Posted October 15, 2025
Dear SKCEE Families and Friends,
Happy 2025-2026 School Year!
It is a joy to welcome you and your children each morning, and to get to play and learn with them during the day. As I said at orientation, it is a privilege to be trusted with your most precious gifts, and we love your children as if they were our own. We take the responsibility seriously, and our goal is to provide safe and joyful spaces where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
Thank you for supporting one another and our safety with your arrival and dismissal by driving and backing out slowly and carefully, being patient in the lots, using the crosswalk, and keeping your children within your reach. We also ask that you keep them with you in the hallways at arrival and dismissal and do not allow them to run ahead of you. We have over 300 students and their families all arriving and dismissing at the same time, so we want to maintain order as we say goodbye.
Kindergarten families, thanks for your use of the Cory Shuttle or the kiss and go. We acknowledge the bus challenges we’ve had to start the year, and are working with transportation to increase predictability and communication, and we will continue to keep you informed with updates as soon as we are able.. In the kiss and go, please make sure to pull through and do not exit your car at arrival or dismissal. See the PTA produced short video linked here for more information and a how to!
Reminders, Kindergarten arrival window is 8:10 to 8:25, and dismissal is 3:10 to 3:25, and ECE front door arrival is 8:15-8:30 and dismissal is 3:00-3:15. All children must be picked up by dismissal time. The staff duty day is 7:30-3:30, so there is no one available to attend to your children after hours. Thanks for understanding.
We have many fun community activities coming up. See the PTA section below for details.
Thank you for all you do for our Stephen Knight community. We are grateful!
In partnership,
Principal Shelley Boberschmidt
Welcome to the World:
Michelle (room 116) and Ben DeRiggi welcomed Luca Anthony to the world on Sunday, August 17th. He was 8lbs 13ozs and 21 inches! Mom and baby are doing well, and we couldn’t be happier for their sweet family.
Collaborative School Committee (CSC):
The Collaborative School Committee (CSC) is an advisory committee that brings together families, staff and community members to create and implement a plan to promote high achievement within a school. This committee meets at least quarterly throughout the school year and is an opportunity for key stakeholders to have a voice in their school. Colorado law requires all schools to have a CSC to increase the amount of accountability and family involvement in our schools. If you are interested in serving on our CSC, please complete this linked form for the ballot and community vote. The CSC meets monthly before the PTA meeting. See Principal Shelley with any questions.
Probationary License:
As one of only five 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. 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.
Outdoor Education Team:
We have six staff who play with your children during the gross motor time in ECE every day. They create fun experiences like mud kitchens, water tables, painting, chalk, and so much more. Their work serves a dual purpose; to extend learning outdoors, and to give our classroom teachers and paras their lunch break. It is a beautiful partnership, and the children build strong relationships with the team. You probably hear your kids talking about these amazing women.
Safety Drills:
On Wednesday, August 27th, we will be conducting our first safety drills for the year. We will have a fire drill in the morning, then in the early afternoon a DPS Climate and Safety officer will be coming to conduct our Shelter in Place and Lockdown drills. Please know we inform the children that we are practicing to keep ourselves and our school safe, but we do not go in depth about why we need to be prepared for a lockdown emergency. Students will hear “locks, lights, out of sight” on the school speaker, and adults take them to their designated safe space within the classrooms. The DPS Safety officer and I walk the building checking that doors are locked and peeking in windows. After the protocol we share feedback with the adults if we need to make any adjustments to the process. While the thought of the tragedies that require us to practice this protocol break my heart, and cause a multitude of emotions for staff, families, and some students, please know we train for emergencies, and all SKCEE staff are First Aid and CPR certified, which is unique to a school. Our first priority is student safety, and this helps us keep our community safe.
David and Patrick:
Use this link to sign up to take David and Patrick, the SKCEE guinea pigs, home for a weekend (or longer break). Principal Shelley will provide training and supplies.
From the PTA:
We are excited for a fun-filled year! Please check out our first newsletter, linked here. We hope to see many of you at the first PTA meeting on Wednesday, Sept 3rd from 6-7. Free childcare is provided.
Kindergarten Kiss and Go:
Watch this informative, short video, created by PTA, to support a smoother drop off and pick up at arrival and dismissal for our SKCEE kindergarteners and families.
August 27: Beginning of Year safety drills
September 1: Labor Day. No School.
September 2: Picture Day!
September 3: CSC (Collaborative School Committee) 3:45-4:45, PTA 5:00-6:00
September 3: Dine Out! Broderick 4-10
September 17: Stock the Lounge!
September 18: Fall Picnic 3:30-5:00
September 22: DPS Professional Learning Day, no school for students