2/16	President's Day - no school
2/18	Eagle Honors Assembly 8:15am
2/18	Skate City 6pm - 8pm
2/19	Java with Jay 8am
2/20	PTO Meeting 8:05am
2/20	Multicultural Festival 5pm - 9pm
2/23	8th grade Registration - Cherokee Trail - 8:15am
2/25	Half Day for Students - Parent/Teacher Conferences
2/25	Used Uniform Sale - 12 - 5pm

February 16, 2015
Volume 21, No. 27

Dear Parents,

The CCA 2015-16 calendar was recently sent

home after being approved by the CCA Board in December. You will notice that CCA starts one week earlier next year, on August 6th. This calendar change comes from Cherry Creek School District and reflects CCSD's decision to start earlier. CCSD made the change such that 1st semester high school finals can be taken before winter break.

This CCSD decision impacts all of CCSD schools, including CCA. All CCSD schools will start earlier in August, and will end before Memorial Day in the spring. CCA will also be ending the 2015-16 school year before Memorial Day in 2016 to mirror this CCSD change.

Historically CCA has started about a week earlier than the rest of CCSD in order to maintain our 182 non-negotiable day school year versus the average of 176-178 school days for the rest of the school district. CCA typically ends the school year on either the same day or within one day of the rest of Cherry Creek School District. It is our intent to follow this protocol in the future. All CCSD holidays including fall break, Thanksgiving break, winter break, and spring break are all taken into account when the CCA school calendar is constructed.

CCA will begin school on August 6th and the rest of the district will start on August 13th. CCA and the school district will end on May 27, 2016.

If you have not yet received your copy of the 2015-16 CCA school calendar, please pick one up at the CCA front office.

Sincerely,
Jay Cerny
Principal/CEO
Cherry Creek Academy

JAVA with JAY

Join Principal Cerny and other administrators for an open discussion on what's happening at CCA while enjoying a cup of java!

Thursday, February 19th

Thursday, March 19th

Thursday, April 16th

Thursday, May 21st

8:00 a.m. in the cafeteria

PLAYGROUND AIDES NEEDED

Do you like working with children? Come and join the exemplary team at one of Colorado's best charter schools!

CCA is accepting applications for two playground aide paid positions. The hours for this position are from approximately 10:45am to 1:15pm.

If you are interested in applying, please email your cover letter and resume to ashafer@cherrycreekavademy.org.

RSVP FOR MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL

Join CCA for an evening of fun, food, performances and activities from various cultures at the MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL this FRIDAY, February 20th from 5pm - 9pm. Please RSVP below so that we have a good count of attendees to help with the preparation.

To RSVP, please click on:

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/4090B4AA5AD2FAB9-ccamulticultural1

MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL PARKING

1) During the Multicultural Festival, CCA's front (south) parking lot will be for used performers only.

2) Deliveries may be made using the front (south) parking lot by unloading the items onto the sidewalk, parking outside of the front lot and returning to take the items inside.

3) Please remember the Multicultural Festival is very well attended which puts pressure on parking around the school. Please park with consideration for CCA's neighbors.

FESTIVAL NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

The Multicultural Festival will take place this Friday, February 20th from 5:00 - 9:00 PM. Currently we have India, Peru, USA, China, Taiwan, Korea, Colombia, Lebanon, Russia, Antarctica, Norway, France, Italy, Sierra Leone, and Uzbekistan signed up to display their cultures.

We are pleased to announce that we filled all performance slots.

Volunteers are still needed to assist in one of the country rooms or with this Festival in general. Please click on one or both of the links below to volunteer.

To volunteer to represent one of the above countries:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090b4aa5ad2fab9-country3

To volunteer to help with the Festival in general:
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/4090B4AA5AD2FAB9-multicultural2

TRAFFIC AND SAFETY

Traffic Safety Enhancements

New signs have been added to increase student safety during pick up and drop off. Please cooperate with the new signs for your student's safety.

Help CCA be a Good Neighbor

We continue to receive complaints from our neighbors about CCA parent parking. Please avoid blocking driveways and parking too close to stop signs in the neighborhoods surrounding CCA.

MEET THE CCA STAFF

My Name is Jainy Maliakkal. I have been working with CCA for 4 months, in

the office and in the lunch room.

My son is in 2nd grade and my daughters will join CCA this fall. The staff here are very friendly and co-operative. CCA is passionate about the development of kids and I share that passion. I am excited about the opportunity to be part of a great team here at CCA.

