Edison

Edison Monthly Newsletter - August/September 2025

Sally Whitelock, Principal    Samanta Armijo, Assistant Principal 


A message from the Principal and AP…

We hope you and your family enjoyed a fun, restful summer! We are getting so excited for a fantastic beginning of the school year! Edison staff and teachers are already working hard to set the stage for a fun year of rigorous instruction, project based learning, creative problem solving and lots of learning! We are working hard to capitalize on the strengths we gained from this past year to ensure that all students receive challenging instruction in joyful, supportive, welcoming classrooms.  

We would like to invite caregivers to continue to partner with us in the education of your children. We know you do this daily through conversations about school, reading with your students and helping your students with homework. We hope that you also get involved by joining the PTA and completing a volunteer application so that you can volunteer at school. Please remember that all caregivers/community members must enter the building through the front doors and check-in at the office.

As you begin to plan for the 2025-26 school year, we hope that you will prioritize school attendance. We know that students who have good attendance are much more likely to develop a positive self-concept about school and good work habits, as well as being more likely to be at/above grade level academically. Please support your students and the staff at Edison by planning your vacations when we do not have school. Please be aware of the following dates for the 2025-26 school year:

  • August 13: Back-to-School Open House 3:30-5:30 PM

  • August 18: First day of school for 1st-5th graders and meet-the-teacher for kindergarten

  • August 19: First day of school for ECE and kindergarten students

  • September 1: No school, Labor Day Holiday

  • September 22: No school for students

  • October 13: No school for students

  • October 31: No school for students

  • November 3: No school for Edison students

  • November 24-28: No school for Thanksgiving break

  • December 22-January 6: No school for Winter break (Please note, Edison students do not have school on January 6)

  • January 19: No school, MLK Holiday

  • February 16: No school, Presidents’ Day Holiday

  • February 27: No school for students

  • March 2: No school for Edison students

  • March 30-April 3: No school for Spring break

  • May 1: No school for students

  • May 25: No school, Memorial Day Holiday

  • May 29: Last day of school, school ends at 12:00

Thank you for your continued support and engagement! We are excited for the year ahead!

Sincerely,

Sally Whitelock, Principal

Samantha Aragon, Assistant Principal

Mark Your Calendars

August 6 In-person registration at Edison from 9:00-3:00

August 11     After school Fall enrichment class registration begins today

August 13 Back to School Open House - 3:30-5:30 PM

August 18 Kindergarten assessment & meet the teacher day 

August 18 No school for ECE 

August 18 First day of school for 1st-5th grades 

August 19 First day of school for ECE and kindergarten  

August 19                  Coffee & Kleenex for ECE & Kindergarten caregivers at 8:30 AM

August 22                  Spirit Friday - Dress up day

August 25                  First day of After school enrichment classes

August 28                  Edison night at Skate City

September 1 No School - Labor Day Holiday

September 4             CSC meeting at Edison at 4:00

September 4             PTA meeting Virtual at 5:00 (budget meeting)

September 5             Spirit Friday - Dress up day

September 17           Edison fundraising day at Sweet Cow

September 19 Edison 100 Year Celebration at 4:00 PM

September 22 No school for students (Professional Development day for staff)

September 23           Lifetouch Individual Picture Day

September 26 Eagle Run during the school day

October 2                 CSC meeting Virtual at 4:00

October 2                 PTA meeting, Edison Auditorium, at 5:00

October 3                 Spirit Friday - Dress up day

October 3                 School Tour for prospective families at 9:00 AM

October 8 & 9          Family-teacher conferences at 3:45-7:45 PM

October 13               No School

October 17               School Tour for prospective families at 9:00 AM

October 23               PTA/Family Book club at 8:45 AM - Book, The Anxious Generation

October 24           Fall Festival after school

October 28               Picture Make-up day

October 29               Edison night at Skate City

October 31               No School for students

School lunch menus can be found at: https://www.schoolcafe.com/dps 

  • Click on View Menus (as a guest), then click on Monthly, Select School (Edison), Meal Type (Breakfast or Lunch) and then Traditional Lunch in the next box. The full month doesn’t always populate at the beginning of the month so you might have to check back later in the month.

