NCVA Beacon Herald
January 2019
Our Mission
A MESSAGE FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL
January is here! As we start 2019, the primary thoughts are new year’s resolutions and reflection upon the prior year. I want to go back much further than one year – let’s go to January 1790 when George Washington delivered the first State of the Union address as the first President of the United States.
The address was positive and encouraging as he wanted to help guide Congress in their decision-making. Interestingly, he named North Carolina as our state which was recently added to the United States. He had to strike a balance between his belief for a strong executive branch (through his office) and legislative power (through Congress). Overall, the speech was well received by politicians and the press.
Why am I pointing to this historical event? Probably the most quoted section of that speech are these two sentences: “The welfare of our country is the great object to which our cares and efforts ought to be directed. And I shall derive great satisfaction from a cooperation with you, in the pleasing though arduous task of ensuring to our fellow citizens the blessings which they have a right to expect.”
All of us at NCVA want to extend our efforts and care to make sure the school is strong for many years to come and that happens by growth a little bit each day (half of the school year still remains!). We gain satisfaction from working with you – students and learning coaches – to ensure that academic growth occurs.
~Dr. Medley
Important Dates
- WELCOME BACK!: 1/3
- 1/3-1/4: Teacher Workdays (Complete assignments in Online School)
- 1/7-1/11: HS EOC Testing Window (See e-mail for Testing details)
- 1/11: Semester 1 ends (HS); Quarter 2 Ends (ES/MS)
- 1/14: Semester 2 begins (HS); Quarter 3 Begins
- 1/15: LC Town Hall; Tips and Tricks for Children with Attention Difficulties
- 1/21: MLK Holiday (School Closed)
*NEW* NCVA Social Events Quarterly Calendars
Features include:
- Community Service Activities
- *Bonus* and Gradeband Adventure Day Activities
- Town Hall Topics
- LC Events
Check it out and print a copy. Hopefully, this additional tool will help our families with advance planning and e-mail reduction!
We Want to Hear From You!
At NCVA, we love to hear the stories behind your “why”. We take pride in being a school of choice that offers students an alternative setting for a quality education. It is our hopes that somehow, somewhere along your journey with us, someone has made a memorable impact on your student. One of the greatest rewards an educator has is hearing the success stories of students, and how the school has helped them grow along the way.
We would like to hear how NCVA has made a difference in your student’s life. Please take a moment to click on the link below and share your story with us. We thank you in advance for taking the time to share. We hope that you know how much you mean to our NCVA Family!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScpBdqvlqaeK5_thsBpSkrFULSxtPQkZ-RZOat-KjWY4QtX-g/viewform
UPDATE Your Contact Information
Please ensure your phone number and e-mail are up to date in the OLS under your LC Account.
- Change of Address: Proof of Residence (utility bill, lease, home owner's statement) is required to update your physical address. Please e-mail the information to the Registrar at ccameron@ncvacademy.org.
K12 Support 1-866-512-2273
K12 Customer support is open 24/7 to provide assistance to our families.
New to NCVA?
- READ the Strong Start Newsletter: https://www.smore.com/ae15n
- REQUIRED New Student Orientations (Will appear on Student OLS Schedule)
*Parents & Students attend*
Mondays: 10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.
* Only 1 is required per grade band (ES,MS, and/or HS)
For example, a family with 3rd and 5th graders only attend 1 ES session. Whereas, a family with a 7th and 10th grader would attend both MS and HS sessions.
- Complete Online Learning/Welcome to Online Learning Course
- Complete a Connection Call with your student(s) Homeroom Teacher(s)
- Log-in to Student and Learning Coach Accounts daily
We are here to support you! Thank you for choosing NCVA.
K12 Clubs
K12 offers a variety of student clubs where like-minded students can share their areas of interest. These clubs are offered typically two times a month and last one hour. K12 Clubs are available between September and May annually.
OPEN REGISTRATION!
To register, visit: http://www.k12.com/k12-student-clubs. Student and Family questions about national clubs & other national programming may be directed to clubs@k12.com .
