School News & Views
by Eileen Abbattista
O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Chances are, he – and Juliet – are at Denver Public Schools 24th annual Shakespeare Festival. The daylong festival will be held downtown at Denver Performing Arts Complex on Fri., May 9, beginning with opening ceremonies, 10a.m. at Skyline Park, 16th & Arapahoe, followed by a lively parade to the performance venues. Performances continue through the day on multiple stages – with sonnets and scenes from Shakespeare’s works, and dance, vocal, and instrumental music from his era. All events are open to the public; the parade is great fun for bystanders, and easy access is available via light rail.
The Challenge Bowl, which covers the life and times of Shakespeare and The Merry Wives of Windsor, is scheduled for 1:30-2:30p.m. in the Olde Globe Theatre, renamed this year as the Alan Dumas Theatre to honor the late Rocky Mountain News reporter who did so much for the early festivals. Info: call 720-423-8278 or visit: http://shakespeare.dpsk12.org.
Families with children in their last year of preschool before kindergarten (usually, but not always, 4-year-olds) owe it to themselves to research generous options now available through the Denver Preschool Program.
DPP is the result of a 2006 voter approved initiative to provide tuition credits for parents residing in Denver (regardless of income, and based on a sliding scale), and quality improvement grants to preschools. The initiative asked Denver voters to raise the sales tax rate 0.12 percent (1.2 cents on every $10 purchase) to fund a high-quality, parental-choice preschool program; revenues have been collected since January 2007.
This innovative program provides true flexibility; a Denver family may use the tuition credit with any preschool provider (within or outside of Denver) who is licensed by the state and has enrolled with the DPP. These providers – for-profit, non-profit, public and private – agree to participate in a three-part quality improvement system, and are eligible to receive technical assistance and funding to help achieve their quality improvement plan.
Although Denver Public Schools is not given special status in DPP, DPS does provide certified Early Childhood Education in nearly all of its elementary schools, and through DPP funding is able to charge a very reasonable tuition for preschool services. 2008-2009 tuition per student is $390/month Full-Day Preschool and $195/month Half-Day; depending on family income, tuition may be further reduced or even available at no cost. Those families who are not in need of tuition assistance can still apply to the program, and donate their credits to another family in need.
A number of area schools have already filled their ECE quotas for fall, but at Profile press time openings remain at these elementary schools: Asbury, 1320 E. Asbury Ave.; McKinley-Thatcher, 1230 S. Grant St.; Knight Fundamental Academy, 3245 E. Exposition Ave.; Bradley International School, 3051 S. Elm St.; Ellis, 1651 S. Dahlia St.; Southmoor, 3755 S. Magnolia Way; and Lowry, 3001 E. Cedar Ave.
Openings are also available at these K-8 schools: El “DIA” de Fairmont Dual Immersion Academy, 520 W. 3rd Ave.; Dora Moore, 846 Corona St.; and Place, 7125 Cherry Creek Dr. North. DPS schools provide affordable, reliable
before- and after-school, “wrap-around” programs, and can help children become a part of the school community before entering kindergarten.
Starting fall 2008, any family registering for preschool services in DPS will at the same time be enrolled in DPP. Registration for DPS preschool programs and enrollment in DPP may be completed at any DPS school offering preschool services.
To find a complete listing of DPP-eligible preschools, or for more info, visit www.denverpreschoolprogram.com, or call 720-264-4555. For information about Denver Public Schools, visit www.dpsk12.org, or call 720-423-3200.
