NHA Admissions Representative Maurielle Whalen and Admissions Manager Shondel Johnson organized an entry for the schools after realizing they hadn’t been in the parade last year. "We wanted to showcase our amazing schools in this area and also the unity we feel among our NHA sister schools," Whalen explained.
Families, students, and staff worked together to build a float decorated in NHA colors and covered in holiday lights The schools’ mascots Freddy the Falcon from Foundations and Lenny the Lynx from Landmark joined in, representing the schools along the parade route and spreading holiday cheer.
The younger kids enjoyed riding on the float, while the older students walked alongside their teachers, handing out candy and sharing information about Foundations, Landmark, and even Capstone Academy, which is set to open this fall in Commerce City. “It was an amazing experience,” Whalen said. “I’m grateful we had the chance to show so many people how truly special our schools are. Looking forward to doing it again next year!”
For Libby Rowe, principal at Foundations Academy, the best part was seeing the joy on students’ faces as they spotted their teachers and classmates in the mile-and-a-half long parade. “It was a fun evening filled with pride to be a part of NHA and the Brighton community,” she shared.
Thanks to Maurielle Whalen, Shondel Johnson, and so many of our families for their teamwork and creativity. What a wonderful way to celebrate this holiday season!
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About Foundations Academy
Foundations Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Brighton, Colorado, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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