School of Choice Special Insert Section January 2021

School of Choice A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR PARENTS TO MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS

American Academy Arapahoe Community College Dei Academy A VALUABLE RESOURCE Arma FOR PARENTS Skies Academy TO MAKE IMPORTANT Colorado DECISIONS Elizabeth School District Renaissance Secondary School St. Thomas More Catholic Parish Southeast Christian Schools STEM School Highlands Ranch

a special supplement of

School of Choice, presented by Colorado Community Media, is a special section aimed at giving parents and students of all ages the information they need to make informed decisions.

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January 28, 2021

Knowing your local choices helps with the following: • Give parents a choice • Leads to student success • Empowers advocacy • Strengthens communities

SCHOOL OF CHOICE

Table of Contents Page

Content

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SOUTHEAST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

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COLORADO SKIES ACADEMY

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ARAPAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

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STEM SCHOOL HIGHLANDS RANCH

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AMERICAN ACADEMY

Owner/Publisher

JERRY HEALEY

Production Manager

ERIN FRANKS

Advertising Design

TINA MELTZER

9.

ARMA DEI ACADEMY

Advertising Sales

ERIN ADDENBROOKE

9.

ST. THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC PARISH

To advertise call:

303-566-4100

10-11. RENAISSANCE SECONDARY SCHOOL

The 2021 School of Choice Section is a special supplement of Colorado Community Media, publisher of 24 weekly & 3 monthly community papers and websites reaching over 350,000 readers.

12.

An Affordable Christian Education

Do you desire to provide your children with a high-quality, private Christian education but are deterred by tuition costs? Through our robust Variable Tuition program, no student at our school pays 100% of their tuition amount.

Variable Tuition means that we match your tuition rates to your family’s unique financial position. At Southeast Christian School, we enroll Preschool through Eighth-grade students at only $27 per day on average before any aid is applied.

Broken down, this is the same amount that a family of three spends on one fast food meal each day.

Tuition is not a one-size-fits-all-- it’s a

range that spans from about 40-88% of the full cost of this high-quality Christian education. We are working tirelessly to keep our students learning in-person in a way that safely meets their academic, spiritual, physical, and mental/emotional needs. There has never been a better time to enroll your child at Southeast Christian School. Come and see what affordable private Christian education is. Come and see what a Christ-focused learning environment can do for your child. Come and see what a difference Southeast Christian School will make for your family. Scan the QR code to schedule your tour today!

ELIZABETH SCHOOL DISTRICT

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for parents and students to survive and thrive COVID-19 Left: As one positive skill, even your kindergartener now likely knows how to use videoconferencing better than you did until just recently.

SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGES

Below: Both students and teachers are still finding how to best adapt to the pandemic.

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T

o no one’s surprise, the impacts of COVID-19 on the national education system have been numerous and

severe.

Just ask Eliott Ewy, a first-grader at Centennial Elementary School, who got quite tired of trying to do her classworth through remote learning in a home with her parents, two brothers and five pets all crammed together day after day.

“After the COVID, can we have a party with everyone we know?” she would ask her parents.

“After the COVID, can we have a sleepover that lasts for two weeks?”

The pandemic’s effects can be quite immediate on a household with children, like the cancellation of birthdays and the sudden conversion of the dining table into a multi-grade classroom, but also more pernicious with the longerterm impacts of learning loss and mental health impacts.

Even as the COVID-19 vaccine begins rolling out, and those playdates and birthdays can eventually start happening again, it is important for parents to know how best to respond to the current challenges of this school year.

1

Be prepared to shift back to remote learning - Don’t go dismantling those in-home learning stations just yet. Even with the vaccine making the rounds, it won’t be until summer that it will be available to the general public. Colorado’s current COVID-19 numbers are a mixed bag, so even a mild turn for the worst in community infection rates can easily force schools to shut down for at least a few weeks.

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Take advantage of school support programs - All students in the Jefferson County School District are offering free lunch, with remote site pick-up for hybrid and remote learners. In the Douglas County School District, there is a group of more than 40 volunteers who make house calls to any household where students or parents are struggling with the challenges of remote or hybrid learning. Check with your school district, and see what kinds of assistance might be available for you.

3

Keep learning loss in perspective - Yes, the last year has been a terrible time for student learning.

