THE DRAKE DEETS
A weekly communication to our families on all the things Drake!Drake Middle School12550 W. 52 Avenue Arvada, CO 80002
Embedded Files
Drake Middle School12550 W. 52 Avenue Arvada, CO 80002
September 1st, 2023 EDITION
Upcoming Events
September 4 Labor Day (No School)
September 20/21 Parent Teacher Conferences- virtual (4:30-8:00)- sign ups coming soon
September 22 Teacher Professional Development- No School for Students
Calendar for the Month of September
IMPORTANT INFORMATION for FAMILIES
School Accountability Committee (SAC)
School Accountability Committee (SAC)
School Accountability meetings will be starting on September 26 from 6:00-7:00. We are looking for a few parents who want to be a part of this group. The goal of this group is to provide input to the principal around school goals, budget, school improvements, etc. Meetings will be held quarterly at Drake from 6:00-7:00 pm (September, November, January and April). Please email me at jill.kline@jeffco.k12.co.us if you are interested.
Pick up and Drop Off
Pick up and Drop Off
We have gotten afternoon pick up down to 20 minutes or less! Thank you so much for being patient, and continue to remember that we all have the same goal of getting all of our students home safely and as efficiently as possible. We know that the new school hours create difficulties with getting students to after school activities, in addition to it being near rush hour, so let's all continue to work together! We have also asked Risk Management to come in and help determine where the inefficiencies are and problem solve ways to address them.
On a related note, we have been contacted by neighboring businesses regarding their concern for our children during pick up and drop off. The businesses to the east of Drake are concerned with the high rates of speed in their parking lots, as well as the students waiting, horseplaying and not paying attention to traffic. If your student is waiting for a ride somewhere other then the Drake parking lot, please encourage them to be on their best behavior. Please also follow the signs/requests for no parking or pickup in certain lots. Thank you for your help with this!
Want to work at your favorite Middle School?
Want to work at your favorite Middle School?
We are in need of classroom support at school! If you love working with students in classrooms and outside, we are hiring paraprofessionals who will provide student and teacher support in classrooms, at lunch and possibly before or after school. Visit the Jeffco job board for more information!
Attendance
Attendance
If you are picking your student up midday, it would be very helpful if you called ahead. This gives us time to send a pass for the student and have them in the office when you arrive. Twenty minutes is adequate notice that you are calling your student out.
Flag Football Needs a Coach!
(Our 3rd team needs a coach, if you have any interest, email Tori Makela at colorado@skyhawks.com
Drake Sports Schedules
Drake Sports Schedules
If your child plays a sport through Skyhawks, here are the links to their schedules:
CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE: https://teamsideline.com/sites/JeffcoLeague/schedule/496402/Cross-Country-Schedule
FLAG FOOTBALL
2 TEAM DIVISION: https://teamsideline.com/sites/JeffcoLeague/schedule/496403/2-Team-Division
Teams: Bradford, Deer Creek, Denver Christian-Blue, D'Evelyn, Drake-Black
6/7TH GRADE ONLY: https://teamsideline.com/sites/JeffcoLeague/schedule/496411/67th-Grade
Teams: Bell, Denver Christian-Black, Drake-Yellow, Manning, Oberon
8TH GRADE NORTH: https://teamsideline.com/sites/JeffcoLeague/schedule/496406/8th-Grade-NORTH
Teams: Coal Creek Canyon, Jefferson-Red, Jefferson-White, Mt. Phoenix, RMDS, West Jeff
8TH GRADE SOUTH: https://teamsideline.com/sites/JeffcoLeague/schedule/496405/8th-Grade-SOUTH
Teams: Carmody, Creighton, Dunstan, Falcon Bluffs-Blue, Falcon Bluffs-Green, Ken Caryl
Drake Clubs- Enrollment is OPEN!
Drake Clubs- Enrollment is OPEN!
Drake club sign-ups began on August 28th. The first days of club participation will begin on September 11th.
View the Drake Clubs flyer HERE. The links to sign up are live and you can view the days of the week and clubs that are being offered at Drake this year!
Vanderhoof Elementary Needs Your Help!
The Roadrunner community at Vanderhoof Elementary School needs your help with our annual Vanderfest Fall Carnival! Help us create a memorable evening on Friday, September 15th from 4:00 - 6:30pm by volunteering for a station or two! We need LOTS of volunteers! Anyone 6th grade and above can volunteer, plus student volunteers receive free pizza and soda! If you can work multiple times, please sign up at each time slot. A volunteer table will have sign-off sheets for those needing to log volunteer hours. Thank you for helping us make this an amazing event for our community! Sign up today! https://signup.com/go/yyCoDmP
Upcoming Robotics Fundraiser
Upcoming Robotics Fundraiser
Robotics is hosting a fundraiser to raise money for new parts for the upcoming season. We would appreciate your support! Flyer
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH | 4-8PM
12550 W 64TH AVE, ARVADA, CO, 80004
Drama Club
Drama Club
Rehearsal Time Survey:
Before we make a decision about when to hold rehearsal, we'd like families who are interested in participating in the fall play to fill out the following survey. Drama Club Survey
Auditions for "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever":
An informational meeting for all students interested in auditioning for the fall play will be held during access on Wednesday, August 30. On that day, students should check in with the access teachers and then report to the auditorium when the announcement is made. There they will get all the information they nee to audition successfully.
Auditions will be held form 4:15-6:15 on September 5 (for students whose last name begins with A-L) and September 6 (for students whose last name begins with M-Z). If you have a conflict on your assigned day, feel free to attend the alternate day.
Callbacks will be held on September 7 from 4:15-5:45 by invitation only. The callback list will be posted in the Google Classroom (your students will get the code at the informational meeting on 8/30) the evening prior. If their name is on the list, they should attend callbacks.
