NETWORKings
Antioch Charter Academy
Jan 14 Holiday Concert @ BDMS – 6:30pm
How ACA improved the future of thousands of students…
ACA has been in operation for over 21 years, serving 200 students each school year.
ACA’s Brain-Compatible school is universally designed for all learners. Brain Compatible schools translate neuroscience research into action for students. Students reflect, learn in a sensory-rich environment, collaborate, master content, take social political action, develop their intelligences, and understand their value.
Our learners participate in theme/project-based programs which includes real-life simulations connected to the curriculum. Students participate in experiential learning programs in social science, world cultures, environmental science, political science, entrepreneurships, and engineering.
ACA alumni are highly successful in high school, college, career technical programs, and in their chosen professions. 100% of surveyed respondents (alumni) state that ACA set them up for success!
Newsletter for Antioch Charter Academy/TLCS Families and Staff Volume 24, Issue 18, January 13, 2020
Our world can sometimes be a scary place. We often times want to take all the people we love and lock them behind closed doors. With this in mind, I want to start this week’s intro with a quote from clinical psychologist, Dr. Wendy Mogel, “Prepare your child for the road, not the road for your child.”
While creating a perfect world for our children, or keeping them forever in a protective bubble may be what we want as adults, those truly aren’t realistic expectations for the children. Our children do grow up, and they do become active members of the world around them. The Lifeskills/Lifelong Guidelines and the Graduate Goals at ACA help in that growth, but there are also other resources to explore.
The American Psychological Association has a website, www.apa.org, that has a very informative guide on resilience. Resilience is the ability to adapt well to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or even stress.
Some tips for building resilience in children and teens (from the APA website).
- Make connections: teach your child how to make friends and how to be a friend.
- Help your child by having them help others: children can be empowered by helping.
- Maintain a daily routine: children crave structure in their lives.
- Move toward your goals: teach your child to set and move towards reasonable goals.
- Nurture a positive self view: help your child to trust themselves and solve problems.
- Accept that change is a part of living: new goals can replace goals that have become unattainable.
By teaching our children resilience, we help to prepare them for the world they are a part of. Emotional pain and sadness are part of our world, but with resilience we can learn to work through the difficult times and appreciate the wonderful times.
Have a wonderful week!
Sarah McLean
GENERAL NOTES
Holiday Concert: On Tuesday, January 14th, the Instrumental & Choir classes will perform at Black Diamond Middle School (4730 Sterling Hill Dr, Antioch). Students need to arrive at 5:30pm, and the performance begins at 6:30pm. Student performers attire: black pants/skirts, black shoes, and white or black shirts.
Charter Council: the Charter Council is our governing board. The board meets on a monthly basis – usually the first Thursday of the month @ 4PM. Please check the calendar for the next meeting date/time, or call the office at 925-755-7311 to confirm. These meetings are open to the public – all are welcomed!
CHADD: East Contra Costa has support group meetings for parents of children and teens with ADHD/ADD. Please see attached flyer for next meeting date, location & contact information.
REMINDERS
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 your 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: 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.
Want an easier school-parent-teacher communication?
Make it happen with Classtag!
Simple communication that just works…for everyone.
- Get Started Free!
- One Simple Source of Info
- Choose your method of delivery (email and/or text) & your choice of language (over 70 to choose from!)
- Secure site!
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, assemblies, 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: January 14 at Panda Express (1953 Auto Center Drive, Antioch) from 11am-11pm. All profits go back to our school!
Coin Wars!!!!!! Family Network is holding a friendly competition among levels (Primary, Elementary, Intermediate, and Middle) to see who can bring in the most “coins” by January 24th. Each cent is worth 1 point; each bill is worth double points! The level which comes in first place will receive a special prize. Collection jars are in the office. All profits go back to the FN, which in turn goes to enrich 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
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 (go to the website to see all the options)!
● The business will then donate a percentage of your purchase to our school!
- Jan 14 Holiday Concert @ BDMS – 6:30pm (music students arrive at 5:30)
- Jan 14 Prim/Elem Being There Experience – Ice Skating (Dublin)
- Jan 14 FN Dine Out for Dollars at Panda Express (1953 Auto Center)
- Jan 17 MS to Big Break (EE) – group B
- Jan 20 MLK Day – no school
- Jan 21 Minimum Day – dismissal time at 12pm
- Jan 22 Whole School Assembly – School Choice Celebration (dance & donuts)
- Jan 23 Intermediate Study Trip – State Capitol
- Jan 24 MS to Big Break (EE) – group C
- Jan 27-31 Great Kindness Challenge Week – daily activities
- Jan 31 Minimum Day – dismissal time at 12pm
- Feb 6 Family Network Meeting (all welcome) – 3pm
- Feb 6 Charter Council (all welcome) – 4pm
- Feb 7 Minimum Day – dismissal time at 12pm
- Feb 10 No School
- Feb 17-21 February Break – no school
- March 6 End of 2nd Trimester
- March 9 Beginning of 3rd Trimester
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
VISION & MISSION STATEMENTS
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.
Antioch Charter Academy is Fully Accredited for Grades K-8 by the Schools Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges