NETWORKings

Antioch Charter Academy

August 21st, 22nd, and 23rd are MINIMUM days

with the following release times:

AM Primary / 2nd year Primary: 8:15am-10:00am

PM Primary: 10:15am-12:00pm

1st – 8th Grade: 8:15am-12:00pm

Newsletter for Antioch Charter Academy/TLCS Stakeholders

 Volume 29, Issue 1, July 19, 2024

Dear ACA Families,

Welcome back to school! It’s such a great feeling to come to work and see happy teachers and children every day. As we continue the journey of educating the 21st century child, it’s nice to see everyone doing their part. Our staff spent the summer preparing the classroom environment and themselves, and they are enthusiastic and ready to teach your children. Parents are showing how supportive they are by sending in donations and volunteering to teach electives and help out in the classrooms. Lastly, we are looking forward to our students being very present each day, bringing their curiosity, questions, and love of learning to school. I know this year is going to be great!

August 21-23 are minimum days, so please make sure to pick up your children at noon.

Next week, we are holding our Back-to-School Nights. Primary and Middle School will hold theirs on Tuesday, August 27, starting promptly at 6:00 PM. Intermediate will hold theirs on Wednesday, August 28, starting at 6:00 PM. Elementary will hold theirs on Thursday, August 29, starting at 6:00 PM. We look forward to sharing our programs with you then.

Lastly, please welcome our new job-share teacher, Margaret Romo, to the Intermediate classroom. Mrs. Romo will be sharing a contract with Mrs. Arnst this year. They are looking forward to collaborating on science lessons together. We have hired a few new aides at multiple levels and other helpers on site. Make sure to introduce yourselves. Let’s welcome them into the ACA family.

Sincerely,

Edna Heller, Co-Administrator

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Annual Pastries for Parents: On the first day of school (Aug 21st) the Family Network will be hosting our annual Pastries for Parents starting at 8:15AM. During Pastries for Parents you will be able to hear about how you can support ACA students and teachers, volunteer for activities, vote on this year’s budget, and get something to eat & drink! See the attached flyer for details!

Elective Help! We are busy setting up electives for our 4-8th grade students for the first trimester (9/3 – 11/15).  Our afternoon elective program begins Tuesday, September 3rd and runs from 2-3pm on Mon, Tues, Thurs, & Fridays (Fridays are for Middle School students only).

We are looking for adults who are willing to teach/supervise an assortment of activities. The elective program at our school is an important part of our curriculum.  These classes offer students the opportunities to explore new areas of interest, opening their minds to new possibilities for themselves. Our hope is to offer at least 9 different options for students to choose from on each day. This is only possible if our wonderful ACA community volunteers to help!!

Ideas for classes:

• Art: crafts, sewing, knitting, crocheting, fine art, ceramics, photography, woodworking, etc

• Indoor: board games, chess, strategy, role playing, etc.

• Outdoor: basketball, volleyball, kickball, soccer, flag football, wiffle ball, dodgeball, etc

• Cooking (always a big hit): simple cooking skills, baking, cake decorating, microwave recipes, airfryer recipes, juicing, multicultural, etc

• Language: ASL, Spanish, etc

• Movement: yoga, dance (line, zumba, hip hop, modern, etc), pilates, etc

• Science: rockets, fun experiments, technology, building things, etc

• Other: gardening, drama/acting, debate, and the list can go on and on – teach what you enjoy doing!

If you can donate an hour of your time, once a week for the next trimester, to help teach or supervise a class, please let us know ASAP!!!  You can also team up with a friend to teach a class, and you do not need to have a student in the 4-8th grade classes to help. We want this to be a good experience for all!  All volunteers will need to have a Livescan fingerprint on file with our office (school will pay the fee).

Please contact the school by Friday, August 23rd if you are interested, or if you have any questions about this program.

Thank you!

Back to School Nights are next week!  BTSN is crucial for parents and guardians because they offer insight into the classroom environment, foster relationships with teachers, and demonstrate to students that their education is a priority. Attending these events helps you understand the curriculum, meet the educators who will be guiding your child, and show support for your student’s learning journey, reinforcing the value you place on their academic experience.  Look at the calendar below for dates and times, and also look for important information in your child’s classroom newsletter!

