Friday News 2/23

Posted February 23, 2024

Dear Angels Community,

Congratulations to our JROTC program for placing 2nd in the Western Regional JROTC Air Rifle Marksmanship Championship in Utah! The Angels overall team score was 4,595 out of a possible 4,880 with 254 team bullseyes. Shout out to Chloe Baker who qualified as a top individual marksman with a score of 1,164 out of 1,200 with 81 bullseyes. The team will now compete at the National Competition in Ohio in March.

As always, thank you for your support of our East Community and follow our active student body on Instagram @eastangels_madamprincipal and @denvereasths or visit our website for additional information https://east.dpsk12.org/

Note: Editions of Friday News tend to be long and may get clipped by Gmail. Please make sure to click “view entire message” at the bottom of the chain to read the full edition. 

As always, thank you for your support of our East Community and follow our active student body on Instagram @eastangels_madamprincipal and @denvereasths.

Important Upcoming Dates

Feb 20-27 Junior Choice of Studies

Feb 26 First Day of Spring Sports

MAr 05 Cap & Gown pictures

Mar 07 Spring Musical Teaser Assembly

Mar 07 Spring Musical 7:00pm

Mar 08 Spring Musical 7:00pm

Mar 10 Spring Musical 2:00pm

Mar 12 Ramadan Begins

Mar 12 Early Release Day 

Mar 13 Instrumental Music Concert 

Mar 14         Concurrent Enrollment  Meeting at Lunch

Mar 18-22 Wish Week 

Mar 20 Jazz Acapella @ Soiled Dove 7:00-8:00pm

Mar 25-29 Spring Break

Mar 29 Good Friday**

Apr 9-10 Eid-al-Fitr**

Apr 09 Senior Class Picture @ 11:00am

Student Spotlight

Teacher Spotlight

Saturday Detention Policy

Two or more lunch tardies will result in assignment of Saturday school. Saturday school is run weekly on Saturdays from 9-11. If you have any questions please reach out to Candice Malone. 

Student and Visitor ID Policy

Students:

East High School students must present their school IDs every time they enter the school and must have their school IDs with them at all times within the school.

Students from other schools are not allowed on campus. 

Visitors:

All visitors to campus must check-in at the front foyer desk via the Raptor system.

All adults in the school should have one of the following visible 

a) an East High School ID

b) a DPS ID (these come in two colors, blue for DPS employees and orange for outside contractors)

c) an East High School volunteer badge

d) a Raptor system generated visitor badge

The following started Tuesday, January 17th:

All visitors East High School should make an appointment prior to coming. Visitors who have not made an appointment will need to contact the staff they are attempting to visit to secure entry.

Testing

  • From April 15th – 18th East High School students will participate in SAT, PSAT, and CMAS Science tests as required by the state of Colorado. 
  • This is a chance for students and their families to get feedback on student progress and college readiness. 
  • All 11th grade students taking the SAT free of charge have the opportunity to send their scores to colleges to be considered for admissions decisions.
  • The optional SAT Essay is offered as part of the 11th grade test. The deadline to opt into the essay portion of the SAT is February 14th. Please use this google form to opt into the essay section of the SAT. Talk to your student’s counselor if you have any questions.
  • Parents or guardians who would like to decline their student’s College Board approved testing accommodations for the April administration of the SAT or PSAT should email our Site Assessment Leader Jessica Perkins at jperkin@dpsk12.net by March 15. Any requests made after that date may not be guaranteed because accommodations are built into the digital testing format.
  • These test scores affect East High School’s ratings on the state of Colorado’s School Performance Framework.

The guardian of a Denver Public Schools student, can request to excuse their child from participating in the state assessments. It is a disadvantage for you and your child to lose access to the feedback that testing provides, however if you wish to opt your child out, follow the directions at this link in English or this link in Spanish. The deadline for opting out is February 29.

