Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. ~Rainer Maria Rilke

The arrival of spring always generates excitement and hope for the future. At University Park Elementary our bright and eager students inspire us daily with great hope for the future, and we are feeling the additional positive energy of spring. Even a heavy snow fall can’t extinguish our excitement. With one month left in school, we have lots to celebrate and look forward to this spring and beyond.

DPS BOND INITIATIVE:
Thank you to the community for supporting University Park and the rest of the Denver Public Schools by approving the Bond Initiative. As early as this summer, we will begin to see the impact of this funding at University Park when we get a new, much more energy efficient boiler, new light fixtures and an updated fire alarm/suppression system. We were also blessed with $71,000 to establish 21st century classrooms with the latest instructional technology.

By the summer of 2012, the entire community will see the most public of our Bond projects – a new Learning Landscape! This dynamic new playground will be an asset to the whole community with areas to play, learn and reflect. This project will also include a new irrigation system for the entire school property.

By 2013, the last of the University Park Bond projects will be completed when we have our roof replaced and restrooms remodeled. In the University Park community, we are fortunate to have a jewel of a beautiful, historical school. After these Bond projects, thanks to you, the school will be solid for years to come with high tech resources for our students.

UPARK 2009 HOME TOUR:
A great way to celebrate and enjoy spring, while supporting University Park, is to join us at our Annual Home Tour this Sunday.

The Home Tour is our biggest fundraiser of the year! 100% of all proceeds enable the University Park PTA to financially contribute to important programs at the school, ensuring that our children receive the high quality education that they deserve. On Sunday, May 3rd from 11am-5pm, homeowners from the Observatory/University Park neighborhood put out the welcome mat and open their homes for the day. Take advantage of this opportunity to walk through five fabulous homes.

Advance tickets are available for $15 at Lulu’s Furniture & Decor and at the school. Tickets will be $20 at the door. Seniors and teachers are always $15. Please call the school at 303-756-9407 if you have questions regarding purchasing tickets at the school.

The tour will start at the school where you will pick up your Home Tour Directory. We will have a Bake Sale, a Silent Auction, and a Book Fair (in the gym) at the school. The University Park Home Tour's corporate sponsors are Pam Adams of Metro Brokers, the McCleery family of Peepers Optical, and the Kirkegaard and McMullen families of Appalachian Construction.

SCHOOL GARDEN:
Our students and the school Garden Club are already busy planting seeds in our new indoor growing center. Once we are certain we’ve escaped the last frost, all grades will have the opportunity to plant these seedlings and other seeds in our school garden.

PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPING:
This spring, University Park will receive the wonderful gift of professional landscaping donated by Stonegate Gardens. Encouraged by parents of two UPark students, the generous women behind Stonegate offered to design an inviting, low maintenance landscape for the front of our school. With donated plants and materials and volunteer labor, the project should be complete by June.

Watch the space in front of the school on St. Paul street for beautiful changes. If you’d like a preview of Stonegate’s work, check out their plans at www.stonegate-gardens.com/universitypark.php.

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything. ~William Shakespeare

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