Posted February 7, 2021
Important dates & information for the week ahead.
Students, please remember when you are in the building no hats, no hoods, and no phones. Please maintain social distance in the classroom and hallways, and use hand sanitizer frequently.
If your child needs to replace a damaged chromebook or charger come to Hamilton for:
Technology Support Office Hours
by appointment
Monday: 8:30 am – 10:30 am
Wednesday: 12:30 – 2:30 pm
Please email our School Technology Partner, Mr. Driggers, at DAYTONA_DRIGGERS@dpsk12.org to let him know that you are coming.
Thank you for respecting social distancing guidelines.
Opportunities for families
Dear Hamilton Middle School families:
Given the information we have received at the juncture, we will begin the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) assessments on March 22, 2021. These Assessments are aligned to the Colorado Academic Standards, which are statewide expectations of what students should know and be able to do at the end of each grade. The standards incorporate future skills and essential knowledge that the next generation will need to be successful in college and careers. The CMAS assessments focus on three different content areas this year, depending upon the grade your child is in:
These assessments are important because students and teachers work hard all year, and these tests allow students to demonstrate their incredible growth. Additionally, the data from these assessments allow teachers to see how their students are performing against the standards in order to inform instruction and adjust practice.
Calendar: A tentative calendar is included in this letter to provide you the dates your child will be testing. We ask parents and families to ensure their children get plenty of sleep and eat a healthy breakfast every day, but especially on assessment days. In addition, if there are doctor’s appointments or other appointments that need to be made, we hope this calendar will help you to make those appointments on non-assessment days. Please also make sure your student brings their charged DPS device to school each day so that it can be used for testing.
While we believe that these tests are important, we understand that some families may decide they do not want to come in-person to participate in testing this year due to COVID-19. All testing must be done in person as there is no remote testing option. If you choose to opt out, you must fill out the opt out form located in the Parent Portal under the Academics tab by clicking on the link for Complete Assessment Opt-Out Form. This form is available for both students learning in-person and those learning in the virtual program. Please complete this form no later than February 26 as this information is vital to our planning process. We need to have an exact count of students who will and will not be participating so that we can adjust staffing, testing schedules and adhere to all health and safety guidelines.
If you are participating in the virtual learning option and you wish to have your child participate in CMAS testing this year, please email amber_shearer@dpsk12.org to let us know by February 26. This information is very important in allowing us to plan for testing and we appreciate your cooperation in letting us know as soon as possible.
We appreciate your support during this time. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me. Thank you, and go Huskies!
Christian Sawyer
Principal
A DPS ‘Anchored in Advocacy’ EventJoin DPS from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Tuesday, February 9, for a virtual event designed to celebrate African American family and student engagement, highlighting social and academic excellence. Hosted by the African American Equity Task Force, this is the third event in a series of programming created to celebrate, educate and inform families on how to navigate DPS systems and structures.
School staff, families and community members can nominate students who have demonstrated advocacy in their school or community. All nominated students will be recognized at the event. Click here to nominate a student and register for the event.
As we get ready to join the celebration of National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID), we encourage you to nominate a parent or family member to be highlighted during the Anchored in Advocacy event. Click here to nominate a parent or family member.
Share the event with your friends, family and colleagues! If you have questions, please reach out to aaen@dpsk12.org.
Parents, we know you have lots of questions! We would like to invite you to meet Hamilton school leaders and current Hamilton parents to hear about their experiences as Huskies. This informal meeting is a chance for you to ask both parents and staff members specific questions about Hamilton. Our next Meet & Greet is Thursday, February 11.
Sign up for an event HERE and we will email you a Zoom link ahead of the event.
We look forward to meeting you soon!
JOIN THE PTSA!
The Hamilton Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) welcomes ALL Hamilton families, staff, and students to become members! CLICK HERE to complete a membership form and pay annual dues.
