NETWORKings
Antioch Charter Academy
Newsletter for Antioch Charter Academy/TLCS Families and Staff Volume 25, Issue 22, February 22, 2021
Hello again ACA Families,
We’re back from break and are all revved up for more! I would like to give a “shout out” to my teaching partner, Mrs. Zaccardi, for working so hard over these past few months with both our on campus & distance learning students!
Most educational professionals would agree that the job of “teacher” includes many other roles and responsibilities in addition to that of “instructor”. We are motivators, facilitators, listeners, peace-makers, organizers, managers, planners, data collectors, learners, visionaries…..The list goes on, and today’s intro to the newsletter I would like to emphasize the role of “motivator”.
I have found one of the most important contributing factors to enhancing my (your) students’ success rate is motivating them to want to do well and believe they can do well. Words of inspiration lead to improved performance and enhanced willingness to continue learning. But when these words of encouragement come from the students to their fellow classmates, it is pure gold! They begin using the language that we, their teachers model for them. For instance, “tell me what you like best about this work,” or “Show me what part was your personal best”. In our classrooms, we love to hear these conversations taking place!
Mrs. Keller
Primary Teacher
GENERAL NOTES
2020-21 Lottery: The ACA lottery for the upcoming 2021-22 school year, will be held on March 2, 2021. If you have a student, or know of a student who is interested in our school, an application must be filled out and put into the lottery process.
FYI: No student is automatically accepted into the school because he or she has a sibling already attending ACA. All new students, including TK & Kindergarten, must submit an application by March 1st, to be included in the school’s lottery. Applications for ACA & ACA II can be filled out online at https://antiochcharteracademy.
Middle School News (Community Challenge Groups): Thank you for all your support for our Middle School Cause groups. Here are the activities that are currently being held:
Our project group, The Pollution Solution, is having a chocolate fundraiser. There will be a box of treats with $1, $2, and $5 options for you to choose from in the cafeteria 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! Be looking for more updates!
2020-21 Yearbook: Thank you to everyone who has sent in pictures!!! The Yearbook Elective continues to need your help! We need pictures of your students doing school activities 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 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. Check the calendar for the next meeting.
Annual Give: Thank you to everyone that has donated! Let’s keep it up! donate here via PayPal → paypal.me/ACAfamilynetwork
AmazonSmiles: Shop at Amazon? Shop at Amazon’s fundraising site, smile.amazon.com and they will donate back to ACA. We are registered as The Learner Centered School, Inc.
REMINDERS & ONGOING INFORMATION
School Campus Open: The campus is open Monday through Fridays (except holidays) from 8-12pm. Call the office, or check with your student’s classroom if arrangements need to be made to come after open hours.
Grab & Go Meals: 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!
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 further notice. 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.
Need Assistance – it is OK to ask!
Antioch Charter Academy: call the school office (925-755-7311) if you need help finding school supplies, figuring out how to get school lunches, and/or need to talk with someone regarding any struggles your student(s) may be facing.
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 (call 211): https://cccc.
myresourcedirectory.com/
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Calendar
March 2 ACA Lottery for 2021-22 School Year
March 12 2nd Trimester Ends
March 15 3rd Trimester Begins
March 15-19 Minimum Days – school ends at 12pm
April 1 Family Network Zoom Meeting at 3:30
April 8 Charter Council Zoom Meeting @ 4pm
April 12-16 Spring Break – no school
April 26-30 Book Fair
April 28 Young Author’s Night
April 30 Minimum Day – school day ends at 12pm
CONTACT INFORMATION
School Phone – 925-755-7311School 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