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Southmoor Elementary

Principal Post: October 2024

09/27/24, 4:01 PM

PRINCIPAL POST

OCTOBER 2024

Dear Southmoor Families,

I hope this message finds you well! As we wrap up the first six weeks of school, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you for your incredible partnership and support. Your involvement has played a key role in making the start of this school year a great success.

To streamline our communication and keep you informed, we are excited to introduce the Monthly Principal Post! Each month, you’ll receive:

A Message from the Principal: Updates on our school’s progress and goals.
Community Celebrations: Highlights of events that foster school spirit and connection.
Important Announcements: Key updates and reminders for your family.
Monthly Events: A calendar of important school activities and celebrations.
Resources: Helpful tools and information to support your child’s learning and engagement.

We truly appreciate your continued support in helping Southmoor thrive and look forward to sharing more exciting news in our upcoming posts!

In service of the most important person in the world - YOUR CHILD,

Jonell Pineda

Principal

Southmoor Elementary School

3755 South Magnolia Way, Denver, CO 80237

720-424-3930 | Fax: 720-424-3955

CELEBRATIONS

School Performance Framework: We are thrilled to celebrate an incredible achievement for Southmoor! Our school has officially been recognized as a "Green School," a testament to our outstanding performance on the School Performance Framework (SPF) for the Colorado Department of Education. This designation reflects our students, staff, and families' hard work, dedication, and collaboration in creating a thriving learning environment where academic growth and student success are at the forefront. Thank you to our entire Southmoor community for your continued commitment and support, making this accomplishment possible! Let’s continue this momentum together!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

School Safety and Security: We will continue to implement the Safety Measures at Southmoor. In addition, we will fully implement the DPS Raptor Policy where all visitors will be checked in the system using acceptable identification. Raptor is a web-based software application that has been developed with the purpose of aiding educational facilities in tracking their visitors, students, and faculty. Raptor not only provides an effective, efficient method for tracking but also goes beyond conventional applications by utilizing available public databases to help control campus security.
FACE University is a resource and learning hub for the DPS families, teachers, and the community.
- Monday, Sept. 30: Trauma-Informed Restorative Practices at 5-6 p.m. Up to 80% of students may be identified as needing Tier 1 support. Learn what it means to overcome behaviors and improve overall social-emotional wellness in your child.
Tuesday, Oct. 1: DPS Bullying 101 at 5:30-6:30 p.m. Bullying statistics are decreasing, but that does not mean it's not a concern (particularly with cyberbullying/social media). Join us for an overview of bullying, how to identify it, and how to support your student. Learn more about FACE U with this one-minute overview on our YouTube channel! If you have questions, email Jasmine Rigby.

Common Core State Standards: The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are a set of clear, consistent educational goals that outline what students should know and be able to do at each grade level in math and English language arts (ELA). These standards help ensure that all students, no matter where they live, are prepared for success in college, career, and life. For families, the CCSS focuses on developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication skills. They provide a roadmap for teachers to guide instruction and give parents a clear understanding of what their child is expected to learn. By following the Common Core, schools aim to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in today’s global economy.
FALL SPIRIT CELEBRATIONS
- Monday, October 28, 2024 - SOUTHMOOR Spirit Day: It’s a fun time to show school pride by wearing our school colors and gear. Show your Southmoor Spirit!
- Tuesday, October 29, 2024 - Autumn Foliage: The vibrant colors of leaves create a beautiful landscape. Wear your autumn colors.
- Wednesday, October 30, 2024 - Comfy Clothes for Fall is a perfect theme to celebrate the cozy and relaxing vibe of the season! On this day, students and staff can come to school in their most comfortable fall attire.
- Thursday, October 31, 2024 - Favorite Character Day: is a fun and creative celebration where students and staff dress up as their favorite characters from books, movies, TV shows, or history. It's a great way to combine the festive spirit of Halloween with a love of storytelling and learning.

School Fall Parade: We will culminate the October Spirit Week with a parade at 1:30 p.m. Students may wear costumes for the parade following the guidelines for appropriate costumes. The route for the parade will begin on Peach Street towards Southmoor Park then make a U-turn back to school.
Classroom Celebrations: Teachers should be reaching out with more information on their classroom parties and any help needed. If you need clarification on that please reach out to them directly.
WE LOVE OUR VOLUNTEERS! There are many ways for parents and family members to be involved in our school. For volunteer opportunities and to sign up please check in with your student's teacher or our amazing PTO who are always looking for volunteers. If you will be in the classroom working with students, chaperoning a field trip, or helping with a special event at school a background check is necessary. Visitors who are here for school functions, parties, etc. will not be required to have a background check. These background checks are good for 1 calendar year and will have to be re-submitted every year for updated information. Reminder: All volunteers no matter how big or small their roles are must have a current volunteer background check on file. https://equity.dpsk12.org/get-involved/volunteer-services/

MONTHLY EVENTS

OCTOBER

1 PTO Meeting (6:00 pm)

1-4 Monthly IStation Progress Monitoring

4 Fun Run Day (During RRCK’n Moose Day)

7 Fall Pictures

18 Prize Day for Fun Run

10-14 Fall Break | NO SCHOOL

15 CSC Meeting (5 - 6:30 pm)

16 DEIB Monthly Meetings (5:30-6:30 pm)

23 Parents at the Park

TBD Community Dine-Out:

25 RRCK’n Moose - Superhero

29 CSC Fall Forum (5-6:30 pm)

28-31 Fall Spirit Days

31 Fall Parade (1:30-2:30 pm)

NOVEMBER

1 Non-Student contact day | NO SCHOOL

4-8 Monthly IStation Progress Monitoring

5 PTO Meeting (6:00 pm)

8 RRCK’n Moose - Willy Wonka

8 Picture Retakes

11-15 Family/Teacher Conferences

11-15 Scholastic Book Fair

TBD Community Dine Out:

21 Southmoor Student Awards

TBD Middle School Night

15 RRCK’n Moose - Cartoon Character

19 Family Board Game Night #1

22 RRCK’n Moose - Turkey Trot Fun Run

25-29 Thanksgiving Break | NO SCHOOL

TBD Community Dine Out:

RESOURCES

Quick Links

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