The Azalea Festival 2019 - Wilmington, NC
The North Carolina Azalea Festival is excited to kick off its Annual Youth Art and Writing Contests. The mission of the Azalea Festival is to showcase our community’s rich array of artwork, gardens, history and culture through recreational, educational, and family-oriented events. The Festival is proud to celebrate our community’s youth who demonstrate this love for the arts. Each year over 300 public, private, and home-schooled students, grades K-12, submit their artwork to the art contest, illustrating the traditions of the North Carolina Azalea Festival that mean the most to them. All youth across the great state of North Carolina are welcome to participate.
Submissions are due by Friday, January 18, 2019. Winners will be notified in February. See the links below for details!
- Youth Art Contest: https://ncazaleafestival.org/event/childrens-art-contest/
- High School Writing Contest: https://ncazaleafestival.org/event/high-school-writing-contest-2/
For more details on any of the contests and events mentioned above, please contact North Carolina Azalea Festival Executive Director Alison Baringer English at: alison@ncazaleafestival.org or 910-216-9400. The 2019 North Carolina Azalea Festival will be held April 3-7, 2019.
*If you submit an entry, please contact Jillian Davenport at jdavenport@ncvacademy.org .*
2019 North Carolina K-12 Scholastic State Chess Championship
Attention Chess Lovers!
The Charlotte Chess Center and SAS are sponsoring the 2019 NC Scholastic Chess Championship. North Carolina students enrolled in grades K-12 may register to compete.
Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC
March 29th -30th
- For more information click HERE: http://chessstream.com/2019-NC-K-12-Chess-Championship/
*If you have plans to register, please contact Jillian Davenport at jdavenport@ncvacademy.org .*
K12 Cares Community Service Projects
- TRACK your service hours here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K12Cares
- SHARE your pictures: https://www.facebook.com/NorthCarolinaVirtualAcademy/
Elementary School Updates
Welcome Back!
Don't Forget to Check out the K-5 Website!
How to Finish the First Semester off STRONG...
2. Go back and re-do any un-mastered lessons.
3. Check to make sure your progress is where it needs to be in all subjects.
4. Make sure your PE and Health hours are logged.
5. Look ahead in the OLS to see if there are any upcoming lessons you need to prep for (ex: Readers Choice lessons).
6. Utilize Razkids, Big Universe, and Stride.
Winter Weather Reminders
- Keep in contact with your Homeroom Teacher as much as possible.
- Complete any lessons and activities you can offline.
- Keep track of all hours you worked offline so you can enter your attendance once you are back online.
- If you do not have access to work, use the time to log Health and PE hours.
- Be creative and dive into some hands-on learning.
10 Benefits of Reading Daily
2. Reading exercises our brain
3. Reading improves concentration
4. Reading teaches children about the world around them
5. Reading improves vocabulary and language skills
6. Reading develops a child's imagination
7. Reading helps children to develop empathy
8. Reading is fun
9. Reading is a great way to spend time together
10. Children who read achieve better in school
http://www.cameverlands.org.uk/10-benefits-of-reading/
What's Ahead in January
- Jan. 3rd-4th: Teacher Work Day
- Jan. 11th: Last Day of Q2
- Jan. 14th: First Day of Q3
- Jan. 21st: No School, MLK Jr. Day
- Jan. 29th: 100th Day of School
Middle School Updates
Welcome to 2019! The middle school team is so excited to start a new year with you. New year, new goals!
"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." - C.S. Lewis
Reminders
- Quarter 2 ends on January 11th. ALL COMPUTER-GRADED WORK must be in by that time. TEACHER GRADED work is due January 4th. All Units will close after January 11th and we will move into Quarter 3.
- Check class announcements and your email DAILY. You should check your email more than once each day.
- Follow your lesson plan and schedule
- Follow the DUE dates on your Schedule and Class Plans.
- Make sure you're completing assignments in Go Formative as well - These are required.
- IMPORTANT: Log into individual courses to do work - Don't click assignments on your schedule. This will allow you to read announcements that may apply to that day and will show your teachers that you have logged in. The "Content Tab" is another resource to ensure you are seeing all the parts of your lessons daily.
- Remember that Class Connects are required! It's super important that you're on time and an active participant in any session that may be scheduled for you.
