Connecting Hearts & Creating Legacies!

It's Family Engagement & Native American Heritage Month

Dear Operation Xcel Families and Supporters,

November is a month to celebrate in two powerful ways! We observe both Family Literacy Month and Native American Heritage Month, giving us the perfect opportunity to enrich our family reading time.

At Operation Xcel, we believe that literacy is about more than just reading skills—it’s about understanding the world from diverse perspectives.

Our new blog post, “Connecting Hearts and Histories: Native American Stories for Family Literacy Month,” guides you through choosing authentic, engaging books written and illustrated by Native American and First Nations creators.

Inside the blog post, you will find:

• A curated list of age-appropriate reading
recommendations (from picture books to YA).
• Tips on how to talk to your children about tribal
sovereignty and culture.
• Ideas for turning reading time into a meaningful,
intergenerational learning experience.

Don't miss this opportunity to foster strong literacy skills and celebrate the rich, enduring heritage of Indigenous communities.

Happy Reading!

Operation Xcel is thrilled to announce the addition of Angie Williams as our new Development Director — a role made possible through our ongoing capacity-building efforts to strengthen long-term sustainability and community partnerships.

Angie brings a wealth of experience in community building, strategic thinking, and nonprofit fundraising. Originally from Ferrum, Virginia, she now calls Greensboro home. Please join us in welcoming Angie as we continue our mission to empower youth in Guilford County!

November is Family Literacy Month, and at Operation Xcel, we're diving deep into the magical world of books! Literacy isn't just about learning words; it's about igniting curiosity, fueling imaginations, and unlocking future potential.

This month, we'll be focusing on:

Interactive story time📚

Book-themed creative projects 🎨

Peer reading buddies 🤝

Help us make reading the best part of their day!

While academic success is crucial, true, lasting achievement is built on a foundation of strong character. At Operation Xcel, we believe that developing a whole, successful child means focusing not only on core subjects like Math, Reading, and STEM but also on essential life skills through Social-Emotional Learning (SEL).

Here's how we see kindness practiced and reinforced every day by both our students and staff, making it the bedrock of our supportive community. We do this by:

Focusing on character development by teaching essential life skills such as kindness, empathy, and resilience.
Reciting the Operation Xcel Affirmation each day to reinforce SEL values and positive character standards.
Encouraging students to engage in meaningful acts of kindness, helps build a supportive community.
Measuring SEL growth using actionable metrics, such as improvements in students' resilience and self-regulation.
Creating opportunities for student-led initiatives that promote kindness and empathy among peers.

We are proud to highlight Juliette and Nyomi, who have been part of Operation Xcel at Peck since day one! Now, both in 5th grade, they serve as ambassadors at many of our events, consistently shining their light by supporting and mentoring our younger scholars during homework time.

Thank you, Juliette and Nyomi, for your leadership and dedication!

Giving Back Through Operation Xcel

"As a recent graduate of North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, I wanted to pour back into students the same way my teachers once poured into me growing up." – Kennedi, peer mentor at Jamestown Middle School

Peer Mentoring Experience: During the 2024–2025 school year at Jamestown Middle School, Kennedi served as a peer mentor with Operation Xcel, inspired by the guidance she received as a student herself.

Black History Month Living Museum: Kennedi organized an event in February inspired by her high school teacher, Ms. Giles, helping middle schoolers connect with Black History Month by researching, embodying, and presenting influential figures.

Student Engagement: Students gained confidence and pride as they shared their presentations with classmates, parents, teachers, and the principal, making history come alive in meaningful ways.

Personal Impact: Kennedi’s time was more than mentoring—she created lasting experiences, built relationships, and made memories she’ll always cherish.

Thank you, Kennedi, for choosing to impact the lives of our students!