SUPPORT OUR HUSKIES
AMAZON SMILE
Experience feel good shopping! Begin your shopping at smile.amazon.com and Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to Hamilton at no cost to you!
BOXTOPS FOR EDUCATION
The new and improved Box Tops mobile app uses state-of-the-art technology to scan your store receipt, find participating products and instantly add Box Tops to your school’s earnings online. Learn more at boxtops4education.com.
SchoolChoice Is Now OpenThe Round 1 SchoolChoice window for the 2021-22 school year runs through February 16.
Begin the SchoolChoice process for the 2021-2022 school year with the New DPS SchoolChoice Enrollment Guide available online NOW!
https://schoolchoice.dpsk12.org/family-resources/application-guide/
Denver Health’s School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) offer no-cost pediatric care. Services are available to any Denver Public Schools (DPS) student or child that attends a DPS affiliated Early Childhood Education (ECE) center within Denver County. SBHCs offer convenient care that limits the amount of time students are out of class and parent/guardians have to be off work. Students are able to get same day or next day appointments.
People are reserving their yearbooks! They cost $25, to purchase a yearbook go to yearbookordercenter.com.
Create spaces for AA young ladies to belong, be safe to grow, learn and feel like the amazing creations they are. Hamilton has a YYAFS group! We meet on Wednesdays from 3:15 – 4:00 pm. Google Meet Code: GGAAYLS.
African American Young Ladies’ Summit (AAYLS) consists of young ladies from 6th grade through college. The program started with 9th-12th grades and has expanded due to the demand of students and the community. Each gathering provides culturally responsive support in a trauma-informed/sensitive environment enriching the educational, social, intellectual and interpersonal opportunities for African American young ladies. LEARN MORE >>>>
We welcome new and old members on Fridays! LPD = Hamilton’s GSAClub meets every other Friday.Meeting Time 12:10 – 12:55 pmQuestions? Send a Schoology message or email to Ms. Flipse, Mr. Mollman, or Mrs. PetersGoogle Meets code: HamiltonLPD
Submit your selfies and photos of remote learning for Hamilton’s 2020-21 yearbook with our yearboook app. Hamilton families can load the app HJeShare onto their phones. The school code is hamilton. You can upload photos directly from your camera or photo files onto the yearbook website for us to use.
| George Washington High SchoolBe a Patriot! We are excited that you are considering George for your high school years. We encourage you to explore our website fully to learn about our academic programs, athletics, clubs, and other exciting opportunities for students. Learn more about GW on our website: https://gwhs.dpsk12.org/futurepatriots/#visitus |
| South High SchoolIt’s not too late to learn more about South High School! Watch this video from our Showcase Night: https://denversouth.dpsk12.org/prospective-students/ Go Ravens! |
| East High SchoolThis year we are offering a variety of new “Future East Angel Experiences” so that you and your student can build a quality, meaningful understanding of East High School and all that we have to offer. We will be providing a multitude of immersive events, each highlighting a different perspective of what it means to be an East Angel. Our next event will be on Tuesday, January 26th 6:30-8:00 pm (breakout rooms 7-8 pm). Learn more and register at https://east.dpsk12.org/prospective-students/experiences/ |
| Thomas Jefferson High SchoolDid you miss TJ’s Virtual Open House? Do you wish you could take a tour? No problem! You can find the videos of both on our website at: https://tjhs.dpsk12.org/parents-students/visit-tj/ Are you interested in learning more about the Center for Communication Technology Magnet Program (CCTM) at Thomas Jefferson? This magnet program requires an additional aplication as part of the School Choice process. Learn more at: https://tjhs.dpsk12.org/cct-magnet-program/center-for-communication-technology-magnet/ |
CLOTHES TO KIDS OF DENVER
The mission of CTKD is to provide new and quality used clothing to students from low-income or in-crisis families in the Denver Metro Area, free of charge.
