schools one hour earlier every Wednesday in order to enhance professional development and training opportunities for our elementary teachers. That change was not implemented during the 2020-21 school year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it will be implemented starting in August. By having this specific time set aside, there will be less of a need to pull teachers out of the classroom during the day, which creates continuity for students and less of a reliance on substitute teachers. With this change, our elementary schools will still exceed the class time required by the Colorado Department of Education. Elementary schools will dismiss at 1:45 p.m. every Wednesday. For families who participate in after-school child care, the after-school program will be extended every Wednesday at no additional cost. For families who need care, you can register with your school’s program.
Vaccine Clinics
Now that the FDA has given emergency authorization for the Pfizer vaccine to be used with children ages 12-15, we are working with our partners to provide opportunities for families with children in that age group to get the vaccine. You can view a list of vaccine opportunities for students 12 and up here: https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/Page/13483.
Summer Learning Opportunities
Thanks to federal COVID relief funds for schools, as well as support from our Cherry Creek Schools Foundation, we have an array of summer programs that provide enrichment activities, socialization opportunities and some that will help address learning loss from COVID-related interruptions. From STEM to career and technical education to project-based learning, there is something for every child here. View summer learning opportunities and registration links here: https://www.cherrycreekschools.org/SummerLearning.Early Dismissal on Friday, May 28th
Friday, May 28th is the last day of school. This is a half day for all CCSD elementary schools; students will be dismissed at 11:00am. If you need child care for the remainder of the day, please contact Lindsey Rastetter with our Before and After Care program at 720-747-2431 or lrastetter3@cherrycreekschools.org.
Library Books are Due!
All library books are now due. Students will have received a notice if they still have library books out. Students can continue to read e-books and listen to audiobooks, even during summer break through Overdrive, Cherry Creek School District’s digital library: https://www.powtoon.com/embed/e8lrsXjg5w4/.
From the Clinic
Please remember that as the school year comes to an end, parents need to come in and pick up all medications that are kept here at school. This includes all rescue medications such as inhalers and epi-pens. Even if your student will be attending Holly Hills/Holly Ridge next school year the medications need to go home over the summer. Anything left at school will be discarded on May 28th (last day of school). When you pick up your student's medications I will provide you with new forms for next school year to have completed over the summer by your physician. Medication may only be transported to and from school by a parent; I cannot send any medications home with the students.
Thank You,
Jackie Lane, RN, BSN
School Nurse
720-747-2406
HipPOPs Gelato Truck is Back May 25th!
The Hollys PTCO is excited to announce the HipPOPs gelato truck will be back on Tuesday, May 25th from 2-4pm! The gelato truck will be parked in the Cottage Preschool parking lot next to Holly Ridge. This is an after school event and will not impact the school day. All orders, including pre-orders, will need to be picked up by an adult family member. A percentage of all sales will support the Hollys PTCO.
You can pre-order online at www.hippops.com/order-denver/.
Sign Up for ECS Summer Camp!
CCSD Summer Meal Sites
A Message from Your Community
Summer Reading at Arapahoe Libraries!
Stop by any Arapahoe Library branch including the Mobile Library starting June 1 to get a summer reading record and a free book to keep.
Open to youth ages 0-18. No registration needed. Happy summer reading!
https://arapahoelibraries.org/summer-reading-2021/FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the availability of the FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program, which provides a temporary discount on monthly broadband bills for qualifying low-income consumers. Eligible households can enroll through an approved broadband service provider or by visiting the GetEmergencyBroadband.org site. The application process opened on May 12, 2021, and eligible households can receive:
- Up to a $50-per-month discount on your broadband service and associated equipment rentals
- A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50).
Only one monthly service discount and one device discount are allowed per household. Program rules acknowledge that there may be more than one eligible household residing at the same address.
Next Year's School Calendar
Please Bring a Water Bottle to School
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, school water fountains are not available, so please make sure your child brings a reusable water bottle to school every day.
Wear Your Mask
Do I need to stay at home?
Please leave your child's first and last name and the reason for their absence. If you child is not feeling well, please describe in detail the symptoms they are experiencing. For example, do they have a fever? Do they have shortness of breath, cough, runny nose, upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea?
Thank you for your partnership as we work to keep our students and staff healthy.
Am I ready to go back to school?
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Additional Resources
Translation Services
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 بـ (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ahan10@cherrycreekschools.org,与韩馥联系,以您的语言获得此资源的支持。
Korean:
귀하의 언어로 이 자원에 대한 지원을 원하시면 (리아 리) 에게 (llee6@cherrycreekschools.org) 로 문의하십시오.
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, Helena Gognat en hgognat@cherrycreekschools.org o Milagro Nuanes en mnuanes@cherrycreekschools.org
Vietnamese: Vui lòng liên hệ với Thuý Ngọc tại Lchung2@cherrycreekschools.org để được hỗ trợ về tài nguyên này bằng tiếng Việt.
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