Family Update for the Week of Feb. 20

Posted on Sunday / February 19

Welcome to the latest edition of the DPAC Family Update! This week please be aware of the unusual schedule including no school Monday and half day early dismissal Wednesday – Friday. We are excited to share some photos and and a recap from the Blazing Trails event with the Raiders, and there’s an important invitation to our first DPAC Community Cookout on Saturday Feb 25 from 1-4pm as a part of our Black History Month celebration!

In this week’s update you have your opportunity to reserve your scholar’s seat for the next school year! You can also invite your friends and family to apply for next school year, registration is open. We also look forward to the Nevada Reading Week kicking off February 27.  All of this and more below.

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DPAC Calendar & Events No School & Half Days This Week | Black History Month Calendar
Benchmark Exams & Testing Benchmark Exams This Week | Make Up Exams | K-12 Tutoring Cancelled
Black History Month Blazing Trails Event with Raiders | Cookout Saturday 
21st CCLC Update DPAC After School Program Moving to Elementary School
Reserve Your Scholars 23/24 Seat What Are Your Education Plans for Next Year?
Nevada Reading Week February 27  – March 3 “One World Many Stories”

DPAC Calendar & Events

Dismissal Schedule and No-School Days

  • For a copy of the full year calendar outlining all half-days and no-school days please follow THIS LINK
  • Monday February 20: No School President’s Day
  • Tuesday, February 21: Regular dismissal schedule
  • Wednesday, February 22 – Friday February 24: Half Day Dismissal 
  • Save the Date: Monday, March 20 – Friday, 24: No School Spring Break
Black History Month Calendar

Our BHM Committee has been working hard behind the scenes to put together some exciting K-12 programming for the month.
Click the link for more info DPAC BHM Calendar of Events. Below are a few highlights:

  • Friday, February 24 @ 1:30pm – Talent Show 3rd-12th:  View the flier here
  • Saturday, February 25 from 1-4pm– Community Cookout: View the flier here
  • Tuesday, February 28 – Democracy Prep Public School HBCU Panel

Benchmark Exams & Testing

Benchmark Exams This Week

There are three Benchmark Exams that occur during the school year.  These exam periods are particularly important for scholars in Middle and High School because these Benchmark Exams make up a percentage of the Quarter grade and the Final overall grade for the course.  Please ensure that all scholars arrive on time Wednesday – Friday, instruction begins each day at 7:30am.  The South Gate opens by 7:15am to allow entry.

Make Up Exams

Please take note that Benchmark Exams can only be made up if they are missed for an excused absence, meaning there is an accompanying note from a doctor, dentist, or other similar professional. It is extremely important that all scholars are present for Benchmark Exams Wednesday, February 22nd to Friday, February 24th.

Testing Calendar

To help families better prepare for important testing dates we have created this Important Upcoming Testing Calendar. Please refer to this calendar to ensure your scholar is present and prepared for these important dates. Below are a few upcoming exam dates:

    • K-8 Benchmarks Testing 2/22-2/24
    • K-8 State Practice Exams 3/1-3/3
    • All 11th graders ACT Testing 3/15 
    • 9th, 10th graders have Pre-ACT Testing on 3/15
    • Make Up ACT Testing (for those traveling for Puerto Rico & HBCU) on 4/25

Black History Month

Las Vegas Raider “Blazing Trails” 

Friday, February 17 for Black History Month, DPAC linked up with the Las Vegas Raiders to empower and educate our scholars. Democracy Prep was selected and the ONLY school present for the “Blazing Trails” event. The amount of support we receive from the Las Vegas Raiders is unbelievable! Or is it really? Did you know that the Raiders hired the 1st black Head Coach? (Art Shell) Did you know that the Raiders drafted the first black quarterback? (1st Round, Eldridge Reno Dickey) Today we met the 1st Black Woman President of an NFL team. (Sandra Douglas Morgan)

We were blessed with an opportunity to engage in a panel, having conversation with NFL Players, Hosts and of course the Team President, Sandra. Our Scholars were the most impressive! Asking questions without fear or doubt. Questions that led to open dialogue about life’s many obstacles that challenge the black community, today. Dialogue and conversations like these are important when it comes to creating or being the change we desire to see. A huge Shoutout and THANK YOU to Ms. Riunite Hood for helping put this together! Shoutout to the Staff and Scholars for being exceptional and actively participating. Thank you, Democracy Prep for the opportunity and I can’t forget the Las Vegas Raiders and their community relations team! You all are AWESOME!

Mr. Gipson
Dean of Culture
Community Cook Out @ DPAC

Cook Out is 2/25 (1pm-4pm), this is a community event where we will feature a pop-up shop and marketplace for local businesses and our school clubs will have fundraisers, games and entertainment for all.

  • Families who have local businesses can submit a The Cookout vendor form.
  • Family fun competitions: At the Cookout we are having a Spades, Dominoes, Bid Whiz, and Chess Competition. Any DPAC family or scholar can sign up for that on the Competitions form

21st CCLC Update

Hello 21st Century Parents and Families,

I want to take a moment to inform you all of some important changes coming to the program beginning Tuesday, February 21st. We are excited to be changing our locations back to the Elementary building once again, and we ask that parents and guardians pick up scholars from the J Street entrance. There will be a staff member at the door to assist with picking up scholars so that parents won’t need to go into the building.

Please remember that next week there is no school on Monday, February 20. We will only have the 21st CCLC program on Tuesday the 21st next week.  Wednesday to Friday will be half days for benchmark exams and we will not have the 21st Century Program. 

Thank you.
Brandon Simon-Perez   Brandon.simonperez@democracyprep.org, 

Reserve Your Scholars Seat for 23/24 School Year

To reserve your scholars seat for the next school year, all you need to do is fill out this brief form!

Congratulations on nearing the close of another school year. Because of your Hard Work, your scholar is one step closer to Going to College and Changing the World! As you know, our commitment to you when you enrolled at Democracy Prep at the Agassi Campus was that we would ensure your child is successful in college and beyond and lives a life of active citizenship. We are eager for all of our scholars to continue with us in the upcoming year. After all, at Democracy Prep at the Agassi Campus, we play the long game and we’re confident that if you stay with us, we will deliver on that promise of success in the college of your choice. If you are feeling unsure about whether your child will continue with us, we need to know this immediately so that we can discuss your concerns and try to work through them. But, ultimately our goal is to help you find the best educational institution for your child moving forward, even if it is not with us. If you choose another option for your child next year, we would like to have the opportunity to offer your child’s seat to another scholar who needs it.

Please use this Intent to Return Form to let us know whether you expect your child to return next year. Hard copies of the form are also available in the front office at your convenience. Please either complete the survey below or send back the completed hard copy to school with your scholar as soon as possible.

Please note that there will be several options to fill out this form before the end of the year, but if you do not reply, your seat at Democracy Prep at the Agassi Campus may be filled by another student on our student waiting list at the end of the school year.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation and understanding.

Nevada Reading Week “One World, Many Stories”.

The Nevada Department of Education helps organize the Nevada Reading Week each year.  We are excited to participate this year Feb 27 – Mar 3.  The NDE website explains “Nevada Reading Week serves to promote a life-long love of reading. From students in Pre-Kindergarten listening attentively on a circle rug to their teacher’s riveting read-aloud to high school seniors engaging in rigorous discussions about a novel, the joy of reading is evident.” More information will be presented in the coming weeks. We hope you will join us in celebrating and promoting this lifelong joy of reading.