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American Academy News
Robotics Club Begins This Week
Just a reminder that Robotics Club starts this Wednesday, February 10, at 3:30 pm in Ms. Chapleski’s room (Rm 307).  Permission slips for the club will be sent home Tuesday and will need to be returned at the beginning of the first Robotics Club meeting on Wednesday. For questions about the Robotics Club, please contact Ms. Chapleski.
YTD Volunteer Reports Available
The volunteer reports--YTD Summary and YTD Detail--are now available on the Forms and Downloads page (scroll down to the very bottom). Any hours entered after January 31 have not yet been processed and will show up next month. Thank you to our volunteers for all the wonderful things you do!
Want to Know More About the AA Budget?
A few weeks ago, Ms. Kane asked parents to let the school know if you were interested in hearing more about the AA budget.  We have received a good amount of interest, so we will be offering two budget presentations this week.
Ms. Kane will be doing a presentation at 9:00 am on Thursday, February 11, and another that evening at 7:00 pm. Both presentations will be held in the school cafeteria. She will also address any questions you may have. Please RSVP for the meetings by emailing Trish Cummingsb>.&.  We hope to see you there!
Kindergarten Lunch Bunch Is On!
Parents of 1/2 day Kindergartners: The Lunch Bunch is up and running! Our first official Lunch Bunch date will be Monday, February 8.
Drop-off for the PM Lunch Bunch Kindies will be at 11:25 am. Pick-up for the AM Lunch bunch Kindies will be at 12:25 pm. The kids will have this extra hour to eat lunch with their friends and have another recess period outside, weather permitting, while you parents get that one extra hour for errands!
If you didn't sign up for Lunch Bunch but wish you did, please complete the Registration Form. If you have any questions, please email Trish Cummings.
Parent/Teacher Conference Sign Up
Parent/Teacher conferences are just around the corner! Grade 5-Grade 8 will be doing arena-style conferences with 5th Grade in the Library and Grades 6, 7 and 8 in the cafeteria. Kindergarten-Grade 4 conferences will all be held in individual teacher classrooms, and parents who would like to attend must sign up online for a 15-minute time slot (links for each grade's sign-up are below).

Teachers in every grade will be sending out an email to the parents if there is a particular concern they would like to talk about in a conference. However, even if you don't receive an email, please feel welcome to sign up for a conference to discuss concerns of your own, or just to connect with your child's teacher! We'll see you there.

Kindergarten: www.mysignup.com/aakindie

First Grade: www.mysignup.com/aafirst

Second Grade: www.mysignup.com/aasecond

Third Grade: www.mysignup.com/aathird

Fourth Grade: www.mysignup.com/aafourth
Make a Date for the District Spelling Bee
Friends and family of our spelling bee winner, Shawn Ong, and our spelling bee runner up, Tanay Nunna, please plan to come support them in their next level of challenge at the District Spelling Bee! The Bee will be on Wednesday, February 10, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Spellers will need to come a little early to register at 4:30 pm, and bring in their media release form already signed. Shawn and Tanay would no doubt welcome a few friendly faces in the crowd !
Give Uniforms a Double Punch in March
March is Double Punch Month at Dennis Uniforms! Earn 2 stamps for every $10 purchase on your DENNIS Advantage Card. Shop at the Dennis Uniforms store during March and earn twice the savings! This offer is valid for in-store purchases only during March 2010. For internet specials, please visit the Dennis Uniforms website.
Requesting Forgotten Username/Password Just Got Easier
If you have forgotten your username and password to Parent Portal try clicking on “problems logging in” on the Infinite Campus login screen.  Just type in your email address and your username and password will be sent to you.  NOTE:  This will only work if your email address is on file in Infinite Campus AND your account has a unique email address (for example, both parents, or parents and students, cannot have the same email address in Infinite Campus for this to work).  If you have any questions about parent portal, please check out Portal Information under Resources on the AA Homepage or email portal@americanacademyk8.org.
Please Update Your Email Address in Infinite Campus!