DPS 2025-26 School year calendar can be found at: https://www.dpsk12.org/page/calendars 

  • Please note that the first day of school for ECE & Kindergarten will be August 19.

  • Edison will have 3 additional non-contact days Nov 3, Jan 6, March 2.

  • Edison bell times for the 2025-26 school year: Start time: 8:25 am, End time: 3:25

Upcoming Edison Events

Back to School Open House

Back-to-school open house will be Wednesday, August 13 from 3:30-5:30 PM.  Please plan to attend Edison’s Back-to-School Open House on August 13 anytime between 3:30 and 5:30 PM. Meet the teacher, see the classroom, drop off school supplies and learn about expectations for the school year. While you are at Edison, grab a treat from the school leadership and specials teams!

Kindergarten Meet-the-Teacher & Assessment Day 

All kindergarten students will need to sign up for an individual meet-the-teacher and assessment which will take place on August 18. Please find your child’s teacher’s name on Parent Portal and then sign up for a time slot at:

First Day of School 

Please plan on students returning to school in the fall on the following days:

  • August 18 First day of school for 1st-5th grades

  • August 19 First day of school for ECE and kindergarten

  • School starts at 8:25 AM and ends at 3:25 PM

Coffee and Kleenex for ECE and Kindergarten Caregivers

Are you a caregiver of an ECE or kindergarten student, dropping off your child at school for the first time? Please bring your cameras/phones to document the first day of school for your kiddos. Also, please join us outside on the playground, on the first day of school, August 19 at 8:30 AM, to meet the PTA and have a cup of coffee.  

Edison Elementary is Turning 100!

Join us as we celebrate a century of learning and community on Friday, September 19th, from 4–6 PM. Explore the rich history of our school with an indoor slideshow, archive exhibit, and self guided walking tour. Outside, enjoy food trucks, a photo booth, and festive fun for all ages. We hope to see you there!

 

Eagle Run

The Eagle Run is Edison’s annual run-a-thon fundraiser and will take place during school on Friday, September 26th. This exciting fundraiser will focus on team-building, health, fitness and reaching personal goals. All Edison students are encouraged to participate, set-goals, cheer on their classmates and run as many 1/8 mile laps as they can during the run. Students are also encouraged to get as many pledges as they can to help us all reach our goals! This year the Eagle Run is raising money for paraprofessionals for the 2026-2027 Edison School Year. We would love to raise $90,000 this year to help out our teachers and students at Edison. 

  • Volunteers needed: We greatly appreciate volunteers to assist with: set up, tear down, handing out bracelets to students, and coordinating this event. If you are interested in volunteering, please keep an eye out for a signup genius coming out in early September. 

  • How do we participate? We need your help to create your student’s personal fundraising page on the GiveSmart platform! Once it's set up, you’ll be able to easily share their unique link via text or email with family, friends, and neighbors to request donations.

    • Prefer to go old-school? We also have paper pledge sheets available. Just reach out to the PTA if you’d like one for your child. ptaedisondenver@gmail.com

  • On September 26th, we encourage our parents, caregivers and community to come cheer on our Eagles.  All students will wear their Edison T-shirt, bring a water bottle and join their classmates to run as many 1/8 mile laps as they can in 25 minutes (ECE and kinder will run for 20). Their laps will be tallied after the run and the rest of their day will resume as usual. Running times:

    • 5th grade – 8:30-9:15

    • 4th grade – 9:15-10:00

    • ECE – 10:05-10:50

    • 3rd grade – 10:50-11:35

    • 1st grade – 1:10-1:55

    • Kindergarten – 1:55-2:40

    • 2nd grade – 2:40-3:25

  • Donations and Pledges are due back by the middle of October.

New: Important Information 

2025-26 Registration

Online Registration for the 2025-2026 school year will take place in July/August. You must have a Parent Portal account to register online. 

  •  If you need to open a Parent Portal account so you can do online registration, as well as have access to other important information about your student, go to myportal.dpsk12.org and click on 'Create an Account'.  You will need your student’s DPS ID# to start your account. You can call Edison's office at 720-424-7780 or email Michelle Miller in the office at michelle_miller@dpsk12.org, or Barbara Schrant at maria_schrant@dpsk12.org, to get your student’s ID#. 