❄️ Weather Update ❄️

With the shift in weather, temperatures are dropping, and we want to ensure the comfort and well-being of our students. For those seeking refuge from the chill, you now have the option to enter the building through the Detroit Street entrance; however, please be advised that students are required to stay in the Commons until the building officially opens.

Counseling News

Life after East Opportunity for Juniors

Life After East will be hosting an information meeting with a pizza lunch on March 8th during lunch time in the counseling office.  They will be sharing how they can provide 1:1 support for student’s college/post-secondary planning.  If your junior does not have a private college counselor and may need support with planning for life after East, please have them join us to learn about this resource!

ASCENT Deadline – March 1 

Students in the ASCENT program can attend a participating technical, community, or 4 year college following graduation from high school for free for one year.

Seniors, for eligibility and the application, click HERE.

Social Media Safety Training for Families

Join FACE University for a Social Media Safety training for families on March 12 from 5-6 p.m. This session will provide resources and tips for families on the dangers of social media and how to help their students stay safe and smart online.

Use this session to gain valuable information and collaborate with other families on technology safety solutions. After this session, we will launch an interactive training for DPS families to earn a social media safety certificate. Learn more and RSVP.

Career Center Update

The Career Center will be holding career-readiness workshops in room 324 on Tuesdays and Fridays for the next three months. Please alert your students!

East is still looking for community volunteers to be trained to hold Meaningful Career Conversations with 1-3 students this spring (depending on your ability to commit the time). This will be held on Thursday, February 29th from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at East High School. View the flyer here and register for the professional development here. Email Ellie, the Career Navigator, for questions: eleanor_jacques@dpsk12.net 

Future Center Update

Hey Seniors, Ms. Ambria checking in to make sure you are on track for your Spring semester action items! As you are getting accepted into your colleges, please make sure you are going to MaiaLearning to update your admission decisions. If you have been awarded scholarships and grants, also add that amount to the Financial Plan tab– local scholarship amount tab.

If you have not been checking Schoology, there are new scholarships posted that you can be working on throughout March. Here is the link to the scholarship folder.

Seniors, if you have a GPA over 3.75, you can potentially qualify for the East Family & Friends Alumni: Cleworth LEAP Scholarship that is worth $25,000 each year for 4 years! You can start and submit your application here

Family & Community Engagement Update

Unified Update

Want to watch the Nuggets play at East, FOR FREE!?  On Tuesday, February 27th at 4pm our East Unified Team will be playing Brighton HS in the Panek gym and the Denver Nuggets will be taking over the game! Nuggets players will be officiating and coaching the game!  The Nuggets Drumline, dancers, announcer, and their mascot Rocky will be here as well.  Please enter through the North Courtyard gym doors (by the baseball field).  Come support and cheer on our Unified Team and the Nuggets!  Please wear your red and white or Nuggets gear!

Support East’s Amazon Wishlist: 

Can’t participate in the PTSA? No problem, you can grant our wishes anyway! Click HERE to send materials to benefit our student body and staff. 

Teacher Appreciation – If you are interested in participating in the teacher appreciation committee, please reach out to Ariel Ruempolhamer at ariel_canada@dpsk12.net

Family Constituency Services (FCS) also known as the DPS Helpline! Students, parents, teachers, staff, and community members can call the helpline for school-based or districtwide questions and support. Our FCS addresses concerns, conducts mediations, and supports community meetings. Here’s more information about what else they can support with.

Helpline: (720) 423-3054

One location for 2024 DHS and Food Bank Rockies mobile food pantries

In 2024, there will only be one Denver Human Services and Food Bank of the Rockies mobile food pantry per month. These will take place at Empower Field at Mile High, Parking Lot E. Most pantry events will take place on the third Friday of the month (dates subject to change due to Empower Field event conflict or weather). Distribution time will remain from 9-11:30 a.m. or until food runs out.

For those that would still like to attend a food distribution in East Denver, check out these pantries close to the 80205 zip code area or go to Food Bank Rockies to find food.

