It's Gonna be May!

Hey there, CODCA community!

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Website: http://codca.k12.com/?_ga=2.102992773.460388565.1503601263-1439792571.1503353543
Location: 8601 Turnpike Drive, Suite 100, Westminster, CO 80031
Phone: 303.728.6200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DestinationsCareerAcademyofColorado

Dear Students,

As we step into May, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we've had this academic year. We've overcome challenges, celebrated victories, and grown together as a community. Now, with the end of the school year on the horizon, it's time to channel our energy and determination into finishing strong.

Each one of you possesses unique talents, strengths, and aspirations. Whether you're a freshman just starting to find your place, a sophomore navigating through the middle of your high school journey, a junior preparing for the next steps, or a senior embarking on the threshold of a new chapter, your contributions matter. Your dedication, perseverance, and hard work have brought us to this point, and now is not the time to lose momentum.

In these final weeks, let's stay focused, motivated, and committed to excellence in everything we do. Attend classes with enthusiasm, engage in meaningful discussions, seek clarification when needed, and support one another as we strive for success. Remember, it's the small daily efforts that culminate into significant achievements.

Whether you're aiming for academic excellence, pursuing extracurricular passions, or simply striving to be the best version of yourself, know that I am here to support and cheer you on every step of the way.

As we navigate the final stretch of this academic year together, let's make every moment count. Let's inspire, encourage, and uplift one another as we push towards the finish line. Remember, greatness is not achieved by chance but by choice. So let's choose to finish strong, with our heads held high and our hearts full of determination.

Wishing you all the best in the weeks ahead.

Warm regards,

Amber Schriner, CODCA High School Principal

CTSO meetings are held on the 3rd Friday of each month at 12:00pm. If you have not yet joined a CTSO or club this year but are interested in joining, please contact the following teacher advisors to get started!

CTSOs:

• HOSA: Ms. Vasquez, bvasquez@codca.org or Ms. Bossmann, sbossmann@codca.org
• SkillsUSA: Ms. Masek, jmasek@codca.org & Mrs. Hoerning, jhoerning@codca.org
• DECA: Mr. Harkness, gharkness@codca.org
• TSA: Ms. Robison, rrobison@codca.org

Clubs:

• Ag Club: Ms. Dorenkamp, ndorenkamp@codca.org
• eSports: Ms. VanDelinder, nvandelinder@codca.org

Help your student to get involved in one of the amazing CTSOs we offer at CODCA! Not only do our advisors organize really cool and fun CTSO events, but there are also some MAJOR benefits to joining! When getting involved in a CTSO, your student will:

• Increase their engagement in academic and occupational pursuits
• Achieve high academic and occupational standards
• Enhance their self-esteem and self-confidence
• Develop meaningful, potentially long lasting academic and business partnerships
• Provide a linkage between school-based learning and real-world experiences
• Motivation to become a better student and productive citizen
• Develop leadership, organizational, and communication skills
• Experience opportunities to network with peers at regional and national conferences
• Be challenged with a variety of skill building competitions
• Have a chance to receive scholarships
• HAVE FUN!

Click on the links below to check out some awesome promotional videos for each of our CTSOs!

TSA - click to watch a TSA Promotional Video from our friends at Mountain Vista High School!

DECA

HOSA

SkillsUSA

Families, it’s that time of year again! Time, to re-register for next school year! As you’re gearing up for next year, do know we have some updates:

1) New pathways

• School Counseling & Mental Health Services
• Medical Scribe

2) New Certification Opportunities:

• Certified Mental Health Technician (CMHT)
• Certified Medical Scribe Professional (CMSP)

Each year, we strive for excellence by updating our curriculum, embracing innovative teaching methods, and fostering a positive school culture. Together, we've achieved improved academic outcomes, expanded extracurricular programs, and have increased our opportunities for internships, certifications, and industry experiences.

Also, I wanted to note that research and data consistently demonstrate that students who experience a stable and continuous educational environment tend to exhibit greater academic achievement, improved social skills, and increased overall well-being. The benefits of long-term, consistent schooling extend beyond the classroom, providing a foundation for future success and personal growth.

We are very much looking forward to the 24-25 school year, and want you and your student to be a part of it! Please follow these instructions and reach out to anyone on staff if you have any questions or need help. Also, Mrs. Schriner the HS Principal will be hosting open office hours if you want to drop in for some help.

These will be held during the following times:

• March 7th from 3-4pm at this link: https://zoom.us/j/95503754886
• March 15th from 9-10am at this link: https://zoom.us/j/91604225304

First, login to the OLS- you can click on this QR code or go right to your Online School Homepage and login using your Learning Coach account:

As you are registering for Destinations for 24-25 and as you speak to neighbors/friends about our school, we want to share an exciting update on our school. Recently, the NCAA, who governs college athletics, has fully approved our school and high school courses as NCAA eligible. Our CODCA student-athletes now have the opportunity to go on to play NCAA level college sports!

