December Newsletter

Good Afternoon Hillcrest Families and Friends,

I hope that this email finds you well as we are wrapping up the Thanksgiving Break and transitioning into December.  We are excited about the upcoming weeks ahead at Hillcrest during this busy time of the year! 

JOIN our FACEBOOK page for “HCE Family Friday”

We are starting a NEW tradition - every week on Fridays, you can expect to find pictures of our Hillcrest Family (students, staff and families) posted on Facebook!  Join our Facebook page and spread the word!

Adams 12 School Choice

The Adams 12 School Choice window opens December 1, 2025 at which time a list of schools open to Choice will be posted to this website: Choice Program The deadline for priority consideration is January 2, 2026. Please review our updated Choice Policy.  At Hillcrest, we will be open for choice for the 2025-2026 year at all grade levels which means spread the word to your family and friends - we love to continue to add new students and families to our Hillcrest community!

Exclusive Event for Incoming Kindergarteners!

Do you know any families with preschoolers who may be interested in attending Hillcrest next year for kindergarten? If so, we are hosting an exclusive event for families to learn more about kindergarten on Tuesday, December 16th from 12-1 pm.   Spread the word!

Attendance Incentives

Tomorrow, December 1st, starts a new attendance challenge for students! Every day that students are at school, they will earn a ticket that they can put into a raffle to win time with different staff members for a special experience.  These experiences include being “Principal for an hour”, making friendship bracelets, building a volcano and more. Make sure that your child is here every day to increase their chances of winning!

Holiday Classroom Parties

On December 18th, teachers will be hosting small classroom parties to mark the end of the 1st semester and to celebrate the upcoming Winter Break.  The parties are intended for classroom communities only and will not include parents. Teachers value the time to spend with students in non academic ways and this allows them that time to build relationships with students.

Teachers may send out a sign up for snacks to enjoy in the classroom and although we typically don’t allow “sweet treats” in the classroom for any other occasion (such as birthdays), we will be allowing them for holiday parties.  While this seems contradictory to our wellness policy, because holiday parties happen at a predetermined date and time, families can have conversations and plan accordingly prior to the event.  Birthday treats, on the other hand, are unannounced and inequitable for various reasons in a school setting.

Community Resources

We recognize that the holidays can be a difficult time for many families. For individuals interested in obtaining holiday assistance or information about clothing and food resources, please reach out to our Family Outreach Liaison  at 720-972-8244. I am available to help connect you with the necessary resources. You can also visit this link to find food banks near you.

As always, thank you for your partnership.  We look forward to this month and a strong ending to an incredible first semester.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns or compliments.

Sincerely,

Erika Fiorenza

Principal, Hillcrest Elementary