The Excel Academy Board of Directors held their first meeting of the year on August 27th. We welcomed our new members and assigned officer posts. We invite you to take a moment to learn more about our board members on the website - and we will also be wearing name tags when at the school so you can easily identify the team. Executive Director, Kresta Vuolo, spent some time sharing her director's report, which covered the many exciting things that have taken place over the summer and start of the school year, including the new hires, construction updates and spring 2024 stakeholder survey data. The board looks forward to partnering with Mrs. Vuolo throughout the year to advance our strategic plan goals and continue to make Excel an educational beacon in the Arvada community.
CALL FOR A BOARD MEMBER
The Excel Academy Board of Directors is looking to fill a recent vacancy for a one year term. If you are interested in serving on Excel’s Board, please consider applying through this form by Friday, September 6. We are looking for a parent or community member who is passionate about the long term sustainability of Excel Academy. The board supports the “business” of the school and experience in law, finance, technology, facility planning, data analysis, strategic planning, human resources, or education would be particularly useful. Board members must be available to attend one monthly board meeting and participate on one board committee. The volunteer time commitment is approximately 4-6 hours a month. Learn more about charter school boards by reading this introduction or visit the Board of Directors page on the Excel website.
Dear Excel Community,
We held our first Leadership Coffee Chat this past Wednesday. Leadership Coffee Chats are opportunities for caregivers to ask questions, provide feedback, and engage in conversations directly with members of our schools instructional and operational leadership teams. Here is a recap of the topics those in attendance brought forward for discussion:
- Spanish Instruction for Elementary Students: Returning families noted that Spanish has been removed from our specials rotation for elementary students and replaced with a low-cost year-long after school Bonus Learning opportunity. We shared that when Señora Barron Rosales shared that she planned to take maternity leave during the second semester last year, we posted the position and advertised. From October through the summer, we did not receive completed applications from any qualified applicants. Excel also participated in the Jeffco Job Jamboree in July, and there were nine schools seeking Spanish teachers at that time. During Señora Barron Rosales' maternity leave, elementary students received Spanish specials instruction from a licensed substituted who did not speak Spanish but was able to follow the activities and topics provided in the curriculum. Middle school students were enrolled with Jeffco Virtual Academy (JVA) asynchronous class and received direct support from a Spanish-speaking parent in our community while supervised by our licensed long-term substitute. Students who participated in the online JVA class shared that this format was less than ideal, with the majority saying that it is not a viable option for the long term. Señora Barron Rosales was willing to return this year on a part-time basis, which allows her to complete year two of Spanish for our middle schoolers who completed year one last year. We encourage elementary families who want their students to benefit from exposure to the Spanish language to enroll in Señora Barron Rosales' after school classes, which meet only two fewer times over the entire school year than if it were offered during the specials rotation. The cost of this program is designed to cover materials only.
- Concerns Related to Safety at Arrival & Dismissal: Parents expressed concerns for the safety of children who walk and frustration with drivers who are not following proper procedures or obeying the posted signs. Reminders coming out of the discussion:
- OBEY SPEED LIMITS: 20 mph during arrival/dismissal on 84th Avenue and 5 mph in the Excel parking lot at all times.
- NO U-TURNS! There is signal all along 84th Avenue prohibiting u-turns because it is unsafe in our school zone.
- NO PARKING IN STRIPED OFF AREAS OR ON THE CROSSWALKS ON 84th AVENUE: These are no parking areas in order to provide visibility to cars exiting the Excel driveline and for those crossing the street to be able to see when they can safely cross.
- STOP FOR THOSE IN THE CROSSWALK: Coming to a complete stop and waiting until pedestrians are on the sidewalk on the other side is required.
- FILL ALL THREE LINES UP TO THE MERGE SPOT AND ZIPPER MERGE: This helps us get as many cars off of 84th Avenue and Simms as possible while also keeping our driveline moving.
- Explorations Logistics for 2024-25: Explorations begin on Friday, September 6th. K-2 students will engage in the P.E.T.S. program. 3rd graders will be mixing into three rooms with other 3rd graders. 4th & 5th will mix, 6th & 7th will mix, and 8th graders will complete career explorations in tandem with their field study at Warren Tech.
- Overall School Safety: Parents expressed satisfaction with the additional safety enhancement projects completed over the summer (bollards along the front of the school, safety film on windows, additional security system upgrades). We were asked about whether fencing around the property is a consideration. Mr. Yanker, our Facility Manager, shared that it is a consideration and that our Facility Master Plan (FMP) is expected to be completed later this year. The FMP will provide recommendations for facility care and maintenance along with recommendations to consider for enhancements. One parent asked why we do not have all staff, students, and visitors go through metal detectors upon entry. There was a robust discussion regarding our multi-layered approach to security, and one parent stating they believe it would be important to consult empirical data and studies to determine whether these have enhanced safety in schools like ours.
- Virtual Coffee Chats This Year: We ended with information regarding having two of our Leadership Coffee Chats to an evening time to be held virtually via Google Meet in order to allow participation of those who aren't able to attend in person after drop off.
