Prepare for the SHCA Annual Meeting
As summer comes to a close, we turn our attention to the Annual Meeting of the Southern Hills Community Association. The meeting will be tentatively held on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 7:00 PM in the Slavens cafeteria. Confirmation coming soon.
This meeting is a chance for neighbors to gather and discuss issues relevant to the neighborhood. It is also an opportunity to vote on members of the SHCA Board. If you are interested in a Board position, please reply to this email and let us know!
Please note that only paid members of the Southern Hills Community Association are eligible to vote for Directors. Join the SHCA now and pay your annual dues (only $25!) if you live in the neighborhood. If you live outside the Association area, please consider making a contribution, too! We also plan to collect dues at the meeting.
Attend This Meeting! Redrawing Denver Public Schools Boundaries
Denver Public Schools is in the process of evaluating potential changes to school boundaries and zones for all schools in the district, including possibly Slavens. These changes will be determined by October 2026 and go into effect in the 2027-2028 school year. At this stage, DPS is soliciting community input and formulating draft ideas. All readers of this newsletter are members of the community and are encouraged to participate!
🚨 What To Do Right Now
The Southeast regional community engagement meeting will be held on September 8, 2026 at 6:00 PM at Hamilton Middle School. Plan to attend! RSVP using the district’s Google form.
🗝️ More Actions to Take
Email the Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero, and the Enrollment and Campus Planning department with your positive thoughts about Slavens and our community.
🗞️ Earlier Newsletters
ALERT: Potential Changes to Slavens Boundaries!
Southern Hills May '26 News - Boundary Info Included!
Meeting Videos - Potential Changes to Slavens Boundaries
DPS Boundary Review Update - Survey Results Preview and Upcoming Meeting
📢 Handout
Your school. Your neighborhood. At risk. Several volunteers handed out this flyer explaining the stakes of the process to families at pick-up and drop-off in the last days of school at Slavens.
Did you email the board? Are you interested in sharing what you wrote and possibly coordinating on future messaging? Reply to this email or email [email protected]!
Updates from Slavens School
🔔 School Starts on Today!
Monday, August 24th is the first day of the new school year at Slavens!
Middle School Bell: 8:20 a.m.
Elementary Bell: 8:25 a.m.
K–8 Dismissal: 3:25 p.m.
🚸 Become a Crossing Guard!
Do you want to help keep our students safe while making a positive impact on the Slavens community? We are looking for volunteers or paid crossing guards to assist with student safety during arrival and dismissal. This is a great way to get involved, help children keep safe, and even earn a little extra money.
If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about this opportunity, please reach out to Darcie Forde at [email protected]. Your help makes a difference!
Let’s Communicate! If you have concerns, compliments, or other thoughts about Slavens, the Association can share those with the school. Reply to this email or email us at [email protected]!
Harvest Bounty to Share?
Home gardeners can give back this summer by sharing extra homegrown produce for Hunger Relief. The free Fresh Food Connect mobile app connects you to a local organization that accepts and distributes homegrown produce donations to support our community. When you have extra produce to share, simply use the app to schedule and track your produce donations all season long. Thank you for supporting our community! 🌱
Learn more and download the Fresh Food Connect App here: https://bit.ly/3GVFDiW
Neighborhood Microgrant: Apply by August 25th
There's a microgrant that's giving neighbors $300 to do neighborhood projects. Think planting fruit trees to start a food forest, building a little free food pantry, a shared tool library, a shared pizza oven, your idea here! It's a pretty short application (~10 min to fill out). Applications are due August 25. https://nvp.community/microgrant
Rosamond Pickleball Court Opening
Bethesda Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
South by Southeast Summer Series Concert
Join us at Eisenhower Park on September 19th for our last event of the South by Southeast Summer Series! The Denver Jazz Orchestra will be there, as well as food trucks, vendors, and more! Come celebrate the end of summer with us.
Recycling 101 – Five Tips to Recycle Right
Recycling doesn’t need to be complicated! In fact, a few simple habits can help make a difference for our community and the environment. Check out these easy tips to help you recycle with confidence!
