THE DRAKE DEETS
A weekly communication to our families on all the things Drake!Drake Middle School12550 W. 52 Avenue Arvada, CO 80002
October 27th, 2023 EDITION
Upcoming Events
October 30 Fall Social/ Haunted House (5:30-7:30 pm)
November 2 Drake Europe Travelers Meeting
November 7 NJHS Induction ceremony (more info below)
November 8 Drake Travel 2025 Meeting at 6pm
November 10 Veteran's Day Celebration
November 13 No School- Teacher Work Day
November 14 Future Dragon Night
IMPORTANT INFORMATION for FAMILIES
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!
Veteran's Day Ceremony
Veteran’s Day is drawing near and we are looking forward to honoring those that have served and are currently serving our country.
Please help us create a Drake Wall of Honor by completing and returning the attached form to the main office as soon as possible. The Wall of Honor will be on display throughout the month of November.
The Drake Community is invited to a Veteran’s Day Celebration on Friday, November 10th, 2023 at 9:15 in front of the school.
Drake will then be hosting a reception in the library from 9:50 am- 10:30 am. We also cordially invite ALL veterans and current service men and women to join us and be recognized during our program. In order to honor those veterans in attendance, please RSVP here.
Attendance and Early Release- IMPORTANT!!
If you are picking your student up midday, it is very helpful if you call ahead preferably before 2pm. This gives us time to send a pass for the student and have them in the office when you arrive. It may take up to 20 minutes to retreive your student if they are not called in ahead of time.
If students are checked out early and miss class they are responsible for making up all missed material. The best action a student can take when they know they'll have an early release is to let the teacher know in advance (preferably 24hrs) and make a plan with that the teacher.
Drake Travel for 2025!
We are so excited to continue Drake’s travel tradition and unveil our 2025 travel destinations:
Language & Culture in Spain with Ms. Mulberry
Mythology in Italy & Greece with Mr. Vásquez
Stunning Scandinavia: Norway, Denmark, & Sweden with Ms. Chubb
Click Here to watch a short infomercial!
We will be hosting an IN-PERSON informational meeting to cover all the details, including the itineraries being offered, activities, academic credit opportunities, the cost of the trips, and scholarship opportunities.
Stay tuned for details in your inbox next week.
Your Drake ‘25 Travel Team
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.
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.
Future Dragon Night- Nov. 14
Future Dragon Night is for families who are considering having their student attend Drake next year for the first time (Incoming 6th graders, move-ins, choice enrolls, etc.). There will be informational presentations, as well as a self-guided tour.
Please spread the word if you know of someone who is considering Drake! Flyer
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:
2023 Halloween Special!
Miss an episode? Click Here to visit our archive!
8th Grade Parents: Baby Ads need to be purchased by Wednesday, Nov. 1
If you want to purchase a baby ad for your graduating 8th grader, you must do that by November 1. Go to yearbookforever.com and click on "Create a Baby Ad." Ads cost $45.00 to offset the extra pages we must purchase. We will not sell baby ads after November 1.
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.
Attention: 2023 Europe Travelers
On Thursday, November 2 at 6:00 PM, we will be holding an important informational meeting in the Drake auditorium for parents and students who are enrolled to travel with Drake to Europe this summer. You will get updated on the logistics of the trip, and we will serve ice cream sundaes afterward so the kiddos can mingle a little bit and have some fun. Your attendance will be very beneficial!
It's getting COLD
Drake will have OUTSIDE mornings and recess when the "feels like" temperature is 20 degrees or above. This means that students are responsible for wearing clothing that is warm enough that they can be outside.
Club Entry
Students in clubs are allowed in the buillding from 7:45- 8:00. Students will not be let in to the building early or late.
MENTAL HEALTH
Drake Counseling Department
Hazel Health
We are so excited to start offering Hazel Health session opportunities during the school day! Hazel Health is an optional support students/families can participate in to get free telehealth support. Drake has partnered with Hazel Health to offer sessions during the school day to make it more accessible to all families. Please check out JeffCo's Hazel Health website to learn more about this amazing support!
Mental Health Resources
Free Counseling for JeffCo Students - Hazel Health
Jefferson Center Collaborative Care Clinic
"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
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 meeting on November 28th at 6:30 in the Drake Library. This is directly after the SAC meeting that starts at 5:15 if you would like to make it to both.
DINE OUT FOR DRAKE at Chipotle - November 15th from 4 - 8pm.
What’s for dinner? Stop by Chipotle on 64th & Ward on your way home from school on November 15th. You can help PTO raise funds that all support Drake Middle School. Be sure to tell them at checkout that you are with Drake. If you are ordering on the app or website, use the promo code 7F2NQEZ
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
MMA Classes for Drake Students
Interested in Mixed Martial Arts classes? The Genesis Training Center is open to Drake students interested in joining the class. Refer to the flyer for additional contact information.
5255 Xenon Drive Arvada, Co 80002
Call: (443) 857 - 4527
Jeffco Public Health
Tackling Tough Topics with Teens- In person and virtual sessions
