Posted August 8, 2023
August 9, 2023
Welcome Stephen Knight Center for Early Education (SKCEE) Families,
Congratulations! Your child has been accepted into our wonderful Stephen Knight Center for Early Education program (SKCEE). If you are a returning family, welcome back! We are excited to embark on this safe and joyful learning journey with you and your child. Please review and take action on the following information to ensure a smooth transition into the 2023-2024 academic year.
SKCEE Meet and Greet Lemonade on August 17th from 3:00-4:00
We look forward to meeting and greeting our families prior to the first official day of school. Please join the SKCEE Staff on Thursday, August 17 from 3:00pm – 4:00pm. Meet the staff, see the classroom, sign up for PTA and join us for some fun.
Class Placements
Your child’s teacher will send you a welcome email before our school-wide lemonade on August 17th to introduce themselves and welcome you to the new school year. You are also able to check your child’s class placement via Parent Portal. Please know that the entire SKCEE staff spent hours of collaborative time and gave deep thought to classroom placements to meet all students’ needs. In order to create equitable, heterogeneous classrooms we are unable to honor specific teacher requests or move students.
First Day of School: ECE Half Day “Soft Start” on August 22, 2023
Starting school for the first time and/or beginning in a new class can be a big transition for our youngest learners. With that in mind, we will be using a “soft start” for the first day of school with half day programming for everyone. This will allow our learners to find early success in their new learning environment, and for our families to learn the rhythms of drop off and pick up.
Please note, our first day of school for all students is Tuesday, August 22, 2023 and will be half day programming for our full day ECE and kindergarten classrooms. This is different than some DPS schools. If your child’s last name starts with A-L they will come from 8:15-11:15 and if their last name starts with M-Z, they will come from 12:15-3:15 on August 22. Students enrolled in 1/2 day programs (Ms. Jess, Ms. Hillary and Ms. Adler’s classrooms) will follow their usual daily schedule either from 8:15-11:15 or in the afternoon from 12:15-3:15. Regular full-day programming will begin on August 23rd for all full day classes.
Bell times for 2023-2024 school year
All ECE students must be signed into class in the morning by their adult and signed out again at the end of the day with a complete legal signature. All full day ECE families and students enter the school through the front doors only. Kinder students use our Kiss-n-Go line, arrive by Cory shuttle, or enter through the front door. Please pick up your child on time! The staff contract day ends at 3:30, and we thank you for respecting their workday.
Full day ECE: To allow for a gentle transition to the day and less parking lot congestion, full day ECE classrooms have a drop off and pick up window. The first bell rings at 8:15 am and the tardy bell rings at 8:30 am. Please be sure you have signed your child into his/her room and are heading out of the building at 8:30 am so that students and teachers can begin their day together. In the afternoon, the first bell rings at 3:00 pm and all children need to be picked up and signed out by 3:15pm.
Half day ECE: Morning half day programs begin at 8:15 am and end at 11:15 am. Afternoon programs begin at 12:15 pm and end at 3:15 pm.
Kindergarten: Kindergarten students arrive at school and are dropped off in the Kiss-n-Go line on the northwest side of our building between 8:10 am and 8:20 am. This year our kindergarten students will have specials classes beginning promptly at 8:30 so you will want to be at school on time. Teachers and paras will be outside to greet students and help them out of their cars. Please do not park in the Kiss-n-Go line or get out of your cars. Students begin dismissal at 3:20 pm and teachers will support students in the Kiss-n-Go line. Again, please do not get out of your car and do not park.
Parking Lot and Kiss-n-Go
In the 1950’s, when our school was built, most students walked to school, both ways, probably uphill. Needless to say, almost all students are now driven to school. However, the parking lot remains the same size. It is physically impossible for all students and their families to park in the school lot and come in each morning. We have created the Kiss-n-Go line for kinder and have a window for drop off and pick up to ease the parking situation. However, we need all of you to be thoughtful, patient, and plan ahead. Please park and walk a few blocks if you are able. Ride your bikes and scooters. If no one is actively leaving a parking space, please keep driving otherwise you create a traffic jam. Lastly, as you leave the lot, only turn right on Exposition, no left turns.
School Supplies
New this year, in an effort to provide teachers with an opportunity to stock their classrooms with the supplies that they feel best meet their student needs, and to save you a trip to Target, we are collecting a school supply fee of $85 for each student. You will receive an invoice through MySchoolBucks where you can pay with credit card, debit card or via online check (note: we are listed as KnightCEE). If you prefer to pay in cash, you may do so with Staci at the front office. Please pay this fee when you register your student online. If the cost is a challenge for your family, please let Shelley or Aimee know and we can support you. If you have the means to sponsor an additional student, or wish to donate more to the fund, please feel free!
Online Registration for 2023-24
Please click here for detailed DPS online registration information.
If you are having difficulty with online registration, please come to school on Thursday, August 10th between 9:00-11:00 or 1:00-3:00. We will have computers for you to use and will be able to assist you with the process. Please note that all students will need to have Immunizations for the 2023-24 School Year turned in on official CDPHE form before starting school. Find immunization information here.
Required Documentation for ECE
Your student will need the following documentation prior to starting school for the 2023-2024 school year. ECE students will be allowed to attend only once ALL items have been completed and turned in, as required by state licensing. These forms can be found in the ECE packet, linked in preferred languages here: Amharic | Arabic | English | French | Nepali | Somali | Spanish | Vietnamese | Mandarin
Forms to turn in, in packet order:
Discovery Link Before and After School Care and Enrichment
Registration for the 23-24 School Year is currently open. Please click this link to register.
For more information about Discovery Link SchoolYear Programming, please click here. For detailed questions related to Discovery Link please contact them at 720-423-1781 or by email at discovery_link@dpsk12.net.
Enrichment registration opens on August 16th. SKCEE Flyer
Probationary License
As one of only four Early Childhood Centers in all of Denver Public Schools we have a unique opportunity to serve solely the youngest learners in the district. Because we operate as a state licensed child care center as well as a Denver Public School, we have a higher threshold for safety. Last year there were a series of events that left our school out of compliance with state licensing rules and regulations. As part of our collaboration with state licensing you will be receiving a letter from the Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration (DELLA) informing you that our school will be on probation for the next six months. We assure you that all children will continue to be safe in our care. We look forward to this opportunity to continue to implement the best policies and procedures, collaborate with DELLA and regain our permanent license. If you have any questions, please let us know.
PTA Welcome and Updates
Please read the PTA welcome letter linked here
Reach out to any of our 23-24 board members:
President: Rachel Roth- rachelfain84@gmail.com
Vice-President: Fiona Lemesany- fiprenders@gmail.com
Treasurer: Lauren Quillian- lquillian@gmail.com
Secretary: Liz Plost- LizPlost@gmail.com
Hospitality: Melissa Viola- melissaquinlan@gmail.com
Social Media: Marissa Girard- mloken4@gmail.com
Dine-Outs: Kristen Merrow- kristenrmerrow@gmail.com
We will be needing volunteers for the following roles:
Additional Helpful Links
Thank you for entrusting your precious children to our care. We are grateful for your partnership in this most important work! Thank you also for your attention to all of these details. We will continue to both reach out as needed, but also look forward to our first Friday monthly communication via the SKCEE Family Newsletter.
In partnership,
