NCVA Beacon Herald
February 2019
Our Mission
A MESSAGE FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL
February! The month where we start thinking of hearts, cards, and my favorite – CHOCOLATE!!!
Normally, I provide a historical nugget from the month, but I am going to shift away from that this time. I want to, instead, focus on the first two things I mentioned above – hearts and cards. If you talk to the team at NCVA, they will quickly tell you what our theme for the year is – “Love Your People.” We have an incredible opportunity to do just that with the community service project for this month.
Last year, NCVA did a special community service event where cards were written and then provided to children in the hospital; and we are bringing that idea back again. In the 3.5 years of our existence, we have had many of our students facing tough medical issues causing long stays in the hospital. There are others that we do not find out about until after the fact. Knowing that our school community has faced these situations, this project is near and dear to my heart, and I believe it is something we can all rally behind.
Be looking for more details describing the “nuts and bolts” of this process. Jillian Davenport, our Family Engagement Coordinator, will be sending emails telling you how you can participate. Please pause to take a few minutes to help us offer some love and cheer to those going through a tough time.
~Dr. Medley
Important Dates
- 2/1: K-2nd Town Hall
- 2/8: 3rd-5th Town Hall
- 2/11: 9th-12th Town Hall
- 2/15: 6th-8th Town Hall
- 2/18: President's Day Holiday (School Closed)
- 2/19-2/20: 11th Grade ACT Testing (See E-mail for sites, times, and locations) *Both dates are REQUIRED.*
- 2/22: Teacher Workday (Complete any OLS/OMS/OHS Lessons
**Mid-Year NWEA Testing 1/31-2/8. See your e-mail for dates and times.**
~SAVE the DATE: 3/8 Adventure Day Events (See Attached)~
*NEW* NCVA Social Events Calendar-Quarter 3
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!
*NEW* K12 LC Appreciation Activity: 2/11-3/15
We want to give students an opportunity to give thanks in the first annual Learning Coach Appreciation event. Whether you write a song about their influence on your work, paint a masterpiece that depicts the opportunities you've been given, recite a poem about their support and inspiration or make something else entirely, we want to see how you honor all that your Learning Coach does for you.
*Remember: Entries will not be accepted until 2/11, but you may start working on your project anytime. Watch your e-mail and K12 Announcements in the Online School for more details!
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 .
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 .*
- TRACK your service hours here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K12Cares
- SHARE your pictures: https://www.facebook.com/NorthCarolinaVirtualAcademy/
Elementary School Updates
Check out the K-5 Website!
Daily Reminders...
2. Attend all class connect sessions.
3. Complete and log 6 hours of attendance per day.
4. Check your overdue tab often and complete any late assignments.
5. Go back and re-do any un-mastered lessons.
6. Check to make sure your progress is where it needs to be in all subjects.
7. Make sure your PE and Health hours are logged.
8. Look ahead in the OLS to see if there are any upcoming lessons you need to prep for (ex: Readers Choice lessons).
9. Utilize Razkids, Big Universe, and Stride.
What's Ahead in February
- February 8th- Awards Ceremony for Q2
- February 4th-8th- Mid Year NWEA Assessment
- February 18th- No School; President's Day
- February 22nd- Teacher Work Day
- February 25th- Portfolio #2 Sent Home
Teacher Work Day- What is Expected From Students?
1. Log into the OLS and work through the lessons on your daily plan.
2. Complete any "overdue" lessons.
3. Go back and re-do any lessons that are not mastered.
4. Use the extra time to work ahead, study, or review.
5. Log your 6 hours of attendance.
Middle School Updates
February is the shortest month of the year, but it's jam-packed with action! Here are just a few of of the things you can look forward to:
- February 2nd: Groundhog Dog
- February 3rd: Super Bowl Sunday
- February 4th-8th: Mid-year NWEA Testing (specific details coming)
- February 9th: National Pizza Day
- February 11th: Make A Friend Day
- February 18th: President's Day (No School!)
- February 22nd: Teacher Work Day
What do you do if it's a Teacher Work Day?
This is a normal school day. There will be no live Class Connects, and you should use the time to:
- complete new lessons on your plan
- catch up on overdue work
- retake quizzes
- study or work ahead if possible!
Reminders
- 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.
****8th grade****
8th grade co-teaching Model has been implemented in Math and ELA for all students except Math 1 students. The class sizes will be larger, however, there will be two to three teachers in each class. Please make sure you check your schedule that your classes are not overlapping and reach out to your teachers ASAP if this is a problem.
For all technical errors, please call k12 tech support at 866-512-2273
Our Middle School Artists
Mrs. Brancaccio's students are churning out some amazing pieces of art! These artworks are from their sculpture unit where they had to create a sculpture in the round and a relief sculpture.
Want to see more?
Check out our school’s Artsonia site –
This is an online art gallery for 6th and 7th grade. Students upload photos of their artworks to the site.
https://www.artsonia.com and search “North Carolina Virtual Academy”
What's Up With 6th Grade?
In December we learned about the Volcanic eruption at Thera (Santorini). Students were able to participate in a volcano challenge. We were able to see over 25 volcanoes erupt! Here are just a few of them.
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
NCVA MS Dance 2019: Durham, NC
MS Dance tickets will go on sale mid-February thru mid-March. An email will be sent out with the link when it goes live. Tickets will be sold online only, there will be no paper tickets issued and no refunds. The tickets are limited in number and will be sold on a first come, first served basis.
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 this event 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
Prom tickets will go on sale mid-February thru mid-March. An email will be sent out with the link when it goes live. Tickets will be sold online only, there will be no paper tickets issued and no refunds. The tickets are limited in number and will be sold on a first come, first served basis.
Any questions regarding this event can be sent to Jaimee Miller at jaimiller@ncvacademy.org
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: February 1 @ 12:00 It's OK to be Different! Love Yourself.
3-5: February 8 @ 12:00 It's OK to be Different! Love Yourself.
6-8: February 15 @ 1:30 Healthy Relationships
9-12: February 11 @ 1:00 Health Relationships
Learning Coach (NEW!): February 12 @ 9:00 and 2:00 Friendships and Socialization for your child.
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:
If you have not already, take a few moments to review our school on the NCVA Facebook page. Share your experience with others by clicking on the "Review" tab. This is a great way to make friends and connect with other NCVA families.
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
- TRACK your service hours here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K12Cares
- SHARE your pictures: https://www.facebook.com/NorthCarolinaVirtualAcademy/