Athlos Academies

Happy 4th of July, Athlos Community!

As we come together to celebrate the birth of our great nation, we are reminded of the values that bind us: freedom, unity, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. This Independence Day, let us cherish the moments with our loved ones, reflect on our collective achievements, and look forward to the future with hope and determination.

This summer has been a time of rest, rejuvenation, and reflection for many of us. As we prepare to welcome a new school year, we are excited about the endless possibilities that lie ahead. Our commitment to fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and high-achieving community remains stronger than ever.

We are especially thrilled to introduce Heather Ebnet, our new Executive Director at Athlos Academy St. Cloud. With her extensive experience and dedication to educational excellence, she brings a wealth of knowledge and passion that will undoubtedly inspire us all. Heather's vision for equitable access and opportunities for every student aligns perfectly with our mission to educate the whole child and support their social-emotional growth.

As we look forward to the upcoming school year, let us carry the spirit of Independence Day with us. Let it remind us that together, we can overcome any challenge and achieve great things. Our community is a beacon of hope, resilience, and aspiration, and it is through our collective efforts that we will continue to thrive.

Enjoy this special day, celebrate safely, and take pride in the wonderful community we have built together. Here's to a summer filled with joy and a school year filled with promise and success. Happy Independence Day!

Best regards,
Bill Bressler, Ed.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Athlos Academies

We're excited to announce that our Healthy Body & Performance Character Manager and Athlos Movement & Character Program Director Michael Jennings will be hosting an exhibit booth at the National Charter School Conference.

Join him from June 30-July 3.

https://publiccharters.org/conference/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA0PuuBhBsEiwAS7fsNc-5SjDnIK55u5fWNKPCyxnOtHp7HpCuq-0-Otx8p9jCJ6aUviJivhoC7_MQAvD_BwE

We're excited to announce that our Healthy Body & Performance Character Manager Michael Jennings will be presenting at the North American Coach Development Summit put on by the United States Center for Coaching Excellence.

Join him from June 10-12. https://uscoachexcellence.org/2024-north-american-coach-development-summit-2/

Memorial Day Message

Dear Athlos Team,
As we approach Memorial Day, I am reminded of the profound courage, dedication, and sacrifice of those who have served our nation with honor and bravery. This day is a solemn reminder of the freedoms we enjoy, secured by the countless men and women who have given their all.

At Athlos Academies, we are deeply grateful for the values of perseverance, integrity, and selflessness demonstrated by our veterans and active military personnel. Their commitment to our country inspires us to strive for excellence in all we do, fostering a community where our students can grow into strong, capable leaders.

As we take this time to remember and honor the heroes who have laid down their lives for our freedoms, let us also reflect on the importance of unity and service in our roles, Athlos Team. Through our dedication and passion, each of us has the power to make a difference in our students' lives, inspire them, and shape a brighter future.

Thank you, Athlos Team, for your unwavering dedication and passion in nurturing the next generation. Your commitment to our mission is truly inspiring. May this Memorial Day be a time of reflection, gratitude, and renewed commitment to our shared goal.

I wish you and your families a peaceful and meaningful Memorial Day.
Warm regards,
Bill Bressler, Ed.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Athlos Academies

Dear Teachers,

As Teacher Appreciation Week unfolds, it's a moment to pause and extend heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering dedication you bring to your classrooms every single day.

Your commitment goes beyond imparting knowledge; it's about shaping futures, instilling confidence, and nurturing a love for learning.

In a world where challenges seem to multiply, you stand as beacons of hope, resilience, and inspiration.

Your passion for education transcends boundaries, and your impact echoes through generations.

Thank you for your tireless efforts, your patience, and your unwavering belief in the potential of every student.

Your work shapes minds, molds characters, and builds bridges to brighter futures.

During this week and every day, may you feel the immense appreciation and respect that we hold for you.

You are not just teachers; you are heroes, mentors, and guides, lighting the path to knowledge and enlightenment.

With deepest gratitude,
Dr. William Bressler

We're excited to announce that our Healthy Body & Performance Character Manager Michael Jennings will be presenting at the National Academy of Health & Physical Literacy National Summit.

