Excel Academy Eagle Update
July 26, 2024
UPDATES FROM THE SCHOOL
What a Great Year
Looking back on the 2023-24 school year, I'm humbled at the incredible accomplishments of our students, investment from our staff, and support from our families. We truly came together to build up on Excel's long-standing tradition of working together as a community to enrich the academic, social, and emotional experiences of every student. Our enrichment model brought opportunities for our students to enhance their learning through
- 11 in-house enrichment workshops,
- 33 school-day field studies within our community, and
- 39 Explorations topics explored.
- 187 different families chaperoning our day trips and
- 22 different families chaperoning our overnight trips to the Plains Conservation Center, Mountain Lab School, Keystone Science School, Mission to Mars/Biopshere 2, and Washington D.C.
All of this is made possible through the commitment and inspired work of our entire staff, generosity of our PTO, and support of our families. I'm grateful to be part of this exceptional community and look forward to continued success in the 2024-25 school year.
I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of our three staff members who are moving on from Excel next year. Ms. Ella Witt, one of our 1st grade paraprofessionals, will be returning to her home state of Kentucky after two wonderful years supporting some of our youngest scholars. Mr. Roberto Willy, our English Language Tutor of several years is retiring and planning a move to be closer to his family. Mrs. Lauren Williams is moving to another Jeffco school after seven years here at Excel that began with her student teaching. On behalf of our entire school, I would like to thank Mrs. Williams, Mr. Willy, and Ms. Witt for all they have done to support our students and wish them all the best in their journey.
Looking ahead, our instructional administrative team is already hard at work preparing to welcome back our staff, students, and families in the weeks to come. Our teachers began preparing for the 2024-25 school year before they left for summer break, and we are excited for all the year has in store. To ensure that our incoming kindergartners and students transitioning to middle school have the best opportunity for success, we have planned two special opportunities for Tuesday, August 13th:
- Kindergarten Phase-In Day: Tuesday, August 13th from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. This is a time for our kindergarten students to come to school, meet their peers, and start their Excel school journey in a fun and positive way. Watch your email for details and mark your calendars to support your kindergartner on this important phase-in day. Guardians are invited to join their kindergartners at 2:00 p.m. for our Meet Your Teacher Open House.
- 6th Grade Welcome and SOARientation to Middle School: Tuesday, August 13th from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The transition from elementary to middle school is filled with many emotions for both students and guardians. Our middle school teachers have planned an amazing day for our rising 6th graders to meet their teachers, find their classrooms, set up and decorate their lockers, and engage in activities designed to help them reconnect with old friends and connect with new ones to build a sense of community. Guardians are invited to join their 6th graders at 2:00 p.m. for an informational meeting about the upcoming Mission to Mars extended field study at Biosphere 2 in Arizona and the Meet Your Teacher Open House.
- First Day of School for All: Wednesday, August 14th. Remember we begin our new school hours this school year, with all students from the same family welcome to arrive at school during the arrival window of their oldest student.
MIDDLE SCHOOL HOURS (6th - 8th Grade):
- Monday - Thursday 8:10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Friday 8:10 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
- Arrival window is 7:55 - 8:05 a.m. to allow students time to visit their locker and get to class for an on-time start.
- Pick-up window is 3:30 - 3:45 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 2:15 - 2:30 p.m. on Fridays
ELEMENTARY HOURS (Kindergarten - 5th Grade):
- Monday - Thursday 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
- Friday 8:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
- Arrival window is 8:00 - 8:10 a.m. to allow students time to put away their belongings in their cubby and be ready for an on-time start.
- Pick-up window is 3:30 - 3:45 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 2:15 - 2:30 p.m. on Fridays
Thank you for choosing to be part of our Excel Academy community. On behalf of our entire staff, we can't wait to welcome your children and family for the start of the school year.
