GLA West Connections
Wednesday, May 27th
When They See Us, They Will See Greatness!
Check out this week's GLA West News edition. Kudos to 7th grade scholar, Qusyyah, for doing an awesome job!
A Message from our CEO and Principal
Greetings Families!
As always, we hope that this message finds you well and in good spirits!
We are 11 school days away from the end of the school year. As the year winds down, look out for information about our end-of-year culminating activities.
As stated in last week's communicator, tomorrow (Thursday, May 28th) we are inviting all parents and families who need to pick up scholars' personal belongings/medication to come to the school between 3-4pm. Please use the back school yard entrance and enter through the back of the cafeteria.
Lastly, we implore you to complete the district-wide parent survey and personal items survey. Your feedback is critical. Thank you for your ongoing support!
With Gratitude,
Dr. Naomi Johnson-Booker, Executive Director/CEO
Ms. Shoshana Tyler, Principal
PICK UP SCHOLAR'S PERSONAL ITEMS/MEDICATION
THURSDAY, MAY 28TH
3:00PM - 4:00 PM
ENTER CAFETERIA THROUGH BACK SCHOOL YARD.
PLEASE WEAR A MASK!
IMPORTANT: Please complete your District-Wide Parent Survey by the end of this week! The deadline is Monday!
COMING SOON: PARENT FOCUS GROUPS
AS WE MAKE PLANS AND PREPARATIONS, FOR THE FALL, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR PARENTS WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN A FOCUS GROUP TO SHARE YOUR IDEAS/THOUGHTS WITH US ABOUT VIRTUAL LEARNING.
INTERESTED? EMAIL PRINCIPAL TYLER AT STYLER@GLACHARTER.ORG
FINAL I-READY TESTING IS TAKING PLACE THIS WEEK FOR SCHOLARS!
PARENTS, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT I-READY TESTING IS A CHANCE FOR YOUR SCHOLAR TO SHOW WHAT HE/SHE KNOWS. WE ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO MIMIC TRUE TESTING CONDITIONS AND NOT OFFER SCHOLARS ASSISTANCE WITH THE EXAM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: PANDEMIC ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER PROGRAM
Last week, schools participating in the National School Lunch Program received a memo describing the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program established by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020. P-EBT provides benefits to families of school-aged children who would have otherwise received free or reduced-priced meals if it were not for school closures.
Families of school-aged children certified as free or reduced eligible will receive the equivalent of the free high rate for lunch and the severe need rate for breakfast for each day school was closed. That means a family will receive the benefit amount of $5.70 for each school-aged child in their family for each day school has been closed since March 16, 2020, if the student was eligible for free or reduced-price meals prior to school closures. For purposes of P-EBT calculations, June 12, 2020, is being used as the last day of the school year because it is the most common date that school ends for Commonwealth students.
Below is a breakdown of the number of days students will receive benefits if they were determined eligible for free or reduced-price meals on or after March 16, 2020:
• Eligible on or before March 31, 2020 – benefit for March 16 through June 12 (65 days)
• Eligible April 1 through April 30 – benefit for April 1 through June 12 (53 days)
• Eligible May 1 through May 31 – benefit for May 1 through June 12 (31 days)
• Eligible June 1 through June 12 – benefit for June 1 through June 12 (10 days)
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is working closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide the necessary information for all free and reduced eligible school-aged children.
*DHS will issue the P-EBT card to the households.
• For families with school-aged children currently directly certified through SNAP or TANF, the P-EBT benefit amount will be loaded on their existing SNAP or TANF EBT card.
• Families directly certified through medical assistance with qualifying income who do not otherwise have an EBT card issued through DHS and families of school-aged children that are eligible for free or reduced-price meals through income or categorical eligibility will receive an EBT card specifically and solely for this purpose.
GLA scholars are eligible and parents should expect to receive your cards in the mail shortly. All cards will be sent to the addresses that we have on file. Please note, DHS will issue the benefits and GLA will not be able to resolve any benefit situations, all information submitted to the state is information received from the families.
For Inquiries Concerning Child Nutrition Programs (CNP):
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Bureau of Budget and Fiscal Management
Division of Food and Nutrition
333 Market Street | Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Web: www.education.pa.gov/DFN
Click below to read Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer FAQs
THANK YOU TO ALL FAMILIES WHO ATTENDED ONE OF OUR THREE-WEEK DINNER WITH THE CEO/PRINCIPAL SERIES! WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITY TO FELLOWSHIP!
Did you miss Coach Copeland and Mrs. Dean last Friday on IG Live? Remember that Fitness Friday airs each Friday at 10am. We hope to see you there!
@globalleadershipwest
Global Excursions Update
Issuing over $60,000 in refunds comes as a tremendous burden to the school, as we had already paid for our scholars to travel and cannot recoup those funds. Nevertheless, we felt it important to prioritize returning money to our families. All families can expect to receive refunds via mail by the end of May. This has proven to be a daunting process but we are thankful for your patience and support. At this point, you should have been contacted to confirm your mailing address. If you have questions or concerns regarding your refund, please contact Ms. Anderson at aanderson@ga-schools.org.
