Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year!
Posted August 6, 2026
We would like to warmly welcome our new students and families joining the Denison Montessori community. We are also thrilled to see our returning children and families! Whether you are a new or returning family, we hope that you find all the information you need to get you ready for an incredible school year.
This is a long Denison Digest with lots of information about the upcoming school year. Please be sure to read all of this Digest and visit the links included so you have answers to many of the questions you may have! We are excited to see you and your children very soon.
Kindly,
Ms. Natalie
Principal
Denison Announcements
- In-person registration will be taking place August 12th & 13th from 8:00 – 3:30 p.m. in Denison’s library. Class lists will be available at registration. Please plan to attend the day designated for your child’s grade level, as that truly helps our staff members working at registration. Thanks!
- Wednesday, August 12th: Primary (ECE3, ECE4, & Kindergarten) students & their siblings*
- Thursday, August 13th: Upper & Lower Elementary Students (1st-6th grade)*
- Please note that children cannot start school without completed registration forms! Please call the Denison office at (720) 424-8080 with questions after August 13th.
- Parents/Guardians: Please bring updated immunization information with you to registration.
- Parents/Guardians: We will be collecting your $50 classroom donation.
- The First day of school is Monday, August 24th for 1st through 6th grade.
- Kindergarten students will start on Tuesday, August 25th
- All four year olds will start on Tuesday, September 8th.
- Three year olds will be phased in the week of August 31st. You will receive your start date from the teacher by August 26th.
- If you have completed registration online, please bring your confirmation page.
- You can find all the dates for this year on the Denison ‘26-’27 calendar in English, Spanish, or Vietnamese.
- We have some new staff to welcome to the Denison Montessori community this year. Please introduce yourselves to them and help each of these individuals feel welcome!
- Kacey Bennett, Lower Elementary paraprofessional
- Christina Madera, Primary paraprofessional
- Michelle Sanchez, English Language Development Paraprofessional
- Logan Spinelli, Restorative Practices Coordinator
- Bess Aranoff, School Psychologist
- Victoria Avila, Speech-Language Pathologist
- Laura Hagen, School Nurse
- Class lists will be available at registration. Please see the Family handbook for full information on the classroom placement policy. You can access it using the following links in English, Spanish or Vietnamese.
- NEW DPS Policy! Colorado House Bill 25-1135 now requires school districts to adopt and implement a policy for student communication device possession and use during the school day. Starting at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year, all DPS students in all grades (ECE-13) will be expected to turn off and put away all personal communication devices (PCDs) during the entirety of the school day. PCDs include, but are not limited to:
- Cellphones.
- Smart or electronic wearables (such as smart watches or smart glasses).
- Wireless earbuds and earphones.
- Personally owned tablets and laptops.
- Non-district-issued computing devices.
- Any other personally-owned, portable electronic communication device.
- The policy was carefully developed using community engagement and is based on research on how cellphone use can distract from learning, impact students’ grades and test scores, and negatively affect mental and emotional well-being. You can read the full Denison policy here, where it is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Paper copies of the policy will also be available at registration.
- Denison’s Back to School Night will be held on Thursday, August 20th, starting at 4:30. There will be a parent education session called “Montessori 101,” for all Primary (preschool and kindergarten families), starting at 5:00 in the gymnasium. 1st- 6th grade parents/guardians AND their students can visit classrooms starting at 5:00. Interpretation services and childcare will be provided for Denison students only. You must sign up for childcare using this Sign-Up Genius link by noon on Thursday, August 20th, to make sure we have enough staff to provide childcare. The schedule for Back to School Night is as follows:
- 4:30 – 5:00 – Meet your child’s PE, Visual Arts, STEM, Special Education, and Support Staff members in the shade of the front lawn, near the steps to Denison’s main entrance.
- 5:00 – 6:30 – Meet your child/children’s teachers. 1st- 6th grade (Lower and Upper Elementary) classrooms are open from 5:00 – 6:30 for you to visit. We will also have informational booths in the main lobby for you to check out while you are visiting.
- 5:00 – 6:00 – Parent education session, “Montessori 101,” for Primary (preschool and kindergarten) families in the gymnasium. Childcare provided in the library and Primary playground.
- Please review the linked information about school drop-off and pick up routines and times for the 2026-2027 school year in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. These are the same as last year! Free breakfast is available for all students and family members starting at 8:05 am. Supervised recess is available for 1st-6th grade students from 8:05 – 8:25. Families must provide their own supervision on the playground for all preschool and kindergarten children
- Did you know that your student’s attendance can impact their socio-emotional and academic growth? Studies have shown that students who miss multiple days of school per year are at risk for reading below grade level. Denison Montessori wants to support all students’ regular, daily attendance. Please review our updated attendance guidelines, available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, for information about state, DPS, and Denison Montessori attendance policies.
- Before and after school care is available for all Denison students through DPS’s Discovery Link program. You can register online or reach out via email at discovery_link@dpsk12.net or phone at 720-423-1781.
- We are excited to partner with Augustana Arts again this school year to provide small group violin instruction after school for students in 1st – 6th grades. If you are interested in this program for your child, please visit the Augustana Arts webpage for all the details.
- Looking for ways to get more involved at Denison Montessori? Consider joining Families of Denison Montessori (FDM) or Denison’s Collaborative School Committee (CSC).
- FDM is Denison’s parent teacher organization. They plan and host community events and fundraisers throughout the school year. Visit fdmontessori.com for more information.
- Denison’s CSC helps guide the strategic planning, budget process, and advocacy initiatives. If you would like more information about CSC, please email Ms. Natalie at nfickes@dpsk12.net. We are actively looking for new members for the 2026-2027 school year, so we hope you will consider joining!
Mark Your Calendars
- August 12, Registration: Primary (ECE3, ECE4, & Kindergarten) Students & Their Siblings*
- August 13,, Registration: Upper & Lower Elementary Students (1st-6th grade)
- August 20, Back to School Night: 4:30 – 6:30
- August 21, Popsicles on the Playground: 4:00 – 6:00, sponsored by Families of Denison Montessori
- August 24, First Day of School: 1st-6th grade
- August 25, First Day of School: Kindergarten
- Week of August 31st: ECE3 students begin school, details to be shared by your child’s teacher
- September 7, Labor Day holiday: no school for students or staff
- September 8, First Day of School: ECE4
- September 18, Professional Day: no school for students
- September 25, Families of Denison Montessori’s Fun Run Fundraiser – more details to follow
- October 17, Families of Denison Montessori’s Harvest Fest – more details to follow
