Driving and School Access

• Please help us keep our kids safe! Drive slowly and follow the designated parking routes in all parking lots. 
• Please always follow verbal and hand signals from our staff who our on duty -- they are charged with keeping everyone safe.
• Perimeter gates and front doors to each building are open from 8:15-8:30 AM and 3:30-3:45 PM and locked at all other times, including during school hours. Specific doors are unlocked for after-care and club pick-up at 4:45 PM.
• For access during school hours, parents and authorized visitors MUST sign-in and out at the ISDenver Welcome Center and wear a visitor badge during every visit to the school.

Campus Safety & Drills

• Our campus and buildings remain locked at all times, but for daily drop-off and pick-up times.
  • As with all schools, we follow state and local licensing guidance as to how often we have fire, tornado, and lock-down drills.
  • In particular with lock-down drills, we make them as unobtrusive as possible with our youngest students, as studies have shown that these can adversely affect their well being.
  • We do not conduct ‘secure perimeter drills.’ In this situation (renamed from lock-outs to avoid confusion), everyone moves  indoors behind locked doors, without additional changes to routine.
• We conduct routine safety audits with a 3rd party campus safety and security firm to assess threats across our campus and buildings, policies, and procedures. 
  • We continually  received high marks on our external assessment, thanks in part to our completely enclosed campus, full-time locked buildings, and advanced fob system. All recommendations are shared with the Board.
  • At the advice of the safety and security firm, we do not share specific details about safety.
  • Our next safety and security audit is scheduled for Fall ‘22. 

Supporting Teachers and Students

• While drills and training are an important part of school safety measures, so is simply being present.
• Our principals work closely with teachers as individuals and teams to promote safety and wellness.
• Our counseling team is integrated across the divisions (ECE, Primary, Middle School) and work with classrooms and individuals as needed.

Drop-off Map and Procedures: 8:15 - 8:30 a.m.

First Week (8.17-19.22 only)

• All parents are welcome to park and walk children in all grades into their classroom. Carlines and gates will be open per usual procedures. 
• We offer an ‘extended drop off’ on the first day, allowing parents to stay in classrooms until 8:45. 
• We also have a special Cérémonie d'Ouverture on the first day – more information in E-News.
• Thursday and Friday, we kindly ask that you exit campus no later than 8:30 to ensure teachers can begin classes without disruption and distraction. 
• Settling into rhythms and routines is important for learners of all ages to begin school on the right foot!

Please read below the map for detailed instructions on routine drop-off procedures.

Families with any students in K1-K2 or with a K3 student who needs assistance getting out of cars must drop-off all children via:

• The carline headed north on Red Cross Way with drop-off in the Mary Louise Evans parking lot on the corner of Red Cross Way and 4th (see the orange carline and drop-off zone on the Drop-off map), or 
   
• Effective Monday, November 7: ECE walk-up gate is now at the Mary Louise Evans building. (The walk up gate between MLE and Peacekeeper buildings is no longer open starting Monday, November 7.) (The gym door will also be open off of Red Cross Way for Primary School students to enter.)

All other families must drop-off all children: 

• By car via the Hug & Go line in the Welcome Center parking lot (see the purple drop off zone on the Drop-off map). This is an independent carline and children must be able to exit from the passenger side of the car on their own and move to either the South Gate or the Welcome Center gate, whichever is closer. -OR- 
   
• On foot via the Welcome Center and South walk up gates (see the purple dots on the Drop-off map). 

Drop-off Note:  We do not currently use The SchoolPass app and / or RFID tag during our drop-off.

Pick-Up Map and Procedures: 3:30 - 3:45 p.m.

K1-G5 families may choose pickup via walk up or carline

• Walk on campus
  • Enter campus via the designated gates at the north and south end of campus (see the purple dots on the Pickup map). To facilitate our carline, parents cannot enter at the gate between MLE and the gymnasium.
     
  • Meet your child in their classroom for pickup! You can pick up multiple children in whatever order works best for you, talk with teachers and fellow parents, and be able to see what’s happening in the class, as well.
     

  • All families must show SchoolPass credentials to your child’s teacher directly so the teacher can check your child out. This is particularly important as teachers are getting to know the families.
     

