July

2026

Newsletter

School Hours

Monday through Thursday

9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Friday 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

 


IN THIS ISSUE

  • Message from our Executive Director
  • Staff Anouncement
  • Reminders from the School
  • Last Month's Activities (Pictures)
  • Summer Fun + Summer Math
  • A Summer Project
  • Summer Science, Checking in with Lucy and Betty
  • Adventures Through Colorado's History
  • Fun Family Friendly Things to do in Denver this July!
  • Helpful Forms and Links

IMPORTANT DATES


6/29-7/3 SCHOOL CLOSED!- No students, no staff

7/04 Michelle's b-day

7/08 Activity- Dinosaur Ridge and Red Rocks

7/09 Activity-Roxborough State Park

7/11 Free Slurpee Day

7/15 Elias' B-day

7/15 Activity-Center for CO Women’s History and Molly Brown House

7/16 UPCC Food Truck Rally at Accelerated Schools

7/16 Activity-Aqua Golf

7/22 Josh’s B-day

7/22 Activity-Castlewood State Park

7/23 Activity-Denver Art Museum

7/25 Craig’s B-day

7/29 Activity-Idaho Springs Gold Mine Tour

7/30 Activity-Paddleboarding


Click Here to View Our July Calendar!

Birthdays this month


7/04 Ms. Michelle's Birthday

7/15 Elias' Birthday

7/22 Mr. Josh's Birthday

7/25 Mr. Craig's Birthday

Donor Spotlight

July

We would like to thank the following individuals and companies for their continued generous donations and pledges of support during the month of June



  • Madonna Nuce
  • April De Roin
  • Sam and Martha Stott




For information on becoming a donor, please visit acceleratedschools.org or contact us via email here.

 

Monthly Message From Our Executive Director, Michelle Tuengel


Summertime in Colorado is so wonderful. Many families are in the middle of summer vacations, maybe taking a road trip, a quick mountain getaway, or just spending time at a swimming pool to cool off. Here at Accelerated Schools, we are starting to plan for the fall. Our official start date for the 2026 - 2027 school year will be Monday, August 10, 2026. By now, all families should have received the registration packets, which include an application, a registration form, a 2026 - 2027 school calendar, and information about immunizations. If you did not get one, please let the school know, and we will happily send one out to you. Thank you to all parents who have already returned this information to the school; we appreciate it.


Our Summer program started on May 27, 2026. We have a great group of students and staff working here over the summer. Staff is prepping, planning, and teaching over the summer and getting the building ready for the return of the students who chose to take the summer off.


I would like to welcome Aisling O Brien, who has joined our staff.  Aisling will be teaching English and Social Studies. I would also like to welcome Michelle Pearce who who has joing our staff. Michelle will be teaching Math. We are so happy to have you both here.


The Food Truck nights are back at the school. They will be here on the 3rd Thursday of each month through August. For July, that will be Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 5:30 - 7:30 PM. Feel free to bring a blanket or chair and enjoy the delicious food.



The school and building will be closed the week of Independence Day. Monday, June 29, through Friday, July 3, 2023, in observance of Independence Day. I hope you can spend time with friends and family celebrating this fantastic country over the long holiday weekend. 


Happy Independence Day, Stay safe.


Best, 

Michelle


 

Staff Announcement:

New Assistant Principal for 2026-2027!


We are thrilled to announce a exciting transition within our leadership team for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year!


Our very own math teacher, Mr. Josh, will be stepping into the role of Assistant Principal.


Over the past school year, Mr. Josh has demonstrated an incredible commitment to our students' academic success and a passion for fostering a positive school culture. While he will certainly be missed in the math classroom, we are incredibly excited to see him bring his energy, leadership, and dedication to our entire school community in this new capacity.


Please join us in congratulating Mr. Josh on his new role!


Congratulations, Mr. Josh!

Upcoming Events

July

6/29-7/3 SCHOOL CLOSED!