Our next Leadership Coffee Chat will be held on Tuesday, September 10th from 6:30 - 7:15 p.m. via Google Meet. Upon asking to join, please be sure you enter your first and last name so that we can verify membership in our community and others can see your name during our discussion.
In Partnership,
Kresta Vuolo (Ms./she/her)
Executive Director
Find Your Student's Data in Jeffco Student Insights
Student Insights is a resourceful tool for K-12 families and students in grades 6-12 to view current and historical assessment data and plans that are applicable to your student.
2023-24 CMAS student score reports are now available electronically in Student Insights. Our school will also share paper reports with families during conferences on October 8 or 10, 2024.
Login to Student Insights here using your Infinite Campus parent portal login credentials to view the following applicable* information:
Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) - 2023-24 results now available!
ACCESS for ELLs results - 2023-24 results now available!
MAP Growth results
DIBELS 8 results
Lectura results
READ Plan goals and supports
Advanced Learning Plan (ALP) goals and programming supports
Graduation requirements progress report
High School Transcript Grades
Click here to learn more about Student Insights and here to learn more about our state and district assessments.
*Available data listed above is based on student grade levels and programming.
PICTURE DAY: Friday, September 6th
We are excited to announce our partnership with a new school photography company, Van Gogh School Photographers, with a NEW way for families to view and order school portraits through our Excel Academy online picture portal through Van Gogh School Photographers. All students will be photographed individually.
- Approximately two weeks after picture day, a proof will be sent home with your student that will include information on how to view their picture(s) as well as how to place an order online.
- You will have the ability to choose the background(s) you want for your child's portraits.
- All orders placed will ship directly to your home.
2nd-5th Grade Specials Calendar
We apologize as we found an error in our 2nd-5th grade Specials Calendar. Students are coming home with a paper copy and it is also attached HERE.
LAST CHANCE: Fall Bonus Learning After School Enrichment
Excel Academy offers a robust after-school array of programming that supports students in exploring various topics and activities to extend their learning beyond the school day. The sessions run from September through November, December through February, and March through May. First Session starts on September 2nd, with offerings dependent upon meeting minimum enrollment.
Bonus Learning Catalog Deadline to sign-up extended.
Click HERE to sign up for Excel Teacher taught classes. See the fliers at the end of the catalog for directions on how to sign up for Friday after school classes with outside vendors.
Kindergarten Egg Drop STEM Project
Today was our annual Kindergarten STEM Project the Egg Drop!
Our students had to design a way to try to protect their real or plastic egg if dropped from the school roof. The students had an exciting time watching to see if their egg would "survive."
We are proud to announce that we had many eggs survive, but unfortunately not all. In the end, we sure learned a lot!
Many thanks to Mr. Vinny, Ms. Rothstein, and all of our parents and guardians for coming to watch on Friday morning. We were so excited to see you there!
Universal Social-Emotional-Behavioral Screener
Excel Academy follows the Jeffco protocols for universal screening for Social Emotional and Behavioral skills with assessments occurring twice each school year. The first screening takes place between September 16th and October 4th.. The K-5 screener is conducted by the teachers during this timeframe. The 6-8 screener is completed by students on the Panorama platform, which takes about 15-20 minutes to complete during Homeroom. Please see the following links for more information.
For K-5 students:
Excel Academy K-5 SSIS SEL Notification Letter (English)
SSIS SEL Notification Letter (Spanish)
For 6-8 Students
Panorama Student SEL Survey - FamilyNotificationLetter 2024-25_English
Panorama Student SEL Survey - Family Notification Letter (Spanish)
Family Fun Night at Skate City, Sept 5!
Please join us for a fun night of skating at Skate City this Thursday, September 5 from 5:00 - 7:00pm. Bring your friends and family and kick off the school year with our Excel community! Admission is $7 and skate rental is $5. Meal deals available for $5 and hotdogs for $2. This is the first fundraiser of the school year to benefit NJHS. See you there!
September is Suicide Awareness Month
September is Suicide Awareness Month. Excel's Mental Health team wants to take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of mental health and open conversations. Together, we can support our children by fostering a safe and supportive environment where they feel heard and valued. Please feel free to reach out to Mrs. R, Mrs. Frost or Ms. Wags for more information or support!
Middle School Athletics
Welcome back for another exciting year of Excel Eagles sports.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL:
The 2024-25 season kicked off on 9/27 as the Eagles hosted the WWA Wildcats in volleyball on our home court. The B-team came out swinging and battled a scrappy Wildcat team throughout the first set. The scoring went back and forth throughout the game with the Wildcats winning a thriller 25-22. Game two wasn't quite as climactic as the Wildcats won 25-15. The B-team looks much improved from last year so hopefully with a few more practices the wins will come! It was the exact opposite for the A-team. It would have been a total blowout had it not been for the timely serving of Annika Johnston. The Eagles were far behind till Annika stepped to the serving line. The comeback fell just short with the Wildcats winning 25-23. Game two had the Eagles ahead quickly out of the gate and things were looking good for a victory. If not for a furious WWA comeback the Eagles would have been victorious. In the end the Eagles fell 25-23. Volleyball resumes play next week at Lincoln on 9/3.