My name is Sadie Jesienouski and I have been working at CCA for the last three years. I joined CCA in 2010, when my son, Marek started Kindergarten and my daughter, Kaylee began second grade.

I work in the lunchroom and I am also in charge of traffic. On occasions you will see me in the front office or helping in classrooms.

I have an Associates of Arts degree and I have my Lead Teacher degree for Early Childhood Education. I am still perusing Directors Qualifications for Early Childhood Education.

I absolutely love working in the lunchroom because I have the opportunity to get to know every single student at CCA. The students here are so much fun!! They have me smiling and laughing about something every day! I have enjoyed watching the students at CCA grow and change with each year! I look forward to many more years at this amazing school. Not only for me, but for my two children. CCA is our second home and we are so fortunate to be here.

BOX TOPS TIME

It is time to submit BOX TOPS once again! Please send in your Box Tops during the weeks of Feb. 16th - 28th!

Stock up on products that you can receive a Box Top from. Ask neighbors or Grandparents if they have any and have your kids collect them. Send in your Box Tops in a sandwich baggie with the Teachers name on it.

CCA is participating in a nationwide contest during the last two weeks of February. The top 3 classes will earn an exciting prize.

Volunteers are needed to count and sort the box tops for the submission deadline. You can earn volunteer hours by helping with this. Please contact Melissa Shafi missyshafi@yahoo.com.

CCA needs Box Tops, its easy and earns money for our school!

LUNCHROOM REMINDERS

Lunchroom Reminders
1) Please do not send children with microwavable food since there is no microwave in the lunch room for students to use.

2) Please do not have your students bring any glass container or bottles.

3) Please do not send children with any kind of knives (not even plastic).

USED UNIFORM SALE

The PTO is holding a Used Uniform Sale on February 25th from 12pm - 5pm in the cafeteria.

We will be selling all uniform pieces for K-8th grade (shirts, shorts, skorts, pants (girls and boys) sweaters, hoodies, pullovers, friday shirts, PE shirts, etc.) The prices are 50% off of Dennis prices.

PTO NEWS

The next CCA PTO Meeting will be held Friday, February 20th at 8:05am in the cafeteria. Please join us, all are welcome!

February Agenda

http://www.cherrycreekacademy.org/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=7131145

January Minutes

http://www.cherrycreekacademy.org/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=7129155

January Financials
http://www.cherrycreekacademy.org/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=7129140

CARING COMMUNITY WINNERS!

Gavin Aweida * 11

Sean Badasyan

Lev Bakhrakh* 11

Mahalet Bereket*

Micala Boex

Kate Borisov

Shaan Chauhan*

Mateusz Cierpal*

Sam Cohen

Alex Fredrich

Aadison Griffin

Arianna Howard

Brendan Keefe* 11

Aadya Khemka

Min Jae Lee* 11

Megan Nguyen

Victoria Noskov

Darragh Owens

Zoe Park*

Judah Peters

Ana Prado

Walker Rudden 11

Chloe Ruvins

Alex Shin

Jacob Sim

Melia Sinacori 11

Owen Smail

Nikayla Sullivan

Nate Sunker

Ethan Underdown

* Winners of Caring Community Drawing- Free dress on 2/18/2015

WEBPATH EXPRESS

CCA is excited to introduce a new internet based research tool that is free to our students. WebPath Express is part of CCA's new digital library management system and will help students and teachers conduct research in the classroom, the library or at home.

Follett's WebPath Express provides access to thousands of websites and databases. The sites are vetted by teachers and judged to be:

Relevant
Timely
Educational
Age appropriate
Safer than normal web browsing (i.e. through Yahoo, Google, etc.)

CCA student are invited to use WebPath Express from home.

To access WebPath, use the following URL,www.gofollett.com and type Cherry Creek Academy in the school search field.

Content Filtering of WebPath Express

Filters are set so WebPath content is appropriate for kindergarten through fifth grade students. This setting still allows middle school to access plenty of information that is useful, appropriate and informative.
While on campus, CCA provides an additional layer of content filtering beyond the filters built into WebPath.
Please be aware that CCA does not provide the additional layer of content filtering during off campus use of any internet resources. Therefore, adult supervision is recommended, just as if a child were searching the Internet through a traditional web browser such as Yahoo or Google.
CCA expects students to use the Internet and WebPath responsibly even though WebPath is filtered. Cherry Creek School District (CCSD) policy dictates that "Students shall use district technology in a responsible, efficient, ethical and legal manner." For more on the CCSD please reference the Student use of the Internet and Electronic Communication. Parents agreed to this policy when enrolling students in CCA.

