Diamond Gazette
February 2017
Take a Peek at What's in February's Edition...
- School Resources and Information
- Booster Club and Outing Information
- ARVA Diamonds (students) Shining Across Arkansas (pictures of YOU!)
- Community Resources, including Special Needs Activities in Your Community
- K12 Resources and Information
SCHOOL RESOURCES & INFORMATION
Testing Information - Important
Please see the testing dates below. **Note: Please remember that these tests will be given in person. You will be asked to bring your student to a designated location near your home.**
1st & 2nd grade students will take the IOWA test in person. This test will be given on Tuesday, April 4th & Wednesday, April 5th, 2017. More details and specific locations will be coming, but please mark these days on your calendar.
3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, & 10th grade students will take ACT Aspire in person. This test will be given from Tuesday, April 18th through Friday, April 28th, 2017 (not including weekends). Each grade level will test two days only. Specific times and locations will be coming, but please mark these days on your calendar.
3rd-10th grade students should also go ahead and download the ACT Aspire TestNav application to prepare for the interim assessment. You will be receiving more information regarding this soon. You received this information in an email from Lauren Throneberry on Friday, Feb. 3.
11th grade students will take the ACT in person. This test will be given on Monday, February 27th and Tuesday, February 28th, 2017. Students must attend BOTH days. Specific times and locations will be coming, but please mark these days on your calendar.
ALL 11th grade students in the state of Arkansas are offered a FREE ACT exam. This is the ONLY test you will be asked to bring your 11th grade student to this spring. They will NOT participate in the ACT Aspire or IOWA exams. These exams are for our 1st-10th grade students.
>> Parents should check their email for an email from Lauren Throneberry on Friday, Feb. 3. This includes important information on your ACT test locations (if applicable to your student) and that grades 3-10 need to download the TestNav application. <<
All questions regarding this information should be directed to Lauren Throneberry, lthroneberry@arva.org.
Save the Date for our End-of-Year Celebrations (below)!
DECA comes to ARVA!
We have a new CTSO (Career/Technical Student Organization) at the HS. (www.deca.org) DECA is a professional marketing and entrepreneurship organization (club) for high school students with a strong interest in these areas who are focused on college and careers. Presently we have 6 students competing in the VBC series (Virtual Business Challenge) and they will attend the state DECA conference in March. We can't wait to hear what they learn at the conference!
High School Counselor Office Hours
An office hour for Counselors will be available weekly for students from 8-9 am on Wednesdays. If you have questions regarding credits, colleges, scholarships, etc, come on in and talk with your Counselors! The link to attend is:
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.5D5C056791CC9C331D0D65DA50B626&sid=559
Mrs. Carol Heavin, 11th and 12th grade counselor, will be offering an evening office hour session on Thursdays for Seniors at 6:30pm. Check your email for more details.
Also, multiple opportunities to apply for scholarships are compiled in a list by your counselor. New ones are added all the time, including the Essay Scholarship for Juniors and Seniors, the AXA Achiever's Scholarship, and more! See the full list here.
Middle School Parents ~ Take Note
There is a Middle School Town Hall (online meeting) scheduled for Feb. 24th at 1 PM. The link is forthcoming. This session will focus on Suicide Prevention and Dealing with Depression & Anxiety.
Also, look for Smart Core Information along with a survey link coming from your MS teacher this month. Please make sure to review and complete the survey.
Click here for the recording for the Internet Safety for Families session, hosted by Hollie Gumm, MS Principal.
Middle School Students - Come see FAST for OMS Platform Training!
Prefer to view a recording that you can pause and rewind as needed? Click here.
Attendance Reminders:
•Taking a few days off? Obtain approval from your teacher prior to taking vacation. Work ahead and enter your attendance hours ahead of time.
•Out sick or at a Dr. appointment? Send your homeroom teacher your Dr. note. Be sure to catch up on what you missed.
•Supplemental attendance time can be counted for outings, music lessons, scouts, etc. Ask your teacher if you have specific questions.
•Attendance should be logged daily in the OLS. Students should be logging an average of 6 hours a day or 30 hours a week.
•Attendance should only be logged on school days but progress in the curriculum can be made at any time.
•See pages 18-21 in the ARVA Student Handbook for more information.
Celebrating Black History Month while Spotlighting Arkansas Gems
Would you like more resources? Click here for a multitude of resources provided by the ADE. There is even a Black History coloring book to involve your youngest learners.
Joyce Elise Warren (1949-_) was the first black law clerk for the Arkansas Supreme Court and the first black female judge in Arkansas. Judge Warren's work concerns juvenile and domestic relations law and related issues.
William Grant Still (1895-1978) achieved international acclaim as a composer. He broke race barriers in symphonic and popular music.
George William Stanley Ish (1883-1970) was a black physician in Little Rock who was instrumental in founding the United Friends Hospital, the J. E. Bush Memorial Hospital, and the McRae Memorial Tuberculosis Sanatorium for the medical care of black patients. He was held in high regard by members of the medical community and served on the staff of predominantly white hospitals, also.
