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American Academy News
Musical Auditions Cancelled!
Unfortunately, due to the very snowy weather, we are cancelling the musical auditions scheduled for Saturday, February 4, and callbacks scheduled for Sunday, February 5.

Mr. Billman and Ms. Middlebrooks will talk about the new audition schedule over the weekend and we will post new information to the musical site/school front page as soon as we know what the new dates are.

Stay tuned and stay warm!
Important PTO Lunch Notice!
Beginning February 1st, the PTO will no longer be accepting online payments (eChecks or Credit Cards) for lunch orders due to program restructuring.

Please order lunches on-line as usual and send in cash or check, payable to AAPTO, to the front office. Please be sure to include your child(ren)'s name on the check or envelope. All orders not paid in full by Friday, February 10th will be deleted from the system. Lunch checks will not be deposited until February 17th.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

Please email PTO Lunch with any questions or concerns.
Hydration Is Important!
Please make sure that your student has a water bottle at school every day. We are seeing tons of kids that are dehydrated – tired, headaches, etc. and they haven’t had enough water. The water fountains help, but they really need to have water with them at lunch and in the classroom.
Sweetheart Dance Deadline
The Father/Daughter Sweetheart Dance forms are due on Monday, February 6. Forms will be accepted after the 6th, but a late fee of $10.00 will be charged.
PTO Lunch Refund
January 31 was just not a good hot lunch day at AA, and the PTO would like to extend their apologies!!!! Unfortunately, there were problems with the tomato soup scheduled for delivery that day. Because the students couldn't eat the soup that day, the front office served Cup O' Noodles to those who ordered only soup so noone went hungry. But the PTO will alos be refunding $1.50 per bowl to the online lunch accounts of ALL families that ordered soup that day!

The credit should appear the next time you log in to your lunch account, and will be deducted automatically from your next lunch order.

The PTO apologizes for the inconvenience and the trouble with the food, they want parents to know that they are working with Little Italy to ensure this does not happen again. Please email PTO Lunch with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your understanding.
Volunteers Desperately Needed!
If you can, please consider volunteering to help out with recess. Sign up here to join all the fun and watch the students at play!
Buy-A-Brick Is Back!
The American Academy Community Courtyard was recently completed at the main entrance to the school. Did you miss our initial campaign? Are you new to the school? Is there another brick you would like to purchase? It is not too late!

Please join us in recognizing students, family, school organizations, clubs, sports teams, teachers or staff members by purchasing a commemorative brick. New bricks will be installed during our summer break and be ready for everyone to see on the first day of school. The deadline for all new orders is April 13, 2012. Please download the form here Buy-A-Brick.
Thanks to Parents, FunRun, the New Sound Systems Rock!
THANK YOU, parents, for your support of AA’s FUN RUN – we LOVE our sound systems!!

You, the parents, raised about $46,000 through the AA PTO for classroom sound systems when you supported the Fun Run. We purchased the systems after break. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to put systems into all of our labs and classrooms, throughout the school. Ask your kids what a difference it has made (if you have not heard already)! Here is what some of our teachers had to say:

“The sound system has made such a positive impact on my classroom environment! My students are more focused and involved with our classroom activities because they can all hear me. I actually hate hearing myself without it now!”

“I find the speaker system allows me to speak in more friendly and calm voice that everyone can hear.”

“What a difference it makes when students can hear you wherever you are in the room. Also, students love using the microphone, and it is wonderful practice for public speaking. My students, my vocal cords and I thank you!”

“Even with a smaller classroom, the sound system makes a dramatic difference! My students ask me to repeat words and phonograms a lot less. Also, bringing a class back together when they are working in groups is so much easier when all the students can hear you ask for attention! Thank you to all our amazing donators and the incredible PTO for making a wish list item a reality!”

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the PTO and our AA parents!!!
Important Carpool Reminders!
We are continuing to have issues with parents being late in both the morning and the afternoon. So, we are really going to start cracking down. Please read carefully and thank you for your cooperation!

