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November 14th, 2024
Dear Families,
It has always been important for my husband and me to teach our children about giving. Not just being generous or thoughtful to our friends, family, acquaintances, teachers, etc., but also to perfect strangers who are less fortunate than we are. We have so much to be thankful for, and we try all year long to focus our boys’ attention on what they have and how to make others feel good by giving. We like to reframe Thanksgiving as not just a day about “giving thanks” but also being “thankful to give.”
I am not naive to think that Thanksgiving is a happy time for all. Thanksgiving can be a time of stress for many. The stress of the holiday can range from making sure the turkey gets in the oven at the right time, finding time for last-minute stops at the grocery store, travel, the stress of family dynamics, wondering if the table is set properly, or experiencing a first Thanksgiving without a loved one. The list can go on. However, no matter your circumstance, I encourage you to take some time to think about Thanksgiving as a tool to teach your children about giving and how one small kind gesture could make a difference in someone’s day.
The King family tries not to put all of our focus on the meal (although Gavin will argue that he could eat an entire casserole of yams). Our tradition of giving begins the day before Thanksgiving when we make a trip to Costco and purchase about 100 of those giant muffins. On Thanksgiving morning, we get up early and head to downtown Denver to hand out the muffins. We just drive around, looking for those who may be in need, roll down the window, and the boys take over. They usually start by wishing the person(s) a Happy Thanksgiving and then ask them what kind of muffin they might want. They always give options. Most times, these people are humbled that we have stopped, offered them something to eat, and given them just a few minutes to wish them well on a day that could be challenging. These interactions lead to incredible conversations and teachable moments with our boys.
As we approach Thanksgiving and the holiday season, I am hopeful that our tradition might inspire you to think about ways you may teach your kids about the importance of giving. Please use my ideas if you are struggling to come up with your own. If you already have your own ways of giving, even better. Feel free to share your family’s “giving” traditions with me via email. We are always looking for new ideas!
Thank you,
Jackie King
ES Assistant Principal
ES Learning Specialist
SkyView Academy
SkyView Annual Campaign | Help Us Reach Our Goal!
At SkyView Academy, we’re committed to cultivating life-long learners and honorable leaders, and it’s thanks to our supportive community that we can continue to enrich their educational journey. This year, we aim to raise $40,000 to improve safety and security, upgrade technology, and make needed exterior site improvements. Every donation, big or small, makes a difference!
Join us by contributing to the SkyView Annual Campaign on Colorado Gives Day, December 10th, or schedule your gift today. All donations are tax-deductible, and if your employer offers matching gifts, you can double your impact.
Thank you for being a vital part of our vision to create life-long learners and honorable leaders!
SkyView High School Earns College Success Award
GreatSchools announced the winners of the 2024 College Success Award, which recognizes and celebrates public high schools that excel at preparing students to enroll and succeed in college. We’re excited to share that SkyView Academy has been selected as a winner!
SkyView is one of only 1,436 public high schools in the nation to win this year's Award, which is based on college preparation and postsecondary data shared by the State of Colorado.
Elementary Penguin Patch
We're so excited that SkyView will again participate in the Penguin Patch® Holiday Shop to spread holiday cheer!
The Penguin Patch® Holiday Shop is a fun way for students to shop for family members and experience the spirit of giving while learning to earn, budget, and save! How can you begin talking to your student(s) about learning to earn and save for this event right now?
Our shop will be open from December 9th to December 12th. Your student's teacher will let you know when his/her class is signed up to shop.
More information can be found on our website.
SkyView Academy Presents Matilda!
You're invited to come see Matilda, a musical narrative that centres on Matilda Wormwood, a precocious five-year-old girl with the gift of telekinesis, who loves reading, overcomes obstacles caused by her family and school, and helps her teacher to reclaim her life.
Show dates: November 11th, 15th, and 16th 2024