Don't Waste The Good Stuff. One of the easiest ways to recycle is to learn the basics of what is accepted. Follow the easy-to-remember categories: 1) paper/cardboard, 2) aluminum, steel cans or tins, 3) glass bottles/jars and 4) plastic containers/tubs. Toss other items like plastic bags, hoses and greasy pizza boxes in your black trash cart. Refer to Denver’s Recycling webpage and click Accepted for Recycling to see all details.
When in doubt, toss it out in your black trash cart or refer to Denver's Recycling webpage to see if there is an available coupon or cost-reduced way to get rid of your materials. If you're unsure whether something is recyclable and don’t have access to Denver’s Waste Directory, it's better to throw it in your black trash cart.
Don’t stress about perfectly clean containers. While items need to be empty, Denver does not require you to thoroughly scrub every jar, bottle or container before recycling it. In fact, Denver encourages residents to conserve water during drought and only rinse extra-dirty containers. One method is to put an ounce or less of water into a container, close it and shake vigorously, then empty. The goal is to keep recyclables relatively clean so they can be recycled properly without wasting unnecessary water.
Flatten those boxes. Breaking down cardboard boxes saves space in your purple recycling cart and makes the collection and recycling process more efficient. At Denver’s recycling facility, flattened cardboard stacks more easily, moves through the system and helps transport and process more cardboard per load.
Plastic bags = No! Plastic bags can jam sorting equipment and create headaches at recycling facilities. Instead of recycling in your purple cart, reuse them at home or take them to a designated grocery store drop-off location. And remember – set your recyclables free! Never, ever put your recycling in a bag inside your purple recycling cart.
University Hills Farmers Market
Check out the University Hills farmers market in South Denver on Saturdays from 9am-1pm from May through October 31. You'll find all kinds of freshness -- produce, food and beverage as well as handmade wellness and crafts plus live music.
Make Your Voice Heard!
👶 Shape Denver's Childcare Future
We’re Taking on Childcare. Every Denver family deserves and should be able to afford quality childcare. Whether you’re a family, caregiver, childcare provider, employer, or community member, your experiences and ideas can shape the future of childcare in Denver.
Take the Childcare Survey. It only takes 3 minutes, and your feedback will inform future recommendations.
Come to a Community Meeting
Atzlan Recreation Center
Monday, August 31, 5:00 - 7:00PM
4435 Navajo St, Denver, CO 80211
RSVP
Blossom House Early Learning Center
Saturday, September 12, 9:00 - 11:00AM
3300 W Nevada Pl, Denver, CO 80219
RSVP
Hiawatha Davis Jr. Recreation Center
Saturday, September 19, 9:00 - 11:00AM
3334 Holly St, Denver, CO 80207
RSVP
Under Construction
🦺 Buchtel Boulevard and Evans Avenue Travel and Safety Improvements
What: A contractor for DOTI will begin work to make Buchtel Boulevard from University to Colorado boulevards a more complete street, where it's easier for pedestrians and people who scooter and bike to access jobs, schools, shops, and transit stops. The project includes building safer intersections and pedestrian and bike crossings and upgrading bike facilities and traffic signal infrastructure.
When: Starting July 2026
Where: People can expect to see infrastructure improvements at five intersections: Buchtel and University, Buchtel and St. Paul, Buchtel and Colorado, Evans and University, and Evans and Colorado.
People can email the project's public information team at [email protected] to sign up for regular project updates and to learn about temporary travel impacts as improvements are made.
Project Work Zone
Upcoming Association Events
🗓️ Annual Meeting - October 13, 2026 at 7:00 PM in the Slavens Cafeteria
Tentative date. Details to come. Must be a paid Member to vote. Please consider paying your dues in advance if you live in the Membership area.
🥚 Easter Egg Hunt - Spring 2027
Join us on the field and playgrounds at Slavens School for a chance to hunt for eggs and visit with your neighbors! Details to come.
🇺🇸 4th of July Bike Parade - Sunday, July 4, 2027
Cover your ride with festive decoration and join us at the field at Slavens School for a bike/scoot/walk around the neighborhood behind a fire truck!
Interested in volunteering at these events or have ideas for new ones? Help is always welcome. Reply to this email or email us at [email protected]!
Join the SHCA!
We can’t do it without you! Find this email useful? Enjoy attending our events? Want to see us do even more? Please consider joining the SHCA and paying your annual dues if you live in the neighborhood. If you don’t, please consider a contribution anyway! All are welcome at our public events.
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