Enrollment
Please refer to the Enrollment tab for Jeffco Open Enrollment Info.
Jeffco Second Round Choice begins Tuesday, February 19. Applications will be accepted February 19 – August 30 for the 2013 – 2014 school year.
Saturday, June 15…Preschool through Grade 8, School Tour…10:00am
Thank you for visiting our site…we look forward to meeting with you!
Weekly Letter – October 6, 2012
Dear Mountain Phoenix Families…
Upcoming Events
Monday, October 8: Fast Media, Media Fast Seminar (Visit Website – Calendar of Events)
Tuesday, October 9: Parent Council Meeting…6:30pm
Friday, October 12: NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, October 17: Class Group Picture Day
Saturday, October 20: Harvest Festival
Friday Folders
• Student Directory Info (Please return form if you do not wish to have you phone number added to the directory.)
• Parent Council Mtg (Lantern Walk Info for grades K-2 & Council/Committee Mtg Updates)
• Class Pictures Form (Return form & payment on October 17, to your child’s teacher.)
• Harvest Festival Flyer (note time change to 2:00pm – 6:00pm)
• Chinook Book Flyer (on flipside of Harvest Fest flyer – Books are available in the office now – $15 Book; $10 Phone App.)
From Senora Cahoone
I would like to invite all families at MPCS to celebrate an early Dia de los Muertos at the CHAC gallery on Santa Fe Blvd on Oct 19th from 6-9 p.m. We have three 6th grade girls who have entered some lovely pieces for this event!: Alexandra Ansbacher, Nasiya Gallegos-Lock and Sasha Pettus. More information at: www.chacweb.org
Marketing Team
In an ongoing effort to share our school with the larger community, we need your help. Please go to GreatSchools.Org and rate MPCS. This will boost our credibility both online and locally. Parents who complete this by Oct. 15th will earn 1 volunteer hour. Send an email to Andye@RocknRollShaman.com once this is complete so we can track your time.
Also, please share this link on Facebook to further connect families seeking our wonderful program.
http://www.greatschools.org/colorado/wheat-ridge/4256-Mountain-Phoenix-Community-School—Wheat-Ridge/ …Thank you!
Notes from the Office
• Attendance: Thank you for continuing to call your child in when he/she is not well and checking in with the office when you are late…If we do not see or hear from you, these will be counted as unexcused absence/tardy.
• October 12 Conferences: If you are in need of childcare during your conference, please contact your teacher or class rep by Wednesday, October 10 – we need to know an idea of how many children to expect in order to staff adequately. (Donations will be accepted and used towards Before/After Care Program)
• Upcoming Craft Groups: Visit Website – Events Page for more info)
• Photo Reminder: Please share pictures you take during school activities, events, P.E., day-to-day around campus, etc…we will be using them to update the website throughout the year, as well as for the school yearbook. Save to a disk (jpeg) or email to Julie at kalindilfow@yahoo.com
• Fun Run: Many thanks and cheers to our spirited runners! It was a beautiful day – Congrats to your success! Remember to turn your pledges in on Monday in your Friday Folder. Please contact your teacher or parent rep if you need to find out how many laps your child(ren) ran. Big thanks to Ms. Ince and Cathy Weigum for the personalized medals and certificates, too!
Here’s to another fun-filled Fall week around campus!
MPCS Administration
Notes from the Principal…September 28, 2012
Dear MPCS Parents,
Fun Run Monday, October 1: See you at the park across from the school between 10:00 and noon for the Annual Fun Run. Children should wear good running shoes and come prepared with a good lunch or picnic. Parents are encouraged to join us as we celebrate Count Day by running for the school. This weekend is a last chance to gather those pledges. Thank you for supporting this
exciting event!
Burritos for Sale at Fun Run: Mr. Smith’s 7th & 8th Grade Students will have their famous burritos for sale if you want a yummy, yet easy lunch after the Fun Run. Many types to choose from!
Michaelmas—In Waldorf schools across the country, Michaelmas is celebrated with a festival that includes the slaying or taming of “the dragon”. If you were at last year’s Harvest Festival, you saw the great dragon that was slain in the story, George & the Dragon. Perhaps we’ll see him this year, as well. Michael represents the courage & strength needed to confront evil and transform it for good. It is a reminder we should do the same through confronting our lower nature with the courage to transform it.
Harvest Faire is Coming October 20: Check out the website and Friday folders for details. Don’t miss this wonderful community event. Look for details in Friday folders or from your Parent Reps.
