NETWORKings

Antioch Charter Academy

August 20th, 21st, and 22nd 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 30, Issue 1, August 18, 2025

Dear ACA Families,

Welcome to the new school year! The first day of school, Wednesday, August 20th is just a couple of days away, and we can hardly wait. Our campus has been refreshed with some beautiful aesthetic updates and a few classroom location changes—everything is prepped and ready to be filled with our curious, kind, and motivated students!

This week we start with three minimum days and our first full week of school is next week. Next week make sure you attend Back to School night with your child’s teachers. So much information to learn and a great way to get to know the staff, what’s happening,  and to start the 2025-26 school year on the right track!

Please give a warm welcome to Diana Mulligan, our new Elementary teacher, who will be taking over for Mrs. Beaver following her move this summer.  Our school garden is also set to blossom under the guidance of our new garden instructor, Pati Lois, who will be working with students and staff on exciting projects like composting, planting, and harvesting. Finally, our staff is changing with new aides in middle school and music. When you see these new faces on campus, please join us in giving them a warm ACA welcome. We are so excited to have them on our team!

Sincerely,

Edna Heller, Co-Administrator

HIGHLIGHTS

Annual Pastries for Parents: On the first day of school (Aug 20th) 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 (9/2 – 11/14).  Our afternoon elective program begins Tuesday, September 2nd 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, 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 this Friday, August 22nd 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!

School Meals: We are excited to offer FREE Breakfast, Lunch, and Supper to all of our currently enrolled students this year! These meals will start next week, Monday, August 26th.

• Place your student’s order the Friday prior by 10am.

• Breakfast will be served in the Multi Use Room starting at 7:45am until 8:05am (student class time begins at 8:15)

• Lunch will be served during the student’s regular lunch time.

• Supper will be served to those participating in Cougar Cub Club or Cougar CREW, starting at 4:15pm.

You MUST order these items 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. Orders can be made online at:

https://forms.gle/rZ1t5W7mzwJnxkXY8

(This link will always be available in the weekly NETWORKings email. This link will stay the same all year.)

If your student would like to order lunch this week, please come to the office in the morning before 9am to place an order on our limited menu (Burrito Meal, or Sunbutter and Jelly Meal).

Reminder – no outside food delivery services are allowed on campus.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR – Lots Happening!!! 

Aug 20    2025-26 School Year Begins

Aug 20-22  Minimum Days dismissal at 12pm

Aug 26    Back to School Night – Primary & Middle School @ 6pm

Aug 27    Back to School Night – Intermediate @ 6pm

Aug 28    Back to School Night – Elementary @ 6pm

Sept 1     No School – Labor Day

Sept 2     Hearing Testing (certain grades)

Sept 2     1st Trimester Electives Begins

Sept 5     Family Network Meeting (all welcome) @ 3:15pm

Sept 9     Vision Testing (certain grades)

Sept 11   Charter Council Meeting (all welcome) @ 4pm

Sept 16   School Picture Day (all grades)

UPCOMING & ONGOING SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

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) 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/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. See attached document for this school’s year schedule

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

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

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

REMINDERS 

School Lunch Order Form – https://forms.gle/rZ1t5W7mzwJnxkXY8

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.  No 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