Multiple surveys and studies show that even heroic measures by teachers and parents have not been able to overcome the drastic disruptions to classrooms since COVID-19 struck. It isn’t all doom and gloom though. For one thing, every current student in the world is in a similar boat. For another, just because learning has been stunted, doesn’t mean it has halted altogether. A Northwest Evaluation Association study in November found that most students are still learning, albeit at slower rates than in 2019. Math learning in particular seems to have suffered. For reading however, learning gains seemed to be in the ballpark of a regular school year.

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Keep learning loss small Just because every student in America is dealing with the disruption of COVID-19, doesn’t mean every student is equally equipped for it. Making sure your remote or hybrid-learning student has adequate internet and computer equipment. Check with the district about issued iPad or laptop equipment if needed.

Ensure students with special learning needs get the extra help and attention they need. If your student has an Individualized Education Plan, make sure to update it with your school to address additional issues that remote or hybrid learning might create for your young learner.

5

Find opportunities to keep morale high - Attitude is everything. Whether it’s making sure your kindergartener always logs onto their morning Zoom a few minutes early to say “hi” and chant with their beloved classmates, or bribing your teen to finish that writing assignment before noon in exchange for takeout lunch from their favorite fast food joint, find ways to work bits of fun into the daily routine.

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Be willing to look for alternatives - even this deep into the school year, be prepared to change things up if things aren’t working out. That might mean opting to go full remote, or get back into the classroom. It might even mean changing schools or districts. A school requiring your student to be staring at a screen for six hours straight, will definitely not work for everyone.

Likewise, a school that seems to have given up all attempts at academic rigor during the pandemic might not be a place you want your student to stay.

More than anything, be patient.

Be patient with yourself, with the teachers, with your student, with the family dog that keeps eating dropped pencils (my current pet peeve). The levels of stress, isolation and corresponding depression that current conditions have caused is historic. Being sensitive to the mental health toll this has taken on everyone, parents included, can help ease some of the hurt that’s out there, and make the rest of this wild ride just a bit better for us all.

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January 28, 2021

Education Takes Flight at Innovative Englewood Charter School Colorado SKIES Academy Offers Aerospace-Based Education for Grades 6-8 drones can be used to enhance our society and fulfill a need, while also identifying the pitfalls and problems associated with any kind of new technology.

We talk a lot about helping kids see their “dreams take flight,” but what if there were a school where that wasn’t just a cliché but a reality?

What if we told you there is?

Located on one of the country’s busiest general aviation airports, Colorado SKIES Academy (CSA) is a free public charter school open to students in grades 6-8. Approved by the Cherry Creek School District, this rigorous and engaging school brings concepts to life through innovative project-based learning with an aerospace focus.

CSA is located on Centennial Airport, adjacent to the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. The school launched in August 2019 and opened the doors of its permanent facility in the Fall of 2020.

In partnership with California-based Maker Learning Network, CSA utilizes innovative project-based and deeper learning methods and approaches to bring concepts to life in — and out of — the classroom. The school is committed to preparing students for bright futures and thriving careers in the aviation and aerospace industries.

In addition to core academic education, CSA offers the following: • Soar Up to Gliders: Using the engineering design process to fabricate and launch their own

RIGOROUS

gliders through a design challenge, learners interact with scale gliders and glider pilots. Ultimately, in partnership with a local soaring academy, students fly in a glider.

Supported with scholarships, many students can obtain their glider pilot license by the time they are 14!

of Love and Logic, and more, CSA’s team is devoted to developing the whole child, and they are pleased to see students incorporate these principles into their lives and learning.

So what are you waiting for? If your child is ready to launch their learning to new heights, come take a tour and learn more about Colorado SKIES Academy.

Here, the sky is not the limit when our imaginations are unlimited!

“The aerospace industries continue to thrive, and there are so many possibilities on the horizon for today’s students,” CSA Director Suzanne Acheson said. “Here, we are helping them to develop the habits of lifelong learning and to prepare for exciting careers.”

Additionally, a vital component of CSA’s educational model and approach is social-emotional learning. Through the incorporation of the 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, the principles

Colorado SKIES Academy is a tuitionfree public charter school authorized by the Cherry Creek School District and located in Englewood.

For more information, visit www. coloradoskiesacademy.org or call (720) 400-7612.

• DreamUp to Space: Students develop and use the engineering design process to design, test, and submit their own proposal for an experiment that can be run on the International Space Station.

• Genes in Space: This global science competition invites students in middle school and high school to propose pioneering DNA experiments that address a space exploration challenge.

