The Pony Press

From the Principal...

Families and Community,

Please accept my apologies (all 3 of you that still read these) for this being so late! :)

My family and I have been hit pretty hard with the stomach bug going around, as I know many of you have also. Thank you for taking extra steps to wash hands and keep kids home when they are feeling ill. Between that and our surprise flood on Thursday, it's adding quite some challenges to our end of the year!

This past week (besides illness and water) was filled with field trips, beautiful music, and incredible learning opportunities. Our Mountain Academy students returned on Friday from a three day trip to the Sand Dunes while 3rd and 4th graders visited Garden of the Gods on Tuesday for a hands-on geology lesson. We've got classes going to Flying Pig Farm this week, hiking trips, 5th graders camping, and 6th graders going whitewater rafting and fly fishing!

Our building is undergoing some much needed renovations this summer. The main areas impacted will be the roof, the front office/entryway, and the hallways. With this construction, our playground and tipi area will be closed during the summer to ensure safety of everyone. The construction will begin on May 25th and run right up until school starts in August. We're excited to send updates along the way!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

#watchusgrow

Your partner in education,

Jackie Powell, Ute Pass Principal

Important Info for next week...

Green Week

Monday, May 15th-

Specials Day 2
4th Grade Plant Drive
Honor Choir Celebration 3-3:45 pm

Tuesday, May 16th-

Specials Day 3
6th Grade Rafting Trip
1st and 2nd graders hiking in GMF
4th and 5th grade greenspace workday in GMF
4th Grade Plant Drive
Kinder, 2nd, and 4th Grade Spring Concert- 2 pm rehearsal, 5 pm performance

Wednesday, May 17th- Late Start Today!

Specials Day 1
4th Grade Plant Drive
Clothing Drive tubs available after school

Thursday, May 18th-

Specials Day 2
Pre-K, K, and 4th to Flying Pig Farm
4th Grade Plant Drive
5th grade to Cheyenne Mountain for camping

Friday, May 19th-

Specials Day 3
Kindergarten Graduation
4th Grade Plant Drive
6th grade fly fishing in GMF
5th grade returns from CM camping trip
Furry Friends and Feel Good Friday Dismissal

Important End of the Year Dates

May

23- UPES Fun Day (put on by student council)

24- Whole School Field Trip to Bear Creek Park for Field Day

25- Last Day for Students- Noon Dismissal, Report Cards Home

UPES Morning Announcements

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

Information about Universal Preschool

Colorado Universal Preschool Program (UPK)

Last April, Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill that works towards “every child in the year before they are eligible for kindergarten is eligible for half-day (15 hours), state-funded, voluntary preschool beginning in the 2023-24 school year. Three-year-olds with qualifying factors are eligible for part-time (10 hours) preschool programming. Families of children in the year before they are eligible for kindergarten with certain qualifying factors, are eligible for an additional 15 hours stacked on top of the half-day programming, bringing those children to full-day programming.”

Manitou Springs Elementary School and Ute Pass Elementary School will continue to offer our exceptional preschool programs for both three-year-olds and students that are in the year before they are eligible for kindergarten. Information for families

Families are now able to submit an application through the state-wide Universal Preschool System for the 2023-24 school year. Here is the link to the application: https://upk.colorado.gov/

Families will still need to complete our preschool enrollment process as well as the UPK application. Here is the information for MSSD: Student Enrollment

Breakfast and Lunch Information

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.

Late Start Wednesdays

Thank you to families who submitted the form to sign up for Late Start Wednesdays. It helps tremendously with staffing and preparation. If you missed the opportunity to sign up, and are in need, please contact Danny Tramel at dtramel@mssd14.org for approval, as we are at our capacity.

Breakfast will be served until 8:00am, however, due to changes in the federal funding, we can no longer offer free breakfast.

Late Start Wednesdays for second semester: