December 4, 2015

Saturday, December 5
  • Open Enrollment Kickoff Event
    • 9:30AM Coffee, Hot Cocoa & Donuts
    • 10-11AM - Onsite Application Opens
    • 11AM - Online Application Goes Live
Tuesday, December 8
  • Weekly Daytime Tour - 9:30AM
Wednesday, December 9
  • PTO Executive Board Meeting 6:30PM
Thursday, December 10
  • School Band and Choir Concert - 6:30PM
Saturday, December 12
  • Middle School Winter Dance
    6:30PM
Tuesday, December 15
  • SAC - 5:00PM
Wednesday, December 16
  • PTO General Session - 6:30PM
Thursday, December 17
  • Kinder Evening Concert 6:00PM

HELLO FROM EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL LOWE


Dear Parents,

What an amazing week we've had!  I hope that your child came home buzzing about our "Hour of Code" we had during our late start on Wednesday. The "Hour of Code" initiative is moving across the nation encouraging schools to expose students to computer programming.  But what made the experience our students received here at Flagstaff different from other campuses? Our own middle school student programmers were the teachers! The students learning the basic coding saw that it was accessible to them because it was being taught by fellow students. Most importantly, this experience gave our student programmers a chance to hone their skills and be leaders in our school community.

Our middle school coding students (about 100 of our kiddos, which is 1/3 of our middle school student population!) went into classrooms, from 1st grade through 8th grade, to teach coding to our students. You should have seen the looks on the faces of the students as they received individual assistance from these "student teachers". It was priceless! Every class I observed, from 1st and up, students were fully engaged and excited about the learning. 

I want to give credit where credit is due and that is mainly to Terri Reh. Terri is our middle school beginning programming teacher, as well as a Language Arts teacher. The "Hour of Code" was her vision and her baby and she rocked it!  She worked with her coding students to ensure they were well prepared, knew how to teach to the different grade levels, and had all the materials they needed to make it a success. And of course, I certainly can't forget our students. I am so proud of the poise they showed and the enthusiasm they brought to the learning. All in all, it was such a successful endeavor that I can't wait until our next "Day of Code."

Also, please don't think our kindergartners are going to miss out on this - they will get their "Hour of Code" next week because we know that even our youngest students can be successful with programming and should be exposed to what goes on behind the screen on their electronic devices!

Just in case you missed the article about the "Hour of Code" that appeared in the Times Call, here is a link to the story.  

Take care and have a wonderful weekend!

Robin Lowe,
Executive Principal

PILOT PM KINDERGARTEN IN 2016-2017!



We are very excited to announce that we are piloting a PM Kindergarten Class, starting in the 2016-2017 School Year. This initiative will reduce overall class sizes throughout our Kindergarten program, as well as fulfill the increased demand for a PM Kindergarten class. 

To enroll your child in Kindergarten, we encourage you to come to the in-person/onsite Open Enrollment Kickoff event on Saturday, December 5 from 10:00-11:00AM, or online starting at 11:00AM. 

If you are a current pre-kindergarten parent, you MUST apply for Kindergarten enrollment. As a current Flagstaff family, your application will be given priority preference. 

Depending on the response we receive during the Enrollment Application period, we will be able to make an informed decision on whether there is enough interest to fill an afternoon kindergarten class and reduce class sizes. 

If you have any questions, please contact Sheila Strukel, Registrar at [email protected] or 720-864-9090.


2016-2017 WEEKLY DAYTIME TOURS


Our Weekly Tuesday Tours are going strong! Principal Lowe will be leading our the tours, joined by other members of our wonderful staff, which will continue through May 2016.

Please share this information with a family who would benefit from our educational approach and culture - Enrollment Information.

Weekly Tuesday Tours with Principal Lowe
(December/January 2015 Schedule)

Every Tuesday at 9:30AM
  • Tuesday, December 8
  • Tuesday, December 15
  • Tuesday, January 5
  • Tuesday, January 12
  • Tuesday, January 19
  • Tuesday, January 26

Thank you for your support of our school!

TIME CHANGES TO 2016-2017 OPEN ENROLLMENT APPLICATION KICKOFF


We're changing up our approach to the Open Enrollment Application process for families interested in Flagstaff! 

Our "Open Enrollment Application" Kickoff is set for Saturday, December 5, starting with Coffee, Hot Cocoa, and Donuts from 9:30-10:00AM in the
Commons. 

