Diamond Gazette
May 2017 ~ Graduation & Celebration Issue!
This month's issue celebrates ARVA families!
Then, be sure to scroll all the way through to access the detailed goodies within, including:
- Congratulations to our first ever high school graduates!
- ARVA Diamonds (students) Shining Across Arkansas (pictures of YOU!)
- School Resources and Information
- Booster Club and Outing Information
- Community Resources, including Special Needs Activities in Your Community
- K12 Resources and Information
ARVA DIAMONDS SHINE ACROSS THE STATE!
Congratulations to our First Ever...
ARVA Valedictorian, Laurel Smith
ARVA Salutatorian, Kelsey Grant
Introducing ARVA's 1st Senior Graduating Class ~ 2017
We are proud of you and look forward to hearing of your accomplishments as you 'go out' into the world!
ARVA Students have Earned over $215,000 in Scholarships!
McKay Clark: Oklahoma City University Music Scholarship $100,000.00
Spencer Golden: Williams Baptist College Swimming Scholarship $8,000.00
Lexy Grice: University of Arkansas Monticello Academic Scholarship $24,000.00
Kristopher Johnson: Southern Arkansas University Presidential Scholarship $44,000.00
Tristian Sloate: Southern Arkansas University Blue & Gold Award $26,400.00
Laurel Smith: Tasseltime Scholarship $150.00
Nicholas Walters: University of Central Arkansas Freshman Scholarship $14,000.00
Announcing the 6th Annual 2017 Spelling Bee Winners!
K-1st:
- Justice Patterson
- Kaitlyn Munroe
- Maliha Zainab
- Zeb Biddle
- John Montgomery
- Isaac Ayers
- Malachi Jones
- Zephi Biddle
- Tahira Marcano
ARVA Students Elected to Boys and Girls State!
Boys State: John Reynolds-Leblanc and Dane Roset
Girls State: Jaylyn Bounds, Sidney LaCaze, Martha Lagasse, Grace Turner and Krisangela Welch
SCHOOL RESOURCES & INFORMATION
High School Counselor Office Hours
Attention: 8th Graders
Mrs. Amy Smith (9/10 Counselor) will be hosting an open office hour to answer your questions about 9th grade. This is optional and will occur Mondays from 3-4pm. Look for the link in your Class Connect Schedule.
Attention High School Students: Don’t quit now. Remember a “D” earns credit. If you are failing, there is still time to turn it around. Reach out to your teacher, make a plan of attack, and push to the end.
High School Seniors:
All High School Students: An office hour with counselors will be available weekly for students from 8-9am on Wednesdays. If you have questions regarding credits, colleges, scholarships, etc, come on in and talk with your Counselors! link to attend:
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.5D5C056791CC9C331D0D65DA50B626&sid=559
Seniors: Ms. Carol Heavin needs to know if you have been accepted to a college/university and any scholarships you have received and accepted. Also, if you are going into the military, she needs to know this as well.
If you have not applied for the Academic Challenge Scholarship it is not too late. You must have a 19 on the ACT. If you have applied you need to be checking your e-mail to see if you have been awarded the scholarship AND ACCEPT IT! If you do not accept it, you will not get it.
Lastly, to have your final transcript sent, please use this form: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Byiu66oA4VBfMFBWeVpPeFM3V2s
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.
ARVA Summer School for High School Students
For students who are credit deficient, ARVA is offering two summer school sessions this summer. We will have summer school available for several subject areas. There is a cost to attend and a maximum of two credits may be earned over the course of both sessions of summer school. For each course in which they are enrolled, students should plan on working approximately ½ day, each day during the session. Session one will cover first semester courses and session two will cover second semester courses. Your high school counselor is available to give direction on which credit recovery courses will be selected. It is very important that you not return materials for courses which you are currently failing until your summer school course assignments have been made. You will use those materials for your summer courses.
Watch your email for coming information and requirements for summer school.
Please contact your HS Counselor with any questions:
Amy Smith, 9th/10th Counselor: asmith@arva.org
Carol Heavin, 11th/12th Counselor: cheavin@arva.org
Middle School Parents ~ Take Note
Past Town Hall Meeting Recordings:
Preparing for High School, hosted by Amy Smith, 9th/10th Counselor
Internet Safety for Families, hosted by Hollie Gumm, MS Principal
Anxiety and Depression, hosted by Amanda Weaver, Family Resource Coordinator
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.