Tech Crew Information:
We will not be running a Tech Crew Club this fall. If your student is interested in Tech Crew, look for information coming in January about how to get involved for the spring musical.
MENTAL HEALTH
Drake Counseling Department
Drake Counseling Department
September is Suicide Prevention Month, and all month long, we will be sharing information on the announcements and in the Drake Deets to bring awareness to this difficult topic. Each Friday, Advisement classes will do an activity to practice protective factors. Protective factors are characteristics/behaviors that protect individuals from negative mindsets/behaviors. Our goal is to spread hope and share vital information so that we can keep one another safe. Jeffco has put together some community resources to "Get Educated", "Take Action," "Start a Dialogue," and "Save a Number, Save a Life."
What Parents Should Know About Suicide
Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide
Upcoming Events!
Transportation and Construction Girl Day-September 28
Event: Transportation and Construction Girl Day
Date: Thursday, September 28th, 2023 8:30-1:30 pm (last day to register is Sept. 11th)
Location: Jeffco County Fairgrounds, 15200 West 6th Ave Golden, CO
Cost: This is a FREE event for 5th-12th grade girls in Jeffco Public Schools. You must be registered to attend.
Have your student see Ms. Ewald, the 6th grade counselor, to get more information!
This event involves gathering middle school girls (grades 6-8) on the Mines campus to do STEM experiments and explore what it means to be an engineer and scientist. This year, Girls on the Rise will take place on Saturday, October 7th, 2023 in Friedhoff Hall from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Registration is open until October 7th, 2023, or until 100 spots have been filled.
Upcoming Event: Coffee with the Counselors!
Upcoming Event: Coffee with the Counselors!
On Tuesday, September 12th, from 7:45am - 8:30am, parents can join Drake's Mental Health team to discuss Drake's counseling program, supports we offer and upcoming lessons!
Coffee With The Counselors will be held in Drake's Library. All parents are welcome! Coffee & pastries will be provided. Please RSVP if you plan to attend, so we know how many parents to plan for!
Social Emotional Learning
Social Emotional Learning
There will be no Social Emotional Learning Lesson the week of 09/04/23. However, here is a link to the summaries of the lessons and questions from 08/28/23 that you may want to ask your child to continue the lesson: SEL Lesson Questions for Parents
Also, other social emotional resources, such as this link for FREE HAIRCUTS, will be provided in this section of the Drake Deets.
FROM THE LIBRARY
Literacy & Technology
Literacy & Technology
Save the date!
Save the date!
Our annual Scholastic Book Fair will be from September 25th through October 3rd! This is our biggest fundraiser for books each year. Students will visit the library to browse books and items through their ELA classes. Scholastic has a wonderful ewallet program and accepts Applepay, cash, and major credit cards. Parents, looking for holiday gifts? Order online! More information coming soon!
FROM 6TH GRADE
Outdoor Lab Dates
Outdoor Lab Dates
Some families have been asking about Outdoor Lab. This year, we will be sending our 6th graders January 30th - February 2nd and February 6th - February 9th and students go based on their Access Teacher. We do not have teachers assigned yet to their weeks, but will have that information at the Informational Night in October. We send 1 group to Mt. Evans week 1 and 2 groups to Mt. Evans and Windy Peak week 2.
We will hold our Informational Night in October to discuss Outdoor Lab and answer all questions. You will get plenty of communication regarding the date and time in September.
FROM 8TH GRADE
Dear Families:
On September 28 2023, your student will be taking a tour of Warren Tech High School’s central campus. For more information about Warren Tech please see additional information below.
Warren Tech is an extension of every Jefferson County high school and offers academic, career and technical training and education in 36 different programs. These programs prepare high school students with academic, career and technical skills for college, employment and potential careers.
Most students at Warren Tech are high school juniors and seniors as students must be 16 in order to attend. Programs range in length from two to four semesters. Credits earned at Warren Tech count toward graduation and qualify as academic credits and electives under the Colorado Commission on Higher Education College admission requirements. Most of Warren Tech’s programs also provide the opportunity for students to earn college credit through the Colorado Community College System.
It is recommended that interested students talk to their counselors early in their high school careers regarding attending Warren Tech. Careful course planning will ensure that students can meet high school graduation requirements and also take advantage of Warren Tech’s opportunities.
There will be more information to come soon about Drake's visit to Warren Tech!
From PTO
Important Info from PTO
Important Info from PTO
CARPOOL BUDDIES
Is Drop off and Pick up a little overwhelming? Please consider a carpool! 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, save the environment 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!
SPIRIT WEAR
Thank you to all who ordered Drake Spirit Wear. We hope you are excited to wear it! We are excited to deliver it! Orders will be delivered by October 1st to the Access teacher. If you marked it as a gift, you will be able to pick it up in the office. We will keep you posted.
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!
JOIN OUR PTO!
If you are interested in purchasing a PTO Membership go to DrakePTO.com.
100% of the funds goes directly into Drake. No volunteering required. (But appreciated) By attending our meetings, you can help decide how your donations are spent. Our next meeting is September 19th at 6:30 in the Drake Library. We hope to see you there.
Please contact DrakeMiddleSchoolPTO@gmail.com with any questions.
Community Information
Girls Flag Football with Gold Crown
Gold Crown’s newest offering – Girls Flag Football. The program will be directed at 6th-8th grade girls. This first season we will begin by offering a 3-week Clinic Series. Attached is a link to the website for more information. The goal is to offer a league in Spring 2024 with actual feeder teams participating.
Click HERE to find out more!
Power of Parenting Class
Upcoming Power of Parenting Class on Sept. 17. See this flyer for more information.
Page updated
Report abuse