Ready to Drive? Check here first!
- High School students must contact their counselor. Students not yet in high school should contact Hollie Gumm, K-8 Principal: hgumm@arva.org
- Counselor or Principal will check the last semesters’ GPA to see if it is a 2.0 or higher.
- Counselor or Principal will send request to ARVA's registrar to send form to the student if the student is eligible.
Please note: Student must complete one semester with ARVA before ARVA will grant eligibility for a driver's license.
Forms will be sent via US Mail only. Please request 2-3 weeks prior to driver’s test.
Science says Parents of Successful Kids have these 13 Things in Common
Good parents want their kids to stay out of trouble, do well in school, and go on to do awesome things as adults. And while there isn't a set recipe for raising successful children, psychology research has pointed to a handful of factors that predict success. Unsurprisingly, much of it comes down to the parents. If you've not already read this great article, click here to see what parents of successful kids have in common.
ARVA's Parent Lending Library
ARVA's Parent Lending Library has books and games to loan to parents and learning coaches. It includes book titles such as How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk and non-book selections and games. To find out more information about the ARVA’s Parent’s Lending Library or to check out a book, click here.
*Note that you can also request titles at most Arkansas libraries. They will often request the book from another library or order it for you to check out. Find your local library here.
FEATURED SELECTION for February:
Even elementary school children can build positive character traits like caring, citizenship, cooperation, courage, fairness, honesty, respect, and responsibility. The true stories, inspiring quotations, thought-provoking dilemmas, and activities in this book help kids grow into capable, moral teens and adults. Previously titled Being Your Best, this award-winning book has a fresh new cover and updated resources.
2016-2017 ARVA Student/Parent Handbook
It is important to read and understand the handbook, whether you are a student or a learning coach. Once you have read the handbook, please sign the online form here, if you haven't already: surveymonkey.com/r/16-17_ARVA_Student-Parent_Handbook
BOOSTER CLUB & OUTING INFORMATION
Wish there were more outings near you?
Plan an outing that your student would love! Set it up and we'll invite other ARVA families for you. Click here for specific directions on how to host an event.
ARVA Booster t-shirt fundraiser has been activated for the spring semester!
Support our school when you are out and about by proudly wearing an ARVA t-shirt. Order by Feb. 21: https://www.booster.com/arvafundraiser
Booster Meeting Recording
Our next meeting is February 16.
Facebook Pages for ARVA Learning Coaches
- This Facebook page is for ALL ARVA learning coaches: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ARVALearningCoaches/
- The North West AR ARVA family Facebook page is available for NW AR ARVA families to enjoy visiting both online and offline. If you are a NW AR family, consider joining the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NWA.ARVA.Community.Group/
- There is a North Central AR ARVA family Facebook page for you! https://www.facebook.com/groups/twinlakes.arva.community/ Log in to see what's happening in your area and meet other ARVA families.
ARVA DIAMONDS SHINE ACROSS THE STATE!
COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN YOUR AREA
Girls of Promise STEM Conference for 8th Graders
APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY March 12, 2017!
Click here for more information: http://girlsofpromise.org/join/student/
Calling all student filmmakers! AETN announces the 2017 Student Selects: A Young Filmmakers Showcase.
This annual event invites K-12 students across Arkansas to create videos - on their own or as part of a class - and enter them for a chance at broadcast, film festival screenings, THEA Foundation's Young Filmmaker Scholarships, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program's Arkansas Historic Places Film Prize and new this year, the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site's Reel Civil Rights Student Film Prize: Make a documentary about the social justice change you want to make in the world.
Workshop opportunities to help students gain inspiration, insight and skills to create videos for the upcoming competitions will be announced in early 2017. Click here to learn more. Entries must be submitted electronically or postmarked by March 31.
AETN/PBS Kids Writers Contest 2017
Crystal Bridges, in NW AR, Offers a Wide Variety of Student & Family Activities
Free Symphony Orchestra Tickets
The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra presents its newest outreach program to all children and parents in the entire state of Arkansas. This program offers every student, from Kindergarten to High School seniors—all 400,000 of them—the chance to experience live orchestra performances, some of them, perhaps for the first time in their lives. Free!!
Know of other community resources in your area?
Share them with us so that we can share them with the ARVA community.
Click the pictures below to read about Special Needs Community programs in AR!
Central AR Programs for Children with Special Needs
Community Connections is a non-profit organization in central Arkansas providing extra-curricular activities for children with special needs & support for their families. Programs include cheer, soccer, football, basketball, music, art, acting, golf, ceramics, etc. Most programs are FREE!
Camp Aldersgate creates life-changing experiences for individuals with special needs, enabling them to expand their worlds and express their unique voices. Camp offers programs such as Summer Medical Camps, Weekend Camps, Seniors Day Out, a Youth Volunteer Counselor program and Specialty Camps. These programs provide participants with one-of-a-kind camp experiences aimed to strengthen personal and social development, promote healthy lifestyles, enrich communities, and foster environmental awareness. Camp is located on 120 acres in the heart of Little Rock at 2000 Aldersgate Road. More information can be found at our website www.campaldersgate.net, or by calling Camp staff at 501.225.1444.