• Drones in Modern Society: Learners explore how and where

Discover a TUITION-FREE public middle school for ALL young people in grades 6-8.

Committed to preparing students for futures in the aviation and aerospace industries with STEAM-focused project-based learning.

OUR BRAND NEW LEARNING CENTER! Personalized deeper-learning projects geared toward knowledge and skills acquisition while meeting or exceeding education standards.

Now enrolling grades 6-8!

AUTHENTIC

Located at the Centennial Airport.

In partnership with Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum & the Boeing Blue Sky Exploration of Flight Center.

ColoradoSKIESAcademy.org

ENGAGING

13025 Wings Way Englewood, CO 80012 80112 720-400-7612

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January 28, 2021

Secure Your Future at ACC Arapahoe Community College has the education and training you need to begin – or continue – your academic journey.

At ACC, we have a strong commitment to both the success, and safety, of our students. We offer affordable, in-demand degrees, certificates and workforce credentials in Littleton, Parker, Castle Rock and online to help you prepare for the next chapter in your career.

Our on-the-job component is based on national industry standards and is customized to the needs of the employer. Apprentices receive wages when they begin work, as well as pay increases as they meet benchmarks for

Attending community college before transferring to a four-year institution significantly reduces the cost of a college education, and ACC has guaranteed transfer programs to all four-year public colleges and universities in the state. Our Concurrent Enrollment (CE) program provides high school students with a cost-effective option to earn high school and college credit simultaneously. CE courses are available online, at ACC campuses, and through our service-area high schools.

ACC offers the Career Forward program for individuals who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and wish to pursue a certificate or degree. Career Forward provides tuition assistance, as well as student services, throughout the program. Participants receive affordable access to a college education as they pursue a position in the Colorado workforce. Career Forward is supported by the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI), and ACC partners with Arapahoe/Douglas Works! for industry networking and job placement services.

ACC’s apprenticeship programs are unique workforce training opportunities that combine customized, technical instruction with structured experiential learning through our industry partners.

skill attainment. Paid apprenticeships at ACC include Community Association Manager, Medical Assisting, Property Management and Water Operator.

If you have been trained, or are currently working to, contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus as a case investigator, contract tracer or resource coordinator, ACC’s Public Health Pre-Apprenticeship program can help you continue your career in the healthcare industry. The program includes training for positions in the containment of COVID-19, access to online career exploration modules in healthcare professions, and one-onone career counseling. ACC also has an Allied Health pre-apprenticeship

program for high school juniors and seniors that incorporates job shadowing in a variety of occupations (Physical Therapist Assistant, CNA, Sterile Processing, Surgical Technician, Phlebotomist, Medical Lab Technician, Medical Assistant and Radiology Technician).

ACC has affordable and accessible bachelor’s degree programs to help individuals advance their careers, including the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion Program (RNBSN), the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Emergency Service Administration, and the Advanced Paramedic Practitioner BAS degree.

We also partner with Colorado State University to offer Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees in Business Administration (Accounting concentration) and Computer Information Systems (Cybersecurity or Software Development). Both offer a blend of in-person and online courses through ACC’s Sturm Collaboration Campus in Castle Rock. Even more, the Colorado Community College System’s (CCCS) Bridge to Bachelor’s Degree Program ensures new, first-time students attending any CCCS institution are guaranteed admission to a participating four-year college or university upon their completion of an associate degree.

ACC’s Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Mechatronics Engineering Technology provides the skillset necessary to install, operate and maintain instrumentation and process control devices across a wide spectrum of industries. The demand for efficient processes and robotics in modern automation systems continues to grow, and graduates of ACC’s Mechatronics program can pursue career opportunities in aerospace, defense, automotive and manufacturing, health, and medical fields. The multidisciplinary curriculum teaches the quality and safety standards required to calibrate, modify, troubleshoot, program and repair automated systems and industrial robots.

ACC’s Associate of Arts (AA) degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) sets the stage for a rewarding career helping young learners develop their emotional, intellectual and physical skills. The program provides a strong foundation to help you master the proficiencies needed to become an effective childhood education teacher – or director – in Colorado. Our ECE degree program and certificates include observations and hands-on classroom experience with multiple age groups.

ACC provides innovative and responsive opportunities in an accessible, inclusive environment. If you have been laid off, or are seeking a career change, we are here to support you. Contact the ACC Admissions Office at admissions@arapahoe.edu / 303.797.5637.

