“Kindness is like snow—it beautifies everything it covers.”
— Kahlil Gibran
As we enter the final month of the year, we are filled with gratitude for the growth, achievements, and community spirit that have defined our school year so far. December is a special time for reflection, celebration, and connection, and we are excited to share the many upcoming events and highlights with you.
From seasonal activities to important year-end reflections, this month promises to be filled with joy and togetherness. As always, we are deeply grateful for the continued support of our families and the hard work of our dedicated staff, who make every day at Elizabeth Academy an inspiring and enriching experience.
We wish you a wonderful holiday season, filled with peace, joy, and warmth, and we look forward to finishing the year strong together.
Warmly,
Elizabeth Academy
December Events
D.E.A.R (Drop Everything and Read): December 5th, 8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
EAPO Campus Conversations- Secondary School: December 11th, 2:30 PM
EAPO Campus Conversations- Primary School: December 12th, 8:50 AM
Fire Drill- No Alarm: December 12th
Primary School Enrichments- Light & Arts Festival: December 13th
EAPO Pizza Wednesday: December 18th
Love & Light Festival: December 19th, 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Continuing Enrollment Begins: December 19th
EAPO Primary School Friday Fun Day: December 20th- More information to come
Winter Break: December 21st- January 5th
Love & Light Festival
Every year we come together to celebrate the season and our community. Students have been making lanterns at home and we are inviting families in our neighborhood to join us and make lanterns as well. We will assemble these lanterns into a community lantern walk. Please drop your lantern off at the front desk by Wednesday, December 18th.
In the spirit of sharing, we will also being doing a cookie share! Sign up to bring a plate of your family’s favorite cookies. Send you recipe to primaryadmin@elizabethacademy.com before the event so that we can include it in our digital Cookie Recipe Book, which will be shared with all EA families.
In
Continuing Enrollment
We would like to thank you for entrusting Elizabeth Academy with the honor and responsibility of educating your children. We are looking forward to continuing our commitment to provide an outstanding education. Every year just before Winter Break, we send the digital link to continuing enrollment via email to our current families. Filling out this continuing enrollment contract by the continuing enrollment deadline gives you priority for the 2025-2026 school year. This year, continuing enrollment will open on Thursday, December 19th, 2024, and will close on Friday, January 10th, 2025. You will receive an email from FACTS inviting you to complete your continuing enrollment and giving you instructions on how to complete it. If you have questions about your student’s enrollment for 2025-2026 please reach out to primaryadmin@elizabethacademy.com.
Staff Recognition- December 2024
Brenda Jensen- Primary School Campus
“Both of my daughters absolutely love Mrs. Brenda! She is like their 3rd grandmother. Always welcoming them every morning with a calm and happy demeanor. She is loving, kind, supportive, yet stern.” – Jessica Camp
Take the time to recognize a staff member. We know how much they put into their jobs and to the education of the students. You can recognize a teacher, specialist, therapist or administrative staff member. We will do a monthly drawing of those submitted to feature in our newsletter. All who are recognized will be given a copy of these responses as well. Go to the school app to submit recognition for those staff members. Submit Staff Recognition
You are invited to Utah Symphony | Utah Opera’s 2025 Access to Music Concert on
January 23 at 7:00 PM at Abravanel Hall in
Salt Lake City.
This concert is presented specifically for people with sensory sensitivities or other disabilities and their families. Featuring the Utah Opera Resident Artists and Utah Symphony, this performance is a valuable opportunity for all to experience live music without any expectation to remain seated or refrain from audible or physical reactions to the performance. The house lights will remain on and doors will remain open for anyone wishing to relocate to a less acoustically-active space.
All ages are welcome to this free, hour-long concert. Reserve tickets on the website: Access to Music 2025 Tickets. Please feel free to share this information with anyone who might benefit from it!
Primary School
Inclusion and Community
On Tuesday November 26th the EAPO hosted our annual Gratitude and Grandfriends event. We wanted to say thank you to all that planned and then attended the event. It was great seeing some of the grandparents and families of our students. The feeling of getting together and having families come, eat pie, connect, and then head into the holiday weekend started us off well. We’re grateful to all of you for being a part of our community. Thank you for all you do and the parts you play.
There are only three short weeks in December, but we look forward to filling them with engagement, community building, and love.
In community,
Nate and Jessica
Montessori Minute
In the Montessori classroom, the teachers are guides who create an environment that promotes exploration and student interest. They maintain a safe, clean, engaging, and stimulating classroom where all students feel comfortable, safe, and valued. Through observation, teachers are able to see academic and social growth and are able to guide the students along the path of continued learning. Along with the classroom environment, the success of the child is a true partnership between student, teacher, and family.
“The children are now working as if I did not exist.”
– Maria Montessori
Primary School Highlight
We are focusing on a love of literacy this year and wanted to highlight some exciting initiatives. Our library supports our school values (inclusivity, honesty, commitment, and kindness) through literacy. Each month we have a different inclusivity focus in library classes. In November, our inclusive theme is Native American Heritage, as well as homelessness and hunger. In Early Childhood, we read Fire Race, a tale from the Karuk tribe. We talked about the importance of stories for Native Americans, and older students read books by and about Native Americans. This week, we are reading The Rainbow Fish and discussing the importance of sharing with those who have less. Our goal is to highlight different aspects of our lives and help our students understand the power of inclusivity.
Students in grades 3-6 were asked to volunteer to participate in the Reading Buddies program as reading mentors. These students will receive training throughout the year and become Certified Elizabeth Academy Reading Mentors. We also had the opportunity to have Rosemary Wells, a well known children’s author and illustrator, at our school. She gave two presentations to our elementary students on her illustration methods and writing process, giving them a glimpse into what it is to be a professional author and inspiring them to write and illustrate their own books. Our hope is to allow our students to peek into what it is to be an author and inspire them to create.
We will be launching a Reading Buddies program at EA which will begin in December. During dismissal (3:25-3:45), student mentors from Upper Elementary and Lower Elementary will read with younger students. Our goal is to add a literacy boost at the end of each day and in turn create opportunities for service learning and a community of caring among our students. Twenty minutes of reading 5 days a week for 20 weeks equals 2,000 extra minutes of reading time per child.
Arts & Enrichment Present:
Light & Arts Festival
You are invited to join us for an arts & enrichment student sharing event happening on Friday, December 13, 2024. As an extension of their continent studies this year, Early Childhood, Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary students are exploring light festivals of Asia and the theme of light, including the unity, peace, connection and community that light can represent. Early Childhood students will share what they have learned from 8:50 – 9:10 am, Upper Elementary students from 9:20 – 10:30 am, and Lower Elementary students from 10:40 – 11:50 am.
Primary Community
We have 19 Upper Elementary students signed up this year to participate in the Snowbird youth ski program. This is a 6 week program where students will be strengthening their skills through a 2 ½ hour lesson taught by professional ski/snowboarding instructors. This year, we will be heading up to the mountain on the following Thursdays: January 9th, 16th, 23th, 30th and two dates in February, the 6th and 20th. This is a long standing partnership and we are excited to continue the tradition.
Secondary School
Dear Elizabeth Academy Secondary School Families,
It is hard to believe that we are mid-way through the academic year, and that 2024 is coming to a close… As 2025 brings about big shifts, I am finding myself enjoying this holiday season with this community more than ever. I would like to celebrate some of the special moments we experienced in November – including: a successful Penny Wars fundraiser where students collected over $300 for the Best Friends League, our Student Council developing and presenting a School Mascot proposal at our Elizabeth Academy Board Meeting, and Secondary students helping us bring back our Pancake Breakfast!
In the upcoming weeks, we have exciting things ahead. Instead of doing Service Week in just one week this year, we will be providing opportunities for service on Fridays throughout the next few months. On December 19th, we invite you all to join us at the Primary Campus (2870 Connor St) for our Love and Light event from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm- which will include a performance from our Secondary students Theater elective, and will feature a student-run market showcasing products developed in our Microeconomy elective. Stock up on handmade cards, jewelry, felt decorations, and more! We hope to see you there!
As a reminder, Star Testing will happen from December 9th-13th, and the semester ends on the 20th of December. Grades will close on that day. Winter recess will start December 23rd and continue until January 5th. Report Cards will be processed the first week of January, and delivered on the 6th of January. Make sure to check grades this week, and remind your student to begin working towards closing out the semester.
Looking forward to next semester, as Ski Club (Starting January 10th), and our Spring Trip (May 6th-9th) return, along with other hallmark traditions, such as more Pancake Breakfasts and our Spring Showcase!
I wish you all a happy holiday season!
Sofia Rigolon
Student Council Message
Hello EA Secondary Community,
Penny Wars were a success! Students surpassed their goal of $250 by earning $305.45! Student Council won and chose to donate to the Best Friends League. Members of the student council presented their proposal for a school mascot. They did a great job explaining the steps they took to narrow it down and why they feel the Blue Heron would be a good school mascot.
December 2nd through the 13th, student council will be selling candy grams for $3.00 each. Parents and students can purchase during lunch and the Student Council will deliver. We hope to use this fundraiser to make Teacher Christmas presents.
-Student Council
Snowbird Youth Ski Program 2025– Secondary School
Snowbird Youth Ski Program:
Elizabeth Academy has been a participant in the Snowbird Youth and Ski program for almost 10 years! Join us this ski season for 6 weeks of lessons.
WHAT:
It is a wonderful opportunity offered by the Snowbird Mountain School. Professional ski instructors spend the afternoon with our students in small groups educating them about the mountain and how to enjoy it safely. Small groups encourage learning through exploration and camaraderie. Avalanche awareness, safe mountain travel, etiquette and skill development are components of each session.
Students are placed into groups based on ability/ski level and receive a 2.5 hour (1:00 pm-3:30 pm) long lesson.
WHEN:
This is a 6 week program that will take place on the following FRIDAYS: January 10th, January 24th, January 31st, February 7th, 21st, and 28th
The cost is $330; plus $50 for transportation and school incidentals- costing a total of $380.
HOW:
Students who participate in the program will need to come with their own or rented equipment upon arrival to school each ski day. Students will depart at *12pm and will return to school around 4:30pm, depending on weather conditions and traffic.
Students will be transported by both Guides and parent volunteers. Parents who transport the students will get a lift pass and can ski compliments of Snowbird while the students are in their lessons.
PAYMENT:
After you sign up using the link below, the Elizabeth Academy Business Office will email you a bill requesting payment. You can pay via cash, credit card, or we can add it to your FACTS payments. Payment in full must be made by December 20th.
The last day to sign up will be December 6th, 2024!
EAPO Corner
Campus Conversations
Secondary School- Wednesday, December 11th , 2:30pm in the Life Skills Room
Primary School- Thursday, December 12th, 8:50am in the Black Box
Campus Conversations are monthly meetings hosted by the EAPO. Lasting approximately one hour, Campus Conversations are informal discussions, and are the best way to stay informed about what is happening both on the Primary and Secondary Campuses, and to be in the loop about upcoming events and activities. Light refreshments are served.
Required Volunteer Hours
Volunteer opportunities available in the school app. Each family is responsible for 20 hours of in-person volunteering and/or $200 payment in lieu of fulfilling volunteer hours for the 2024-2025 school year. To record your hours follow the below steps:
- Log into your family portal at factsmgt.com. (Our district code is EA-UT)
- Go to the Family Tab
- On the Family Home, there is a drop down window on the top. Make sure this says your name.
- Directly under that drop down box is the service hours section. There is a small add button in that section to add your hours.