This NCAA approval is unique among online schools. A huge kudos to our continued outstanding school performance metrics, graduation rates, and our amazing staff, students and school district. All these factors played into this approval.

This approval is for all courses this school year (23-24) and moving forward to all future years.

Teri Cady, CODCA Administration

Pictured from left to right are Finn A (participated in the Colorado State Pin Design), Hailey P. (Colorado State T-shirt Design Bronze winner), and Idali C.(participated in the Colorado State Pin Design).

Another year of the SkillsUSA State Leadership & Skills Conference competition is complete and we’re coming home with some great news! Here are the results.

• Our school has received a Quality Chapter award and achieved the Bronze Chapter of Distinction.

• Hailey P. won the Bronze medal for Colorado State T-shirt Design.
• And Jaz G. was elected as the Colorado State President for the 2024-25 school year.

The last launch of this school year is happening soon, and it should be interesting. NASA has partnered with Boeing to launch the first crewed flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft to the ISS. This mission includes the launch of Boeing’s Starliner aboard ULA’s Atlas V rocket, the docking of Starliner to the ISS, and re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.

Boeing’s Starliner will launch on May 6, 2024.

· Launch is at 8:34 pm MST, with live coverage starting at 4:30 pm MST.

· Docking with the ISS is scheduled for 10:48 p.m. on May 7.

· Hatch opening is scheduled for 12:35 a.m. on May 8.

· Hatch opening will be followed by crew welcoming remarks at approx. 1:15 a.m.

· Re-entry will occur approximately 1 week after docking.

It is currently unknown if we will have live NASA Club meets for these events so make sure to check your email for updates.

All dates listed in this newsletter are subject to change! Check out our NASA Club Google doc, where you can find the most current information and dates.

The My Senior Reel competition is open to current seniors attending a K12-powered school. Five student winners will each receive a $1,000 scholarship to help further their education or for other future endeavors.

Entry Requirements

• Video entries can be in .mp4 or .mov formats and should include 2 versions:
  • An edited version that is a minimum of 15 seconds and not more than one minute in length.
  • The raw original, unedited video footage.
• Please pick 2–3 of the following topics to talk about in your video:
  • How has your online school contributed to your current achievements and prepared you for success after high school?
  • What was your favorite or most challenging class?
  • What does your school space look like, and what makes it unique to you?
  • What is your favorite senior memory?
  • Who is your favorite teacher, and why?
  • What advice would you give to a student just starting online school?
  • What will you do with the scholarship money if you win, and how will it help you prepare for the future?

What: Students and volunteers come together to prepare for a competitive job interview simulation. Each student will get coached by a corporate volunteer, and the student who gets the "job" walks away with a cash prize!

When: May 17, 2024 (1-3:30 EST, 12-2:30 CST, 10-12:30 PST)

Email Mr. Harkness at gharkness@codca.org to join this event!

As part of Back to School Night Week, CODCA is proud to announce a Colorado Rapids game night fundraiser!

Join us Saturday, September 21st at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to watch your Colorado Rapids take on Toronto FC! Tickets are $25 each. $5 of each ticket sold will be returned to the school for future social events. Link to tickets is on the flyer below!

Back to School Night Dates

• September 17—BTSN in Colorado Springs
• September 18—Virtual BTSN
• September 19—BTSN in Westminster
• September 21—BTSN at the Colorado Rapids game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City

May 6th—all student talent submissions due

May 7th—student voting for their favorites is open from 11am-2pm

May 7th—staff judging open 8-4pm

May 8th—12pm all school talent showcase awards assembly

• The Finalists were notified and the winners of the Elementary division were announced on April 22nd
• Middle School and High School Finalists will present their proposals In-Person on June 17th
  

Enjoy reading as Culinary Arts student Megan O. shares her culinary adventures!

Be sure to try out the recipe(s) and let us know how they turned out for you.

Coffee, a lot of people love it. They drink it in the morning, in the evening, in the middle of the night. They are obsessed. So why wouldn’t you like coffee cake! Does it have coffee in it…no…but we don't talk about it!

Getting the ingredients and turning the oven to 350°F. I mixed all the wet ingredients together. It looked very weird…very oily. But I continued. I mixed all the dry ingredients in a different bowl. I combined the two and it still looked weird. Once they were combined, I greased a baking dish. I poured half of the batter into the dish. After, I combined the brown sugar and cinnamon together. I poured half of the on top of the batter. I went back with the batter, pouring the rest. I did the same with the brown sugar and cinnamon. The finishing touch was the melted butter. I put the dish in the oven for 45 minutes.

The end product was pretty good. I don't know if I had the wrong dish, but the middle was almost uncooked, or it tasted uncooked. I don't know if it was, but it happened! It did taste pretty good. I would recommend it if you cook it longer or if you have the right size dish.

