Leadership Coffee Chat on Wednesday, Nov. 20th
Due to Thanksgiving Break, we will hold the monthly Leadership Coffee Chat this Wednesday, November 20th from 8:25 - 9:10 a.m. in the cafeteria. Enjoy light breakfast treats and conversation with topics of discussion coming from those in attendance. We welcome all guardians to join us!
School Tours Every Tuesday at 9:00 am
We hope everyone that was able to join us Tuesday November 12th for our Enrollment Information night enjoyed meeting teachers and hearing more about the opportunities that await your student in their next grade level.
Please share our tour information with anyone whose children would benefit from our Excel Experience.
Order December Meals
PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 24TH IN ORDER for your student to have meals on MONDAY, DECEMBER 2.
BREAKFAST TIME IS 7:50AM - 8:05AM. If your student comes in after this time, we will give them their breakfast to take for a snack.
Do you want to earn volunteer hours in the Cafe? Remember you earn TWO for ONE hours when you volunteer in the Cafe!! You get to see your child(ren) and their friends interacting and who doesn't love a hug from their kiddo in the middle of the day? Sign up in the Track it Forward site. Click HERE to schedule a day or more!
Sign-up for meals HERE
Order Your Yearbook Now!
This year Yearbooks will be ordered from our Picture Company. Click on the flyer and see all the cool things you can add to your child's yearbook and place your order. Flyer
Community Table Food Drive
New this week: GRADE LEVEL COMPETITION! Grade levels will compete to see how much food they can bring in this week! Let's see which grade level wins!
As we think of all the things we are thankful for this holiday season, please consider helping out those in need. Our National Junior Honor Society members are hosting a food drive to benefit the Community Table from Nov. 11-21. This is a great time of year for students to see how their extra food items accumulate and to help others while reflecting on what they are thankful for.
NJHS members are hopeful that all students and families will participate in the food drive by bringing in non-perishable food donations. Last year we collected more than 800 pounds of food! We're looking to beat that number this year! Please see this list of critical needs from the Community Table.
Bins will be in the front entrance of the school, so please feel free to send items in with your students or come in to drop items off. NJHS thanks you for your support in helping people in need!
CogAT Reports for 2nd Grade Students in Friday Folders on Nov. 21st
Second graders' CogAT results will come home in Friday Folders on November 21st. Please view the report and the cover letter which includes information about how to interpret the results. On December 2nd the Jeffco Gifted and Talented Department will post on-demand videos on their website about how to further understand your student's data. After you watch an on-demand video, you may sign up to attend a virtual Q&A session on December 10th from 7:00-8:00 P.M. The sign-up for the virtual Q&A will be posted on the same Jeffco website (linked previously) in December. Please see the CogAT cover letter on Thursday, November 21st for additional information about these sessions.
In Jeffco's on-demand videos, you will hear information regarding the interpretation of the CogAT, as well as a bit of information about Advanced Learning Plans (ALPs) and Gifted and Talented (GT) Center School placement. Please note that 80% of Jeffco students who are identified as Gifted and Talented attend neighborhood and charter schools. Excel Academy is pleased to have GT programming for high-potential learners, and two Gifted and Talented Teachers who support our educators and students in grades K-8. Excel is also supported by a Jeffco District GT Resource Teacher, enabling us to provide robust and differentiated opportunities for Excel students who are on ALP's.
Arvada Mayor at Excel Academy
Arvada Mayor Lauren Simpson brought pizza to Ms. Kuhl's 3rd grade classroom and visited with them over lunch. Mayor Simpson talked about what it's like to serve as our city's mayor, answered questions from the students, and even signed autographs! Many thanks to the Felzien Family for sharing this experience that they won through the Excel PTO Silent Auction with Mrs. Kuhl's class.
ORIGINAL WORKS ART FUNDRAISER COMING SOON!
We’re excited to partner with Original Works, the original art-based fundraising company! Students will create artwork at school and then you can have your child’s art reproduced onto a variety of keepsake products ranging from Mugs to Magnets.
- Ordering takes place online during November.
- The products make great holiday gifts for family members as well as wonderful keepsakes for the students.
- Orders will arrive at school before winter break.
- Our school earns a profit from every order placed!
- See complete details that came home in your child's Friday Folder. Flyer
Shout Outs for Staff
We have incredible staff members doing exceptional work throughout the building. We want to hear about the gratitude you have for our staff and hear about all the ways that you see them going above and beyond. We will include shout outs in our Weekly Staff Huddle so that they can be recognized in front of colleagues. Look around and you will surely be amazed! Shout Out Here!