MORNING CARPOOL
We understand that the light a Lagae has only been letting a few cards through – we have spoken to the city and they made changes yesterday and today to resolve that issue. So, we are starting the procedures outlined in last week’s newsletter tomorrow:

If the carpool attendants have gone inside (at about 8:03 am), this means carpool is OVER and your student(s) are late. Please park and walk your student(s) into the front office so you can sign them in (they will be tardy). If you do not sign in your late students, the tardy will be considered unexcused. Excessive unexcused tardies have to be reported to the district truancy office. Parents are responsible taking carpool line times into account when planning for arriving early enough to have students to school on time.

AFTERNOON CARPOOL
Some of our IAs or other staff members have been staying as late as 5:15, waiting for students to be picked up, which is unacceptable. Anyone who arrives after carpool is over (about 4:10 pm) will need to park, come in, and sign out your student. Fines will be applied per the Carpool Policy (search for “late”).
Change to March Lunch Order Period
The next PTO lunch order period starting Wednesday, February 1, through Friday, February 10, will be online ordering as usual but due to program restructuring, we will be unable to accept on-line payments.

This order period is only for three weeks so we hope that it isn’t too much of an inconvenience to our parents. Please order lunches on-line as usual and send in a check (made out to AAPTO) or cash to the front office with the names of your children attached.

We will collect all checks from February 1 – February 10 but will not make a deposit until February 17. Please remember, all orders not paid in full by Friday, February 10, will be deleted from the system.
Call for Spring Gala Auction Donations
The PTO 2012 Spring Gala committee is inviting AA families to donate items for the Spring Gala Auction April 28, 2012.

Items that have sold extremely well in the past include:
- vacation homes/condos
- sporting event tickets
- sports memorabilia
- large party restaurant gift certificates
- golf packages

If you have an item that you would like to donate to the PTO for our 2012 Spring Gala, please contact either Lawren Coope at or Tara Abramson and we will forward a donation form to complete and work with you on a description for the Spring Gala Catalogue. We will need to have all item descriptions by March 1st and have items in hand by April 1st. Thank you for your support!
Update (1/25) on Spring Musical!
Please check out the Spring Musical page for a letter from the director (Sierra Middlebrooks) and information on the upcoming auditions for Beauty and the Beast Jr.! You'll find songs for practice and instructions on how to prepare, as well as an online sign-up for audition times!

The musical is a strong tradition here at AA and every year, the students have made it better than the year before. Join the fun and find your self on stage with "Beauty and the Beast"!
Spring French Club
For new and continuing students. Sign up to join Ms. Williams for French Club on alternating Mondays and learn the basics of French in the company of friends! Club starts February 6, and details with sign up info are on the ECA page.
PTO Updates
Duke's Restaurant Day/Night - February 1 - Join the PTO for an all-day "Restaurant Night" at Duke's Steakhouse on February 1, 2012! They are conveniently located at 363 Village Square Lane off of Castle Pines Parkway near the school. Come in any time between 11:00 am and 9:00 pm, and the PTO will receive 15% of your total bill (including alcohol). Simply mention American Academy to your waitstaff when ordering. No form needed!

Buy-A-Brick Program - Spring 2012 - The American Academy Community Courtyard was recently completed at the main entrance to the school. Did you miss our initial campaign? Are you new to the school? Is there another brick you would like to purchase? It is not too late! Please join us in recognizing students, family, school organizations, clubs, sports teams, teachers or staff members by purchasing a commemorative brick. New bricks will be installed during our summer break and be ready for everyone to see on the first day of school. The deadline for all new orders is April 13, 2012. Please download the form here.

Next Box Top Pick Up - January 27 - Simply send the box tops in a plastic baggie labeled with your child's homeroom teacher's name. There will be collection boxes in each classroom so you can have your kids drop them off any time during this upcoming week. Our last check was worth over $3,000.00! Thank you to all who participate because as you can see, every 10 cents counts. Middle School classes will start their own contest for a Spirit Wear day in May. K-5 continues its own contest with a party in May.
Students Ready to Jump Rope for Heart
On Friday, January 27, American Academy students and Coach Bishop will kick off our annual Jump Rope For Heart event by sending home pledge collection information to parents. Jump Rope for Heart is sponsored by the American Heart Association to raise awareness and funds to combat heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Each year, AA students ask for pledges, and then they jump rope to earn those pledges for the AHA--last year American Academy raised over $13,000.00! The acutal jumping will take place on February 17 during regular specials times and your kids will tell you all about it.