Please take a moment and login to Infinite Campus (Parent Portal) and update your email address. Once logged in, click on "Change Contact Info." If your email address is incorrect or not listed, please enter this information and hit save. By entering this information, you will be able to receive missing assignment email alerts from teachers and request your login information if you forget it. Also, please remember to email the front office if any of your contact information changes during the year. Thank you for helping us keep you informed!
Douglas County Solo and Ensemble Festival
It's time again to announce the Douglas County Solo and Ensemble Festival. This year's festival will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at Thunder Ridge High School in Highlands Ranch.  Deadline to register is February 28, 2010.
This festival is an excellent opportunity for students to perform quality solo and ensemble works on chosen instruments and voice (piano competition is not included).  Students will perform for professional musicians as judges, and receive constructive feedback. Only students serious about performing quality solos and ensembles should participate.  For more information and to register ($35 fee), please contact Mr. Middlebrooks.
King Soopers Gift Cards
Did you know that American Academy received $874 last month from the use of King Soopers gift cards?  If you are not using the reloadable King Soopers card yet, contact the Scrip Committee to get one.  It is really easy – you can reload the card with your credit card right at the register!
AA FOR RENT
At long last, the American Academy facility is for rent! At the last Board Meeting the BOD approved the Facilities Use Policy.  This means that our gym and cafeteria are now available for use by outside organizations!  Please contact Steve Cunningham for details and availability.
Middle School Dance
Middle School Students: Student Council is sponsoring a Middle School Dance on Friday, February 12. The dance is for Grades 6, 7 and 8 only and begins at 5:00pm. Students will go home after school and come back at 5 when the festivities get underway. Staff will chaperone, so no parent volunteers are needed for this one.
The cost of the dance is $5.00. OR, if you bring snacks or drinks that can serve 10 people, the cost is only $3.00. Kids, if you have other questions about the event, please catch your Student Council president, Annika Chapleski, in the hall and ask her!
New Pizza Tuesday Form
There's a new Pizza Tuesday Form in town! This new form is electronic and self-calculating, so please download the form, <b>fill it out the information</b> and then print it out to turn in with your payment. No more calculators! Forms are due to the front office by Friday, February 12.
Rev Foods Nutrition Info Update
For parents of students with food allergens and dietary concerns, Revolution Foods publishes portion, carbohydrates and contents information for its menus. If your student has a food concern and orders from Rev Foods, please be sure to refer to these documents before ordering!
Spring Musical Warming Up!
Hear those sweet sounds? It's the American Academy Spring Musical preparations starting up! This year's musical will be Willy Wonka Jr. Audition times have been posted on the Music page, so if you have an interested student, please direct them there for important scheduling details and encourage them to check often as Mr. Middlebrooks does a very good job of keeping the site current.
Additionally, both Mr. Middlebrooks and Mr. Livingstone are offering Audition Practices before-school and after-school. Again, check the Music website for the current dates and times. All students are encouraged to audition, but there are fewer performance slots available so fewer students will be selected to perform. But as always, there will be a need for student backstage and production help. It's a wonderful event that all the students look forward to watching and participating in!
Drink Pouch and Wine Cork Brigade
The AAPTO has signed up for the Drink Pouch Brigade! Please save your wine corks (they can be natural or synthetic) and your Capri Sun and Honest Kids drink pouches and bring them in to American Academy.  The wine cork drop off box will be located in the lobby and the drink pouch box will be located in the cafeteria. Our school receives $.02 for every donation. If you have any questions please email Lawren (with a "w"!) Coope at lawrencoope@comcast.net.
Jumping and Hooping for Heart
We know that exercise can help kids stay healthy. But did you also know that it can also buy duct tape? American Academy kids will be participating in the American Heart Association's Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart programs. With every dollar they earn through pledges, they can also earn an inch of duct tape which they may then use to stick the Coaches Bishop to the wall! Last year, the kids earned enough duct tape to stick Coach Bishop to the outside wall during carpool, so you can just imagine the possibilities in our new building!
The event raises money for the American Heart Association while encouraging healthy hearts through exercise. Packets for both programs are due on Wednesday, February 10. The Hoops for Heart event will also take place on February 10, and the Jump Rope for Heart event will take place on February 12, both in the American Academy Gym.
