The Leader Letter

5/17/2024

Dear Families,
As we bid farewell to another school year, I want to extend my heartfelt
appreciation to each one of you for your continuous support, dedication, and
involvement in your child’s education. Your partnership is invaluable and
plays a pivotal role in our collective success.
The last week before summer break promises to be action-packed and
memorable. Here’s a glimpse of what to expect:

 Mon/May 20: Middle school students will be engaged in their final
examinations, a culmination of their hard work and dedication
throughout the year.
 Tue/May 21: We will come together for our annual Field Day, a day of
camaraderie, teamwork, and fun-filled activities.
Wed/May 22: This day marks a significant milestone as our 8th graders
will have an early release at 1 p.m. and come back for their promotion
ceremony at 5 p.m.
 *Thu/May 23: We will conclude the school year celebrating and
recognizing our K- 7 students with an early release at 1 p.m.

5/9/2024

Dear Families,
As we approach the final two weeks of this school year, let's continue to push
forward and finish strong together.

The outpouring of support during Teacher Appreciation Week from our
families has been truly heartwarming and motivating.

Let's carry this positive energy into these last days, ensuring a rewarding
conclusion to our academic year.

Odds and Ends

 Preschool graduation will be held at 5:00pm on Friday, May 17 in the
multipurpose room.
 All graduates need to be in their classroom by 4:30pm.

5/03/2024
Dear Families,
I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the incredible
support and resilience shown by our school community during this
challenging week.
The circulating rumors have undoubtedly affected students, families, and
staff. Please know that safety remains a top priority, it is one of the reasons we
have a full-time school resource officer as just one part of our safety and
security measures.
I also want to remind everyone that our school is private property. Uninvited
media and members of the public are not permitted on our premises to
respect the privacy and safety of our school community.
Your continued support, understanding, and cooperation are invaluable to us.
Let's continue to work together to navigate this situation with strength and
unity.

4/27/2024

Dear Families,
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all who contribute their time and effort to enriching our school community. Volunteers embody the spirit of service, using your hearts, hands, and minds to make a positive impact on our school. Your dedication exemplifies the power of collective goodwill, and we look forward to celebrating your invaluable contributions on Tuesday, April 30, as we honor the theme of celebrating service in our own special way. Thank you for all you do to strengthen our school and the lives of our students.

Karen Arnold –SVVSD Education Foundation Teacher of the Year!

Please join me in congratulating, Ms. Karen Arnold, on being selected by St. Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation as Firestone Charter School’s Teacher of the Year! This prestigious award celebrates educators who exemplify excellence in teaching, as recognized by students, parents, volunteers, fellow educators, and our community. Your innovative approaches, high standards, enthusiasm, expertise, and ability to connect learning to real-world scenarios truly embody the qualities we value in our teachers.  Congratulations also go to finalists Rebecca Barger and Katie Hansen. 

4/19/2024

Dear Families,
We have about six weeks left to make the most of our time together. To
ensure a strong finish and set our students up for success, we kindly ask for
your continued partnership in the following ways:
1. Attendance: Please help ensure that your child attends school regularly
and arrives on time each day. Consistent attendance is crucial for
maximizing learning opportunities and achieving academic goals.
2. Engagement: Encourage your child to actively participate in class
discussions and complete assignments on time.
3. Communication: Stay connected with your child's teachers and school
staff to stay informed about their progress, upcoming events, and any
support they may need.

4/12/2024

Dear Families,
Last night the house education committee voted 8-3 against Colorado House
Bill HB24-1363, Charter Schools Accountability. Colorado’s public charter
schools are already subject to rigorous accountability, transparency, and
financial standards. The topic of charter schools remains a hot topic in the
Colorado legislature. Legislators received more than 56,000 emails and
letters on this proposed bill. We’d like to thank our families for your advocacy
on all legislative issues that affect charter schools. If you are interested in
staying engaged on the state’s charter school legislation, visit the Colorado
League of Charter Schools advocacy network for more information.

Core Knowledge Corner

While some schools may boast about their use of "innovative teaching strategies,"at
FCA, we prioritize effectiveness over flashy gimmicks.