  • If you forgot your Parent Portal password click on the forgot password link. 

  • If you have any other trouble logging in (you must log in at least once every six months to keep your account active), you can ask for help by emailing portalteam@dpsk12.org or calling the portal hotline at 720.423.3163. Only caregivers in the primary household can do registration.

If you do not have computer access you will need to come to Edison to complete your student’s annual registration.  We’ll have registration at Edison on August 6 from 9:00-3:00. If your address has changed please bring a new proof of address (current Xcel or water bill or lease or mortgage statement)or upload the proof with your online registration, and if your child has had additional immunizations please bring an updated record or upload with online registration.  Otherwise all you’ll need are names and phone numbers for anyone you want to be on your child’s emergency/pick up list. 

Additional information:

  • If your student needs to keep medication at school you will need to pick up a new form to be filled out by a caregiver and physician.  These will be available in the Edison office throughout the school year or you can email Michelle and she can send you a copy.

School Supply Lists

School supply lists are available online on Edison’s website at https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4086/edison/5428050/School_supply_list_2025-26.pdf 

After School Edison Enrichment

Welcome to the 2025-2026 Edison Enrichment Program! My name is Valerie Lovato and I am the Coordinator for the Enrichment Program. I am excited to begin a new year and welcome your students into our after school programming. I hope to have a variety of classes that many kids will enjoy. This year, Enrichment classes will be split into 3 trimesters that each last 8 weeks long (with a make up week for weather or emergencies). You will have 2 weeks to register for classes before each session begins. Please mark all enrichment dates in your calendar now. If you have any questions please reach out to me at enrichment4edison@gmail.com   

  • Fall Session:

    • August 11 - After school Fall enrichment class registration begins today

    • August 25 - First day of After school enrichment classes

PTA Book Club

  • The Edison PTA will be hosting an Edison community book club event this fall. We will be reading  The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Save the date for the book discussion on Thursday, October 23, 2025 from 8:45-10:00 a.m. in the Edison amphitheater. Happy reading! 

  • Please RSVP if you think you might be able to join us. 


2025-26 DPS Yellow Bus Transportation

The bus stop locations have been finalized for the Northwest enrollment zone. Your student will be eligible for transportation at any school in the zone as long as they live more than a mile from the school they are attending, or there is a hazardous road they must cross. For more information, please visit https://transportation.dpsk12.org/o/transportation/page/school-closures  or reach out to transportation@dpsk12.org  with any additional questions.


Reminders: Important Information

2025-26 Discover Link Registration

Registration for the 2025-26 school year before/after school Discovery Link opened in April for all families on a first come, first served basis.  Registration is annual; families must register every year. For more information and to register, please go to https://www.dpsk12.org/o/equity/page/discovery-link-before-and-after-school-program 


Volunteering

If you wish to volunteer for Edison this school year - with the PTA, for an event, in the classroom or for chaperoning a field trip -  you must complete the volunteer application (Edison Code: e9x8to9). https://app.sterlingvolunteers.com/en/Candidates/Account/Register

My School Bucks

We would like to encourage all caregivers to sign up with MySchoolBucks through your Parent Portal account. It is easier than ever to pay for field trips, class fees and ECE tuition online with MySchoolBucks. 

Don’t have a Parent Portal account? Go to: https://payonline.dpsk12.org/myschoolbucks-user-guide/#1512664218979-7b61e933-6f42  for steps to create one.

Traffic and Parking

Safety is our first priority at Edison and this starts with drop off and pick up of students. In order to make sure that all students are safe and accounted for at all times, please keep the following in mind:

  • ECE students are to be dropped off and signed-in in the classroom each morning and then picked up and signed-out at the ECE/kindergarten playground each afternoon;

  • Kindergarten students are to be dropped off/picked up on the southeast side of Quitman Street and enter/exit the building with their teachers by the kindergarten playground on the south side of the school;

  • 1st-5th grade students are dropped off/picked up on the playground on the east side of the school or on the northwest side of Perry Street in the Kiss and Go/Greet and Get lane (polka-dotted);

  • School buses park on the east side of the school on the southwest side of Perry Street. Please do not park or even pull over in this area;

  • The parking lot is for DPS staff ONLY, please do NOT park, drop off or pick up students in the parking lot.