For all technical errors, please call k12 tech support at 866-512-2273
MS Microsoft Suite & K12 Help Articles
This is free for K12 students. Assignments will only be accepted in these Microsoft programs! The directions and links are about half way down the page. https://www.help.k12.com/s/article/How-to-Download-Office-365-School-Email-for-Students
If you have questions on how to use Lockdown Browser or other programs, remember that the K12 website has tons of helpful articles, videos, and visual aids! You can use the search box to look for ANY topic: https://www.help.k12.com/s/article/Download-and-Install-LockDown-Browser
Stride
Learn more about Stride here: https://start.k12.com/national.html?st=stride&product=public_schools_generic&leadsource=drtv
NCVA MS Dance 2019: Durham, NC
*See your e-mail (attached) regarding details.
Families that would like to stay at the venue for the event can use this link to book their room. https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1543426528810&key=GRP&app=resvlink . The rate is $119/night and includes breakfast. Any questions regarding these events can be sent to Jaimee Miller at jaimiller@ncvacademy.org .
High School Updates
Reminders
Please remember that certain high school courses have EOC's (End of Course Tests). Thus, if your student has an EOC course and has a scheduling conflict, they should attend the EOC course first and then watch the recording for the other course. Work still has to be completed in BOTH courses.
Just a reminder, if you have a scheduling conflict you need to let your teachers know if you have live CC sessions that overlap and an EOC course: (Math 1, Math 3, Eng 2 and Biology)
EOC courses have State Exams at the end of the semester that count for 20% of their grade!
The semester one courses are coming to a close quickly. Please make sure to check your email daily and keep up with the assignments on your plan as the semester comes to a close.
Other Resources:
Help raise money for your school!
Watch the video to find out how.
We are excited to have you as part of NCVA's High School! Please make sure to check your email daily and keep an eye out for important info coming your way.
NCVA HS Prom 2019: Durham, NC
*See your e-mail (attached) regarding details.
Department of Exceptional Children
Counselor's Corner
Katie Beck
Nicole Hairston
Erin Farmer
High School
Join the Counselor Chat!
See the session list on the flyer below. This is a chance to learn more about these topics and ask questions. The March session will be required for all high school students and learning coaches. Sessions will be listed on your schedule.
Reminders for Seniors
Seniors, please be sure to let your counselor know when you are accepted to a college or earn a scholarship. We want to celebrate your accomplishments with you!
If you have not placed your order for your cap and gown, please do so as soon as possible.
New Website!
Check out the new Student Services website! We will continue to add information to help students and families achieve success. Let us know if you have suggestions!
K-8 Counselor: Whitney Cress
Hello all! Please take note of our new student services website packed with a tremendous amount of helpful community, academic, social and emotional resources! See it here: https://ncvastudentservices.wixsite.com/ncva
Monthly Town Halls
Town Halls will show up on your class connect schedules. We look forward to seeing you there! The months topics will be:
K-2: January 11 @ 12:00 Building Friendships
3-5: January 18 @ 12:00 Building Friendships
6-8: January 28 @ 12:00 Stress Management/Stress Reduction
9-12: January 14 @ 1:00 Stress Management/Stress Reduction
Learning Coach (NEW!): January 15 @ 9:00 and 2:00 Tips and Tricks for Children with Attention Difficulties
FAST (Family Academic Support Team)
A "Strong Start" for EVERYONE
The FAST Team would like to wish all of our families a "strong start" to the school year. Check out this S'more for resources you will use all year long!
Strong Start Newsletter: https://www.smore.com/ae15n
Fire Safety
Every year firefighters respond to hundreds of thousands of house fires, and just over 50% of them are caused by cooking accidents. Please review this safety checklist with your child(ren) and make sure your family has a plan to stay safe. Remember, prevention is the best medicine!
(taken from https://p.widencdn.net/ohbroq/145733-Tier-61-Home-Fire-Checklist-Regional-FINAL2-002)
STUDENT AND PARENT OPPORTUNITIES
Social Media
Please take advantage of opportunities to connect with the K12 and NCVA communities online and social media, via
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ncva_k12
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ncva_k12/
K12 Learning Liftoff Newsletter
Register here: http://www.learningliftoff.com/
Regional Parent Groups
- Make new friends
- Attend informal social activities outside of school
- Share tips and tricks
How do I join? : E-mail the Regional Parent Group where you reside. Use the map below to find your Region by County. Include your name, county, student(s)' name(s), grade levels, and phone number.