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STEM School Highlands Ranch: We Will Never Stop Innovating

Since its inception in 2011, STEM School Highlands Ranch sets the standard for innovation. A free, public charter school in the Douglas County School District, our school places a high priority on getting technology into the hands of students, while also encouraging collaborative learning.

Serving students in grades kindergarten through senior year, the school offers access to a range of unique learning opportunities that produce students who are ready to compete at the highest levels. Our classrooms are not like the traditional classrooms of the past. Teachers and students work in a collaborative environment to solve real-world problems.

“We believe it is vital that children become excited about learning as soon as possible,” said Dr. Penelope Eucker, Executive Director. “This excitement translates into a lifelong appreciation for STEM that will carve the path for the rest of their education and beyond.”

Our school is one of the few STEM schools that infuse science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning into all aspects of education. In addition to integrated, problem-based learning across all STEM subjects, the school offers rigorous humanities courses, arts, world languages and a theater and music program that was selected as one of the most innovative by the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

“Our Leadership Team, along with our Staff Advisory Team, works very hard to recruit some of the industry’s top talent to come teach our students the real-world tools that they will need to succeed,” Dr. Eucker said. “We want to create an environment within our school where teachers want to teach and couldn’t imagine teaching anywhere else.”

Recovery and Resiliency The events of May 7 will forever leave an imprint on our school, students, families and community. However, the spirit and legacy of all the heroes from that day provides a light of resiliency for us all as we walk through the stages of recovery. Our heros embodied what it means to be a STEM Spartans: Honesty, Integrity, Empathy, Respect and Responsibility.

Academic Excellence Since our inception, we have successfully added nine grades over the

past seven years, earning Colorado’s highest academic award, the John Irwin Award every year. We are ranked No. 10 in Colorado for the state-required SAT and our high school is ranked 12th in Colorado by U.S. News and World Report. Our school serves roughly 1,750 students from K-12. In 2019, we secured a 95.8% Achievement Rating and an 87% Overall Performance Rating by the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). Approximately 24% of our students are identified as gifted and talented, well above the national average of 6-10% (according to the US Department of Education).

We are also one of seven schools in Colorado approved to offer additional opportunities for students pursuing college courses in the STEM fields. This is an IBM initiative known as P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools), to create innovative partnerships between school districts, local college(s) and high schools.

We also offer a myriad of Advanced Placement classes, as well as Concurrent Enrollment (CE), enabling students to take classes both on and off campus for college credit, while still enrolled in high school. In the Spring of 2020, we had 536 students enrolled in AP courses and 1022 CE credit hours earned. The success does not stop there as 98% of our seniors applied and were accepted to over 108 colleges in 35 different states and three countries.

Problem-Based Learning What makes STEM School Highlands Ranch so special? It’s our unique approach to solving real-world problems, while still teaching the fundamentals that all students need to succeed in our ever-changing world.

Our students are challenged to develop the essential skills necessary to be productive and valued members of a global workforce.

Elementary School students are provided with a rigorous and relevant core education that taps into the innate curiosity of each student, while integrating essential STEM skills and concepts within literacy, mathematics, social studies and science.Our classrooms come alive with relevant, problem-based learning where 21st Century Skills are embedded through the use of technology, critical thinking, and collaboration to engage the heads, hearts and hands of students in authentic and real world issues. All elementary students will participate in specials classes that include art, music, physical education, technology,

engineering, and world language.

Middle School students are provided with an engaging and empowering education that incorporates essential skills and character development, with rigorous real-world education.

Our students are thinkers, doers, change makers and innovators. They develop the skills of critical thinking, collaboration, safe failure and applied innovation through an exciting and challenging integrated STEM curriculum.

High School students are challenged to develop the essential soft skills necessary to be productive and valued members of the 21st Century workforce. We offer a variety of technology and computer science classes focused on programming in a variety of languages, creative applications like 3D animation/ modeling and designing, and building games. Additionally our students are able to earn industry level IT certificates by taking classes in A+, Net+, and Security+. In our engineering labs, students fine-tune their problemsolving and creative skills as they take classes in manufacturing, robotics, Computer Aided Design (CAD), digital electronics, and transportation technologies.

Real-World Application STEM programs continue to become popular choices for students across the country. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts overall employment in the economy to grow by 7.4% between 2016 and 2026, while jobs in STEM fields are expected to grow by 10.8%, according to a January 2019 report. These projections are the highest of all occupations.

