NETWORKings

Antioch Charter Academy

Dec 19   Minimum Day – dismiss at 12pm

Dec 22-Jan 2  Winter Break – no school

Newsletter for Antioch Charter Academy/TLCS Stakeholders

 Volume 30, Issue 16,  December 15, 2025

Dear ACA Families,

The holidays are a time for family and cheer, but making sure the house is clean, the food is ready, and the presents are wrapped and ready to be opened can be overwhelming. These factors can bring unwanted stress and depression in a time meant for happiness.

Some important, practical tips can help minimize the stress that accompanies the holidays. These tips may even help you enjoy the holidays more than expected.

Through the endless parties, cooking, shopping, and cleaning, try taking one of the 9 steps to ensure you have a stress-free holiday:

1. Plan ahead.

Between co-workers, friends, and family, it’s inevitable that some commitments will end up on the same day. Make sure to plan what you can attend in person or virtually. If you’re hosting the holidays, create a menu to help you stay organized and make grocery shopping easier.

2. Say no.

With holiday commitments, it is OK to say no to a few or all of them. It will also help relieve some stress. Try sharing your to-do list with other family members.

3. Plan spending.

The holidays mean spending money. Make a budget and stick to it. Spending money on your loved ones is important, but it’s also important to pay your energy bill. Don’t buy gifts that you’ll be paying off for the rest of the year.

4. Create relaxing surroundings.

Turn on some music, light some candles, or open the windows on a sunny day. Research has found that listening to music and the scent of citrus can boost feelings of well-being, and vitamin D is always a happiness booster.

5. Maintain healthy habits.

The holidays are notorious for ruining healthy habits. A short workout each morning will help your decision-making throughout the day. Encourage your family to try snowshoeing or sledding to get in extra exercise. Eat healthy snacks like fresh fruit or vegetables throughout the season and fill up before a dinner party or celebration with tempting, but unhealthy, foods.

6. Share feelings.

Spending a holiday after a loss in the family can be difficult. Accept your feelings and open up about them to others. It may make you feel better to share. Try to switch up old traditions to ease the loss.

7. Respect differences.

Family members will have different viewpoints from your own. Try your best to forgive and forget this holiday season. Focus on your similarities, and replace tension with something productive.

8. Be realistic.

You are only one person, and you can only do so much. Be realistic about how much you can handle this season. Forget about perfection, and relax and enjoy the company surrounding you.

9. Take a break.

Don’t forget about your own needs. Take a nap, take a short walk, read a book, or watch a funny movie. Laughing relaxes the whole body and can relieve physical tension and stress.

Holidays are meant to be a fun, enjoyable time with friends and family. These tips can help ensure you truly enjoy your holidays when stress starts to set in.

Mr. Fuller

HIGHLIGHTS

Wildcats Soccer Teams 2025…A big congratulations to our boys and girls soccer teams—and their coaches—for making the playoffs again this year! The girls have now reached the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, and the boys for two.

During the regular season, our girls finished in 4th place and the boys finished in 3rd. In the first round of playoffs, our boys played a very competitive, evenly matched game against Antioch MS, ultimately falling 0–1 after fighting hard until the end. However, our girls team pulled off a major upset, defeating the 1st-place team, Park MS, with a 1–0 victory.

Our girls went on to the final and came so close, but lost 0-1. They played an amazing game to end a great and memorable season!

Dec 19   Minimum Day – dismiss at 12pm

Dec 22-Jan 2  Winter Break – no school

Jan 5 School Starts

See “FUNdraiser Section” For Current Fundraisers, Dates, and Details!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR – Lots Happening!!! 

Dec 19   Prim/Elem Musical – on campus

Dec 19   Minimum Day – dismiss at 12pm

Dec 22-Jan 2  Winter Break – no school

Jan 5     Back to School

Jan 9     Family Network Meeting (all welcome) @ 3:15pm

Jan 15   Charter Council Meeting (all welcome) @ 4pm

Jan 19   MLK Day – no school

Jan 26-30  School Choice & Kindness Week

Feb 5-6   Minimum Days – dismiss at 12pm

UPCOMING & ONGOING SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

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!

FUNdraisers – Ways to Support! 

*The SchoolStore Program is 100% online so there is NO face-to-face selling, handling money, or delivering products. Your participation will take less than 12 minutes, and there are exciting prizes to make it fun for the students.

Here is all you need to do to participate:

1.  Go to https://www.schoolstore.net/sid.t?0000369860 to sign up.

2.  Send form emails inviting family, friends and co-workers to support your child.

Your participation will make a difference for our school and teachers! Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns at  acafamilynetwork@antiochcharteracademy.org.

*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!

Family Network (FN) – Get Involved!    

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!

**If you have any questions, Family Network will be on campus every Friday selling Popcorn!**

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 on who they are, and how you can help!

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!

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