Join him from April 7-10: https://nahpl.org/professional-development/national-summit-2024/

Dear Athlos Academies Community,

I am pleased to reach out to each of you during this particular time of year. Easter symbolizes renewal, hope, and joy, and it's in this spirit, I wish to extend my heartfelt greetings to our wonderful students, dedicated staff, supportive parents, and the broader Athlos family.

This season is a beautiful reminder of the power of new beginnings and the endless possibilities that come with them. Together, we've navigated challenges and celebrated achievements, always moving forward with resilience and a shared vision for excellence in education and character development.

As we enjoy this Easter, let's cherish the moments with our loved ones and reflect on the positive impact we can continue to make in the lives of our young learners. The values we instill in them today—leadership, ethics, and the pursuit of knowledge—will blossom into the leaders of tomorrow, much like the spring flowers that bring color and life to our surroundings.

May this Easter bring you and your families peace, happiness, and the warmth of shared moments. Thank you for being an integral part of our Athlos journey. Here's to embracing the promise of spring and the bright future ahead for our academy.

Warmest wishes for a joyful Easter,

Bill Bressler, Ed.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Athlos Academies

We're excited to announce that our Healthy Body & Performance Character Manager Michael Jennings will be presenting and hosting an exhibit booth at the SHAPE America National Convention.

Register here to join him from March 12-16: https://convention.shapeamerica.org/Convention/Registration.aspx

We're excited to announce that our CEO Bill Bressler will be speaking at the HJ Sims Late Winter Conference.

As a panelist his session, A View through the Kaleidoscope of School Choice, will highlight what's special about our schools and the unique models they deliver.

https://hjsims.com/the-21st-annual-hj-sims-late-winter-conference-2/

Dear Team Athlos,

As we all know, Presidents Day is a time to honor the legacies of the leaders who helped shape the United States of America. We celebrate the lives of Presidents Washington and Lincoln, whose dedication to preserving the union and expanding freedom continues to inspire generations.

This holiday also allows one to reflect on leadership and reasonable citizenship responsibilities. Students across the country learn about the qualities that make great presidents, such as courage, integrity, empathy, and vision. As educators, we strive to instill these values in our students, empowering them to be engaged citizens who lead with wisdom and compassion.

At Athlos Academies, we believe every child has the potential for greatness. Through our holistic approach focused on the whole child, including a prepared mind, healthy body, and performance character, we prepare students to make a positive difference in the world.

On this Presidents Day, I encourage everyone in our community to consider how we can each demonstrate leadership, in big and small ways, to create a better future.

I wish you and your family a meaningful celebration.

Best regards,
Bill Bressler, Ed.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Athlos Academies

Introducing AMAC (Athlos Movement & Character) Program!

This program is intended for everyone.

Whether you’re a physical education teacher, sport coach, school district, performance coach, after school program provider, or simply a parent looking to be active with your children, the Athlos Movement & Character (AMAC) Program is your one-stop-shop for all things athletic and performance character development.

The AMAC Program is research-based and designed with holistic development in mind. Rooted in the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s American Development Model and Long-Term Athletic Development, the robust, vertically aligned, and developmentally appropriate movement curriculum provides a roadmap to developing athleticism.

Start today and learn more at: http://amac.athlos.org

You can follow AMAC on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/AthlosMAC

As we celebrate this season of joy and giving, let us carry forward the same spirit of unity and purpose that defines us. Together, as a team, we are making Athlos Academies a beacon of educational excellence, and I am genuinely grateful for each of you.

May this Christmas fill your hearts with warmth, your homes with laughter, and your lives with blessings. Let us embrace the holiday season with open hearts and share the love and goodwill that make this time of year unique.

Warm regards,

Bill Bressler
CEO
Athlos Academies

Athlos Academy of Jefferson Parish recognized their September Staff of the Month ⭐️

Ms. Roberts, Lower School Teacher of the Month
Ms. Verney, Upper School Teacher of the Month
Ms Watts, Para of the Month
Mr. McConis, Support Staff of the Month

For World Teacher's Day we'd like to thank and give a shoutout to all the amazing teachers, former or current that help and inspire those around them. ❤️

Last Friday Athlos Academy of Jefferson Parish held their 2nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival & Health Expo! 🎉

Families were treated to performances of native and liturgical dance.