8th Grade Families!
Technology Corner!
Some updates and announcements from the Tech Dept. at GLA:
1) Google Teach From Home - https://teachfromhome.google/intl/en/
Google has set up a Teach From Home hub, with resources, articles, and walkthroughs on how to use Google apps and manage learning at home for Families. Click the link above, and scroll down to find the Families section.
2) At-Home learning Survey - https://forms.gle/tQXvyPnp3utszvCc8
The Tech Dept. at GLA has been working hard to support your scholars' learning at home. However, we know we could do better. Please reply to the survey above (only 6 questions!) to provide some feedback about how we can better support you and your child during this virtual learning experience.
3) ParentTechHelp@Ga-Schools.org
As always, we're here to help. Please reach out to us at any time via the ParentTechHelp@GA-Schools.org email for any virtual learning help or questions.
Additionally, if you have a GLA iPad and are still missing a necessary app, please send us a note so we can plan a time to be available at a school site to update the iPad.
have you subscribed to our at-home learning videos?
Have you checked out our Home Learning Videos? All of our GLA at-home learning videos are posted in our GLA At-Home Learning Youtube channel! Subscribe to get notified whenever there's a new video, and check out the Playlist for your scholar's Academy.
Check out some of this week's videos!
Get healthy GLA!
We are proud to announce the start of Get Fresh Daily TV. Under the direction of our school wellness champion, Jiana Murdic, we've created some great programming that celebrates fun, positivity and wellness that we know families will appreciate right now.
It will involve watching videos and tutorials made live every day on You Tube at 4pm, live chats with Ms. Jiana and other scholars on Monday and Wed at 4pm, and Friday Tik Tok and Kahoot challenges using content from the videos. We'll have prizes for the winners.
Your Vote Counts: Important Mail-In Voting Information!
On March 27, Governor Wolf signed Senate Bill 422, which reschedules Pennsylvania’s primary election from April 28 to June 2 due to the COVID-19 emergency. Voters have the option to vote by mail-in ballot rather than going to their polling place on election day. Mail-in ballot applications were accepted up until this Tuesday. If you have not mailed in your ballot, we recommend visiting one of the drop off locations throughout the city.
What Are Mail-In Ballots?
In Pennsylvania, you now have two options for mail ballots. You may either choose a mail-in ballot or an absentee ballot to request, complete, and return to your county election office.
- Absentee ballot – If you plan to be out of the municipality on election day or if you have a disability or illness, you should request this ballot type, which still requires you to list a reason for your ballot.
- Mail-in ballot – Any qualified voter may apply for a mail-in ballot. You may simply request this ballot without a reason.
In order to request either ballot type, you must be registered to vote. Please visit Check Your Registration Status to review your registration information
A MESSAGE FROM OUR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER!
Be Aware of the Signs of Depression:
With sadness and irritability understandably widespread during this crisis, the signs can be even easier for family members to overlook, even in children.
Symptoms of depression include:
- Unusual sadness or irritability, persisting even when circumstances change
- Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed; reduced feelings of anticipation
- Changes in weight
- Shifts in sleep patterns
- Sluggishness
- Harsh self-assessment (“I’m ugly. I’m no good. I’ll never make friends.”)
- Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness
- Thoughts of or attempts at suicide
If several of these symptoms are present for at least two weeks, they can suggest depression. “If you see them, take note,” advises Dr. Reinecke. “If they last, take action.”
The watchwords, says Rachel Busman, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute are persistence and severity. “What’s more of a concern is when it persists. You want to be on the lookout for changes in sleep, mood, appetite, and general engagement.”
***Help kids feel comfortable talking about feelings!!!!
Make time to sit down and explore how they’re doing. Get in the habit of checking in with your children, and they know they’ll be listened to without judgment, they’re more likely to let you know what’s going on.
If a child is experiencing feelings of sadness or depression, take some time to talk about why. Encouraging your child to be specific can give both of you more insight into what’s happening, and how you can help. For example: Is your child struggling with feeling boredom or from the loss of their regular activities? From disappointment over cancelled events? From feeling isolated from friends? From worries about the future, or fears that they or someone they love might get sick, or even die? Etc.
“Very often, depressed children and teens, like adults, have negative thoughts about themselves, their lives, their relationships and their future,” notes Dr. Reinecke. “They feel hopeless, helpless, and discouraged. Listen for these thoughts. Help them to clarify what’s on their mind and how they’re feeling.”
Lastly, reassure your children that you’re there for them and how much you love them!!!!
*NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE: 1-800-273-TALK. www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
· If you are a parent or scholar at GLA and would like to speak to your social worker for support, please contact Ms. Shabazz at : nshabazz@glacharter.org
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
'Virtual Global' Schedules
Updated Yearly Calendar
Follow Us On Our School-wide Instagram page. Follow Us!
Global Leadership Academy Charter School - WEST
Email: styler@glacharter.org
Website: www.glacharter.org
Location: 4601 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Phone: (215) 295-5700
Facebook: facebook.com/glacharter