The Pony Press
April Edition
Principal's Post
Families,
Happy Spring and 4th quarter! I hope you all had a relaxing and rejuvenating spring break! These next two months will certainly go by quickly, and are packed full with all sorts of experiences!
Next week begins CMAS (Colorado Measures of Academic Success) testing for 3rd-6th graders. While testing often has a negative connotation and is certainly not the only indicator of a child's success in life, we really try to view it as an opportunity for our students to show all the amazing things they know! Much of what we do at UPES isn't always measured on state tests, but our students' ability to problem solve, create, synthesize, and persevere through challenging tasks is a huge part of CMAS testing. Testing begins right at 8:20 am, and it is crucial that students arrive on time during testing. If students arrive late, they will be required to sit in the front office until their class has completed testing. At home you can help by trying to reinforce getting to bed on time, eating a healthy breakfast (remember, school breakfasts are free), and just speaking positive words into our amazing students about how smart and capable they are! Students will test English Language Arts on Monday-Wednesday, and then we will run make-up testing on Thursday and Friday. The following week will consist of Mathematics testing Monday-Wednesday and Science for 5th grade Monday-Wednesday. We appreciate your partnership in sending the students to school ready to show what they know!
Monday, April 8th, our entire school will have the opportunity to view the Solar Eclipse after lunch and recess. Thanks to some amazing donations, we have eclipse viewing glasses for our entire student body! If you do not want your child to participate, please email me directly at jpowell@mssd14.org and we will have your child stay in the front office during this time.
We are also gearing up for our largest fundraiser of the year- the Fun Run! Our PAC team has been busy planning this year's Fun Run, and we will hold our kickoff assembly Friday, April 12th. Stay tuned for ways you can help your child raise money that goes directly back into our school! This year, students will receive Fun Run t-shirts just for registering online! The Fun Run will take place on May 6th behind the school. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact either me (jpowell@mssd14.org) or PAC president Janelle (upepac@gmail.com).
As you look through the pictures below, and as you listen to the stories from your amazing young people that we have the privilege to educate, I hope you feel the joy, hear the laughter, and appreciate this truly unique little gem that we get to call our school.
#watchusgrow
Your partner in education,
Jackie Powell, Ute Pass Principal
Important Dates in April
April
2- Preschool, 1st, and Riffle's Class to Flying Pig Farm
3- Late Start, Para Appreciation Day
4- Spring Pictures/ 2nd and 5th to Flying Pig Farm/ Librarian Day
5- Planetarium Day/ 5th grade Lock-in @ UPES
8- Solar Eclipse Viewing
8, 9, 10- 3rd-6th ELA CMAS Testing
12- Fun Run Kickoff Assembly
15, 16, 17- 3rd-6th Math CMAS Testing, + 5th Science CMAS Testing
15- BOE Meeting 5:30 @ MSHS Media Center
17- 6th Fly-Tying @ UPES
18- STEAM Night at MSMS
23- Bus Driver Appreciation Day
24- Administrative Assistant Day/ 4th grade Survival Day & Hike
25- 6th to Corral Buffs
26- Staff Work Day/ Benchmark Training (AM)
29th- EOY DIBELS and iReady Window begins
30th- Honor Choir Field Trip (AM)
UPES Spirit Wear Now Live!
https://1stplacespiritwear.com/schools/CO/Chipita%20Park/Ute+Pass+Elementary+School
Safety & Security at UPES
As a reminder, it is so important that all families utilize our crosswalks during arrival and dismissal times (see map below). Sending students through unmarked areas of our pick up/drop lane poses a large safety concern for both the students and the drivers. Thank you for keeping us all safe!
Reminders
- As we near the end of the school year, please begin to send back checked-out library books or school materials that might be lying around the house. If you are missing items, please check out our Lost and Found!
Attendance Matters
Many of you have had the opportunity to meet or speak with Mrs. Mica Wood. She is our district's attendance and truancy coordinator at the secondary level, and has also started helping at UPES a couple days a week to support attendance, discipline, and coaching. We know with a new attendance policy this year, it has created some questions and growing pains.This policy was created last year at the district level including staff, community members, and parents. When your child is going to miss school, please call the front office (685-2227) as soon as you can. You are welcome to leave a message before we open, or even email Mrs. Dudley at tdudley@mssd14.org. If you call your child out for a reason, such as illness, it is counted as an excused absence. Once you accrue 10 excused absences, you will receive an initial attendance letter. At that point, you have 5 more excused absences (for a total of 15). We will meet to problem solve how to better help your child be at school, as they would've missed 3 whole weeks of learning at that point. After the 15 excused, it moves to unexcused (even if you call in). That begins leading towards the truancy process. Our handbook describes "Habitual Truancy" as a student who has reached age six by August 1 and is under age seventeen and who has four total days of unexcused absences from school in any one month or ten total days of unexcused absences during any school year. At that point, the district would move forward in the truancy process, which may result in different interventions and possibly include truancy court through the state of Colorado. If you take your child to an appointment (doctor, therapy, dentist, etc), and you provide a note to the front office, that absence does not count towards excused absences at all, and is coded differently in our system. We know there are so many viruses and illnesses that can impact school attendance, but our goal is to have every kid here learning in our amazing school as often as possible! Thank you for your support with getting your child to school on time and as much as possible!
