A Message from the Director

Hello, CSA Families and Community,

We have now been working through online learning for four weeks, learning as we go, adjusting and modifying things as needed. It has been, and continues to be, a huge change for all of us. Each of you has experienced the transition to online learning differently; some of our learners are flourishing in this learning environment, and some of our learners are struggling.  

Knowing that each individual learner’s experience is different, the facilitators and administration have worked closely together to create a fun, creative project to end the year: Shark Tank CSA. Thus far in our online experience, our learners have taught us that they need more time to work in groups in the online environment than they needed when school was in-person. In response, much more learner work time, both guided and independent work time, has been built into this project. Again, we will need feedback from you, our learners and parents/guardians, to let us know if this plan is an improvement.

Secondly, with the completion of the most recent project, there are grades posted and some grades missing. As stated in an earlier message, learners started this quarter with their Quarter 3 grade from each class. As the quarter progresses, facilitators are grading Quarter 4 work just as they normally would. However, the difference lies in what occurs at the end of the quarter. Learners will be assigned the higher grade of the two, Quarter 3 grade or Quarter 4 grade. In this way, learner grades can only improve over Quarter 3. As we all know, individual learners take to an online learning platform differently and our grading for Quarter 4, the online quarter, provides the ability to adjust to individual needs. To give you an example of how grading works at the end of the quarter, please view the video prepared for parents/guardians below. This video will also be posted in the “Online Resources” section of the CSA website.

Video explanation for parents and learners. Once you click on the link, please go to the upper right corner of the screen, and click on the downward arrow indicating “Download” to view the video explanation. 

Lastly, please accept my sincerest thanks to all of you, learners and families, for doing everything possible to continue learning and growing through this difficult time. Our weekly attendance has continued to be 93-96 percent, which is absolutely amazing! There are many, many public schools who wish they could have this level of learning and participation from their learners. Hats off to everyone! I appreciate your effort and persistence!

May all of you remain healthy and safe.

Warm regards,

Suzanne Acheson
School Director

REMINDER: If you want to enroll, please complete the open enrollment here. If you have any questions, please email Bri Jones or call 720-400-7612. A tour and/or a shadow for  your son or daughter may just open the doors to an amazing opportunity for learning! If you don’t believe me, check out our Facebook page!

Colorado SKIES Academy
Colorado SKIES Academy is a free public charter school authorized by the Cherry Creek School District, open to students throughout the Arapahoe County and Douglas County areas. This STEAM middle school serving grades 6-8 is located at Centennial Airport next to Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight.
Colorado SKIES Academy

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