The Griffin (August, EN)

T H E

E A R L Y

C O L L E G E

O F

A R V A D A ' S

THE GRIFFIN W E

C A N .

A N D

W E

W I L L .

IMPORTANT DATES

AUGUST 4 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR TEACHERS

AUGUST 11 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

AUGUST 16 BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

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August Events AUG 2

AUG 9

AUG 3

AUG 4

AUG 5

AUG 6

AUG 10

AUG 11

AUG 12

AUG 13

AUG 19

AUG 20

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

AUG 16

AUG 17

AUG 18

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT!

AUG 23

AUG 24

AUG 25

AUG 26

AUG 27

BOARD MEETING

AUG 30

AUG 31

SEP 1

SEPT 2

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RESOURCES FOR GRIFFIN FAMILIES The Shelter in place order issued by Governor Polis in the spring helped keep people safe during this global pandemic. However, one downfall from this was the economic fallout from the uptick in business closures. We are all doing our best to learn from the past and ECA wants to make sure our families are well equipped in the event of a second wave. We have compiled a list of resources for those who may need them. Don't hesitate to reach out to bmazza@ecarvada.org for assistance. We are here to help.

Food Christian Action Center in Golden Food Pantries in Arvada

Free Adams County Drive Through Farmer's Market

Shelter Arvada Shelter and Services

This website is specific to

Arvada Shelter List

Arvada and updated

Denver Shelters and Housing

regularly

services- Govt. affiliated

Food Pantries in Lakewood

Denver Shelter List

This website is specific to

Denver Shelters (womxn

Lakewood and is updated

specific)

regularly

Westminster shelters and

Food Pantries in Denver This website is specific to Denver and is updated regularly Food Pantries in Westminster This website is specific to Westminster and is updated regularly Document including Pay as you can grocery stores

transitional housing

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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GUIDELINES FOR THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR JANICE ANDERSON JANDERSON@ECARVADA.ORG

I am so excited to welcome back all of our students and families for the 2021-22 school year. The Early College of Arvada will be resuming full In Person instruction for all classes and all grade levels. It is our goal to continue to offer our high quality instruction to all grade levels beginning Wednesday, August 11th.

The 2021-22 school year is filled with optimism and passion to give all students the best educational experience possible. We are continuing our partnerships with Front Range Community College, the University of Colorado Denver, Western Colorado University and AIMS Community College. Each of our partners have varying guidelines that we follow. Regardless of how your student’s classes are provided, ECA promises to meet your students where they are at, and help them learn to the best of their abilities. We also promise to help guide your students to align their goals with their appropriate path to meet their post-secondary goals. We will also help support students in all grade’s find the career pathways that they are passionate about.

Please pay close attention to all communications that you receive through email or our Infinite Campus Portal as COVID continues to have an ever changing impact on our daily lives. ECA will be following the guidance provided to us by Tri-County health and CDPHE. As we begin the year, students not vaccinated will be REQUIRED to wear masks. Students who are two weeks passed their completed vaccinations may choose to wear or not wear masks. In order to ensure that we all remain in school every day and to limit the spread of the virus, we must all do our parts.

Please help us to protect our school community by following the guidance.

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

If your student becomes ill in any way, parents or guardians must call the attendance line and notify the school and include the specific symptoms that the student may be experiencing. This is critical to make sure we are tracking any illnesses and to make sure we are protecting all of our staff and students. If those details are not provided we will be following up as it is required by the state to keep accurate records of absences and their causes.

ECA has included a new COVID learning policy that can be found in the Student Handbook. Please read the handbook carefully and familiarize yourself with all of ECA’s policies. If we can help you in any way, please do not hesitate to reach out to any Staff member for help or support.

We know that this is going to be an exciting year! With your help and support we can all ensure a safe, healthy and productive learning environment for all.

Counselor Corner Things I Want my Student’s to Know

BRIDGETTE FOSTER BFOSTER@ECARVADA.ORG

Students often ask me why I decided to become a School Counselor. High school was particularly difficult for me, and though I had the support of my parents, I rarely felt understood by them. I am a School Counselor because I want to be the person I needed when I was a teenager.

As your counselor at ECA, My hope is that a foundation of transparency will encourage each of you to seek help, support, and validation when you need it. I’m sharing with you what I’ve learned over the past year, and maybe you can relate to some of it.