Watch us GROW!
Intent to Return Survey
Please help us prepare for the upcoming school year by completing the 2024-2025 Intent to Return Survey. We ask that all parents and guardians complete this survey regardless of whether they will be attending MSSD14 in the fall for the 2024-2025 school year.
Parents/Guardians of graduating seniors do not need to complete this survey.
Please use the link below to complete the survey. Your participation is appreciated.
Counselor's Corner
Mrs. Wilson, our school counselor, provides lessons every other week to our 1st-6th grade classrooms (preschool and first graders participate in Dinosaur School in the classroom). She utilizes the Zones of Regulation curriculum as well as Second Step to help students increase their emotional vocabularies, learn to identify their feelings, and develop strategies to be their best selves.
Mrs. Wilson's small groups are currently up and running! Please contact Mrs. Wilson at swilson@mssd14.org if you have any questions or concerns.
Ute Pass Elementary students are learning about the Zones of Regulation. Students learn that while no emotion is "bad," there are emotions that are appropriate for the activity they are trying to accomplish. For more information and how Zones' language can also be helpful at home, click on this link https://zonesofregulation.com/how-it-works/
Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
Duty/supervision/breakfast begins at 7:35.
The first bell for students to enter classrooms is at 7:55, and the tardy bell will ring at 8:00. Dismissal is at 2:50.
Here are the ins and outs of our pick up/drop off lane:
- The family drop-off/pick-up lane will allow children to be picked up all the way to the end of the central sidewalk (to the gas meters against the street).
- Teachers will supervise students in the locations noted on the map above.
- No car will move into or exit the lane until every car has been loaded. (If you do not have the time to wait, please consider parking and walking in the areas marked above.)
- When all cars are loaded, the line of cars will exit together.
- The crossing guard will then allow walking parents to cross the parking lot at crosswalks to gain access to their vehicles.
- When these vehicles are loaded and moving, the next line waiting on Chipita Park Road will be allowed in to begin the process again.
- Furry Friday dismissal- on Fridays, bring your dogs through our pick-up lane for a treat!
- Friday afternoon concerts- Mr. Ferguson will be playing every Friday afternoon at dismissal (weather permitting)!
Please note the available areas for parking and walking above. If your child is sitting on the wall with their teacher, please ask a staff member to get your child for you to avoid excess traffic near the pick-up lane. As always, your patience is deeply appreciated!
Breakfast and Lunch Information
Free Meals for Students, Plus Important Reminders for Families
We are excited to share that all students in Manitou Springs School District will receive free breakfast and lunch starting in 2023-24 through the Healthy School Meals for All program! This new statewide program, approved by Colorado voters, is helping Colorado children and teens have access to nutritious food at our schools.
Even though breakfast and lunch will be provided for free, we need families to continue sharing household income information through this form in order for our school to receive full access to federal funding.
Be sure to fill out the form as part of your back-to-school registration! If you have questions or would like additional support, please reach out to Paula Faucette-Director of Nutrition Services, 719-685-2005 or email pfaucette@mssd14.org for more information.
Late Start Wednesdays
The school district will be providing supervision for a limited number of students during all late start Wednesdays during the 23-24 school year. To sign up, follow the Google Form link below and register your student(s).
It is important that registration is completed only for students who would otherwise not be able to attend school if not for late start childcare. If you have any questions, please reach out to Danny Tramel at dtramel@mssd14.org. Thanks!
https://forms.gle/aSXVZcH3RirNaUMC7
Late Start Wednesdays for second semester:
- January 10, 24, 31
- February 14, 28
- March 20
- April 3
- May 1, 8, 15
Connect 14
One of these classes will be held at UPES, but transportation is provided for students who wish to attend a session at Manitou Springs Elementary School. Please visit www.connect14.org to sign up today!
Champions After School Care
Ute Pass Elementary PTO/PAC
We have a very active and incredible Parent Action Committee who supports our little school in BIG ways!
The PAC meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 3:00 pm at UPES. Moving into the 23-24 school year, the PAC is excited to have a larger presence in the school, continuing to take care of the amazing staff at UPES, putting on events and meeting new families, and to get new members! They will have a table set up at our Open House/Open Outdoors with more information and opportunities to join in on the fun! Please contact Janelle Berndt, PAC President, at upepac@gmail.com with any questions.
Upcoming PAC Meetings/Events:
- April 9th- PAC/SAC Meeting 3-4 pm
- May 6th- PAC Fun Run
23/24 School Year Calendar - Including Late Start Dates.
Here's how you find us....
Email: tdudley@mssd14.org
Website: http://upe.mssd14.org/
Location: 9230 Chipita Park Road, Cascade, CO, USA
Phone: 719-685-2227
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upesponies