4/5/2024

Dear Families,
Our solar eclipse glasses have arrived and we’re looking forward to sharing this opportunity with our students to witness and study the upcoming solar eclipse together. This celestial event provides a rare chance for hands-on exploration, and we're excited to step outside into the world's outdoor classroom to engage in this unique experience.

News Note:  

Core Knowledge Corner

A key feature of a Core Knowledge Curriculum is the integration of subjects.  The connections between different subjects are emphasized to provide students with a holistic understanding of the material. The second grade Flat Stanley project this week is a great example as it tied together lessons in social studies (ancestry, nationalities, and geography), language arts (research, writing, and presentation) and cultural studies (traditions, customs, and values).

3/29/2024

Dear Families,
With standardized testing on the horizon and the allure of warmer weather
and summer adventures, we understand the temptation for students to shift
their focus. However, now more than ever, it's crucial to keep our students on
track and finish the year strong. Your encouragement, involvement, and
continued engagement in your child's education play a pivotal role in their
success. Let's work together to maintain momentum, reinforce positive study
habits, and encourage perseverance. With your support, we can ensure that
every student reaches their full potential and concludes the school year with
confidence and accomplishment. Together, let's make these last two months
count!

3/8/2024

Dear Families,
Read Across America Week comes to a close, but that does not mean we should take any breaks from reading.  It’s always fun to celebrate this week, but really we should devote time to reading year-round.  I have heard many examples of families who all take time out of their evening schedules to sit and read.  This evening would be perfect for that as the predicted weather will be wonderful to just snuggle under a blanket or near a fireplace and read.

Core Knowledge Corner

Core Knowledge emphasizes the relationship between having foundational knowledge about content and using this as a bridge between the facts and higher thinking about how they play out in the world.  The following articles explain why it is still important to build these foundational pieces through memorization and fact recall.  
Why Memorization Can Be Good For You
23 Memorization Techniques

3/1/2024

Dear Families,
We blink and it’s March!  To be honest, I welcome this change in weather(although it’s Colorado so the roller coaster of weather changes is in full swing).   Ongoing events and activities also remind me of spring just around the corner.   We had the Arvada Center out to perform Treasure Island for our 4th-grade students. Seventh and eighth graders kicked off Read Across America and Dr. Seuss’ birthday by reading and making puppets with the first graders.

Core Knowledge Corner

There were such true celebrations of Core Knowledge seen in the school this week through writing, science, and reading activities.  Teachers go the extra mile to ensure that students are receiving exposure to great literature and meeting student needs across all learning styles to allow access to these high-level texts.  And, when you choose Firestone Charter Academy, these are the expectations you have as a parent.  
As I pause and reflect on these practices it reminds me of how powerful education can be when students, teachers, and families invest themselves.

2/23/2024

Dear Families,
What a beautiful day and a great day at Firestone Charter Academy.  Today, we had the opportunity to appreciate the uniqueness of being in a K-8 school as we watched our 7th and 8th-grade buddies read from Dr. Seuss with their buddies.  Next week, they will make puppets of their favorite characters from their reading.  This is a heartwarming thing to see for all of our teachers.  As we approach spring, students often require more reminders about appropriate behaviors.  Our 7th and 8th-grade students were true models to their 7th and 8th-grade buddies, encouraging them in their reading, helping them with clean up, and guiding them to line up and be quiet in the halls.  It was so refreshing to see how well these groups work together and to see our 7th and 8th graders step up to guide our young students.  This is just one of the amazing things that both grade groups get to experience at Firestone Charter Academy.

2/16/2024

Dear Families,
What a great week we had at Firestone Charter Academy.  We celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Week, Valentine's Day, and Innovation Day.  It was busy but we were able to accomplish so much!  

Core Knowledge Corner

We highlight the amazing work of our Innovation Leader, Kelsey Evers, for putting on an amazing Innovation Day for our Logic Academy Students again!  The rest of the building was encouraged to get in on the innovation action.  We want to give a big shout-out to all our teachers who put together activities encouraging innovation.  We saw so many examples all over the building - from making telephones to binoculars - all in the interest of sparking creativity and design thinking in our students.