Enjoy the new resource and may all your researching be fruitful, informative and interesting.

CHARTER SCHOOL ART CONTEST

The Colorado League of Charter Schools and S&S Worldwide is holding a

Charter School Student Art Contest.

If your K-8 student is interested in creating an artwork about what they want to be when they grow up, how they will take a leadership role or impact the community, or about someone in their community who is a role model for leadership, they can submit an artwork for this contest! You can find complete rules, entry form, grand prize information and other details in Mrs. Peterson's February Newsletter on our school website.

Mrs. Peterson also has entry form/rules/information handouts in her class room. The deadline to mail entries in to the League of Charter Schools is March 20th.

SOAR TO THE TOP FUN RUN

Please join CCA for our 2^nd annual "Soar To The Top" FUN RUN on Friday May 1st!

In the spirit of fun, music, and health, students will run laps around the 1/8^th mile race course on the recess field. Last year was a great success, and we hope to do it again!

Sponsored by the CCA Foundation, our goal this year is to raise

over $20,000 to assist with playground modifications. Any additional proceeds may be used for technology updates and repairs.

Prior to this event, students will have collected pledges based on the amount of laps they believe they will complete. Students can also accept flat donations from family and friends instead of pledges per lap. A "Tasty Treat Party" will finish off the morning, and some of the students will earn special prizes based on their successes.

On Field Day we will incorporate a celebration of the Fun Run, acknowledging outstanding student participation, along with a very fun event involving some of their favorite teachers!

WE NEED SPONSORS!!!

If you or someone you know is interested in their business sponsoring this event, please let us know! There are four levels of sponsorship to suit both families and businesses. Please click here http://cherrycreekacademy.org/FunRun for more information regarding sponsorship.

STUDENT HALF DAY - FEBRUARY 25th

Students will have a half day on Wednesday, February 25th due to Parent/Teacher Conferences.

The half day pick-up times are as follows:

11:35 - Half Day Kindy

11:45 - 3:05 group

11:55 - 3:15 group

12:05 - 3:25 group

12:15 - 3:35 group

ICE CREAM EVERY FRIDAY

Lunchtime Ice Cream and Popsicles, Only $1!

Don't scream for ice cream, bring $1 every Friday and enjoy tasty treats! Your dollars benefit the 8^th grade Washington DC Trip.

Not a full day CCA student? No problem! Half Day Kindies, parents and volunteers are welcome to bring $1 and drop by the lunchroom from 10:40 am - 1:00 pm and enjoy a treat as well! So be part of a CCA tradition and help an 8^th grader achieve their dream!

SPOTLIGHT ON CCA STUDENTS

Cherry Creek Academy students Shiven Saxena, Cale Griffin and Aadison Griffin competed in the Denver scholastic chess series 2014-2015.

Shiven and Cale competed in the unrated 2-3 division with Shiven placing 2nd and Cale placing 12th out of 28 kids. Aadison competed in the unrated K-1 division and placed 13th.

Shiven received individual 2nd place trophy and Cale and Shiven received the CCA team school trophy for 2nd place.

Congratulations CCA Students!

Free Advocacy Training for

Charter School Parents

Free Advocacy Training for Charter School Parents at the Colorado Charter Schools Conference on Thursday, February 26 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM at the Marriott Denver Tech Center

When it comes public education issues, no one's voice is stronger than that of a parent. When parents mobilize, speak up and work together, they can make a tremendous difference in helping charter schools to receive equitable funding and treatment.

That's why the Colorado League of Charter Schools has coordinated a FREE Advocacy Training for Charter School Parents.

Attendees will:

Learn strategies for effective advocacy at both the state and local level
Gain an understanding of the legislative process and how to develop relationships with elected officials and decision makers
Learn how to build relationships and target optimal advocacy opportunities within their community
Gain core content knowledge to be an impactful advocate for charter schools and other high-quality public school options

Space is limited, parents can register by visiting www.cocharterconference.org and selecting "Register" then "Charter Conference-Thursday Kickoff Workshop Only."

For more information, contact Dan Schaller at dschaller@coloradoleague.org.

Cherry Creek Academy | officeadmin@cherrycreekacademy.org
6260 S Dayton Street | Englewood, CO 80111