Their food service vendor SLA Management provided a Cuban sandwich makeover that replaced pork with turkey and was complemented with a street corn salad.

Happy Father’s Day from Athlos Academy!

Thank you for all that you do! ❤️

Athlos Academy of Jefferson Parish students received certificates as part of their end of the year awards celebrations. Congratulations to all of them! ⭐

Athlos Academies, a tuition-free public charter school network, and Tharros, a nonprofit that empowers girls in sports, are partnering to bring confidence-building practices and education to the Athlos community.

Athlos Academies is committed to providing high-quality educational opportunities for the whole child built on the three foundational pillars of a Prepared Mind, Healthy Body, and Performance Character. Through this partnership, staff at Athlos Academy of Utah (Herriman, Utah) and Athlos Academy of Jefferson Parish (Terrytown, Louisiana) will learn strategies to strengthen confidence in girls and empower them through girl-centered programming.

Educators will attend a 90-minute training to increase girls' engagement and participation in sports and physical activities. Learning objectives include understanding barriers to girls' sports participation, gaining insight into confidence challenges for girls, learning strategies to build confidence, and creating an action plan to apply the knowledge.

The sessions will be led by Tharros founder Nicole Shaia, a soccer and fitness enthusiast inspired to start Tharros through her own experience. She is trained in Confidence Coaching, Transformational Psychology, Cognitive Behavior, and Youth Engagement.

Stay tuned for more from the Tharros/Athlos partnership soon!

Athlos Academy of Utah's Principal Pantry received a helping hand from many people including:

⭐ Mike Haynes from the Jordan Education Foundation
⭐ Councilman Teddy Hodges
⭐ Mayor Lauren Palmer
⭐ Herriman Work from Home Group
⭐ Kroger
⭐ Herriman Smiths
⭐ Bryan Ellison, owner of Redemption Bar and Grill
⭐ Bright Funds
⭐ Joe Ross
⭐ Mountain Ridge High School Sources of Strength Group

And many other great people that have helped with the school's food pantry.

Thank you, everyone!

Meet Ms. Alice S Harvey, Administrative Coordinator at Athlos Academy of Jefferson Parish.

My responsibility as an Administrative Coordinator is to keep our school running smoothly by handling all administrative tasks. I serve as a secretary and point of contact for all vendors and supplies.

Our staff can count on me to complete all special projects promptly. But most of all, customer service is what I do best. I enjoy servicing our parents, listening to, and meeting the needs of the staff, students, and parents.

I’m a proud Trojan alum of the John McDonald class of 1989! I am also a graduate of the National Education Center, where I received my certification in the Medical Assistant and Phlebotomy fields.

My favorite foods are pasta and seafood. I enjoy listening to R&B and gospel. My favorite pass time is watching a movie with my husband and sitting on the patio watching my grandchildren enjoying themselves and making memories.

The things I love about Athlos are the spectacular events that are carefully planned by the staff and the big smiles on the students' faces. I plan to show up daily to encourage our students to continue striving upward with no excuses, no matter what.

Thanks for all you do for Athlos scholars, Ms. Harvey!

At Athlos Academy of Utah, students had a fantastic time duct-taping Principal Gibbs at their PTO fundraiser.

Over $500 was raised and all proceeds went towards purchasing athletic equipment for their Griffins.

Meet Mrs. Pepper Boudreaux Dupont, Third Grade Teacher at Athlos Academy of Jefferson Parish.

Mrs. Dupont's role at Athlos Academy is to teach third grade Math and Science. She is the Lead Teacher for third grade and the PBIS coordinator.

Mrs. Dupont is currently enrolled in graduate school (Louisiana State University, Shreveport) to obtain a Master’s Degree in Administration and Educational Leadership. She was awarded the Walmart Teacher of the Year in 2004 and Teacher of the Year in 2016 and 2020.

Mrs. Dupont has a wonderful husband and two beautiful daughters. Her eldest daughter lives in Georgia with her husband and two sons, “my precious grandsons!” Her youngest daughter lives in Orlando, Florida, and works at Disney World (Hollywood Studios Starbucks).

