Volume 2, Issue 10

E x p l o r e K n o w l e d g e A c a d e m y

IMPORTANT DATES

Spring Carnival Baskets Due - April 24

Spring Carnival - Friday, April 26

Edutech Family Summit - Saturday, April 27

Skate Night - Wednesday, May 1

Elementary Talent Show Auditions

Wednesday, May 1

Elementary Spelling Bee - Friday, May 3

Family Enrichment Day - Saturday, May 4

Teacher Appreciation Week - May 7-10

Secondary Fashion Trashion - May 9

Secondary Spring Formal - May 10

Public Hearing on Tentative Budget - May 16

Book Fair - May 21-24

Elementary Talent Show - Friday, May 24

Senior Presentations - May 30 & 31

Elementary Field Day - Friday, May 31

EKA Spring Carnival

We are happy to announce that we are having our Spring Carnival at Sports Center of Las Vegas (121 East Sunset Road) on April 26 from 4:30-7:30. There will be game booths with prizes, batting cages, a rock wall, raffle baskets and much more. Be sure to mark your calendars and keep an eye out for information coming home from your advisors regarding donations for the class baskets. Pre-sale tickets will be available the week following Spring Break.

CRT TESTING!!

3rd Grade April 25-26th 4th Grade April 17-18th 5th Grade 16th, 23rd, 24th (Revised) 7th Grade April 16—17th 8th Grade April 24—26th

Seeking EKA Board Members

Board Members Needed for EKA's Governing Board. See attached flyer on page 9 of the newsletter for specifics, application and deadline. Ask friends, neighbors, and business associates to give of their time to support the school as a board member!

Hello Parents and Guardians,

This month finds us at a critical time of high stakes testing. What does that mean to you, your student and the school? First, for you it means we need your assistance in making sure that your children are well rested, well fed and ready to test. Please make sure that your student attends school on time, every day. Next, for your student, it means some long days that will challenge them mentally and ask them to reach deep into their brains for information to answer question after question. We know they have the answers and can obtain high scores if they put their minds to it. They have been taught the materials and now it is their turn to show what they have accomplished over the year. Ultimately though for the school, these tests determine our success or failure publically. This one test is used to create the Nevada Performance Framework, system of stars or other public measurement tool that lets everyone know whether a school is achieving its goals and the goals of the state. We are even graded on the percentage of students that take the test. If we do not have a high enough percentage of students that are enrolled in the school taking the test, the entire school is marked down. That is why it is so vital that all students attend school on test days. Some may ask how one test, essentially one day a year determines the effectiveness of a student’s overall educational journey, or the effectiveness of entire school year and I would have to ask them that honestly, I do not know. What I do know it that this is a mandate at a level higher than our school, our school district, our county or even our state and whether we agree or not, we need to comply. Please assist us in any way possible in preparing your students for these tests, comforting them if they get frustrated and reaffirm that this one test does not dictate their success or failure. While we are not a school that puts a priority on testing and test preparation, we do know that we are educating your students to high levels and that they are achieving and succeeding. You can see this on a daily basis, just as we do, test score or not. Thank you, as always, for putting your trust in Explore Knowledge Academy and project based learning to educate your child. Our non-traditional methods may seem strange to some, but we know that it works and that our students are some of the best and the brightest that the Las Vegas Valley has to offer.

Your Director, Abbe Mattson

EKA is in need of Clorox wipes and paper towels! If you can donate, please drop them off at the front office of either

building.

YEARBOOK Sales It’s not too late to purchase your yearbook! The cost is $40.00. Be sure to turn in your orders to the front office and make your checks payable to EKA.

Explore Knowledge Foundation Members Needed

EKF is in need of new members to support the school and the Foundation. Meetings are held quarterly in the evenings. Financial background and fundraising knowledge is a

plus. Friends of EKA family members are encouraged to join! For more information contact Art Vivas—Foundation President at

avivas@ekafoundation.com

EKA Missed School Work Policy

When your child is absent, please be sure to contact their advisor to request any missed assignments. All EKA advisors can be reached via email through our website. Parents are responsible for contacting the advisors. Also, please check back with the advisor when coming in to collect missing work to make sure it has been brought to the front office.

EduTech Family Summit

EduTech Family Summits invites you to join them at the UNLV Student Union Saturday, April 27,

2013, for students grades 8-12, parents, and educators. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and the fair

lasts until 3:00 p.m. Microsoft is sponsoring the summit, and CCSD will have several presentations

and an informational booth at the summit. Explore how students can use innovative technology to

learn and achieve their highest academic and career success. Please see the attached flier on page

11 of the EKA newsletter for more information.

