NETWORKings
Antioch Charter Academy
March 9-13 Minimum Days – dismissal time at 12pm
Newsletter for Antioch Charter Academy/TLCS Families and Staff Volume 24, Issue 24, March 9, 2020
ALL SCHOOL TRIP!!! SAVE THE DATE!!!!
The Family Network has planned and funded an ALL SCHOOL TRIP for May 13, 2020.
All ACA students and staff are going to watch the Stockton Ports play the Visalia Rawhide. Game tickets, bus transportation, a hot dog, chips, and drink are all included at no cost to the student.
Parents and other family members are also invited to come join us for the game. The cost of a ticket is $11. The ticket includes a hot dog, chips, and drink. The cost of a seat on the bus is $25.
Parents who wish to drive, the cost of parking is $6. Parents are allowed to drive their students and other students who may not wish to ride the bus.
More information about the ALL SCHOOL TRIP will be coming home next week. The Family Network is looking forward to this event and thanks all the ACA family support in helping make this trip possible.
Ms. McLean
GENERAL NOTES
MINIMUM DAYS-MARCH 9-13: This entire week will be a minimum day schedule. ALL students will come to school at 8:15 and will be released at 12:00. Hot lunch will still be available on minimum days.
Cold & Flu Season: Tis the season – and it is a doozy this year! Below are some helpful reminders to help stop the spreading of germs. We clean classrooms through-out the day, and nightly, but need your help at home too!
Also, as per the attached letter, the staff is setting up protocol in case we face a school closure for any reason (sickness, smoke, broken water pipes, zombie apocalypse, etc). Be looking for emails from your student’s classroom asking if you have technology needs, including internet access. Teachers will be relying on technology (email, google classroom, Mobymax, etc.) to get schoolwork to students and information to families. In the event of a school closure for any reason, we want to minimize disruption to our students’ learning as much as possible.
Cold/Flu Prevention Tips
It is important for everyone to take steps to protect themselves, their families and their community.
Get a flu vaccine
Wash your hands often
Cover coughs and sneezes with the crook of your arm
Stay home when you are sick (especially if running a fever)
Avoid touching your face, and keeping your hands clean are the best ways to prevent illness!! As basic as these seem, they are the most effective ways you can stay healthy and prevent transmission of harmful germs. Even though most of us know when to wash our hands, studies show it happens too infrequently. Please read the attachment for updated information.
Yearbook: Yearbooks are now ON SALE! Purchase your 2019-20 Yearbook by May 1st and pay only $20. After May 1st, the price jumps to $25. If you really procrastinate and wait until the last day of school, the price will be $30 (if there are any left). So don’t wait! You can order your yearbook in the office, or fill out the form and send $ & form with your student.
CAASPP TESTING DAYS (updated): 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 (5/21- 5/22), 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 (5/7-5/8)
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)
CAASPP TESTING Exemption: As Parents/Guardians, you have the right to exempt your child from taking the CAASPP test. Please discuss this with your child’s teacher. You must submit a written request (each year) specifying the test/s to be exempted.
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.
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:
Family Formal: The 2nd ACA/ACA II Family Formal will be held Friday, April 3 at 5:30 at ACA II. Tickets will be $5 each. All grade levels are welcome. Attire is formal, or semi-formal, or whatever you are comfortable in! The money for the tickets will go directly back to the dance in the form of snacks, drinks, and decorations. This year it will be in the Mangini Building (Red Barn building in front of ACA II at the Fairgrounds). This was a FUN event last year, so don’t MISS OUT this year!! See attached document for details. Tickets can be purchased in the office.
WALK A THON: The Annual Walk-a-Thon will be on Wednesday, March 25. Students will be bringing home an information packet about the Walk, and how they can collect pledges to help raise money for ACA. Families and friends are encouraged to come out and support the students while they walk!
Families will also have opportunities to help volunteer time and/or donate supplies for the Walk. Please visit our TrackitForward page to sign up to help.
Book Fair Week: Springtime means Book Fair Time! Our annual book fair will run the week of April 27-May 1st. This event corresponds with our Young Author’s Night. Please go to www.trackitforward.com and look for the Book Fair event sign ups for April 27-May 1. All volunteer sign ups will be done electronically. If you have any questions, please email acafamilynetwork@antiochcharteracademy.org
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!
- March 8 Spring Forward!!!!
- 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 24 Spring Picture Day
- March 25 FN Walk-a-thon
- April 2 Family Network Meeting (all welcome) – 3pm
- April 2 Charter Council (all welcome) – 4pm
- April 3 ACA/ACA II Family Formal Event – CCC Fairgrounds from 5:30-7:30pm
- April 6-13 Spring Break & Easter Monday – no school
- April 14 Minimum Day – dismissal time at 12pm
- April 27 – May 1 Book Fair Week
- April 29 Young Author’ Night
- April 30 Prim/Elem Being There Experience – El Campanil Theater
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