CROSS COUNTRY:
The Eagles hosted the first XC meet of the year at Michael Northey Park on 8/28. Team scores were not kept but the Eagles more than held their own vs the competition.
Runners' times are as follows:
Owen Tassano- 6:33 | William Houston- 6:34 | George Spaulding- 6:49 | Aiden Villegas- 7:10 | Damien Ekman- 8:05 | Eli Cho- 8:14 | Audrey Payne- 8:35 | Doran Cellini- 8:56 | Elizabeth Stilling- 9:05 | Haleigh Stott- 9:14 | Alexis DeLeo- 9:30 | Nathan Stilling- 9:58 | Mars Princen- 10:22
Upcoming Events
9/3/24 - VB @ Lincoln 4:15 pm
9/3/24 - Soccer @ WWA 4:15 pm
9/4/24 - Soccer vs Lincoln 4:15 pm Stenger Fields NW1
Go Eagles!
Student Spotlight: Elaina J.
We are excited to share that Elaina J., 5th grader, was a recipient of the 10 Under 20 Food Heroes Awards, which celebrates and honors the remarkable food-related achievements of young change-makers across the United States. Now, in its third cohort, these food heroes continue to work diligently, designing and implementing innovative strategies aimed at creating a more transparent, secure, and sustainable food system. From the award website: "Elaina, age 10, embodies compassion and generosity through dedicated efforts to combat hunger. The youngest winner in this year’s Food Heroes class at 10 years old, Elaina teamed up with her grandmother to source and distribute food to those in need, starting with the unhoused in her hometown of Denver. Recently, as the city began receiving 50 new refugees daily, Elaina focused on supporting these newcomers. She navigates the challenges of varying shelter conditions and ensures that each delivery meets specific needs. Her dedication led her to organize a successful school fundraiser to support refugees, extending its impact and continuing beyond the initial expectations. When her grandmother rewards her good schoolwork with money, Elaina spends it on essentials for newly arrived refugees, especially for youth."
Congratulations, Elaina! We are so proud of you and your work in our community!
SOAR Winners
Congratulations to this week's SOAR drawing winners!
Self-Discipline
Outstanding Effort
Acceptance of Others
Resilience
K-Shiloh M., 1st-Rain M., 2nd-Oliver W., 3rd -Kimora M., 4th-Katie K, 5th-Elaina J., 6th-Rosie T.,
7th-Harper B., 8th-Vincent A.
The class winner this week is Mrs. Raffa's 1st Grade Class for Self-Discipline.
Attendance Is Important
DID YOU KNOW? • Starting in preschool and kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
Missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder to learn to read.
- Students can still fall behind if they miss just one or two days every few weeks.
- Being late to school may lead to poor overall attendance.
- Absences and tardiness affects the whole classroom because teachers often need to pause instruction to help the late-arriving student get caught up.
Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit as soon as school startsl so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Good attendance is a cornerstone of success throughout a child's education, and builds important life-long habits that serve them well in high school, college, and career.
PTO Fall Fundraiser: Mystery in Beachville
Join us for a fun adults' night out! Tickets include a buffet-style dinner, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverages. A cash bar will be available. Dress to match your character assignment, or choose not to have a character and just watch the fun! Amazing silent auction items to bid on with starting prices as low as $25. Teacher experiences are some of the most fun items and are only available at THIS EVENT! All funds raised go to the Excel PTO which supports students, staff, and our community.
Saturday, September 28th, 6:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Olde Towne Arvada
Tickets are $55.00 each (receive a $5 discount if ordered by September 5th)
Want to stay overnight at the Hilton Garden Inn? Receive $100 off by mentioning you are with Excel Academy when booking.
PTO Links
Track it Forward Volunteer Opportunities & Hours Tracking Site
RaiseRight online gift card fundraising site
Performing Arts Academy Info Here
Join Mrs. Boyd after school for her amazing Music Camps! Click HERE to sign-up.
2nd Saturdays at CSU Spur
2nd Saturdays at CSU Spur (held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) are free and open to the public for lots of family-friendly programming, including cooking activities in the CSU Spur kitchen, opportunities to watch veterinarians perform surgery on dogs and cats, see horses assisting with human therapies, engage with scientists at work, and play in a kid’s kitchen and kid’s vet clinic – allowing kids to become a veterinarian for the day and fix up stuffed animals.
Upcoming Themes:
- Sept. 14: Farm and Feast
- Oct. 12: Youth River Festival
- Nov. 9: Made in Colorado
- Dec. 14: Give Back Day
Check out the CSU Spur Flyer Here
Excel Academy K-8 Charter School
Email: Julie.Smith@jeffco.k12.co.us
Website: https://excel-academy.jeffcopublicschools.org/
Location: 11500 West 84th Avenue, Arvada, CO, USA
Phone: 303-467-2295
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExcelAcademyK8