April 29, 2025 Family Newsletter
SCHOOL NEWS:
Clinic Update - Your child may have been exposed to pertussis, also known as “whooping cough”, at Jefferson Academy Secondary School. Please read this letter from our school Nurse regarding the possible exposure, symptoms and treatment.
Staff Appreciation Week is Coming - The week of May 5th is staff appreciation week. Let’s show the awesome JA Staff some love! If you would like to help, contact Boosters;
Contact Katy or Cristy kbake31@netzero.net or cl.hamilton@yahoo.com
Hospitality Donations - Cheddar Up
Leave a Lasting Legacy at JA! - Support the Foundation for Jefferson Academy by purchasing a custom engraved brick—perfect for honoring a student, alumni, favorite staff member, or your family name! Bricks will be placed at the campus you designate when ordering: Elementary, Secondary, or Coal Creek Canyon.
Commemorative bricks are a meaningful way to celebrate a 6th or 12th-grade graduate or simply show your ongoing support for JA! All engravings are subject to approval. For questions, reach out to info@thefoundationforja.org
Order your brick today and be part of JA’s lasting legacy! www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/foundationforja
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES:
2025-2026 Class Schedules - All current 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th graders should have already scheduled a meeting with Ms. Adams (8th) or Ms. LeValley (9th-11th) to create their class schedule for next year. If your student has yet to build their class schedule, please have them check their JAJAGS email for calendar links and all necessary information. Meetings should now be scheduled ASAP.
In-Person AI Camp in Denver- Inspirit AI is offering a project-based AI program at Denver Jewish Day School this summer 2025. Students are invited to meet with Ivy League researchers in-person to explore real-world applications of AI across STEM and humanities. Please apply here and email jaredgreene@inspiritai.com with any questions.
West Point Leadership Conference - Current juniors considering applying for a military academy should consider attending The West Point Societies of Denver and the Pikes Peak Region (Colorado Springs) 5th Annual West Point Leadership & Ethics Conference of Colorado. The one-day conference for high school juniors (emerging seniors) from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm on Friday, 2 May at the auditorium and classroom facilities of Fellowship Denver Church - 1990 South Broadway, Denver, CO 80210. Click on the link to register: https://sallyport.westpointaog.org/events/172939
ACTIVITIES:
Attention Junior High "Not Prom" Party Help - Many of you have been looking for a way to come into the school and get involved in an event for your kids. We have the opportunity (Friday, 5/2) to put on a little informal party for the 7th and 8th graders, while the High School kids are having their Prom Assembly. Maybe we'll call it the "Not Prom" party.
We are thinking of having indoor/outdoor games and activities available for the students to participate in as they like. We will also be selling snacks in the Concession Stand in the Commons.
The party would be starting at 12:30 and going until 2:00pm. We looking for volunteers in the following areas, or with other things you might think of!
1. People who can bring and/or supervise games. (cornhole, 4 square, spikeball, board games, etc). You would need to arrive to check in at the office and set up your game around 12:00, which will be right at the end of High School lunch. If you can come and supervise a game but not bring one, that would be great, too!
2. We would love to have decorations! Creative people, go to it! We cannot have balloons, but any other ideas, let us know!
3. People who can do the clean-up, as the teachers all have to go right back to class.
4. A helper or two selling snacks in the Concession stand (not hot dogs, popcorn or nachos, just the packaged snacks)
Thanks, parents!! If we can get this going with enough helpers, we'll tell the kids it's on!
Here is the sign up link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NKvN1bk9mJCuqRy4yElimPVRJ6gkrvtpcXJaLcYv--M/edit?usp=sharing
Feel free to email me here or at ebabcock@jajags.com if you have questions or ideas.
Save the Date: Jaguar Warriors Night – Monday, May 12! Join us for the 1st Annual Jaguar Warriors Night, a free event open to all JA Charter Schools families, staff, alumni, and friends! Taking place on Monday, May 12 from 6:00–8:30 PM at JA Secondary, this exciting evening will feature fun activities for the whole family, special guest Dave Johnson of the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund, and our first-ever Secondary vs. Elementary Staff Sports Tournament!
Let’s celebrate our seniors, honor achievements, and support jaguar conservation worldwide. Mark your calendars—you won’t want to miss it!
Boosters Needs Your Involvement- Boosters is a parent-run support organization for all Secondary clubs and sports. They manage volunteers for teams and events, manage concession volunteers at games, and host events like teacher appreciation days, fall fest, and after prom.
Boosters provides material support for large school efforts such as the signs in the gym, sponsor Banners for athletics, infrastructure for coaches to financially manage their teams, and acts as the Treasurer for club and sports teams to provide financial transparency.
Parent Volunteers Needed at Boosters After Prom- Night owl? Love to help out? Join us at After Prom! Boosters needs your help to provide a safe event for our students. Please sign up with the following link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090A48A8AD2DA02-56230755-jefferson
Milk Caps–If you have Longmont Dairy milk caps at home, please turn them into the secondary office before finals.
Attention Current 7th grade Students and Parents–Don’t miss out…prices increase on May 1, 2025. There is still space available on the 2026 8th grade educational trip to Washington DC & New York. Don’t miss out on this incredible learning opportunity. You can sign up one of two ways–the website www.efexploreamerica.com tour number 2822048SS or by calling EF directly at 1-888-333-9756. Please email Mrs. Porreco at mporreco@jajags.com with any questions.
Attention Current 8th & 9th Grade Students- If you are interested in the April 2026 Puerto Rico Trip, time is running out to put down your deposit to lock in the current prices. The price total will be increasing on May1. Follow this link to see the exciting things we will experience on this tour. If you already know you want to reserve your spot, click here.
Peru 2027 Trip Meeting - Join the cultural immersion-travel experience in Peru: Lima- Cuzco - Machu Picchu- Puno- Titicaca lake in March 2027 for JA students will be an amazing adventure that you’ll remember for the rest of your life! We are hosting the first IN PERSON meeting about this trip on Thursday, May 8th at 6:00 pm in Room 134 .You will learn more about a $200 per student scholarship, Risk-Free Enrollment Period, and space on the tour are available. Any questions please contact Sra Bocanegra nbocanegra@jajags.com
The easiest way to enroll to the in person meeting is online through our tour website: https://rsvp.eftours.com/bns7rae
ATHLETICS:
Junior High Tryouts - Is your student interested in playing junior high volleyball or basketball next year for the school? Volleyball and basketball are offered as elective credits during 1st and 2nd quarters and that means tryouts are coming soon. If you are wondering why we hold tryouts so early, it is because rosters for first semester classes need to be set before the end of this school year.
Girls Volleyball Tryouts (class will be D-block, 1st quarter):
Who: Current 6th & 7th grade girls (will be 7th and 8th next year)
Dates: Thursday & Friday, May 8th & 9th
Time: 4:15-5:45
Location: JA Secondary - Main Gym
What to bring: Athletic shoes, athletic wear, water bottle, and knee pads if you have them
You must fill out this mandatory form in order to attend
Boys Basketball Tryouts (class will be D-block, 2nd quarter):
Who: Current 6th & 7th grade boys (will be 7th and 8th next year):
Date: Tuesday & Wednesday, April 29th & 30th
Time: 4:14-5:45
Location: JA Secondary - Main Gym
What to bring: Athletic shoes, athletic wear, water bottle
You must fill out this mandatory form in order to attend
If you are unable to participate in tryouts for any reason, you must reach out to us prior to tryouts so other arrangements can be made. There will be no makeup days.
Please arrive no earlier than 3:50. There is plenty of parking in the large north parking lot, or you are also free to park in any available visitor spots. Feel free to drop your student off at the front door and have them check in at the office before proceeding to the gym. Tryouts are closed to parents. Communication will be sent out within the week after tryouts about roster placement.
Tryouts for boys soccer will be mid-August, we will let you know exact times once those are set. Tryouts for girls basketball (also a class) will be held sometime in mid-October. Junior High Cross Country will start in the fall and all interested student-athletes can participate.
Summer Youth Volleyball Camps - Our high school volleyball team will be hosting two volleyball camps this summer. The camps will be held on May 30th and August 8th. Click here for times, prices, and sign up information.
Spring Concession SignUp - Come enjoy some outdoor sports, volunteer and even have some time for team building. Sign up today to volunteer at the outdoor concession stand for spring sports. Clubs, activities and sports, HS and JV, can sign up to run the concession stand for a few hours and 50% of the money raised that day will go back to your club, sport or activity. SIGN UP HERE
IMPORTANT LINKS: