1. education
2. school

Independence Elementary
Patriots Press
May 2015
Main Office: 720-886-8200
Attendance: 720-886-8295
www.indep.ccsd.k12.co.us
Lisa Morris, Principal
Independence Elementary
4700 South Memphis St.
Aurora, CO 80015
We are dedicated to inspire the heart and mind to achieve excellence.
We are united…when one succeeds, we all succeed.
Important Dates to Remember
May 4-7
Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6
Nurse Appreciation Day
May 7
Incoming Kindergarten Orientation, 2:00pm
May 8
No School – Non-Contact/Teacher Work Day
May 11
Skate City Night, 6-8:00pm
May 14
PTCO Meeting, 6-7:00pm, Library
May 15
Last Day for Lunch Loans
May 18-22
BOGO Book Fair All Week
May 21
STAR Assemblies: 9:15-10:00am, Grades K-2
2:30-3:15pm, Grades 3-5
May 22
Field Day: 9:15-12:15pm, Grades 3-5
1:00-3:15pm, Grades 1 & 2
May 25
No School – Memorial Day
May 26
Kindergarten Field Day: 9:15-10:30am, Group 1
2:00-3:15pm, Group 2
May 27
AR Store
May 28
Staff vs. 5th Grade Softball Game
June 1
Last Day of School for Kindergarten and 5th Grade
9:30-10:00am, Kindergarten Program, Gym
2:00-3:00pm, 5th Grade Continuation and Reception
June 2
Last Day of School for Grades 1-4 (No Breakfast/No Lunch)
12:00pm Dismissal
Dear Parents,
The week of May 4th – May 8th is Teacher Appreciation Week. In reflection of our
appreciation of teachers, I am reminded of a well-known quote by Henry Adams:
“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”
I still remember the teachers that had a great impact on my life. We are lucky at
Independence Elementary that our school is filled with so many exemplary teachers. These
teachers are passionate and committed to their work with students. Many of you have
already reached out to your teachers to express appreciation. If you haven’t had a chance to
do so, I encourage you and your child to take a moment to express your appreciation of
teachers that work with your child(ren). That appreciation can be as simple as a “thank you”
or a note that sends a message of appreciation of their hard work and dedication as a teacher.
Speaking of teachers, it is also that time of year in which we make decisions regarding which
teachers will teach at each grade level next year. We will post a list of teachers at each grade
level in our end of year newsletter.
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, please take time to reflect on teachers who had an
impact on your life, as well as those who are having an impact on the life of your children.
Here’s to filling many buckets,
Lisa Morris
Principal
SCRATCH DAY 2015
Scratch Day 2015 is coming up soon, May
9th. Last year, Cherry Creek Scratch Day was
one of the largest on the planet with almost
600 participants. This year's registration will
open up this Friday April 10th at 7AM.
Register here: Cherry Creek Scratch Day 2015
FOOD PANTRY
Independence has received a number of food donations in the past month, and
we would like to make sure that these gifts reach our Independence families. If
your family would benefit from our food pantry, please contact the School Social
Worker, Karen Hampel. She is in our building on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Fridays. She can be reached at 720.886.8238 or via email at
khampel@cherrycreekschools.org. In looking ahead to next year, we also have school supplies
available to students who need them. Please contact Karen in August if you need any supplies
so that we can have them ready for the first day of school.
BANCO DE COMIDA
Recibimos muchas donaciones de comida este mes y queremos que las familias de
Independence disfruten de estes regalos. Si su familia se beneficiaría de recibir cualquier
ayuda, por favor que se comunique con la trabajadora social de nuestra escuela, Karen
Hampel. Ella está en la escuela los martes, jueves y viernes. Ella habla español. Se puede
comunicarse con ella a 720.886.8238 o email khampel@cherrycreekschools.org. Tambien
tenemos útiles escolares para el proximo año escolar. Llame a Karen en Agosto para que su
estudiante pueda tener sus cosas listas para el primer día de escuela.
CCSD SUMMER SPORTS AND DRIVERS EDUCATION
CCSD provides sports and drivers' education opportunities. Please see these websites for
information:
www.cherrycreekschools.org/athleticsactivities/summercamps
www.cherrycreekschools.org/athleticsactivities/driversed
NEXT YEAR…
Please see the 2015-2016 Cherry Creek School District calendar (attached) and
on the Independence website. Note that school will be STARTING EARLIER than
usual next year, beginning on THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2015 for Grades 1-5.
Kindergarten will start on MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015. Please plan accordingly.
Do you have a student who will be attending Kindergarten next year? If so, please be sure to
register with the Cherry Creek School District Admissions office, located at 5416 S. Riviera Way
in Centennial. For more information, please visit the district website:
www.cherrycreekschools.org > Student Registration.
PARCC SCHEDULE FOR MAY
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade
9:15am – 11:15am
9:15am – 11:15am
11:00am – 1:00pm
May 11, 13, 15
May 12, 14, 18
May 11, 13, 15
*Parents, please remember to avoid scheduling appointments on testing days if at all possible.