Our Career Discovery program offers students a menu of options to explore business fields in real-world settings that can potentially lead to internships, apprenticeships, or full/ part time employment after graduation and during college. Through real-world experiences, we have worked to bring schools and industry partners from all regions of the state, country and the world together to share education techniques, tactics and ideas.

Our Building Ships program is opening doors for students to connect directly with our industry partners, with short-term immersion opportunities to create connections and get hands-on experience with some of the top technology in the world. Last school year a select group of students enjoyed a week-long, fully

immersive experience with the Junior Space Foundation and Lockheed Martin.

The Well-Rounded Student Learning with us does not stop at the classroom walls. Our students have a full range of Enrichment programming at their fingertips. These opportunities include athletics, clubs, robotics, technology and other special interested. Students are eager to learn even outside the classroom, says Sara Phelps, Enrichment Director. “It’s an opportunity for students to not only discover new areas of learning, but also to make new friends, while developing their teamwork skills.”

Technology Student Association (TSA) is a national organization that gives our students the opportunity to explore science, technology, engineering, and math fields through exciting competitive events and leadership opportunities. There are a wide variety of events to prepare and compete in, including Underwater ROV to Biotechnology to Catapult Design to Fashion Design to Forensic Technology to Career Prep.

Our BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) Robotics Team empowers students to use their creativity and intelligence to build a robot from scratch. Cyber Patriots is a defensive cyber security competition, where students work in teams to discover vulnerabilities and develop remedies in an operating system that has been compromised.

Innovation and Potential “From science and technology, to the environment and global economy, we know that the future will be full of invention and change,” Dr. Eucker said.

“We believe in the unlimited potential of every child and we use the power of innovation to help every child succeed in an exponentially changing world.”

We invite families to take part in our Prospective Parent Webinar on Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. via Zoom.

This is in place of our usual tour that cannot be held due to COVID-19. If you’d like to take part in the webinar, please email info@stemk12.org to find out more information. We also accept open enrollment applications all year long. For more information about our school, please visit our website at stemk12.org or call us at 303-683-STEM (7836).

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Successfully Educating During a Pandemic A Challenge for Every Child

When Covid-19 hit last March, no one knew what it would look like for our nation, our community, or our schools.

American Academy was able to pivot to remote learning, with the help of our amazing staff and a positive school community. Because it was unclear what the 20-21 school year would bring and we knew we’d have to think outside of the box, American Academy started planning for the new school year even before summer break started. Our team of educators and administrators met on a regular basis, taking into account all the information being provided by the health departments, and also considering what was best for our students and families.

Fast forward to the first half of this school year, August through January, American Academy was able to remain open and educate our students in person.

Because we believe in parent choice, we also gave the option for students to do online learning, which about 25% of our student body took part in. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth it! We are confident that we have kept our school community safe as well as up to speed academically.

Who We Are and What We Do

Learn more about our high achieving and award winning STEAM programming available at our 3 beautiful Douglas County campuses.

And be sure to check out our KindiePrep program for our younger friends ages 3-5.

American Academy is a charter public school (no tuition), and serves Kindergarten through eighth grade at three Douglas County campus locations, and children ages 3-5 at our private pre-schools (KindiePrep). We deliver a solid academic foundation using Core Knowledge curriculum and a STEAM emphasis (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) in a climate of support and student-teacher connectedness. We teach the whole child, addressing social-emotional growth along with academic achievement, and meeting each student at their own level of readiness.

A Solid Foundation We use the Core Knowledge curriculum to build a sequenced, common foundation of history, world civilizations, geography, art, culture, and music. Our language arts and math curriculums complement Core Knowledge perfectly, developing those skills in an incremental and sequential manner to ensure long-term retention and deeper understanding. Our daily science curriculum and proprietary STEM curriculum (STEM Discovery Weeks and Engineering Academy) are designed to meet Next Generation Science Standards.

We round out these core subjects with a regular rotation of art, music, technology, and physical education classes.

We know that not all students start at the same level, learn in the same way, or master skills at the same pace. To meet every child at their individual level of readiness, American Academy uses flexible ability grouping. Ability groups allow our teachers to challenge each student with concepts and skills appropriate to their level of readiness while also requiring them to grow and master new ones. Students move between ability groups over the years as we work to meet their individual needs for support and challenge.

Building Character The American Academy Character program highlights those character traits which lead to personal and academic excellence. We teach and encourage American Academy Manners in order to support those character traits and to help students put them into action.