Pizza Wednesdays
DATE
Our next pizza day is on Wednesday, December 18th. Both campuses will participate. To purchase the pizza meal, go to the school store in the app.
$200,000 in Tuition Assistance and Merit Scholarships!
We have $200,000 in tuition assistance and merit scholarships available to new and continuing students! Please help us to spread the word.
Merit Scholarships – Students entering Upper Elementary and entering or continuing in Middle School are eligible to apply for merit scholarships. Applicants are due in November of each year, and scholarships are awarded in December.
Tuition Assistance – All families of students applying for any of our programs (infant through middle school) are welcome to apply for tuition assistance. Our comprehensive tuition assistance application takes more than just household income into consideration and considers extenuating circumstances. Tuition assistance awards at the Infant, Toddler, and Early Childhood levels are up to 30% of tuition, while awards at the elementary and middle school levels can be up to 50% of tuition.
To renew financial aid, families must complete an application each year. This process allows us to verify and document that families who receive financial aid continue to demonstrate the need for tuition assistance. Please be prepared to submit your prior-year tax documents (the taxes that were due last April) by the deadline in order to receive full consideration for tuition assistance. All inquiries, applications, and supporting documentation with regard to financial aid are treated confidentially.
How to Apply for Tuition Assistance
Step 1
Create a FACTS account at https://online.factsmgt.com/aid. FACTS is the company we use to process our tuition assistance applications. The application for the 2025–2026 school year is live.
FACTS enables you to save your progress and return at any time.
Step 2
At the end of the FACTS application, pay the $45 fee and submit.
The application deadline is January 31. Priority will be given to complete applications submitted by the deadline. Late or incomplete applications may not receive full consideration for a financial aid award.
Please Give us a Google Review
Please take a moment to give us a review by clicking on the following lik. Reviews are very important because they help other families to find us. If you give us a review by December 13th, we will enter you into a raffle for a fun winter prize!
- Google Review
- https://g.page/r/CdWty3Q47xCsEBM/review
- Once you fill out the Google review, please copy and paste it into the other review sites below.
- Yelp
- https://www.yelp.com/writeareview
- Log in (you can click on “log in through Google” to make it easier) and submit review
- Private School Review
- https://www.privateschoolreview.com/elizabeth-academy-profile
- Scroll to the bottom under “School Reviews”
- GreatSchools.org
- https://www.greatschools.org/reviews/
- Scroll down to “share your story” and type in Elizabeth Academy to leave a review
My Dear Elizabeth Academy Colleagues, Students, Families,
We have just entered our 15th year at Elizabeth Academy and our 7th year of learning at our upper/secondary campus. Beginning in 2009, with just 3 classes of early childhood students, expanding in 2017 to include high school, and finishing our last school year having had a total of 14 high school graduates, our commitment has always been to deliver a high quality academic program, aligned to our foundational values, which are: Inclusivity, Kindness, Honesty and Commitment. I believe we have stayed true to these values and I am very proud of that. I have cherished the work and relationships I have had at the school and my heart is full of gratitude for all of the leaders, teachers, staff, students and families who have endeavored so earnestly to create the school that we have the privilege to attend today. You are my heroes. Since its inception, Elizabeth Academy has been a place where Montessori philosophy and pedagogy blends beautifully in a space where inclusion isn’t an extra but an always. Our people make this so. Yet…
As our program has grown, I have witnessed an increasing demand on our resources, both human and financial, to maintain our standard of quality and commitment to those foundational values. We have never wavered in our focus on inclusivity, kindness and commitment. Our staff is stellar, our love and desire to serve our students and their families are as strong as ever. However, after seven years of endeavoring to grow and maintain healthy numbers of high school students in our program, we have come to the hard reality that we can no longer financially sustain a high school (9th-12th grade) program and it would be dishonest to you and everyone in our school community to continue pressing forward in an endeavor that will eventually break the backs of all, as it is breaking the bank that sustains us. We must embrace this hard truth in order to move forward for the sake of everyone in the school.
