November 21st: Winterfest All School Music Performance from 1:30-3:00pm

November 21st: Laternenumzug (Family Lantern Walk) from 4:45-5:45pm

November 22nd: Spirit Day: Class Colors (check your class's newsletter)

November 25th - 29th: Thanksgiving Break - No School, CLC Open 25th -27th, Closed 28th-29th.

December 2nd - PTO Meeting 4:15-5:15pm

December 3rd: SAC Meeting 4:15-5:15pm

December 6th: Rollerland Skate Center Fundraiser Night

December 12th: CLC Club Performances

December 16th: AAK Giving Day 1:30pm-3:15pm and Red Cross Blood Drive

December 17th: Celebrations Around the World 1:15pm-3:15pm

December 18th: Polar Express Day 1:30pm-3:15pm

December 19th - January 7th: Winter Break

January 27-30th - Talent Show Auditions

February 13th: Talent Show

See more upcoming dates and the school calendar here:

https://www.aakelementary.org/forms-information

Winterfest is Thursday from 1:30-3:10

Join us for student performances in the auditorium!

Students will enter the auditorium and perform and then return to their classrooms. Please do not go to the classroom before your student performs. There will be a few minutes between each grade when students will return to their classroom and families can then pick their student up from their classroom. Please exit through the main office so we can check students out. Each class will perform a song or do a short performance.

Pre K - Martin Performance: 1:30

Kinder Behm Performance: 1:40

Kinder - Hall Performance:1:45

1st Grade - Jacyln Performance: 1:55

1st Grade - Heckart Performance: 2:00

2nd Grade - Cullen Performance: 2:10

2nd Grade - Hyde Performance: 2:15

3rd Grade - Benavidez Performance: 2:25

3rd Grade - De Jane Performance: 2:30

4th Grade - Potocki Performance: 2:40

4th Grade - Born Performance: 2:50

5th Grade - Walters Performance: 3:00

We had a wonderful time making lanterns with families on Thursday afternoon. We had over 70 people and made 53 lanterns! If you were not able to attend, you can make a lantern at home and bring it or just come and walk with us next Thursday!

On November 21st it will be Laternenumzug (Family Lantern Walk) from 4:45-5:45pm. Use the lantern you made at the school, or one you make at home, and come walk with us! We will gather at the school and then walk for about a half hour. Hot chocolate will be served in the cafeteria at 5:30. This event is not part of CLC, only students accompanied by their adult may attend.

This fun family and community activity comes to us via Mrs Hyde from Germany and we are looking forward to seeing all the beautiful lanterns lit together!

All students are invited to audition after Winter Break for the Talent Show.

Start thinking and practicing your special talent now!

Sign Up for CLC over Thanksgiving Break is now closed. We are looking forward to having a lot of fun with everyone who signed up and hope everyone has a wonderful Break!

We have had a few families in our AAK community ask if there is anyone who needs any help this holiday season, and a few families who have asked what help is available. We would like to offer an opportunity to connect families anonymously.

If you are an AAK family that needs a little help this holiday season with holiday food or gifts, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/bSwC59pCoyzUoVcy8

If you would like to help an AAK family, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/QKF2hrv77B7GwFZQ9

SAC is AAK's School Accountability Committee and it discusses important issues such as:

Safety and Security

-Physical safety

-Cyber security

-Staff trainings

Curriculum and Assessments

-Beginning/middle/end of year assessments

-Data driven decision making processes

Please join us Tuesday, December 3rd from 4:15-5:15pm. We would love your input on these important issues!

Our fifth grade students are running a store to learn about commerce and make money for their Eco Week trip in the spring. The store is open for shopping on Fridays at lunchtime only. Students must be finished eating before they can shop.

As of November 1st, enrollment opens for new families for the 2025-2026 school year! Your voice is our strongest advocate – more families discover us because of your support and stories than any other source. So, help spread the word about the Best Kept Secret in Education: Academy of Arts and Knowledge (AAK)!

Here’s what makes AAK special and worth sharing with friends and neighbors:

• Award-Winning Excellence: AAK is a two-time Performance with Distinction School!

• Top Academic Performance: AAK’s 5th grade CMAS Scores have surpassed both PSD and TSD in ELA, Math, and Science for two consecutive years.

• Inclusive Environment: We serve a higher percentage of students with disabilities, ensuring every student is fully included in our vibrant school community, achieving greater academic growth than surrounding districts.

• Comprehensive Support for Families: We provide free before and after-school programs, along with free programming during school breaks, including summer.

• Enrichment for All Interests: AAK currently offers 20 diverse student clubs for learning, exploration, and growth!

Help us grow the AAK family by sharing these highlights with those seeking a well-rounded arts-integrated educational experience!

Please call or text the CLC phone at 970-619-1077

October 4th CLC Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/c0mef2

Click here to view the menu from our new caterer! https://linqconnect.com/public/menu/Y2FT7A?buildingId=be11f078-9a3f-ef11-bec0-a35da61ebcdb

To opt in for texts from AAK with the Newsletter link, school closure messages, event reminders, etc, Text "YES" to 67587

Please let us know if your student will be out for the day, or will be more than 15 minutes late for school:

If your student is going to be absent for an appointment, vacation, or is ill, please call to let us know, or use the form linked below to excuse their absence.

Your student must be free of fever, vomiting, and/or diarrhea for 24 hours without medication before returning to school, i.e. if they have symptoms today, they will need to remain home tomorrow.

If your student has a runny nose, cough, sore throat, etc. (without fever, vomiting, and/or diarrhea) they must stay home until they only have one symptom left and it is improving.

Or you can call 970-226-2800. Thank you!

Click here: https://secure.smore.com/n/nm40f for additional information on:

-Pick up and drop off procedure

-Free and Reduced Lunch Application

-CLC times and Sign Up

-School Lunch Info

-Student and Family Handbook

-School calendar and event info

-Birthday Celebration info

-Volunteer and Driver Forms

-Medicine administration and allergy forms

https://www.facebook.com/AAKElementary

https://www.smore.com/u/aakelementary

AAK is a public elementary school serving students in grades K-5 that reside in the Front Range. Our school offers a robust arts program that complements core academics, fosters critical thinking skills, and creates confident, creative individuals with the freedom to reach their full potential, all within a supporting school community.

Email: info@aakelementary.org
Website: https://www.aakelementary.org/
Location: 4800 Wheaton Drive, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Phone: (970) 226-2800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAKElementary/