PTA Meeting

Join us for the PTA Meeting on Tuesday, May 14th in the Art Room! (We are making a move due to the Book Fair in the Library.) 

If you are not able to attend in person, join us via zoom using this link.

Teacher and Staff Shout-Outs

Our kids are learning from the best when it comes to the UPark Owl Core Values - Responsibility, Respect, Caring, Cooperation, and Joy. In honor of teacher appreciation week, let’s have some fun and present the UPark staff with their own Owl Tickets for showing wise owl values. Complete this form to shout-out as many staff members as you can. We will turn these shout-outs into “Owl Tickets” for the teachers and staff. We will surprise them by hanging these Owl Tickets on their doors! Please complete forms by Friday, May 17th.

Fun Run and Carnival

The Fun Run and Carnival will take place on Sunday, May 19th from 10:00am-1:30pm. The deadline for T-shirt orders has passed, but a limited number of shirts will be available for purchase at registration on the day of the event. Carnival wristbands and Lunch tickets are still available! Click here to join in the FUN at this favorite UPark tradition! 

The Fun Run and Carnival is not possible without the support of volunteers. Click here to see available shifts. We really need everyone to participate to make this event a success! Older students and UPark alumni are also welcome to volunteer!

Fun Run and Carnival scholarships are available by contacting Alicia Vega. 

Get ready for the Fun Run by joining us for before school running! Students will run laps around the track from 8:30-8:45am Tuesday, May 14-Friday, May 17th to earn charms.

May Spirit Fridays!

Friday, May 10th- Dress to Impress: Wear your fanciest attire 

Friday, May 17th- Fun Run Day: Wear your Fun Run t-shirt or UPark colors

Friday, May 24th- Disney Day: Wear your favorite Disney shirt (Star Wars, Marvel, princess, etc.)

Friday, May 31st- Freaky Friday: Come in your best mismatched outfit

Book Fair

The Spring Book Fair will return Tuesday, May 14th through Friday, May 17th in the UPark Library! Families are welcome to shop before school from 8:00am- 9:00am, and after school from 3:50-4:30 pm, with extended hours for Art Night on Thursday, May 16th. 

Please volunteer here to help make the Book Fair a success! 

4th Grade Performances

All 4th Grade Students and Families, please join us for our Colorado Musical performances during Art Night on Thursday, May 16th! The live auditorium performance schedule will be as follows:

5:00-5:30 p.m. Ms. Morton's Class (arrive 4:50)

5:45-6:15 p.m. Ms. Rau's Class (arrive 5:35)

6:30-7:00 p.m. Ms. Randall's Class (arrive 6:20)

Students will need to attend the performance time of the class they attend Specials with. Questions about this? Please reach out to Mrs. Ludwig.

• Enter through the staff parking lot doors on East Iliff Avenue at arrival time.
• Audience members wait in the gym until the announcement that the auditorium house is open for seating.
• Student performers meet in the homeroom class they attend Specials with.
• Students meet families in the office hallway after the performance.
• Families exit through the main doors on South Saint Paul Street after the performance. 

Students should wear blue jeans and will be provided a solid red, blue, or yellow shirt to represent the Colorado flag. All students should make themselves available from 5:00-7:00 that evening so that we have understudies if we need to call on them, as all classes will be performing the same show. 4th Grade students and families may attend Art Night before and/or after their performance.

Art Night



Mark your calendar for UPark's Art Night on Thursday, May 16th from 5:00-7:00pm! Click here to volunteer! 

Yearbook Signing Party!

Mark your calendars for our yearbook signing party! It will be after school, on the blacktop, on Friday, May 17th. Yearbook orders will be distributed to classrooms that day. Yearbooks will also be available for purchase at the signing party. A special guest will be here to say hi to everyone!

Online Registration for 2024-25 is Open!

Current DPS families – update your student’s information online! By completing this process using your Parent Portal account during the early bird window, you can avoid paper forms and save time at the school during the fall return. All SchoolChoice applicants must have an accepted seat prior to registering their student. Select one of the windows available to register your student(s) online for 2024-25:  

• The “Early Bird” window, May 6-24 (we would love to get as many current families to complete early bird as possible so we are better set up for next school year!)
• Current year, late July-August 28

To register online, primary legal guardians of current DPS students must have an active DPS Parent Portal account. Visit myportal.dpsk12.org to sign up, or to check that your account is active and ready.