Family Enrichment Day

UNLV will host the 5th annual Family Enrichment Day on Saturday, May 4th, 2013, at the UNLV

Student Union, 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and welcoming remarks

will be at 9:00 a.m. The purpose of this event is to support parent engagement and student academic

success. The event consists of workshops and activities for the entire family. CCSD teachers will

provide families with hands-on activities to assist their children with reading, writing, mathematics,

and science. The Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Student Ambassadors will be

conducting a Family College Planning Session that every participant may attend. It is free for

everyone—students, parents, families, and caregivers. Please see the attached flier on page 10 of

the EKA newsletter for more information.

Elementary Happenings

Upcoming Important Dates:

Advisory Basket Donations Due

April 24th

Elementary Talent Show Auditions May 1st

Elementary Spelling Bee

May 3rd

Talent Show May 24th

Elementary Field Day

May 31st

Donations Needed

The elementary office is in desperate need of colored copy paper. If you are able to contribute, please send them to the front office.

EKA’s Got Talent Show Auditions

Come and share your talent with other EKA

elementary students. Auditions are open to

grades K-5. Auditions will be held in the

Building A lunchroom on May 1st from 3:30-

4:30 pm. Please bring all materials need to

showcase your talent. If you have questions,

contact Mr. Mendez or Mrs. Skordas through

their EKA email. Permission slips available in the

front office.

Upcoming Fieldtrips

2/3— Springs Preserve April 23rd

Torres/Gilbert/Maks April 24th

Carr/Matson/Skordas/Talley

1st Grade—CSN April 30th

Smith/Mills May 1st

Tabamo/Mrs. W.

Kindergarten—Springs Preserve May 3rd

4/5 Red Rock

Mendez/Monroe May 17th

Health Office News Boys sweats and t-shirts sizes 6-12 are

needed to have on hand for emergencies.

*If you have any clothes that were sent

home with your student from the Health

Office, please be sure they are returned.

Reminder: Please do not send your child to

school with open-toed shoes. Also please

adhere to the EKA dress code now that

warmer weather has arrived.

Secondary Happenings

Upcoming Important Dates:

Pennies for Prom Drive

April 16th—26th

Carnival Advisory Basket Donations Due

April 24th

Fashion Trashion May 9th

Spring Formal Dance

May 10th

Senior Presentations May 30th and 31st

Pennies for Prom Each year, the secondary advisories have a contest which raises money for Prom. This year, Prom will be held at Dragon Ridge Country Club and the students need your help. Send your secondary students to school with loose “couch change” to support the effort. There is a catch though. Pennies are positive and worth +1 point. Coins and dollars are negatives (ex. A nickel is –5 points, a dime –10 and a dollar is –100 points.) Each advisory will be given a bucket to fill over the two weeks . The objective is for the winning advisory to have the most positive points in their bucket. During passing periods, students will be able to put their negative point change in other advisory buckets, while trying to keep as many positive points in their own. In the end, the winning advisory will have a Bubble Wrap Pop and Pizza Party!

On April 26th, the Paws for Change Animal Club will embark on their first field trip! The “Animal Club” members will be visiting a no-kill animal shelter. The students will learn how the facility operates and how animals of all types are handled.

FASHION TRASHION

EKA is planning their yearly Fashion Trashion show for Thursday, May 9th. Students will be creating designs and showing them off on the runway. All secondary students are w e l c o m e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e b y c r e a t i n g their own designs or just watching the show. Students creating a design, must use items that would have otherwise been trash. They are asked to avoid using "new" material since that defeats the purpose of teaching about reduce, reuse, recycle. This fashion show is always a hit and we look forward to seeing the creative ways that trash can be turned into fashion!

MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE AT EKA!

8th Grade Science classes are presenting this week their Atomic Structure Projects (they had to pick an element from the periodic table of elements and create a 3-dimensional model to show the class as well as a report/paper about that element). The 7th Graders are presenting their Experiment Projects in class next week. They had to research a Science concept/topic then would find an experiment related to that concept/topic to show the class when they present as well as turn in a report/paper about the concept/topic.

Students in the Spotlight

Jayleigh S. Jayleigh (right) and sister Jessa (left) show how cats at the

HCWS clinic love the blankets made by Jayleigh.

At 8-years-old, Jayleigh S. is already hard at work helping homeless animals. The third grade student handmade 50 blankets to keep the cats that come to the Heaven Can Wait clinic feel cozy and comfortable while they recover from spay and neuter surgeries.

Jayleigh’s proud grandmother, Karyl, explained that her granddaughter earned money to buy the fleece for the blankets from her allowance and she used reward money for getting a straight “A” report card to buy dog food. “We need to take it to them, they need it,” Jayleigh told her grandmother. In addition, Jayleigh gave a speech to her classmates at Explore Knowledge Academy about homeless pets. Later the school decided to hold a dance that raised funds for Heaven Can Wait Animal Society. Jayleigh and her family recently had the opportunity to tour the spay/neuter clinic. They got a

firsthand look at how the blankets are being put to use. Harold Vosko, Heaven Can Wait’s

president, thanked Jayleigh for her generosity and congratulated her on a job well done. We hope

Jayleigh never stops helping homeless animals and that one day her dream to become a veterinarian

comes true. Posted March 17, 2013 by HCWS Blog

Michael M.

