1. New JA Elementary Clubs and Sports
Through past surveys, our community has expressed a desire for increased after school enrichment at our elementary school. The administration and teachers there have certainly been delivering! From an art club where young artists can explore their talents to a chess club that is sure to enhance a love of the game, there’s something for everyone! Intramural sports like volleyball, basketball, and soccer will give students the chance to stay active while building friendships. These programs not only provide fun and engaging ways to spend time after school but also help develop important social skills and a sense of community within our school. You can find all of the current programs on the elementary website and be sure to keep an eye out for more academic and creative offerings to come. Thank you to our elementary staff for taking extra time to enhance our students' lives!
2. Professional Development Across Jefferson Academy and Summit
Each of our campuses have developed their own professional development plans centered on areas of opportunity and growth. The plans include important topics such as embracing innovative teaching methods that cater to diverse learning styles, fostering social-emotional learning, and creating inclusive environments for all students. The Summit campuses even include professional development for parents as the primary teachers of their home school students. Our administration has found creative ways to incorporate professional development into every week and ensure the teachers can engage in collaborative discussions, share insights and resources that they can implement in their own classrooms.
3. Teacher and Staff Retention
At our September board meeting, our wonderful HR professional Michelle Fox gave us a brief rundown on staff retention across the organization. We are very pleased to report that our numbers have remained consistent and turnover is significantly lower than national and district averages even during times of economic difficulty and teacher shortages. Recruitment is always ongoing so that we can continue to have fully staffed schools. We are forever thankful for our exceptional teachers and staff.
4. Volunteers Make All the Difference
Did you complete the volunteer interest survey? There are many committees that could use your help this year. The survey will take just a few minutes to complete and will help us identify areas where we can use your talents and interests. Whether you’re looking to volunteer occasionally or regularly, inside or outside of school hours, we want to hear from you!
Bonus: This survey also gives you an opportunity to highlight your business and share any needs you may have in times of hardship. Truly a survey for everyone. Find the survey here.
5. Cross Campus Collaboration
The Board is especially proud of the excellent PK-12 community and campus collaboration happening so far this school year. Teachers from JA Coal Creek Canyon and JA Elementary have been cross training and sharing resources. Summit students are joining elementary and secondary students for sports and intramurals. Secondary sports teams are using elementary facilities for practices. In the coming months, JA Elementary will welcome JA Coal Creek Canyon for their annual fun run, JA Secondary will put on an always excellent Trick or Treat street for all students, and Summit South and Summit Westminster will have an incredible joint prom. We are loving all of these opportunities for a truly connected community.
Sincerely,
Flavio Quintana, Tristina Pontiakos, Christopher Robbins, Anil Mathai, John Nunnally, Jerrilynn Lilyblade, James Suckow