While I am sure that there are many questions swirling in your head right now with this news so fresh, and uncertainty fills your heart, let me say this with all the certainty of my soul: We have a plan and we are going to hold fast to our values of inclusivity, kindness, honesty and commitment while we continue on this year, caring for each and every one of you in our school community, to support you in finding the best place for you next year. This is why we have shared this news with you as soon as possible, after the board just finalized their decision. This will afford us time to secure the best options for all of us. For staff members who might be affected, we will step up our schedule of intent meetings. For secondary students and their parents/guardians, we will be glad to set up individual meetings to discuss best school options and help them prepare for the transition.
This is what we plan to do starting next school year, 2025-2026:
Our Middle School, 7th and 8th grade, will move back to the Connor campus, remaining its own cohort, interacting with the Upper Elementary classroom, but leading the campus as the oldest level of Elizabeth Academy students. This is going to strengthen the whole school, especially the students, as they will have a strong older group of peer leaders, and the middle schoolers themselves will have time to build confidence as leaders before moving to a larger student body of high schoolers.
Students currently enrolled in or entering High School, 9th-12th grade next year, will need to find another school for the 2025-26 school year. We have had success kindling a relationship with nearby Highland High School, a public school in Salt Lake City School District, which has a stellar program, both in general and advanced academic courses, as well as a wonderful special education program. Many of our former students have already ventured to Highland, first with dual enrollment, as they loved our program so much, but as time has passed, these students have now made a full transition to Highland.
With bittersweet clarity, we have come to the realization that it is probably best for all concerned if we let our high school students go in order to grow where they can truly blossom with a full student body of peers, athletic programs, and a broader social spectrum. At the same time, we can focus on what WE do best— nurturing and guiding children in the Montessori way, with inclusivity, kindness, honesty, and commitment.
We love and care for you deeply,
Gratefully and Sincerely,
Gail S. Williamsen
Elizabeth Academy 2025-2026
High School Transition
Parent FAQ
Why is the High School Closing?
Because of the financial strain of the high student to teacher ratio as well as the difficulty of retention from lower to upper campus.
What will happen with the Primary Campus? Is there a concern of it closing?
- The board is committed to the continued success of the Primary Campus, there is no concern that it will close.
- The Primary Campus will include infants through 8th grade in alignment with other similarly sized private and charter schools in the area.
Why didn’t you tell me this before?
- This was a decision made after the last board meeting. Administration was informed afterwards. We have been working through the details to create an action plan so that we could provide a clear message to all.
- We’ll continue to offer services through the rest of the year and will support with transitions.
- It is October. We have a lot of the year left. Announcing this message so early in the year is a risk on our part. Our hope is that you see this early announcement as our way of communicating respect for you and your situations.
- There is never a good time…
Who should I contact with further questions?
- Direct any questions towards administration. Please reach out to admin@elizabethacademy.com
- Elizabeth Academy Staff had a community meeting where administration shared this announcement and fielded questions. Please respect them as they are also processing this new information.
So long September, on to October, hills ablaze in vibrant hues.
A wondrous world we live in, check out our EA news…
A wondrous world indeed. Our students are now actively engaged in the wonders of learning at Elizabeth Academy. Our Welcome Back Picnic was a delightful event, gathering as a school community with good company and great food. October ushers in a week off from school with a Teacher Workday, Monday, October 7th, then Parent Teacher Conferences, Tuesday and Wednesday, October 8th and 9th, and Fall Break, Thursday and Friday, October 10th and 11th.
And of course, at the end of the month there will be our annual Halloween Parade, on Thursday, October 31st, Spirit week October 28th-31st then followed by a Teacher Workday on Friday, November 1st.
Feeling wonderfully full in the fall,
Elizabeth Academy Staff
Take the time to recognize a staff member. We know how much they put into their jobs and to the education of the students. You can recognize a teacher, specialist, therapist or administrative staff member. We will do a monthly drawing of those submitted to feature in our newsletter. All who are recognized will be given a copy of these responses as well. Go to the school app to submit recognition for those staff members.
