Welcome to The Crest Academy Middle School

July 31, 2023
Welcome to the 2023-2024 Crest Academy school year! 

We are so excited to see all of our llamas again & to meet the new llamas that will be joining us this year!  My name is Kristie Servis and I’m the Principal of Crest Academy.  This year we are excited to be pushing ourselves on calendaring dates as early as possible, so we have a new YEAR LONG calendar so folks know when our bigger events will be occurring.  If things change, we will let you know, but we are going to do our best to stick to these dates.  

Additionally, as a District, lots of our registration paperwork is now electronic, which we hope you find to be easier to complete.  Please note, if you don’t have computer or internet access, our office will be open on August 9 & 10 from 8am-12pm.  Amy Courtney will be there should you need any help filling out your registration.  

Forms to Read

Year-Long Calendar - This contains the dates of trips & events we already have planned this year.  As mentioned above, we are going to do our best to keep all these dates as is.  (Note:  On my computer in preview mode it looked a bit blurry, but when I hit “Ctrl + P” as if I was going to print it became much more clear). 

Supply List - Please have students bring supplies on the first day of school (8/14)

District Calendar - We follow the District calendar when it comes to breaks, etc. 

Website Calendar - Upcoming events will be posted on the website this year.

FAMILY HANDBOOK - Please read to ensure you know the essentials at Crest.  

Letter from Nurse Cari

Bus Routes - Please find details on the District Website

Forms to PRINT/FILL-OUT & RETURN
 
FILL-OUT ONLINE:

Please note, if you don’t have computer or internet access, our office will be open on August 9 & 10 from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

There are 2 tasks you need to complete: 
Here is the link for the District registration through the Revver program.  Please fill out all forms you find in that link.

Infinite Campus Parent Portal Tasks:
If you don’t know how to get into IC (Infinite Campus), select this link.
Complete Annual Update – once per family  How-To Instructions
Complete Free and Reduced Meal Application – once per family  How-To Instructions.  ALL FAMILIES should fill this out as it gets us access to funding.

Complete Annual Health Forms – for each student:
o   Annual Health Appraisal form
o   Consent for Stock Medications form

PRINT/FILL-OUT & RETURN:  
If you don’t have a printer, we will have copies of this form printed at the school for you:
Pool Waiver

Important upcoming dates for your calendar: 

Friday, August 11th:  Mandatory for ALL NEW TO CREST STUDENTS
On this day, all NEW STUDENTS (all grades) will need to attend school from 9 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. for orientation.  This is when we will make sure all of our new students know what to expect from school each day.  There will NOT be bus transportation that day since our schedule is much different than other schools.  Please plan accordingly.

Monday, August 14th:  ALL Students Return to School.  Regular school hours:  8 a.m. - 4 p.m.  The building opens at 7:50 a.m.  Please make sure your student is picked up no later than 4:10 as staff have to go pick up their own children.

A few additional FYI’s…
The parking lot has been repainted so now the driveway is ONE WAY only.  Please follow the signs.  You will enter the parking lot, then exit out the back of the property to Scott Street to Illinois.  In the morning, students will be entering through the playground gate & walk to the cafeteria door to enter school.  
  
For Specials this first quarter all students will have Music classes with Bones.  They will also get to choose from Choir, Garden, PE, Mountain Biking & Art/Marketing class.  Students will receive descriptions of each class & be allowed to select their preferences – we will do our best to give them their top choices.

Also, I want to make sure that I’m clear about how we are communicating with you.  Communication is essential, and so I wanted to be transparent about how we will be communicating:

Monthly Newsletter:  Each month we will send home a monthly newsletter.  It will contain successes of students & staff, a calendar of upcoming events & a brief note from me.  Our practice is electronic copies as we have a “living” calendar that may change - plus, we love to save trees!  However, if you’d like a printed copy, please reach out to Amy Courtney, our Secretary.  

Daily Phone Calls:  If your child is absent, our secretary will set up a call in Infinite Campus informing you that your child has been marked absent.  Please note that these are automated calls, so if your child should be at school, please call us immediately at 719.530.5390 so we can figure out what’s going on. If possible, when your child is absent, please call the front office ahead of time at 719.530.5390 to let us know so we can update it in our system.

Weekly Office Hours with the Principal:  On an appointment basis, if you need to come and speak with me, I will have weekly office hours where I am available to you for longer conversations.  Please call or email me so we can schedule a time.  

Email Communication: Below are the emails of all of the staff here at The Crest Academy.  Please feel free to email us anytime, but please give us at least 24 hours to respond.

Phone Communication:  Phone numbers of all the staff here at The Crest Academy were emailed to you with a copy of this letter.  Please feel free to call us (on our cells) between the hours of 7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  If you call us after 4:30, we will return your call as soon as possible the next day - thank you for understanding and respecting that we are spending time with our families.

Kristie Servis
Principal
719.207.1401
[email protected]

Deb Bass O’Brien
ELA Teacher
[email protected]

Samantha Bahn
Math Teacher
[email protected]

Courtney Miller
Math Teacher
[email protected]

John Callen
Science Teacher
[email protected]

Diana Mastascusa
Counselor
719.530.5395
[email protected]

Jenny Green
Special Education Teacher
[email protected]

Amy Courtney
Secretary
719.530.5390
[email protected]

We are so excited to get back to school and see all of your students!  If you need anything, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Much Respect,

Kristie Servis
Principal - The Crest Academy & Horizons Exploratory Academy
[email protected]                     
719.207.1401

The Crest Academy is a project-based middle school in the Salida School District that offers an engaging and dynamic alternative approach to learning for 5th-8th grade students.  As a four year program, we are able to develop strong relationships with students and really push them to their fullest potentials.  The curriculum is primarily project and place-based, which allows students to experience their learning in real-life scenarios and field trips.  Students’ critical thinking skills are pushed as they analyze their surroundings in a plethora of situations including, but not limited to, writing a novel, taking a (virtual) class at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, conducting surveys and analyzing data, mountain biking, analyzing the water quality of the Arkansas River, or studying watersheds and ecosystems at Keystone Science School.  Through 4-6 themed project units over the course of the school year, students’ inquiry skills are developed when students are given the opportunity to learn a new skill, study a topic of their choice, participate in community experiences such as job shadowing or creating and selling a product in a market scenario.

At The Crest Academy, the class sizes are intentionally limited in order to foster a close community for the students and staff with a relational dynamic that some would even describe as familial.  Smaller class sizes allow for differentiated, rigorous teaching and learning to ensure that all students are academically successful and ultimately prepared for high school.  With tailored educational experiences, students are more motivated to own and engage in their learning, thus driving their desire to excel.  Additionally, the individualized attention from teachers and staff contributes to an increased confidence within each student. 

In addition to rigorous academic experiences, students are given access to learn components of outdoor education that more traditional school models often cannot offer, such as mountain biking, stand up paddle boarding, fly fishing, skiing, camping, etc.  Students challenge themselves to work together as a team to motivate one another to learn and grow while developing their own strength and confidence as individuals.  Students also practice the independence of being away from home on overnight trips.  Our field learning allows students to have more of a hands-on experience, so attendance is vital since it’s difficult to recreate experiences.

Every student is unique, and one education style doesn’t always fit all.  The Crest Academy offers a unique approach to learning that is available for interested middle school students.  If you would like to learn more, give us a call at 719-530-5390 or click here to to check out enrollment opportunities.

We look forward to meeting you!
And, as always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to your student's advisor or contact Servis at [email protected].  

Thank you!
Kristie Servis

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