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The Knightly News
Week of September 5th
Chapter 96: We are THE Lake Knights
Week at a Glance
- September 5th: Labor Day (no school)
- September 7th: Back to School Night 5:00-7:00 pm
September 14th: Coffee with the Principal 8:00 am
September 14th: Kick off CSC meeting at 4:00 pm
- September 14th: Kick off PTO meeting at 5:00 pm
- September 19th: Picture Day
- September 30th: Lake Only Day (no school for students)
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Message from Principal McDonald
This month we will focus on the virtue of Courage. As Maya Angelou states, “Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.”
At home, please talk with your child about different ways to show courage as a student, a family member, and in your community. Additionally, encouraging students to demonstrate courage through their language such as asking for help, being vulnerable, or advocating for others. At dinner time, go around the table and describe a different way you have demonstrated courage that day or throughout the week.
We will have our first Knighting Ceremony for students and staff that have represented Courage at the end of September! More information coming soon!
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English Language Arts Team Highlight
Lauren Jaffe
Jon Miller
Liza Farnham
Gabrielle DeCristofaro
Becca Chavez
Ken Connelly
English Language Arts Unit Focus
6th Grade English Language Arts:
In 6th grade English Language Arts we will begin our Greek Mythology unit. We will be starting Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riodan. During this unit students will explore mythology from around the world, improve their reading skills and prepare to write a narrative story.
You can support your 6th grader by having them read 30 minutes a day. Your students can read anything they’d like including magazines, graphic novels and comic books. Students have access to the DPS online library Sora, which can be found in their schoology accounts (linked below in “Helpful Resources ”).
7th Grade English Language Arts:
Our 7th grade students will be reading A Long Walk to Water by award-winning author Linda Sue Park. During the unit, students will explore the history of South Sudan and how determination and focus helps people survive both small and large obstacles. We read several nonfiction texts along with the novel, as one of the characters’ experiences is based on a true story. The unit ends in October with students writing a short narrative from a different point of view.
You can support your 7th grader by having them read 30 minutes a day when not at school. This can be anything they’d like - online newspapers, magazines, or graphic novels. It’s also fine if they read aloud to or along with younger relatives. Students have access to the DPS online library Sora, which can be found in their schoology accounts (linked below in Helpful Resources)
8th Grade English Language Arts:
In eighth grade we are reading Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall. During this unit we are exploring mythologies and folktales from our cultures. Students will create their own myth or update an old one, and compare their ideas to the traditional stories.
You can support your students by encouraging them to read every day. Reading together or reading stories you can discuss is a great way to get your students more engaged in what they read. They are welcome to check out books from the school library and we encourage students to ask for books on topics that already interest them.
Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief
A Long Walk to Water
Summer of the Mariposas
All Grade Level Teachers: Bailado/Journalism:
Students are reading their own Independent Reading books. Genres range from contemporary fiction to graphic novels to non-fiction titles. We are busy creating/writing the first edition of our school newsletter “The Lake View” Stay tuned for the Chapter 96 launch.
Lanuage Arts Helpful Resources:
Sora: an online library (books and audiobooks available) https://soraapp.com/library/dpsk12
Infinite campus (You can check your students grades/attendance records, etc) https://myportal.dpsk12.org/
Teacher Contact Information
6th Grade
Lauren Jaffe – Email: Lauren_jaffe@dpsk12.net Phone: 720-507-7737
Jonathan Miller – Email: jon_miller@dpsk12.net
7th Grade
Gabrielle Decristofaro – g_decristofaro@dpsk12.net Phone: 352-238-6412
Liza Farnham- Email: Elizabeth_Farnham@dpsk12.net Phone: 720-530-8169
8th Grade
Ken Connelly – Email: kenneth_connelly@dpsk12.net
Becca Chavez – Email: rebecca_chavez@dpsk12.net
All Grade Levels
Trish Bailado – Email: tharder@dpsk12.net Google Phone: 720.295.2637
Lake Staff: "Knights of Nobility"
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Lake Picture Day
Lake Picture Day is Monday, September 19th!
