CONGRATULATIONS

Class of 2026!

Upcoming Events

June

6/7 John’s Birthday

6/9 Clara’s Birthday

6/19 Juneteenth- NO SCHOOL

6/21 Father’s day

6/27 Mr. Zach's Birthday

6/29-7/3 SCHOOL CLOSED!

No students, no staff in the building

Decluttering?

Accelerated Schools is always looking for gently used items we can use, such as sports equipment, art supplies, books, bikes, ski/snowboard gear, or even fresh ingredients for our cooking class! Please keep us in mind if you are downsizing or clearing out your space.

We also rely on donations for our silent auctions during annual fundraising events such as our event in December!

Email us at info@acceleratedschools.org for more information. We provide receipts for tax purposes for donations.

May 2026 Activities

Museum of Nature and Science

Field Day

Main Event

GRADUATION!!

Summer "Vacation"

Josh Warren, Mathematics Instructor

There is a strange assumption that teachers “get summers off” in the same way someone cashes in on a long vacation. The reality is more complicated than that. Teaching is not the kind of work that shuts off when the building closes in May. Even during summer, many teachers are still thinking about students, lessons that worked, lessons that failed, and better ways to reach the kid who never quite connected during the year.

Teaching sits in two worlds at once. It is a technical field and a people field. We are constantly balancing curriculum, standards, grading, planning, and data while also managing emotions, motivation, conflict, and relationships. That combination is rewarding, but it is also exhausting in a way that is difficult to explain to people outside education. By the end of a school year, most teachers are not simply tired, they are mentally and emotionally drained.

Summer is not just a reward, it is a respite. It is the time when the batteries recharge enough to do the job well again. Good teachers do not stop caring in June, but they do need space to recover from the pace and intensity of the year.

The funny thing is that by the time August arrives, many teachers start missing work. They miss the routines, the students, the conversations, and even the chaos a little bit. That is usually the sign the recharge worked!

Making the Most of Summer Break

Kate Oh, Instructor and Enrollment Counselor

As another wonderful school year comes to an end, summer vacation offers students a valuable opportunity to rest, recharge, explore new interests, and continue growing outside the classroom. While summer is a time for fun and relaxation, it can also become one of the most meaningful learning experiences for all of us.

At Accelerated Schools, we encourage students to use the summer months not only for entertainment, but also for personal growth, creativity, and discovery. Accelerated Schools continues to offer these opportunities during our summer session, and we encourage students to make the most of the programs and experiences available this summer.

Meaningful Ways to Spend Summer

Keep a Journal

Journaling is one of the best ways for students to reflect on their experiences, thoughts, and goals. Writing regularly helps improve communication skills, creativity, and self-awareness. Students can write about:

• Daily experiences
• Family trips
• Personal goals
• Favorite memories
• New things they learned

Years later, journals often become treasured memories of childhood and personal growth.

Take Pictures and Capture Memories

Photography encourages students to observe the world carefully and appreciate everyday moments. Whether using a phone or camera, students can create a summer photo collection of:

• Nature and outdoor adventures
• Family gatherings
• Cultural experiences
• Cooking creations
• Pets and hobbies

Pictures help preserve memories while encouraging creativity and mindfulness.

Learn Cooking Skills

Cooking teaches responsibility, patience, creativity, and important life skills. Summer is a wonderful time for students to:

• Learn family recipes
• Explore foods from different cultures
• Practice healthy eating habits
• Cook meals with family members
• Try gardening and farm-to-table cooking

Cooking together also strengthens family connections and creates lasting memories.

Read for Enjoyment

Reading during the summer helps students maintain academic growth while expanding imagination and vocabulary. Encourage students to choose books they truly enjoy, including:

• Novels
• Biographies
• Science or history books
• Graphic novels
• Travel or cultural books

Even 20–30 minutes of reading each day can make a significant difference.

Explore Nature and the Community

Summer provides opportunities to experience learning beyond the classroom:

• Hiking and outdoor activities
• Visiting museums and cultural centers
• Volunteering in the community
• Traveling and exploring new places
• Spending time with family and friends

Real-world experiences help students mature, build confidence, and develop a broader understanding of the world.

Practice Life Skills

Summer is also a great time to build independence by practicing:

• Time management
• Organization
• Communication skills
• Responsibility
• Goal setting

Small daily habits can prepare students for future success both academically and personally.

Summer does not need to be filled with expensive activities to be meaningful. Sometimes the most valuable moments come from simple experiences — spending time with family, learning something new, helping others, or discovering personal interests.

We hope all of our students and families have a safe, joyful, and enriching summer filled with meaningful memories, personal growth, and exciting opportunities to learn.