Everything is Connected This Pandemic year was a nightmare. Small, consistent actions helped me cope. And I mean really small. Going for a short walk or taking a shower meant the difference between feeling like a caged rabbit and resembling a functional human. Focus on committing to small aspects of your life, and they will affect larger aspects of your life.

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Follow Your Joy This is going to mean different things to each of us. What truly makes you happy? What things do you value? I always say action proceeds passion, meaning you won’t necessarily know what you enjoy until you experience it. I picked up rock climbing as a hobby during the pandemic. I’m not good at it, but it makes me happy to move my body and see my friends at the gym. Joy is not perfection, nor talent, nor another’s expectations of you.

No One Knows Everything Act with intention and do not blindly follow; nobody has it all together all the time. This pandemic was difficult for your teachers, your parents, and our world leaders. Don’t be discouraged by the illusion of perfection. Being an adult means coping with adversity, not having immunity to it.

Build Support Systems Quick and simple: you are the company you keep. Surround yourself with people who you respect and, in turn, respect you.

I’m so proud of you for making it through this last school year. For those of you who I have not met yet, I look forward to hearing your story and sharing more aspects of mine. I want to get to know you, try and understand you, but above all else support you.

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IMMUNIZATIONS JULIE RAMSAY JRAMDSAY@ECARVADA.ORG

Please remember to provide any updated immunization records you may have. All sixth graders are required to submit a new immunization record for state compliance.

We are working closely with Children's Hospital through this COVID pandemic. More information will come in next month's newsletter regarding any changes, testing, clinics, or additional resources that are available.

If your child needs medication of any kind, over-the-counter or prescription, please remember to a parent/guardian and a medical provider must complete a Permission for Medication that must accompany the medication. The medication must be in the original container with the student's name and pertinent information. Please refer to our Health Policy on our website or available at the front desk

Rick Heroff Middle School Assistant Principal/C.E & Career Coordinator (720) 473-4400 EXT 320

Middle School: Welcome back middle school students! We are very excited to get our new year started with you all and look forward to meeting our new students at orientation on August 5th. Your teachers have been preparing all summer for your return and have a lot of great learning opportunities in store. We are eager to begin our new Middle School Technology class and continue to support your learning through our robust core curriculum. We will continue to meet your students where they are at their ability level and push them to be ready for High School courses and beyond.

Concurrent Enrollment Application/Registration for Fall 2021: Rising Juniors that will be taking college courses this fall must apply to Frontrange Community College if they have not already done so. The application can be found at www.frontrange.edu. If you need assistance check out the “How To Apply” video. Students taking college classes here at ECA will complete the registration process here at ECA once school begins If you have been approved and plan to take college classes off campus this semester make sure you connect with Mr. Heroff about your class plan and register as soon as possible. Space is limited.

For any questions about concurrent enrollment please contact Mr. Heroff at rheroff@ecarvada.org or 720-473-4400 ext 320

Early College of Arvada | 10

Welcome

Back Guadalupe Marquez

High School Assistant Principal 720-473-4408

Welcome back to a new and exciting year. We are and will be fully in person learning this year. I am so super excited to see every single one of them. We will be very busy this first part of the year with assessment and all that it takes to get ready for school.

I am happy and available for every single one of you; please just reach out to me.

Early College of Arvada | 11

BACK TO SCHOOL BOOTCAMP Alejandro Reynoso EARSS Advisor Office: 720-473-4406 Cell: 720-980-1129 Hello ECA students and families, Wow! I can't believe that the new school year is upon us. I hope that everyone had a wonderful summer and had plenty of rest after a long and challenging year. I am excited to see all of the returning students and new students on campus once again. I am also excited to hear all of the great stories and adventures all students did this summer.

I want to introduce myself to all of the new students and families at ECA. My name is Alejandro Reynoso, or as the students call me; Mr. Rey. I am the EARSS Advisor. The EARSS (Expulsion At-Risk Student Services) is a program at ECA. I support a specific caseload of students where I support them Academically and emotionally by providing specific tools so they can be successful in the classroom and graduate one day!

This month, the EARSS program is launching a back to school Bootcamp to get students back in the zone for school. We will have small workshops and fun activities. All parents and students participating in this Bootcamp have been notified.

I am excited to see everyone on the first day of school!

-Mr. Rey

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