But the best part about the event is that, for every dollar a student brings in, they will receive one inch of duct tape to be used to tape Coach Bishop to the wall (an annual and VERY popular tradition)! Also, students bringing in at least $1.00 in pledges will receive a Jump Rope Dress of Choice Day on February 17! It will be MUCH more comfortable to jump in regular clothes

More information is coming home soon so stay tuned for details on how your student can get involved!
Yearbook Ordering Deadline - April 6!
Order the yearbook here today! Find our school and follow the EASY ordering instructions! Hardcover books are $26.00 and soft cover books are $23.00.

It is very important that you put your child’s homeroom teacher on the form. You will have to do a different order for each child if you want the yearbook to go to them at the end of the year. Organizing books and handing them out is a process and books get misplaced, especially if one student receives more than one book. They don’t always give them to their siblings.

There is no way to order these books at school, we are only using the online ordering service. If you wish to mail in a check there is a form available here. Please keep track of your order number. The school cannot look up your number or confirm your purchase this year! Thanks and happy reminiscing!
PAB Parent Happy Hour (& Other Good Stuff!)
EVENT #1
Calling all AA parents! Your PAB members are hosting a parent, school board & school administration happy hour at Dukes Steak House on Wednesday, February 29, 5:00 - 7:00 pm.

This is an informal get-together and a chance to mingle and chat with other American Academy folks! There will be a cash bar available as well as very light munchies. Dukes is offering a discount for any folks that stay for dinner.

EVENT #2
The PAB will also be meeting at DazBog for an informal afternoon coffee on Wednesday, Februray 1, 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm. Please join us to discuss on school concerns or just to meet other AA parents.

EVENT #3
As a reminder, the next PAB monthly Friday morning coffee will be on February 10 at Dazbog following drop-off.
Beauty and the Beast Musical Auditions
Warm up those voices and start getting ready for the spring musical auditions, scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 4!

Mr. Billman and Ms. Middlebrooks will be posting links and lyrics soon, as well as the time for the auditions. Callbacks are currently scheduled for Sunday, February 5. Meanwhile, interested students need to be working hard on their academics so that they may be eligible on the day of the auditions.

Speaking of academics…a reminder to parents (and students): because the musical is an extracurricular activity, it is subject as always to the Extracurricular Activities Policy and it's academic eligibility requirements. Any student who wants to try out for the musical MUST BE ACADEMICALLY ELIGIBLE (as defined by the Extracurricular Activities Policy) on the first day of auditions.

Good luck everyone, and stay posted to the musical page for more info as it becomes available.
Calling All Cooks!
Dig out your favorite chili recipe for the 2nd Annual Teacher Appreciation Chili Cook-Off! Whip up a batch of your favorite chili and get a chance to win a VIP Parking Pass for a week!

The Cook-off will be Tuesday, January 31, from 10:00 am - 2:00 am. The teachers will taste and vote for their favorite chili. This is a super fun event and all your delicious donations make it the best!

Please register in advance by emailing Kristi Pacheco.
Dennis Uniform Savings You'll Love
Starting February 13 - 21, buy 3 pairs of pants or shorts from Dennis Uniform and you'll receive 20% off! The discount applies to shorts and pants only. You can purchase online or visit them at their Lone Tree location. Check out the flyer for the details!

And just a reminder that Dennis Gift Cards are available for purchase in the front office in $10 and $20 denominations. The school receives 6% of the profit from the purchase!
Guitar Class Filling Up
Mr. Cantu (guitar teacher) would like to announce that there are only a few more spots available in his spring guitar class! If parents would like to enroll students, in the class, please contact Ben Cantu directly prior to the first class on February 6.
Cookie Dough for Sale!
Cookie Dough will be available ALL YEAR for purchase online and will be shipped directly to your house within approximately 5 business days. Each tub is $16 and shipping is included. American Academy will receive a 40% profit on all purchases. Feel free to share the website with your friends and family!!