2/9/2024

Dear Families,
It’s going to be a snowy weekend.  It feels more like February than earlier in the week.  With colder temperatures, we see a huge expansion in our lost and found.  It has already become unmanageable.  We will be donating unclaimed lost and found items on the 16th of February.  

Core Knowledge Corner

We will be highlighting our emphasis on Core Knowledge and Classical education in our Step Up Night on February 28th.  Please visit the school from 5-6 on that evening to meet the teams who will be teaching your students next year and to learn about the content they will study.  Also invite friends and neighbors who might be looking for a great school to check us out. 

2/2/2024

Dear Families,
It was another great week at Firestone Charter Academy as we continue to partner to grow and love all in our building.  It’s hard to believe that it is already February.  Thank you to all parents and members of our community who supported our staff on the virtual challenge from one of our local businesses.  Due to the families who recognized Firestone Charter Academy on the Facebook page of “The Sweet Stop” in Frederick, the teachers and staff got to enjoy ice cream from their shop during our staff work day on Friday, February 2nd.  

Core Knowledge Corner

This week, several students in the Logic Academy had the opportunity to represent Firestone Charter Academy at the Charter Advocacy Event and the Denver State Capitol.  Our student council officers and representatives went to the capitol on Thursday and had an opportunity to speak to one or our state representatives about how grateful they are to be in a charter school.

1/26/2024

Dear Families,
Thank you all for representing during our School Choice Week.  Giving families choice is what strengthens our entire educational system.  All schools have different personalities.  However, the big difference in what Firestone Charter offers is the Core Knowledge Classical emphasis and the focus on creative thinking, ingenuity, and problem solving that develops in our students when technology is secondary to teacher instruction.  Thank you for choosing us as partners in educating your children.

Core Knowledge Corner

Second grade had a wonderful example of Core Knowledge represented by their Pioneer Day today.  The second grade unit on Westward Expansion spotlights these pioneers who traveled with their families to the new western territories(including Colorado) settling and developing a way of life, with the resources of the land.

1/19/2024

Dear Families,

Next week is School Choice Week! 

In honor of this week and the fact that you are actively engaged in school choice by choosing Firestone Charter Academy, we will have some themed dress days and events throughout the week.  The dress days are as follows:
Monday - Career Day(dress as your career choice) - In honor of what a strong education promises to provide you and that your choices will be limitless.
Tuesday - Yellow Day(wear yellow) - The color of school choice.
Wednesday - Team Day(wear your favorite team gear) - In acknowledgment that we partner as a team to grow the whole child at Firestone Charter Academy.
Thursday - Decades Day(dress as your favorite decade) - To show a strong education is timeless.
Friday - Formal Friday(dress in formal or dressy attire) - To demonstrate how Firestone Charter Academy dresses up education!

1/12/2024

Dear Families,
Welcome to 2024 at Firestone Charter Academy. It’s been a cold start to the year.  Be safe and warm this weekend as temperatures are forecasted to be very cold.  Remind your children to have their cold weather gear when we return on Tuesday after the long Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.  

Cold Weather

Please be advised that it will be very cold Tuesday morning.  The school doors open at 7:55am.  Please don’t drop students off early to wait outside in this weather.  There will be no guarantee that we will have staff to watch over them.
On another note, please be advised that, should the district have an Online Learning Day, we at Firestone Charter Academy will have a traditional snow day.

12/15/2023

Dear Families,
We had another great week, however, the elves have really turned some things on end.  They have sabotaged our name plates and PA system. When we think we might have a hold on them, there are always more.  Some are even leaving teasing notes to the administration.  After these shenanigans, we will all be ready for a break next week!

Themed Dress

To add some celebration to our days before the break we will have the following themed dress days.
    Monday, December 18th will be Ugly Sweater Day
    Wednesday, December 20th will be Pajama Day

Please remember that these are the themed dress days - other days, students are expected to be in their dress code, including not wearing hats.

12/08/2023

Dear Families,
We hope you can find a warm way to enjoy all of the events around town.  The school is alive with events as well!  It can get to be a very busy time, so don’t forget to settle down, and in the spirit of our Grammar Academy Core Virtue of Gratitude, take time to appreciate the time and your families and all of the other gifts that we sometimes can take for granted.  

