Families and Community,

You know it's a great week when in one day alone you get to hold a corn snake, dig for worms, rescue beetles from the hallway, and look for missing turtles (don't worry, it didn't go far)! Have we mentioned lately how special this school is?

The incredible UPES staff continues to amaze me with the opportunities they are providing to our students. On Thursday, I was able to watch two fourth graders explain their worm farm to all the first and second graders. As they spoke about decomposers and habitats, I was so impressed with the level of understanding from the students, but also in the complex and thoughtful questions that the 1st and 2nd graders were asking- What would happen if we didn't have decomposers? Do worms have hearts, and if so, how many? Why can worms sometimes survive if they are cut in half? How do they breathe underground? How do they move without legs?

These experiences are a beautiful illustration of curiosity guiding learning, and a perfect example of one of the many reasons we believe wholeheartedly in the work we are doing with environmental learning.

Please join us on Sunday for the Dia de los Muertos celebration in Green Mountain Falls. If you'd like to sign up to run a table for indoor "Trunk or Treat" there is a link below. Our Honor Choir will be performing at 4:30 pm, but there will be so many fun activities happening the entire time (3-6 pm).

We will have a costume parade at school on October 31st at 2 pm. Students are welcome to wear their costumes all day, or can change into them for the parade. Please make sure costumes have no weapons (even if they are obviously fake). You are welcome to come out to watch the Costume Parade at the back of the building/playground area. We will start at 2 pm and each class will walk around the sidewalk. Should you not want your child to participate, we will provide an alternate activity during that time.

#watchusGROW

Your partner in education,

Jackie Powell, Ute Pass Principal

Our morning announcements are such a wonderful way to start the day! We have student-led announcements and singers every single day!

We want to share some of this Pony Pride from our "home" to yours! If you'd like to watch morning announcements, we are live-streaming them each day! Simply subscribe to the Ute Pass YouTube channel at this link- UPES YouTube

A healthy breakfast and lunch is a key factor in growing a healthy mind and body! Ute Pass Elementary will offer breakfast to students for $1.45 and lunch for $2.95. See below for information on accessing menus.

You can find the new free and reduced application on the district website- https://www.mssd14.org/departments/food_service.

If you don’t qualify for free and reduced price meals, please make sure that there is money in your student’s account. You can add money online at this link- https://mssd14.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=57448&pageId=13267314

Any questions or concerns, please call Paula Faucette, Director of Nutrition Services, at 719-685-2005 or email pfaucette@mssd14.org.