NETWORKings
Antioch Charter Academy
Spring Picture Day – Tuesday, March 23rd!
Newsletter for Antioch Charter Academy/TLCS Families and Staff Volume 25, Issue 26, March 22, 2021
Hello ACA Families,
Spring is here, and the weather isn’t just the only thing changing around ACA. This Monday, March 22 ACA will welcome back 1st grade students. The 1st grade group will be considered a ‘stable group’ of students who will follow safety protocols in order to come back into the classroom for in person instruction.
Also returning on Monday, is a small ‘cohort’ of invited 3rd graders. Next week, the 2nd grade ‘stable group’ will return, as well as the remaining 3rd graders. By the time we head into spring break, we will happily have invited all the Primary and Elementary students back to campus. While some students may choose to continue with distance learning, the staff at ACA has worked very hard to make the campus safe and available for any TK-3rd grade student who wishes to return to campus.
All parents and guardians are encouraged to read the various Safety Plans and Policies that are currently available on the ACA website. If you visit
https://
https://antiochcharteracademy.
Your child’s classroom teacher is also a great resource! Since the Intermediate and Middle School levels are still currently only learning via Zoom, please be on the lookout for emails, newsletters, and updates from the classroom teachers about any plans for those students returning to campus.
As we continue to bring students back on campus, we thank you in advance for your patience, flexibility, and understanding in the process.
Happy spring!
~Ms. McLean
GENERAL NOTES
Spring Picture Day: This Tuesday, March 23rd, Lifetouch will be on campus to take Spring Pictures (see attached document for ordering details). Students will need to wear a mask on campus, but will remove it for their picture. We ask that only students come on campus, and parents remain in their vehicles. We will have staff to help shepherd the students through the process. To help reduce long lines, please try to come during your allotted time frame. If you have any questions, please contact the office. Thank you!
4-4:30pm Last name: A – E
4:30-5pm Last name: F -J
5-5:30pm Last name: K – O
5:30-6pm Last name: P – T
6-6:45pm Last name: U – Z
It is Springtime! Take a walk outside, and let nature reset your mind.
Walking is a great way to improve or maintain your overall health. Walking is low impact, requires minimal equipment, can be done at any time of day, and can be performed at your own pace.
Physical Activity can be linked to academic achievement: students who are physically active tend to have better grades, school attendance, cognitive performance (e.g., concentration, memory) among students.
How to include more steps in your day?
Take the dog for a walk. If you don’t have a dog, volunteer to walk dogs at an animal shelter. Or combine your activity with social time by joining a friend to walk his or her dog.
Try music. A bouncy tune or something with a strong beat can make the activity more enjoyable and help motivate you to walk farther or faster.
Include the family. Instead of an afternoon movie, go for a walk or hike together.
Schedule school day walks. Put reminders in your calendar for short walking breaks to ramp up your energy throughout the day.
How far will you go today? Set a personal step goal and start reaping the benefits of walking more, step by step.
Mr. Fuller
Co-Administrator
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:
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. Check with the calendar below to find out 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! Check with the calendar below to find out the next meeting.
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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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
March 23 Spring Pictures from 4-6:45pm
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