Department of Housing Stability: Temporary Rental & Utility Assistance

The Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance (TRUA) Program assists eligible households with:

  • Rental Assistance – Up to 6 months of rental assistance may be provided to an eligible household within a 12-month period (calendar year). This may include rental arrears, the current month’s rent, and one future month’s rent.
  • Utility Assistance – This program provides utility assistance to Denver Water and/or Xcel Energy (electric, gas) for renters and homeowners. Utility assistance may be provided to eligible households one time per utility within a 12-month period (calendar year).
  • Relocation Assistance – This may include security deposit, first month’s rent, and application fees. Deposit and first month’s rent will count as one month each toward the 6-month maximum.



Learn more about the Department of Housing Stability and apply for the TRUA Program and share this flyer with your families today!

Black Family Engagement

Please continue to invite Black families to sign up for our first Black Family Engagement Newsletter!  

Here is a PDF version for families who might not have access to an email. 

Black Women LEAD & Black Male Initiative Summit

We would like to personally invite young Black/African/African American women and men in your community to one of two scholars visits: the Black Women Lead, Empower, Achieve, Dedicate (BW-LEAD) Summit or Black Male Initiative Summit (BMIS) on February 24, 2024, hosted at The University of Denver (DU). The BW-LEAD and BMIS planning committee at DU, comprised of The Cultural Center, Black Community Initiatives, Undergraduate Admissions, and Equity in STEM, are very excited about this year’s event, which is a little more than two months away.

The purpose of BW-LEAD and BMIS is to provide high school students, both women and men, who identify as Black/African/African American/of African descent with an opportunity to participate in a program that promotes leadership, academic achievement, and community involvement while developing their Black identities. 

The 2024 theme this year for this scholars’ visit is “Imagining Black Futures!” We will be celebrating the BEST parts of being a Black Woman or a Black Man and exploring how young folks can dream and craft their future! Please help us spread awareness to young folks in your community who would like to join us in an opportunity to invest in their future by engaging in this highly interactive workshop and benefitting from the knowledge of talented Black female and male leaders. 

We will follow up with a registration form.

Refugees, migrants and access to services

Colorado has recently welcomed many newcomers arriving from the Southwest border. New arrivals are often in need of many of the programs and services offered by county Human Service offices. Though these migrants may be fleeing similar circumstances as refugees, there are some crucial terminology and immigration status differences to understand, as human service departments assess individuals’ eligibility for benefits and services.

Check out this document created by the Colorado Office of Economic Security that lists out different resources for our Migrant and Refugee families.

Volunteers 

Please remember, all volunteers need to complete a background check prior to volunteering within the school and classroom. The purple Volunteer Background Check Portal tab is hyperlinked to the Sterling Volunteers DPS prepaid account landing page. When using this link, payment is not required.  The DPS Online Volunteer Background Check is located at the following link – https://equity.dpsk12.org/get-involved/volunteer-services/ 

One location for 2024 DHS and Food Bank Rockies mobile food pantries

In 2024, there will only be one Denver Human Services and Food Bank of the Rockies mobile food pantry per month. These will take place at Empower Field at Mile High, Parking Lot E. Most pantry events will take place on the third Friday of the month (dates subject to change due to Empower Field event conflict or weather). Distribution time will remain from 9-11:30 a.m. or until food runs out.

For those that would still like to attend a food distribution in East Denver, check out these pantries close to the 80205 zip code area or go to Food Bank Rockies to find food.

Department of Housing Stability: Temporary Rental & Utility Assistance

The Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance (TRUA) Program assists eligible households with:

  • Rental Assistance – Up to 6 months of rental assistance may be provided to an eligible household within a 12-month period (calendar year). This may include rental arrears, the current month’s rent, and one future month’s rent.
  • Utility Assistance – This program provides utility assistance to Denver Water and/or Xcel Energy (electric, gas) for renters and homeowners. Utility assistance may be provided to eligible households one time per utility within a 12-month period (calendar year).
  • Relocation Assistance – This may include security deposit, first month’s rent, and application fees. Deposit and first month’s rent will count as one month each toward the 6-month maximum.