We'll open the tech lab for Onsite Open Enrollment Applications
from 10:00-11:00AM. 

At 11:00AM on Saturday, December 5, our online Open Enrollment Application process will go live at www.flagstaffacademy.org.

The Open Enrollment Application process continues through October 1, 2016
at 3:00PM (MDT).  

All entries are time-stamped and we accept new enrollments on a first-come, first-served basis, as well as according to our priority preferences. Our full enrollment process can be found on our website at www.flagstaffacademy.org/our-programs/enrollment

Please tell your friends and family members interested in Flagstaff Academy that there is NO NEED to either camp out or arrive in the middle of the night!
In fact, we discourage it!

Our goal is to provide a fun and non-stressful community-building morning for prospective Dragon families. Staff and board members will be on hand to help and to answer questions. We want to create a new "buzz" around our Open Enrollment process...We have room for interested families!  

2016-2017 "Intent to Return" forms for currently enrolled families will be distributed in mid-January 2016. 

 Questions? Please contact Sheila Strukel, Registrar, at [email protected] or 720-864-9090.

Would you like to be part of our Kickoff Welcome Team?
Let us know at [email protected]

INCLEMENT WEATHER SAFETY PLAN




One of my roles as Executive Director is ensuring the physical safety of your children, our staff, and visitors. This is most often thought of as those factors inside our building to include physical security, emergency preparedness, and a safe facility. Being on a seven acre campus, however, means that safety extends to every aspect of our operations including outdoor activities and recess. Making the decision on when outdoor conditions are unsafe can be difficult unless we have a consistent way to measure the unsafe conditions.

As the weather in Colorado can change significantly from hour to hour, a decision to hold outdoor activities, or suspend them, may change throughout the day and could also change multiple times. Temperature alone is not the deciding factor when it comes to making the decision to hold outdoor activities such as recess or an outside class. Other factors such as winds, precipitation, and severe weather are taken into consideration as well.


I have created this Inclement Weather plan to provide for the safety of your children and our staff. My two decades of law enforcement, emergency management, and festival and event planning was used to incorporate the best practices from my experience to the safety at Flagstaff Academy.

Thank you,
Wayne Granger,
Executive Director
Flagstaff Academy
  

MIDDLE SCHOOL WINTER DANCE


 

IMPORTANT AFTERNOON 100 MILE CLUB ANNOUNCEMENT
A reminder that beginning in January 2016 100-mile club afternoon practices have been cancelled. 

Haven't registered yet? It's not too late. You can sign-up anytime throughout the year with the Online registrationThe revised 100-mile club schedule, effective January 4, 2016, is as follows:

Morning Practices - M, T, Th, and F 7:15-7:45 a.m.

Students are welcome to attend as little or as many practices as they can.
It has been so great seeing your students come out to all the 100-mile club events. We started the year off with a bang! We have over 50 students that have earned their t-shirt and 5 that have hit the 50 mile mark!


*Just a reminder that even though it is chilly outside we will still be running outside! Please dress your child accordingly: gloves, hats, and jackets are important to have. 

Upcoming December Events
 
100-mile club run @ Sandstone
Date: Sat., Dec. 5
Time: 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Free!
100-mile club run @ Sandstone
Date: Mon., Dec. 21
Time: 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Free!

100-mile club run @ Sandstone
Date: Mon., Dec. 29
Time: 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Free!

Have more questions about the 100-mile club? Check out the FAQ's or email Erin for more information at [email protected].


OUR VOLUNTEERS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE!


Every single Flagstaff volunteer makes a difference every day for our school. 

You too can become a part of our fun, caring, and connected community of volunteers!

Most Immediate Volunteer Needs:

 Front Office Volunteer

We also need help with:
Health Room Volunteer for additional shifts

Flagstaff Volunteers Rock!

   
As we enter the holiday shopping season, Amazon has created an easy way to give back to Flagstaff Academy with AmazonSmile. 

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Flagstaff every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you'll find the exact same shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of all eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Flagstaff Academy. To learn more, visit AmazonSmile.com

Thank you for your support!

DRAGON FLIGHT

Before and After School Care and Enrichment Classes

Flagstaff Academy's in-house Dragon Flight program provides on-site before and after school care and enrichment classes. Dragon Flight provides students a warm, enriching environment while maintaining Flagstaff Academy's standards and values. To register for any of Dragon Flight's offerings, click here.


