Senior Spotlight: Mae S.
At Accelerated Schools, part of the graduation requirement is a capstone senior paper. This is a formal research paper that will help prepare them for higher education or a future career. The in-depth process goes over the elements of gathering and organizing credible information, utilizing and citing expert sources, and creating a unique and engaging framework for an essay. This month I would like to highlight Mae S., who is a senior graduating this year. Mae worked extremely hard on her paper on the topic of expressive therapies. To quote Mae “the goal of expressive therapies is to empower people to access their creativity and communicate through all aspects of their life. Today, expressive therapies help to reclaim art and play as important emotional aspects of human life and improve the avenues of communication and healing.” Mae has framed her paper around what she sees as the loss of art as an essential human behavior and it being seen only as a career or hobby for the few talented people out there. As she says, “In much of the modern world the accessibility of art has changed and moved from an everyday activity to a profession; play therapies have paved a new path for leisure art to help restore it as a natural component of living.” We are proud of the immense work Mae has continued to put forth during her time at Accelerated and are excited to see what she accomplishes beyond graduation. If her essay is anything to go by, we can expect great things from her. Congrats Mae!
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Black History Month
On January 20, 2021, our class got to witness a momentous event; the inauguration of our new incoming President Biden and his Vice President, Kamala Harris. Several firsts were surrounding this great event. A few being, the first inauguration during a pandemic, and of course, the first African American/Indian, woman Vice President. What better introduction to February which is Black History Month.
Black History Month is the celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time to recognize their central role in U.S. history. Since 1976, every US president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. There are other countries like Canada and Great Britain who also devote a month to Black History.
We just had a national holiday to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, who was in my opinion one of the greatest African Americans in our history. He peacefully fought for equal rights for all people regardless of color. When I talk with your children about how things were during this great man’s time, they can’t fathom a world where people were segregated solely on skin color.
So, as we enter the month of February, take time to learn about some of the inspirational African Americans who have made an impact on our country and helped mold our country to what it is today. The perfect place to start your educational journey into Black American history in Denver is to visit “The Black American West and Heritage Museum” It’s located on 3091 California St. and cost $10.00 for adults and $7.00 for children. You will gain an understanding of the role that African Americans played in the settlement and growth of the western United States through its collections, programs, and exhibits.
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A Great Day at the Denver Zoo
Kyle Pepper, Educational Recruiter and Enrollment Counselor
On Thursday, January 7th, 2021, Accelerated Schools took a group of Middle School and High School students to the Denver Zoo for an all-day, off-campus, socially-distanced activity. Students at Accelerated Schools must qualify academically and behaviorally in order to attend an off-campus activity. Activities are held every other week on Thursdays and students have the choice to participate in the Ski Program or go on our alternate Activity planned for the following week.
The first portion of our day at the Denver Zoo consisted of touring the first half of the animal enclosures. Unfortunately, due to current COVID-19 measures at the zoo, most of the indoor enclosures were not open or accessible and many of the animals were hiding or out of sight, probably due to the cool weather that winter morning. We did luck out and get to view several animals including giraffes, elephants, llamas, lions, rhinos, hippos, hyenas, penguins, sea lions, water buffalo, a particularly friendly emu, as well as several species of birds and primates.
Once lunchtime rolled around, we took students to eat lunch on the bleachers located in neighboring City Park. After lunch was over, the group returned to the zoo to complete our tour of the remaining animal enclosures that we had missed in the morning and to find the on-site donut shop. After finally locating the elusive donut shop on-site, students had to settle for some ice cream instead as the store was sold out of donuts! By this time the students were done eating ice cream, it was time to head back to the Accelerated buses and travel back to campus for student dismissal and pickup at 3:30 PM. All in all, the students and staff had a blast and learned a lot! I am very much looking forward to our next off-campus activity!
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How to Navigate February
Whether it's from failed new year's resolutions, a lull in holiday breaks, difficulty re-adjusting to school, or just the winter blues, February can be a hard month for many to get through. I know I can't wait for the daylight to stay longer and for the excitement of summer! However, the cold weather and staying indoors this year don't have to rule out having fun. February is a great time to start a hobby that requires a lot of time indoors like baking, painting, writing, coding, or yoga. If you simply want to just avoid the winter blues, trick your brain into thinking positively by reading or watching funny light-hearted content. Work with your brain, treat it with care and try not to feel like you can "muscle through it" when you're having a tough time. Even if it feels silly, treat yourself to your own kindness. Telling yourself that "you can do this" and "you are doing your best" can't be underestimated. When life is getting you down, try to find one thing a day that makes you happy. Drink your favorite drink, talk to your favorite people, and allow yourself the joy of happiness. We can get through this February together!
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Accelerated Schools Fundraiser Hosted by Wish Gifts and W Boutique
Shop local and help Accelerated Schools! All customers who use the code “Accelerated” at checkout, W Boutique and Wish Gifts will donate 10% of the sales to Accelerated Schools.
This code will be eligible at all Wish Gifts and W Boutique locations as well as online for Saturday, February 13th. only!
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Colorado Parent ‘Family Favorites’ Voting
The polls are open for the year’s Colorado Parent ‘Family Favorites’ parenting guide. We would love if you would please cast your vote each day between now and February 28th for Accelerated Schools for the following category:
• EDUCATION: Private School
Vote Every Day Through 2/28/2021!
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Accelerated Schools celebrated National School Choice Week the week of January 24th-30th, 2021. School choice gives parents the option of choosing the best educational fit for their student, be that private school, public school, charter school, etc. National School Choice Week celebrates this opportunity. As a non-profit private school, Accelerated Schools is so thankful to all the families who choose us as the best fit for their child. The students rocked their “I LOVE MY SCHOOL” bracelets and shared reasons they love attending Accelerated Schools.
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For more than 40 years, concerned parents have turned to Accelerated Schools for individualized learning programs helping students overcome challenges, and excel academically. The fact is, a traditional school system is not designed to meet the needs of every child. When a student is not being successful, or is not thriving in a traditional environment, parents must often look elsewhere for a solution. This is were Accelerated Schools comes in.
Accelerated Schools begins by creating a learning program designed specifically for a student. Our work points are toward changing the ratio of failure to success and by cultivating an environment of accountability. Our students are given attainable goals and are rewarded by celebrating their accomplishments. Once a student starts experiencing success, their attitude, motivation and effort improve dramatically. This ends the negative cycle and leads to positive academic progress and positive self-esteem.
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If you have comments and/or suggestions about our newsletter, email Adam Burnett.
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