In Partnership,
Kresta Vuolo
Executive Director
Limited Openings for 2024-25 School Year
Do you know someone whose child would thrive in our enriched charter school that is large enough to provide robust opportunities for students yet small enough for staff to truly know them? Do you know a family who is seeking a connected community and a school committed to providing rigorous curriculum and engaging opportunities? If so, we would love to have you share information about Excel Academy with them and encourage them to apply through Enroll Jeffco. We have limited openings in some grade levels with the possibility of accommodating siblings if needed and would love to welcome more students and their families to our school. Questions? Please contact Julie Smith at Julie.Smith@jeffco.k12.co.us.
GETTING READY FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR
Order August Breakfasts & Lunches
Click HERE for details and links to pre-order free school meals for August. Orders are due by Sunday, August 4th.
School Supply Lists
Click HERE for the 2024-25 school supply lists for all grade levels. Supplies should be brought and dropped off at the Meet Your Teacher Open House on August 13th from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
YMCA Before & After School Care Registration
YMCA welcomes kids ages 5–12 at Excel Academy to participate in their Out of School Time (OST) program. Services includes before- and after-school care throughout the school year, as well as full day out care on school holidays and teacher-in-service days.
Registration for the 2024 - 2025 school year is Open Now! Click HERE to register.
K-8 Open House: Meet Your Teacher & Supply Drop Off
School supply drop off is Tuesday, August 13th from 2:00-3:30 pm.
This is a time to bring in your school supplies, find your classroom, meet your teacher, and check in with our Specials teachers, GT and Special Education teachers.
Drop off medication and health care plans with our Nurse and Clinic Aide.
Middle School students can put their supplies in their locker. Locker number and combo can be found on Campus in early August.
Excel Academy Fall Sports: Sign-up Now! 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade
Co-Ed Cross Country - Girls Volleyball - Boys Soccer
Practice begins on August 19, 2024.
- Required pre-season meeting for all athletes and their guardians with Coach Miller on August 13th at 4:00 p.m.
- Practices will be from 3:30-4:45 Monday-Wednesday. No Practice on game days.
- The cost to play in a sport is $100. This amount will be added to the Infinite Campus account the week of August 12th for those who sign up.
- The maximum number of student athletes we are able to accommodate for Girls Volleyball is 28; the maximum number for Boys Soccer is 20.
- Sports physical documentation is required prior to your student starting practice or participating in games. Sports physicals are valid for one calendar year. Please email your child's physical to jeff.miller@jeffco.k12.co.us or drop it off to the front office.
Click HERE to sign-up!
Go Eagles!
Summer Facility Enhancements
In February, the district informed Excel that we have the opportunity to receive a proportional share of 2018 bond funds that had originally been allocated for a different charter school that closed, amounting to $224,664. In order to access the funds, we had to identify capital improvement projects that fit within the scope of the ballot language and bond terms, submit proposals to Jeffco for approval by April 15th, complete a competitive bid process for the projects by May 31st, and commit to having the projects completed by August 31st. We are pleased to share that our proposed projects were approved and we've completed the bid process. Over the summer, we've been busy completing the following capital projects using these additional bond funds:
- Security Enhancements & Upgrades: We are adding security cameras and upgrading our monitoring system, installing film on all ground level exterior windows, and installing bollards along the front of our school to provide a visual markers and a protective barrier against vehicular penetration of our large window/door areas.
- Driveline Mill & Overlay: The section of our driveline that was not replaced during last summer's project will be milled down with a fresh asphalt overlay in order to fill cracks and potholes and address drainage issues. We will also add a walkway from the new far west parking area to the large parking lot. Both areas will be re-striped when complete.
- Enclose Office Space in Middle School: The area where Mrs. Shelley Smith has her desk was originally designed to be an enclosed office but removed from scope during the construction of the middle school wing in order to save money. We will install a wall and door to create a true office space as it was originally intended.
- Classroom Furniture: Any funds remaining after the above projects are complete will be invested in new furniture where needed and to replace desks that were purchased in 2004 that have peeling laminate.