Region 1 ncvaregion1@gmail.com
Region 2 ncvaregion2@gmail.com
Region 3 ncvaregion3@yahoo.com *NEW*
Region 4 ncvaregion4@googlegroups.com *NEW*
Region 5 ncvaregion5@gmail.com
Region 6 ncvaregion6@gmail.com
Region 7 ncvaregion7@yahoo.com
Region 8 ncvaregion8@gmail.com
*NEW* RPG Newsletter (Quarter 2 2018): https://www.smore.com/3hsnx
PLEASE NOTE: The Regional Parent Groups are comprised of Learning Coaches. They do NOT have access to student information. Please contact your student's Homeroom or Content Area Teacher(s) for academic questions.
Community Activities
Victory Junction: Located in Randleman, NC. Camp opportunities are available year round for children with special needs and various medical conditions at no cost to families. Contact Victory Junction at https://victoryjunction.org for more information.
Carolina Parent: The Carolina Parent website is an excellent resource for family friendly activities and resources throughout the state. Visit http://www.carolinaparent.com/ for more information.
Museums for All
Museums for All allows low income families (who can show proof of an EBT card) to enter specific museums across NC with an admission fee ranging from free to $3 depending on location.
Program Link
http://www.childrensmuseums.org/about/acm-initiatives/museums-for-all
List of museums that participate:
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
K12 Customer Support Videos
https://www.help.k12.com/s/topic/0TO0B000000I2moWAC/technical-support-videos#?tabset-26361=2
- Audio Set-Up: https://www.help.k12.com/s/article/How-to-Setup-a-Headset-Microphone-and-Configure-Audio-for-Class-Connect
- Time Zone Configuration: https://www.help.k12.com/s/article/How-to-Update-the-Time-Zone-in-the-Online-School-and-on-Your-Computer
- Clear Cache and Cookies: https://www.help.k12.com/s/article/Internet-Browsers-Clear-Cache-and-Cookies
When to Clear Cache & Cookies
Having trouble logging in to the OLS? Try clearing your browser cache and cookies.
OLS continually loads or redirects – “Redirecting…Please wait”
OLS navigation between pages is slow
OLS pages load but missing information
Browser error messages
Getting booted out of the OLS or LMS
After a planned maintenance outage
After an unexpected outage
How To: https://www.help.k12.com/s/article/Internet-Browsers-Clear-Cache-and-Cookies
K12 is working diligently to eliminate and replace content that was built on Flash, as web browsers are ceasing support of it. However, you may still encounter some Flash content.
For the best user experience, we recommend accessing your online classes using the Mozilla Firefox browser. To download the most recent version of Firefox, please visit: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/ .
If you are using a Chromebook or need to access your online classes using Chrome, we recommend not updating to the newest release (Chrome 69), which forces users to re-enable Flash every time they restart their browser. Please refer tohttp://www.help.k12.com/s/article/Enabling-Flash-in-Chrome-69 on help.k12.com for a step-by-step guide to enabling Flash in Chrome 69.
HELPING OUR SCHOOL
Box Tops for Education
As a public school, NCVA is able to participate in Box Tops for Education by General Mills and has signed up to create an account. As you shop and purchase normal, everyday products, you can cut those box tops off and get them to our school so that we can gain additional supplies. The products vary and include food, storage, paper products, and cleaning supplies.
When you cut them off, there are printable, fun sheets to be able to collect them. The link below will take you to those sheets:
http://www.boxtops4education.com/~/link.aspx?_id=CD4A2815C2894609BCBA7A1A3DB6E65F&_z=z
Once you have collected several, here are the ways to be able to get them to our coordinator – Carrie Daniel:
- Bring them with you at an outing and give to a teacher
- Bring them with you to a testing site and give to the Site Coordinator
- Mail them to the Office at the school address attention to Ms. Daniel.
- Use the Box Tops App: https://www.boxtops4education.com/bonusapp
"Together In Education Program"
Account # 3669
"Tools For Schools"
(Account # 31300)
Contact Information
North Carolina Virtual Academy
4220 NC HWY 55, Suite 130
Durham, NC 27713
Phone: 919-346-0121
Fax: 919-324-6597
Website: http://ncva.k12.com
K12 Customer Support: 1-866-512-2273