TAA News
September 7, 2021
ANNOUCEMENTS
- Blake's Apple Orchard - Field Trip - Tues, Sept 21st
- Volunteers Needed
- Clean Meats for Packed Lunches
- Gift Goats ADRA $1 a week Fundraiser
- Adventurers INFO
- MAP Testing this week and next week
- TAA Vegetarian Food Store Hours - Tuesdays 3:30-5
- Dress Code
- Hot Lunch Program - Mid September Start ($4.25/lunch)
- Latchkey program
- Parent Mailboxes
- Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
- School Board Positions INFO
- COVID Protocols
- Be sure to like & follow our Facebook Page @TroyAdventistAcademy
Many of the items in our Newsletters can be found in our TAA Handbook. Remember this was put together by our school board. If you want to be a part of making changes, join our TAA School board - We would LOVE to have you!
God's Word to Encourage
"...‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6
Blake's Apple Orchard Field Trip - Parents Driving - Tues, Sept 21st
We are meeting there (unless you told Mrs. Moore otherwise) at 9:15am. Parents are driving their own children and staying to enjoy the day with our school group.
Where: BLAKE’S APPLE ORCHARD
(check out the link to see ALL there is to do)
17985 Armada Center Rd
Armada, MI 48005
When: Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Time: Meet at the above address - Outside the FUNLAND entrance! (see picture)
Cost: Cost is $10 per person (money due by ASAP)
Two years old and under FREE.
Please be sure Mrs. Moore has your permission slip and money to attend this amazing field trip. We look forward to having a great time together.
- Don't forget a jacket (might be cold) and cozy shoes (socks are a must for the jump hill).
- Packed Lunch
- Water
- Bring Masks
- Extra money (optional) to bring some cider and donuts home! They also have fresh apples (if you want more than the 5 you will each pick), fresh veggies, pies, jams, and much more.
Please remind your child we are NOT to go into the Haunted House area. It is separate and easy to avoid. Thank you
Volunteers Needed
Many of you love to be involved in your children's school! We are extremely thankful for your willingness to step in and make a difference. Our school has many opportunities to help. Our TAA Handbook states it is expected that every family will help 10 hours during the school year.
Here are some opportunities for volunteering:
- Field Trips and Class Trips: drivers and chaperones (Email Mrs. Moore for the paperwork)
- Classroom and School Celebrations: help with parties for Christmas, 100s Day, End of Year, etc.
- Help Teachers: supervise recess, make copies, laminate, grade, work with behind students
- Repairs, Maintenance, and Painting: our hallways are becoming blue :)
- Fundraising: Coordinator and helpers
If you have a skill or talent you would like to bless our school with, please talk with Mrs. Moore.
We would love to hear about it!
Clean Meats for Lunches ONLY please
Lunch Guidelines: Vegetarian meals are recommended. Otherwise, kosher meats only. No caffeine drinks or sodas. Limit sugar and carbohydrate intake, these items are known to hinder student performance. Due to food allergies, students will not share or trade lunches. Microwave use is limited to two minutes per student.
Lunchboxes and backpacks should not have movie or TV show characters on them.
ADRA - Gift Goats Fundraiser $1 Weekly
We are asking each TAA family to donate $1 a week for a fundraiser to buy a goat for families through ADRA.
"The goat is a humble animal, with an almost shocking ability to change families’ lives. Starting with just one goat, a family can gain the income they need for food, medical care, and more. Combine this with a pay-it-forward community goat bank where families breed and then share their goats with other families, and by purchasing a single goat today you can kick-start change for generations of families." Goats cost $40. ADRA Gift Goats
We invite you to join the Troy Adventurer Club
TIME: 12PM TO 3PM
WHERE: TROY SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: BIANCA BRYANT, CELL: 248-376-0640
This club is a FUN and Fantastic way to get your little children to love Jesus, His nature
and learn fundamental values!
My God, My Self, My Family, My World
LIFT - Lifestyle Improvement For Teens (7th & 8th Graders)
LIFT is Sunday, Oct 3rd through Wed, Oct 6th at Camp AuSable in Grayling, MI
Mission Statement
LIFT is an interactive retreat designed to inspire young people to make positive choices that will benefit their lives, and the lives of others: spiritually, socially, and physically.
Goals
- Inspire 7th and 8th graders to commit or recommit their lives to Jesus
- Encourage teens to make healthy lifestyle choices
- Encourage teens to choose a drug-free lifestyle
- Train youth to share our unique Adventist lifestyle with others
LIFT Retreat Fee
The charge for each student in attendance is $70.00. This Michigan Conference subsidized fee includes 8 meals, 3 nights lodging, and all materials provided at LIFT.
