NETWORKings
Antioch Charter Academy
Picture Day is Today (12/14) from 4-7pm
Newsletter for Antioch Charter Academy/TLCS Families and Staff Volume 25, Issue 16, December 14, 2020
Dear ACA Families,
Taking Care of Your Mental Health During the Socially Distanced Holidays
When COVID-19 hit America in early 2020, millions of people were placed under shelter-at-home orders and began to practice social distancing. Social distancing recommendations include limiting the events and activities you attend, as well as the overall number of people you interact with on a regular basis. Now, with winter approaching and a global pandemic still upon us, we are all faced with needing to continue practicing safe social distancing during the holidays.
But when people think of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and other winter holiday celebrations, the last thing on their mind is social distancing. Holidays are supposed to be a time of gathering together. This year, some may find a socially-distanced holiday to be stressful. Whether you’re looking forward to a quiet holiday at home or sad there won’t be a seasonal soiree, we are sharing what to watch out for and ways to take care of your mental health during this unprecedented season.
Positive Ways to Manage Your Mental Health and the Holidays, according to Reid Health Services
It is important to prioritize your mental health during the holidays. Make sure to take some time in your schedule to use these strategies to reduce stress and improve mental health.
Exercise. Regular physical activity is linked to reducing anxiety and depression symptoms. Exercise also provides a boost in mood and has benefits for your physical health, including lower blood pressure and improved circulation.
Have a hobby hour. Keep a dedicated time for hobbies that bring you joy, like reading, crafting, puzzles or drawing. Regularly participating in something that you enjoy can relieve stress and improve mood. Doing so with a friend group online can also help to prevent social withdrawal.
Practice relaxation. Relaxation techniques can help calm you down if you are feeling stressed. Meditation, yoga, taking a hot bath or getting a massage are all healthy ways to relax.
Talk to someone. One of the best things you can do for your mental health during the holidays is to talk about how you are feeling with someone you trust. Call a friend or meet a family member who is in your regular social circle. Speaking with a friend can reduce your stress, boost your happiness and help you cope with what you are going through.
Talk to a professional. Find a therapist to help you get through this season if your symptoms continue to get worse. Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline, which is available 24/7 during times of severe symptoms.
These strategies can help you manage your mental health during the holidays and year-round.
Treatment is available for depression, anxiety, anger issues, grief and loss issues and other areas of mental health. Schedule an appointment with your family medicine or primary care doctor to discuss your symptoms.
Have a safe winter break,
Mr. Fuller
GENERAL NOTES
Fall School Picture Day is TODAY, 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, Kids 4 COVID, are helping our community at large. We have chosen a non-profit in Antioch called, Brighter Beginnings, to raise up funds to purchase masks and hand sanitizers for this non-profit. Our goal is to donate 500 masks and hand sanitizers. Below is the link please donate to our cause – any amount will help. https://www.gofundme.com/f/
Also, due to COVID-19 many people have been unemployed, and are struggling financially. If you or someone you know is, there is a list of resources at the bottom:
1) Assistance for Californians Affected by the Coronavirus
2) COVID-19: Coronavirus Financial Assistance | Military
3) Get financial help – Coronavirus COVID-19 Response
Need Assistance? The following organizations are available to help!
Shelter Inc. COVID 19 and Eviction Prevention Hotlines: COVID 19 hotline for those affected by the COVID-19 virus: rental assistance, payment of utility bills, funds for food or necessities; Eviction Prevention – due to crisis. Call 211 or go to https://shelterinc.org/
programs/covid-19-hotline.html Contra Costa County Office of Education (Supplies available upon request for students in unstable housing):Headphones for distance learning, Hygiene kits, School supplies (crayons, markers, colored pencils, glue sticks, construction paper, pencils, lined paper), Reusable cloth mask (plain white, or Crayola colors for elementary)
Updates on Distance Learning and Reopening: We are very proud of the work our staff and families have done to keep our students safe and learning while away from campus. Our ACA students have continued to learn and grow, even though they have been distance learning since March. Thank you to all of our parents and family members who supported our students during this time.
ACA is committed to opening our campus for all students when we are confident that we can do so safely. Contra Costa County’s recent steep rise in COVID-19 cases and subsequent return to the Purple Tier of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy has concerned many of our staff members and families. Due to this return to the Purple tier and Contra Costa County’s Stay at Home Order, our staff has made the decision to continue our current level of school closure until after February break.
The State of California and the Contra Costa County Health Department have stated that any students who have been invited to campus may continue to come to campus throughout the Stay at Home order. For ACA, this means that the Primary students may continue to come to campus for learning, as can the small cohorts of students who are attending distance learning on campus. We may bring back 1st grade students in January, but we can not guarantee that we will be able to do that. First grade families will hear directly from Mrs. Nakayama if we are able to bring first grade students back in January.
We will update our families by February 1st with more information about the possibility of reopening campus after February break.
We wish all of our families a safe and happy winter break!
Wednesday Enrichment Program Update: Hey families! The Enrichment Instructors will be trying something new starting in January to help break up the on-camera time for Zoom Enrichment weeks. Art and Music rotations will be reducing their required Zoom time to 30 minutes, giving students the rest of their rotation’s time to work independently off-camera if they wish. For those students who would like the on-camera support, the instructors will have their Zoom’s open for drop-ins during their groups rotation. (Including those not on Zoom that week.) PE and Personal Safety will continue to be full 55 minute rotations. So for example, the schedule will look like this:
A1/A2 (ACA)
8:00 – 8:30 – Art
9:00 – 9:55 – PE
10:00 – 10:30 – Music
11:00 – 11:55 – Personal Safety
Same start times for every rotation, just less required camera time for some classes. Your group’s modified rotation schedule will be posted on Google Classroom the night before Enrichment as usual. We hope this helps keep the energy up and let everyone make the most of their enrichment time! ~Mr. Abe ️
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.
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:
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! 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 2020-21 school year. 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 February break. This means the majority of students will be distance learning through the mid February. 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 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