Excel Academy Eagle Update

January 6, 2025

UPDATES FROM THE SCHOOL

Dear Excel Community

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We hope you enjoyed winter break and found opportunities to connect with loved ones and engage in activities that bring you joy. We are excited to welcome students back to school on Monday, January 6th. Our full school year calendar is found on our website here.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATE:

We had a strong response to our recruitment ads, with more than 20 candidates submitting application documents. After a first round of interviews with top prospects, four candidates were invited back for second interviews. These four candidates also completed two written performance tasks related to the Assistant Director role. Two finalist candidates completed half-day campus visits during which time they toured our school, observed in a classroom, completed two more job-related performance tasks, spoke with staff during a meet and greet opportunity, and were interviewed by students from our National Junior Honor Society. After this robust interview process, I am pleased to introduce Mr. Brian Dale as our new Assistant Director - Middle School. Please read his introduction below.

I would like to thank the following community members who contributed to the hiring process through interviewing, scoring performance tasks, and providing feedback following the staff meet and greets with both candidates:

First Interview Team: Connor Riley (Middle School Science Teacher), Angela Komloski (5th Grade Teacher), Niki Peters (Art Teacher), Rachel Anderson (Middle School Para & Excel Parent), Mandi Malozzi (Middle School Para & Excel Parent), Keri Lee (Business Manager), Michelle Coffey (Instructional Coach), Alia Rothstein (Assistant Director – Elementary), Kresta Vuolo (Executive Director)

Second Interview Team: Danielle Kaschub (Gifted & Talented Techer), Becky Medina (Special Education Learning Specialist), Ryan Sawyer (Excel Parent), Kresta Vuolo (Executive Director)

Performance Task Scoring: Heather Haberman (Middle School Science Teacher & School Science Coordinator), Janice Adams (Kindergarten Teacher), Shelley Smith (Enrichment Coordinator), Michelle Coffey (Instructional Coach), Alia Rothstein (Assistant Director – Elementary), Kresta Vuolo (Executive Director)

Student Interviewers: Mackenzie Dankers (7th Grade), Lien Nguyen (8th Grade), Moses Skeen (8thGrade/Legacy), Freya Stephens (7th Grade), Logan Yeager (8th Grade/Legacy)

Staff Feedback from Meet & Greet: Dan Ainson (Middle School ELA/Social Studies Teacher), Jennifer Black (Digital Teacher Librarian), Heather Haberman (Middle School Science Teacher & School Science Coordinator), Maria Lay (School Support Secretary), Tori Rasmussen (School Social Worker)

As you can see, we employed a thorough process that provided opportunities for input from multiple stakeholder groups in order to identify the best possible candidate to join our school community. We are excited to welcome Mr. Dale and hope you will introduce yourself the next time you are on campus.

In Partnership,

Kresta Vuolo

Executive Director

Introducing Our New Assistant Director for Middle School

Brian Dale and his wife, Theresa, have 4 adult children – three girls and a boy – and four elementary school-aged grandsons. When not enjoying family time, and not working, Brian spends his time remodeling and upgrading their home, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and working in the yard. A lifelong skier, and more recently a boarder, he stays active swimming and exercising.

During his more than 30 years in education, Brian has served mostly middle and high school students as a teacher, dean of students, instructional coach, principal and assistant principal. As a young man he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and computer science and shortly thereafter a master’s degree in community leadership and education.

Brian is most proud of his work helping teachers achieve their goals and therefore the success of their students. With a career spanning public and private education, charter and traditional, rural, urban, and correctional schools, he has a wealth of diverse experience. Along the way, Brian has become an expert in trauma informed practices and restorative methods for helping youth navigate the transition from child to young adult.

JANUARY Meals: Reminder to Sign-up

Please order breakfasts and lunches for mid to late January now.

January Breakfast

January Lunch

Menu

Thank you,

Mrs. Morrison

Field Study and Enrichment Payments Due by Noon Day Before

While we hope that all students are able to join our Field Studies and in-school enrichment opportunities, we also plan for those who are not able to participate to join other classes. Because planning alternative supervision requires advance planning, all field study and enrichment permission forms must be signed and fees paid not later than Noon the day before the excursion or activity. If you have an extenuating circumstance, please reach out to Mrs. Keri Lee, our Business Manager, at extension 102, to discuss.

