THE DRAKE DEETS

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

Drake Middle School12550 W. 52 Avenue Arvada, CO 80002

https://translate.google.com/

October 18th, 2023 EDITION

Upcoming Events

October 20 No School- Fall Break

October 23 Drake Travel 2025 Destinations Announced!

October 30 Fall Social/ Haunted House (5:30-7:30 pm)

October Calendar

IMPORTANT INFORMATION for FAMILIES

Fall Break

Have a wonderful long weekend (fall break) and we will see you on Monday, October 23.

Enrollment Survey

Take the School Enrollment Survey Today

Please take 10-15 minutes to complete the School Enrollment Survey. Share with us what matters most to you when choosing a school for your student. Your feedback will help us improve the school enrollment process and provide programming to meet your family’s educational needs. The survey is open through Friday, November 17.

Join our community and make a difference

Like many schools across the nation, we find ourselves in need of additional support in our classrooms, and are actively seeking individuals to fill vital roles as Guest Teachers in our school.

We invite individuals looking for work and a passion for contributing to the lives of our young learners to join our team. While prior experience is appreciated, it is not mandatory. I assure you that our school will work closely with you to ensure you are well-prepared and supported. We believe that with the right tools and a supportive environment, every individual can make a positive impact in our students’ lives.

Guest teacher pay rates start at $160/day and increase up to $190/day, depending on how many days you work or if you are in a long-term assignment. Learn more at https://www.jeffcopublicschools.org/employment/jobs/substitute_positions.

If you have questions about this role, feel free to email me at jill.kline@jeffco.k12.co.us

Fall Social and Haunted House

Save the Date: The Fall Social will be held on Monday, October 30th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Click this link for more details. We are in need of parent volunteers for crowd control and to help run the events. If you are available, please reach out to Ms. Johnson at miajohns@jeffco.k12.co.us

We are also in need of donations of bags of candy and baked goods for the social (if not store bought, please include a list of ingredients). Baked goods can be dropped on the morning of October 30. Bagged candy can be dropped off at anytime, please just make sure all items are clearly marked with Fall Social on them and given to the front office.

Click here for Drake's Halloween Costume Guidelines.

PLEASE NOTE THAT STUDENTS WITH 2+ F'S WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SOCIAL- GRADES WILL BE DETERMINED ON FRIDAY 10/27.

Halloween Costumes at School

Tuesday, October 31 is Halloween. Students will be permitted to wear costumes to school if they wish. We love to see your creativity! Please follow our Halloween Costume Guidance and have fun!

Lost and Found donations

All items in our lost and found will be donated on November 3. Please have your student stop by if they are missing a lunchbox, water bottle, coat, sweatshirt, hat or shoes. Click here to see if you recognize any of these items.

Jefferson Center for Mental Health

Jefferson Center and Jeffco Public Schools have partnered for over 25 years to provide support to children and families in the district. The school-based therapist program is an innovative collaboration, with the primary goal of increasing access to mental health services for students and their families.

See this letter for more information about Drake's school based clinician.

National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)

The Induction Ceremony for all NJHS will take place Nov. 7th from 8:00am- 8:40am in the Auditorium at Drake Middle School. Family members are welcome. Flyers will be passed out during our meeting Oct. 24th.

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:

Rolling Stones
Spotlight on Orchestra
Drake Flag Football
New Library Books
All About Taylor Swift

Miss an episode? Click Here to visit our archive!

National Bullying Prevention Month

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. This month, on the morning announcements, we will have information on what bullying is, who it impacts, and how they can all be Upstanders.

We encourage our Drake families to watch Stop Bullying: Speak Up - Bullying Prevention Documentary to learn more about how to stop bullying and be an Upstander. Here is a great article with 12 Ideas to Help Your Child be an Upstander at Home and Beyond.

Help Drake Get a New Soundboard

A group of parents is supporting a fundraising drive to purchase a new sound board for our school's auditorium. We are halfway toward our goal. If you would like to donate to the cause or get involved, please contact Laurel Wicke at Laurel.Wicke@jeffco.k12.co.us. All donations are tax deductable.