Academic Achievement at MPCS: MPCS is dedicated to teaching excellent academic skills. To accomplish this, students have been assessed to understand exactly where their needs are in literacy and math. Teachers will be presenting this data to you in Parent/Teacher Conferences. Groups have been formed throughout the day on Monday through Thursday to focus on these skills. Teachers have been working with our new Tutors or Group Leaders, otherwise known as Wizards or Interventionists, to support students where they are, to assure gaps are filled in their learning and so they can make excellent progress in these areas. Groups include those for advanced students and those below grade level. Ask your child’s teacher for a copy of the Class Schedule at your Parent Conference.
Pick-up for Older Siblings in Woodhenge is working well! Thank you all for supporting this change. Cathy Weigum is supervising the students now.
Bully-Proofing Our School gets underway formally this coming week: One might more appropriately call it community building for children. We will be sharing different parts of this curriculum each week (or every other week depending on the depth needed for each topic) in Friday folders, so parents can help out by talking about these topics at home. They will also be posted on-line under Anti-Bullying Program. Kim Bishop is our faculty member in charge of organizing these each week.
Volunteer Orientation October 2 at 8:45 in the Eurythmy Room:
To volunteer in classrooms, the office, or on the playground, parents must attend this short orientation to become aware of their responsibilities, the school’s philosophies and rules for volunteering in potentially confidential situations. Please join us so you can begin volunteering in these ways. Other orientations will be planned but please try to attend this one if you can. Thanks!
Supervision of Children After School is a Concern: When attending a meeting or Parent Conference, we ask that parents provide supervision for their children. This is a safety issue at our school. One parent might be designated to supervise the children, while the others attend the meeting. Another option is to check children into our After Care Program, led by Janell Ince. A fee is required to use this program, so get your punch cards in Dee’s office upstairs in the Admin. building. It is necessary to supervise children playing after school. So, parents who meet to talk after school, should meet at the green picnic tables so they can supervise their children on the blue and orange play structure between the barn and the back of the Administration building. The large play area must be available for our students in the After Care Program by 4:00. Thank you for keeping your children safe by following these simple requests.
After Care Program for the Older Children needs picture frames, any shape, sizes 4×6 or 5×7. Thanks!
Staff Appreciation Committee needs volunteers to provide snack at Staff Meetings on Fridays after school. Please use Sign-up Genius at this link to take a turn. http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0949A8A6229-teacher The staff really enjoys this appreciation!
From the Parent Council: Please dry corn husks before bringing them in for Harvest Festival. Bins are labeled in the School Store. Needed are more corn husks, ribbon, raffia and baby food jars. Thank you! Although e-mail communications got out of hand this week, we are meeting to correct this situation.
Traffic Volunteers are making a difference! Thanks again to the wonderful traffic volunteers. You are making the end of school run so smoothly and safely. You are appreciated!
Best wishes to you all! Dr. Long
Weekly Letter – September 21, 2012
Good Evening, Mountain Phoenix Community…
Another awesome week at MPCS! So much joy is shared between children, parents and staff—thank you for all your hard-work and dedication!
Upcoming Events
September 25: Picture Day (No worries…Ms. Cain’s class will be taking their pictures first thing at 8:30am–& then on to the field trip!)
September 25: School Open House & Tour…9am & 5pm
October 1: Fun Run & Count Day
October 17: Class Picture Day
November 1: Picture Re-take Day
Friday Folders
Grandparents & Significant Adult Day Form (pink paper) To best prepare for this special occasion, we ask that you return this form asap…Suzy Kumley has already begun work on lovely, handmade invitations.
PreK – Grade 6 received a Burrito Order Form today (green paper). This is a fundraising effort from Dave Smith’s 7/8 Grade class in support of their end of the year trip. Many fingers are busily working to create some great-tasting and easy solutions for those early mornings! Please find attached to this email a letter explaining all the details!
Notes from the Office
Absences/Tardies: If your child is absent, please call the Attendance Line: 303.728.9100 x.4 No absence is excused without your verbal or written explanation. If your child is tardy, you need to walk him/her into school and sign-in at the office.
Medications: If your child needs to take any medication during school hours, you must complete the proper paperwork (signed by a doctor) and supply original, unopened packaging. We are unable to accept/administer any medication without proper documentation.