These character traits and manners are implemented, modeled, and repeated in and out of the classroom at every opportunity, every single day. The result is a school culture of kindness, respect, and personal responsibility, and a body of students who are able to engage positively and productively with others at school and beyond.

A STEAM Emphasis Our school-day STEAM curriculum instructs students in core subjects, teamwork, critical thinking, and problemsolving. It also provides students with a safe space to try, fail and learn to persevere. Our extensive extracurricular STEAM programming is divided into two major areas of concentration — STEM and Performing Arts — and provides students with a wide range of exciting opportunities to explore! All students are encouraged to try new things in both concentrations and many programs intentionally connect across these areas of concentration. Some examples of STEAM extracurriculars include acting techniques, instrumental classes, band and orchestra, choir, visual arts clubs, school musicals, Robotics Competition, science club, yearbook, broadcasting club, dance, engineering certification, and performing arts certification. American Academy also offers several optional STEM trips, where the learning truly becomes “hands-on”. We are always looking for new ways to challenge and inspire our students with STEAM! Learn more at www.aak8.org.

School of Choice 9

January 28, 2021

Arma Dei Academy: A Classical Christian School

• Classical Curriculum

Arma Dei Academy, located in Douglas County, serves students in Preschool, Kindergarten through 8th grade, High School and homeschool families with a collaborative learning program for students in 1st - 5th grade. Our mission is to glorify God by providing an excellent classical Christian education founded upon a biblical worldview that equips students to live purposefully and intelligently in service to God and others.

A classical Christian education teaches students how to think and not just what to think. We encourage thoughtful, intelligent faith and help students pursue excellence with humility. We partner with parents to help children thrive and flourish intellectually and spiritually. Arma Dei Academy raises the standards beyond what our culture expects by training students to reason, discern and aspire.

We aim to graduate students who think clearly and listen carefully with discernment and understanding; who reason persuasively and articulate precisely; who are capable of evaluating their entire range of experience in light of the Scriptures.

We strive to build a legacy of intelligent and thoughtful leaders who will pursue a purposeful life marked by Truth.

We invite you to visit and explore the distinctives of a classical Christian education at Arma Dei Academy.

• Biblical Worldview • Academic Excellence

• Joyful Learners • Character Formation • Small Class Sizes • Cursive Handwriting • Kindergarten Enrichment • Latin, Art, Music & STEM • The Logic of English Training students to

• Math In Focus (Singapore Math)

REASON, DISCERN & ASPIRE through a classical Christian education

• Family Chapel • Parent Partnership • Countercultural

Preschool, Kindergarten - 8th Grade, High School & Homeschool Collaborative Highlands Ranch & Lone Tree

Open House

Arma Dei was founded in 2012 and has quickly grown from 9 students to over 300. Our main campus sits atop 6.5 acres of land, spanning two buildings totaling 17,500 square feet, with an additional 24,000 square feet of new construction opening in February 2021.

To learn more, visit our website at www.ArmaDeiAcademy.com. For inquiries, please email admissions@ armadeiacademy.com, or call (303) 346-4523 and ask to speak with Admissions.

Classical Christian S chool

February 4 and March 4, 2021 Schedule your visit today!

www.ArmDeiAcademy.com (303)346-4523 Kindergarten - 8th Grade and High School Campus

341 East Wildcat Reserve Parkway Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

Preschool & Jr. Kindergarten Campus 9941 Lone Tree Parkway Lone Tree, CO 80124

St. Thomas More Catholic School

STM Catholic Open House

Come see what our Preschool–8th Grade is all about! ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Take a Campus Tour & meet teachers and staff members Visit our technology-equipped labs & classrooms Receive curriculum and admissions information Financial assistance available

Tuesday, January 26: 6:00PM (Prospective Parent Meeting) Friday, February 12: 1:00–3:00PM (Open House)

St. Thomas More Catholic School provides a rigorous academic program, with concentration on the core curriculum of math, language arts, social studies, science and religion. In addition, we offer a well-rounded program of music, art, physical education and technology.

In the spirit of Catholic tradition, STM Catholic brings the whole person to Jesus Christ, and through excellence in education, prepares our student to serve the Church and community now and in the future.

Academic Excellence Our students continually rank in the top 10% in the nation on the Iowa Assessment testing and 1.5+ years above grade level. In addition to Core Curriculum of math, language arts, literature, science, social studies and religion, we provide the Second Step program, a social-emotional learning program implemented to address bullying, character development and other communication and acceptance scenarios.

