Sweet Peaches
The Latest News for GCA Teachers and Staff - SEPT 19th, 2014
Georgia Cyber Academy - OUR MISSION
The mission of the Georgia Cyber Academy is to provide an exemplary educational experience to students in a unique and individualized setting. We embrace a collaborative partnership between teachers, learning coaches, and students that recognizes the needs of the individual child. The provision of research based curriculum and rigorous, standards-based instruction guarantees student success as measured by academic gains, parent and student satisfaction, and continued institutional growth in the respected academic community. Academic success and the ability of our students to reach their highest potential is our ultimate goal.
A nice reminder - especially when talking with our Learning Coaches and answering the same question for the 10th time.
be kind.
always.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
September 22nd - 1:00 p.m. GCA Staff Meeting
October 6 & 7: Virtual Staff Development 8am–12pm each day
October 8: Staff Development for Special Education – Virtual
December 2nd-4th - Our next Face to Face Professional Development - Location TBA
TKES Platform - Please fill out the TKES Support Survey below if you need support with your login information Thank you.
STAFF MEETING & TRAINING AGENDA
1. Welcome
2. Matt's Message
4. Announcements
5. K12 Training News
7. Training
School - Wide Open Office
- FAST Referral Process - flipped
UPCOMING STAFF MEETING TOPICS FOR SEPTEMBER:
September 29th - GCA Technology Workshop - Based on topics suggested from YOU! Your feedback in the June 2014 survey will be addressed. Our goal is that you take away tips and tricks to make your virtual teacher work flow even better! Sample topics include: Excel, One Note, Google Docs, Outlook and more!
- W-APT Training for all teachers - flipped
From GCA Human Resources
Questions about payroll? You can email payroll directly at timesheets@k12.com. For general information, email Lori Medeiros at lmedeiros@k12.com.
Family Engagement News
IT’S CLUB TIME!
If you are interested in hosting an online club this year, please complete THIS FORM by Friday, Sept. 26. Clubs should start during the month of October. They will be advertised in the October parent newsletter and in a kmail. The club sponsor will be responsible for posting all club information (including recorded links) to the GCA Event Calendar. Please contact Shirley Waldow if you have any questions! (Click HERE to see a list of last year’s club offerings.)
DO YOU WANT TO BE ON THE PRIVATE TUTOR LIST??
Many families are looking for a private tutor, and who better to refer them to than YOU?! If you are interested in offering private tutoring, please read the GCA Private Tutoring Policy HERE, then complete THIS FORM by Friday, Sept. 26. The tutoring list will be posted on the GCA website under the Family Engagement tab and will be referenced in the October newsletter. Please contact Shirley Waldow if you have any questions.
SEPTEMBER PARENT MEETING AND PARENT UNIVERSITY
Thank you to all of the school presenters for the September Parent University! Here are the recordings:
September Parent Meeting and Elementary Parent University (the Elementary Parent University, “Math Fact Fluency”, was held at the end of the meeting in the same room)
Middle School Parent University (“How to Motivate My Child to LOVE, well at least tolerate, Virtual School”)
High School Parent University (“Math Survival Skills”)
Back by popular demand! “SCHOOL EFFECTIVELY AT HOME” Series
Please encourage your families to attend this fantastic K12 parent series. All sessions take place on Tuesday evenings at 7:30p.m. Recordings will be available but only until the end of December. Refer parents to the kmail sent on 9/12. Click HERE for instructions on how to join the sessions.
9/16 Whose School Work is it Anyway?
9/23 Making Minutes County
9/30 Deja Vu
10/7 A Learning Coach's Greatest Asset
10/14 Holding Students Accountable
10/21 A Focus on Effort
ipad case update
The iPad case order was placed with Apple last week, they will be shipping the item to the complete addresses that were listed in Sharepoint. The list was pulled 9/9/14. If your name was not in SP, or you are a recent hire, you can come to the office and pick up a case or you can receive one at the December P.D.
Ginny Baldwin has checked out a mobile iPad cart for instructional outings, if you live in her region please see her about checking out the Mobile cart. Teachers, we have 5 carts left for checkout. J
special education announcements
SpedTrack Access!
SpedTrack is the system the special education department uses to house all of our special education records. If you teach a child who has an IEP, you need access to SpedTrack. If you are a returning teacher to GCA and need your password reset, please complete the survey below. If you are a new teacher, you should be receiving access soon if you have not already.
If you receive an email from SpedTrack with a reset password, please remember this… Your User Name is the first part of your email…the part BEFORE the @k12.com, or @gacyber.org. If you were here during the 2012-2013 school year, it will most likely be your gacyber.org email. If you have trouble, please email Amanda Ryan at amryan@k12.com.