• For full instructions on completing Online Registration view the Family Navigation Guide here (provided in all consent decree languages).
• View the Online Registration Flyer here.

For more information on how to complete online registration, contact the front office or visit schoolchoice.dpsk12.org.

**New University Park families -- you too can register online! View the information above. You will need your child's student ID to create the Parent Portal account to complete this registration process. Contact the main office or email studentidretrieval@dpsk12.org to request it.**

Are You or Someone You Know Interested in Joining the UPark Team?

We are looking for a half time Mild Moderate / Special Education teacher and have a Special Education paraprofessional position open. If you know anyone interested in joining the UPark team, please ask them to apply online and reach out directly to Eric for more information.

2024-25 DPS/UPark Calendar

University Park has been approved for the 2 UPark specific planning days that we will use next school year to plan for instruction. These are no school days for students and have been added to our school calendar. Please view the complete 2024-25 DPS/UPark Calendar here as you plan for next school year.

ELCSports Summer Camp - Space Still Available!

Extended Learning and Community Schools is proud to launch their first-ever sport-focused summer camp at South High School! These weekly camps will help students build athletic skills and prepare them for ELCSports - DPS' only district-run elementary sports league. For more information and to register, click here. If you have any questions, please reach out to elcsports@dpsk12.net.

May 6th Discovery Link Camp Day

Hi UPark Discovery Link Families,

Discovery Link will be having a UPark only camp day on May 6th, 2024 from 7am to 5:30 pm. The option to choose this day is available on your School Care Works account and you can pick this day like a regular discovery link day choice. More information will be sent out to each family signed up closer to the date of camp pertaining to the activities we will be doing and what your student will need for camp.

Any questions or concerns reach out to Kali_Pacheco@dpsk12.net 

Please also save the date for 2024-25 Discovery Link registration. Registration opens on May 17th at 6am and will remain open until all student spots are filled. Once they are filled you will be placed on our waiting list and notified when a space is available for your student to attend. The registration fee for one student will be $50. If you are a household with multiple students that fee will be $75. Returning families will just follow the same process as always if you are a new family you will create a profile as you register. Below I've linked the website to visit once registration opens up!

https://elcs.dpsk12.org/o/equity/page/discovery-link-before-and-after-school-program 

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to the Program Supervisor Kali Pacheco through her email below. We look forward to having all our new and returning Owls for the 24-25 school year!!

Kali_Pacheco@dpsk12.net

UPark Staff Updates

Sarah Gilmore-Current KG Teacher Coming Back for 2nd Grade!

We are incredibly excited to announce that Ms. Gilmore has had an unexpected change of plans and will be staying at University Park as a 2nd grade teacher next school year! We feel super lucky to be able to have her continue helping our Owls grow.

Sarah Harb - New Kindergarten Teacher

We are thrilled to have hired Sarah Harb as Kindergarten teacher for the 2024-25 school year!

Hi I’m Sarah Harb and I am so excited to be officially part of the UPark team starting next school year! I am from Knoxville, Tennessee, and I moved to Denver about a year and a half ago when I graduated from Auburn University. I love baking, hiking, fishing, playing card games, and I’m learning to play the ukulele! I’m so grateful for everything I’ve learned and experienced this year at UPark and I can’t wait to build on that this next year.

Jenny Ardourel - New Multilingual Education Teacher

With Ms. Ritz's retirement at the end of this school year, we are excited to announce that Jenny Ardourel has been hired to start at UPark in the fall!

Hi! My name is Jenny Ardourel, and I am excited to be a part of the UPark team this coming fall. I am mom to Brooks (7), Charlie (4) and Rosey (1.5), Peruvian American, a proud Colorado native, and a dedicated educator. I attended Cherry Creek HS and the University of Northern Colorado, where I met my husband Ryan, and graduated with a degree in Elementary Ed and an Emphasis in English Language Development. I began my teaching career with DPS in 2009 and spent 13 years teaching kindergarten and first grade at Brown International. In 2023, seeking a new adventure closer to home, I became the MLE teacher at Southmoor Elementary. This past year has sparked new passion into my soul working so closely with multilingual students, newcomers, and the opportunity to speak Spanish on a daily basis. I am incredibly grateful to continue the MLE journey here at University Park. I bring a deep belief in the power of connection, community, and the importance of fostering an inclusive and welcoming learning environment for all students and their families. Wishing you all a wonderful end to the school year, and moments to recharge and rest this summer. I look forward to connecting soon!