NETWORKings
Antioch Charter Academy
Newsletter for Antioch Charter Academy/TLCS Families and Staff Volume 25, Issue 18, January 11, 2021
Dear ACA Families,
I wanted to let you all know about our recently purchased membership with Freckle. Freckle is an online adaptive learning platform that our students can use for English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics practice and support. With this edition, teachers and parents can monitor student progress and learning trends.
There are three distinct platforms in Freckle: K-2nd grade, 3rd-5th grade, and 6th-8th grade, and each serve students’ developmental level while introducing similar topics and activities. The ELA section emphasizes practice with reading comprehension and word work (K-2nd grade supports learning letter sounds (phonics) and practice decoding site words). It is adaptive and continually measures what each student needs to work on, allowing them to progress at an individualized pace. The Math section also uses adaptive diagnostics to decide which common core math standards students should practice and which they have mastered. At all levels, students can earn virtual coins to use at the “piggy store” to change their character/avatar and purchase clothes for him/her. While this can be motivating for students, we are not using coins or points to measure student growth. LEARNING is the focus here.
We are hoping that in addition to our classroom assignments, students find time to practice and progress through the many learning activities Freckle provides.
Enjoy!
Mrs. Cordova
Below are some quick video links that will further explain how your student can/should use Freckle to support their learning.
What is Freckle?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Freckle for Parents
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
How to use Freckle as a Student
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
GENERAL NOTES
Middle School News (Community Challenge Groups): Hello ACA families! Thank you for all your support in our last fundraiser (Adopt a family). We were able to purchase presents for several families in need in our community thanks to your donations!
Now we need your help in our next fundraiser! We will be fundraising for Shelter Inc by selling Candy Grams. Attached will be a link that will bring you to the form where you can purchase a candy gram for a friend, your child, and/or a teacher! You can pay for the candy gram through this Venmo: (Cassidy_Mac) or you can pay with cash/check in the ACA school office. Once you complete your order, the recipient will be notified through email that they were sent a candy gram. They will be asked to pick their candy gram up from the school. Thank you for your support!
All candy gram order forms & money need to be turned in by February 5th. Candy grams will be available to pick up from the 10th to the 12th in the multi-use room.
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@
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)
Contra Costa Crisis Center (211): https://cccc.
myresourcedirectory.com/
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 usually 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 usually on the second 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 currently on Zoom, and open to the public – all are welcomed! Next meeting:
Topic: Charter Council Meeting – January 14, 2021
Time: Jan 14, 2021 04:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95757298294?
Meeting ID: 957 5729 8294
Passcode: 896382
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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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.
Calendar
January 14 Charter Council Zoom Meeting (all welcome) – 4pm
January 18 No School
January 25-29 School Choice Celebration Week
Jan 31-Feb 2 WASC Progress Report (Virtual Visit)
February 8 No School
February 15-19 No School – February break
March 2 ACA Lottery for 2021-22 School Year
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