Fun Run: Don’t forget the Fun Run is just 1 week away—Monday, October 1! This is an exciting event for EVERY child at MPCS, PreK through 8th Grade! Fill that pledge card with as many pledges as you can from your friends, family and neighbors. Near and far, you can send an email to those out-of-town folks to help support our beautiful school. These can be pledges PER LAP OR a TOTAL per run. Save your pledge sheets, they will be due 1 week after the Fun Run upon collection of funds. Run, Run, Run! There will be a special prize for the class who collects the most money!
Many thanks for sharing your days with us…remember to check out our website often for the latest events, information and resourceful links – www.mountainphoenix.org
MPCS Administration
Notes from the Principal…September 14, 2012
Notes from the Principal—September 14, 2012
Dear MPCS Parents,
Monday was a good day! We are pleased to announce the Cottage Complex now is home to our 4th & 5th grade students. A small celebratory ribbon cutting ceremony preceded their entry into the new classrooms, after the founder of Foothills Academy, Mary Lou Faddick, shared with students the history of our campus.
Homework Policy: Check out the school’s Homework Policy on our website. Children are asked to read at home for 20 minutes per day on school days. Practice is needed to become fluent readers. For younger children, reading to your children counts and can be part of a lovely rhythm before bedtime.
October 1st Count Days & Fun Run Are Coming Soon: It’s time to get those sponsors and pledges for the Fun Run and be prepared for a spectacularly fun day. Parents and students will enjoy this event.
Pick-up Change for Older Siblings: Older siblings who are leaving at pick-up to join their younger siblings in the kindergartens and preschools will now be dropped off in the courtyard under Woodhenge to be supervised by Sarah McMahon beginning Monday. Please pick-up your older children first before going to the Pre-K and Kindergartens to check-out your younger children. (Please fill out and return the attached paperwork so we know just who these children will be. Be sure to read the details so you are “in the know.”) Thank you!
Bully-Proofing Our School: MPCS has a program that educates children and families about what we must do to create an environment where everyone feels safe to learn. Teachers will be working with their classes to institute this philosophy with common language so they understand the nuances of making others feel safe. Our unique community comes with many differences, as well as similarities. One thing we all have in common is we want our school culture to be one where all students feel welcome and happy to come to school each day. I will be sharing different parts of this curriculum each week in Friday folders so parents can help out, too. (See the attached Outcome flyer called Bully-Proofing Your School.) I will be speaking about this curriculum and how parents can help next week on Tuesday evening, September 18th at 6:30 p.m. in the Eurythmy Hall.
Call the Attendance Line: If your child is sick and staying home, please be sure to call the Attendance Line before 8:30 in the morning. Call (303) 728-9100 x 4. Informing the office makes it an excused absence. If late to school, don’t forget to check in at the office as well.
Volunteer Orientation September 19th at 8:30 in the Handwork Room (upstairs in the Barn):
To volunteer in classrooms, the office, or on the playground, parents must attend this short orientation to become aware of their responsibilities, the school’s philosophies and rules for volunteering in potentially confidential situations. Please join us so you can begin volunteering in these ways. Other orientations will be planned but please try to attend this one if you can. Thanks!
Upcoming Events: Look for committee announcements from the Parent Council on our website. Be a part of planning our wonderful Harvest Festival coming up in October. It is a truly special event, but takes a village. Choose a committee or event to focus your energies on. Many are possible throughout the year.
Thank you, Traffic Volunteers: The district “stands behind its volunteers”, said Joel Hirschboeck, the head of Risk Management at Jeffco. He is sending us a person from his department who can train our crossing guards as well. So, if you are willing to help with morning or afternoon crossing guard duties, we surely need this done for the safety of our families who cross over to the Comfort Inn parking lot. And, you all look so great in those florescent vests! Thank you for your help with this. It really makes a difference and is a great way to get your volunteer hours done.
Best wishes to you all!
Dr. Long
Weekly Letter – September 7, 2012
Dear Mountain Phoenix Families…
As always, there is much activity and enthusiasm happening around campus!
Please make note of the following important information:
Friday Folders
- Car Signs – (Colored paper w/your child’s name & grade) If your child is in grade 1-8, and has no younger siblings, you should have received one of these…if you did not, please see Julie in the office. Families with Preschool and/or Kindergarten children did not receive a sign due to the fact that you need to walk in to school to pick up your child(ren). Last year, we found these signs helped make carline run more efficiently! Place Sign on the Passenger Dashboard so that it may be seen Clearly from Carline Pick-up! If you carpool, please share your sign with the members of your carpool so we can easily get the correct children to you
- Fun Run Flyer & Pledge Sheet – The Fun Run will be held on Monday, October 1. We encourage your child to seek out pledges to support health, fitness and MPCS! This was one of the most fun experiences the children (and adults!) had last year! (additional flyers and sheets available on the website under Events)
- School Pictures – Tuesday, September 25…If you will be purchasing a picture package for your child(ren), please return the form you received today, along with exact payment amount, in a sealed envelope labeled with your child’s name, grade and teacher’s name. These should be returned to your child’s classroom on Picture Day, in your Friday Folder.
