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GCA's Family Engagement Newsletter: April 2017 Edition
In this edition:
- Voicemails from Your School Leaders
- A Message from Champ: Ready for Testing?
- Milestones Parent Information Sessions
- Learning Coach Strategies for Success
- Parent Meeting dates & links
- PTSO News
- ... and more
Voicemail from your Principal:
Elem. School
Middle School
Message 6-8: Rosie Lowndes Middle School Principal Click Here
High School
Message from Champ!
Hello fellow Champions!
Testing season is here, and I wanted to take this time to talk about why we take standardized tests. And discuss some misconceptions you may have about testing.
So why do we take standardized tests like the Georgia Milestones? While it is a state required test, we want you to show everyone how much you are learning! We also want you to show how much more growth you could make and to show if you know the material that is on the test.
But what does the test NOT show? It does not show how smart you are. That test would be REALLY long!
Be sure to relax, focus, and use your best effort. This is a great chance to dig in and find out what you know. You can use the information when your get your test back to GROW!
Here are some resources for you to get you prepared:
- Starting April 10th, your content teachers will be hosting Milestone review sessions in your Class Connects!!
- GCA Milestone Resources: http://www.gacyber.org/georgia-milestones.html
- Mindset Works: http://www.mindsetworks.com/websitemedia/protected/studenttools/gm-testtips1-purpose-newsletter.pdf
Keep up the great work and never stop growing, Champions!
Until next time,
Champ
To download pictures of Champ, click on the link below:
Feel free to share with Champ pictures on how you incorporate Champ in your every day school life and more on his Facebook page @Champ GCA.
Milestones Parent Information Sessions
April 13th; 7:00- 8:00pm
April 14th; 1:00- 2:00pm
All sessions will cover the same information courtesy for our families with multiple students.
Get Ready Because Here They COME...Annual End of the School Year Events!!
May is the time we finish up the school year and celebrate!
Join GCA families and staff as we all celebrate the end of another successful year at an outing near you.
Visit the May Events Calendar for an End of the Year outing near you!
Additional events will be posted soon!
Question of the Month:
What are your Spring Break plans?
Here are the responses from last month's question "How are you preparing your student(s) for State Testing??"
Showing her where it is and do a data chat of time(s) it takes to get there. Teach how to use these auto updating maps to help avoid traffic. - Shirley L.
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.
Do you have a strategy to share? (click here)
Who knows... you may see your strategy featured in next month's newsletter!!
April Parent Meeting!
The Family Engagement Team will be hosting this month a Parent Meeting. Here we will share information to inform you of upcoming events, department news, ways to further help your student at home, and other district-wide news.
Join us Thursday evening, April 20th as we host Parent Meeting.
School-level Parent University Sessions will follow the Parent meeting. See you there!
April 2017 Parent Meeting
Thursday, April 20, 2017
7:00 pm
Thursday, Apr 20, 2017, 07:00 PM
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RSVPs are enabled for this event.
District Town Hall Recordings
Parent University Session Recordings
Elementary School:
March: Testing
February: Community and Resources
January: Re-new your commitment/Welcome new families
December: Where to Go for Help
November: Student Ownership and Motivation
October: Understanding GCA and State Assessment
September: How to be an Effective Elementary School Learning Coach
Middle School:
March: Georgia Milestones
February: How to find instructional strategies and resources
January: How to become more involved with other GCA families in my community
December: Understanding grade level content standards and assessments
November: Making it Work: Office 365
October: Teaching my child to take ownership of his/her learning
September: How to be an Effective Middle School Learning Coach
High School:
March: Content standards and assessments – What they are and why they're important
February: Is your student distracted? - Tips for minimizing student distractions in a digital world
January: Establishing a Career Path – Why it matters
December: Tips for motativating your student in a digital world
November: How engaging with your High School Student improves achievement
October: Making it Work: Strategies for working Learning Coaches
September: How to be an Effective High School Learning Coach
Message from the GCA PTSO
April Peach Pit: https://www.smore.com/krc75
Fresh out of the oven!! GCA PTSO Cookbook on SALE!!
GCA teachers, staff, parents, learning coaches, and students contributed a combination of recipes like: Appetizers, Desserts, Main Dishes, Casseroles, Side Dishes, Dips...
The recipes range from easy to make snacks, to delicious main dishes that we are sure you will enjoy making for your family.
Click here to purchase yours today!
Volunteers needed!
Whether you have 1 hour per week or 1 hour per month, we have a place for you!
There are many areas to volunteer including online and/or Face-to-Face opportunities.
Thank you for sharing your gifts and talents with our wonderful school!
Please complete this form to let us know the area(s) in which you can offer your assistance.
The GCA PTSO and GCA Family Engagement team appreciate any amount of time you can give to support GCA families!
Become a PTSO Member!
Visit: http://www.gcaptso.org/home.html for more information.
VIRTUAL STUDENT NEWSLETTER
Weekly Juice: https://gcaweeklyjuice.wordpress.com/
Check out these recent articles:
"4-H Student Wins at District Level" by Payton M. (Sophmore)
"Voice of Oxygen" by Brianna M. (Senior)
"How to be an Excelling Student [Online Schooling Edition]" by Brianna M. (Senior)
View more at: https://gcaweeklyjuice.wordpress.com/
Submit your writing to GCA’s student-led newspaper:
GCA High School's Student Council News
Interested in what they do?
They will be happy to answer any of your questions.
Email them at gca.askthecouncil@gmail.com
GCA Resource Room
K12 Learning Coach University™
K12 Learning Coach University™ was created to support the Learning Coaches who guide the schooling of their children at home. Online classes provide a clearer understanding of the developmental process of learning as well as effective strategies and resources to use at home to help every child succeed. Click here to view the sessions.
Student Clubs
We Love Clubs!
Does your student want to connect with other students who share a common interest? Clubs are the way to do that!
GCA teachers, Learning Coaches and K12 sponsors many clubs where students can share their areas of interest. Register for your favorite clubs today!
Fuel Up to Play 60!
Join the GCA NFL Fuel Up to Play 60 club!
The Fuel 60 Club is a school wide initiative encouraging the implementation of the Fuel 60 Program at GCA. The Fuel 60 Program is sponsored by the NFL and the National Dairy Council.
Please have your student follow the steps below to set up an account and join Fuel Up to Play:
- Log in to the Fueluptoplay60.com
- Create an account
- Use the zip code 30349 to search for our school
- Choose Georgia Cyber Academy
- Log in, check out the website
- Start logging your activity
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. Last school year, we earned $1394.60 and used the money to get student incentives for their students. This school year, our school’s earnings goal is $1500.00.
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
Translate this Newsletter:
- Click here: Google Translate.
- Select the language to translate to.
- Click the "Translate" button.
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)
Have a great March!
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
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