7th & 8th Grade Students who attend LIFT will chose three breakout sessions (one Spiritual, one Social, & one Physical).
We are asking if there is a dad willing to attend as our male chaperone. Chaperones will have to complete background checks and short online training. Please let Mrs. Moore know if you are available and interested in attending as our male chaperone (There is no charge for chaperones).
MAP Testing is scheduled for this week and next week
Parents,
Please be sure your child has:
- Good rest
- Healthy Breakfast and lunch (low sugar)
- Headphones for K-2
- Good attendance during testing weeks
Thank you for helping to make sure your child has everything they need to be successful!
Testing Program (Edit from our TAA Handbook)
A comprehensive, standardized testing program is necessary to evaluate curriculum and instruction, as well as to assess individual student learning. The ultimate goal of any testing program is to provide useful information to students, teachers, parents, administrators, and counselors to help them make better decisions.
Troy Adventist Academy, in cooperation with the Lake Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, uses the NWEA Map testing for all students. Through easy-to-use technology and best-in-class test design, MAP Growth is built to reveal what each student knows—and what they are ready to learn—when it comes to standards. This is an online test. K-2 will need headphones, as the test will read to them at these levels. These tests will be given three times a year, so growth can be shown over the school year. With MAP Growth, administrators have reliable insights and the support they need to lead, make decisions, and support learning for all students. MAP Growth helps teachers identify learning needs, plan for growth, and deliver effective instruction. Teachers will go over the results with parents during parent/teacher conferences.
Our students have always performed very well on these national tests, scoring above average in each area, with students tending to improve in test performance the longer they attend TAA. No formal class time is given to test preparation. However, due to the online nature of this test, we will spend time in the NWEA MAP practice test to make sure students have the computer skills needed to navigate the test. We expect the quality of our curriculum and instruction to provide all the curriculum preparation students need to succeed on this test, and we have never been disappointed in this expectation.
Box Tops, AmazonSmile, and TAA Food Store
There are many little ways you can help raise funds for TAA.
- Download the Box Tops for Education app! No more cutting out box tops and forgetting where you placed them. All you have to do is download the app, register it to benefit Troy Adventist Academy, take pictures of your grocery receipts. It is that easy! Here is a quick video to help you get started.
- Shop at our TAA Food Store Open Tuesdays from 3:30-5. We have a great Vegetarian food store right in our school. Mrs. Sullivan runs this amazon little store to help benefit TAA. So if you need anything, please let us know. If you have never checked out this store, please do. Proceeds from sales goes to help keep tuition costs down. Brands include: Worthington, Morning Star, Loma Linda, and others.
- Shop on AmazonSmile If you already use Amazon for your shopping needs. Please start using AmazonSmile, register it to benefit Troy Adventist Academy, and .5% of your eligible purchases will benefit our school.
Dress Code - Please read carefully!
The purpose of a dress code is to make clothing an aid, rather than a hindrance, to a positive educational and social environment. To implement this purpose in the most effective way, Troy Adventist Academy has chosen a uniform dress code. The basic uniform consists of uniform style pants, uniform style knee-length skirts, uniform style jumpers, or uniform style knee-length shorts/skorts in black, khaki, or navy with uniform style polo shirts in any solid color. Solid color cardigans or pullover sweaters may be worn for warmth in the winter months. No sweatshirts or hoodies permitted in the classroom unless they are TAA sweatshirts, but may be worn outside. Shorts or solid color leggings should be worn under skirts and jumpers for modesty during recess and P.E. In addition, we present the following guidelines for dress.
All clothing should be clean and in good repair, and size appropriate. Nothing should be worn that is either oversized and baggy or too tight and form fitting. Pants should not hang from the hips or drag the floor. Skirts should not be too narrow to allow freedom of movement.
Clothing should be appropriate to the weather conditions. Sweaters and long sleeves are recommended in the winter. NO outer wear will be permitted in the classroom. This includes hats, scarves, gloves, jackets, hoodies (other than TAA hoodies), sunglasses, and boots.
Clothing or hairstyles should not be extreme in any way. No wild patterns, glaring and fluorescent colors, or iridescent or plastic fabrics.
There should be no jewelry or obvious makeup. If make-up is worn, it should be natural looking. Clear nail polish is acceptable. Students will be asked to take jewelry off. Teacher will hold if for safe keeping until the student is picked up.
Shoes must be worn at all times. Gym shoes with bottoms that do not mark the gym floor are required during recess and P.E. No platform shoes, high heels, open toed shoes, flip-flops nor Crocs are allowed.
During Field Trips or special event days families will be informed beforehand that students may wear jeans and TAA T-shirt (no tight fitting jeans please). NO leggings. All clothing should be clean and in good repair, and size appropriate. Nothing should be worn that is either oversized and baggy or too tight. Pants should not hang from the hips or drag the floor.