Looking for Donations for the Staff Lounge
Do you have extra reusable cups, flatware, serving dishes/utensils, large salad bowl, microwave safe mugs, plates, and bowls? We would love to add items that you are no longing using to our lounge for our staff to use! Please bring items you have to donate to the office - and remember to log your donation in Track it Forward! Thank you!
Modeling Clay, Poster Board & Shoeboxes Needed for Explorations
Exploration classes are underway! Thank you to all of the families who already provided materials to support our scholars in creating their artifacts of learning. We are still in need of modeling clay, poster board, and shoe boxes. If you are able to supply any of these items, please complete this sign-up genius and help out if you are able. Mark your calendar for December 13 when the Explorations Expo will take place. More info to come!
SOAR Winners
SOAR Winners
Congratulations to this week's SOAR drawing winners!
Self-Discipline
Outstanding Effort
Acceptance of Others
Resilience
K- M Lovell, 1st E Jeffcoat, 2nd- E Engel, 3rd- E Fonte, 4th- C Owens
5th- S Miller, 6th- F Coffin, 7th- A Parr, & 8th- C Dunn
Classroom Winner: Ms. Mesa's 1st Grade Class
Holiday Support for Families in Need
"If you are looking for a way to help families this holiday season please consider the fellow Excel Academy community. Times can be challenging for families, especially around the holidays. We have created opportunities for those who may have fallen onto hard times so they are able to provide hot meals and presents for their children this holiday season and beyond. We are requesting $25 gift cards from various locations so the families are able to shop for food and presents. If you are able to pick up a gift card while you are out shopping, it would be greatly appreciated.
Please bring the gift cards to the front office by Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
There's a few ways to sign up, through Track it Forward OR through the signup genius links below.
Remember: For each $10 spent you earn 1 hour of volunteer time (plus the time purchasing them)
Torchy's Taco Fundraiser
Join us on Tuesday November 19th at Torchy Tacos in Westminster. 15% of sales will be donated to Excel. Be sure to show them the flyer.
Winter Carnival: Saturday December 7th
Save the date for our annual Winter Carnival!
Excel Academy Charter School
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Support our Middle School Entrepreneurs .
Holiday Arts & Crafts and so much more!
More info is coming soon! FLYER
Join: The Excel Outreach Committee
Are you looking for more volunteer opportunities but just don't have the time to commit? The PTO's Outreach Committee is in need of some new members! Joining the Committee is a great way to help fellow Excel Academy teachers, students, and families in a time of need. We assist with rides, meals, gift cards, etc. when an Eagle family has a life altering event. As a Committee member you can expect to be emailed as specific needs arise and that's it! You can decide if you are able to help. Click HERE to sign -up. Thank you
*Please reach out if your family would benefit from our care. Email Tara Schirner at exceloutreachcommittee@gmail.com
**I (Tara) am discreet in my communications and respect the confidentiality of the families we support.
As a reminder time and money counts towards your volunteer hours!
PTO Links
Track it Forward Volunteer Opportunities & Hours Tracking Site
RaiseRight online gift card fundraising site and How It Works
Join Us: The Little Mermaid
Mrs. Boyd and Rising Star Performing Arts Academy Presents: The Little Mermaid!
Wednesday, November 20th at 6:00 pm at Excel Academy
Suggested Donation of $5.00 Per Seat. FLYER
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:
- Dec. 14: Give Back Day
Check out the CSU Spur Flyer Here
CU Wizards!
For over three decades, the CU Wizards program has presented FREE monthly shows that entertain and inform children about the wonders of science. Under the direction of Profs. David Nesbitt and John Bohn, these interactive shows are presented once a month from September through June. They are hosted by renowned University of Colorado, Boulder professors and provide a perfect start to a fun-filled weekend. The shows are geared toward children and young adults, but all are welcome! Each program lasts about an hour and includes several lively demonstrations. No reservations required. All shows are on Saturday mornings and begin at 9:30 a.m. Details HERE.
- December 7th - Simplifying the Quantum World
- January 25th - The Tumultuous Life of Cumulus Clouds
- February 22nd - A Visit with Madame Curie
- March 15th - The Physics of Sports!
- April 12th - The Physics of Superheroes!
- May 17th - Microscopy and the Powers of Ten: From very, very small to VERY BIG
- June 14th - Superheroes Within: Immunity in Health & Disease
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