- Lango Spanish Classes – Language-immersion classes for 1-12 year old children—classes will be held after school beginning September 11 at MPCS. Contact Senora Cahoone @ langokids@yahoo.com to sign-up. (additional flyers on the website under Events)
After Care
- In order to utilize Before or After Care, you must purchase a punch card (see Julie in the office). Children may not be sent to the Great Hall or left unattended after school…please watch your child(ren) at all times. The only children who will be supervised by Before or After Care staff are those that have purchased a punchcard and are signed in for that day.
Vital Health Cards & Economic Data Sheets
- Please return completed forms to the office ASAP! These were in the binder that was handed out at the Back-to-School Picnic…if you did not receive one, see Brigitte or Julie.
Thank you…MPCS Admin
Notes from the Principal…August 31, 2012
Dear MPCS Families,
With our second week completed, the campus is bustling with children sizes small, medium and large. Mr. Smith’s 7th & 8thgraders are already preparing for what promises to be a year of fine cuisine and other fundraising delights that will help pay for the Annual Eighth Grade Trip. Today they began their first series of electives from many offerings, including art, leatherwork, sign language, rocketry, choir, yoga and keyboarding. The students seem excited to have choices on Fridays. They are leading the school with grace, and are providing models for our younger children to follow. Thanks Lead Class!
Before & After School Care for Children ages 3 to 6 are now available. Contact Julie in the front office for Punch Cards. Before Care goes from 7:00 to 8:30 in the morning and is held in the Sunflower Kindergarten. After Care is held in Sky Larks and goes until 6:00 p.m.
Friday Folders will continue to provide a way to communicate between school and home, with field trip forms to fill out and return, as well as spelling lists and other homework. Please be sure to return them the first day of the next school week, so we can use these all year and so things do not get lost in transit. Lost Friday Folders will need to be replaced by purchasing another in the office.
Back to School Nights
- Wednesday, Sept. 5–5:30—7:00 (Preschool & Kindergarten Parents)
- Wednesday, Sept. 5 –7:30—9:00 (First, Second & Third Grades)
- Thursday, Sept. 6–5:30—7:00 (Fourth & Fifth Grades)
- Thursday, Sept. 6–7:30—9:00 (Sixth, Seventh & Eighth Grades)
Join us for this Back to School Event in the Eurythmy Hall where you will spend 30 minutes meeting key people at the school and be introduced to the school year, goals, and opportunities. Then, join your child’s teacher for an hour in the classroom to hear more about school year plans, curriculum and more. You might even get to experience some grade level learning.
Skills Classes begin next week in Grades 1 through 8. Our teachers and team of Wizards will begin putting our interventionist plan in place. Teachers and the School Assessment Coordinator, along with the Wizards, will have divided the grade levels into small groups for skills instruction in math and literacy, based on results of the DRA2 and math inventory and/or NWEA. Thus instruction will be targeted to meet each child’s needs. This approach will allow students to catch up if they are behind, or be able to forge ahead if they are above grade level in these subjects. Wizards and class teachers will be teaching skills at the same time across each grade level.
The Cottages Report: Our aggressive team of sub-contractors continues to ready the cottages for habitation. Of course, like any project (I’m told) they run into snags here and there, especially with inspectors. Still, they are hopeful we will be able to move in the following weekend after receiving the Occupancy Permit on Friday, Sept. 7—barring any unforeseen circumstances, they say. Students, teachers and parents continue to be patient while classes have landed in rooms that are working for now. They are continuing with main lessons and specials classes, endeavoring to keep the flow of the day intact.
Traffic Queues—Thank you for doing your part to make TRAFFIC before & after school great!
First Day of School
Welcome to our 2012-13 School Year which begins tomorrow, August 20th. Our beautiful campus is ready to receive your children with the help of many volunteer parents who have assisted with facilities readiness, teachers who have worked to prepare their classrooms, and staff and work crews who have done the heavy lifting to build bathrooms, transform the science labs, put in modulars etc. It has again been a very busy summer to create the best spaces for our students and our program needs.
