Please add the below dates to your family calendar.  Target and the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District are sponsoring free admission to the Denver Art Museum through the summer months.

June 2
July 7
August 4

Sponsored by

Andrew Wickliffe and Marilu Ortega, reference librarians from the Denver Public Library's Ross-University Hills branch, visited our school on Monday, May 14 to promote the DPL's Summer of Reading program.  This year's theme is: Dream Big READ!  The program begins on Saturday, May 26 and you can register at any DPL branch.  Children need read only six books or three hours per week to earn prizes.  I strongly encourage you to register your child for this program.  One of the biggest drops we see in children during the summer months is in reading.  Programs like the Denver Public Library's help keep children reading; you can, too, by reading with your children every day.  Many students who don't already have a DPL card took applications home  with them.  Help your son or daughter become a life-long reader by giving your child a card of his or her own.

As of Friday evening, May 11, any items still checked out to students and staff have been marked as overdue and all items checked out from our little library after Tuesday, May 15 will be considered lost and you may be asked to pay the replacement cost for each item remaining on your account.  You may submit your remittance directly to the the University Park office.  Please make any check payment payable to University Park Elementary.  If you have any questions about any outstanding items checked out on your child's account, please call by phone (720.424.3418) and leave a message or contact me by e-mail (Librarian_UniversityPark@dpsk12.org).  I will respond to your correspondence as soon as possible in my absence beginning Tuesday, May 15 through Sunday, May 20.

Please join me in welcoming noted dinosaur artist and enthusiast Dennis J. Wilson to University Park on Thursday, May 10 from 6 PM to 7 PM in the UPark auditorium.  Dennis will talk about dinosaur reconstruction and museum preparation; and he has kindly offered to share some of his fascinating models and museum pieces for invited guests to touch.  This event will close our little library's season of stories and can be seen by reservation only.  Please RSVP to me via e-mail (Librarian_UniversityPark@dpsk12.org) and include Tales@Twilight in the subject heading of your reply.  Kindly include the number and names of all members in your party who will attend.  Seating will be limited and children must be accompanied by an adult.  You're invited to shop the Book Fair on its final night before and after Dennis' presentation, as it will stay open late to accommodate Tales@Twilight attendees.

This Saturday, May 5, 2012 marks Free Comic Book Day throughout the world.  Celebrated annually on the first Saturday in May, FCBD gives everyone, regardless of their age, a chance to obtain a free comic book from a participating vendor.  Mile High Comics - Glendale is a participating sponsor of this event.  I encourage you to drop by the store this Saturday and pick up a free comic book.  Selection will be limited, but moms & dads, this is a great way to pass on your love of a comic you enjoyed as a child to your own children.  For reluctant or struggling readers, comic books and graphic novels can open a world of reading previously unexplored because the artwork complements the writing and many children find it less intimidating than a page full of words.  Here is a selection of the comics that may be available at the various comic book stores this Saturday.  You can also download a free preview below of the comics for young kids published by Top Shelf Productions.

As we begin looking toward the close of 2011-2012 school year, I invite you to revisit one of the highlights of the year.  On September 13, 2011, students and staff wore yellow to celebrate Roald Dahl, one of the world's most beloved authors of children's literature.  Yellow was Dahl's favorite color.  Check out the video below to see some pics of teachers and children showing their spirit.

April 30 is El día de los niños / El día de los libros (Children's Day / Book Day).  Celebrate today by reading a book with your child before bedtime and rejoice in learning about another culture and its customs.

The last day for student checkout is Thursday, May 3.  All books and magazines are due by Friday, May 11.  Any books or magazines not returned by the above date will be considered lost and children may be charged the replacement cost for each missing item.  Also, children may forgo the privilege of joining their classmates for field day activities unless they have brought their respective accounts current by Tuesday morning May 15.

Our final Scholastic book fair of the year is rapidly approaching.  Please contact Dawn Stenlund or Andrea Bowser to volunteer your time to this event.  The fair commences Thursday, May 3 and concludes Thursday, May 10 with a presentation by a local dinosaur enthusiast.  This fair will also kick off our participation in the Scholastic Summer Challenge, which encourages children to keep up with their reading away from school.