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GCA's Family Engagement Newsletter: Dec 2017 Edition
In this edition:
- A Message from Dr. Oberg
- A Message from Champ!
- Upcoming District Town Hall, Parent and Parent University meetings
- Community Events
- Learning Coach and Student Resources
- PTSO News
- Clubs
- ... and more
A Message From Dr. Oberg
Congratulations!!!
Georgia Cyber Academy Named National Beta School of Distinction
National Beta is proud to announce Georgia Cyber Academy as a 2017-2018 National School of Distinction. This award is an honor for Beta Chapters striving towards academic achievement, exemplary character, demonstrated leadership and service to others. With an ongoing quest to instill these qualities in more students, the National Beta School of Distinction Award is designed to award those schools that show an increase in membership for the current school year.
“We are so proud of all the hard work our students have put in to receive invitations to the Beta Club. They are a fabulous group of students,” says Rebekah Cooper, this year’s Beta Club Sponsor.
Have a Smartphone and a Story to Tell?
Share how having choices in education has improved the lives of you and your family. All you need is a smartphone and a few minutes to share a great story!
The “Choices in Education” video contest – www.ChoicesInEd.org - is open to students, parents and alumni of choice programs across the country. Videos may feature a student, their parents and/or their other family members.
It’s simple: Think about how educational choices have made a difference for you and your family, or why you need more opportunities in your state. Then film a short video telling that story. All you need is a smartphone and a few minutes to share a great story!
3 Grand Prize Winners - $15,000 cash prize
3 Runners-up - $5,000 cash prize
2 People’s Choice Winners - $5,000 cash prize
When: Video submissions will be accepted until December 1. Winners will be announced during National School Choice Week, January 21-27, 2018.
How: Film a short video (under two minutes) that tells the story of how your educational choices have made a difference for you and your family.
CONTEST RULE HIGHLIGHTS
- The video must be your own work and submitted by yourself. It cannot show logos or use names of schools or businesses. You can say “online school” or “online public charter school” instead of GCA or K12. You can say “previous school” or “brick-and-mortar school” or “traditional school” if you are referring to those.
- The video must cover at least one of the following topics: (1) how educational choice has made a difference in my life, or (2) why I need access to educational choice options. The videos must be based on personal stories and/or facts. Videos may only feature the student and/or family members including parents, guardians and minor children.
- All videos must be under two minutes in length uploaded to either YouTube or Vimeo in MP4, MPEG, MPG, WMV, AVI, or MOV format. (Duplicate entries will be disqualified – only enter once)
- Video size cannot exceed 2 GB.
- Submissions must not contain obscene, offensive, sexually-oriented, or defamatory statements.
- SUBMISSION DEADLINE: All entries must be received by 11:59 PM EST, December 1, 2017.
- Entrants will need to complete their entry form located on the Choices in Education website, www.ChoicesInEd.org, which will include the following information: full name, full name of student featured (if applicable), phone number, email, city and state of residence, name of school, education choice category, video link (from YouTube or Vimeo), waiver and declaration form, and electronic signature.
The purpose of this is to help outline key parts of the contest rules, not to replace them. Please refer to the website for more information and for details on the official rules for the Choices in Education Video Contest. http://www.choicesined.org/contest-rules/ and http://eievideocompfs.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Official-Rules-ExcelinEd-School-Choice-Video-Contest-10.25.17.pdf
December 2017 Parent Meeting
December Presents:
Join us on December 14th as we host our next Parent meeting - You Got This!: How to engage an under-motivated virtual student?
Recordings will be posted on the GCA Events Calendar if you are unable to attend live. We hope to see you there!
December 2017 Parent Meeting
Thursday, December 14, 2017
7:00 pm
Thursday, Dec 14, 2017, 07:00 PM
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Upcoming District Town Hall and Parent Meetings:
Parent Meetings:
Hosted by GCA Family Engagement Team sharing Learning Coach desired topics.
November 16th, 2017 @ 7:00pm (Recording)
District Town Hall Meetings:
Hosted by GCA School Leaders and community partners sharing district-wide information.
September 14th, 2017 (Recording)
January 18th, 2018 @ 7:00pm (Click here to join live)
May 17th, 2018 @ 7:00pm (Click here to join live)
Please contact your school based Family Engagement Coordinator for further details on upcoming meetings.
Kristy Howard
Elementary School Family Engagement Coordinator
Veronica Okpani
Middle School Family Engagement Coordinator
Maria Blencowe
High School Family Engagement Coordinator
Upcoming Parent University Sessions
Parent University follows the monthly Parent Meeting. Workshop topics were suggested by parents to help parents be successful Learning Coaches to their Students.