I CAN! of Arkansas is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals with special needs and their families. Programs offered include music, art, dance, cooking, soccer, crossfit, etc. There is also an all-child accessible playground at their Arts Center in East End, AR. Most programs are FREE!
I Can Arts & Resource Center in Central Arkansas
Families from all over Central Arkansas come for the experience. A large number of participants are from Saline County, including the East End Community, Benton, Bryant, Alexander and Traskwood. Others come from Little Rock, Hensley, Mabelvale, Russellville, England, Pine Bluff, Arkadelphia, Conway, North Little Rock, White Hall and Sheridan.
Jump!Zone in Bentonville offers Special Needs Family Days
- Children with Special Needs and their families are invited to come to Jump!Zone in Bentonville on the 1st Wednesday of every month from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. FREE! What an exciting Booster outing this would be! Click here to see how to set up a Booster outing.
- The Special Needs Athletic Program, Inc. (SNAP, Inc.) states that their mission is to expand the quality of life for individuals with disabilities through athletics and activities, to provide positive and encouraging leadership for the development of these individuals/athletes, and to support and enrich their lives through social interactions. Contact Mark Stave: supernaturals1416@gmail.com for more information.
Easterseals, Central AR
Camping and Recreation
As the largest provider of recreation and camping services for people with disabilities in the country, we're proud to offer residential and day camps for children and adults of all types and levels of ability. Our camps are barrier-free and designed to be accessible to everyone.
Respite Services
Easterseals offers short-term or temporary care for loved ones so that their caregivers can take a much-needed break, including adult day care, inclusive childcare, camping and recreation programs, and more.
Brain Games
Easterseals has been helping people improve their brain function for nearly 100 years through community-based programs and services. We are committed to bringing the latest in brain health science to those who need it most.
Chuck E. Cheese offers Sensitive Sundays in AR
Chuck E. Cheese now opens from 9:00 am – 11::00 am on the first Sunday of every month specifically for children with autism and other special needs.
1. Reduced lighting and noise
2. Trained and caring staff available to assist
3. Parents have to provide the tokens for children to play games and purchase their own food products.
K12 RESOURCES & OFFERINGS
Learning Coach Certification Course Now Available!
http://arva.k12start.com/for-parents/learning-coach-certification/
Starting Strong for the Second Semester
Are you new to K12? Or a returning family who is looking to start the second half of the school year strong? Attend one of our LIVE online sessions brought to you by our K12 Customer Support Team.
Click here for more information about the sessions. See below for the schedule. (Remember all times shown are in Eastern time!) Click here to access the session schedule and live links to the sessions.
K12 Art Contest Winners
K12's annual art contest was quite a success! We received a number of impressive submissions from students in grades K–12 showing off their artistic abilities. We thank all our winners and participants for sharing what they want to be when they grow up. Click here to view the winners.
Learning Liftoff
Learning Liftoff partnered with knowledge experts and renowned authors in education, interviewed celebrities involved with online learning and education, celebrated the first annual National Online Learning Day, and featured students who have excelled and achieved remarkable accomplishments. Click here to read the most popular and well-received articles of 2016!
K12 Student 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. Browse our 2016–2017 club listings by clicking here, and register for your favorite clubs today!
K12 National College and Career Workshops
Have you thought about life after high school? Have you considered the careers that you might be interested in and whether or not you want, or will need, to attend college?
There is a lot to think about to get ready: where to go, what to study, how to apply, how to pay or it, and more. It’s never too early —or too late— to explore your options!
K12 will be hosting two live workshop sessions each month through the end of the 2016–2017 school year for students to talk about college and career prep topics.
Motivate 2 Activate
Also, visit the ARVA Strong Start site to find all of the available links to recordings that will help you with everything from behavior strategies to managing multiples.
UPCOMING SESSIONS IN THE SERIES
Praise Versus Encouragement
Tuesday, March 7, 6:30 PM
Offering meaningful feedback rather than empty praise gives students a sense of whether they’re on track, and that can go a long way toward motivating them. Rather than saying, “You’re so smart,” encouragement that’s effective rewards student effort.
Helping Students Self-Correct
Tuesday, March 1, 6:30 PM
Students can easily get sidetracked from schoolwork, making their day ineffective. Teaching them how to self-correct will help them avoid distractions and stay on task.
ARVA's Family Academic Support Team (FAST) and the Strong Start Site
- Jennifer Shelby for grades K-8: jshelby@arva.org
- Alyssa Gordon for grades 9-12: agordon@arva.org
Need resource information for a financial or emotional need or crisis? Contact ARVA's Family Resource Coordinator, Amanda Weaver: aweaver@arva.org
Website: http://arva.k12start.com/
Location: 4702 West Commercial, Suite B3, North Little Rock, AR 72116
Phone: 501-664-4225
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArkansasVirtualAcademy
Gina Moore, editor