October Events
Teacher Work Day (No School): October 7th
Parent Teacher Conferences: October 8th and 9th. See more information below.
Fall Break (No School): October 10th-11th
EAPO Campus Conversations- Secondary School: October 16th 2:30pm
EAPO Campus Conversations- Primary School: October 17th 8:50am
Secondary School BOO Bash: October 25th at Thanksgiving Point
Primary School Halloween Costume Parade: October 31st
School Spirit Week: October 28th-31st
Teacher Work Day (No School): November 1st
Parent Teacher Conferences
We are excited to meet with you for parent teacher conferences on Tuesday, October 8th and Wednesday, October 9th. Don’t forget to sign up by Saturday, October 5th.
Spirit Week
Students can join in our first spirit week the last week of October. Please ensure that students are following dress code while having fun. *On Thursday, October 31st each campus will have a different dress up day.*
Primary School
Inclusion and Community
At Elizabeth Academy we value and foster Community Building. Each week the EC and LE teams get together for a weekly sing along led by Rachel K. our music therapist. We had our first all school community meeting on September 20, 2024 to celebrate Day of Peace. A huge component of our community is all of you, the caregivers. Fostering adult community and relationships was in full swing when we got together and played Trivia in the black box while the kids were able to also hang out in community in the Kiva.
D.E.A.R. Day and Literacy at EA
Our Librarians, Ms. Ellie and Mr. Diego are looking at ways to increase minutes spent in books across our community. One of those ways is implementing time across campus that for 15 minutes, everyone, students and staff will dive into books as a school. This will look different at different levels and will include individually reading, small groups, and also read alouds. These days will be our D.E.A.R. Days. Drop Everything And Read. We encourage you all to participate as well and will send out more information on our first one. They will happen once a month. If you do not have a habit of spending time with your children reading, please start one. Whether your kids are young or old, taking time to sit down and read will make a difference. Daily is always best, but if you can’t find times to do it when you can, it can fit your schedule whatever your schedule is.
Montessori Minute
An important part of the Montessori Curriculum is the Cosmic Curriculum. Cosmic education refers to the philosophy coined by Dr. Maria Montessori, which says that all things are interconnected in this universe and that each living thing has a specific role or Cosmic task to carry out. The children are at the center of this universe.
The teachers present lessons focused on how we interact with one another and one example that came out of EC is the story of Black Elk, a Native American leader that was struggling with how to support his tribe during westward expansion. The focus of Black Elk’s story was the question of how we deal with our own personal challenges, and how we deal with others as we interact within society. Black Elk was a Lakota-Oglala medicine man who lived from 1863 until 1950.
The focus Black Elk’s story was the question of how we deal with our own personal challenges, and how we deal with others as we interact within society. The EC classes are working on how do you move forward when someone else is causing a problem in your life? Please take time and reflect on how to interact with grace and courtesy.
Costume Parade & Halloween Celebrations
Classes will have their Halloween Celebrations on Thursday, October 31st. Parents are welcome to join us for our annual costume parade. More information to come about time in the coming weeks.
Secondary School
Dear Elizabeth Secondary Community,
Fall is in the air with a morning crispness that reminds us that the seasons are changing. At Secondary, the month of September was filled with opportunities to gather as a community both at Camp Oakley and at our Welcome Back Picnic. I really enjoyed being able to interact with you, your children, and the teachers in such unique settings. Thank you to the wonderful staff and parents who helped in preparing such successful events.
In looking ahead to October we are hoping to meet each of you at our Parent Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, October 8th and Thursday, October 9th. Please click HERE to sign up for a time slot if you have not done so already. School will not be held from Monday, October 7th for a Teacher Work Day, Tuesday and Wednesday for Parent Teacher Conferences, and Thursday and Friday for Fall Break. We will be holding our monthly Campus Conversations on Wednesday, October 16th from 2:30pm-3:30pm. We will have a full agenda looking at community events. Mark your calendars!