To check out the full recipe I made, by Kristyn Merkley, visit https://lilluna.com/coffee-cake/

The K12 National Cook-Off is open to all students in grades 6–12. This is an opportunity for students enrolled at K12-powered schools or any other school in the U.S. to showcase their culinary skills. Students interested in participating should submit their recipe, photos, and supporting information by 5 PM (ET) on May 31, 2024. Parents or guardians must enter on behalf of students aged 13 or under.

Round 1 Requirements

Submit an original recipe that includes:

• an ingredient that starts with the letter "C"
• a green ingredient
• a source of protein
• an ingredient from the freezer
• at lest 3 spices that are NOT salt or pepper
• any other ingredient of your choice

Each submission must include:

• The recipe with step-by-step directions and a comprehensive list of all ingredients, specifying which ones meet the requirements outlined above.
• A description of why you chose to make the dish
• Preparation time, from set up to plating
• Three (3) photos of the dish:

1. 1. Mise en place (a photo of the ingredients and utensils that will be used to prepare the recipe)
   2. In process (a photo of the dish as it is being prepared)
   3. Completed dish (a photo of the dish plated and ready to serve)

• Students will also have the option to submit a video of their completed dish.

Judging

Five finalists will be determined by a panel of judges featuring Chef David Ho, winner of Food Network’s Chopped. Entries will be judged on presentation, dish criteria, and creativity. One additional finalist will be chosen by public voting during the judging period.

• Winning Team was announced on May 1st
• They will now go on to compete at the ISTE Conference in June held in Denver.
  

Get ready for the excitement of the K12 Robotics League! All registered teams are eligible to compete! Each competition has three grade bands (4–6, 7–9, and 10–12). And each grade band has two skill levels: intermediate and advanced. Whether you're an intermediate whiz or an advanced expert, there's a perfect level for you. You won't want to miss a moment—stay tuned for details on how to catch the action through our livestream!

Our Event Calendar is in full swing! Use this link throughout the year to view you and your friends at our special and fun events!

To recap the Mindsets are:

1. Everything is Possible
2. Passion First
3. We Are Connected
4. 100% Accountable
5. Attitude of Gratitude
6. Live to Give
7. The Time is Now

A couple years ago, The College of Graduate Studies at Tennessee Tech shared 30 tips for making the most out of Summer Break. Some of their suggestions are great for high school students too. We all now that student need time to rest and relax from one school year to the next. However, as a parent you probably don't want your child binging every TV show available or scrolling social media for unlimited hours. So, here are some suggestions from Tennessee Tech:

1. Schedule doctor appointments
2. Update your Resume
3. Look for an internship
4. Increase your computer skills
5. Spend time with siblings or cousins
6. Gather and sell/recycle old technology items
7. Learn to cook
8. Create an exercise routine
9. Assemble two interview-worthy outfits
10. Get a dose of culture by visiting museums or festivals

To read the full list and get more helpful tips, check out the article here

CALL 1-844-493-TALK (8255)

For confidential and immediate mental health support, 24/7/365 in the state of Colorado. Trained professionals answer this toll free line. This is the place to start if you don’t know where to get help with mental health, substance use or emotional issues for yourself or someone you know.

Colorado Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline 1-844-CO4KIDS (1-844-264-5437)

Colorado Crisis Services 1-844-493-TALK (8255)

CU CAPS 303-492-2277 (24/7 support)

Safe2Tell 1-877-542-7233 (24/7 support)

Moving to End Sexual Assault

National Domestic Abuse Hotline 1-800-799-7233

National Eating Disorders Association

Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255

Salud Family Health Centers

Truth Initiative - Quitting e-cigarettes

Affordable Counseling Options:

I Matter. - Up to 6 FREE Youth Counseling for mental health or substance abuse

CU Denver Counseling Center – from $10 a session

Denver Affordable Counseling – from $35 a session

DU Counseling Center – sliding scale options

If you need a official transcript sent to a college or a unofficial transcript sent to you please use the Records Request Form to request these. Ms. Peggy Laverty, CODCA'S registrar, will surely assist your request.

Contact Us!

The Destinations Career Academy of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.1 In addition, lack of English skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in any school programs or activities. Any person who brings to the attention a grievance is provided procedures the institution follows to investigate the issue. Complaints accepted verbally, written or by appointment in person/virtual face-to-face meeting. Each party pertaining to the complaint receives notice of complaint and all parties receive a timeline of actions of procedure within 10-days of notification to all parties. The following person is the designee to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Adelita Shepherd, Non-Discrimination Coordinator, Compliance and Family Engagement Coordinator

8601 Turnpike Dr., #100, Westminster, CO 80031

ashepherd@k12.com | 303.399.4702

For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit https://www2.ed.gov/policy/rights/reg/ocr/edlite-34cfr104.html#S8 for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481