Reflection, Service, and the Power of Our Tribe

Dear Operation Xcel Tribe,

As we prepare to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this Monday, I find myself reflecting on what "service" truly looks like within our organization.

Looking back at our Peck students’ outreach in November—where they packed lunches and care kits for our unhoused neighbors at the IRC and the Pallet House community—it is clear that the spirit of giving is deeply rooted in our culture. Those small brown bags represented something much larger: the realization that our students have the power to change someone’s day, and eventually, the world.

This transformation is at the heart of everything we do. Whether it is Cameron’s incredible two-year journey from struggling with grades to dreaming of becoming a creator, or our partnership with High Point University, we are seeing the "80% Engagement Standard" in action.

For those of you who registered for our Parent Café on January 22nd, we are thrilled to see you next week! Registration is now officially closed, allowing us to prepare the best experience possible for you.

Thank you for being the "points of light" in our community. I hope to see many of you making this Monday a "day on" for service.

Warmly,

Charlene Gladney, Executive Director

This Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. To help our families find the perfect way to give back, we are highlighting Points of Light, an organization dedicated to the spirit of volunteerism.

Instead of a "day off," let's make it a "day on" for our community!

How to Find a Project Near You:

Can’t leave the house? Try a "DIY" Project!

Points of Light offers great DIY Service Guides for families.  You can do these right at your kitchen table:

If your family serves on MLK Day of Service, please tag us and
use the hashtags on your social media posts:
#MLKDayGSO #MLKDayHP #MLKDayGuilfordCounty
#OperationXcel #PointsofLight

Points of Light was founded on the belief that "every person has the potential to be a point of light." This aligns perfectly with the AmeriCorps 2023 State of the Evidence Report—showing that service helps children feel a sense of "mattering" and real-world connection (Richman et al., 2023).

Service isn't just for holidays; it’s a core value at Operation Xcel. This past November, our students at Peck’s Community Outreach took the lead in supporting our unhoused neighbors in Greensboro.

Our young leaders organized, packed, and delivered:

This video (7:38) shows the staff and students from our Peck site
preparing for and describing their experience while participating in 
their Homelessness & Hunger Outreach to the unhoused in Greensboro. 

According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, shelter and food are the most fundamental priorities for any human being. By addressing these basic needs with such care, our Peck students showed a level of empathy and social responsibility that far exceeds their years.

Why the "80% Standard" is a Game-Changer for Families Like Cameron's

At Operation Xcel, we believe that academic growth isn’t a product of occasional help; it’s the result of consistent presence. This is why we hold our 80% Engagement Standard.

To a student, this isn't just a percentage—it’s the "tipping point" where a child stops feeling like a visitor in a classroom and starts feeling like a member of a community. By maintaining high attendance and engagement, students enter our SEL Ecosystem, a synchronized support network of teachers, TAs, and counselors that we call the Aura of Advocacy.

When a family commits to this standard, the focus shifts from "fixing grades" to "building a future." For parents, it provides the peace of mind that their child is developing the social skills and independence needed to thrive long after the school bell rings.

See how this standard transformed one student's life below.

Since the summer of 2023, Cameron has been a familiar face at Operation Xcel. When he first joined us, the stakes were high. His grades were not passing, and his mother was deeply concerned—not just about the numbers on his report card, but because Cameron was too shy to speak up or ask for help when he didn't understand the material.

Fast forward through the 2024-2025 school year, and the transformation is remarkable.

Cameron, a 15-year-old who loves gaming, playing sports with friends, and talking on the phone, has found his stride. Despite his earlier academic struggles, his favorite subject is now Math. He has progressed from receiving failing grades to achieving independence, completing his homework independently and exhibiting a significant improvement in his behavior at both school and home.

The "shy" Cameron has been replaced by an outspoken young man with his sights set on becoming a YouTuber. His mother notes that the program's impact reaches the whole family: "Operation Xcel helps parents who work to focus on ‘work’ and not what their child is doing. It has fun activities and truly improves their social skills."

Cameron’s transformation was made possible by a "Tribe" of dedicated staff and a committed family. Your support allows us to keep our professional SEL programming FREE for families and provides the expert guidance our students need to become future leaders.Every gift helps us provide Certified School Counselors and Teachers for our middle school sites.

We are proud to recognize our partnership with High Point University (HPU) and the incredible impact they’ve had at our Northwood Community Center. Through the "Super Friends Initiative," HPU students became a vital part of our community’s success.

Under the guidance of Professor Jo De Los Santos, 17 dedicated students from the Writing and Community Engagement course have gone far beyond their academic requirements. These mentors have spent the Fall semester building deep, impactful relationships through consistent tutoring and mentoring.

This partnership thrived thanks to the dedicated leadership at our Northwood site. Ms. Walton, our Family Engagement Specialist, and Mr. Revels, our Site Director, have been instrumental in this success. Ms. Walton’s expert management of the HPU volunteer training and Mr. Revels’ unwavering consistency have been the "glue" that bonded this initiative together. We are incredibly lucky to have had this team ensuring our students receive the highest quality support and mentorship! Thanks, HPU, for your support, mentoring, tutoring, and partnership!

Theme: Helping children bounce back from academic and social challenges.

Mark your calendars for a milestone celebration!

When: Friday, April 11th, 2026

Where: The Blue Heron Event Venue

Why: To celebrate 18 years of empowering young learners to reach their full potential. Join the Operation Xcel family as we honor nearly two decades of fostering a lifelong love of learning and building a stronger community together.

Formal invitation and ticket information to follow soon!