“Student of the Week”

Seventh-grader Michael M. earned “student of

the week” honors this month in Ms.

Mendoza’s Advisory. He was selected because

he is a hard worker who continually seeks

ways to improve his work. He also

consistently turns in his work in a timely

manner and is always assisting other pupils.

Congratulations, Michael!

National Honor Society &

National Junior Honor Society When: Wednesday, 11:45—12:15

Advisor: Ms. Keyer Where: Science Lab

Purpose: Members satisfy the needs of the school &

the community through club projects.

Paws For Change When: Thursday at 3:45—4:15 pm

Advisor: Mendoza Where: Ms. Mendoza’s Advisory

A Senior Project to learn about animal rights,

strategize on addressing animal abuse and taking part in animal-related community work.

Student Government

When: Wednesday at 2:30—3:15

Advisor: Mattson Where: Science Lab

To promote school spirit, improve community relations, organize activities and give students

leadership opportunities.

Yoga Club

When: Thursday at 3:40-4:20 Advisor: Ms. Kinoshita.

Where: Kinoshita Advisory Purpose: All levels are welcome to learn about and

practice yoga postures. Yoga helps manage stress,

improve body image, and improve overall health. Mrs. Kinoshita is a certified yoga teacher.

Sewing Club

When: Thursday at 3:40-4:30 Advisor: Chapman

Where: Chapman Advisory

Sewing club is for beginners and those who are experienced.

Some supplies and sewing machines are available.

For more information contact Mrs. Chapman

kchapman@ekacademy.org

Secondary Club News

Dance: NOW ENROLLING

When: Tuesdays, 3:15—3:45 pm Who: Step Up Academy of the Arts

Where: Multi-purpose room Building C

$5.00 per class

Grades K-5

NEW SESSION APRIL 3RD!

Karate When: Wednesdays, 3:15—4:00

pm Who: Professional Karate Center

Where: Multi-purpose room

Building C $65 per 8 week session

Grades K-5

Art Club:

When: Thursday, Grades 2/3 Where: Lunch Room Building A

Advisor: Ms. Gilbert

Elementary Club News

Congratulations to the EKA Girls Basketball Team on finishing their season undefeated! Players

include Kylie Keyer, Victoria Brown, Jayme Dooley, Kelsey Keener, Valery Keener, Tyler Murphy, Ashley Smith and Kui’Phua Untalan. The team was lead by Ms. Patton. Great job!

PTSA News: The PTSA is looking for officers to sit on the board for the 2013-2014 school year. If you are interested, please contact Jennifer McKeehan via email on the PTSA link. Skate Night: Crystal Palace May 1st from 3:30-6:30 PM

Executive Director

Abbe Mattson - amattson@ekacademy.org

Secondary Director

Patrick Quinn - pquinn@ekacademy.org

Elementary Director

Dawn Gustafson - dgustafson@ekacademy.org

Office Manager

Hope Vivas - hvivas@ekacademy.org

Finance Director

Susan Stewart - sstewart@ekacademy.org

5871 Mountain Vista

Las Vegas, NV 89120

(702) 870-5032

Elementary Office Hours

Monday 7:30-2:30

Tues - Fri 7:15-3:30

~

Secondary Office Hours

Monday 8:00—3:00

Tues - Fri 7:30-4:30

Entertainment Books

Great News! Entertainment Books are still available and now offered at a reduced cost of $10 while supplies

last!

Ibrahim. F.—Held the door Nick H.—Held the door Austin G.—Held the door Joel W.—Held the door Tryston—Held the door Charlese—Held the door Lanie G.—Held the door Marissa G.—Helping an advisor Marla G.—Helping an advisor Zyanna H.—Put away lunch benches without being asked

Monica G.—Helping the teacher Nathalia S.—Found a math book and returned it Hannah P.— Helped clean up a spill Samuel M.—Holding door open for other students. Lanie G.—Helping others

APPLICATION FOR BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Name ______________________________________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Phone number(s) ____________________________________________________________ Email address ______________________________________________________________ 1. □ Attached is a brief resume, evidence of two years of full time teaching experience and a copy of

my teaching license, if applicable.

2. Reason you are interested in serving on the EKA Board of Trustees:

3. If I am elected to the EKA Board, I will: (please initial)

_____ work collaboratively with the other board members and the administration to implement the vision, mission, and goals of EKA as specified in our strategic plan,

_____ help maintain compliance with our charter agreement with CCSD

_____ keep informed of charter school laws,

_____ keep informed of EKA board business and

_____ attend the meetings of the board, (at least quarterly)

_____ attend the annual retreat and other board training events as scheduled by the board and administration of EKA.

4. _____ I have never been convicted of a felony, or any offense of moral turpitude and there are

not any such charges pending to the best of my knowledge. SIGNATURE _________________________________________ DATE ________________