NETWORKings
Antioch Charter Academy
Wreaths have arrived. See the FN section for pick up information.
Newsletter for Antioch Charter Academy/TLCS Families and Staff Volume 25, Issue 15, December 7, 2020
Dear ACA Families,
ACA is fully accredited for grades K-8 by the Schools Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. We spent the last three years working on goals to improve student learning and understanding. The pandemic has slowed some progress on our goals, but not by much! On February 1st, 2021 we will host two members of a visiting committee to share out our progress on our goals. Parents, staff and students will be invited to participate.
ACA stakeholders (staff, parents, community members, and students) chose six goals to focus our efforts to help increase student achievement.
Create a cohesive curriculum thread. Develop a process to ensure the curriculum is equitable, cohesive, rigorous and aligned to CCSS. Make the curriculum more visible to stakeholders.
Define effective CC aligned grade level assessments in Math and ELA, create internal standardized timelines and measures of student progress.
Create a schoolwide procedure for supporting the achievement and growth of our special needs learners.
Develop a cohesive process to collect standards-aligned summative data and benchmark data to confirm effectiveness of instructional programs.
Train staff as it relates to the alignment of curriculum and assessment of appropriate data collection, analysis and interpretation.
Modify the professional development plan to ensure it is consistent with the goals of the school to fully align with curriculum and assessments.
ACA’s progress report will be finalized and available for parents in January. Look for it on our website.
Sincerely,
Edna Heller
GENERAL NOTES
Fall School Picture Day on December 14th from 4- 7pm. School pictures are a tradition for many families, and we don’t want the current situation to stop it, so we have set-up a picture day! Pictures will be used for the yearbook/student IDs (do not need to purchase pictures to be included in yearbook/school IDs). Pictures will be taken in the Multi Use room and staff will be there to assist students (parents/guardians will stay in their vehicles). If you wish to purchase pictures, please see the attached documents for instructions. Masks must be worn and will be removed for the photo only – guardians will remain in their vehicles; only students/staff will be allowed on campus. See attachments for more details!
Middle School News (Community Challenge Groups):
During our Shakespeare unit, we broke up into groups, chose a local issue, and then came up with ways to help out with it! Our group, the Family Adoption Movement (FAM), has decided to participate in the Shelters Inc. Adopt A Family program! This program lets people gift items that families had requested for Christmas! For this program, we need funds to help buy items for these families. Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 8th, during the school’s pick up day, a box will be in the office for cash or check donations. If you cannot make it to campus, please donate all you can to Cassidy_Mac on Venmo by this Friday, December 11th . Please help us spread joy this holiday season! With this money we hope to “adopt” 2-3 local families/individuals.
Finished clay projects can be dropped off to the multi-use room, during Office Hours. Mrs. Taylor (art teacher), will fire the projects for the students. Please place your labeled student’s project, in the designated boxes for their group, in the multi-use room.
Looking for Substitute Teachers! ACA is hiring substitute teachers! If you, or someone you know, are interested, and hold a current California teaching credential, please apply on Edjoin at https://www.edjoin.org/Home/
2020-21 Yearbook: The Yearbook Elective needs your help! We need pictures of your students doing Distance Learning so we will be able to create a yearbook that is full of amazing school memories! If you have any pictures of students participating in school related activities please send them to ACAMemories@
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/
Family Network Events:
Pick up Wreaths: The wreaths, centerpieces, etc., from our fundraiser have arrived!
Orders may be picked up today, Monday, December 7, from 3:15 – 5 pm or Wednesday, December 9, from 8:30-11:30 am. Please drive through the pick up line and remain in your car to receive your items. Any items not collected by 11:30 am Wednesday will be marked with your name and left in the multi-use room for pick up at your convenience. We have 5 sets of reindeer left for sale, if you missed the chance to order them before. $20 per set! You can purchase one with cash at the pickup times or email acafamilynetwork@
Family Network Meetings are the first Thursday of each month. Meetings will be held by Zoom until we can go back to 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.
Annual Give: Thank you to everyone that has donated! We have raised $1,686.46 of our $5,000 goal!!! Let’s keep it up! donate here via PayPal → paypal.me/ACAfamilynetwork
REMINDERS
Grab & Go Meals: Thanks to an extension of the Summer Feeding waiver from the USDA, all students from ACA I & II (and any siblings 18 and under) may pick up a bag containing FREE breakfast, lunch, supper and a snack M-F from any one of our 12 feeding sites. The waiver is good through the end of December. Please visit https://www.antiochschools.
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!
Absences and Tardies – Daily Attendance is expected: If your student will be absent, or tardy, please call the office at 925-755-7311, or email your student’s classroom, before 8:00am. Even though we are currently doing Distance Learning, roll is still taken EVERY DAY.
Updates on Distance Learning and Reopening: Distance Learning for most levels will continue until the December break. This means the majority of students will be distance learning through December. We continue to evaluate the situation and are working to prepare the site and staff for in person learning, with the introduction of phased in student cohorts in a safe manner.
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Calendar
December 7 & 9 Pick up wreath orders
December 10 Charter Council Zoom Meeting (all welcome) – 4pm
December 14 Fall School Pictures – 4-7pm
December 18 Minimum Day – dismissal at 12pm
December 21-Jan 1 Winter Break – no school
January 4 Welcome Back
CONTACT INFORMATION
School Phone – 925-755-7311
School Address – 3325 Hacienda Way, Antioch 94509
School Website – www.AntiochCharterAcademy.org
ACA Office – ACAOffice@
ACA Family Network – ACAFamilyNetwork@
ACA Elementary – ACAElementary@
ACA Intermediate – ACAIntermediate@
ACA Primary – ACAPrimary@
ACA Middle School – ACAMiddleSchool@
ACA I & II Special Education – SPED@antiochcharteracademy.org
ACA Newsletter – ACANewsletter@
ACA Memories – ACAMemories@
ACA Hot Lunch Program – ACALunchProgram@
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@
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/
Email: ACAFamilyNetwork@
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