NETWORKings
Antioch Charter Academy
Minimum Days: Thursday (10/31) & Friday (11/1) – student pick up is at 12pm
Our Vision To provide a learning environment where students of all socio-economic levels and ethnic backgrounds embrace education, exhibit compassion, and accept personal responsibility
Our Mission The mission of the Antioch Charter Academies is to facilitate academic and personal growth of TK-8th grade students of all socio-economic levels and ethnic backgrounds. ACA enables 21st century students to become literate, self-motivated, innovative, lifelong learners, and compassionate, collaborative active citizens. We nurture and support a partnership of students, teachers, families and the community; embrace individual strengths; and build upon research informed educational best practices including Montessori, multiple intelligences, brain-compatible teaching, and multi-age groupings with small class sizes.
Newsletter for Antioch Charter Academy/TLCS Families and Staff Volume 24, Issue 10, October 28, 2019
Hi ACA Families,
Daylight savings time is coming! Sunday, November 3, we will all “fall back” by one hour. Although I do love gaining that extra hour, that small 60-minute shift can have a rough effect on students. It can throw off their sleep, appetite, attention span, mood, and more. It can take up to a week for a child’s internal clock to reset.
Here are some helpful tips to get us through the shift:
Begin Shifting the Bedtime
Start a day, or even several days before the time change. If your child usually goes down at 8:00, have them under the covers by 7:45 the first night and 7:30 the next.
Stick With a Routine
It’s important to stick with a bedtime routine, especially during a change in schedule that might throw your child off. For young children, it’s critical that they have a routine during bedtime to help them create a powerful signal for sleep.
Control the Lights
At night, dim the lights in your home or child’s bedroom and turn off all electronics about 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime to help your child get into bedtime mode. A child’s internal clock is set by light and dark patterns.
In the morning, get your child in the light as much as possible. Natural sunlight is best, so if weather permits, have breakfast outside or have your child help walk the dog. If that’s not an option, turn on the lights in the house so it’s nice and bright.
Hope these help!
Mrs. Stahler
GENERAL NOTES
October 31st Holiday Events (all events are optional)
This day is a normal school day for all students, except students will be able to wear their costumes to school if they choose. No masks, weapons, or gore are allowed. Students must still be able to participate in learning, so no costumes which would hinder school work (school dress codes still apply).
Parade & Trick or Treating: At 11:30am, there will be a costume parade & “Trick or Treating” around the campus. Parents are welcome to come watch. Students who do not want to participate will have a supervised room set-aside for them where they can play board games during the activities, or they can be signed out by a parent/guardian at 11:30am.
Haunted House (new date – November 5th): Our annual “Haunted House” will run from 3~3:45pm. This is an age appropriate haunted house put on by the Middle School Fundraising Elective. Cost is $3 per student or $5 for 2 students.
Arrival Time & Dismissal Time: Gates open and supervision begins at 8am, the first bell rings at 8:10am, and class begins at 8:15am. It is important to make sure your student arrives on time for class. Please help us out by dropping your student off no earlier than 8am and exiting the carpool line by 8:15am. School ends at 3pm on M, T, Th, & F, and 2pm on W for 1st-8th grade. Minimum days end at 12pm. Please be punctual in picking up your student(s).
Absences and Tardies: If you student will be absent, or tardy, please call the office at 925-755-7311, or email you student’s classroom, before 8:30am. If you do not notify the school, the absence will go on your student’s permanent attendance record as unexcused.
CARPOOL and CROSSWALK Procedures REMINDERS: Please use the crosswalk if you are walking in or out of the school. You can also walk up the hill by the park and exit through the park. Please do not walk through the carpool lane. The carpool lane is for cars only. Please help teach your students safe procedures when walking in and out of school.
Charter Council: the Charter Council is our governing board. They meet on a monthly basis – usually the first Thursday of the month. Please check the calendar for the next meeting date/time, or call the office at 925-755-7311. These meetings are open to the public!
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Keep on top of key dates and deadlines, find messages like minimum day pick-ups, receive updates on whole school & classroom events, and much more!
If you have not already signed up, please contact your student’s classroom to get your student’s individual sign-up code!
Have multiple students…then get a code for each one.
FAMILY NETWORK (FN) NEWS & INFORMATION
The ACA Family Network is made up of ACA adults who volunteer for fundraisers and social events for the enrichment of our children. The money we raise goes back to our school for study trips, family activities, and classroom supplies. If you have a child/grandchild/niece/nephew/etc. at ACA, then come join us & help make a difference!
Family Network Events:
Dine Out for Dollars: go out to eat and earn money for our school!
Nov 12 from 4-9pm: Mod Pizza (4301 Century Blvd. Pittsburg)
Dear ACA Families,
The Family Network is excited to announce a holiday wreath fundraiser this year. Students will collect orders from October 21 – November 1, 2019, or items can be ordered directly from the website below. Most items will be delivered to the school and distributed in early December. These are labelled “Local Distribution Items” on the website. Some items can be ordered for direct shipping, so out of town friends and family can support our fundraiser, too! These are labelled “Direct Delivery Gift Items” on the website.
If you would like a sneak peek at the website for this fundraiser, use the link below.
Your student’s information packet and order form will come home after October break. Please feel free to share the website with and/or collect orders from family and friends.
We look forward to a successful fundraiser! Thank you for supporting our school!
ACA Family Network Board
acafamilynetwork@antiochcharteracademy.org
New & EASY Fundraising Opportunity – Benefit App https://www.benefit-mobile.com/
- Download the app
- Link a checking account or credit card to this secure site
- Purchase digital gift cards and use on the spot! Lots of options including Walmart & Target (see attached document for the list)!