Beyond the Classroom

ST. THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

We provide a quality Catholic education program for children from preschool to 8th grade.

One Faith One School One Family

Call 303.770.0441 to set up an individualized tour.

7071 E Otero Ave |Centennial, CO 80112 | www.stmcatholic.org

STM Catholic creates a wellrounded child and encourages students to explore areas of interest beyond the classroom with sports, speech team, student council and chess club to mention a few extracurricular activities. We are dedicated to creating future leaders throughout the community.

“STM has provided an education that infuses life into our children daily by forming their minds,

souls and character in a nurturing environment of academic ideals, truth, hope and love. We could not be more thankful to be part of the school community here at STM!” Preschool In addition, STM Catholic Preschool is available for 2 ½ yearold to 5-year-old children. Our goals are to assist the parent by providing a Catholic environment with developmentally age-appropriate curriculum encompassing cognitive, language skills and fine and gross motor skills as well as self-expression in social, emotional, academic and spiritual domains. The underlying instructional strategy is the use of organized, teacher led activities as well as free play intended to provide opportunities for the child to interact, explore and relate successfully in their environment.

Additional Information As part of the Archdiocese of Denver, we are a faith-based liberal arts curriculum school with a strong focus on high-quality education for the children entrusted to us.

We work closely with the parents as a team to ensure each child is successful in acquiring the knowledge and skills required to best equip them in their pursuit of excellence. We are proud of our 25+ years as a leader in Catholic education, keeping our faith in Jesus Christ in the forefront of our education throughout the students’ time at STM Catholic.

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January 28, 2021

School of Choice 11

January 28, 2021

Deeper Learning Schools Prepare Students Better For College, Careers, And Life The fastest growing job sectors in today’s economy are those that require problem solving and critical thinking skills, yet very few schools are preparing students adequately for these jobs.

and complex question, problem, or challenge.

A recent national survey published

by Achieve, a non-profit education advocacy organization, found that 62% of employers feel that public high schools aren’t adequately preparing graduates for jobs in the modern economy. Even worse, 78% of college faculty surveyed believe schools aren’t preparing students for college.

Last year, Eighth grade students at Renaissance Secondary mastered state content standards and learned problem solving skills through their expedition ‘ It’s All Connected.’ Eighth grade teachers collaborated to teach both humanities and science standards by exploring the concept of power.

According to the results of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) exam, one in six American students are unable to solve problems that require thinking ahead or applying content knowledge to an unfamiliar setting.

Deeper Learning in Action

Students learned about the science of power by designing, building, and testing wind turbines, utilizing the school’s state-of-the-art Innovation Lab equipment. Students also mastered relevant humanities standards as they investigated government policies related to power usage.

Students chose to demonstrate their learning by inventing a power saving device that improves people’s lives, or by proposing a revision to existing Castle Rock public policy related to sustainable power usage.

As with most learning expeditions at Renaissance, the ‘It’s All Connected’ expedition concluded with a presentation of learning. Students built communication skills by presenting their final products to community members at a student-led ‘Power Night.’

“Whenever possible, student learning should have an impact beyond the walls of the school.

Deeper Learning Schools Focus on Problem Solving A group of innovative schools is aiming to change these dismal statistics by teaching students to think critically and solve complex problems. “Deeper Learning” schools, like the Renaissance schools in Castle Rock, provide research-based instructional practices that foster deeper learning and better outcomes for students. Expeditionary Learning and project-based learning are examples of deeper learning practices in schools.

Renaissance Secondary School, a “deeper learning” school, organizes it’s curriculum through learning expeditions - units of study that allow students to “dig deep” into compelling and relevant topics. Often interdisciplinary in nature, learning expeditions ensure students gain knowledge and skills by working to investigate and respond to an engaging

When students prepare to share their learning with an authentic audience, they’re more invested in creating a high-quality product. When the learning also benefits the community, we all win,” says Amy Stuart, Head of School at Renaissance Secondary.

“When students understand why their learning matters, they’re more engaged…. And research tells us that students retain more of what they learn when they understand the ‘why’ behind it.”

In fact, a growing body of research suggests that deeper learning schools like Renaissance are better at preparing students for college, careers, and life.