• Pickup by carline (NEW:  Requires advance registration*)
  • Enter the carline headed north on Red Cross Way with pickup in the Mary Louise Evans parking lot on the corner of Red Cross Way and 4th (see the orange carline and pick-up zone on the Pick-up map). 
     
  • Families with children in K1-G5 must show their SchoolPass RFID tag*, to be scanned by ISDenver staff in the carline.
     
  • Please stay in your car while a staff member brings children out to individual cars.
    • You cannot walk up to where we gather the carline children and walk away with your child. 
       
  • Children who are not registered via the opt-in process, and are not otherwise registered for EDS programs, will be expected to be picked up on campus.
     
• *Carline Registration:  In order to maximize child safety and increase the carline efficiency for staff and families, carline pickup will only be available to families who have registered for the trimester. 
  • Opt-in registration for trimester 2 carline pickup must be completed by November 4, 11:59 PM. 
     
  • If you are registered for carline pickup, you must use the carline and stay in your car until your child comes all the way to the car  (ie, you cannot walk up
    to where we gather the carline children and walk away with your child). 
     
  • NOTE: we will make every effort to avoid canceling the carline; please dress your child appropriately in case of inclement weather.
     
  • By registering for carline pickup, you are opting in for the full trimester (November 14, 2022 - February 16, 2023).
    • If you are new to carline, you will need to pick up your RFID tags at the Welcome Center (between November 9-11).
    • If you are currently registered/using pickup carline this trimester, you still need to re-register your family for the second trimester.
    • If you are using currently carline for T1 pickup, you can continue using your RFID tags you received in August for T2. 
    • Families need to opt in for each trimester (or default to classroom pickup).
       
  • Similar to EDS registrations, teachers will be informed of which kids will go to the carline for the trimester.
     
  • We cannot allow any one-off changes within the semester. Your child will always be at carline on days when they’re not at EDS. The daily scanning allows us to know in which order to send out the children. 

G6-G8 students may pick up younger G1-G5 siblings; however all K1-K3 siblings must be picked up by a parent or authorized pickup adult per licensing guidelines. 

Campus Parking

Please be a good neighbor and do not park in any lots other than our own, which include:

• At the Welcome Center (enter off 1st Pl)

  • Please avoid parking spots in this lot reserved for neighboring offices, CFU,  as well as a few labeled for our own families who bid and won year-long parking on campus at our annual Gala! 

• the Mary Louise Evans building (enter off Red Cross Way) 
• Between the Mary Louise Evans and Peacekeeper buildings (enter off 4th Ave)
• Our designated overflow area (near 1st and E. Spruce St. in the hangar; see map above)

Please respect our neighbors (NCSL, Lowry Lofts, etc) and their private property - and do not park in these spots no matter how short a time.

How to Report an Absence

• Watch this video to see how to report an absence. 
• In the Parent Portal select the button "Report Attendance" under the My Children header on the main page.
• Create an attendance request for absences, tardies, early dismissals, and multi day absences.
• Choose a reason for your child(ren).
• Add any additional notes.
• Your information will be submitted to our Welcome Team and the Nurse's office

E-mail nurses@isdenver.org and/or info@isdenver.org if you have any additional questions.

Late drop-off procedure:

• Log in to the Parent Portal to submit notification that your child will arrive late. 
• If you don’t have immediate access to the parent portal, email info@isdenver.org as well as your student's teachers 
• Drop your child off at the Welcome Center, and a Welcome Center team member will get them signed in and let them know what class they're currently in. 
  • If your child is in K1-G2, a staff member will walk them to class.
  • If your child is in G3-G8, make sure they have their fobs with them so they may gain entry into the locked buildings.

Early pick-up procedure:

• Log in to the Parent Portal to submit notifications of absences, tardies or early dismissals. We require at least 2 hours notice! 
• NOTE:  We require at least 2 hours notice for all early pick-ups! 
• The last early pickup each day is 2:30pm. This means that we need to be notified by 12:30 of any same-day early pickups.
• If you don’t have immediate access to the parent portal, email info@isdenver.org as well as your student's teachers with the date and time you want to pick up your child. 
• A staff member will go get your child from their classroom and have them in the Welcome Center ready for pick-up at your requested time. If your child is in G3 or above, we can page the classroom and have them walk over to the Welcome Center.
• You may enter the Welcome Center to notify you are here or to ask questions, but we ask that you then wait outside the school entrance gate for your child. 