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
BOOSTER: Little Rock Historic AR Museum
TEACHER-LED: Conway: Planetarium and Nature Preserve
K-8 End-of-Year Celebration!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/k-8_Celebration
BOOSTER: Park & Picnic outing in NW AR
ARVA 11th-12th Grade Prom
ARVA High School Graduation
Wish there were more outings near you?
Booster Meetings
Click here to access the Feb. meeting recording. Our next meeting is May 11 at 8pm.
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.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN YOUR AREA
Summer Fun Activities (mostly Summer Reading Programs!)
Summer reading programs (some online!):
UALR's College of Engineering & Information Technology is hosting a number of free residential summer STEM-based camps.
Middle School (rising 6th through 8th grade)
Exxon Mobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp from July 9-21. Minimum B average in math and science required and be enrolled in an Arkansas school. Applications must be postmarked by May 2. Additional info and applications available here: http://theharrisfoundation.org/sitecontent/565/summer-science-camp/category/457/education.aspx
High School (rising 9th through 12th grade)
Geology Camp from June 11-17. One week program that introduces students to geology through classroom instruction, labs, and field work. Applications must be postmarked by April 17. Additional information and applications available here: http://ualr.edu/eit/additional-info/outreach/#geo
Engineering Scholars Program: Two one-week sessions. June 18-24 and June 25 - July 1. Open to any student in US. Applications must be postmarked by April 17. Additional info and applications here: http://ualr.edu/eit/additional-info/outreach/#esp
High School Research Program: Three-week research program from July 9 - 28. Minimum 3.0 grade point average preferred. Applications must be postmarked by April 17. Additional information and online applications available here: http://ualr.edu/eit/additional-info/outreach/#hrsp
National Summer Transportation Institute: Two-week program exploring civil, mechanical, and environmental engineering as they pertain to transportation related careers. Program is sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration and the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. Applicants must be residents of Arkansas or Memphis, TN. Applications must be postmarked by April 17. Additional information and applications available here: http://ualr.edu/eit/additional-info/outreach/#nsti
Middle and High School (rising 8th and 9th grade)
Girl: CODE One-week female coding camp from July 23-28. Applications must be postmarked by April 17. Info and applications available here: http://ualr.edu/eit/additonal-info/outreach/#gcc
Summer Camps for Rising Sophomores at ASMSA
Summer at ASMSA offers exciting camps where rising sophomores can participate in fun and challenging programs focusing on art, music and acoustics, mathematics, computer programming, and robotics. Camps are tuition free and space is limited. Click here for individual camp information.
Henderson State University ~ Reddies Near You
http://www.hsu.edu/ProspectiveStudents/events.html
Calling all Artists, ages 13-18! Check out all the contests you can enter!
http://www.studentartguide.com/resources/high-school-art-competitions-list
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.
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!
I Can Arts & Resource Center in Central Arkansas
Families from all over Central Arkansas come for the experience.
Jump!Zone in Bentonville offers Special Needs Family Days
Easterseals, Central AR
Camping and Recreation and Respite Services
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.
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.
Young Adults with Autism Group in Central AR!
Camp Aldersgate
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, 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. More information can be found here: www.campaldersgate.net.
I CAN! of Arkansas
Special Needs Athletic Program, Inc. (SNAP)
If you know of other opportunities in your area for special needs students, please share them with us so that we can share them with the rest of the ARVA community.
K12 RESOURCES & OFFERINGS
Learning Coach Certification Course Now Available!
http://arva.k12start.com/for-parents/learning-coach-certification/
K12 Online Summer Camps
Check out K12's online summer camps! These camps are a great way to get and stay connected to your school community this summer. These virtual camps are each only one-hour long and are scheduled late-June through mid-August.
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 hosted 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.
Recordings from past sessions:
Below is the latest list of K12 National College and Career Workshop recordings. Several of you have requested these.
PSAT, SAT, ACT Testing - Why They matter & Tips and Tricks
PSAT, SAT, ACT - Planning & Prep
Goal Planning
Finding Scholarships & A Parents Role in College Admissions
Insider Information to Financial Aid
FAFSA
GRIT - Giving Extra Effort and Determination
Choosing a Major & Finding the Right College
Applying for College
ARVA's Family Academic Support Team (FAST) and the Strong Start Site
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