Hello Columbine Community!

Newsletter Quick Hits:

❤️🍎Teacher Appreciation Week
💛Kindness Campaign Has Begun!
🫱🏻‍🫲🏼CSC meeting May 21st at 5:00pm in the Columbine library
🌎Better World Day JOY!

Old News:

Upcoming and End of Year Dates
🌸 Celebrating AAPI Month in May
Black Excellence Planning Series - Next Tuesday, May 13th @ 5:30

Attendance 📈

Our school wide attendance target for the end of the year is 93%. We are currently at 91.4% which means that over the next few months, everyday student attendance is critical! If your child is healthy, please send them to school, on time, and pick them up at the end of the day.

Last week our attendance was 91%!!

Let’s get this back up!

❤️🍎Teacher Appreciation Week

Please join me in recognizing and celebrating our amazing educators at Columbine this week. Our crew is nothing short of amazing and they show up each and everyday with heart and determination to be their best and do their best for our students. I am grateful to work with this crew everyday, and this is a dedicated week to shower them with some extra love. PTA has some special celebrations planned for our teachers and our paraprofessionals all week. If you're looking for how to get involved, please reach out to our PTA.

Acts of Kindness Fundraiser is Live!

At Columbine, we believe in growing students who are not only curious thinkers, creative problem-solvers, and deep learners—but also compassionate, kind, and connected to their communities. That’s why I’m so excited to share the launch of the Acts of Kindness Fundraiser, led by the Columbine Cougars PTA, running from May 3 through May 24!

During this time, students are encouraged to complete acts of kindness—big or small—for friends, family, neighbors, and their community. Whether it’s picking up litter, helping with a sibling’s chores, writing a thank-you note, or simply saying something kind, this is a chance for our Cougars to show their big hearts and practice empathy in action.

The PTA is aiming to raise $24,000, with the majority of funds supporting Expeditionary Learning (EL)—our model for meaningful, real-world learning. This fundraiser beautifully aligns with our LEAP values—Leadership, Empathy, Ambition, and Positive Mindset—and reflects our commitment to developing students who lead with curiosity and compassion. With support from the Columbine PTA and our incredible EL Committee, this campaign helps fund field experiences, classroom enrichments, and guest speakers that bring learning to life and transform our students into scientists, historians, artists, and changemakers. Every student is welcome to participate, whether or not they collect donations. This is about practicing kindness, building character, and serving others—core elements of both our EL design and the heart of the Columbine community.

As we look ahead to next year, we’ll be rolling out new EL modules across all grade levels, which means we are in need of additional support for materials, teacher training, and new field experiences to bring those modules to life. In addition, the cost of buses and fieldwork opportunities continues to rise, making this fundraiser especially important in ensuring every student can access these rich learning experiences.

Another exciting update: next year, we will be moving our music program from upstairs to the auditorium stage to make space for another classroom. The PTA is helping to furnish this new music space—a much-needed investment that will ensure our music program continues to grow and thrive.

Here’s how you can support:

Help your student register at my.raisecraze.com/ANNNYYHW
Encourage them to choose 3–5 (or more!) acts of kindness to complete
Help them share the fundraiser with family and friends to find sponsors

And yes… there will be prizes! Let’s just say... some top-performing students might get to dunk a teacher or staff member in a dunk tank during Field Day Stay tuned for more from the PTA soon!

Thank you for helping us build a community of learners who lift one another up. Let’s LEAP into kindness together!

Columbine CSC Minutes

For the 25-26 school year, we will have two open positions for community members on our CSC. In our notes you can see the details of the election and voting process and timeline. If you are interested in joining our CSC next year, I encourage you to attend the May meeting on May 21st at 5:00 in the Columbine library. Or join virtually here!

Better World Day Celebration!!

In Crew,
Corey 💙💛

corey_jenks@dpsk12.net

OLD NEWS

🌸 Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month at Columbine! 🌸

At Columbine, we are proud to honor the rich history, culture, and contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities during the month of May. Throughout the month, students will engage in a special school wide project designed to celebrate AAPI innovation in fun and meaningful ways.

Each crew will explore an Asian invention. Some will learn the art of origami, some will try out Tai Chi movements, discover the history of ramen, fireworks, or even video game systems like Nintendo and PlayStation! Whether through hands-on activities, research projects, or classroom discussions, our students will deepen their understanding of the many ways AAPI innovators and creators have shaped our world.

Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month: Events Around Denver

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month around Denver!
Here are a few family-friendly events:

AAPI Culture Fest & Night Market
📍 Civic Center Park | 📅 May 16 | 🕔 5–10 PM
Cultural performances, food, and art auction. Free!
AAPI Art & Culture Fest
📍 McNichols Civic Center Building | 📅 May 11 | 🕙 10 AM–4 PM
Live performances, art, and food vendors. Free!
"201 Kimonos" Exhibit
📍 McNichols Building | 📅 Opens May 12
Explore traditional Japanese textiles. Free!
Denver AAPI Public Art Tour
📍 Throughout Denver | 📅 All May
Self-guided tour of AAPI artists' public works. Free!

👉 Learn more here!

Help Create Our 25-26 Black Excellence Plan ✨

In March, we launched a six-session series for families to collaborate in writing our 2025-26 Black Excellence Plan. Your voices and perspectives are essential in ensuring we build a plan that uplifts and supports our Black students and their success. Here is a flyer for each upcoming session.

Upcoming and End of Year Events

May Events:

May 5 - Teacher Appreciation Week!

May 6 - 4th Grade Field Trip

May 6 - Columbine Band Performance

May 6 - Nurse Appreciation Day

May 7 - MIA Field Trip

May 7-May 9 - 5th Grade Field Work in Buena Vista

May 9 - Columbine Planning Day - No Students

May 12 (week)- Final iReady Reading Diagnostic

May 13 - Kinder FIeld Trip to the Zoo

May 13th - Black Excellence Session 5:30-7:30

May 14 - 2nd Grade COL @ 2:45

May 14 - EL Learning Walk #3

May 16 - Coffee with Corey

May 19 (week)- Final iReady Math Diagnostic

May 19 - 1st Grade Field Trip to Sand Creek Park

May 21st - CSC @ 5 PTA @ 6:30

May 22 - Talent Show

May 23 - 1st Grade COL 2:45

May 23 - SOTM

May 26 - Memorial Day - no school!

May 27 - Fun Run / Field Day

May 28 - Field Day (rain day)

May 29th - Black Excellence Session 5:30-7:30

May 30- Kinder Continuation (10am) ECE Continuation (1am); READ Plan Updates and Bridge Plans due

June 2 - 5th Grade Continuation (10am)

June 3 - Half Day / Last Day DIsmissal at 11:30

Community Resource Team

If you are looking for resources, book recommendations, and entry points into the essential learning about race, gentrification, cultural competency, and racial history in our country, the CR team has compiled a recommended book list.

2025 CR booklist for adults

Black History & books about the Black experience for children

https://blackfarmersindex.com/

Looking to stay in touch? Follow some of our Columbine Elementary social media accounts.

columbine_cougars dadsofcolumbine columbinecougarspta

Community Newsletter 5-4-25

Community Newsletter 4-28-25