Teacher emails

• This is your primary source of communication about your child. You can find your teacher’s email address in their bio as well in our directory in the Parent Portal. 
• See “Toddle and Vidigami” section for more information about student-specific communications.

World E-News

• Our weekly World E-News covers everything you need to be in the know about ISDenver on a weekly basis. It  is your main whole-school communication, including Head of School updates, important reminders and/or policy changes, volunteer opportunities, and happenings across ECE, Primary School and Middle School  - plus, community events and engagement opportunities . 
• Make sure to keep your contact information up to date in the Parent Portal to receive this on a weekly basis! See Parent Portal  section for directions on updating contact info.

Parent Portal

• Our Parent Portal is your one-stop shop for all things ISDenver: calendars, schedules, attendance, registrations, invoices, announcements, and more – we have what you need!
• It’s alive and well now, and we’re also updating the layout and organization through this fall for easier access to information. 
• Pro tip: Bookmark this log-in page, or just leave it open as a browser tab on your phone or desktop for easy access whenever you need.
• Make sure we have your most up to date phone number and email address by updating it in the Parent Portal:
  • Select "Update Family Profile" button under Important Links (right side of screen, or scroll to bottom to the yellow buttons if on a phone)
  • Fill in your up to date information and save
  • If necessary, change your directory preferences (scroll down to Directory Preferences) - you can adjust if you’d like to share certain contact information with our community.

Social Media

• Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!
• Have a great photo or an exciting piece of content to share about your child(ren) or ISDenver? Share it with Katie Kroeger!

School Calendar

The best way to stay on top of the happenings for your kids (and yourself) is to subscribe to your Household Calendar in the Parent Portal!

• Click “subscribe to calendars” in the top navigation of the Parent Portal (or in the three button menu in top left of the portal homepage on your phone).
  • Check the Google calendar box if you use Google calendar. (If not, the subscription will open in your default calendar app, like on an iPhone.)
  • Under “My Household,” you will see “My household calendar.” Click subscribe on the right. Your calendar application will open!
• This calendar will give you all school events (breaks, conferences, holidays), PLUS all events specific to you/your children (field trips! ECE playdates!), on your calendar feed (aka, your Google/Outlook calendar and/or on your phone.)
• We are still populating this calendar with events for the 2022-23 school year; your subscription ensures that you’ll have them in your personal calendar within ~1 hour of us loading them into the portal calendar.
• Note that school calendar dates may still be subject to change and all changes will be communicated in E-News and updated in our subscription calendar. 
• An updated 2022-23 PDF calendar is also available here and on the Parent Portal - print this one for the fridge! (2023-24, too!).

Student Portfolios and Photo Updates:  Toddle, ManageBac, and Vidigami 

General
We use three primary platforms for teachers to simultaneously share student work with parents, manage student learning with their children (as developmentally appropriate - student agency at work!), and manage their horizontally- and vertically-aligned curricula in the back-end. 

• Teachers will share more detailed information with parents at the beginning of the school year, including log in information for new families. 
• All platforms are secure and private, meeting the strict standards of COPPA and FERPA.
• Each platform includes year-over-year archiving, so that you can look back on your child’s growth over time. 
• Please direct questions on Toddle to Helene Hernandez-Caudron, on ManageBac to Hope Forgey, and on Vidigami to Callyn Baum. 

