Posted October 15, 2025
Dear SKCEE Families and Friends,
We missed you all today, and hope you enjoyed this unseasonably warm Friday with your family. SKCEE staff spent the day working together and learning so we can continue to best serve your children and our community. Topics included Communication in Teams, Fine Motor Skills and Strategies, Universal Design for Learning, Tier One Instructional Practices in Early Childhood Education along with our Mutli-Tiered Systems of Support. We are excited to welcome you all back on Monday!
Please be sure to grab a school calendar from the front office, or find the electronic copy linked here. Our calendar differs slightly from Denver Public Schools general calendar, and it doesn’t always align perfectly with Cory Elementary or our surrounding schools, so please take note of upcoming events and days off. This month, we will be hosting family and teacher conferences on Monday, October 13th from 9-5. Please look for a sign up from your classroom teacher(s) for that day. We won’t have students that day. Please follow skceefamilies on Instagram to stay informed all year!
Our exciting and largest fundraiser and fun run, the SKCEE Scamper and silent auction, will be happening the last week of October. We are grateful for the PTA and our family partnerships that support this community event and the generosity you show in your financial support. Please see the PTA newsletter below for more details, and make sure to register your runner TODAY! Costumes are welcome and encouraged! Just a few friendly reminders—no weapons, blood, gore, masks, or inflatables. Since our kiddos will be scampering around the field, let’s keep costumes comfy, safe, and easy to move in (and easy to dash to the bathroom if needed!). Most of all, let’s keep them full of fun! The run happens on 10/30, and DPS will be closed on 10/31 for a district professional learning day.
Thank you all for showing Staci and me your Raptor QR code every time you enter our building. We now know most of you, and are able to recognize you, but to be completely safe, we will continue to ask that you show the Raptor QR code at arrival and dismissal for ECE, and for any adult that enters the building throughout the day. We know it can be glitchy, and is an extra step to take each time you come here, but our student safety is worth it. If you need support downloading the app, or with a workaround if your identification isn’t working in the app, please see me or Ms. Staci. Thanks for understanding, and for your continued cooperation.
Have a wonderful weekend.
In partnership,
Principal Shelley Boberschmidt
ECE Update:
In ECE we are finishing our pets unit, and moving into learning all about trees. Fall is such a fun time to observe trees and how they change, and we will be taking the children outdoors and bringing the outdoors in! We are excited to implement some of our fine motor skills learning from today in the coming weeks.
Kindergarten Update:
In Kindergarten we just wrapped up our unit on nursery rhymes and fables, and are now learning about the five senses. We are also learning more letters and sounds, working on invented spelling, blending/segmenting, and practicing our hand writing skills. For math we are working on comparing groups and numbers 1-10.
Physical Education Update:
Now that we’ve settled into a routine, in September, students really started digging in to practicing a variety of skills. We focused on controlling our speed in personal space while we played “Speed Tag” and “Listen and Move”. We practiced underhand throwing skills while we played “Tossing for Critters” and “Squirrels in the Trees”. During Choice Time, students were able to explore balancing equipment and basketball options. In October, we’ll play some Fall themed games and begin discussing teamwork and sportsmanship during relay races. I hope you’re enjoying the cooler temps and beautiful trees as your hike, bike, and walk outdoors!
Art Update:
Hello wonderful families!
I must begin with a thank you to our entire community for your support with tie-dying last week. It was super smooth and fun, thanks to you. It would be impossible without so many hands on deck. I loved getting to know you and look forward to a whole year together.
I offer a variety of art choices daily, and your child chooses where to work and play. 3 and 4 year olds make shared paintings and drawings, play with toys that encourage creativity, interaction, and language development, and explore art materials. At this age, young children are often more interested in what they are doing rather than what it’s going to look like. As they get older, storytelling and play becomes more complex, and children put more details and care into their art. All along the way, children are telling stories, learning to be with friends, and creating art in a multitude of ways. Check out the pictures near the old room to see what your children have been making.
I know we get messy sometimes. If your child gets paint on their clothes, try putting dish soap (Dawn or Palmolive) on the spot before washing it with your regular laundry.
Thank you for the joy of teaching your kids! Warmly, Cookie
Gifted & Talented (GT):
GT Testing
If you signed your student up for GT Testing, you will receive communication about scheduling details in the next few weeks. Check your email for updates.
Family Resources
Check out the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) website, which contains Tip Sheets for families. They are also available in Spanish here. Topics include Advocacy, Creativity, Giftedness, Giftedness in the Classroom and Social Emotional Development.
DPS GT Family Engagement
Mark your calendar for our next DPS GT Family series session on October 7th. The topic is Understanding the GT Identification Process & Equity in Identification. For more information click on this link to the GT Family Series one-pager. We’ll host an event each month on either the 1st or 2nd Tuesday from 5pm-6:15pm virtually, with interpretation available in DPS’ eight most commonly spoken languages. Families are encouraged to register at least one week in advance so we can arrange interpretation services.
In case you missed our first GT Department Family Series event on Social Emotional Supports for GT Students, here’s a One Pager Recap — DPS GT Department Family — Social Emotional Supports for GT Students.
For more information, reach out to our GT Itinerant, Chelsea Chappell-Cox, chelsea_chappell-cox@dpsk12.net.
The SKCEE Scamper Fun Run and Silent Auction is just around the corner! Get all the details and ways to support plus upcoming events and volunteer opportunities in this month’s newsletter. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @skceefamilies to stay in the loop with the latest updates and events!
October 13: Family Conferences (no school for kids)
October 14: Picture Retakes
October 14-16: Hearing and Vision Screening
October 30: Scamper Fun Run! Schedule
October 30: ECE families look for TS Gold reports
October 31: DPS PD day, no students