Elementary School:
September Recording: Why is Math taught different now?
November Recording: Understanding the Standards of Mathematical Practice
December: Number Talks and Fact Fluency- Beyond Memorization
Middle School:
November Recording: Office 365 Tool Box - Get the best out of Office 365
December: Oh no! My student is behind! - Tips for catching up
High School:
November Recording: Teacher Tool Box - How to find instructional strategies and resources to help your student at home
December: Oh no! My student is behind! - Tips for catching up
GCA Community Events
Registration link for December events: https://goo.gl/forms/OiLnhnGd3DA4kewj2
Question of the Month:
Last Month's: How have you become more involved in your student's education?
We both have a schedule each morning where we check emails at the same time, we look at the daily schedule at the same time and we check end of day together. This works great for us. - Lynn M.
I have a more active role in helping my girls learn! I also LOVE the K12 curriculum at GCA! - Alisa N.
This's Month's: What strategies will you implement to keep your student motivated coming back from the school break?
My strategy is go to class connects or watch recordings!!! Also, take notes and write down examples and the steps in words you understand, so that when you go back to study alone, you'll understand it. Put harder words into simpler terms. - Makalah H.
Have you found something valuable? Have a strategy that makes your life as a Learning Coach run more smoothly, or something that helps your student's daily tasks run like clockwork? You could make a difference in another GCA families life! Please, share. Click the link below.
Do you have questions? Well, we've got answers!
Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri at 2:00 pm.
Tue at 7:00 pm
Check the GCA Events Calendar for schedule changes.
Can't make a live session? Have a question? Fill out the form below and we'll be in touch.
GCA Resource Room
The December Peach Pit has arrived!
December Peach Pit has arrived with News You Can Use...
Message from PTSO:
- Got SPIRIT??
Show your School Spirit with this fabulous GCA Spirit Gear
- Become a PTSO Member TODAY!!
Becoming a PTSO member is easy!
For only $5 per school term you will receive access to special programs, have voting rights, and so much more. Click here then select the Membership icon.
Join your school's clubs
GCA Loves Clubs!
Does your student want to connect with other students who share a common interest? Clubs are the way to do that!
GCA teachers host many clubs where students can be themselves, share interests, and build lasting relationships. Register to join your favorite clubs!
Fundraising from home:
Support the fundraising efforts for our school by collecting the Box Tops for Education and Labels for Education, and Tyson Project A+™ labels on items you purchase and use in your home Plus, newly added Kula, Amazon Smile, and Recycle Electronics.
Clipping Box Tops is an easy way for you to help our school earn cash. This year we would like our school to earn goal is $2000.00
Bundle with rubber bands, baggies or rally sheet place in an envelope attach proper postage.
You can mail items to:
GCA Fundraisers 2387 Rodgers Dr. SE, Conyers, GA 30094
Or Bring these items to events
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Shirley Lester at gcafundraiser@gmail.com.
Shopping online or booking a great vacation through KULA.com or by donating your loyalty points from KULA’s participating loyalty programs you can simply and easily support our cause.
Amazon Smile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Georgia Cyber Academy every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization.
Collecting electronic items for recycling which will add more funds to support our school. Mail them to Family Engagement, Georgia Cyber Academy 1745 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349
There's a Facebook group for Learning Coaches who live near you...
Get in touch with other Learning Coaches for community building and support. Click on your region below to get started.
Region 12 (Bulloch, Effingham, Bryan, Chatham, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Glynn, and Camden counties)
Elementary School
Elementary School Family Engagement Coordinator
Email: krhoward@gacyber.org
Website: http://www.gacyber.org/elementary-school1.html
Location: 1745 Phoenix Blvd., Ste 100, Atlanta, GA 30349
Phone: 404.334.4790.1098
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013207448648&fref=ts
Twitter: @GCA_FEC
Middle School
Middle School Family Engagement Coordinator
Regional Family Engagement Team Lead
Email: vokpani@gacyber.org
Website: http://www.gacyber.org/middle-school1.html
Location: 1745 Phoenix Blvd., Ste. 100, Atlanta, GA 30349
Phone: 404.334.4790.663
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gcaveronica.rfec?fref=ts
High School
High School Family Engagement Coordinator
Email: mblencowe@gacyber.org
Website: http://www.gacyber.org/blog
Location: 1745 Phoenix Blvd. Ste. 100, Atlanta, GA 30349
Phone: 404.334.4790.799
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mblencowe.gca
Twitter: @GCA_HS