Dragon Flight Kid's Night Out!

Dates: Friday, December 18 
Time: 6:00pm-10:30pm 
Grades: K-8
Cost: $20.00 per child 
Where: Please use the cafeteria doors to drop off/pick up
(Dinner will be served/snacks will be available ranging from .50 - $1.00)

Parents...Do you need a night out, some time to shop, wrap, or maybe
just a relaxing night in? Dragon Flight has the answer for you! Your child will enjoy a safe night of fun. We will have dinner, movies, games, prizes, gym time, Wii, Chromebooks, arts and crafts, science, and more!

You must complete the Kid's Night Out Registration Form (hardcopy-check your Friday Folders!) and pay online. 

For questions, please contact Jeanna Peppler at 303-217-6764 or [email protected].


Dragon Flight Winter Break Care!

Come and join us over winter break for some Dragon Flight fun! Let your kids enjoy fun activities with their friends while you work or prepare for the hustle and bustle of the holiday. Our program is open to all students grades K-8th (preschool students are welcome as long as they are 5 years old), and will be available from 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. for the following days: 
  • December 18th - Field trip to The Children's Museum, must arrive by 10:00am will return by 4:30pm. Extra $ optional. 
  • December 21st - Field trip to Centennial Lanes, must arrive by 9:00am will return by 2:00pm. Extra $ optional. Wear socks. 
  • December 22nd - Field trip to Chuck E. Cheese, must arrive by 9:00am will return by 3:30pm. Extra $ optional. Lunch provided. 
  • December 23rd - Field trip to Mid Air Adventures, must arrive by 9:00am will return by 4:00pm. Extra $ optional. 
  • December 28th - Field trip to Dizzy's Family Fun Center, must arrive by 10:00am will return by 3:00pm. Extra $ optional. 
  • December 29th - Field trip to Casa Bonita, must arrive by 9:00am will return by 4:00pm. Extra $ optional. Lunch provided. 
  • December 30th - Field trip to Battle Zone Arena, must arrive by 9:00am will return by 4:00pm. Extra $ optional. Wear socks and tennis shoes. *Field trips subject to change 
Students will need two snacks and a disposable sack lunch every day unless noted. We ask that everyone wear weather appropriate clothing, we will play outside if the weather cooperates. Other fun activities include: gym games, arts and crafts, science, Wii, Chromebooks, games, prizes, plus much more!

          Current Dragon Flight Classes:
          • Crackpots Moose Mugs!
          • Knitting Club

Register here!



For more information, please contact Jeanna Peppler, [email protected]
The PTO executive board would like to thank all parent volunteers for helping to build and strengthen the Flagstaff Academy community through your participation in the PTO. Participating makes a difference to the parents, teachers, staff, and children at our school!

December Meetings:
PTO Executive Board Meeting
Wednesday, December 9 at 6:30 p.m. at The Roost 
(526 Main St, Longmont, CO 80501)

PTO General Session
Wednesday, December 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the LMC

All PTO meetings are open to the general members of Flagstaff Academy and the public. Parents, guardians, grandparents are encouraged to attend.

Visit www.flagstaffacademypto.org for more information. 
Also, please "like" us on Facebook to receive our posts and stay connected!


IT'S BOXTOPS TIME!

 
See how close your classroom is to winning the first BoxTop Prize
at www.flagstaffacademypto.org 

Classes that are on their way collecting 750 BoxTops to Chew Gum
at School are:

Lewis 540, Burnett 487, Mehus 453, Veum 453

Please note that eBoxTops will not count towards these totals! Although, we appreciate all eBoxTop submittals, there is no way to track all of them to a specific classroom. eBoxTops will be included in the school totals, so please submit them. Only actual BoxTops that are turned into the teacher will count towards these classroom awards.

Important Reminders:
  • Please remember to put the student's name, grade and TEACHER in with all BoxTops in a sealable bag/envelope. BoxTops with no teacher name will be included in the general BoxTop fund.
  • Please continue to trim the BoxTops prior to submitting them.
  • Please only include NON EXPIRED BoxTops. BoxTops do expire!!!
Flagstaff Academy | 303-651-7900 
2040 Miller Drive
Longmont, CO 80501