- Go to https://my.lifetouch.com/my life touch/#/
- Use Lake Picture Day ID: EVTC3MGVC
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September Attendance Challenge
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Self- Management Strategies
September is the month to work on self-management strategies. Some self-management strategies our middle schoolers could be working on developmentally are perseverance and the stop-think-choose strategy.
*We will have more to come on this.. Suicide Prevention Week starts September 4th, 2022
Our students’ well-being and mental health is our priority. We’ve partnered with a local nonprofit, Upstream Education, to ensure all students have the support and tools to support their well-being. Upstream creates easy, evidence-based tools to help students reduce anxiety, strengthen resilience, and enhance well-being in the classroom and beyond. Students learn Upstream’s tools daily in their homeroom classes.
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Cheerleading Tryouts
Cheerleading will have tryouts on Tuesday from 2:45- 3:45 in the gym. No physical is required for tryouts. Please reach out to Amanda_McDonald@dpsk12.net if you have any questions. We will have multiple seasons for cheerleading and 4 coaches throughout the seasons. The coaches will be:
- Amanda McDonald- Principal
- Chris Simmons- Admin Intern
- Darlenne Guerra- Spanish Teacher
- Lauren Jaffe- Language Arts and Science Teacher
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North High School Junior Cheer Camp
Do you have a cheer-crazy kiddo ages Kinder - 8th grade? Sign them up for Denver North Junior Cheer Camp! Click link or see attached flyer for all the details and sign up today! Questions? Email Coach Alyssa at denvernorthcheer@gmail.com https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSektras0kQxipPM7EJjz7WKEIYiAPD1pwGNhgJRoZsVxLSSJQ/viewform
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Student Chromebooks
This year, DPS will be cracking down on negligence that leads to Chromebooks damage. If a student has accidentally damaged their Chromebook, the student will be assessed a $25 dollar fee before another Chromebook can be checked out. If damage has occurred due to negligence, students will be assessed the cost of the damage or a full $280 dollars.
We strongly suggest purchasing a trapper keeper or Chromebook case to protect your Chromebook.
Please reach out to your student’s homeroom teacher for further clarification.
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Lake Athletics
The Lake Athletic Department is looking for donations of used and gently used sports equipment. We are interest in the following:
Cleats (NO Metal Spikes)
Aluminum Softball or Baseball Bats
Volleyball Knee Pads
Soccer Shin Guards
First Aid Ace Bandage and Athletic Tape
If you have something I maybe interested in, email a picture of the equipment to mcoscar@dpsk12.net or call Mr. C at 720 424 0260.
We would also accept a cash donation with everything going to Athletics.
~Thank You Coach C
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Cellphone Policy Reminders
Cell/Mobile phones and other electronic devices (i.e. iPods /MP3 players, tablets, earbuds, smart watches, etc.) are not permitted at school. In order to prioritize learning and promote a healthy and safe school environment, phones will not be allowed during school hours. If your child needs a cellphone for after-school hours, then students are required to turn their cellphone into an adult during homeroom upon arrival. If an electronic device is seen or heard, it will be confiscated. The school is not responsible for any lost, stolen, or confiscated electronic devices. In case of emergency, a phone is available for student use. Additionally, we will be teaching and encouraging students to email/google chat their parents updates and important information through their DPS gmail account.
** We will be following three steps for cellphone confiscations moving forward **
1.First time- a students cellphone is seen and confiscated then there will be a phone call home and a warning. The phone will be given back to the student.
2. Second time- a students cellphone is seen and confiscated then a parent will need to come pick up the cell phone.
3. Third time- a students cellphone is seen and confiscated then a mandatory parent meeting will be set up to discuss cellphone expectations.
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Collaborative School Committee (CSC)
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Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
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As a parent you can access:
- Student Schedule
- Grades
- Attendance
- All Assignments
- Teacher Contacts
- Missing Assignments
- Re-Submit Assignments
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Schedule Changes
If you have scheduling questions or need to request a schedule change for your student, please reach out to Ms. Felsenthal (emily_felsenthal@dpsk12.net).