Learn more about the Department of Housing Stability and apply for the TRUA Program and share this flyer with your families today!

Flyer for the MCC training 

Registration for the MCC training

Athletics Update:

Highlights & upcoming events:

  • First Day of Spring Sports kicks off February 26th. 

Game Updates: 

  • Girls Basketball will play in the second round of playoffs Friday, 2/23 vs. Regis Jesuit at 6:00pm, at Regis HS – TICKETS HERE
  • Ice Hockey will play in the first round of playoffs Saturday, 2/24 vs. Chaparral at 7:15pm, at Big Bear Ice Arena. 

Links: 

Athletics Website

Upcoming Competition Schedule

Ticket sales for home games

Activities Update

It is time again for the East High Sustainability Club’s Tree Plenish!!Trees are $5 each, and are able to be donated as long as the person puts (donate) next to their name! Click on the link below for all the details.

https://tpevents.org/school/4082

Digital Museum Exhibition

This exhibit was put together as a collaboration between the East High museum club and graduate students from the CU public history program.

Here is the exhibit: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/829cbe8a1c9543c58eb4a6fc9ecea971

Senior Information: 

The senior hub is now up on the website. The senior fee ($25) can now be paid through the hub.

CALLING ALL SENIOR PARENTS!

After Prom, the cherished tradition for all East High Seniors that is FREE to all seniors, will be here before we know! After Prom is an evening where the school transforms into a playground that includes activities, games, entertainment, food and exciting prizes in a safe, alcohol-free environment! It’s an experience our seniors eagerly anticipate each year!

However, we need your support to make it a reality! Our fundraising campaign is in full swing, and we are reaching out to you for donations of any size. With a cost of $75 per student, your contribution ensures that every senior can participate in this unforgettable event. After Prom is only possible through the generosity of parents, grandparents and others.

To make your contribution, simply follow this link: 

https://east-angels-after-prom-2024.cheddarup.com/. If you prefer to write a check, please contact Leslie Kelly at Leslie.kelly1@gmail.com for instructions. Remember, all donations are tax deductible.

Legacy Stole order forms are available in room 100. Students whose parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles graduated from East are eligible to apply for a Legacy Stole. Unfortunately siblings do not count. The deadline for turning in the legacy stole form is March 8th

Cap & Gown 

Pictures are March 5th in the back of the auditorium. Caps and gowns will be provided. Photos are taken by LIfetouch and are optional. Sign up is in room 100. As always, if you have questions please reach out to Tee MacDonald. Just FYI we will have a photographer at graduation to capture that exciting moment. 

If your senior has not yet ordered their cap and gown please have them come to room 100 and see Tee. 

Jostens will be here on March 20th to deliver announcements and other items that you and your seniors may have purchased. Caps and Gowns will be handed out at rehearsal on May 20th.

Class T-shirts: 10th & 11th grade class t-shirts are available in room 100 only $10

Club List 23-24: Here you can access all of the amazing club opportunities we have this school year. Feel free to reach out to club sponsors or Tee MacDonald theresa_macdonald@dpsk12.net for more information. 

Yearbook Information

Yearbook sales purchase link:   https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1008646/East-High-School/2024-Yearbook/20230711041857043152/CATALOG_SHOP/ 

Spirit Store

East High School’s Spirit Store is located on the second floor just south of the Main Office.

Operating hours are:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – during lunch  

Friday – during seventh period 

The Spirit Store is run by volunteers and will be closed if a volunteer is not available. If you would like to confirm store hours, volunteer, or ask questions, please contact spiritstore@eastangelfriends.org.  

All Spirit Store proceeds support the East Angel Friends & Alumni Foundation. For more on EAFAF, visit eastangelfriends.org. Go Angels!