Please read the information below as it pertains to you. The following will give you logistics that may be important to you and facilitate easy transitioning for the first day of school and on through the year. (See the school brand new website for lots of details and info at www.mountainphoenix.org )
Following these guidelines will help to establish systems that will make the year flow well with traffic, finding your child’s class, and paperwork &/or medications that have not yet been handed into the office. Thank you for reading and adhering to these instructions. My hope is that it will make the first day back to school a positive experience for all. If each does his/her part, things will go very well. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
Drop-off & Pick-Up: (see guidelines in your Parent Handbook)
(Please be kind to our traffic committee who are committed to guiding traffic for a few days so you understand the guidelines for safe and easy traffic morning and after school. They are parents like youJ)
The school has 2 drop-off & pick-up areas, and they are grade specific. If you have children at both areas, send a note (if you haven’t already done so in your paperwork) requesting your oldest child(ren) be sent to be picked up with the youngest child:
- Miller Street Parking Lot Queue (Grades 5/6 through 8th)
- Frontage Road Queue (Grade 1 through 5)
- All preschool and kindergarten children must be signed in and out from their teacher or teaching assistant at an area designated by the teacher. This is usually the classroom or the playground area. This will require you to park and walk into campus to follow this protocol.
- Parking for preschool and kindergarten parents can include the back of the Comfort Inn parking lot, where you will cross the crosswalk safely to the front of the school. Please stay on sidewalks for safety. Please drive slowly and be appreciative to Comfort Inn for their generosity.
- All children not picked up on time will be taken to After School Care to be cared for until you arrive. Charges will apply.
Have Business with the School?
- Questions about your child’s class and/or teacher: See Brigitte Baehre under the canopy near the Tree House. (see below for class locations)
- Health Records/medications: See Julie Haas in the administrative office.
- Turn in Paperwork: Return in your child’s backpack to their class teacher in the white folder you received when you picked up your Parent Resource Handbook at the Meet & Greet.
- Pick up Parent Resource Handbooks from Cathy Weigum on the deck at the back of the administration building.
First Day: Where does my child meet his/her teacher?
- All preschool & kindergarten children must be walked into the school and signed in and out each day with the teacher or assistant
- 8:30 Start Time
- Grade One—Rose Ceremony on front lawn in front of administration building
- Grades Two & Three—line up when bell rings along Woodhenge area in the center courtyard. Teachers will be waiting for you.
- Grades Four & Five—line up when bell rings on the field with your teacher.
- 8:05 Start Time
- Grades 5/6 enter staircase off Miller Street parking lot, and go up to your classrooms. Your teachers will be there.
- Grades 7/8 line up at your classroom in first room of old science wing (Mr. Anander’s classroom last year). Mr. Smith will meet you there.
Before & After School Care Programs:
(Purchase Punch Cards from the Business Office or from the Program Teacher)
- Preschool through Age 6:
- Before Care Location: Sunflower Kindergarten—north side of Faddick Hall (7-8:30 a.m.)
- After Care Location: Skylarks Kindergarten—south side of Faddick Hall (3:30-6:00 p.m. M-Th; 1:30-6:00 p.m. Fridays)
- Grades 1 through 8:
- Before Care Location: Great Hall (7-8:00 a.m.)
- After Care Location: Great Hall (3:30-6:00 p.m. M-Th & 1:30-6:00 p.m. Fridays)
Modular Complex (now called the cottages) is still under construction this week. For the safety of the children, please stay out of the construction zone. 4th & 5th Grade classes have a wonderful schedule this week including experiential outdoor education at Mount Falcon Park. Their classrooms should be ready next Monday.
This should do it for the first day. Please follow these guidelines and all should be well. Drop-off and Pick-up will be slower at first and then it will flow amazingly, getting everyone through and on their way within 7 minutes. To make this happen, everyone has to do their part. Thank you in advance for your patience as we get all these logistics in place. The above plans have been created to avoid long lines as we address your needs on the first day.
Again, welcome to Mountain Phoenix Community School. We look forward to an amazing year of great learning and community events and festivals we all can enjoy.
Best wishes,
Dr. Long
Welcome, Mountain Phoenix Community!
Dear Mountain Phoenix Community School Parents and Students,
A warm welcome to new families and students, and to the many returning families whose dedication and effort have helped to build the school thus far. It takes a village, as they say, and we know that to be true. Already this summer, a few parents have shown up to help on work days–to clear out the old art room where we will house our 6th multi-age kindergarten classroom, and to organize the new student library. (more…)