From the Desk of Schuba...
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, we're sharing resources for de-stigmatizing conversations about this critical topic. We hope you'll read, share and use them.
Fondly,
Principal Schuba
For questions or conversation, reach out to Schuba via email (lisa_schuba@dpsk12.org) or phone at 720-423-9900.
Take Action....
Family Satisfaction Survey
Izzi B. values input from families. Please complete and return the annual DPS Family Satisfaction Survey sent home with your eldest student last week. Anonymous and confidential survey results help us understand how well our school is supporting your students’ needs; accumulative results are included within our School Performance Framework (SPF) rating released next school year. Completed survives must be returned in the District-provided, prepaid return enveloped by Friday, June 7. Each household should only fill out one survey. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to learning from your input.
Year-End Scholastic Book Fair
We'll have ONE MORE Scholastic Book fair before we break for summer. Next week, at a to-be-determined location within the school, the BOGO (buy-one, get-one) fair will feature many of our students' favorite titles. This is a great way to stock up for summer reading. The book fair is before and after school on Tuesday, May 28, Wednesday, May 29 and Thursday, May 30, with accessibility during Arts Week events throughout the school day. For questions, please contact IBCS Library Para, Andrea Rothstein.
What's Going on With...
IBCS Summer Gardening Opportunities
Earlier, this school year, Izzi B. received a grant to enhance our garden. Part of the grant is structured curriculum and projects for each grade-level to get involved. The Gardening Committee has worked hard this spring to make it all happen, but we need your help. Your kids have already contributed to garden and they're loving it! Look for details in next week's Notes From the Dragon Cave on what each grade is up to!
Become a Summer Garden Steward: Consider adopting our garden for one week over the summer. When you sign up, you'll be responsible for visiting the garden 2-3 times a week during your selected week to weed, harvest and check on the automatic watering system to ensure it's working properly. If you sign up, the Gardening Committee will be in touch with additional details. This is a fun opportunity to work with your kids in the garden. As a reminder, we'll host community nights each Wednesday this summer with food trucks at Cherry Pie Park; food trucks begin Wednesday, June 12.
Volunteer to be a Garden Liaison: Starting next year, we could use one volunteer per grade-level to help classroom teachers coordinate assigned fall and spring garden projects. Review the sign-up sheet for more information and/or to volunteer. These roles are for the 2019-2020 school year.
Author Visit During Arts Week
Stan Yan, Denver-based writer/illustrator, caricature artist and instructor, will visit IBCS on Wednesday, May 29, as part of Arts Week. Stan is the author of There’s a Zombie in the Basement and many others. A limited number of copies of There’s a Zombie in the Basement are for sale via myschoolbucks.com; once these sell out, families can purchase books online via Tattered Cover. Online orders with SCHOOL PICK UP are only available for one week after Stan's school visit. Orders placed after this time will need to be picked up at one of Tattered Cover's locations, or shipped to your home address. If you have any questions about your ONLINE ORDER, please email books@tatteredcover.com.
Amina Auto Repair & Drive: Drive it Forward Of notable mention...Amina Auto Repair & Service, located near Izzi B. and one of our school's largest sponsors, and The Village Exchange Center of Aurora have partnered to create DRIVE IT FORWARD, a program lending vehicles to immigrants and refugees working to establish a new life in the Denver Metro Area. When the car recipient is ready, they pass their vehicle onto another family in need, driving generosity forward. To learn more about the program, stop by Amina Auto Repair or visit www.villageexchangecenter.org.
Welcome IBCS New Hires
As we prepare for the 19-20 school year, we're happy to announce new hires who will join our team in August.
I am a wife, mother of three, native to Colorado Montbello High School graduate and known for a welcoming smile and quirky sense of humor. As a community member, I am a co-lead in The Village Belong Group, a group that consists of members who support African American students within Denver Public Schools. While living in Korea, I volunteered with the Family Readiness Group to support soldiers and families overseas. During my time as a counseling secretary for a middle school in Maryland, I had the pleasure of sponsoring the yearbook club and worked with students to create an award-winning yearbook (YES, the yearbook won an award)!! I'm looking forward to creating awesome experiences with the Izzi B. Community. - Regina Walker, IBCS Office Support III
My name is Su Florczak and I am excited to share I have accepted the school psychologist position at your school. This will be my sixth year as a school psychologist in Denver Public Schools. I have an Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology from the University of Colorado. I am passionate about promoting equitable whole-student wellness. I enjoy teaching and sharing mindfulness practices and promoting interventions to support social emotional well-being. I look forward to collaborating with the school team, parents and community agencies to support the academic and social-emotional success of all students. In my free time, I enjoy cycling, hiking with my dogs, traveling, playing Ultimate Frisbee, mountain biking and enjoying time with friends and family. This summer I am looking forward to a long thru-hike along the Colorado Trail! I look forward to meeting all of you in August! May you enjoy a beautiful summer break! - Su Florczak, IBCS school psychologist
Save the Date
May Dine & Donate TODAY
Join us for our last Dine & Donate of the year! Dog Haus in Northfield will donate 20 percent of all sales to Izzi B. Just mention the school as you check out. This is an all day event (hours are 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.), so swing by for lunch, dinner, or to enjoy a beverage on the patio! Dog Haus is located near the movie theater in Northfield across from Bar Louie (8316 Northfield Blvd.) Visit the restaurant website for the menu.
Ready...Set...Field Day is NEXT THURSDAY
Izzi B’s Fifth Annual Field Day is Thursday, May 30. Please send students to school in their IBCS t-shirts (if they have them), tennis shoes and with filled water bottles and sunscreen applied; swim suits beneath clothing is optional.
UPDATE: 2nd Grade will participate in Field Day activities with Kindergarten and 1st Grade, 8:45-10:45 a.m.
Field Day Activities
8:30-8:40 a.m.: Opening Ceremony (everyone is invited to attend)
8:45-10:45 a.m.: Kindergarten and 1st-2nd Grades
10-11:15 a.m.: ECE Splash Day
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.: 3rd-5th Grades
Field Day Lunch
11:15 a.m.: ECE Lunch
11:45 a.m.: Kindergarten Lunch
12 p.m.: 1st Grade Lunch
1 p.m.: 2nd-5th Grades Lunch
Mark Your Calendars...
Tuesday, May 21, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.: May Dine & Donate at Dog Haus
Friday, May 24, 8:15-9:15 a.m.: Coffee & Conversation
Monday, May 27, All Day: No School (Memorial Day)
Wednesday, May 29, 1:40-2:40 p.m.: IBCS Variety Show
Thursday, May 30, times vary: Field Day (see schedule above)
Friday, May 31, 8-11:30 a.m.: Last Day of School