Remind: This is another way for the school to quickly inform you on what is happening on campus. Never miss another minimum day schedule, or a whole school event.  You can receive messages through email or through texting – you decide!  Look for the email from your student’s classroom for the code – each age grouping has their own!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR – Lots Happening!!! 

• August 21     First Day of School

• August 21       FN Pastries for Parents

• August 21-23   Minimum Days – dismiss at 12pm

• August 27       Back to School Night – Primary & Middle School @ 6pm

• August 27       Hearing Testing (certain grades)

• August 28       Back to School Night – Intermediate @ 6pm

• August 29       Back to School Night – Elementary @ 6pm

• September 2   No School – Labor Day

• September 3   Electives Begin (Intermediate & MS)

• September 3   Vision Testing (certain grades)

• September 6   FN Meeting (all welcome) @ 3pm

• September 12 Charter Council Meeting (all welcome ) @ 4pm

UPCOMING & ONGOING SCHOOL EVENTS

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 open to the public – all are welcomed!

FAMILY NETWORK (FN) HAPPENINGS 

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

Family Network Meetings are the second Friday of each month at 3pm. The board welcomes and encourages all ACA families to attend the meetings.  Check with the calendar. below to find out the next meeting.

Family Network Wish List: We have created a Family Network wish list on Amazon. If you’d like to donate any of these “Wish List” items we would greatly appreciate it. These items are needed throughout the school year. Pick the items and pay for them and Amazon will ship directly to the school.

*ALL DONATIONS COUNT TOWARD YOUR FAMILY SERVICE HOURS AS WELL!

*ANY DONATION YOU ARE ABLE TO MAKE IS FULLY TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

ACA I Family Network – Amazon Gift List – Amazon Gift List

Thank you for your support!

Annual Give: Would you like to support whole school activities, all the classrooms, and have less fundraisers??!!!  Then Make a tax deductible donation…donate here via PayPal → https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2235031 or give cash/check to the school office!

Spiritwear: Antioch Charter spirit wear! With hundreds of designs waiting for you, shop now and get your order in just 10-12 business days! Shop at https://1stplace.sale/14399

Family Network Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers Needed

Want to help, but not sure where to start???  Sign up on TrackItForward to find out how you can help!!!  https://www.trackitforward.com/user

Contact the ACA Family Network if you have any questions!

Acafamilynetwork@antiochcharteracademy.org

  Popcorn Fridays Volunteers Always Needed!

We need volunteers to help out with popcorn sales each Friday 2:30pm – 3:30pm

Help set up, make popcorn, sell candy/popcorn and clean-up. Sign up on https://www.trackitforward.com/user

REMINDERS 

School Lunch Order Form – https://forms.gle/H6SmPkjfZzNscVaeA

You MUST order meals in advance in order to receive them or else we may not have a meal available for your student. Breakfast and Supper will be the same for all students, while lunch has a menu that you can choose one entree from. Reminder – no outside food delivery services are allowed on campus.

Absences, Tardies, Leaving Early: 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. Please make sure to check into the office if your student arrives late. If your student needs to depart early, the person picking up the child must call the office at (925) 755-7311 so the office can retrieve the student prior to walking into the office to sign out their student. Please remember to request an “Independent Study” or “IS” every time you email/call to report an absence.  This helps the school, which helps your student!

REMIND: This APP is another way for the school to quickly inform you on what is happening on campus. Never miss another minimum day schedule, or a whole school event (example from last year: a power outage that required early dismissal!).  You can receive messages through email or through texting (recommended) – you decide!  Ask your student’s teacher for their classcode!

Clothes Donation Bin: is a great way to have our unclaimed lost and found items find a new home, and it is actually a form of fund raising for the school. When people donate clothes, the owners of the bin, Tree Machine, will give money to the school. The bin is for clothes only.  Please make sure to bag the clothes before you put them in the bin.  Thank You.

Parking Lot/Carpool