Families were encouraged to take a rubber duck, painted like the school’s eagle mascot, Esme, with them during their summer travels; and Esme saw the world.
Esme went on plenty of adventures with students and their families.
“I am always looking for creative ways to get virtual eyes on our school and keep our families connected, especially because our campus is located in a more remote area,” Navas said. “We already have an Eagle plushie adoption tradition for our incoming kindergarten students, so I wanted to create something unique that would build on that idea. One day, I was driving past a Jeep dealership and saw an enormous rubber duck. That sparked the idea for Esme the Eagle Duck!”
Navas made up a flyer explaining the project, added her contact information, and encouraged families to submit photos of Esme enjoying their families’ experiences throughout the summer. She promoted the campaign by handing out Esme ducks and fliers at the school’s spring field day, kindergarten graduation, Moral FocusTM assemblies, and during daily drop-off and pickup times.
Esme went on plenty of adventures with students and their families.
“Esme had quite the summer adventure! The Jackson family took Esme on an incredible European adventure where she traveled more than 13,000 miles. She visited England, France, Wales, and Ireland! Esme also made it all the way to Japan with Special Education Teacher Sarah Bentz. Closer to home, she enjoyed multiple Colorado beaches and mountain hikes, went to the movies, read books, and, of course, enjoyed plenty of ice cream along the way.”
Navas said the excitement and feedback were incredibly positive. What began as a simple idea quickly became something families were excited to participate in and share with the school community.
Esme also made it all the way to Japan with Special Education Teacher Sarah Bentz.
“What made this project so special was how generous our families were with their time. They added taking photos with Esme to their summer to-do lists, and they were so willing to share pieces of their adventures with our school community. It created a fun connection between home, travel, and Sky Ranch even while school was out.”
Navas said she feels fortunate to be part of a team that is making an impact in a growing community.
Esme went on plenty of adventures with students and their families.
“I think these little traditions are what help create the culture of a school. It’s exciting to think that some of the ideas we are creating today could become lifelong traditions for the Sky Ranch and Sky Ranch Prep communities and the neighborhoods we serve. Being part of that growth is incredibly rewarding.”
Great work combining the joy of summer and school, Sky Ranch!
About Sky Ranch Academy
Sky Ranch Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Watkins, Colorado, serving students in kindergarten through eleventh grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
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