Leadership Coffee Chat Recap

Our group discussed many topics during the December 18th Leadership Coffee Chat. Thanks to those in attendance for your contributions to our conversation and feedback to support growth of our school community. Topics included:

NEW WEBSITE LAUNCH: Our school's website is hosted by Jeffco. As part of their transition to a different hosting service, our Excel Academy website went live in mid-December. While we've worked closely with the Jeffco website transition team, some of the information from our previous website didn't make it to the new one, and there are some missing or broken links. If you encounter something amiss with our website, please let Mrs. Julie Smith know by emailing her at Julie.Smith@jeffco.k12.co.us. Including a link to the page in question will help her make the correction.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR HIRING UPDATE: We shared information about the hiring process and the status of offering the position to our top candidate.
MIDDLE SCHOOL ELECTIVE FORMAT CHANGES TO ALLOW MORE ELECTIVE CHOICES: When we shifted from trimesters to semesters, it reduced the number of electives our middle school students can take each year. Additionally, for students who need specialized academic supports, one of their elective classes has historically been a mandatory time with our special service providers (similar to neighborhood middle schools). Starting this semester, we have shifted to a new format for middle school electives in which some electives are still offered Monday through Thursday, but others are offered on Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday. With two electives daily, each student can take up to eight electives a year. Those who need specialized services can still receive them AND also have choice electives.
FUNPACK PHOTO FUNDRAISER: Our new school picture company provided the funpack photo kits as a fundraiser for Excel at no cost to the school with 100% of the funds collected coming back to the school. We understand that there was uncertainty about this, and that the timing just before the holidays was hard for some. While we appreciate the support from those who are able to do so, please do not feel obligated.
SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE (SAC): Brittany Tangsrud, our Excel Board of Directors Secretary who also serves as our SAC Chair, shared the work the SAC is engaged in this year. She shared that the SAC will be looking for parents and staff who are interested in joining committees to plan the continuation ceremonies for our kindergarten, 5th, and 8th grade students and support traditions that make Excel special. For more information, please contact Mrs. Tangsrud at btangsrud@excel-board.org.
FACILITY MASTER PLANNING: Vince Yanker, our Facility Manager, shared progress on our school's Facility Master Plan, currently under development by Woolpert. Mr. Yanker also shared that we anticipate replacement of our roof and HVAC units this summer as well as our RFP process for this important project.

Our next Leadership Coffee Chat will be held on Wednesday, January 29th from 8:25 - 9:15 a.m. in the Excel Academy cafeteria. We provide light breakfast refreshments. Bring your topics of interest, questions, and feedback and join us!

Take Action: 2025-26 Enrollment at Jeffco Due January 17th

All families will need to log into Enroll Jeffco between now and January 17th to enroll for the 2025-26 school year to complete the following:

Current Excel Students “Intent to Return:" indicates if the student(s) will be returning to Excel Academy and holds your child's space
Enrolling NEW Students to Excel Academy: incoming Kindergartner or older sibling of a current Excel student
Apply for High School: graduating 8th graders can apply for choice enrollment into a different high school, or select their neighborhood school.

Choice Enrollment, Round 1 Lottery Results will be emailed/texted to families January 28.

Friday Afternoon Movies for K-5, Sign Up Now!

Our Entrepreneur Club will be hosting G-rated movies with a snack on select Friday afternoons for Kindergarten - 5th grade students. Please complete this Google Form to sign up.

Cost: $15 per student/$10 for siblings. Student pick-up will be at 4:05p.m.

January 24th - Tale of Despereaux
February 7th - Rio
February 21st - Mulan

PTO SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY

SAVE THE DATE: Pickleball Night on January 24th

We hope to see you at our Community Night at 3rd Shot Pickleball on Friday, January 24th. More details to come - but put it on your calendar now!

PTO Links

Excel Academy PTO Website

PTO Information

Track it Forward Volunteer Opportunities & Hours Tracking Site

RaiseRight online gift card fundraising site and How It Works

Excel Academy Outreach Committee: Please reach out if your family would benefit from our care or if you can support a family in need. Email Tara Schirner, coordinator or the Excel Outreach Committee at exceloutreachcommittee@gmail.com.

ENGAGING OPPORTUNITIES

Camp Opportunity with the Ralston Valley Poms!

Have an upcoming 6th-9th grader interested in trying poms? Sign them up for the Ralston Valley Poms Camp! It's a fun-filled 3-day clinic that wraps up with an exciting performance at the varsity boys' basketball game on January 15th! 🎉🏀

Click HERE for details.