How to order Cookie Dough:
1) Go to http://americanacademy.crazyaboutfundraising.com
2) On the main page, click SHOP NOW
3) Click CHECKOUT
4) Enter your shipping address and credit card information

Please contact Cara Black at carajblack@comcast.net with any questions. Thank you for your support and happy baking!
Easy-Order Yearbook on Sale NOW!
Order the yearbook here today! Find our school and follow the EASY ordering instructions! Hardcover books are $26.00 and soft cover books are $23.00.

It is very important that you put your child’s homeroom teacher on the form. You will have to do a different order for each child if you want the yearbook to go to them at the end of the year. Organizing books and handing them out is a process and books get misplaced, especially if one student receives more than one book. They don’t always give them to their siblings.

There is no way to order these books at school, we are only using the online ordering service. If you wish to mail in a check there is a form available here. Please keep track of your order number. The school cannot look up your number or confirm your purchase this year! Thanks and happy reminiscing!
Quick Clicks
2011-2012 School Calendar
DCSD Parent Portal
AA PTO Lunch Online
Springboard After School
Spring Musical
AA Parent Teacher Organization
Enter AA Volunteer Hours
Parent Portal
PTO Spring Gala 2012
Healthy Tips and Tricks
Kids Links
Homework Help
Event Calendar
Feb 4
Beauty and the Beast Auditions, music room, time TBA
Feb 4
*Jeri Ferree's Birthday!*
Feb 5
*Megan Benedik's Birthday!*
Feb 5
Beauty and the Beast Callbacks, music room, time TBA
Feb 5 - 10
8th Grade STEM Trip: Yosemite
Feb 6
PTO Meeting, library:
working session, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
open meeting, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Feb 6
SAC Meeting, conference room, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Feb 6 - 17
4th Grade STEM: GeoTech Engineering
Feb 8-9
6th Grade STEM: Operation Montserrat
Feb 9
*Nikki Dobos' Birthday!*
Feb 10
MAR PTO Lunch Ordering Period CLOSES @ midnight
Feb 11
PTO Daddy/Daughter Sweetheart Dance, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Feb 13
TCAP testing begins
Feb 14 -17
Jump Rope for Heart (K-5)
Feb 14
Valentine's Day Classroom Parties (times TBD by teachers)
Feb 15
BOD Meeting (agenda)
Feb 20
NO SCHOOL - President's Day
Feb 21 - Mar 2
2nd Grade STEM: Industrial Engineering
Feb 22
Denver Regional Science Fair, Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Feb 23
Denver Regional Science Fair Awards Night, 6:00 pm, Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Feb 24
Dress of Choice Day
Feb 24
Box Top/Campbell/Tyson Label Pick-Up
Feb 25
*Nichole Smith's Birthday!*
Feb 27 - Mar 2
6th Grade STEM: Robotics
Mar 1
APR PTO Lunch Ordering Period OPENS today
Mar 2
End of 2nd Trimester
Mar 3
*Laurie Neil's Birthday!*
Mar 4
*Suzanne Hanks' Birthday!*
Mar 5-16
1st Grade STEM: Chemical Engineering
Mar 5
PTO Meeting, library:
working session, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
open meeting, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Mar 5
SAC Meeting, conference room, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Mar 6
PTO Restaurant Night: Yogurtini, 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Lone Tree
Mar 7
T2 Middle School Leadership Awards Assembly, 8:00 am, gym