Have a wonderful summer break!

Easing the Stress of the End of the Year

Debby Sharp, Middle School Instructor

I don’t usually say this but this school year has flown by. Personally, I love the slow, warm days of summer. It’s a time to relax and recharge but for some kids this time of year can be stressful and full of anxiety. The end of the school year is a time to say goodbye to teachers and friends for a while so don’t be surprised if your child is sad but doesn’t know how to verbalize why. There are some activities parents can do at home that can help ease the stress of ending a busy school year.

1. Talk with your child about their experiences over the past year. By engaging your child in this conversation, you can evaluate the changes that have happened during the year. This helps your child to not think about the ending but about the future and what the new school year will bring.
2. If you took pictures of your child during the year, bring these out for a shared time of reflection.
3. Remind your child that they can always visit the school during the summer especially if they won’t be attending summer school.
4. Coordinate play dates with classmates during the summer months.  
5. Have your child make a handmade gift for a favorite teacher(s) … The possibilities are endless. Your child might want to draw a picture or make a card.  
6. Any arts and crafts ideas would mean a lot. 

Here at Accelerated, we take great care to foster healthy, strong relationships with our students so it makes sense that some students will feel sad or anxious over the end of the school year but hopefully these tips will help your child ease into summer and get ready for a new school year.

Exploring Buddism Through Art

Raechel Kimsey, Instructor



“Parting is such sweet sorrow.” As the school year comes to a close, I think it is important to leave students with lessons that feel meaningful, affirming, and engaging. That is why I chose to end this year’s Art History course with a unit on Buddhism and the art of the ancient Indus Valley.

Many students in our school are either personally interested in Buddhism or connected to it through family traditions and cultural heritage. Because of this, I often see students become especially engaged with the material. For many, the history and philosophies of the Indus Valley are both fascinating and surprising, introducing ideas and artistic traditions they may never have encountered before.

Studying Buddhist and Hindu art can feel like discovering a window into another worldview. While Buddhist traditions vary widely across cultures and regions, the artwork often shares visual influences rooted in early Hindu and Greco-Roman artistic traditions. As Buddhism spread along the Silk Road, its artistic forms adapted beautifully to the cultures it encountered, creating a rich and diverse visual history that still carries recognizable connections across continents and centuries.

School's Out for Summer

Julia Potocnjak-Overn , Science Instructor

Warm weather, shorts, sunscreen and adventure are upon us, encouraging us to get outside and try something new. To be completely honest, I really struggled with selecting what photos to share in this final newsletter for the school year (they’re ALL my favourites!), but I’ve landed on a few that I hope you all enjoy. Students completed a mock crime scene observation and narrative for Forensic Science, studied the physics behind angled projectiles, museum fun, blood typing lab in Biology, Lucy and Betty enjoying some relaxation time and the physics of fluid dynamics. I’m also resharing links to possible summer activities for students and families to take advantage of in case you missed last month’s submission. Please stay safe wherever the summer takes you, we look forward to seeing you next year. Cheers!

NSF NCAR Mesa Laboratory Public Tour

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nsf-ncar-mesa-laboratory-public-tour-tickets-409383556237?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Tour NOAA Boulder

https://www.boulder.noaa.gov/outreach/tour-noaa-boulder/

Denver Museum of Nature and Science FREE Days June 19, 2026, August 24th, 2026

https://www.dmns.org/programs-and-events/freedays/

STEM Camp Offerings in The Denver Area

https://denver.kidsoutandabout.com/content/stem-nature-and-history-camps-denver-area

South Park Rail Society

https://www.southparkrailsociety.org/

James F. Bailey Assay Office Museum (Open May through October, the 3rd Saturday of each month)

https://bouldercounty.gov/open-space/education/museums/assay-office/

CU Wizards 2025-2026 Schedule (May and June shows remaining)

https://www.colorado.edu/cuwizards/media/471

CSU Spur Second Saturdays (Free and open to the public from 10am-2pm)

https://csuspur.org/2nd-saturdays-at-csu-spur/

Spanish in the City

Zach Saipe, Instructor

To close out the semester, Spanish students are taking everything they’ve worked on throughout the year and applying it in real-world settings. Over the past few months, students pooled spare change from their daily pay—adding up to enough for a class outing to enjoy pupusas, a traditional Salvadoran dish similar to thick tortillas stuffed with cheese and other fillings. Their challenge: place their orders entirely in Spanish. For many, this was their first time using the language outside the classroom, and every student rose to the occasion—leaving both successful and well-fed.

