NETWORKings
Antioch Charter Academy
Newsletter for Antioch Charter Academy/TLCS Families and Staff Volume 25, Issue 24, March 8, 2021
Hello ACA Families,
Happy International Women’s Day and happy Women’s History Month! This month, be sure to take the time to highlight women who have made a difference in history. By doing so, it opens up that world of possibilities to young girls. “Leaders, pioneers, homemakers, and trailblazers, women have played an essential role in the founding of this nation and are essential on the path forward into its future…As with Black History Month, organizers for Women’s History Month wanted to make sure future generations will inherit an accurate account of the contributions of women throughout history” said Jen Gaboury, lecturer with the Hunter College Department of Women and Gender Studies.
Our 8th Grade Women have been invited to celebrate the holiday with a Day of Empowerment, hosted by Antioch Rotary and AUSD. During this program, students will hear Keynote speaker, London Breed, motivational speaker, Ms. McGhee, and a panel of community leaders that include AUSD Superintendent of School Stephanie Anello, Dr. Yenjean Hwang, Infectious Disease Specialist, LaTasha Jones, Probation Officer, and Caroline Salazar, Chemical Engineer.
There are many more events that you can virtually join in on to celebrate the day and the month! Check out www.internationalwomensday.com and find a way to get involved!
Have fun celebrating!
Andi Stahler
Office
GENERAL NOTES
CAASPP 3rd-8th Grade Students Survey (Thank you to everyone who has taken this survey!! If you have not taken it yet, for EACH of your 3-8th grade students, then do so right now! We need a completed survey for each 3rd-8th grade student!!): Each year, students in grades three through eight and high school participate in the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP).
This year, your child will take the following test(s), depending on their grade level:
· Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics in grades three through eight
· California Science Test (CAST) in grades five and eight
The Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments and the CAST are online tests that measure what your student knows and is able to do in ELA, Mathematics, and Science. The assessments include many different types of questions (Computer adaptive and Performance based) that allow students to interact with the test questions. Results help identify gaps in knowledge or skills early on so your child can get the support needed to be successful in school.
Regardless of whether we return to campus, or remain in our current distance learning model, our plan is to test 3rd-8th grade students in person and on campus beginning in early April through June. We are currently preparing our classrooms/testing spaces to adhere to and accommodate all CDC safety guidelines. Our schedule will allow for students to test in small groups, for 4 (or 5) half days, during their assigned testing week. All CCC Health Dept and CDC health and safety recommendations will be strictly followed during these testing windows. Your child’s specific testing week will be given to you by your child’s classroom teacher, along with specific safety guidelines to follow.
A second option is to test students while in their own home; however we feel that the small, controlled, and safe at school setting will work best for most students. Distance testing in your own home will require parent training, parent tech preparation, cameras on at all times, parental supervision during testing, and additional hours of scheduling for parents and staff. Although this is an option, we are hoping that the majority of students are able to participate in this important measure of student growth on campus.
Please complete the attached survey to let us know your intentions for testing. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have further questions regarding our plans.
Link to Survey: https://forms.gle/
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:
Pollution Solution: Our student-led group Pollution Solution is working to help the environment be a cleaner place! We are fundraising with Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough (& more!) to donate to Save the Bay, an environmental organization here in the Bay Area. Click the link below to check out the different catalogues and order online!
https://shop.schoolshopping.
You can order online and have non-frozen items delivered to your home, or pick them up at school along with your frozen treats on a designated pick up day. (TBD)
All orders due by March 12th!
Any questions, email Mr. Abe at: aberodriguez@
FAM: Hello ACA Families! The student led group FAM will be having a donation drive. The drive will start on Monday 3/29 and go until 4/2. We will be having a drive for the local organization Shelters Inc. They are an organization helping the homeless and less fortunate in Contra Costa County. There will be a box in the Cafeteria for donations. Listed below are donation items: Full-size shampoo & conditioner, Full-size bar soap, body wash, Toothbrushes, toothpaste, Full-size body lotion, sunscreen, mouthwash, Full-size deodorant, Diapers Size 4, 5 & 6, Pull-ups, Wipes, New twin size sheets, New queen size sheets, New blankets, New pillows, Bath towels, Hand towels, Dish towels, Windex, Pine-Sol, Sponges, Laundry detergent, Dish soap, Clorox wipes, Toilet cleaners, Brooms, Swiffer mops & refills, Air fresheners, 13-gallon trash bags. For more information you can visit their website https://shelterinc.org/
C.A.R.E.S.: Our student-led group, C.A.R.E.S. Community is focused on helping the homeless of California. They’re selling candy grams (masquerading as “Easter,” grams, of course!), and they’re going to donate the money they earn to S.H.A.R.E. Community! Click the link below to check out S.H.A.R.E. Community’s Website: https://www.thesharecommunity.
com/ You can order using the Google Form below: https://forms.gle/ UxUV1raY7XMB7CRM6 We will email your child if somebody bought them a candy gram and reinform them that the pick-up days for those are April 1st and 2nd! All orders due by March 26th!
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. The next meeting is this Thursday, March 11 at 3:30pm (rescheduled from last week)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 814 3104 3577
Passcode: ACAFNB
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! The next meeting is March 11th:
Topic: Charter Council Meeting
Time: 04:00 PM
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 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 11 FN Zoom Meeting @ 3:30 (rescheduled)
March 11 Charter Council Zoom Meeting @ 4pm
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