The CSAPs Are Coming, The CSAPs Are Coming!
It is hard to believe that we are already talking CSAPs! The schedule is being finalized, but we do know that the 3rd graders will be taking the reading CSAP on February 9th and 10th in the morning. Please make sure your kiddos get lots of rest and a great breakfast. As you know, we use every assessment tool at our disposal to place and teach your kids – we know exactly where they are strong and where they need some TLC. CSAP is an important part of this data, so it is critical that every student participate and do their best, in order for us to get the most meaningful data possible.
Have you ever wondered why the 3rd graders take the Reading CSAP so early? It actually has to do with the Colorado Basic Literacy Act (CBLA) – the state wants to ensure that all of our third graders are reading. If they are not, because the test is so early, we get the results in time to put them on an Individual Literacy Plan (ILP) per CBLA.
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Event Calendar
Feb 1 - 12
2nd Grade STEM: Industrial Engineering
Feb 1-12
Kindergarten STEM: Geometry and Architecture (DeSouza)
Feb 1 - 24
4th Grade STEM: Challenger Learning Center Mission: "Return to the Moon"
Feb 8
PTO Meeting (7pm AA Cafeteria)
Feb 8
Beginning Piano, 3:35-4:30pm
Feb 9
K-1 Spanish, 3:40pm - 4:30pm
Feb 10
Jump for Heart and Hoops for Heart packets due
Feb 10
2nd Grade STEM Field Trip: Celestial Seasonings
Feb 10
Hoops for Heart, American Academy Gym
Feb 10
District Spelling Bee: Northeast Elementary, check in @ 4:30 pm
Feb 11
Beginning Band, 7:00am - 7:50am & 3:40pm - 4:30pm
Feb 12
Jump Rope for Heart, American Academy Gym
Feb 12
Friday After-Carpool Coffee @ Daz Bog
Feb 12
2nd Grade STEM Field Trip: Celestial Seasonings
Feb 12
Kindergarten (Half Day) STEM Field Trip: Apex Center
Feb 12
Middle School Dance, AA Gym
Feb 15
President's Day (no school)
Feb 15
Beginning Piano, 3:35-4:30pm
Feb 16 - 26
1st Grade STEM: Chemical Engineering
Feb 16
K-1 Spanish, 3:40pm - 4:30pm
Feb 18
BOD Meeting, 7:30 pm (agenda)
Feb 18
Beginning Band, 7:00am - 7:50am & 3:40pm - 4:30pm
Feb 20
Colorado Ski Academy (Ski & Ride Trip to Loveland) (website)
Feb 19
Friday After-Carpool Coffee @ Daz Bog
Feb 22 - 26
3rd Grade STEM: Wings' Aviation Science Program (WASP)
Feb 22
Beginning Piano, 3:35-4:30pm
Feb 23
4th Grade STEM Field Trip: Challenger Learning Center "Return to the Moon"
Feb 24
4th Grade STEM Field Trip: Challenger Learning Center "Return to the Moon"
Feb 23
K-1 Spanish, 3:40pm - 4:30pm
Feb 24
Parent Teacher Conferences, 4pm - 7:30pm
Feb 25
Parent Teacher Conferences, 4pm - 7:30pm
Feb 25
Beginning Band, 7:00am - 7:50am & 3:40pm - 4:30pm
Feb 26
Dress of Choice
Feb 26
3rd Grade STEM Field Trip: Buckley Air Force Base
Feb 26
Friday After-Carpool Coffee @ Daz Bog
Mar. 1-5
2nd Grade STEM: Robotics WEDO (Best-Bockting and Lusk)
Mar 1
SAC Meeting - Conference Room @ 4:30
