NETWORKings

Antioch Charter Academy

Newsletter for Antioch Charter Academy/TLCS Families and Staff Volume 25, Issue 19, January 19, 2021

I hope everyone enjoyed the three-day weekend. While most of us probably know the extra day off work and school was to honor the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr., what we may not know is that this day is also known as a day of service. Many people use this day to volunteer in their community. Dr. King recognized the power of service. He famously said, “Everyone can be great because everybody can serve.” Observing the Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday through service is a way to begin each year with a commitment to making your community a better place.

One of ACA’s School-Wide Graduate Goals is for our students to, Be able to contribute to society and feel empowered to make change. Though our students may be young, they are still members of our community. Many of our students have their own thoughts and ideas about positive ways to change not just their community, but the world itself.

Giving our students a chance to express and even act on their ideas for change is valuable to their growth. As adults, we can not only model for our students how to contribute to society and make change, but support our students when they also want to make change in their society. I encourage all our ACA parents and families to read our newsletters and email updates about the various student projects that happen and are currently happening. Supporting our students will also support their empowerment to make change and contribute to society!

Whether it’s during the holidays, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, or any other time of the year, join the ACA staff as we continue to teach our students the importance of contributing to society and feeling empowered to make change.

Thanks,

Sarah McLean

Elementary Teacher/Co-Administrator

GENERAL NOTES

Lifetouch Pictures: Your last day to order school pictures is May 1, 2021. Attached to this email is a 10% off coupon for pictures. If you have any questions, please contact the school office.

Middle School News (Community Challenge Groups): Thank you for all your support for our Middle School Cause groups. Here are 2 activities that are currently being held:

F.A.M.: We will be fundraising for Shelter Inc by selling Candy Grams. Please go to the link for the order form. You can purchase a candy gram for a friend, your child, and/or a teacher! You can pay for the candy gram with cash/check by dropping it off at the ACA school office, or mailing it to the office (must arrive by February 5th; make checks to ACA). Once you complete your order & pay by Feb. 5th, 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. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSclscUQDuKxjiXnVUnYnaxP5-N5Qltquq-ty34KQFrBZEVsiA/viewform?usp=sf_link
Pollution Solution: Good morning/afternoon/evening! Our project group, The Pollution Solution, is having a chocolate fundraiser this week at school on pick up days, until Friday (1/22). There will be a box of treats with $1, $2, and $5 options for you to choose from in the multi-use when you come pick up work, belt, and supplies. There will be a box for leaving donations and you can take the candy you pay for. Get yourself a sweet treat and support our donation to SavetheBay.org, an organization that helps keep our Bay Area clean!

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@antiochcharteracademy.org so that the yearbook staff can use them! Thank You!

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/etc. at ACA, then come join us & help make a difference!

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.net/nutrition-services for the list of sites and menus.

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!

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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