Teacher Shoutouts

Congratulations to the following students for being awesome in Ms. Lockwood's class!

Corey G.- You are a quiet leader who transfers your learning from last year to your summaries this year. Great philosophical insight during read aloud, Corey!

Emily S. - Rockin’ it, girl! Thanks for always knowing those figurative language expressions during read aloud! Thanks for working so hard this trimester and being willing to show others how to do the Snapshot and Step Up. It is such a pleasure to see your smile and hear your input. Glad you love your new book!

Reagan C. - Your insight as an author is invaluable!! Thanks for guiding us in the writing of our scary narrative stories! Great enthusiasm for Egyptian mythology and for doing what is right. So glad to have you in class, Reagan!

Riley C. - Works hard, wants people to treat others the way they would like to be treated. You stand up for what is right. Thanks for great efforts in class and your kind ways, Riley!

MyaMelodie M. - Thanks for always being willing to help others! Thanks for your excitement that you bring to class. Go Aztecs and the history behind the flag of Mexico! It is wonderful to see how much your love your family. Be proud, happy, and kind!

Steven O. - Thanks for working so hard in class, making good bball friends, and trying hard to make wise choices. Thank you for reading and for your willingness to say sorry and soar. How’s that for some alliteration, Steven?! Keep up the good work!!! Proud of you.

Jordyn G. - Talk about a quiet, kind, and gentle leader! Wow! Thanks for your enthusiasm for reading, your friendly attitude toward all, and your willingness to help everyone. We bow our heads down in gratitude to nice people like you, Jordyn!

~ Please don’t forget to let me know what book I can order for you!!!!

MENTAL HEALTH

Drake Counseling Department

Mental Health Resources

Free Counseling for JeffCo Students - Hazel Health

Jefferson Center Collaborative Care Clinic

Arvada West Resources

Help Coping With Stress

"Why am I Feeling This Way?" Teen Mental Health Misconceptions

Twelve Talks to Have With Teens- Marijuana - Link

Created by the Jefferson County Communities That Care Coalition

Social Emotional Learning

On November 9nd, our school will be participating in the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS). This survey is very important to help us understand our students’ health and wellness. Below is a link to information about the survey.

Healthy Kids Colorado Survey Information

10/23/23 SEL Lesson DiscussionTopics for Parents

Recogizing Bullying and Harassment Family Letter

Family Healthy Habits and Physical Activity

FROM THE LIBRARY

Literacy & Technology

FROM 6TH GRADE

Outdoor Lab

Please visit the Drake Middle School website for all OELS information. The presentation, who to contact with questions, and the consent form are all posted on the main page.

-Your Drake OELS Team

FROM 7TH GRADE

FROM 8TH GRADE

Drug Awareness Assembly

On November 2, 8th grade students will participate in a Drug Awareness presentation from a retired DEA special agent. The presentation motivates students to focus on their choices and to respect their potential in life.

Arvada West HS Choice Enrollment Night

Arvada West HS Choice Enrollment Night for perspective students will be held on November 15 from 5:00-7:00 pm. See this flyer for more information.

From PTO

Important Info from PTO

NEXT PTO MEETING

Please join us for our next PTO Board meeting (all welcome) at 12:45 on October 17th.

DINE OUT FOR DRAKE -October 17th at Noodles 64th and Yank from 4 - 8pm.

Fall break is almost here...so let's skip cooking on Oct 17th and order Noodles! Stop by Noodles at 64th & Yank on your way home from school. You can help PTO raise funds that all support Drake Middle School. Be sure to tell them at checkout that you are with Drake or put in code GIVING25 for online orders.

CARPOOL BUDDIES

If you are interested in carpooling and wondering who lives around you that wants to carpool too, please fill out this Carpool Buddies form. Help save your time and make friends!

We will share the Carpool Buddies Spreadsheet with only those who have filled out the form. Then it’s up to you to find someone who lives near you and contact them. We hope this can help make a fantastic year!

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