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GCA's Family Engagement Newsletter: Nov 2017 Edition
In this edition:
- Meet your new Head of School
- A Message from Champ!
- Family Engagement Month
- Upcoming District Town Hall, Parent and Parent University meetings
- Community Events
- Learning Coach and Student Resources
- PTSO News
- Clubs
- ... and more
A Message from Dr. Oberg
Champions, I cannot wait until I get the opportunity to meet you all at our various in- person and virtual events. In the meantime, please enjoy this message from me.
Hello fellow Champions!
GCA has some breaking news.
November is Family Engagement Month and your Family Engagement Team is excited to share with you experienced Learning Coaches just like you on tips for success.
Another breaking news is our new, family-friendly website that will be launching this month gca.k12.com.
To ensure that you have a smooth transition to the new site, gacyber.org will remain available to you for a time. Beginning November 1, 2017, gacyber.org will be password-protected.
Champions, we appreciate your patience as we work toward providing you with the website resources you need for success.
We will keep you updated as to when the new site will replace gacyber.org. If you have any questions, please contact your school's Family Engagement Coordinator:
Kristy Howard, krhoward@gacyber.org Elementary School
Veronica Okpani, vokpani@gacyber.org Middle School
Maria Blencowe, mblencowe@gacyber.org High School
Until next time,
Champ
To download pictures of Champ, click on the link below:
Feel free to share with Champ pictures on how you incorporate Champ in your every day school life and more on his Facebook page @Champ GCA
November 2017 Parent Meeting
November Presents:
Join us on November 16th as we host our first Parent meeting - Keeping it real: Confessions of a Learning Coach
Organizing emails, Managing Multiple Students, Setting up a Learning Space, and Making Online Learning Work for your family, etc.
Recordings will be posted on the GCA Events Calendar if you are unable to attend live. We hope to see you there!
November 2017 Parent Meeting
Thursday, November 16, 2017
7:00 pm
Thursday, Nov 16, 2017, 07:00 PM
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Upcoming District Town Hall and Parent Meetings:
District Town Hall Meetings:
Hosted by GCA School Leaders and community partners sharing district-wide information.
September 14th, 2017 (Recording)
January 18th, 2018 @ 7:00pm (Click here to join live)
May 17th, 2018 @ 7:00pm (Click here to join live)
Parent Meetings:
Hosted by GCA Family Engagement Team sharing Learning Coach desired topics.
Please contact your school based Family Engagement Coordinator for further details on upcoming meetings.
Kristy Howard
Elementary School Family Engagement Coordinator
Veronica Okpani
Middle School Family Engagement Coordinator
Maria Blencowe
High School Family Engagement Coordinator
Upcoming Parent University Sessions
Parent University follows the monthly Parent Meeting. Workshop topics were suggested by parents to help parents be successful Learning Coaches to their Students.
Elementary School:
September Recording: Why is Math taught different now?
November: Understanding the Standards of Mathematical Practice
Middle School:
November: Google Galore - Google calendar, email, docs, and more - How to make Google work for you.
High School:
November: Teacher Tool Box - How to find instructional strategies and resources to help your student at home
GCA Community Events
November is Family Engagement month so get engaged with some community events!
Registration link for November events: https://goo.gl/forms/Y0UTfMJha8420Ly02
Question of the Month:
Last Month's: How do you view your role in your student's success at GCA?
Feedback -
I choose GCA because my other school I went to the teachers and students would talk about me and my sister. So I wanted to go GCA so now were here- Christina T.
This's Month's: How have you become more involved in your student's education?
Study! Always take notes, and drill your students. Find resources to help them in their weaker subjects. Work harder and smarter. Good Luck. - Olivia W.
Have you found something valuable? Have a strategy that makes your life as a Learning Coach run more smoothly, or something that helps your student's daily tasks run like clockwork? You could make a difference in another GCA families life! Please, share. Click the link below.
Do you have questions? Well, we've got answers!
Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri at 2:00 pm.
Tue at 7:00 pm
Check the GCA Events Calendar for schedule changes.
Can't make a live session? Have a question? Fill out the form below and we'll be in touch.
GCA Resource Room
Happy Family Engagement Month from Superintendent Woods
Good afternoon,
November is Family Engagement Month in Georgia, and districts and schools across the state will be highlighting the important role parents play in their children’s education. In addition, November 16 is National Parent Involvement Day, a time for all schools and parents to reflect on the vital partnership needed for Georgia’s students and schools to be successful. I invite you to access the following opportunities to strengthen those partnerships with your students’ parents and families:
- On behalf of all schools in Georgia, I wrote a Thank You Letter to Georgia’s Families to show our appreciation to the parents and the family members who support student success. Click here for the link to the letter.
