NETWORKings

Antioch Charter Academy

March 10-14  Minimum Days – dismiss at 12pm

Newsletter for Antioch Charter Academy/TLCS Stakeholders

 Volume 29, Issue 25, March 10, 2025

Dear ACA Families,

Each year, students in grades three through eight (and high school) participate in the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP).

This year, our students will take the following test(s), depending on their grade level:

• Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts/literacy

(ELA) and mathematics (MATH) in grades three through eight and grade eleven. These include a CAT (computer adaptive test) and PT (performance task) for each subject.

• Physical Fitness Test in grades five and seven (and once in high school)

• California Science Test (CAST) in grades five and eight (and once in high school)

The Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments and the CAST are online tests that measure what your student knows or can accomplish. The tests include many different types of questions 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.

Our school plan is to test 3rd -8th grade students beginning in April through June. Students will test in grade level groups, and/or individually depending on their individual educational plans. It will be extremely important for students to arrive on time and well rested during these testing months.

We are hoping that all eligible students will fully participate in this important measure of student growth. Please note that a parent or guardian may annually submit to the school a written request to excuse his or her child from any or all parts of any test provided for the school year. This decision would ideally involve input from your child’s teacher/s.

Thank you,

Kris Cordova

Testing Days 2025

Ongoing Physical Fitness Testing (5th & 7th grade) each Wednesday, February thru June

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Spirit Days – show your school spirit by participating in these fun dress up days!

• March 10- Crazy Hair Day

• March 11- Wear Pink Day

• March 12- School Spirit- Wednesday Shirt

• March 13- Twin Day

• March 14- PJ Day

Soccer Update: Our soccer season ended but not without both our teams continuing to make school history. Both boys and girls made the playoffs and our girls made it all the way to the final becoming our first sports team to ever participate in a Championship match. Our boys lost against the eventual champions but had to play the game with only 8 players due to ACA2 Outdoor Ed. They fought hard till the end, didn’t give up, and never complained or made excuses. Our girls with only one sub and several unfortunate injuries during the game battled to the end as true finalists.

In just two seasons, our soccer program continues to solidify itself as a top contender in the league despite our disadvantage in low numbers compared to the other much larger schools. We are so proud of our student-athletes. Please congratulate our soccer student-athletes for a great historical season. And thank you all for your support.

Go Wildcats!

Coach Sal

Middle School Impact Teams (SPA) Update!

Team A – John Muir Health Center for Youth

We are continuing to collect donations for Teens. Besides money, we are also collecting items that could significantly benefit the patients. Some items that would greatly benefit these patients are body wash, backpacks, face wash, toothpaste, shampoo, toothbrushes, and board games (just no sharp or tiny pieces, please). We have a donation box available in the office for money, and for the items listed too!  Thank you for supporting the Chick Fil A fundraiser…we raised $100 for this organization! Our next fundraiser is “Coin Wars!”  See below for more details.

Team B – Hospice

Our group is raising money for Hospice.  We are having a bake sale, and will have a Taco Bell lunch fundraiser.

Team C – Senior Citizens

Our group of middle school students went to the Stoneman Village, to help senior citizens with their technology needs. We helped 10 people with their assorted electronics, and they want us to come back! We partnered with the organization, Meals on Wheels, to organize this event.

Coin Wars Have Begun March 3-31 the school is having a friendly competition to raise money for John Muir Mental Health for Teens.  The teams are Primary & Middle School, Elementary, Intermediate, and Staff. Collection tubs are in the school office!  The team that raises the most money will win a prize!  See attached document for more details.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR – Lots Happening!!! 

March 10-14  Minimum Days – dismiss at 12pm

March 13  ACA/ACAII Charter Council Meeting @ 4pm (all welcome)

March 13  8th Grade Boys – Boys in Action AUSD/Rotary Event – off campus

March 14  Last Day of 2nd Trimester

March 17  Third Trimester Begins (new afternoon electives for 4-8th grade)

March 17-19  MS Internships (off campus learning experience)

March 20  Cougars in Action (morning activity)

March 21  MS EE Trip to Farm (⅓ class)

March 24  No School – Teacher Workday

March 31  FN Coin Wars Ends

April 7    Int Study Trip to Black Diamond Mines

UPCOMING & ONGOING SCHOOL EVENTS

See’s Candy Yum-RaisingOnline Orders: Our virtual candy store is officially OPEN! Order online now through April 4th! All orders will be shipped directly to the purchaser! Please click the link below, you will be able to share with family and friends. It makes a wonderful gift for the spring season for anyone local or in other cities or states. https://www.yumraising.com/secure/antiochca_aca_spring_23/YesBer3685/

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