Shopping at CTKD is as easy as 1 -2 -3: Call us at (720) 379-4630 and dial “0.” Phones are open Monday – Friday from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. If we don’t answer, please leave a voicemail, and we will call you back as soon as possible. You can also request a wardrobe by emailing us at appointment@clothestokidsdenver.org
Please go HERE for more information.
FREE COVID-19 TESTING
Now through the end of December, free COVID-19 testing is available to all community members. Through a partnership with Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, COVIDCheck Colorado — which has been providing free testing to all DPS employees — is offering free tests for all employees, their families and members of the Denver community to help slow the spread of COVID.
Community members can use this link to schedule a free test at one of several locations throughout the Denver-metro area.
HEALTH CARE FROM HOME
Hazel Health and DPS are extending our partnership to offer “Hazel at Home”, our telehealth platform that allows Hamilton students to connect to a licensed medical provider from the comfort of their home using any device with a web browser.
In addition, there are no copays for any families through the end of the 2020-21 School Year, due to the pandemic.
Hamilton Families can now sign up for Hazel at Home by navigating to: my.hazel.co/dpsk12
DENVER HEALTH SCHOOL BASED CLINICS
We are open to all DPS students for both in-person and telehealth appointments for both new and existing patients. Our services are provided at NO COST to all DPS families.
Flu shots are now available.
For more information visit https://www.denverhealth.org/services/school-based-health-centers
Thomas Jefferson School Based Clinic: 720-423-7190
Place Bridge Academy School Based Clinic: 720-424-2050
| FREE MEAL DELIVERY Sign Up for Colorado Food Cluster Meal DeliveriesColorado Food Cluster (CFC) provides free meals to youth ages 6-18 in the Denver Metro Area (within 20 miles of downtown). Any students ages 6 – 18 are eligible – they just need a student ID to enroll and families can enroll multiple students in each household. Each student will receive a weekly delivery of 7 dinners and 14 snacks, including fruit and milk, until June 30, 2021. Complete this form to enroll! |
| FREE LUNCH & BREAKFAST FOR STUDENTS Hamilton is a food distribution locationDenver Public Schools is distributing DPS student breakfast and lunch meals at sites throughout the city this fall. Sites are open Monday through Friday from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Hamilton Middle School is now a distribution site. You can view the list of curbside pickup locations HERE. |
| FREE AND REDUCED COST LUNCH FORM Fill It Out or Update before In-Person Learning DPS is committed to feeding every child, every day! To apply for Free or Reduced Lunch or to update your application visit https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application |
Drivethough Foodbank
Hertiage Christian Center has a drive through Food Pantry open every
Tuesday from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm &
Saturday from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.
No registration required.
Heritage Christian Center is located at 14401 E Exposition Ave Dever, CO 80224.
Call 303-738-5080 with questions.
Neighborhood Food Pantry
The Community Life Center has a Food Pantry open on the third Friday of the month from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. The registration is required. Community Life Center is located at 9725 E Hampden Ave, G-106 Denver, CO 80231. Email iolcmauroraFoodBank@gmail.com with questions.
Food Pantry – REGISTER HERE.
Jewish Family Services Weinberg Food Pantry
The Weinberg Food Pantry is providing pre-packed boxes of food to anyone experiencing food insecurity with no documentation or sign up needed. To limit face-to-face interactions and promote social distancing, boxes of food are distributed through a pick-up system directly outside of the pantry.
Struggle of Love Foundation Food Pantry
Struggle of Love offers alternatives to those with limited opportunities that may not qualify for any other community based assistance programs. SOL’s wish is to inspire and educate our future generation so that they can make a positive difference in the world’s future.
Coventant Cupboard Food Pantry
Weekly food distributions to ensure that immediate food needs are met.
No-Cost Child Safe Kits for Hamilton Families. Use the digital request form to request your FREE kit. Digital request form
The recording is now available for… Social Emotional Learning at Home Click HERE to access the recording and presentation materials in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.Have a great day!