Next, students will extend their learning into the community by visiting local Latinx mercados, a tortillería, and a frutería to gather ingredients for a shared meal they will prepare during this year’s field day. As preparation, students have written original dialogues focused on purchasing food at a market. They are now practicing and teaching these conversations to one another. During the visit, students will be expected to navigate real interactions in Spanish—with a teacher who will, conveniently, “forget” how to speak the language—challenging them to rely fully on their skills in an authentic context.

The final project builds on the class’s cultural study of Puerto Rico and the legacy of colonialism. Students will create their own linotype prints, designing images that reflect key themes and ideas from their learning. This culminating activity allows students to express their understanding through art while connecting language, culture, and history in a meaningful way.

The Benefits of Chess

John Jarvinen, Student and Staff Support, Electives

At Accelerated Schools, we are proud to be leading the way in individualized education in Colorado. Recently, we launched the first chess class in which students are learning all aspects of the game to become well-rounded players. But, chess is not just a game; it is a tool to aid in cognitive development and emotional regulation. Research shows that children who play chess develop better problem-solving skills, enhanced memory, improved focus, creativity and logical reasoning.

Chess requires players to plan ahead and anticipate their opponents’ responses. Strategic thinking like this teaches students to approach problems methodically and consider multiple outcomes before making decisions. This type of mental discipline can be applied to a variety of problems students will face in everyday life.

Chess helps students build emotional resilience. It’s easy to make mistakes in chess and in life. Since you can’t play perfectly every game, players must learn to deal with their mistakes, accept losses, and come back with a stronger strategy the next time. The ability to cope with setbacks and manage stress is a valuable trait that is useful in many other aspects of life. All of our students end the game with a handshake and a “Good game”, regardless of the result.

To succeed in chess, players must familiarize themselves with opening sequences, common tactics, and endgame strategies. This type of memorization strengthens neural connections resulting in better short-term and long-term memory.

Players often play long games requiring extended concentration to carefully analyze moves and avoid mistakes over extended periods of time. This practice helps students maintain concentration and develop both patience and discipline that can translate to success in academic and professional settings.

By introducing chess as an elective, we aren’t just creating an environment for kids to have fun, we are preparing them to face the challenges that life throws at them. Win or lose, it doesn’t matter; they will have more tools in their toolbox to face whatever comes their way.

Fun Family Friendly Things to do in Denver this Summer!

Kayla Presnal, Office Manager

Every year, parents are looking for events and activities for families during the summer. This year, I wanted to highlight a few events in Denver that are free, family-friendly, an sure to be a good time! If you wind up going to one of these events, let me know how it was! 

Free Museum & Attraction Days

Thanks to Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) funding, several of Denver's top attractions offer completely free general admission days in June.

• Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA): Saturday, June 6 (1¢ admission for CO residents)
• Denver Botanic Gardens (York St. & Chatfield Farms): Tuesday, June 9
• Plains Conservation Center (Aurora): Thursday, June 11
• Denver Museum of Nature & Science: Friday, June 19
• Four Mile Historic Park: Friday, June 26 (Experience Denver's pioneer history with tours and demonstrations)

Major FREE Street Festivals

Denver Chalk Art Festival

When: June 6–7, 2026

Where: Golden Triangle Creative District

Juneteenth Music Festival & Parade

When: Saturday, June 20, 2026

(Street Festival 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM; Parade at 11:00 AM)

Where: Historic Five Points Neighborhood (2700 Welton St.)

Troutfest Colorado

When: Saturday, June 27, 2026

Where: Coors Field

Denver Cherry Blossom Festival (Sakura Matsuri)

When: June 27–28, 2026

Where: Sakura Square (Downtown)

Cost: FREE admission (Food/crafts are extra)

Other Denver Events in June

Red Bull Soapbox Race

When: Saturday, June 13, 2026

Where: Empower Field at Mile High

Cost: FREE to watch

Returning to Denver for the first time in 24 years, this is a wildly entertaining event for all ages. Watch outrageous, non-motorized, homemade soapbox cars race down a custom downhill obstacle course while showing off hilarious choreography and costumes. 

Historical Elitch Theatre FREE Family Film Series

When: Various dates in June 

Where: Historic Elitch Theatre 

Cost: FREE

They kick off their summer series with a family screening of Ghostbusters, complete with a pre-show costume contest. Bring blankets or lawn chairs!

Monday Movie Madness at Infinity Park

When: Mondays throughout the summer

Where: Infinity Park in Denver 

Cost: FREE

Sprawling out with a blanket right on the stadium's turf pitch to watch a movie on their giant scoreboard screen is one of the coolest FREE summer traditions in town

Helpful Forms and Links for Accelerated Families

If you have comments and/or suggestions about our newsletter, email Kayla Presnal

Accelerated Schools



www.acceleratedschools.org