The XCELerator
Summer Tips & Celebrating Creativity!

The Academic Year is drawing to a close!
As we head into the summer months, we are celebrating our student scholars, fabulous educators, and their achievements through the power of afterschool programming.

Parent Cafe
^{June 25, 2026}

We hope you enjoyed the last few Parent Cafe's! We're gearing up for our last Cafe before we take a break for the summer & we'd love to share it with EVERYONE!

In June, we're celebrating our unsung heroes: our DADs! So please bring all your kids and a dad in your life to enjoy the Parent Cafe with us!

Please CLICK THE IMAGE to register so we can ensure we have enough food and fun for everyone!

Summer 3-Steps Ahead Camp

Register Your Child Now!

Our students are anxious to have a break from testing and classrooms, while caregivers are gearing up for the reality of students at home for weeks. This is the opportunity to enroll in the 3 Steps Ahead Summer enrichment program.

This camp is designed to give students a head start on the next school year through engaging STEAM activities, field trips, and academic enrichment.

Spots fill up fast, so register early!

Too Much Time On Little Hands?
_{Here's THREE Summer Activities to Keep Busy.}

With schools being out for the summer, and parents busy with work, we know exactly how difficult it can be to manage children's free time. Complete unstructured play time isn't always the best option and at Operation Xcel, we're here to help!

Here's three quick and easy Summer activities to do at home with your kids.

Watching The Weather: Go outside and watch the clouds. How many different types can you see? Take paper and a clipboard with you, draw what you see! Make weather predictions and let your little Meteorologist shine.
Partner Pictures: Sit with your backs together, each with 2 sheets of paper and pencil or marker. Discuss what you will each draw, agree on what it will be and draw the same thing without discussing further. Then once both of you are done, take your completed drawing and describe it out loud. Be specific, see if you each can replicate the picture being described! How close were you?
Daily Routine Chart: Children thrive under routine! Summer break is a perfect time to sit down as a household and go over what needs to be done each day. Get a big poster paper, or glue/tape a few sheets together, and design your own Daily Routine Chart. Display it on the fridge, or in a visible part of the house so everyone can see it!

_{Is Your Firearm Storage Secure?

NC S.A.F.E. Week of ACTION!}

To jumpstart June, NC S.A.F.E. (Secure All Firearms Effectively) is using the first week to bring awareness to Firearm Safety. Firearms are now the leading cause of injury-related death for children and youth in the state, and gun thefts are on the rise. If you own a firearm, make sure it’s safely secured. Learn more about the safe firearm storage laws in North Carolina to protect minors.

Did you know?

Nearly 30% of North Carolina high school students surveyed* said it would take them less than an hour to get — and be ready to fire — a loaded gun without a parent’s or other adult’s permission.

Learn More at NC S.A.F.E. Website!

2026 Lights On Afterschool Poster Contest

Officially open for submissions! Click the image above for all the information you'll need! This year they are accepting ANY artwork that shows the impact and spirit of afterschool programs. The medium can be anything from murals, to digital art, or even graphic on social media. There is a cash prize of $500 to the winner, so be sure to get your submissions in!

Rules and guidelines:

Be sure to submit all drawn or created artwork on 11x14” size paper. Art and office supply stores always have this size paper on hand. This allows them to fit the image into the final poster template properly. Anything smaller than an 11x14”, or with different proportions, will make the image impossible to use. Make sure the artwork is in PDF format and is no larger than a 2 MB file with a DPI of 350 for digital submissions. For higher-resolution photos, email sgray@afterschoolalliance.org and request a link to our file transfer account.
Because the image will be used to promote Lights On Afterschool events nationally, avoid using a specific program name within the submission. It’s not required that the winning design includes the words Lights On Afterschool, and they will ensure the Lights On Afterschool logo is included in the final poster image.
If your artists include the phrase “Lights On Afterschool” in their designs, make sure “afterschool” is written as one word, consistent with the national branding of the celebration. Keeping those guidelines in mind, be as creative as possible!
Be sure to include the entry form and the name or program name of the person who designed the artwork.

Parent/Guardian Summer Orientations

These are the final dates for ALL SITES for the 2026 Summer Program.

Peck Summer Parent Orientation
Monday, June 15th at 4PM

Tuesday, June 16th at 2PM
Stokesdale Parent Orientation
Friday, June 12th at 12 noon

Friday, June 12th at 4PM
HP- Northwood Community Center
Monday, June 8th from 6PM - 7PM

Tuesday, June 9th from 6PM - 7PM

Wednesday, June 10th from 6PM - 7PM

Jamestown Middle School
Monday, July 6th at 4:30PM
Southwest Middle School
Wednesday, June 24th at 12 noon

Thursday, June 25th at 12 noon
Jackson
Monday, June 15th at 4PM

Thursday, June 18th at 4PM
Hairston
Tuesday, June 16 at 2:30PM

Thursday, June 18th at 2:30PM