Mar 2
K-1 Spanish, 3:40pm - 4:30pm
Mar 4
Parent University, Cafeteria, 7-9
Mar 4
Beginning Band, 7:00am - 7:50am & 3:40pm - 4:30pm
Mar 5
Friday After-Carpool Coffee @ Daz Bog
Mar 6
State Spelling Bee: Denver Convention Center, 8:30 am
Mar 8
PTO Meeting (7pm AA Cafeteria)
Mar 8 - 19
Kindergarten STEM: Mechanical Engineering
March 9
3rd Grade STEM Field Trip: WINGS Museum
Mar 9
K-1 Spanish, 3:40pm - 4:30pm
Mar 11
Beginning Band, 7:00am - 7:50am & 3:40pm - 4:30pm
Mar 12
Friday After-Carpool Coffee @ Daz Bog
Mar 13
Douglas County Solo and Ensemble Festival
Mar 16
K-1 Spanish, 3:40pm - 4:30pm
Mar 18
BOD Meeting, 7:30 pm (agenda)
Mar 19
Dress of Choice
Mar 18
Beginning Band, 7:00am - 7:50am & 3:40pm - 4:30pm
Mar 19
End of Second Trimester
Mar 19
Friday After-Carpool Coffee @ Daz Bog
Mar 22
Colorado Ski Academy (Creative Student Adventures Day Trip-Choose from List) (List)
Mar 22-26
Spring Break (no school)
Mar 23
K-1 Spanish, 3:40pm - 4:30pm
Mar 26
Friday After-Carpool Coffee @ Daz Bog
Mar 29 - Apr 2
7th Grade STEM: Robotics
Mar 29 - Apr 9
8th Grade STEM: Rocketry
Mar 29 - April 2
5th Grade STEM: Rocketry
Mar 30
K-1 Spanish, 3:40pm - 4:30pm
Apr 2
Friday After-Carpool Coffee @ Daz Bog
Apr 4
SAC Meeting - Conference Room @ 4:30
Apr 6
K-1 Spanish, 3:40pm - 4:30pm
Apr 9
Friday After-Carpool Coffee @ Daz Bog
Apr 12
PTO Meeting (7pm AA Cafeteria)
Apr 12 - 23
4th Grade STEM: Geotechnical Engineering
Apr 12 - 30
6th Grade STEM: Challenger Learning Center: Operation Montserrat eMission
Apr 13
K-1 Spanish, 3:40pm - 4:30pm
Apr 15
BOD Meeting, 7:30 pm (agenda)
Apr 16
Friday After-Carpool Coffee @ Daz Bog
Apr 16
Spring Gala, 6pm, The Wildlife Experience
Apr 19 - 30
7th Grade STEM: Save the Biosphere: “Biopshere 3”
Apr 20
K-1 Spanish, 3:40pm - 4:30pm
Apr 23
Friday After-Carpool Coffee @ Daz Bog
Apr 26 - 30
8th Grade STEM: Computer Aided Design: Google Sketch-Up
Apr 26 - May 7
5th Grade STEM: Packaging
Apr 26 - May 7
2nd Grade STEM: Agricultural Engineering
Apr 30
Dress of Choice
April 29
6th Grade STEM: e-Mission "Operation Monserrat"
April 30
6th Grade STEM: e-Mission "Operation Monserrat"
Apr 30
Friday After-Carpool Coffee @ Daz Bog
May 3
SAC Meeting - Conference Room @ 4:30
May 7
Friday After-Carpool Coffee @ Daz Bog
May 10
PTO Meeting (7pm AA Cafeteria)
May 10 - 21
3rd Grade STEM: Acoustical Engineering
May 14
Friday After-Carpool Coffee @ Daz Bog
May 16 - 22
6th Grade STEM: Crow Canyon Archaeological Center Crow Canyon Archaeological Center Website
May 17 - 21
Kindergarten STEM: Ecology
May 20
BOD Meeting, 7:30 pm (agenda)
May 21
Friday After-Carpool Coffee @ Daz Bog
May 20
Dress of Choice
May 28
Friday After-Carpool Coffee @ Daz Bog
May 31
Memorial Day (no school)
Jun 1 - 3
1st Grade STEM: Global Positioning System
Jun 4
Last Day of School
Jun 14
PTO Meeting (7pm AA Cafeteria)
Jun 17
BOD Meeting, 7:30 pm (agenda)
Jul 15
BOD Meeting, 7:30 pm (agenda)
Jul 30
BOD Meeting, 7:30 pm (agenda)