THE DRAKE DEETS
A weekly communication to our families on all the things Drake!Drake Middle School12550 W. 52 Avenue Arvada, CO 80002
September 8th, 2023 EDITION
Upcoming Events
September 12 Coffee with the Counselors - RSVP here!
September 20/21 P/T Conf- Virtual (4:30-8:00)- sign ups coming next Friday
September 22 Teacher Professional Development- No School for Students
September 25 Scholastic Book Fair Begins! (See more below)
Calendar for the Month of September
October 10 Outdoor Lab Informational Night (6th Grade Only)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION for FAMILIES
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent Teacher Conferences will be on Wed. Sept. 20 and Thursday Sept. 21 from 4:30-8:00 pm. Conferences will be held virtually and links to teacher signups will be in this communication next week. Please plan to limit your conferences to 5-6 minutes and prioritize teachers that you may need to talk to. Parents will likely not be able to meet with ALL of their students' teachers. If you anticipate needing more than 5-6 minutes, feel free to reach out to the teacher for a phone call on a different date.
Outdoor Lab Informational Night - 10/10 6pm
Families - The Outdoor Lab Informational Night will be on October 10th at 6pm. On this night, we share information about what to pack, how to prepare, and all the things families and kiddos will need for their journey to Mt. Evans and Windy Peak.
Please join us on the evening of October 10th to get all your questions answered. Our Outdoor Lab site leaders this year will be:
Mike Williamson, Mike Hack, & Jacob Underwood
Want to work at your favorite Middle School?
We are in need of classroom and office support at school! If you love working with students in classrooms, outside, and in the front office, 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- IMPORTANT!!
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.
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!
Early Releases (Sports, Appts, Other)
We wanted to acknowledge that with the new bell schedule, we have seen a large increase in "Early Releases" whether it's for games, practices, appointments, etc. We just wanted to remind all families that any early release still puts the responsibility of the student to follow up with the teacher regarding any missed material. Students are still responsible for any assignments and missed learning. 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.
Youth Volleyball at AWHS
Arvada West will be hosting a youth boys volleyball camp on September 17th and 24th from 1pm to 4pm. The camp will be a tryout to play on the first Arvada boys 14u volleyball team. See the following flyer for more information: Boys Youth Volleyball Flyer or register at the following link: Boys Youth Volleyball Camp Registration.
Youth Wrestling (Arvada)
If you are interested in joining youth wrestling this winter, please refer to the information below:
Arvada West Area: Arvada West Youth Wresting is back. Come to the parent meeting on Tuesday, September 19th in the Arvada West library at 6 pm for more information or see the flyer: Arvada West Youth Wrestling
Youth Wrestling (Wheat Ridge)
If you are interested in joining youth wrestling this winter, please refer to the information below or scan the QR code in the image.
Wheat Ridge Area: https://www.allamericanwrestlingacademy.com/
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
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- Starting Monday! (9/11)
Clubs begin next week. Students will be allowed entry into Drake starting from 7:40am-8am. Theater is the only club that will be earlier for entry, but only Theater club members will be allowed in before 7:40am. If you have any questions about clubs at Drake this year, be sure to click the flier link below and reach out to the Club Sponsor. Thank you!
View the Drake Clubs flyer HERE.
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
Drama Club
Rehearsals for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will begin next week. The schedule is as follows:
Mon. Sept 11 1st read through with the Herdman Cast (7:20-8:50 AM)
Tues. Sept 12 1st read through with the Bradley Cast (7:20-8:50 AM)
Thurs. Sept 14 Rehearsals with entire cast begin (7:20-8:50 AM)
Yearbooks!
Yearbooks are on sale at yearbookforever.com for $50.00. Last year we sold out. Please reserve yours early so you are sure to get one!
MENTAL HEALTH
Drake Counseling Department
Judi's House Grief Group for Drake Students
The Drake Mental Health Team will be offering a grief support group through Judi's House starting in early October. Judi's House is an organization that will provide a weekly support group for grieving students who have been impacted by the death of a loved one. The small group, led by a therapist from Judi's House, will meet with 6-8 students weekly during Academic Focus for 10 weeks. If you have a student that you think may be interested and benefit from this grief support group, please contact Mandy Hodson: amanda.hodson@jeffco.k12.co.us 303-982-1434.
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.
Social Emotional Learning
Here is a link to the summaries of the lessons and questions from the SEL lesson on 09/11/23 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
Scholastic Book Fair!!
Drake Families! We are excited to announce that our annual Scholastic Book Fair will be from September 25th through October 4th! This is our biggest fundraiser for books each year. Students will visit the library to browse books and items through their ELA classes to create their wishlists. Scholastic has a wonderful eWallet program and accepts Applepay, cash, and major credit cards. Looking for holiday gifts? Order ONLINE! OR, you can visit the fair between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
September is National Attendance Awareness Month!
Good attendance is an important part of a student’s academic success. Students of all ages are more engaged in learning if they are consistently present in school. Students who are chronically absent – defined as missing 10 percent or more of the school year – are more at risk academically, regardless of whether the absences are excused or unexcused. Here in Colorado, attendance also guides the state’s education laws and policies. Because attendance is so important, September has been designated as National Attendance Awareness Month.
FROM 6TH GRADE
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 on Tuesday, October 10th at 6pm.
FROM 7TH GRADE
Hi 7th grade students and families,
This is a friendly reminder to all 7th grade students to take care of and respect our common areas. Please remember to follow the Drake way by picking up your trash while outside, in the hallways, and in the cafeteria, and be courteous while in the restroom.
Thank you!
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
DRAKE PTO GENERAL MEETING
September 19th at 6:30 in the Drake Library. Mark your calendar. We hope to see you there!
If you haven’t had a chance to buy a PTO Membership please go to DrakePTO.com.
Please contact DrakeMiddleSchoolPTO@gmail.com with any questions.
DINE OUT FOR DRAKE
September 27th - Freedom Street Social is sponsoring our first Dine Out of this year. It is located at 15177 Candelas Parkway in Arvada. Mention Drake when ordering and 20% of your total will be donated to Drake PTO. If ordering online, choose “fundraiser” and select Drake to complete your online order.
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!
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.
Arvada Harvest Festival
See this flyer for information about the 90th Annual Arvada Harvest Festival.
West Woods Elementary Run with the Wolves
See this flyer for information about the West Woods Elementary Run with the Wolves.
Summit Jeffco
Register Today! Summit Jeffco for Families!
We are excited to invite you to our first-ever Summit Jeffco event! Designed to bring families together with district and school staff and other experts, families will learn new ways to support their student’s educational journey. Join us on Saturday, September 23, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Green Mountain High School in Lakewood.
To get a sneak peek of what Summit Jeffco has in store for you, watch this video in English | Spanish and visit our Summit Jeffco webpage. There, you'll find details about our keynote speaker, Dr. Jessica Hawks, Clinical Director of the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children's Hospital Colorado. Dr. Hawks will discuss the current youth mental health crisis and equip families with strategies to support your student’s social and emotional well-being so they can thrive.
Youth Wrestling (Arvada)
If you are interested in joining youth wrestling this winter, please refer to the information below:
Arvada West Area: Arvada West Youth Wresting is back. Come to the parent meeting on Tuesday, September 19th in the Arvada West library at 6 pm for more information or see the flyer: Arvada West Youth Wrestling