As a general education teacher, you will have read only access in SpedTrack. This will allow you to view the students’ strengths, weaknesses, and goals, as well as accommodations for the classroom and testing. A brief training on how to access the items you need in your file will be sent out soon.
PLEASE remember FERPA laws and only look at the students you teach. Assignments of general education teachers to special education students are being completed by case managers, so this shouldn’t be a problem. If you are assigned to a student you feel should not have access to, please notify the SPED lead at your school level so we can correct the situation.
On behalf of the Special Education Department, THANK YOU for all you do to support our students and families!
SpedTrack Website: https://gca.spedtrack.com/Login.aspx?RETURNURL=default.aspx
Password Reset Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1WmiReGpb0O00MCM1u54vuFUOBk8zfy050LXB0hXfEzo/viewform?c=0&w=1&usp=mail_form_link
FERPA Resources: http://www.gadoe.org/Technology-Services/Data-Collections/Pages/FERPA-Resources.aspx
SST - Elementary Updates
Easy CBM is being adopted as a global GCA tool for measurement of student performance. Please begin familiarizing yourself with the Parent Letter Template and the Easy CBM Instructions for the LC. Currently, this is what is being sent to teachers when a DPR is received and JJ holds the meeting. In order for us to be proactive, we DON’T have to wait for JJ to send the documents. These tools can be used for any student that you have concerns about. Please feel free to establish your own account and peruse the site.
More information available in the ES TGIF!
Resources:
http://www.easycbm.com
http://www.interventioncentral.com/
GCA Annual Title I Meeting
Georgia Cyber Academy Annual Title I Meeting
- September 25, 2014
- 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Virtual Location:
ESOL endorsement opportunity!
This endorsement is a series of 3 rigorous on-line courses that meet the PSC's requirements to add the ESOL Endorsement to a teacher's certification. The new endorsement cohorts will begin on October 6, 2014 and will be completed in late June, 2015.
This opportunity is provided using federal grant funds and at no cost to the participant; therefore, educators must commit to completing the entire 3 course sequence.
Interested applicants must currently be employed in the school system and must hold a "T" certificate. This program is most appropriate for experienced educators.
Teachers who are currently enrolled in a graduate program or another endorsement program should not enroll at this time as the work load may be overwhelming.
There is a limit of 3 applicants per district on a space available basis.
2 additional applications will be put on a wait list.
Please note that while there are no face-to-face meetings; each course includes a practicum, during which participants will be required to observe ESOL classes, to develop and teach lessons to ELs, to shadow and/or interview one or more ELs as part of their assignments.
- Participants will receive 5 PLUs for each successfully completed course.
- Participants should be willing and able to commit to spending approximately 6-12 hours per week for readings, research and assignments.
Teachers who are currently enrolled in a graduate program or another endorsement program should not enroll at this time as the work load may be overwhelming.
Applications are reviewed and qualified applicants are accepted on a first come, first served basis as space is limited.
Please read over the above information carefully before responding. This is a considerable commitment.
The first 5 who respond to Jenny Allen jeallen@k12.com will be considered first. 3 teachers, plus 2 for the wait-list will be selected to participate.
MS Scantron completion!
100% Club – 52 Teachers:
Amanda Dotson
Angela Veitch
Ann Beindorf
April Davis
Audrey Lewis
Barbara Daniel
Becky Moody
Beryl Jarvis
Blair Ethridge
Brittany DeMore
Candi Partridge
Cassidy Snow
Charlene Fowler
Dana Barrett
Danae Hall
Dawn Ullmann
Dell Mitchell
Frances Mihich
Gabrielle Copeland
Hannah Claxton
Hayley Viente
Heidi Hickman
Janelle DeCosta
Jennifer Hunnicutt
Jennifer Williams
Julianne Martin
Kari Ross
Kelly Brooks
Kelly Thomas
Kendra Brasfield
Kenneth Flynn
Kimberly Moriarty
Kristina Sailors
Laurie Westmoreland
Linda Duckworth
Lindi Sullivan
Lisa Oliver
Lissa Logue
Michelle Blackwell
Misty Kerr
Paula Rockwell
Rebecca Malmquist
Rebekah Cooper
Renee Grunfelder
Rosemary Lowndes
Roxane Day
Ruth Geitgey
Ruth Siegel
Sarah Winchester
Teresa Kramer
Todd Mayben
Whittney Moody
95% - 99% Club – 21 Teachers
Amy J Morgan
April Mask
Ashley Price
Ashley Sovastion
Ashley Stowe
Brittney Jackson
Brooks Gayton
Catherine Davis
Charissa Ondovic
Cheri McGoldrick
Jennifer Harper
Jill Arthur
Lakeshia Cope
Latasha Smith
Laura Diehl
Lisa Jacobs
Megan Troutt
Michelle Hubartt
Patricia Martin
Sarah Smith
Terri Bowens