Mar 9
T2 K-5 Leadership Awards Assembly, 92:00 am, gym
Mar 12
*Heidi Hasset's Birthday!*
Mar 12
APR PTO Lunch Ordering Period CLOSES @ midnight
Mar 13
T2 Leadership Awards Breakfast (K-8), 7:00 am, cafeteria
Mar 13
*Robyn Hunt's Birthday!*
Mar 14
*Cori Teeple's Birthday!*
Mar 19 - 23
Kindergarten STEM: MechanicalEngineering
Mar 21
Class Pictures
Mar 21
BOD Meeting (agenda)
Mar 23
Dress of Choice Day
Mar 23
Box Top/Campbell/Tyson Label Pick-Up
Mar 23
TCAP testing ends
Mar 26 - 30
NO SCHOOL - Spring Break!
Mar 29
*Leanne Weyman's Birthday!*
Mar 30
*Jessica Mazzoni's Birthday!*
Mar 31
*ReeKae Telesz's Birthday!*
Apr 1
MAY PTO Lunch Ordering Period OPENS today
Apr 2
SAC Meeting, conference room, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Apr 2
*Elaine Anderson's Birthday!*
Apr 2
PTO Meeting, library:
working session, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
open meeting, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Apr 3
*Rena Tyler's Birthday!*
Apr 9
*Ron Smith's Birthday!*
Apr 10
MAY PTO Lunch Ordering Period CLOSES @ midnight
Apr 12
NO SCHOOL for K-3 (Testing);
regular school day for 4-8
Apr 13 - 19
2nd Grade STEM: WeDo Robotics
Apr 14
Student Council Middle School Dance, cafeteria, 5:30 pm
Apr 14
*Mark Leadbetter's Birthday!*
Apr 17
*Joanie Wherry's Birthday!*
Apr 17
*Chad Riggs' Birthday!*
Apr 18
BOD Meeting (agenda)
Apr 20
*Erin Kane's Birthday!*
Apr 22
*Katie William's Birthday!*
Apr 23 - May 4
3rd Grade STEM: WASP
Apr 26
*Dara Puckett's Birthday!*
Apr 27
Dress of Choice Day
Apr 27
Box Top/Campbell/Tyson Label Pick-Up
Apr 28
PTO Spring Gala
Apr 30
*Chris Todd's Birthday!*
Apr 30
MAP testing begins
Apr 30
*Alyson Vahling's Birthday!*
May 4-5
Spring Musical (exact dates and times TBD)
May 6 - 12
6th Grade STEM Trip: Crow Canyon Archeological Center
May 7
SAC Meeting, conference room, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
May 7
PTO Meeting, library:
working session, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
open meeting, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
May 7-11
Teacher Appreciation Week
May 11
Box Top/Campbell/Tyson Label Pick-Up
May 16
BOD Meeting (agenda)
May 22
Student Council Spirit Day, TBD
May 22
T3 Middle School Leadership Awards Assembly, 8:00 am, gym
May 22
T3 K-5 Leadership Awards Assembly, 9:00 am, gym
May 23
K-5 Field Day, 9:30 am - 2:30 pm, Elk Ridge Park
May 23
Middle School Luau, regular school day schedule
May 23
8th Grade Graduation Practice #1, 10:30 am - noon, gym
May 24
8th Grade Graduation Practice #2, 10:30 am - noon
May 24
T3 Leadership Awards Breakfast (K-8), 7:00 am, cafeteria
May 24
8th Graduation Ceremony, 5:00 - 7:00 pm, gym and cafeteria
May 31
*Brooke Ekstrom's Birthday!*
June 1
*Nicole Camp's Birthday!*
June 2
*Cori O'Brien's Birthday!*
June 3
*Joe Bishop's Birthday!*
June 4
*Kris Wilson's Birthday!*
June 17
*Talia Parsell's Birthday!*
Jun 20
BOD Meeting (agenda)
June 21
*Brian Wherry's Birthday!*
July 4
*Michelle Daley's Birthday!*
July 5
*Hollie Lusk's Birthday!*
July 5
*Tami Bostick's Birthday!*
July 6
*Melissa Seltzer's Birthday!*
July 11
*Brittany Carpenter's Birthday!*
Jul 18
BOD Meeting (agenda)
July 24
*Nancy Heins' Birthday!*
July 30
*Steve Cunningham's Birthday!*
Aug 4
*Dana Chelak's Birthday!*
Aug 6
*Shannon Donohoe's Birthday!*
Aug 30
*Linda McKenzie's Birthday!*
Oct 20
*Joanna Jasmin's Birthday!*