NETWORKings

Antioch Charter Academy

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 12, November 12, 2019

Dear ACA Families,

Over the next 12 months, we’ll be honoring the life and legacy of the woman who started it all! An American Montessori Society has announced “a yearlong celebration leading up to the 150th birthday of Dr. Maria Montessori on August 31, 2020.” Many people will be attending live events and online discussions on the remarkable life of Maria Montessori who inspired so many individuals all over the world to build a better world.

Our whole team is taking a great responsibility for making our school a place in which every child matters! Here are some famous quotes that we would like to share:

“One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.”

“The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn.”

“The teacher teaches the entire child to build confidence and self-esteem.”

“How to tell students what to look for without telling them what to see is the dilemma of teaching.”

“I think we should give children more choices and more power as to what they want to learn, because I do think they want to learn; it is just natural for them, kind of an innate thing, and we need to foster it.”

With my warmest wishes,

Mrs. Chul, ACA Elementary

GENERAL NOTES

Please take the time to respond to the following 2 surveys. Your voice/opinion/questions are important to us, and help us to form our school! And THANK YOU to those who have already done it!

#1 CAASP: Good Afternoon ACA Families, Recently, ACA staff reviewed and discussed the 2018-19 CAASPP results for our students. The 2018–19 California Assessment of Student Performance And Progress (CAASPP) results consists of the following online summative assessments: Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics. At ACA, the test results are just one way to look at how well our students are doing. We use the results to find areas where students are doing well and areas in which they need help. We would like to share the summary information with you and to get your feedback, with a short, two-question survey. Please read over the attached presentation and at the end take the survey. Thank you so much for your support in this matter.

#2 After School Help: Hello. Antioch Charter Academy is looking for feedback to help us tailor our programs to our ACA families. We have been offering Math Shack After School program for 3 years now and we want to make sure it is in line with student and parent needs. Please take this 5 minute survey to help give us feedback. Your feedback will decide on which students will be invited to the program and what the program should focus on. This survey is very important for ensuring that we can provide an After School program for our students. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XD3NPP5

Night of Writing Dangerously: On Saturday, November 23^rd from 6-9pm, Mrs. Hummel is offering her annual “Night of Writing Dangerously”. This event is open to 4-8^th grade students. This year’s theme is “Pitch Perfect”, so wear your favorite baseball gear. You must RSVP by filling out the permission form for this event by Friday, November 22nd. For a donation of $10 per student, your student will receive dinner, dessert & goodies, plus 3 hours of fun writing activities! Forms were handed out to your student last week, or can be picked up in the office.

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 1^st-8^th 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)

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 3pm 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

Nov 11-13 MS Outdoor Ed (Yosemite) – 9am
Nov 13 AUSD School Board Meeting – 7pm
Nov 15 Hearing Test (certain grades)
Nov 15 1^st Trimester Ends
Nov 15 MS EE at Big Break
Nov 18 2^nd Trimester Begins
Nov 18-22 Minimum Days – dismissal time at 12pm
Nov 21 K-6th Assembly – EcoHero
Nov 22 MS EE at Big Break
Nov 23 Night of Writing Dangerously (4-6^th grade) – 6-9pm…must RSVP by the 22^nd.
Nov 25-29 Thanksgiving Break – no school
Dec 5 Charter Council (all welcome) – 4pm
Dec 5 Family Network Meeting (all welcome) – 3pm
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!