LOST AND FOUND
Are you looking for your child’s coat, gloves, sweatshirt, etc…? It may be in our
Lost and Found. Please stop by to check our Lost and Found. All unclaimed
items will be donated at the end of the school year!
LUNCH LOANS END MAY 15th
Friday, May 15, 2015 is the last day for lunch loans. Beginning on Monday, May
18th, meal accounts will not be allowed to go into a negative balance. Children
will receive an alternative meal if there is not sufficient funds in their account.
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 Independence next school year the medications need to go home
over the summer. Anything left at school will be discarded by June 2nd (last
day of school). When you pick up your students medications I will provide you
with new forms for next school year to have completed over the summer by
your physician. Please remember that any medication that you want available to your child
at school needs to have a Doctor’s order. Medication may only be transported to and from
school by a parent. I cannot send any medications home with the students.
Thank You,
Nurse Ashley
MUSIC NEWS!
ATTENTION INDEPENDENCE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS!!!
The Independence Choir has once again received the huge honor of
singing the National Anthem for a Colorado Rockies game!! The game
they will be singing at is Wednesday, June 17th at 6:40pm. The
Rockies will be playing the Houston Astros and we will be selling $3.00 tickets to the game.
Families will be able to buy/sell as many tickets as they would like! Ticket forms were sent
home with all Independence students on Friday, March 13th. All ticket orders are due by May
22nd. If you have questions about ticket sales, please contact Mr. Caran.
PE NEWS
All Physical Education classes will continue practicing for Field Day. Then
the 3rd-5th graders will begin a Softball unit. Students are allowed to
bring their own baseball/softball gloves, but baseballs/softballs and bats
are not allowed. KG-2nd grade will begin participating in the challenging
Alligator Pit. Please make sure your child brings their athletic style/tennis shoes for all 3 days
of each rotation.
FIELD DAY
1st-5th grade Field Day is scheduled for Friday, May 22. 3rd-5th grade classes will begin at 9:15
am and end by 12:15 pm. 1st-2nd grade classes will begin at 1:00 pm and end by 3:15 pm.
Please make sure that your child has a water bottle, tennis shoes, and sunscreen. If you would
like to volunteer to help with Field Day, please contact Mr. Caran.
Kindergarten Field Day is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26 from 9:15-10:30 am. More
information coming home soon.
COLORADO ROCKIES
Independence Elementary Night with the Colorado Rockies is Wed. June 17 at 6:40 pm. Come
see our Independence Choir perform the National Anthem before the game. Tickets are only
$3 for Upper Level seats. There are extra order forms at the main office. The last day to place
an order is Friday, May 22.
SKATE CITY NEWS
Monday, May 11 is Skate City night and there will be NO FUN BUS!
Summer Skate City Passes will be on sale from May 11th to May 22nd for
$3.00. These passes allow each card holder to skate all summer for $1.00 per
session (plus the skate rental fee of $2.00). Order forms will come home soon. We accept
cash or check. Please make checks payable to Independence PTCO. If you have any questions,
contact Melissa Trujillo @ mtrujillo11@cherrycreekschools.org.
ATTENDANCE
Did you know…. That a student who is late or leaves early by 10 minutes
every day misses 30 hours of instruction over the course of a school year?
If your child is going to be tardy or absent, please call the attendance
line at 720-886-8295 by 9:30am. Calling this number will let you leave a
message faster than calling the front office. If you know your child will be
absent in advance, please let the front office know in addition to your
child’s teacher. Also, please note that students cannot be picked up early from school until a
parent physically comes in and signs them out on the “Student Sign Out” clipboard located at
the front desk. This is to ensure the safety of all the students. Thank you for your help!
DOGS AT SCHOOL
For the safety and protection of all of our students, please remember dogs
are not allowed on school grounds during the school day. If you need to
bring your dog while walking to and from school, please make
arrangements to meet your child at the edge of the school property. We
appreciate your cooperation.
You Are Invited….
What?
Kindergarten Orientation
When?
Thurs. May 7th 2:00-3:00
Where?
Independence Gym
Who?
Parents and their incoming
kindergarteners
Why?
We are excited to meet you and
your soon-to-be kindergartener!
Come with your child to meet our
staff and get valuable
information for the 2015-2016
school year.
Please call with any questions: 720-886-8200
Independence Elementary
Night at Coors Field
See our choir sing the National Anthem
June 17th @6:40 PM vs. Houston Astros
Open to all students, family and friends!
Please return this form with FULL PAYMENT to the main office by: Friday - May 22nd
PLEASE INDICATE NUMBER OF TICKETS DESIRED
Wednesday, June
17th @6:40 pm vs.
Houston Astros
________________ tickets
Upper level $3
$
Children 2 and under do not require a ticket
Name:
Phone
Number:
Teacher:
Cash & Checks made out to Independence only! Tickets are subject to availability.
Hurry! Please return this form to the main office by:
Friday-May 22nd
Tickets
will be
sent
home
by
May
29