Diamond Gazette
July 2016 ~ Preparing for the new school year!
Back To School!!
- Get your chool space cleaned & ready
- Unpack your K12 school supply boxes
- Organize and put your school supplies away
- Attend one of the Kmail to Email Transition Trainings by August 5th
- Inform ARVA staff if you have any new contact info when they call to check in on you.
- View the informative videos on the strong start site to help you prepare for school
High School Parents - Do you have questions about coursework?
Counselors are reaching out to new high school students within the next week. Beginning Monday, August 1, students in 9th and 10th grade should contact Amy Smith (asmith@arva.org, ext. 2048) with schedule questions, and 11th and 12th graders should contact Carol Heavin (cheavin@arva.org, ext. 2113).
Strong Start Support through FAST
- Jennifer Shelby for grades K-8: jshelby@arva.org
- Alyssa Gordon for grades 9-12: agordon@arva.org
These ladies will put you in contact with your family's assigned engagement coach.
FAST Orientations for New Families
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.D35FE00BE8B01C73CD4BC351D94BDB&sid=559
Aug. 3rd:
K-8: 2pm
9-12: 10am
Aug. 8th:
K-8: 11am
9-12: 12pm
Kmail to Email Transition Trainings
We are so excited that Kmail is transitioning to Email on Aug. 5th! You'll want to attend an information session to learn about the improvements! Plenty of days/times to accommodate all schedules!
(30 min. sessions)
Monday, August 1st, 2016 11am
Thursday, August 4th, 2016 11am
Monday, August 8th, 2016 11am
Wednesday, August 10th, 2016 3pm
AR Sales Tax Holiday
Do you have additional questions on what your student will need this school year, pertaining to school supplies? Find that information here: help.k12.com
Hello Boxes!
*Make sure your school space is spic and span
*Open the boxes like it's Christmas morning!
*Double check that you received everything on the packing list
*Put your new school supplies in your spic and span school space
And now..... Let the school year begin!!
Back To Class BASH at the Clinton Presidential Center!! August 6th 9am-1pm
Get ready for the new school year at the annual Head of the Class Bash!
FREE Backpacks ✓
FREE School Supplies ✓
FREE Immunizations ✓
FREE Hearing & Vision Screening ✓
Computer Coding Demos ✓
Healthy Cooking Demos ✓
*Children must be present to receive a backpack
Located at the Clinton Presidential Center.
Summer isn't over yet!
ARVA Splash Park Outings!!
August 2nd in Cabot
August 3rd in Mountain Home
August 9th in Bentonville
August 10th in Jonesboro
Register to Attend an outing near you!!
Brain Breaks
Look at all the ways ARVA Diamonds SHINE across our state!
NWA June Park Play Time
Special Needs Families ~ Click the pictures below to read more!
Community Connections in Central AR
Community Connections is a non-profit organization in central Arkansas providing extra-curricular activities for children with special needs & support for their families. Programs include cheer, soccer, football, basketball, music, art, acting, golf, ceramics, etc. Most programs are FREE!
I CAN! of Arkansas in Central AR
2 Special Needs Programs in NW AR
- Children with Special Needs and their families are invited to come to Jump!Zone in Bentonville on the 1st Wednesday of every month from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. FREE! What an exciting Booster outing this would be! Click here to see how to set up a Booster outing.
- The Special Needs Athletic Program, Inc. (SNAP, Inc.) states that their mission is to expand the quality of life for individuals with disabilities through athletics and activities, to provide positive and encouraging leadership for the development of these individuals/athletes, and to support and enrich their lives through social interactions. Contact Mark Stave: supernaturals1416@gmail.com for more information.
Do you know of more opportunities for children with special needs in your area?
Let us know so that we can share it with the rest of our ARVA community!
Wish there were MORE OUTINGS near you?
YOU are important and needed!
Click here for information to access recordings.
Splash Park Outings across Arkansas this Summer!
ARVA's Parent Lending Library has more selections this month!
ARVA's Parent Lending Library has books and games to loan to parents and learning coaches. It includes titles such as Overcoming Underachieving, What do You Stand For?, and non-book selections such as the Nature Quest fundana travel game, among other fun titles. To find out more information about the ARVA’s Parent’s Lending Library or to check out a book, click here.
Overcoming Underachieving
What do You Stand for?
There are even 'non-books' available for loan!
Have a Preschooler in Tow?
YOU are your child's first and most important teacher!
ARVA's learning coaches are already busy with coordinating their student's learning. Adding a preschooler or young child to the school day adds an additional level of planning. If you have questions on how to manage it all, we have Engagement Coaches who have expertise in schooling multiple children at once and schooling while also raising preschoolers who would love to share strategies with you. There are also several resources that we recommend you check out:
- HIPPY: a free, school readiness program for parents of preschoolers
- Head Start program's approach to school readiness means that children are ready for school, families are ready to support their children's learning, and schools are ready for children.
- ABC Programs serve children, ages birth to 5, with a variety of risk factors.
- Join Me as I Play: Fun ideas to implement throughout your day or week
- Kindergarten Readiness Checklist provides a thorough list of skills that your preschooler should master prior to entering Kindergarten. Here is the same document in a more concise format: K Readiness Checklist flyer
- Getting Ready for Kindergarten calendar of daily activities to support your preschooler's learning.
Recent Parent Workshop and Series Recordings
ARVA's Family Academic Support Team (FAST) and the Strong Start Site
Website: http://arva.k12start.com/
Location: 4702 West Commercial, Suite B3, North Little Rock, AR 72116
Phone: 501-664-4225
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArkansasVirtualAcademy
Gina Moore, editor
Amanda Lloyd, assistant editor