Please note: The classroom teacher has the final word on matters which are in dispute. She/he reserves the right to make judgments on any item of clothing which she/he feels does not respect the spirit of the dress code.
TAA T-shirts and sweatshirts will be available to order during the back-to-school night.
Hot Lunch - Hopefully Mid Sept.
We are still working on getting the kitchen permit for our hot lunch program. We are almost there! We are scheduling our inspection at the beginning September and hope to have the program running by the end of September. We look forward to sharing Ms. Gina's good food with students soon! Thank you for your patience and understanding as we make improvements to our school. Hot lunch prices will be $4.25 per lunch this year to cover costs.
A menu will go home before we start the program.
Please make sure your child has a packed lunch everyday. We are unable to provide lunch for them at this time.
We will still have our snack closet open during snack time. We have chips, fruit snacks (w/fruit pectin), apple sauce, veggie straws/chips. Items range from $0.25-$0.75. This money is used as a fundraiser for our school.
Latchkey Program
Latchkey is an option for working parents who cannot pick up their children immediately after school dismisses. It is not intended as a babysitting service for parents who want to run errands or as a time for children to play together after school. It is available after school until 5:30 pm Monday through Thursday and 4:30 pm on Friday. The cost is $3.00 per hour per child or $5.00 per hour per family. Parents will be charged in 15 minute increments beginning at 3:45 pm Monday through Thursday and 2:15 pm on Fridays.
Latchkey is also available before school begins in the mornings; however, this is through the Preschool program. Please speak with the Principal and the director of the Preschool to set this service up ahead of time.
Latchkey students need to pick up after themselves when switching toys during latchkey and when their ride arrives.
If parents pick their child/children up after 4:30 pm on Friday and 5:30 pm on the other days of the week, they will be charged $10.00 per child and $15.00 per family per 15 minute increment after the normal closing time of the latchkey program.
Please be sure to ALWAYS sign out your children when you pick them up, this stops your time charge and lets Ms. Ginny know your child is safely in your care and no longer her responsibility. THANK YOU :)
Please email Mrs. Moore if you will be using Latchkey this year. Thank you
Parent Mailboxes
Parents,
As soon as you come into the front doors, the parent mailboxes are on your left. Each family has their own mailbox for paperwork or student work to take home. This is also where your tuition statements will be found. Please make sure to check these mailboxes daily.
On the right of the parent mailboxes is the tuition check lock box. If you need to drop off a check to pay for tuition, you can put it in the lock box or give it to Loribeth.
Thank you
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
Arrival Procedures
- K-2 Parents should walk their child to the front doors
- ALL students will wash their hands after putting their belongings away
Dismissal Procedures (Everyone inside the building MUST wear a mask)
- ALL Parents are asked to stay in the entrance hallway (tiled area)
- TAA Students will pack-up & clean-up at 3:15-3:30
- K-4 students will line up in the hallway
- 5-8 students watch out the classroom window
- Ms. Ginny will take the latch-key students outside or in the gym at 3:45
- Teachers will identify parents (or approved pick-up person) for students and send students to meet them at the door.
- Latch-key parents can meet Ms Ginny on the playground or in the gym to SIGN their children out of latch-key each day. Be sure to SIGN your child out everyday! Students MUST check-out with Ms Ginny before leaving Latch-key. This STOPS the charges for the day as well as keeps students safe.
Please let us know if you have any questions. Denise Moore
TAA School Board Positions
We have current openings to join our school board. This is a great way to get involved in our school and to have your voice heard. There is currently no one in these positions, so as they might seem overwhelming, someone doing something - is better than nothing getting accomplished!
School Board Offices Available
- School Board Chair (Troy SDA Church Board approved position) - the school board chair oversees the school board. This person will act as a voice to guide the board in decision making and must be flexible to meet the needs of both staff and our student families.
- Bible Labs Coordinator - this position helps coordinate outreach efforts to help students learn service for Jesus. In the past we have baked cookies for local police and firefighters, sang at local nursing homes, packed boxes at the local food bank, and even read to the preschoolers or made them homemade play-dough. We have also packed socks with gift items for the homeless. During these challenging times, we now more than ever need to learn how to meet the needs of the community around us. Students are vital to this! We need to ask ourselves "If we weren't here would our community miss us?" Let us work to ensure they know we are here to help serve them as Jesus did.
- Home & School Team - this position helps our school connect to our church and helps the school families connect to the school. The team needs to be able to communicate the great work we are doing to our constitutes. This position also helps to choose and organize our fundraisers (along with other helpers/teachers): Fall Festival, Spring Fling, fruit orders, Rada products, books or other sales. We want to hear your ideas and get to work to help keep our tuition down and lights on!
