Dear Columbine Families,
Yesterday marked the start of Hispanic Heritage Month! From September 15 to October 15, we get to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. While we honor and uplift our Hispanic and Latino students, families, and staff all year long, this month gives us an extra opportunity to recognize the incredible impact Hispanic and Latin communities, leaders, and trailblazers have had on shaping our country through advocacy, science, art, food, literature, music, public service, and so much more.
As we celebrate here at Columbine, we will be intentional about lifting up the voices, identities, and stories of our students and families who carry this vibrant legacy with them every day.
This Friday, we will be holding our first lockdown drill of the school year. At Columbine, we put a great deal of care and attention into preparing our students so that these drills feel calm, safe, and supportive. Our goal is always to set students up for success helping them understand the importance of safety while ensuring the experience is developmentally appropriate and reassuring.
If you have specific questions about what a lockdown drill looks like for your child, please reach out to your child’s teacher.
In Crew,
Corey
Don’t have time to read the whole thing? Read the Quick Hits!
September 15th - First Day of Hispanic Heritage Month September 17th - CSC meeting 4:30-6:15 - Columbine Library (virtual link here) September 17th - PTA meeting 6:30-7:30 - Columbine Library dinner and childcare provided (virtual link here) September 19th - Coffee with Corey - library 8-9 September 19th - Semester One Lockdown Drill 2-3 (info below) September 22nd - DPS Professional Learning Day - NO SCHOOL! September 26 - Student of the Month October 1st - Family/Educator Conferences 3:45-7:45 October 7th - Family/Educator Conferences 3:45-7:45
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Key Dates
Calling for Volunteers!
Action Items:
Reach out with any interest in volunteering for : Library, or Recess/Lunch volunteers
Remember to always check your child’s Thursday Folder and send it back to school on Friday!
CSC and PTA
| Tomorrow, September 17th from 4:30-6:00pm we will have our first CSC meeting of the year in the library. You can also access the meeting using this virtual link. Congratulations to our CSC nominees for this school year. Below are the CSC members: Danielle Jackson (parent of a 4th grader) Amy MacFarlane (parent of a 2nd and 4th grader) Will Lee-Ashley (parents of a 3rd grader) Kim Chatman (parent of a 3rd grader) Anand Krishnaswamy (parent of a ECE 4 and 2nd grader) Victoria Scott-Haynes (community member) Julia Puckett (5th grade/STL) Kirby Sypek (1st grade) Corey Jenks (principal) CSC Agenda (English and Spanish) Following CSC will be our PTA meeting in the library from 6:30-7:30. You can also access the meeting using this virtual link. Childcare and Dinner Provided! |
Lockdown Drill 9.19
| Columbine Emergency Procedures Information We had our first fire drill in August! We will have a fire drill each month of the school year as a state requirement. We will also have two lockdown drills, one in Semester One and one in Semester Two. Our first lockdown drill will be on September 19th sometime between 2:00-4:00. Please read through our Emergency Procedure Information so that you can talk with your kiddo about what this drill will look like. We are committed to ensuring we create the best environment, support, and protocols possible for our students and staff. Below are resources to get started in anticipating our drill. What are the DPS Standard Procedures for Drills? Families: Tips for talking to children about violence - National Association of School Psychologists Colorado School Safety Resource Center - Trauma-Informed Drill Resources |
Event Recap! | Walk-up Wednesday was a huge success! We know what to expect now, and will have more offerings on October 8th . If you signed-up for diapers, you will receive a call about your specific needs. Black Excellence Intro Event: The group that assembled discussed our plan, what data we have requested from the school & why, and new initiatives that we hope will increase interest. Complete this form to learn more. Hispanic Heritage Month kick-off & Mexico Independence Day Celebration: What a spectacular community celebration of love, food & cultural pride. Pictures are attached. Thanks to the many generous families who made this possible. Thank you Columbine families for supporting these events. A special thanks to our Facilities Crew & to those who helped set-up or contributed, in any way, to these events. |
Parent Volunteer Opportunity! | At Columbine, our core commitment is to ensuring the safety, well-being, and growth of every child. That includes both the physical safety we uphold through background checks and district procedures, and the emotional and psychological safety we create by ensuring that every adult who interacts with our students contributes to an environment where children feel respected, valued, and seen. Please note that all volunteers will need to watch a 30 minute virtual training, will need to have a current background check on file with DPS, and are highly encouraged to take the IDI (Intercultural Development Inventory) assessment. We already have 6 families signed up to take the IDI this year! If you are interested, please reach out directly to Ellen Miller-Brown ellenmb00@gmail.com |
OLD NEWS | |
Calendars & Non-Student Contact Days | You can view the 2025–2026 DPS District Calendar [linked here]. In addition to district-wide non-student contact days, Columbine students will also not attend school on:
Discovery Link will provide full-day care options for ECE–5th grade on both days. ECE-only additional closure dates:
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Building Access & Afternoon Pick-Up Policy | To keep our school safe and running smoothly:
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In Crew,
Corey Jenks
Principal, Columbine Elementary