No students, no staff in the building

7/16 UPCC Food Truck Rally at Accelerated Schools (free event)



August

8/3-8/7 Staff Training, no students

8/10 First Day of School

8/20 UPCC Food Truck Rally at Accelerated Schools (free event)




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.


 

June 2026 Activities

Colorado History Museum

Summer Fun + Summer math

Josh Warren, Mathematics Instructor and Assistant Principal


Summer is a wonderful time to relax, explore, and make memories with family and friends. It is also full of opportunities to keep math skills sharp without ever opening a workbook.

Math is all around us, and some of the best learning happens during everyday activities. Filling up a pool, watering the garden, or washing the car can become a quick math challenge. Try using a stopwatch to time how long it takes to fill a one-gallon container. Then ask your child to calculate the flow rate in gallons per second or gallons per minute.

Making lemonade is another great way to sneak in math practice. Have your child double a recipe, cut it in half, or figure out how much of each ingredient is needed to serve a larger group. Fractions and ratios suddenly become much more meaningful when they are connected to something delicious.


A trip to the grocery store offers plenty of math moments as well. If an item costs $2 and you buy 3 of them, what is the total cost? Which brand gives you the better value? How much money will you save with a coupon? These simple conversations help children see multiplication and problem-solving in action.


Even sales tax can spark a math discussion. Ask your child why the final price is higher than the sticker price and talk about percentages in a real-world setting.



The goal is not to turn summer into school. Instead, it is about helping students recognize that math is a useful tool that helps us make sense of the world around us. A few minutes of curiosity each day can make a big difference.


Have a safe, fun, and math-filled summer!


A Summer Project

Raechel Kimsey, Instructor



Summer is a great time to tackle all of the projects that don't quite get finished during the busy school year. Between organizing supplies, sorting materials, and preparing classrooms for the year ahead, there is also time for some special projects.


One of those projects is finally reaching an exciting milestone: our class mural guitar is receiving its protective polyurethane coating so it can once again be used as a functional instrument.


The story of this guitar began last year when one of our students accidentally knocked the headstock off the instrument. While it was certainly an unfortunate accident, I saw an opportunity for a unique collaborative art project. With Ms. Michelle's permission, Mr. Craig and I removed the guitar's original finish and carefully repaired the broken headstock.


Back in the art room, students helped transform the instrument into a work of art. The guitar body was coated in gesso, creating a blank canvas for creativity. Over the past year and a half, art students and I have slowly covered the guitar with small pieces of artwork, adding layers of color, texture, and even glitter paint along the way.


Now, after many months of contributions from our student artists, the final stage has begun. The polyurethane coating will protect the artwork and allow the guitar to return to its original purpose—not just as an art piece, but as a playable instrument that showcases the creativity of our school community.


We are excited to share a few photos of the process and look forward to seeing (and hearing!) the finished guitar in the coming school year.


Summer Science, Checking in with Lucy and Betty

Julia Potocnjak-Overn , Science Instructor


Summer is in full effect and here at Accelerated Schools, students are engaging in some really cool activities!  Students who participated in environmental science got to complete a Dogfish shark dissection as we closed out our unit on water in conjunction with the Smithsonian Science Education Center.  High school student Elias also prepared two microscope slides and chose to examine, analyze a piece of shark heart and shark fin in order to get a closer look at some of the unique features of our specimen.  High school student Porter recently completed his project, Robutler, which is designed to help work alongside humans to help maintain the cleanliness of a home or space.  Check out the details of Robutler’s features!


Lucy and Betty are spending their summer back in the suburbs of Broomfield, but don’t despair!  They have been busy taking in some classic art, helping a curling team prepare for French Alps 2030, creating reenactments of their favorite Lord of The Rings and Star Wars movies.  There will be a rotating collage of the girls’ latest adventures in the science room, so feel free to stop by and check those out at your convenience, or if your student is on campus this summer, please let them know.  I hope everyone is enjoying their summer adventures.  Cheers!