  • All parents/community members must enter the building through the front doors, check-in at the office and get a visitor/volunteer badge.

  • Kiss and Go Lane: Caregivers who do not want to park and stay with their 1st-5th grade students on the playground in the morning may drop off their students in the student drop off lane between 8:20 AM and 8:30 AM. We ask caregivers to NOT park in the Kiss and Go /Greet and Get lane on the northwest side of Perry Street, outside the fence by the playground/ community garden. Cars must continue to move and leave the parking lane immediately after dropping off their children.


  • Greet and Get Lane: In order to help with afternoon traffic, caregivers who have 1st-5th grade students can sign up to have their child/ren ready and waiting at the pickup area at 3:30 PM on the northwest side of Perry Street, by the playground/community garden. The following guidelines apply:

    • This is only for cars. Walkers and students whose caregivers park will be picked up on the playground.

    • Caregivers should pull over on Perry Street, stay in their car, and move forward as space allows.

    • Cars may only stop long enough for their child/ren to get into the car.

    • Cars must continue to move and leave the parking lane immediately after picking up their children.

    • Caregivers must pick up children at 3:30 PM. If children are not picked up on time, the teacher will bring them to the office and caregivers will need to find parking and come into the office to pick the students up and sign them out. 

    • Only adults listed on the permission slip will be able to pick students up.

    • Cell phones must not be used in the Greet and Get lane and all Colorado Motor Vehicle laws (seat belts, car seats) must be observed.

    • Caregivers wishing to use the Greet and Get lane will need to give permission by filling out the google form, so teachers will know to send the child to the Greet and Get pick up area at 3:30 PM. 


Supporting the Whole Child at Edison

Mental Health Minute

At Edison Elementary, our goal is to provide a number of comprehensive services to support the academic and personal/social-emotional growth of every student. Edison’s social worker is Haley Stutler, please reach out if you would like social-emotional support for your student.

  • Attendance: We encourage you to start the year with a plan for strong student attendance. Please be aware that DPS has set an attendance expectation of 95% for elementary school students.  It is typical for students to miss six or fewer days of school over the course of the entire school year. If your student misses school 7 days or more during the school year, the school will reach out to you to communicate the need to improve attendance and offer support. EVERY SCHOOL DAY COUNTS and we are here to help should you need any support ensuring your child is in class and ready to learn by the time the school bell rings every day. 

A Message from our PTA…

The Edison PTA has been hard at work this year!  We are so proud of our community! 

A few things we are working on for this school year are….

  • Back-to-school open house

  • Eagle Run

  • Edison 100 year celebration

  • Caregiver involvement and inclusion

  • and more!


PTA Meetings will be in person and virtual this year, so come and join us! 

Our next meeting is September 4 at 5:00 pm- Virtual. 

Do you have questions or suggestions for Edison’s PTA?

  • Please email a board member (email addresses below)

  • Please find a PTA board member on the playground 

  • Please join us at a PTA meeting

Edison PTA Website:

Check out our website.  Sign ups for the committees are on the website. 

www.EdisonPTADenver.org

To contribute directly to our fundraising efforts, you can give through any of these convenient methods:

Thank you for being a valued part of the Edison Community!


Connect with us online or through social media at:

Facebook – Edison Elementary Denver

Instagram - @edisonelementarydenver

Online - https://edisonptadenver.org/ 


PTA Board:

Committee Chairs

Opportunities to GIVE to Edison

Some families are in a position to support their child’s learning at home, others can support through volunteering time, and some through financial donation. To give a sense of scope, if each Edison family were to donate $500 per student per year, Edison could fund all of our fundraising initiatives.

Edison’s first fundraising event of the school year:

  • Eagle Run: A fun event that occurs in the Fall where each grade runs laps around the Edison field with music, posters, and class camaraderie!  Money raised during the Eagle Run funds salaries for essential, dependable paraprofessional support in Edison’s classrooms. In September, your child will receive a donation tracker; this is a great event for donation by grandparents, neighbors, or other supportive adults in your child’s life. 