A few weeks ago, we sent out a survey about clubs and after school activities! The clubs that have started are Minecraft Club on Mondays, and Rock Climbing Club on Tuesdays, and Ski Club will start in January. If you are still interested in joining one of these clubs, please reach out to Kat Kirk- kat.kirk@elizabethacademy.com.
Here is to another great month at Elizabeth Academy Secondary!
Kind Regards,
Sofia Rigolon
Friday, October 25th
Boogie Bash: Inclusive Dance
BOO! This year, our annual Halloween Celebration, “Boogie Bash”, is again taking place at Thanksgiving Point Museum of Ancient Life in Lehi on Friday, October 25th from 7:00pm-9:30pm. This event is in collaboration with the Utah Down Syndrome Foundation. Our Student Council is planning fun and inclusive activities for students, young adults, and adults with disabilities for this event. We will provide transportation with school vehicles, so RSVP today! All students in attendance will receive Service Hours for coming and representing Elizabeth Academy Secondary as peer mentors!
Highland High Events
Wednesday, October 23rd 5:30pm- 8:00pm Spook Ally and Carnival- Hosted in the West Parking Lot at Highland High. If you park in our east lot and enter the school through the door nearest the flagpole that will take you into our Main Lobby and Cafeteria, just head all the way through both on the left side and go out the back door and that will take you to the west lot.
Saturday, October 26th 7:00pm- 9:00pm Monster Mash at Highland High in the back gym.
EAPO Corner
Campus Conversations
Secondary School- Wednesday, October 16th 2:30pm in the Life Skills Room
Primary School- Thursday, October 17th 8:50am in the Black Box
Campus Conversations are monthly meetings hosted by the EAPO. Lasting approximately one hour, Campus Conversations are informal discussions, and are the best way to stay informed about what is happening both on the Primary and Secondary Campuses, and to be in the loop about upcoming events and activities. Light refreshments are served.
Thank you to everyone that joined us for our first Parent Night In and Kids Night In. We truly enjoyed a fun trivia night and getting to laugh together.
Primary School Upcoming Events
Secondary School Upcoming Events
Pizza Wednesdays
DATE
Our next pizza day is on Wednesday, October 30th. Both campuses will participate. To purchase the pizza meal go to the school store in the app.
Sweet September. We welcome you back to school with open arms and happy smiles. All summer long we have been planning for the great school year ahead of us. Now, let it all begin!
First, if you haven’t noticed already, take a look at our sleek new website! Yes, our updated website went live on the first day of school, August 19th. It’s a clean, fresh new look with smooth organizational design and functionality. Check it out!
Coming up quickly, our School Picture Days will be September 9th-17th. Please see more specific information about picture days below.
Next up, our Welcome Back Picnic is Thursday, September 12th, 6:00-7:30 pm, at the Primary (Connor Street) campus. Join us for a BBQ dinner and casual mix and mingle with teachers, families and friends in our school community.
If the past few weeks are any indication about what kind of a school year this will be, we are really excited for what is to come. From leadership to staff, parents and students as well, we see smiles and cooperation, kindness and consideration. There is synergy and excitement in the air. Welcome back. We missed you!
Warmly,
Elizabeth Academy Administration
September Events
Picture Days: September 9th-17th. See more information below.
Welcome Back Picnic: Thursday, September 12th 6:00-7:30pm
Teacher Workday: Friday, September 13th No School
EAPO Campus Conversations: Thursday, September 19th. See campus information below.
International Day of Peace: Friday, September 20th
Fall Picture Day
Picture day is here and we are excited to see their cute faces! Please check the schedule for the day your student will have their picture taken. Pictures will be taken in the morning, please have your student arrive ready and on time.
