Zaccaria March 2026

Over the past few months, you may have heard us talk more about attendance. In recent years, we have seen a significant decline in student attendance rates, and we want to work together to change that.

Being at school each day is essential for learning, building routines, and staying connected to teachers and peers. Even short absences can add up and make it harder for students to keep pace with instruction.

We understand that some absences are unavoidable, but we ask for your partnership in making attendance a priority whenever possible. Together, we can improve attendance and support student success. Thank you for helping us ensure every school day counts.

March Madness Attendance is tipping off! Our goal for March is to see two Grades 5–8 teams make it to the finals—let’s show up and make it happen!

Rick Zaccaria

In grades 5–8, there’s always something exciting happening! Because of that, there may be months when we send a Mid-Month Informational Newsletter to keep families in the loop.

Due to a scheduling conflict, we will have our annual class pictures taken on March 25. 5th grade will be taken with their homeroom teachers, while 6th-8th will be the entire grade. Please look in our weekly newsletter for ordering information coming soon.

The Douglas County Youth Initiative (DCYI) is accepting nominations for the 2026 Outstanding Youth Awards.

Each year, DCYI honors exceptional young people who have overcome personal adversity and created positive change in their lives. These awards recognize teenagers ages 13–19 who have triumphed over great odds and now serve as inspirations and role models within our community.

If you know a deserving young person, please consider submitting a nomination - and share this opportunity with others who may know an outstanding youth. The deadline for nominations is April 3.

Our 5th graders are getting ready for an exciting learning experience at Ameritowne! This unique program gives students the chance to explore real-world skills like budgeting, banking, entrepreneurship, and making financial decisions in a safe, fun, and engaging environment. By stepping into the roles of business owners, consumers, and city leaders, students get to see how money, work, and responsibilities come together in everyday life.

This experience is more than just fun—it’s an opportunity to prepare our students for the future. They will learn teamwork, decision-making, and problem-solving while practicing skills they will use for years to come. Ameritowne provides a memorable way for our 5th graders to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences, helping them understand the importance of responsibility, planning, and smart choices. We can’t wait to watch them explore, learn, and grow in this hands-on adventure!

REMINDER: Friday, March 13 is the Ameritowne and formal uniform is required.

We are excited to announce that the 2026 Ben Franklin Science Fair is going to be held from May 4th to May 6th, with a parent viewing night on May 5th from 4 pm - 7 pm. For parents of 3rd and 5th graders, please put on your calendars. The event will be held in the Lightning (small) gym. The 3rd and 5th graders will begin talking about their projects in their classrooms starting in March and April.

If you would like to come to view all of our student’s hard work, please fill out your information on the viewing volunteer signup genius link (click here). If any parents are interested in helping us judge students' science fair presentations, please complete the form on the judging signup genius link (click here). We only ask that you refrain from signing up to judge your child’s grade.

More information will be sent out closer to the event date, including Science Fair project expectations, viewing, and judging logistics. If you have any other questions, please refer to the BFA Science Fair Handbook linked on the BFA Science Lab webpage.

In addition to the Spirit Wear days, the Middle School Student Council and staff have a fun day planned for Friday, March 13. From Dodgeball 4 Dollars, Lip Sync Contest to a Craft Room, this day has something for everyone. And all while raising money for Backpack Society.

Just a last reminder: 🥪🍱 SACK/HOME LUNCH ONLY. There will be NO hot lunch or food deliveries for all 6th, 7th, or 8th grade students available on this day.

💲🧾💳 Payment & Purchase Information:
All Payments and Purchases must be completed by March 12 at 3:00 p.m.

• Dodgeball 4 Dollars invoices have gone out in MySchoolBucks (MSB).
  
  
• Craft for a Cause Room selections are now open in MSB.
  
  
• Mic-Drop for A Mission will not have a registration fee for this year.

Lastly, a quiet movie room will be available for students throughout the day.

Mark your calendars! Our next Middle School Dance will be April 17 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.,

We are looking forward to a great month in Middle School. Our monthly assembly will be on March 27 and will honor our monthly SuperStar and more.

Please note that if you plan to pick up your student early that day, do so by 2:30 p.m.

Track & Field Is Starting Up! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

Track and Field season is right around the corner! To participate, all athletes must be registered and have waivers completed through MySchoolBucks, which is now open. Students who are not registered will not be able to practice.

Track is a no-cut sport, making it a great, low-pressure opportunity for students to try something new, build confidence, and be part of a team. Player payments for the season will be invoiced through MySchoolBucks and will include a sweatshirt and locker sticker.

What to Bring on Tryout Days:

• Water bottle
• Change of athletic clothes
• Athletic shoes

Students will remain in their carpool rooms until the all-call, then meet their coaches in the Outdoor Classroom.

6th–8th Grade Practices for next week

📅 March 10, 11, and 12

⏰ 3:45–5:00 PM

As our academics are rigorous, we reward our Grade 6 - 8 students who make Principal's Honor Roll (greater than 4.24), High Honor Roll (3.81 to 4.24), and Honor Roll (3.5 to 3.8).

Congratulations to all our hard working students who made the 2nd Trimester Honor Roll. (Parents will be emailed the password for our Honor Roll list.)

In addition to an Honor Roll Certificate, we hosted a special morning breakfast for these students, and our students earn a special Dress of Choice Day on March 6.

Throughout the year, we use this section to celebrate classroom or grade achievements, post a snapshot of what each grade level is doing and post important information to help each parent.

You can use the Table of Contents on the left side of your screen to quickly navigate to information that is important to you (on desktop version only).

The 5th grade class is reading The Secret Garden and, alongside their reading, they are learning how to write a strong paper. This includes:

• Starting with a hook – a sentence or question that grabs the reader’s attention.

• Ending with a conclusion – a sentence or paragraph that wraps up their ideas and leaves the reader with something to think about.

Students are learning the fundamentals of handball—practicing teamwork, coordination, and sportsmanship while building strength and confidence through active play.

7th grade students spent their advisory time writing notes of kindness and placing them in fellow 7th grade lockers. It was a simple but meaningful way to encourage and support one another.

7th graders are currently in our 1920s unit, learning about the Harlem Renaissance and the impact of music during that era. JD Kim brought in his saxophone to bring history to life, sharing his musical talent with classmates and demonstrating how the influence of the 1920s continues to shape the present.

Our students are exploring the past—researching topics, sharing discoveries, and building a deeper understanding of history through their Social Studies Fair projects.

As our 8th Graders look towards their next chapter in their academics, we would love to celebrate where they have decided to go to high school. Please send us an email or DM through Instagram with the following information.

1. YOUR FULL NAME AND RECENT PICTURE OF YOU.
2. HIGH SCHOOL DECISION
3. ANY SPORTS OR ACTIVITIES THEY WILL PARTICIPATE IN

Deadline is April 30 and we will post on Instagram throughout May.

This is completely optional for our parents. Submissions must be made by parents only.

May 19: 8th Grade Dinner - Students Only 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the middle school commons.

May 21: 8th Grade Clap Out - 1:30 p.m. Front of School.

May 21: 8th Grade Graduation - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Upper Parking Lot

Spanish Class goes to the Denver Art Museum.

7th Grade learns how to make pancakes from scratch.

6th grade learns Lego Robotics.