THE DRAKE DEETS

A weekly communication to our families on all the things Drake!

Drake Middle School12550 W. 52 Avenue Arvada, CO 80002

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April 5th, 2024 EDITION

April 10 & 11 8th Grade CMAS Science Testing

April 16 SAC Meeting 5:15-6:15 (Library)

PTO Meeting 6:30-7:30 (Library)

April 18-20 Spring Musical Guys & Dolls

April 19 Coffee with the Counselors

April 24 PTO Fro Yo Day

April Calendar

IMPORTANT INFORMATION for FAMILIES

Next Year Registration!

Drake's counseling team will be in science classes the week of April 8th-April 12th for a transition presentation and to request electives. Please review the Course Information Guide with your student, prior to when counselors are in science classes. Any 6th grade student interested in any of the 6 possible electives they can choose from, must fill out this form. Drake 7th grade students should review their Planning Sheet, so they are prepared with what electives they want to request.

Registration Schedule:

April 8th- All 6th grade science classes AND Mr. Reeke's 7th grade science classes

April 9th- Mr. Vasquez's science classes

April 12th- Mr. Donohue's science classes

Additionally, students in Mr. Vasquez's class will also get a short presentation from our JCMH counselor, Angie Kelley, on 5 simple stress-reducing tips for 8th grade. Please review this letter that discusses what Ms. Kelley does and how Drake is partnering with JCMH. If you have any questions or do not want your student to participate in Ms. Kelley's presentation, please reach out to Amanda Hodson (amanda.hodson@jeffco.k12.co.us).

Eclipse and Indoor Recess

The total solar eclipse will be happening on Monday, April 8th between approximately 11:30-1:00. During these hours, all three of our grade levels would typically be outside for their lunch recess.

Drake will not be able to provide supervision during this time for proper use of approved glasses, therefore all three grade levels will have indoor recess in order to prevent potential eye injury from uncontrolled viewing of the eclipse.

Help Needed: Can-Struction

Dear Drake Families,

We are excited to be participating in the first annual Jeffco Can-Struction event. Please consider helping our students in this STEM & community service project.

We are gratefully accepting any cans food- however for our design we are looking for specific colors. Below you will find a link to our Amazon wishlist. Your student can bring them in or feel free to ship directly to our school.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/192PNRPFPJ6CF?ref_=wl_share

12550 W 52nd Arvada CO 80002

Every can counts! We would appreciate any nonperishable food!

Questions?

Email:

Susan Schmelzer susan.schmelzer@jeffco.k12.co.us

Harmony Jones harmony.jones@jeffco.k12.co.us

Michelle Johnson michelle.johnson2@jeffco.k12.co.us

Spring Musical Tickets on Sale Now

Tickets are on sale now for Guys and Dolls, Jr. running April 18-20. Go to onthestage.com to get yours today!

April 10th and 11th - 6th & 8th Lunch Swap

8th Grade will be CMAS Testing for Science and we are swapping 6th graders schedule with 8th graders on those two days. That means 6th grade will have their lunches 90 minutes later and 8th grade will have their lunches 90 minutes earlier. This is to accommodate the testing 8th graders have.

6th and 8th graders - Please consider bringing an extra snack those days that students can access (at their lockers only).

Drake TV

Drake TV is here to keep our community Connected, Informed and Entertained.

Click Here to enjoy this week's student-produced broadcast, featuring the following segments:

Day Without Hate
Foothills Animal Shelter
Women's History Month

Miss an episode? Click Here to visit our archive!

Community Closet

Drake is starting a Community Closet that any student can access for a wide array of personal hygiene supplies, clothing, and school necessities free of charge. No student should ever have to worry about lacking the basic essentials for success, and the Community Closet ensures that every student has equitable access to these crucial items. Whether it's a helping hand during tough times or simply a convenient resource for those in need, the Community Closet is here to serve and uplift the entire student body.

If you could use any clothing, shoes, hygiene supplies, or school supplies, please contact Rebecca Ewald (rebecca.ewald@jeffco.k12.co.us) or encourage your student to see her in her office to look through the Community Closet!

Thank you!

Thank you to all the families who donated snacks for our CMAS testing week! And thank you to our PTO for organizing all of those snacks!

Face Your Fears Anxiety Small Group

We're excited to run a mini "F.A.C.E. Your Fears" small group for the last few weeks of school. This curriculum is a new initiative that helps reduce student anxiety and promotes better mental health outcomes.

Key Benefits:

Enhanced Detection and Support: We'll be better equipped to identify and support students with anxiety-related issues.
Immediate Skill Development: Students will gain practical skills to manage their anxiety effectively.
Universal Approach: The program offers tier 2 small group support for a wide range of students.

If your student is interested in participating in our small group, please reach out to Bonnie Legg (bonnie.legg@jeffco.k12.co.us) or Rebecca Ewald (rebecca.ewald@jeffco.k12.co.us). The group will be held during Access on Wednesday mornings, starting on April 17th.

Spring Social

The Spring Social will be on Wednesday, May 1st from 5:15 - 7:15 p.m. It is open to Drake Students only. We will have a Silent Disco, Teacher Dunk Tank and much more. The theme will be 80's neon. More details about cost, etc. will be coming soon. Students with 2+ F's will not be able to attend.

FOR 7TH GRADE

Growing and Changing Parent Night

7th grade parents, if you have questions about the upcoming Growing and Changing unit, please join our science teachers on April 17 from 5:30-6:30 in the Drake Library. Please contact Megan Motley or your student's science teacher with questions.