Primary School Picture Days
September 9th- Infant & Toddlers
September 10th- Elementary Students
September 11th- Early Childhood
Secondary School Picture Day
September 17th- Secondary and Post Secondary Students
Welcome Back Picnic
Thursday, September 12th 6:00-7:30pm
We are excited to announce our annual Welcome Back Picnic. The whole school community from both campuses is invited to join together at the Primary School campus to catch up with each other, grab some grub and have some fun.
We will provide the dinner and welcome you to sign up to bring a salad or dessert.
Primary School
Social Emotional
Do you have a student in one of our EC classrooms (Willow, Sequoia, Juniper, or Aspen)? Have you heard your child talk about their Love Light? The students have been learning that when you say kind words and do kind things your Love Light shines brighter. One Willow student said “It shines in your body, it makes you happy when friends are kind.” “I can give someone a hug and that will make their love light grow brighter.”
Enrichment
We are into week three and enrichments are going full force! Dance and Movement with Ms. Chassie and Ms. Hayley. Asian style scroll paintings with Ms. Rachel in art. Exploring reading topics and doing a scavenger hunt in the library with Ms. Ellie and Mr. Diego. Jumping and moving with Ms. Jasmin in PE, sing-a-longs and music with Ms. Rachel. Brushing off the Spanish conjunctive with Ms. Carolina. Our students travel to enrichment spaces starting at the end of toddlers. In our toddler and infant classes the enrichment specialist go to the children. So if you have the opportunity to be touring around the school or volunteering in a class make sure to overlap it with the enrichment schedule. There is a sense of energy within the building as all of our spaces are now being used.
Montessori Minute
Our community is full of parents and kids that both have experience within Montessori and some that are new to it this year. Maria Montessori has many quotations but one that came from her London Lectures in 1946 is “We must accept adaptation as the basis upon which we can build a concept of education.” The first couple of weeks have been focused around normalizing to the year and teachers assessing the students as to where they are. It has been amazing to watch the dance between our classroom teachers, our level interventionists, and our therapists to assess and plan and then meet the needs of our students. Thank you for being a part of our community and joining us in this dance.
Secondary School
Camp Oakley
Students spent two days connecting with teachers and peers. They played an interactive game emulating the “Hero’s Journey” that aligned with the school values of Kindness, Inclusivity, Honesty, and Commitment. It was an amazing experience for students and staff alike!
Advisory Focus: Collaboration
We encourage parents to talk to your students about compromise and the role that plays in good leadership and teamwork. Also discuss how collaboration ties to our school values: inclusivity, kindness, honesty and commitment. There is a difference between being part of a group and being part of a team. A team. A group is simply a group of people with individual goals, while a team is a group of people working towards a common goal.
SAVE THE DATE
Friday, October 25th
Monster Mash:Inclusive Dance
There will be dancing, a costume contest, and other fun activities at Thanksgiving Point
EAPO Corner
Campus Conversations
Primary School- September 19th 8:50am in the Black Box
Secondary School- September 19th 2:30pm in the Life Skills Room
Campus Conversations are monthly meetings hosted by the EAPO. Lasting approximately one hour, Campus Conversations are informal discussions, and are the best way to stay informed about what is happening both on the Primary and Secondary Campuses, and to be in the loop about upcoming events and activities. Light refreshments are served.
Volunteer Opportunities
It is vital to the success of Elizabeth Academy to have the support of a robust, involved, and dedicated group of parents and guardians. EAPO relies on volunteerism from our parent community to support our ongoing efforts. Please click on the links below to sign up to help OR go to the school app to find volunteer opportunities.
- Picture Day Helpers
- Pizza Wednesday Helper
- Literacy & Room Volunteers (sign up coming soon)
- EAPO Leadership or Subcommittee (reach out to the EAPO at eapo@elizabethacademy.com)
Primary School Upcoming Events
Pizza Wednesdays
Wednesday, September 25th
Our next pizza day is on Wednesday, September 25th. Both campuses will participate. To purchase the pizza meal go to the school store in the app.