Some of her favorites are:
Food: She loves salad, French fries, and chocolate.
Music/Song: She listens to all types of music, especially music that makes her want to dance!
Movie: She has many favorite movies. She says, "I can repeatedly watch Harry Potter, The Notebook, and Steel Magnolias."
Activities: She loves shopping (for other people, not herself), watching movies, and spending time with her family.

What she loves about Athlos is the family atmosphere. She says, "I love how everyone at Athlos is like one big family. We support and motivate each other daily. I also love that I get called Dr. Pepper. I have wanted to be called Dr. Pepper since I was little!"

One hard thing she plans to do is get her Master’s Degree in Administration, which she is pursuing now.
"I was invited to join Sigma Kappa Pi/ National Society of Leadership and Success with a GPA of 4.0.
Unrelated to work, my youngest grandson will be a 1 year old in March. And my eldest grandson will be 4 in April," says Mrs.Dupont.

Thank you for all you do for Athlos, Mrs. Dupont!

Meet Ms. Jennifer Tran, First Grade Teacher Athlos Academy of Jefferson Parish.

Ms. Tran is a first-grade teacher, working with students to build foundational skills such as counting, adding, reading, and more. Ms. Tran graduated from Xavier University of LA with a B.A. in Education. She loves dark chocolate and fruit smoothies (hint for Educator Appreciation in May!).

During her free time, she likes to shop or read. What she loves the most about Athlos is the diversity and the willingness to embrace different cultures. One of her "challenge" goals this year is to exercise more and keep a healthy body.

Ms. Tran and other staff members also organized our Lunar New Year Celebration.

Thanks for all you do for Athlos scholars and staff, Ms. Tran!

January is School Board Appreciation Month. Board members volunteer their time to provide oversight for our school.

Thank you for all your support and guidance! 🤗

Check out the Triton robotics at Athlos Academy of Jefferson Parish!

Our creative and gritty robotics team, the Triton Stingrays #44379, earned a berth to the Louisiana State Robotics Championship! 🏆

Our stupendous engineers and programmers finished 2nd in the 12-team qualifier.
A tip of the hat to our amazing Triton engineers.🎩

Geaux Tritons!

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Athlos! 🦃

Happy Veterans Day from all of us at Athlos.

Thank you for your service! 🇺🇸

Shout-out to Michael Jennings, Health Body and Character Development Coordinator, for presenting at the Teach Better conference last week! If you have heard Michael speak before, you know that everyone left his session feeling motivated to get students and adults moving! Teach Better Team

Meet Kellie Stewart, receptionist for Jefferson Parish:

As Front Office Receptionist, my responsibilities include greeting parents, answering phones, making copies, answering questions daily, and keeping a smile on my face.

I attended Xavier University Preparatory (2007) and Delgado Community College where I received an Associate's degree in Biology (2013), and Southern University where I received a Bachelor's in Health Information Management (2020).

My Favorite Food is CRAWFISH honestly any type of seafood! Favorite Movie: Twilight. Favorite Song: Mary J - My Life! Favorite pass time: Sitting on the couch and watching TV or enjoying a new restaurant.

What I love about Athlos is the Performance Character traits and how they help to build confidence in the children. I also love the great work environment. Just about every day I'm able to spark great conversations with my co-workers. I actually have two hard things I plan on doing, I would like to get my masters in Health Information also get certified and become a Registered Health Information Administrator.
https://www.athlosjp.org/teachers/kellie-stewart/

Meet Yolander Harris-Upper School Dean of Students for Jefferson Parish:

My role and responsibilities include helping maintain a school culture that promotes learning. I am responsible for supporting teachers with creating a classroom culture that is safe and welcoming.

My favorite food is pork chops. I also love turkey. My favorite music is R&B and my favorite movie is Coach Carter. I love the diverse student and staff culture at Athlos. One of the things I am currently doing is working to build a rapport and strong relationships with pre-teens and teenagers. I want to assist them with resolving the challenges they are facing.

https://www.athlosjp.org/classes/yolander-harris-2/