We are grateful for these unexpected funds and look forward to sharing the finished projects with you when school resumes in August!
2024-25 EXTENDED FIELD STUDIES
4th Grade - Plains Conservation Center (2 days/1 night)
5th Grade - Mountain Lab School (3 days/2 nights)
6th Grade - Mission to Mars (4 days/3 nights)
February 25-28, 2025
Mission to Mars, AZ 6th Grade Registration Link7th Grade - Keystone Science School (4 days/3 nights)
Please contact Shelley Smith to register: shelley.smith@jeffco.k12.co.us
8th Grade - Washington, D.C. (5 days/4 nights)
May 12-16, 2025
Washington, DC 8th Grade Registration LinkCELEBRATING OUR STUDENTS
Congratulations 8th Graders
We wish all of our 8th graders well as they move on to high school next year.
Standley Lake: Jude P. Westminster: Ella H. Pomona: Anna K. Erie: Delilah M. Summit Academy: Joseph R. Evergreen: Grayson M. Golden: Cole V. Wheat Ridge HS: Elias W.-L.
Arvada West
Ava A., Sara B., Ryan B., Camaron C., Kaia G., Ashlynn H., Brooklyn H., Argjend K., Ethan K., Leilah L., Joseph M., Eleanor M., Erina P., Jaelynn R., Addison S., Jaden S., Eli S., Alexandra T., & Cashen U.
Ralston Valley
Zachary B., Lucy C., Kendall C., Riley D., Zoe D., Kylie D., Alexander D., Grace E., Alexis H., Ellie M., Sophia M., Xoee Q., Benjamin S., Jordan V., & Maya Z.
SOAR Winners
Congratulations to our final SOAR drawing winners from the 2023-24 school year!
Self-Discipline
Outstanding Effort
Acceptance of Others
Resilience
K.-L.Kammerer, 1st-X.Xu, 2nd-L.Ampuero, 3rd-K.Kanipe, 4th-J.Glass, 5th-J.Cooper, 6th-Z.Sachs, 7th-B.Wellman, 8th-S.Miranda
Class: Ms. Malgren's Class for Self-Discipline
PTO SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY
Excel Summer Hangouts at the Park
Join us at Michael Northey Park next to the school to meet up with your schoolmates and have some summer fun! Last Playdate is July 27th from 10:00 AM - Noon.
Order Now: Excel Academy Water Bottle & Hats!
The Excel PTO would like to offer an opportunity to purchase water bottles with names engraved as well as the Excel Logo. This year, there are more color options, the choice to include or exclude the logo, an additional tumbler option, and an Excel branded hat with two color options.
See below for links to order water bottles or hats.
https://www.naturesrevealcreations.com/product-page/excel-academy-charter-school
https://www.naturesrevealcreations.com/product-page/excel-academy-leather-patch-hat
This is a fundraiser for the PTO and is in partnership with a small business ran by Excel parents. If items are purchased prior to 08/01, they can be available for pickup by the Supply Drop-Off event (August 13th from 2:00-3:30 pm). Also, these will be available to order up to 10/01 and delivered weekly to Excel.
Wishing all a continued wonderful summer break,
Excel PTO
PTO Upcoming Events and Information
Join Us for Summer Hangouts!
Join Us for our BooHoo event!
Click HERE for PTO information.
PTO Links
Track it Forward Volunteer Opportunities & Hours Tracking Site
RaiseRight online gift card fundraising site
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Summer Camps & Programs for Children
Helpful Links & Resources
Order Breakfast or Lunch: (due a week before the week of meals)
Excel Academy Standards-Based Grading Scale
Infinite Campus Parent Portal (Check grades, missing assignments, attendance, pay fees)Infinite Campus Parent Directions
Log Volunteer Hours and sign-up for volunteer opportunities
2024-25 Excel Academy School Year Calendar
Ideas for thanking a staff member: Treats and Deets
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