Themed Dress

To add some celebration to our days before the break we will have the following themed dress days
    Monday, December 11th will be “Dress Like A Who” Day - yes, the Grinch can count as “who dress”!
    Monday, December 18th will be Ugly Sweater Day
    Wednesday, December 20th will be Pajama Day

12/01/2023

Dear Families,
Welcome back to our first week after Thanksgiving Break.  There are only a few weeks before Winter Break when the 2nd Quarter ends.  Please support your children in ensuring that they know their grades and what they need to complete before the quarter ends.  With the excitement over breaks and events it is easy to lose sight of these important pieces of your child’s education.

Core Knowledge Corner

December brings great opportunities for students to learn and talk about the importance of family holidays and festivities. Whether it's exploring the historical origins of diverse cultural celebrations or understanding the scientific phenomena behind the winter solstice, the holidays provide a unique opportunity for informal learning experiences. Families and communities come together to share stories, recipes, and customs, passing down knowledge through generations. Beyond the festivities, this season encourages reflection on the values that bind communities showcasing how core knowledge learning extends beyond textbooks to encompass the richness of our shared human experiences.

11/17/2023

Dear Families,
As we head into our Thanksgiving Break we want to let you all know how much we appreciate the partnership and support of our families!  As a Charter school, we know you choose to be here and we also know that the choice comes with more involvement than a traditional public school might require.  We have been so fortunate to partner with you to grow your wonderful children and also to make a difference in our community.  One recent example is the support shown for the Table Of Hope Thanksgiving Box Project.  The teachers and students decorated the most adorable boxes and the families showed up with the supplies.  All of the boxes had more than the required items and it is heartwarming to think of the difference this will make for so many families!  We at Firestone Charter Academy truly appreciate you, and our families!

11/10/2023

Dear Families,
It was a rough one after Daylight Savings!  We thought getting that extra hour of sleep would give that extra boost of energy.  It seems that the earlier darkness countered that energy and has really made days feel shorter.  Hopefully, everyone has time to reorient to these new hours over this weekend!

Core Knowledge Corner

Our kindergarten team truly embodied our Core Knowledge and Classical focuses this week. Kindergarten students got to experience butter churning, sewing pillows, rolling bread dough, and building houses.  When students receive these hands-on experiences that complement their studies on colonial life they gain a deeper understanding of the history they study.

11/03/2023

Dear Families,
The days are getting shorter and with Daylight Savings on Saturday evening/Sunday morning, the darkness will fall sooner.  This is a great time to grab a good book and snuggle up and read.  

Core Knowledge Corner

Speaking of reading, the staff had a wonderful day of learning about reading and what good readers do.  It resonates so well with our Core Knowledge mission because of the emphasis on background knowledge, vocabulary, making predictions, visualizing, and metacognition.  These are all components of not only good reading but also good education.  Our Core Knowledge background allows us to teach reading strategies across the content and develop students who are great thinkers.  We offer a Core Knowledge Challenge this week.  Devote 20 minutes to a whole home of reading.  Then ask family members questions about what they are reading.  Have each person draw a picture of what they read or ask them what picture they drew in their head...

10/27/2023

Dear Families,
Fall is upon us.  The cool weather today and over the weekend will be a strong reminder.  Don’t forget to send students with appropriate outerwear for recess and PE. As long as our “feels like” temperature is at 23 degrees or above students will go outside for fresh air at recess.  Also remind students to bring their jackets home so they have them in the morning and after school drive lines.  

Core Knowledge Corner

The mission of Firestone Charter Academy is not limited to an emphasis on rigor, reading, writing and background knowledge to help them further understand what they are reading and learning.  We also place an emphasis on Science and Technology.  This can be lost in our conversations about the literacy emphasis, but literacy, including vocabulary in Science, is also a very important part of what we do.  As the old proverb goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

10/20/2023

Dear Families,
We hope everyone enjoyed their Fall Break.  Even though the trees are beautiful, the weather is holding on to summer!  As we begin Quarter 2, and more frequent disruption to our year, please remember the importance of keeping students engaged in their school responsibilities.  When there are breaks, it becomes more difficult to catch up when students get behind.  And, with this week, we all have a fresh start for this quarter, so let’s have a strong start.