Platforms

• Toddle is our  K1 - G5 learning management system that allows teachers to detail student learning from daily activities to semester progress reports (what we grew up with as report cards). 
  • This includes snapshots of students at work and play on any given day, units of inquiry (what they’re currently studying), assignments, and end of unit reflections. 
  • Watch this video to learn more about using Toddle.
• ManageBac is our Middle School’s platform for all things academic. Watch these videos on our virtual orientation page to learn more about how we use it! 
  • All of our Middle School students use ManageBac to manage their daily activities, including submitting electronic assignments, receiving feedback from teachers, and reviewing progress reports. 
  • Parents can access ManageBac at their discretion. 
• Vidigami is our platform for photography from school-wide events, and may also be used on a class-by-class basis.
  • Vidigami includes student tagging functionality - we welcome you to do so to make finding your children’s specific pictures easier.
• You will receive a separate email at the beginning of the school yearfrom marcomm@isdenver.org with a link to activate your account, using their app or on Vidigami.com.
  • You have the option to use Google, Facebook or Microsoft to log in, if you would prefer not to create a special Vidigami account.
• Your child may use additional online learning tools accessed through Clever; further details and login information will be provided by the teachers.

Student Support

At the International School of Denver, we embrace students of all cultures and backgrounds, talents and differences to help them achieve their full potential and meet their goals to become excellent learners and global citizens. 

The vast majority of student needs can be met within the primary classroom through scaffolding and differentiation by class and subject teachers. Some students with learning differences and social emotional needs can receive additional support from members of the Student Support Team (SST).

The SST is overseen by our Director of Student Support and Director of Counseling. It includes academic learning specialists in Grades 1-8; a Behaviorist in Grades K1-K3; and two counselors covering Grades 1-4 and Grades 5-8. Support offered by specialists may include:

• Literacy skills
• Mathematics skills
• Organizational and other executive functioning skills
• Social and emotional well-being support

Please reach out to the Director of Student Success, Debra McQueen, or our Director of Counseling, Annie Barocas, for more information.

ISDenver’s Extended Day School (EDS) begins at 7:15 AM and ends at 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Available options include: 

• Before Care
• After Care (K1 - K3) / Study Hall (G1 - G8)
• Co-Curricular Programs (after school clubs, athletics, third language, music lessons)

EDS offerings change each trimester and registration is for the full trimester:

• Trimester 1: 
  • Before/after-care/study hall: August 17, 2022 - November 11, 2022
  • Clubs, 3rd Language, & Music Lessons: August 22, 2022 - November 11, 2022
  • Athletics: August 22, 2022 - November 4, 2022
• Trimester 2:
  • Before/after-care/study hall:  November 14, 2022 - February 17, 2023
  • Clubs, 3rd Language, & Music Lessons:  November 14, 2022 - February 17, 2023
  • Athletics:  November 14, 2022 - February 17, 2023
• Trimester 3: 
  • Before/after-care/study hall: February 27, 2023 - June 1, 2023
  • Clubs, 3rd Language, & Music Lessons: February 27, 2023 - May 26, 2023
  • Athletics: February 27, 2023 - May 19, 2023

EDS information and registration for each trimester will be available in the Parent Portal in advance of each trimester.

• Advanced registration is required. 
• Registration is for the full trimester. Drop-in and one-off signups are not available.
  • Children who are not picked up during the normal school pick up time will be taken to the Welcome Center and their parents and/or emergency contacts are contacted. 
• All registration can be accessed through the Parent Portal. 
• Families receiving financial assistance are eligible to apply for financial assistance for Extended Day School. Reach out to financialassistance@isdenver.org to apply.
• Registration is open for approximately a week and a half each trimester
  • Includes before-care, after-care, clubs, and athletics. Registration button found in the Parent Portal (under “Registrations” in the top navigation bar).
  • Offering details available in our catalog, released prior to registration each trimester.
  • Clubs, before/after-care, and athletics all have separate registration forms, with after-school club offerings filling up very quickly.
  • We suggest making some first and second choice picks beforehand with the options in the catalog, and registering for clubs prior to before-care, after-care and athletics.
• Full 2022-23 Extended Day School Guidelines

Break Camps
Break camps are available during most school breaks - see the calendar for a full listing of when these are available (for an additional cost). 

• Please watch the weekly E-News for registration information (they are available through the Parent Portal as well).

Our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) focuses on community building among families, from within a class, to across divisions, to our entire school. Through functional committees of volunteers, parents join together to support our school’s mission, vision, and strategic initiatives through events, communications, and service opportunities. 

Interested in getting involved with ISDenver's vibrant volunteer community? Contact PTO Liaison Janet Yenter.