One study, by the American Institutes for Research, found that deeper learning schools like Renaissance have stronger academic outcomes, better attendance and student behavior, and higher rates of college attendance than more conventional schools.

Learning expeditions at Renaissance are designed to teach the state content standards, but rather than relying on

lectures and worksheets, learning expeditions often take students outside of the classroom and/or bring in experts. Fieldwork may include collecting data, gathering information, or interacting with experts in the field related to their unit of study. Students at Renaissance regularly engage with the community, including having interviewed residents in an area highly impacted by the I-70 expansion, and with experts, including brain injury and concussion experts, and hearing from judges and other legal professionals.

Bringing in experts rather than relying on teacher expertise alone contributes to a rich, authentic understanding of content.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, high school students learning about ecology in the expedition “Fish Stories” extended their learning over Spring Break in Costa Rica. Some students traveled to Costa Rica to engage in real-world work at a research station, in addition to becoming immersed in the language and culture.

“Too often, students experience content at only a surface level. The real challenge is to teach content in a way that students deeply understand, so that they can apply what they’ve learned in new situations,” explains Ms. Stuart.

Students at Renaissance agree.

Emily K., a 2020 Renaissance graduate, says “After I made the transition to Renaissance, I now know how much school can teach me beyond just the quadratic formula. This school has taught why the quadratic formula works. It has taught me how school subjects are intertwined and shouldn’t be separated.”

High school students in Renaissance’s “Who Killed Patrick Starr?” expedition walked into their classroom to discover a dead “body,” (a mannequin) on the floor. The makeshift crime scene was taped off, and students had to comb through the evidence to solve the crime. In addition to problem-solving skills, students learn about blood-typing, perform DNA extractions, identify unknown substances, and master other science standards as they work together to analyze evidence.

Colleges Want More Research supports that schools like Renaissance, where students master academic content, communicate and collaborate effectively, think critically, and become lifelong learners,

are preparing students for today’s constantly changing workforce. These schools also provide opportunities for students to distinguish themselves when applying to college. Pairing rigorous academic experiences with concurrent enrollment courses at local colleges further allow students to graduate not only college ready, but sometimes with a year or more of college credit prior to leaving high school.

Renaissance 2020 graduate Colby C. reported that colleges he visited were thrilled to hear about him attending a small, expeditionary learning high school. Attending a small school dedicated to deeper learning really helped him stand out in the admissions process, where admissions officers are flooded with applicants from large, conventional schools.

Dean of Undergraduate Admissions at Yale University, Jeremiah Quinlan, explains: “Yes, we want students who have achieved in and out of the classroom, but we are also looking for things that are harder to quantify, [like] authentic intellectual engagement and a concern for others and the common good.”

Renaissance has a strong focus on service learning. “Service learning at Renaissance teaches students to take action in their communities and the world; it’s an essential component of their school experience,” says Ms. Stuart.

Students and teachers at Renaissance partnered with the Design for Change organization to integrate service into their learning experiences. Students worked on projects related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of 2030, including ‘no poverty,’ ‘life below water’ and ‘zero hunger.’ Some students developed a mental health focused app aligned with the goal of ‘good health and wellbeing,’ while others wrote, produced, and recorded a song for their project.

Multiple groups from Renaissance were selected to represent the U.S. at the Design for Change Children’s Global Summit in Rome.

Renaissance Secondary is accepting enrollment applications for the 2021-2022 school year for Grades 6-12. Learn more at www.rensec.org .

Interested families may attend a Virtual Information Session or a tour. Families should RSVP at www.rensec.org for a tour (Fridays at 3:30PM) and/or to receive the link for a virtual session.

There are upcoming information sessions January 28th and February 18th.

12 School of Choice

January 28, 2021

Students Thrive with Personalized Approach Top-rated, high performing rural school district known for its caring culture and student-focused philosophy, located southeast of Denver.

Small class sizes (average K-12 class is 23 students) Rated 4th highest school district in the Denver metro area* Extensive student leadership opportunities in all grades Half and full-day preschool programs & free all day kindergarten Strong performing arts programs at middle & high school levels STEM and Robotics offered K-12 Competitive, integrated middle school sports leads to 18 high school varsity teams Experienced staff known for integrity, passion, and excellence

SCHEDULE A TOUR!

Visit http://bit.ly/ESopenhouse and schedule a tour at your convenience. * According to the Colorado Department of Education Performance Rating

ElizabethSchoolDistrict.org 303.646.1836

Where students are at the heart of everything we do!