NETWORKings

Antioch Charter Academy

March 24  No School – Teacher Workday

Newsletter for Antioch Charter Academy/TLCS Stakeholders

 Volume 29, Issue 26, March 17, 2025

Hi ACA Families!

One of our student’s Graduate Goals at ACA is to be able to contribute to society and feel empowered to make change. While we are empowering our students to become lifelong learners, we are also empowering them to take part in civic engagement, and showing how they can impact their world in constructive ways.

You may have noticed there are a lot of fundraisers happening this month. Well those are your Middle School students in action! These Impact Middle School Groups are learning about issues in their community and the world.  They are developing skills to advocate for change and participate in a democratic society. They learn about current events, human & society needs, environmental concerns, and human rights. They learn how government policies affect these issues by researching & analyzing data, and interviewing experts in the field.  They take the information they have gathered, then put it into action by raising funds, writing letters, teaching their classmates (PSA), and volunteering.

As a Charter, our students have the chance to immerse themselves in real-world experiences, transforming theoretical knowledge into practical skills. Whether through internships or interactive projects, this experiential learning nurtures creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. These immersive experiences are helping our students bridge the gap between theory and practice.

Meet your Middle School Teams below!

Team A – Teen Mental Health

We are a group of Middle Schoolers who strive to give back to our community. We have learned that mental health is a real problem in our society, and when teens leave the facility, they need supplies. Our current goal is to help the John Muir Health Center for Youth, by providing backpacks and toiletries. We are hosting Coin Wars to complete our goal.

Team B – Hospice

We are a group of Middle Schoolers who want to help people who are experiencing health problems in our community.  We decided to do this by helping people who are in hospice, or are caregiving for someone who is in hospice.  Our goal is to raise money for this organization.  We are going to have a Taco Bell lunch fundraiser, and will have bake sales.

Team C – Senior Citizens

Our group of middle school students wanted to help senior citizens.  Through research, we decided to work alongside Meals on Wheels, to help seniors with their technology needs.  We have made a trip out to a retirement village in Pittsburg, and it was such a good experience, they want us to come back.

Thank you for your continued support!

Andi Stahler

Office

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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/

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 (if we collect enough)!  See attached document for more details.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR – Lots Happening!!! 

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 27  MS EE Trip to Farm (⅓ class)

March 28  Intermediate Performance (on campus)

March 31  FN Coin Wars Ends

April 1      FN Walk-a-thon

April 4      MS EE Trip to Farm (⅓ class)

April 7      Int Study Trip to Black Diamond Mines

April 11    MS Shark Tank (morning)

April 11    Minimum Day – dismiss at 12pm

April 14-18   Spring Break – no school

UPCOMING & ONGOING SCHOOL EVENTS

CAASPP: 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.

Testing Days 2025

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

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