Monday message 08.28.2023

Dear Colorado SKIES Academy Families,

We are continuing our learning journey along the various stages of team development and seem to be in the storming stage. The storming stage is defined as team members openly sharing ideas and using this as an opportunity to stand out and be accepted by their peers. Team leaders help teams in this stage by having a plan in place to manage competition among team members, make communication easier, and make sure projects stay on track. Our facilitators and care team members are working hard to be role models for the learners and work with them to exemplify our community expectations. We continue to be inspired by the light bulb moments we see on learners’ faces, the smiles and laughter throughout the school, and knowing that we are making a small difference in their lives every day.

We’ve been told that kids should be finalized in the district-wide information management system and should now moved to their correct school. We are working vigorously to make sure that every learner has their full schedule and NWEA MAP tests complete. If necessary, we anticipate having the data needed towards the end of the week to move learners, in their content classes based on the assessment scores.

We can’t wait to have a full staff of facilitators for all grade levels! Ms. Griffin, the 6th-grade math and science facilitator, starts on Monday, August 28th. Please be assured that all of our 6th-grade learners haven’t missed any content areas since we either pair them with other 6th-grade facilitators or with a substitute facilitator.

CSA learners will be getting their photo ID cards early next week. As they may have told you, we have implemented additional safety measures this year. Every learner is now required to wear their grade-level colored lanyard around their neck with their photo ID, at all times. If they break or lose it, they will get one replacement at no charge, and each additional lanyard will be $5.

You should also see your learner’s student planner come home Monday through Thursday evenings for your review and sign-off. Every learner was given a planner last week and is expected to have it with them during all classes. If they lose their planner, we will give them one free replacement, and any additional planners will be $5.

Please review the Family Guidebook, including our CSA Core Values and Learner Creed: 

• As a learner at CSA, I will do my best to walk with integrity and honor those around me and avoid intentionally offending others. I will not accept the improper conduct of others and will GROW in Greatness, Respect, Ownership, and Wonder every day to make every moment of learning count. I promise to be an active participant in my education.

CSA expectations for school behavior are:

• I will do nothing to harm myself or others.
• I am responsible for my behavior.
• We are each other’s keepers.
• I take pride in myself and in my work.
• I will leave it better than I found it.

A few additional back-to-school reminders:

• Cell phones must be in backpacks by the start of Flight Crew (period 1) and must remain in backpacks until the dismissal bell. Any cell phone not in a backpack will be confiscated, and a parent or guardian will need to pick it up from the office at the end of the day.
• Please remember to follow the drop-off and pick-up procedures as outlined here. Please note: the speed limit in the CSA parking lot, from entrance to exit, is 5 mph.
• Join the CSA Family Connection Facebook page
• Follow the Colorado SKIES Academy Facebook page
• Carpool Signup
  • Once you sign up, you should receive a confirmation email with the map link. Please check your spam folder if you don’t see the confirmation email in your inbox. For reference, the carpool map may also be found on this page.
• Learner fees can be paid here.
• Punch passes for after-school clubs can be purchased here.
• Lastly, the CSA Spirit Store is now live on our website! If there’s anything you’d like to see in the store that isn’t there currently, please email info@coloradoskiesacademy.org to request that your item be added.

Please check out the “Upcoming Events” calendar, including aviation-focused events happening next door at Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight, and be sure to read more about Individualized Learning Plan discussions coming up next month!

• Kona Ice at CSA
• Travelin' Tom's Visits CSA
• Presentation of Learning (POL): September 7th, 14th, & 15th
• Individualized Learning Plans: September 21 & 22
• Athletic Development on Thursdays
• Top Drone Competition
• CSA’s Young Eagles Fly Day
• 2023-24 Academic and Before/After School Schedule
• Athletic Department Newsletter
• Thought of the Week

Sincerely, Christa