Core Knowledge Corner

In choosing a Core Knowledge Education at Firestone Charter Academy, you have chosen an emphasis on literacy.  Literacy acts as a foundational component of Core Knowledge at Firestone Charter Academy.  I am sure all parents have heard that in order to increase literacy in students, you have to read with them and have them read to you.

10/13/2023

Dear Families,
Thank you to everyone who supported Firestone Charter Academy and the students during Parent Teacher Conferences.  This is an amazing opportunity  to come together and support our children!  

Core Knowledge Corner

On Tuesday, October 10th, our school embraced our mission of “technology with a purpose” by having an “unplugged day”.  Teachers were found using more traditional teaching methods and students were learning how to learn without technology.

10/6/2023

Dear Families,
We hope to see you all this afternoon/evening at our Annual Fall Festival.  This is such a fun event and a great way to build our community outside of daily routines and demands.  We are very grateful to our Puma Pride PTA for all of the work they put into this event to bring our community together.   Don’t forget jackets because it is really going to be a brisk fall evening!

Core Knowledge Corner

Thank you for choosing FCA and our commitment to Core Knowledge and Classical Education. As a parent who has chosen Firestone Charter Academy, you have chosen to be a partner in your children’s education.  Our staff is an educated, passionate, caring group with a vision for your children and the background to know how to carry it out.  Families who choose FCA choose high rigor and discipline. 

9/22/2023

Dear Families,
We hope everyone had a wonderful week.  The teachers were able to enjoy time to focus on their craft on Friday and really embrace the joy, expectations and reasons for teaching  in a Core Knowledge school.  A special emphasis was placed on thinking and writing as we went through the day.  We hope to see evidence of this in your student learning, as literacy really is the foundation of Core Knowledge.
In an effort to increase family awareness of what makes us different from our surrounding schools, we will plan to spotlight Core Knowledge emphasis in our studies in posts and literature we distribute.  

Fall Festival

Our Annual Fall Festival is coming up on October 6th.  Be on the lookout for more information from our PTA who organizes this fun event! 

9/15/2023

Dear Families,
What a great day for Fun Run and despite last minute changes and weather, we feel this could have been one of our best as far as experiences for the students went. Just a warning they are all coming home very tired!  Thank you all for the generous donations and support.  This will go a long way to support our efforts to upgrade our technology needs.

Fall Festival

Our Annual Fall Festival is coming up on October 6th.  Be on the lookout for more information from our PTA who organizes this fun event! 

9/8/2023

Dear Families,
The week really flew by with all of the activity.  Students are really enjoying classroom and playground interactions.   We are seeing them work so hard and are very proud of our teachers, staff and students.  

Substitute Appreciation Week

 Big shout out to all of the wonderful people who volunteer to substitute in our building.  This past week was substitute appreciation week.   We are so grateful to have so many wonderful parents willing to help us out, as well as all of the substitutes who work with us! 

9/1/2023

Dear Families,
Happy September!  Can we say it is Fall, yet?  The temps would disagree!   Still, we have definitely gotten into our groove for the year and it feels great to be going so strong so early.  A few items are repeated in this letter, but because they are important and we don’t want anyone to miss anything just treat it as a reminder.

Fall Festival

For those who may have missed this notification we are including it in our weekly newsletter.  Our school PTA has decided to host our annual Fall Festival on Friday,October

8/25/2023

Dear Families,
This week sure was a hot one!  And busy with STAR assessments being administered.  Students are getting more used to routines and also very worn out by the end of the first full week.  Take time this weekend to do some fun family activities to allow your child to recharge and get excited for the next week!  We will definitely begin to see the academic press getting to be more rigorous and kiddos will be tired from working so hard!

8/18/2023

Dear Families,
Welcome Back!  It’s been great having students back in the hallways.  We have been working hard on building community and reinforcing expectations.  There has been so much wonderful activity in the classrooms.  
We forgot to introduce our new Special Education teachers in our last letter.
Welcome to Mrs. Adelaida Leptich, Ms. Azucena Martinez and Mrs. Kari Reinhardt.