Adventures Through Colorado's History

John Jarvinen, Student and Staff Support, Electives


This summer, Accelerated Schools students have been exploring Colorado’s rich and diverse history through a series of exciting field trips. From discovering the state's geological origins at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs to learning about the railroads that helped shape our state at the Colorado Railroad Museum and the Forney Museum of Transportation, students have experienced history firsthand. They also gained a deeper appreciation for the individuals and communities who helped build our state through visits to the Black American West Museum and the newly opened Colorado Hispanic History Museum. These hands-on experiences have brought Colorado’s past to life while helping students better understand the people, events, and landscapes that continue to shape our state today. But the fun doesn't stop there.

 

The learning continues throughout July with even more opportunities for students to explore Colorado's fascinating history. Upcoming summer activities include a trip to Dinosaur Ridge, where students will examine dinosaur tracks and fossils that reveal the state's prehistoric past. They will experience Colorado's mining heritage firsthand by venturing deep into the Argo Gold Mine in Idaho Springs and learning about the role mining played in the state's development. In addition, students will visit the Molly Brown House Museum to discover the remarkable story of the "Unsinkable" Molly Brown, exploring her legacy as a philanthropist, activist, and survivor of the Titanic disaster. These are only a few upcoming trips where students will connect classroom learning with the people, places, and events that have shaped Colorado. Take a look at our upcoming activities calendar for July, and let’s have a great month of learning and discovery!

Fun Family Friendly Things to do in Denver this July!

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! 



Major Festivals & Cultural Events


Cherry Creek Arts Festival (July 3–5): One of Denver's signature summer events. The streets of Cherry Creek North transform into a massive outdoor gallery featuring over 250 juried visual artists, live music, and culinary bites.


Denver PrideFest (July 3): Moving to a brand new location this year! PrideFest is taking over downtown Denver and bringing the parade and celebration directly to the 16th Street Mall.


Underground Music Showcase / UMS (July 24–26): Denver’s premier indie music festival. Head over to the Baker neighborhood and South Broadway to catch over 200 local and national bands performing across multiple outdoor stages and indoor bars.


Cheesman Park Art Fest (July 25–26): A more laid-back, charming alternative to Cherry Creek, featuring 100+ artists, craftsmen, and food trucks under the historic trees of Cheesman Park.


4th of July Weekend Highlights


Sunset Cinema & Drone Show (July 3): Since Civic Center Park is closed for construction, the city is hosting a free screening of National Treasure at Sculpture Park (1736 Speer Blvd) complete with a massive drone light show.


Rockies vs. Giants Fireworks Games (July 3 & 4): Catch a baseball game at Coors Field followed by one of the most famous, massive fireworks displays in the state.


Park Hill Parade (July 4): Spend your morning at Denver’s largest and oldest Independence Day parade, stretching through the historic Park Hill neighborhood.


Concerts & Outdoor Series

Red Rocks Amphitheatre: July is prime season for the world’s best outdoor venue. Big headliners this month include Zeds Dead (July 2-3), Blues Traveler (July 4), Brit Floyd (July 4-5), and Big Head Todd and the Monsters (July 6).


Denver Botanic Gardens Summer Concert Series: Enjoy live music surrounded by blooming flora at the York Street gardens. Performers this month include Grace Potter (July 7), Allen Stone (July 8), and Soccer Mommy (July 9).



Other Denver Events in July


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

For more than 40 years, concerned parents have turned to Accelerated Schools for individualized learning programs helping students overcome challenges, and excel academically. The fact is, a traditional school system is not designed to meet the needs of every child. When a student is not being successful, or is not thriving in a traditional environment, parents must often look elsewhere for a solution. This is were Accelerated Schools comes in.



Accelerated Schools begins by creating a learning program designed specifically for a student. Our work points are toward changing the ratio of failure to success and by cultivating an environment of accountability. Our students are given attainable goals and are rewarded by celebrating their accomplishments. Once a student starts experiencing success, their attitude, motivation and effort improve dramatically. This ends the negative cycle and leads to positive academic progress and positive self-esteem. 

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

 

Accelerated Schools



www.acceleratedschools.org

 
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