Daily Enrichment

Bill Roberts SMART lab students

Bill Roberts offers “Specials” or daily enrichment every day for all students ECE through 8th grade that rotate to include:

Art

“Visual arts education benefits the student because it cultivates the whole person, gradually building many kinds of literacy while developing intuition, reasoning, imagination, and dexterity into unique forms of expression and communication.”

Colorado Model Content Standards

The Bill Roberts Art Program teaches to the Visual Arts Standards defined by the Colorado Department of Education with an emphasis on Art History, technique, collaboration, deeper level thinking and cross curricular lessons. The program looks for opportunities within our district, community and at school to support programs and display our students’ work.

The consistent goal of the Bill Roberts art program is to promote student’s art and make art a vital part of the school and community. Students participate in district wide and school specific art shows as well as juried contest and programs. Some of the programs we have participated in are the DPS District Wide Show, Janus Student Art Buying Program, painting birdhouses with my Art Club for the Bill Roberts Auction, Buntport Theater – drawing to skit, DPS Safety Calendar Contest, Art Installation at the Stapleton Recreation Center and playground banners with Learning Landscapes among others!

Students are assessed on Participation and Skill. Their skill level is assessed through a portfolio of work. Assessments are based on evidence of growth in understanding art processes, creating art and using it communicate and effort.

We are always happy to receive donations of arts and crafts supplies and containers for paints, etc. Also, if you have any interest in volunteering or know of any interested volunteers please talk to me. Particularly with the little ones, an extra set of hands is very much appreciated.

Drama

Shakespeare Club for 3rd, 4th & 5th Graders typically starts after school in January to prepare for the April DPS Shakespeare Festival.

At Bill Roberts we are excited to introduce children from ECE through 8th grades to theatre and the benefits from participating in drama, building their skills in:

  • Creativity, enthusiasm, energy and a positive approach to life.
  • Ongoing confidence, self esteem.
  • Skill in verbal communication.
  • Effective social interaction.

The drama programs do not create one “star,” as we believe that all children are stars and the program strives to create opportunities for all children to shine.

Our Drama teacher creates curriculum using many resources, including the Colorado Theatre Standards.

In the primary grades, we focus on creating drama and in the intermediate grades the focus is more on performing.

Traditionally, the Drama classes participate in a Holiday program as part of a middle school enrichment class, a talent show in the spring, an evening performance in May and the Denver Public Schools Shakespeare Festival with around 80 students attending each year.

Library

Volunteer in the library – Send an email

We are proud of our award-winning library!

The Colorado Department of Education recognizes Bill Roberts for its exemplary performance as a “Highly Effective School Library Program.”

Our library enhances the education of our students by teaching information literacy, research and technology skills, and by building a library program that supports the curriculum of our school and encourages students to read.

The mission of the library program is to ensure that all students are effective users and communicators of ideas and information. This includes equal and regular access to the library collection with individual guidance and assistance from the librarian. With more than 20,000 books hand-picked for our students, Bill Roberts has the largest libraries in the Denver Public School District.

Our students receive grade appropriate instruction to develop research and technology skills in order to locate, access, gather and synthesize and evaluate information in a variety of formats – both print and digital.

Bill Roberts hosts two nationally recognized Scholastic Book Fairs each year to promote reading and literacy and to raise money for our library – and the kids love them!

Technology – SMARTLab

My 2nd grader came home on the third day of school totally excited about what he did in the SMART Lab. ‘I can build ANYTHING,’ he said. His 5th grade sister then told me all about it and said it was ‘So cool!’ which is high praise from my tween daughter.

Submitted by a Parent

The SMART Lab is a fully-integrated learning environment where everything from the furniture and technology to curriculum and assessment work together to support hands-on, minds-on learning.

It’s a place where personalized learning and intrinsic motivation engage students of all ages, interests and abilities.

All K-8 students have the opportunity to experience our new SMARTLab. Each will visit five peninsulas to complete various experiences in the areas of:

  • Snap Circuits (Electricity & Engineering)
  • ZomeTool (Structure Crea9on with Polygons)
  • K’Nex – Simple Machines
  • Legos – Robotics
  • Animatoonish/Pixie – Digital Educaton

As students complete more experiences, they become more intricate with increased level of difficulty.

Music

Just like other classes, our Music curriculum is based on state and national standards for the subject area. We are mainly using the Quaver Music Curriculum.

As students learn about the concepts and skills for these standards at their grade levels, they will also be acquiring these 21st century skills such as critical thinking and reasoning, information literacy, collaboration, self-direction and invention.

Colorado Academic Standards in Music are:

  • Expression of Music
  • Creation of Music
  • Theory of Music
  • Aesthetic Valuation of Music

Each grade level has a different experience with music and all grades will put on performances at some point during the school year.

Some highlights and additional opportunities at Bill Roberts:

  • All 3rd graders will use recorders
  • 5th grade Junior Bobcat Band
  • Middle School Bobcat Band
  • Middle School Choir
Physical Education/Dance

Sign up to participate in the annual Kids Heart Challenge

Fuel Up to Play 60!

We have participated for several years in FUTP60 as an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by the National Dairy Council and NFL, in collaboration with the USDA, to help encourage today’s youth to lead healthier lives. For more detail, please visit www.fueluptoplay60.com

Bill Roberts was proud to earn the #1 “Touchdown School” title in our launch year with:

  • More than 60 students participating in a daily food journal and activity log online.
  • 10 of those students surpassed the national goals and have an opportunity to travel to Chicago and represent Bill Roberts at the Fuel up to Play 60 convention.
  • The Middle School “Grab and GO” breakfast for all 6th-8th grade students to eat breakfast daily. Sponsored by Western Dairy (see more on “Grab and Go” below!)
  • Structured recess play.
  • Making sure our entire school understands, supports and participates in 60 minutes of activity daily.
  • Our students’ active participation in the national 100 Mile Club

Breakfast On The Go
The implementation of the Middle School “Grab and Go” breakfast, sponsored in part by Western Dairy Association, has been a huge success. Before the program started, an average of 25 middle school students utilized the school’s free breakfast program. We now serve on average 58 middle school students a day.

After the Fuel Up to Play 60 Event we have seen an average of 66 students in the last 4 days eating breakfast.

Some of the breakfast items that the kids are really liking are:

  • Yogurt Baskets with Granola
  • Banana Bread with String Cheese
  • Mini Waffles with Fruit
  • Egg & Cheese Bagels
  • Sausage Biscuits
  • Breakfast Pizza

We are hoping to get a cart and blender from the grant in the next few weeks. We will then introduce our new “Grab and Go Smoothie” which will come with a homemade muffin or homemade cinnamon roll and 18 oz smoothie. The blender can make on average 9-10 smoothies at a time.

Physical Education Class

The curriculum changes every month, with units that help each age group develop their physical fitness skills. Your child will have a chance to try a variety of activities like:

Tumbling, Basketball, Dance, Fitness Circuits, Holiday Games, Jump Rope, Group Fitness, Walk/Jog/Run, Football, Handball, Volleyball, Softball, Soccer, Golf and more!

Bill Roberts uses the SPARK Curriculum along with the LEAP Framework to provide a meaningful Physical Education and Dance program for all students.

SPARK Physical Education was designed to encourage maximum participation during class time. Active participation and practice in a positive, non-threatening atmosphere, help improve children’s physical skills, fitness, social development and personal enjoyment.

The curriculum is designed to introduce standards-based, developmentally appropriate activities without overwhelming students or teachers.

SPARK promotes quality, daily, physical education for ALL children. Bill Roberts provides 40-80 minutes of PE time per week, depending on the grade level needs.