- The business will then donate a percentage of your purchase to our school!
Popcorn Fridays: On Fridays, after school, the FN will sell popcorn & candy for $1. All profits go back to the school! If you would like to help, please email ACAFamilyNetwork@antiochcharteracademy.org
Keep Track of Your Volunteer Hours: Each ACA family is asked to volunteer 40 hours per year. Our Family Network Parent Volunteer Coordinator has already set up accounts for each family.
All you need to do is go to https://www.trackitforward.com and sign in using the email address you gave the school. Your temporary password is Aca01. After logging in, please change your password to a permanent one of your choosing. If you can’t find an account created for you, you can contact the Family Network with questions at ACAFamilyNetwork@antiochcharteracademy.org
Family Network Meetings are the first Thursday of each month. Meetings are held in Room 4 at 6:30 on the ACA campus. The board welcomes and encourages all ACA families to attend the meetings. The meetings are not just for board members, but for all ACA family members.
FREE child care can be provided by Middle School students, but parents must RSVP to the meeting in advance. If you plan on coming to the meeting, email the Family Network Board at acafamilynetwork@antiochcharteracademy.org, and let them know you will need the Free Child Care services during the meeting.
Easy Ways to Earn Money for ACA!!
* AmazonSmiles: Shop at Amazon? Shop at Amazon’s fundraising site, smile.amazon.com and they will donate back to ACA. We are registered as The Learner Centered School, Inc.
* Box Tops for Education: Clip out those Box Tops for Education boxes found on General Mills, Hanes, Betty Crocker, Gold Medal, Ziploc, Progresso, Old El Paso, Kleenex, Fiber One, Hefty, etc. and drop off them in the collection box in the school office. You can also register at boxtopsforeducation.com and have more opportunities to raise funds. We are listed as The Learner Centered School, Inc.
* Good Search: Forget Google and Bing, use goodsearch.com for your web searches and they will donate a penny per search to ACA. They can add up! We are listed as Antioch Charter Academy. While there you can also sign up for GoodShop and GoodDining and others!
* Shoparoo…Upload this free app to your smartphone. Then take photos of your receipts from stores, restaurants, etc. and they will donate back to ACA. We are listed as Antioch Charter Academy. Info at shoparoo.com
*Escrip: Register your Safeway card with The Learner Centered School, Inc. Safeway cards need to be reregistered each year.
*Annual Give: This is a great opportunity to make a donation to our school, knowing that your money will go directly to benefit our students. Annual give donations are accepted any time throughout the school year, and they are tax deductible. Contact the office, or email the Family Network to find out more information. This year you can make your donation through check, cash or Pay Pall: https://PayPal.me/ACAFamilyNetwork
Calendar
- Oct 29 Int Study Trip (on campus) – Walk Through the American Revolution
- Oct 31 Minimum Day – dismissal time at 12pm
- Oct 31 Costumes allowed; Parade & Trick or Treating at 11:30am
- Nov 1 FN Holiday Wreath Fundraiser Ends
- Nov 1 Minimum Day – dismissal time at 12pm
- Nov 5 MS Fundraising Elective Haunted House -3~3:45
- Nov 7 Charter Council Meeting (all welcome) – 4pm
- Nov 7 FN Meeting (all welcome) – 6:30pm
- Nov 15 Hearing Test (certain grades)
- Nov 15 1st Trimester Ends
- Nov 18 2nd Trimester Begins
- Nov 18-22 Minimum Days – dismissal time at 12pm
- Nov 21 K-6th Assembly – EcoHero
- Nov 25-29 Thanksgiving Break – no school
- Dec 16 Holiday Concert @ BDMS – 6:30pm (music students arrive at 5:30)
- Dec 20 Minimum Day – dismissal time at 12pm
- Dec 23-Jan 3 Winter Break – no school
- Jan 6 School Resumes – welcome back!
CONTACT INFORMATION
School Phone – 925-755-7311
School Address – 3325 Hacienda Way, Antioch 94509
School Website – www.AntiochCharterAcademy.org
ACA Office – ACAOffice@antiochcharteracademy.org
ACA Family Network – ACAFamilyNetwork@antiochcharteracademy.org
ACA Elementary – ACAElementary@antiochcharteracademy.org
ACA Intermediate – ACAIntermediate@antiochcharteracademy.org
ACA Primary – ACAPrimary@antiochcharteracademy.org
ACA Middle School – ACAMiddleSchool@antiochcharteracademy.org
ACA I & II Special Education – SPED@antiochcharteracademy.org
ACA Newsletter – ACANewsletter@antiochcharteracademy.org
ACA Memories – ACAMemories@antiochcharteracademy.org
ACA Hot Lunch Program – ACALunchProgram@antiochcharteracademy.org
Twitter & Instagram Accounts – #AntiochCharter; @AntiochCharter
Parent Network Board & Contact Info
Co-Chairs: Lydia Moon and Kelly MacCallister
Secretary: Brooke Farrington
Treasurer: Beth Rottier
School Volunteer Coordinator: Salena Killion
Social Chair: Janika Barnes
Fundraising Chair: open
If you’re interested in an open position please email ACAFamilyNetwork@antiochcharteracademy.org
We need help to make this year amazing for OUR KIDS, the school families, teachers and staff
Members at Large: Everyone!
Private Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/acafamilynetwork/
Email: ACAFamilyNetwork@antiochcharteracademy.org