American Academy (AA) 8600 Park Meadows Drive, Suite 100 Lone Tree, CO 80126 (temporary facility) 720-873-7395 Grades K-8 Calendar: Traditional www.americanacademyk8.org

American Academy hosted a tour of their temporary facility for the newly elected City of CPN officials. The school is working with the new city to build a new school in CPN. American Academy has been in a temporary location in Lone Tree for three years and plans to break ground at Lagae Ranch this summer. Once the new facility is complete, American Academy will be the largest charter school in Douglas County with more than 700 students and will be the only middle school in the new city. Pictured from the left: David Neely, City Council Ward 3, Mayor Maureen Shul, Roberta Harrell, American Academy CAO, Erin Kane, American Academy Board President, Jackie Santos, American Academy Board Secretary, and Kim Hoffman, City Council Ward 2. (photo by Lane Roberts)

AA Receives Third John Irwin School of Excellence Award

by Lane Roberts

American Academy, a public K-8 Douglas County charter school, opened its doors in August, 2005. Since then, the school has received three consecutive John Irwin School of Excellence Awards.

The Colorado School Awards Program was created in the 2000 Colorado General Assembly to recognize the highest performing and most improved public schools in the state, as determined by the School Accountability Reports. The John Irwin Award is named after a former state legislator. It is only for the top eight percent of schools in the state for academics.

American Academy received this award for 2005-2006, and 2006-2007 school years. The award for the 2007-2008 school year will be presented later this year.

Second Graders Sing at CPN City Swearing In Ceremony

More than 80 second graders from American Academy provided special music at the City of Castle Pines North swearing in ceremony on Monday, March 10.

Led by music teacher Mark Middlebrooks, the children encircled the entire crowd and sang The Star Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful, adding a unique touch to the ceremony. American Academy is working to build a new school in the new City of CPN.

“One of our core virtues, Love of Country, was a perfect tie-in to this special occassion,” said American Academy Chief Administrative Officer Roberta Harrell, who also attended the ceremony. Patriotic songs are part of the Core Knowledge curriculum for American Academy second graders.

Special thanks to second grade teachers Julie Weiss, Laura Yrastorza, Amanda Smith and Holly Lusk for coordinating this effort.