FOR 8TH GRADE

8th grade continuation speakers

We are looking for two 8th grade students who are interested in giving a 2-3 minute speech to your 8th grade peers at continuation!

If you are interested, please fill out this form BY Monday, April 15. You will receive more information by email after we determine interest.

We will have auditions for speakers on Thursday April 25 between 4:15-5:15 pm in the auditorium.

Upcoming 8th grade Field Trip

8th grade students will be going on a science related field trip to Skate City in late April or early May. On the field trip, students will learn the science involved in playing roller hockey.

Students will eat lunch at Skate City as well as have time to skate. Students should bring a bagged lunch or bring money to buy lunch. Students will go with their Access teacher on one of the following dates: 4/22, 4/23, or 5/3. Please check the permission form for the day your Access teacher will be attending.

We will leave school in the morning at 10:00 am and return to school at 3:00 pm. Buses will be provided for transportation to and from Skate City. The cost of the field trip is $16 per student. You can pay your field trip fee online.

Please complete the permission slip linked here so we can get an accurate number of students participating in the field trip. Permission slips for the field trip are due Monday, April 15th. We are looking forward to an exciting and fun field trip with your student!

8th Grade End of the Year Field Trip

We are going to Elitch Gardens!!!
Friday, May 17th
The cost is $30
Food is not included in the fee.
Parents can pay the fee online.
Teachers will NOT collect any money.
You CAN be uninvited from this trip. Please keep doing your best. Remember 37 days left!
We will ride the light rail to and from Elitch’s.
Permission slips and more information will come out as we get closer to going.

MENTAL HEALTH

Drake Counseling Department

Drake Counselor Trimester 3 Newsletter

Drake's Mental Health Team will be hosting their 3rd Coffee with the Counselors event for this year. We will discuss what next year will look like, review what the counseling team has done this year, and ask for feedback for next year’s counseling program. Please RSVP here.

Social Emotional Learning

-Social Emotion Learning Questions for Families for the 04/08/24 Lesson

-Day Without Hate shirts can still be order individually on April 11th and 12th at daywithouthatejeffco.com

-Drake's Healthy Kids Colorado Survey Results

From PTO

Important Info from PTO

NEXT PTO MEETING

Please join us for our next PTO meeting on April 16th at 6:30 in the Drake Library.

TEACHER AND STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK

Teacher and Staff appreciation week is Monday May 6th through Friday May 10th, and with your help, the Drake PTO is going to appreciate the heck out of our Drake teachers and staff!. If you're able, please donate any amount to help us with all the appreciation events throughout the week. Anything you donate will go to showing the entire staff THEY ROCK! All funds donated will be applied to the Teacher Appreciation event costs. Thank you for all you do and let's have a great finish to the school year.

SPIRIT GEAR (NEW)

We have four fun spirit gear items for sale through April 12th.

Spirit Gear Store link:

Available items: Decal - Water bottle - Mug - Lip balm holder: All with the Drake Logo!

All items will be delivered to Access Teachers by April 26th.

FROYO DAY ON APRIL 24TH - 5TH period

Treat your student to a Frozen Yogurt from Bliss during 5th period on April 24th. Each FroYo is $5. There are 4 flavors to choose from! Cake batter, Chocolate, Cookies and Cream and Mango Sorbet. ORDER HERE!

We have to get our order to Bliss a week before, so orders must be placed by April 17th.

We appreciate your support in this fundraiser for Drake PTO. All funds raised go to help the school. We understand not all kids will be able to participate due to circumstances beyond their control. PTO will donate one FroYo per class for the teacher to raffle off. If you would like to help us with donations we would appreciate that. If you have questions about nutrition and allergies please visit the Bliss Website. Any other questions please email drakemiddleschoolpto@gmail.com

WISH YOUR STUDENT A HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Wish your student a Happy Birthday on the Drake digital marquee!

Get your student a "Happy Birthday!" with their name to rotate through the messages on the marquee throughout the day you choose (located at the entrance, off 52nd Ave.).

The cost is $20, with all funds going back to Drake PTO. We need a minimum of three days to get the message scheduled and uploaded to the marquee. Click here to order today!

COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Awest Cheer- Incoming 9th graders

CALLING ALL INCOMING FRESHMAN! The Arvada West Cheerleading program will be hosting Evaluations for the 2023-24 season on April 22nd-25th. Please visit the following link to read through the Evaluation Packet where you will find all of the information needed to be prepared for and participate in the Evaluation process. Please register and keep up to date on all reminders and information on our social media @arvadawestcheer

Reach out to Coach Biddle at mckenna.biddle@jeffco.k12.co.us with any questions.

Link to Evaluation Packet: EVALUATION PACKET

Mustang Soccer Academy Camp 2024

Flyer

Mountain Biking at RVHS

Join us at our spring information and recruitment meeting to learn about the Ralston Valley HS/Arvada West HS Mountain Bike Team. April 10, 6:00 pm, RVHS Cafeteria

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OsyABbAnTGZ08zudzXb68sgBU7sJgmZU/view?usp=sharing

Girls Love Dirt Clinic: This FREE clinic is for all girls who are interested in learning more about the Colorado League and local high school team.

Learn some skills & have a FUN ride! Get your FREE tickets here.

WELCOME, FUTURE DRAKE DRAGONS!