NETWORKings

Antioch Charter Academy

FN Dining Out for Dollars tonight (Feb 11th – see attachment)

Newsletter for Antioch Charter Academy/TLCS Families and Staff Volume 24, Issue 21, February 11, 2020

Dear ACA Families,

As we enter our final week before February break, we are all looking forward to resting before we plunge into our 3rd trimester. This is a great opportunity to spend extra time with your children! Last year I read a great article that included, 50 questions to ask your children. If you need some really good conversation starters, try some of these.

• What is something that you heard that surprised you?
• What is something that you saw that made you think?
• Who did you play with today?
• Tell me something that you know today that you didn’t know yesterday?
• What is something that challenged you today?
• How did you show kindness today?
• How did someone show kindness to you?
• Did you like your lunch?
• Rate your day on a scale from 1-10.
• Did anyone get in trouble today?
• How were you brave today?

Mrs. Keller

Primary Teacher

GENERAL NOTES

Electives:  We want to take this opportunity to give a “Shout Out” to our WONDERFUL 2nd trimester elective volunteers: Mr. Ferguson (strategy games), Mrs. Hearn (board games), Mr. Cortez (cooking), Mrs. Hillyard (sewing), Mrs. MacCallister (crafts), and Ms. Killion (crocheting). Also, thank you to the ACA staff, including Mr. Abe (art & Japanese), Ms. Billeci (art & woodworking), & Mrs. Wade (dance). One of the reasons our school is successful is because of people like you who are willing to invest in our students!

Believe it or not, it is time to start planning for our 3rd trimester (3/16-5/29).  Afternoon electives for our 4-8th grade students starts on Monday, March 16th, and run from 2:05-3pm on Mon, Tues, Thurs, & Fridays (Fridays are for Middle School students only).

We are looking for adults who are willing to teach/supervise an assortment of activities.

The elective program at our school is vitally important part of our curriculum.  These classes offer students the opportunities to explore new areas of interest, opening their minds to new possibilities for themselves.  Our hope is to offer at least 10 different options for students to choose from on each day. This is only possible if our wonderful ACA community volunteers to help!!

Ideas for classes are: arts & crafts, sewing, language classes (ASL, Spanish, Chinese, etc), sports (basketball, kickball, soccer, softball, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, etc), cooking, gardening, yoga, photography, drama, board games, assorted hobbies, and the list can go on and on – teach what you enjoy!

If you can donate an hour of your time, once a week for the next trimester, to help teach or supervise a class, please let us know ASAP!!!  You can also team up with a friend to teach a class, and you do not need to have a student in the 4-8th grade classes to help!!

If you are interested in teaching a 3rd trimester elective, respond to this email, or let the office know before February 14th!

2020-21 Lottery: The ACA lottery for the upcoming 2020-21 school year, will be held on March 3, 2020.  If you have a student, or know of a student who would like to attend next year, an application must be filled out and put into the lottery process.

No student is automatically accepted into the school because he or she has a sibling already attending ACA.  All incoming students, including TK & Kindergarten, must submit an application by March 2nd, to be included in the school’s lottery.  Applications can be filled out online at https://antiochcharteracademy.org/applications/ or a papercopy can be picked up in the office.

CAASPP TESTING DAYS: Below is the list of testing days for each level.  PLEASE do not schedule appointments/vacations during your child’s testing days.

Testing will usually take place in the mornings: M, T, TH, & F. Thank you

Elementary (3rd grade only): ELA CAT (5/4 -5/5), Math CAT (5/7- 5/8), Math PT (5/11-5/12), ELA PT          (5/14-5/15)

Intermediate (4-6th): SCIENCE (4/2-4/3), ELA PT (4/23-4/24), ELA CAT (4/30-5/1), Math CAT (5/18-5/19), Math PT (5/21-5/22)

Middle (7-8th): SCIENCE (4/21), ELA PT (4/27-4/28), ELA CAT (5/11 -5/15), Math CAT (5/11-5/15), Math PT (5/21-5/22)

Yearbook: The yearbook needs your help! We need pictures from the field trips, spirit days and school events so we are able to create a yearbook that is full of amazing school memories! If you have any pictures of students from school functions please send them to acaimemories@gmail.com so that the yearbook staff can use them! Thank You! ACA Yearbook Staff

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!

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.

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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:

Dining Out for Dollars: FUNdraiser for the Family Network at Red Robins!  See attached document for details.

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!

• Feb 17-21   February Break – no school
• Feb 28  MS EE at Big Break – Group C
• March 3  ACA Lottery for 2020-21 School Year
• March 5  Intermediate Study Trip – Lawrence Hall of Science
• March 5  Family Network Meeting (all welcome) – 3pm
• March 5  Charter Council (all welcome) – 4pm
• March 6  End of 2nd Trimester
• March 6  MS EE at Big Break – Group A
• March 9  Beginning of 3rd Trimester
• March 9-13  Minimum Days – dismissal time at 12pm
• March 16-18   MS Internships – off campus
• March 20  MS EE at Big Break – Group C
• March 25  FN Walk-a-thon
• April 2  Family Network Meeting (all welcome) – 3pm
• April 2  Charter Council (all welcome) – 4pm
• April 6-13  Spring Break & Easter Monday – no school
• April 14   Minimum Day – dismissal time at 12pm

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 AND 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