NETWORKings
Antioch Charter Academy
Newsletter for Antioch Charter Academy/TLCS Families and Staff Volume 24, Issue 28, April 14,, 2020
Dear ACA Families,
Welcome back from Spring Break! I hope you all had a healthy, happy week off.
I can imagine that for some families they didn’t have a break at all, but another week of juggling child care, work, handwashing, grocery shopping, news watching, and computer refereeing- we will continue to move forward with trepidation and hope. I have seen some astonishing acts of generosity in our community, including food drives, donations of medical masks and homemade masks, birthday car parades, and teachers offering office hours into the wee hours of the night.
We know the best way to feel better in a moment of crisis is to help somebody else, and we have a number of students and families doing just that! Please let us know what you are doing, so that we can smile with you and honor more acts of generosity and kindness.
During this time of social distancing teachers want to ensure that each of our students continue to have high-quality curriculum and assignments. Teachers are delivering instruction through virtual learning environments and through packets and we need and appreciate your support.
We know that this can put pressure on you as parents. Please know that we want you to let us know early and often if you need support. We will move forward with our instructional plans, but we are open and willing to work with each parent, student, family member to set up systems that work better for you and your family.
Each Friday, staff members will be on campus from 10:00 am-12:00 pm to hand out supplies, packets, collect packets, and to help students get set up to distance learn through school emails and Google Classrooms. PE equipment and music equipment and materials will also be available.
Schools are not buildings, they are people. They are the trusting, caring relationships forged among staff, students, and families. I have watched those relationships deepen over the last few weeks. I have watched staff members reach out to each other, learn new technology, connect with students on phone calls, morning meetings, virtual lessons, and emails. ACA continues to be a school with the spirit of “self-motivated, lifelong learning and joyful compassion,” which is defined in our Mission.
Have a great week! Stay safe and healthy and remember, we are here for you. Ask for what you need!
Cheers,
Edna Heller, Co-Administrator
GENERAL NOTES
Yearbook: Our Yearbook class is working hard to finish the book for this year. If you have pictures from events, spirit days, distance learning, etc., please email them to acaimemories@gmail.com as soon as possible. We have almost reached our deadline for the year, and we really need your help with photos! Thank you to those families who have shared their photos with us already!
8th graders: please submit your baby picture and quote by this Friday, April 17th. Email to acaimemories@gmail.com.
Yearbooks can be ordered directly through Tree Ring and will be delivered to your home. This does require a small delivery fee of $2.99 per book. The cost of the yearbook is $20 until April 30. On May 1, the price will increase to $25. (These prices do not include the shipping fee.) To purchase, please go to treering.com/101506720561403 and create an account.
If you have questions regarding yearbook photos or orders, please contact Mrs. Moon at lydiamoon@antiochcharteracademy.org or the yearbook staff at acaimemories@gmail.com.
Virtual Scholastic Book Fair: Even though we can’t meet in person, we will still have our book fair this year. The book fair is going online April 27 – May 10! Shop for books and support our school! Use the link https://www.scholastic.com/bf/antiochcharteracad to order. All orders will ship to your home, and book-only orders over $25 will receive free shipping.
2020-21 Student Placement/Intent to Return Form: If you intend to have your student return to ACA next year, make sure to fill out this form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gYZqQCI-An_hSAO5mLPHyYn4SFS1JplvAsqdMPn1rkA/edit?ts=5e96029c. This will be due on or before May 1, 2020. Thank you!
Classtag: If you have not already done so, please contact your student’s classroom and request to sign up for Classtag! Make sure to choose texting as your delivery choice. Our school will be using Classtag even more to get news to the parents. 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!
Up To Date Health Information: Take care of yourself and your family. If you have questions about what is happening in Contra Costa County visit https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/ for the most up-to-date information on the coronavirus.
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:
2020-21 Family Network Board Nominations: It’s time to submit your nominations for the Family Network Board for the 2020-2021 school year. Below is a list of the positions on the board. Please consider which you are willing to help with and nominate yourself or a friend! All third party nominations will need to be accepted by the nominated party. (Don’t worry, your name won’t show up on the ballot without your knowledge beforehand.) Nominations must be submitted to acafamilynetwork@antiochcharteracademy.org by May 1, 2020. Elections will be held electronically from May 5-7, 2020. We appreciate your continued support of our school community!
Antioch Charter Academy Family Network Board Positions
- Chairperson – facilitates board meetings, ensures events are planned, liaison with school staff
- Co-Chairperson – facilitates board meetings in the absence of the chair, plans events as assigned, supports the Chairperson
- Treasurer – keeps accurate accounting of the Family Network funds, help plan and carry out events, attends board meetings
- Secretary – takes minutes at board meetings and distributes them to the board, updates the Family Network binder in the office, plans events as assigned, attends board meetings
- Fundraising Chair – organizes and plans monthly restaurant fundraisers, plans fundraisers with support from other Family Network members, attends board meetings
- Social Chair – plans and organizes social events, attends board meetings, other duties as assigned
- Volunteer Coordinator – facilitates requests for/fulfillment of volunteers via Track It Forward, manages family accounts on Track It Forward, attends board meetings
Calendar
- April 14 Distance Learning Begins Again!
- April 17 Campus open from 10-12pm for supplies pick-up and/or drop-off
- April 24 Campus open from 10-12pm for supplies pick-up and/or drop-off
- April 27-May 10 FN Online Book Fair
- May 1 Family Network Nominations Due for 2020-21
- May 1 Campus open from 10-12pm for supplies pick-up and/or drop-off
- May 1 2020-21 Student Placement Intent to Return Form Due
- May 25 Memorial Day – no school
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
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