- The Georgia Department of Education’s Family-School Partnership Program has released their newly revised video network to highlight best practices and to provide ideas and strategies to engage parents in their students’ academic success. Click here to here to access the Family Engagement Partners Video Network.
- The Family Engagement Month 2017 webpage has links to the state proclamation declaring November as Georgia Family Engagement Month and an archived copy of the Parent Resolution adopted by the State Board of Education in 2010. This webpage also has ideas from Georgia school systems on last year’s celebration of Family Engagement Month. Click here to view the links to these documents.
I want to thank all of you who have taken on the important task of engaging parents and families in your schools. Together, we can continue to create meaningful Family-School Partnerships, in November and year-round.
Sincerely,
Richard Woods
Georgia’s School Superintendent
2018 Shoot for the Moon Award Nominations
Each year the Georgia Charter Schools Association recognizes a charter school leader of the year. The Shoot for the Moon award winner is an outstanding leader who continually goes above and beyond the call of duty!
Let's get some GCA teachers NOMINATED by filling out this survey!
The November Peach Pit has arrived!
November Peach Pit has arrived with News You Can Use...
Message from PTSO:
- Fresh out of the Oven!! GCA PTSO Cookbook on SALE!!
GCA teachers, staff, parents, learning coaches, and students contributed a combination of recipes like: Appetizers, Desserts, Main Dishes, Casseroles, Side Dishes, Dips...
The recipes range from easy to make snacks, to delicious main dishes that we are sure you will enjoy making for your family.
Click here to purchase yours today!
- Become a PTSO Member TODAY!!
Becoming a PTSO member is easy!
For only $5 per school term you will receive access to special programs, have voting rights, and so much more. Click here then select the Membership icon.
- Got SPIRIT??
Show your School Spirit with this fabulous GCA Spirit Gear
Join your school's clubs
GCA Loves Clubs!
Does your student want to connect with other students who share a common interest? Clubs are the way to do that!
GCA teachers host many clubs where students can be themselves, share interests, and build lasting relationships. Register to join your favorite clubs!
Fundraising from home:
Support the fundraising efforts for our school by collecting the Box Tops for Education and Labels for Education, and Tyson Project A+™ labels on items you purchase and use in your home Plus, newly added Kula, Amazon Smile, and Recycle Electronics.
Clipping Box Tops is an easy way for you to help our school earn cash. This year we would like our school to earn goal is $2000.00
Bundle with rubber bands, baggies or rally sheet place in an envelope attach proper postage.
You can mail items to:
GCA Fundraisers 2387 Rodgers Dr. SE, Conyers, GA 30094
Or Bring these items to events
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Shirley Lester at gcafundraiser@gmail.com.
Shopping online or booking a great vacation through KULA.com or by donating your loyalty points from KULA’s participating loyalty programs you can simply and easily support our cause.
Amazon Smile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Georgia Cyber Academy every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization.
Collecting electronic items for recycling which will add more funds to support our school. Mail them to Family Engagement, Georgia Cyber Academy 1745 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349
There's a Facebook group for Learning Coaches who live near you...
Get in touch with other Learning Coaches for community building and support. Click on your region below to get started.
Region 12 (Bulloch, Effingham, Bryan, Chatham, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Glynn, and Camden counties)
Elementary School
Elementary School Family Engagement Coordinator
Email: krhoward@gacyber.org
Website: http://www.gacyber.org/elementary-school1.html
Location: 1745 Phoenix Blvd., Ste 100, Atlanta, GA 30349
Phone: 404.334.4790.1098
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013207448648&fref=ts
Twitter: @GCA_FEC
Middle School
Middle School Family Engagement Coordinator
Regional Family Engagement Team Lead
Email: vokpani@gacyber.org
Website: http://www.gacyber.org/middle-school1.html
Location: 1745 Phoenix Blvd., Ste. 100, Atlanta, GA 30349
Phone: 404.334.4790.663
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gcaveronica.rfec?fref=ts
High School
High School Family Engagement Coordinator
Email: mblencowe@gacyber.org
Website: http://www.gacyber.org/blog
Location: 1745 Phoenix Blvd. Ste. 100, Atlanta, GA 30349
Phone: 404.334.4790.799
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mblencowe.gca
Twitter: @GCA_HS