  • Fall Fest: The monies raised from this fun, community event, through ticket sales, support teachers with supplies and celebrations in their classrooms throughout the year.

  • Read-A-Thon: This occurs during winter break and  raises money for books in the Edison library, class libraries, and for subscriptions used in support of reading teaching efforts, while encouraging students to keep reading during a break from school. This is another great event for donation by grandparents, neighbors, or other supportive adults in your child’s life. 

  • EdFest: Edison’s yearly adult-only fundraiser, auction, and party raises money for the PTA General Fund to pay for online educational subscriptions, enrichment day, field trip transportation, Edison t-shirts for new students, community events, after school tutoring, enrichment scholarships and much more! 

Additional ways to give money to Edison’s PTA:

  • Direct Donation: You may always make a one-time or set up a regular donation through PayPal, Venmo, Square, or a check. Check to see if your employer provides matching of qualified contributions made; Edison’s PTA is a qualified 501c3 organization! Monies raised through the Direct Ask Campaign are the easiest and most direct ways to support student learning for all learners.

  • King Soopers Rewards: Register Edison PTA as your Community Rewards partner for King Soopers! How do I enroll? 

  1. Go to www.kingsoopers.com 

  2. Sign-in to your digital account (or create one if needed)

  3. Select ‘Community Rewards’ from the side menu

  4. Enter ‘Edison Elementary PTA’ into the ‘Find an Organization’ search box

  5. Find ‘Edison Elementary PTA’ with address 3350 Quitman St, Denver, CO 80212 and select ‘Enroll’

  • Donors Choose: Check out the many Donors Choose projects that teachers have posted on Donorschoose.org and donate. You can find all current projects through the link on Edison’s home page at http://edison.dpsk12.org/

  • Mabel’s Labels: Custom waterproof labels for water bottles, clothes, ANYTHING! Edison received 20% back on ALL purchases. Use the link below and type in Edison Elementary, Denver and the labels ship directly to you!  https://mabelslabels.com/en_US/fundraising/support/

  • Minted: Enjoy 20% off Minted’s unique stationery, children’s art, and gifts when you shop using our exclusive discount code, and they’ll donate 15% back to us.  Use the link below and code FundraiseEdisonCo https://www.minted.com/holiday

We appreciate your continued support!

Community Resources and Important School Information


For Students


For Caregivers



Important School Information

The Edison school day  is 8:25-3:25 

  • Breakfast - 8:00-8:25

  • No supervision on the playground before school


Attendance Line: 720-424-7784 (Please call and leave a message w/ student name, teacher name, reason for absence) or log absence on Parent Portal through myportal.dpsk12.org 

School lunch menus can be found at: https://www.dpsk12.org/o/foodservices/page/lunch-menus 

  • Scroll down below the picture and choose your language under Elementary School


Discovery Link information: https://elcs.dpsk12.org/page/discovery-link-before-and-after-school-program 


Volunteer Application: If you wish to volunteer for Edison this school year, you must complete the volunteer application (Edison Code: e9x8to9). https://app.sterlingvolunteers.com/en/Candidates/Account/Register


DPS 2025-26 school calendar: https://www.dpsk12.org/page/calendars 


Please be aware of the following dates for the 2025-26 school year:

  • August 13: Back-to-School Open House 3:30-5:30 PM

  • August 18: First day of school for 1st-5th graders and meet-the-teacher for kindergarten

  • August 19: First day of school for ECE and kindergarten students

  • September 1: No school, Labor Day Holiday

  • September 22: No school for students

  • October 13: No school for students

  • October 31: No school for students

  • November 3: No school for Edison students

  • November 24-28: No school for Thanksgiving break

  • December 22-January 6: No school for Winter break (Please note, Edison students do not have school on January 6)

  • January 19: No school, MLK Holiday

  • February 16: No school, Presidents’ Day Holiday

  • February 27: No school for students

  • March 2: No school for Edison students

  • March 30-April 3: No school for Spring break

  • May 1: No school for students

  • May 25: No school, Memorial Day Holiday

  • May 29: Last day of school, school ends at 12:00


Edison Elementary