- Safety Team - the Safety Team is a special team of people who will help TAA work carefully with the local health, fire, and police departments to ensure the highest safety for our students and staff at all times.
Adventist Learning Community (ALC) offers free board training
ALC 1hr School Board Membership Training
ALC 1hr School Board Leadership Training (Board Chair)
It is very important that parents hold positions on the school board. This helps the school be led according to parents' votes. Please take time to pray about being involved in our school board. We are a great team to work with and we want to hear your voice!
Current COVID Protocols - updated 8/25/21
Feel free to see the Current Oakland County Mask Mandate dated Aug 24, 2021.
Masks: Oakland County Health Department has a current mask mandate requiring K-12 students and guest to wear a mask while inside the building, dated August 24, 2021. Please make sure your child has extra masks in a baggy with their name on it in their backpack. If you would like to donate masks to the school, we are accepting donations. Thank you
Daily Health Screening: Students and staff members, or anyone visiting TAA, should stay home if they are feeling unwell or displaying symptoms of COVID-19. Students will be sent home if they are running a fever, as is our typical practice. Students should be fever-free for 24 hours before they return to school. Hand sanitizer and thermometers will be available at the entrance.
Physical Distancing: Best efforts will be made to promote physically distancing within the space available at the time.
Vaccinations: The state is not requiring a COVID vaccination at this time. TAA will not require the COVID vaccination.
COVID Testing: TAA will not require COVID testing to participate in classroom or extracurricular activities. We will continue to monitor guidance in this area. Parents MUST report any positive tests within the student's household to TAA Staff.
Quarantines and Oakland County Health Division Partnership: Seating charts will be used in classrooms where possible to assist with contact tracing requests from the Oakland County Health Division (OCHD). TAA will not be offering these lists, but will continue to work collaboratively with OCHD should they request this information.
Alerting Families to COVID: Should a case of COVID be noted within a TAA classroom, a letter will be sent home alerting families to the case. TAA would provide information to OCHD, should it be requested. TAA will not share the name or identity of the individual with COVID to the public, adhering to FERPA and HIPAA guidelines.
Temperature checks: TAA School Board recommends temperature check for students, staff and visitor. Temperatures may also be taken should someone present with possible fever symptoms, as was pre-COVID practice.
Visitors: Visitors will be permitted in the entryway of the building to drop off and pick up students. Visitors are encouraged to maintain social distance between themselves and others while in the building. Prearranged parent helpers will be allowed in classrooms. Adults are required to complete a health screening prior to entering the building and masks are required per the mandate.
Cleaning Frequency and Air Quality: TAA will continue to clean high-touch points throughout the day and maintain thorough cleaning procedures in building. If a case of COVID-19 is found to be present in our building, TAA will implement a deeper cleaning procedure that evening, which includes Spraying with approved disinfectant. Prior to reopening in the fall of 2020, TAA purchased new air filters. Teachers will attempt to have windows cracked open. These will continue to be used this year.
We are asking our families to make wise decisions outside of school and be aware of other TAA Families' needs.
Please remember to be flexible as we go forward this school year, as things are likely to change. We want students and staff to be safe and have a successful year in-person.
Our main goal is to guide students to know Jesus better. Let us all work together to let nothing come in the way of that goal.
We are so thankful to our TAA Families for their willingness to work together!
TAA Staff Contact Information
Best Way to Contact Teachers
We take pride in giving students our full attention, so we may not always answer the school phone or our cell phones. Please text us if you have any information you need to relay to us during the school day. In an emergency, please text and call our cell phones. We will get back to you as soon as we can.
Thank you for your patience!
Mrs. Denise Moore, Principal/5th-8th grades
- 248-563-2214
- dmoore@misda.org
Miss Bethany Stevens, K-1st grades
- 248-318-7730
- bstevens@misda.org
- 586-718-9737
- ravila9135@gmail.com
- 248-217-0946
Ms Loribeth Salciccioli, Treasurer/Extraordinaire
- 810-730-2818
- taatreasurer3@gmail.com
TUITION (see 2021-22 Payment Plan) Statements go out in parent mailboxes on the 10th of each month payments are due on the 1st of the following month, unless other arrangements have been made with the School Treasurer. Our Treasurer is Loribeth Salciccioli, please call or email her if you have any questions or concerns.
Troy Adventist Academy
Email: dmoore@misda.org
Website: TAA.education
Location: 2777 Crooks Road, Troy, MI, USA
Phone: 248-563-2214
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TroyAdventistAcademy/?ref=bookmarks