Diamond Gazette
March 2016
March 2016 Table of Contents
- Why (have you chosen) ARVA?
- Re-registration Update
- ARVA Diamonds who are Shining (YOUR classmates & YOU)
- Science & Technology Enrichment Opportunities
- Opportunities for Special Needs Students
- ARVA Booster Club
- Testing reminders
- A note to Future 9th graders ~ from Amy Smith, HS Counselor
- There's an APP for that!
- Dear Gem Diamond (with our 1st question/response!)
- Learning Coach University (LCU)
- Contests to enter (a Logo and a STEM contest!)
- ARVA's Lending Library
- Study Island
- Study Skills
Why ARVA?
In 2013 I was looking for a better option for my daughter to get her education. We had gone to a local brick and mortar and we had tried homeschooling. Neither seemed like the right fit. My desire was for her to have an education in which I knew she was learning all of the things she should but still had opportunities to grow beyond the classroom. On a random Google search I came across a K12 ad. I had no clue what it was but was curious. I clicked on it and I clicked on more and more and more. I couldn't get enough! Could it be true that my daughter could have an education with standardized curriculum but still have the opportunity to be at home? It was true. One thing led to another, the PAL assignment, the enrollment process, the wait due to the lottery and then.... BAM! She was in and in plenty of time to get ready for the new school year!
It was such an exciting time. First the overload of boxes, boxes and more boxes! Then the unpacking of the boxes. Together, she and I were like kids in a candy store! Thrilled to have all of these tools at our fingertips and FOR FREE! We immediately set up our "classroom" the way we thought would work best for us and finally the BIG day came. The 1st day of school. Then the 1st week passed and neither of us felt like we knew what we were doing. "What in the world is this BBC thing anyway?", and "Supplemental Time? What is that?". The questions started rolling out but, the answers eventually rolled back in.
Now, here we are 3 years later. A lot has changed besides just the yearly bump in grade level. Our "classroom" has evolved more than once to what really works best for us. We completely understand what BBC's are and can handle all of its tools. Supplemental Time? We've got that in the bag! We've had computer glitches, power outages, sicknesses and random emergencies. We've survived them all. We've been off track and drowning in the "forgetfulness" of logging attendance. Yet, we have survived that too. We've lost materials, melted a thermometer, and struggled in some subjects. The good, the not so good and the "oh geez, for real?", it's happened. However, we survived all of that too and we wouldn't want to survive it anywhere else but here, in ARVA.
Amanda (Learning Coach) & Eva Lloyd (4th grade)
So, why did YOU choose ARVA? We'd love to hear from you. Click on the link to give us your very own testimonial of why you chose ARVA! Share with us your story!
Excitement = watching RE-REGISTRATION numbers increase daily!!
We love seeing your names confirmed on next school year's roster as families continue to mark Registering! One week after the re-registration portal opened, over half of our families have marked their decisions! Still need to register?
>>>Here are your step-by-step RE-REGISTRATION directions.<<<
Important: Immunization Records are only required for a rising 7th grade student!
Click here to download & print the registration announcement and take a picture of your child or family holding it. Post it on our Facebook page to be included in our school's Facebook album! (Check out a close-up view of this issue's background picture, pulled from our Facebook page!)
Look at all the ways ARVA Diamonds SHINE across our state!
100th day of school
"100 days I've been in school
My teacher says that's really cool!
I'm 100 days smarter, yes, it's true
100 days of reading, writing and math too!
I've learned a lot of exciting things
Let's see what the next 100 brings!
We're going to have fun, we'll let out a cheer
Our hundredth day is finally here!"
Kindergartner, Owen M. celebrating the 100th day of school.
Science & Engineering: Excitement & Opportunities!
All it takes is a little BRAIN POWER!
We are happy to announce for the second year in a row ARVA students Max Green and Niko Mannon won a medal at the Engineering Olympics. The event took place Feb. 27 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and featured 18 teams from around the state including schools such as E-Stem, Forest Heights STEM Academy and Horace Mann Arts and Science Magnet School. Max and Niko placed fourth in the very competitive critical thinking competition, which required them to do some complex math and science problems. ARVA is very proud of the them and of the whole team which also included Claire Green, Kennis Ellis and Trenton Gorman. Claire got up at 3 a.m. the night before the contest to finish gluing toothpicks to the team's 24-inch toothpick bridge. Kennis made it to the team check in despite a close member of his family having some health issues. Without him the team may not have been able to qualify. Trenton got the biggest applause of the day during the free standing structure contest. The goal was to use 15 pipe cleaners to build the tallest structure. As time wound down, the organizers added challenges. At one point, the rules forced the team members to build with one hand behind their backs. The team needed an extra hand to loosen a pipe cleaner so Trenton used his teeth. In all the practices for the event, the three members of the ARVA free standing structure team had never had a pipe-cleaner structure completely fail, but they had some back luck competition day. Even though their structure fell over, they still got some of the biggest applause of the day from the spectators and other teams who appreciated their extra effort.
If you are a middle schooler and this sounds like fun to you, the team is still looking for some participants for Science Olympiad on April 2 at UALR as well. Similar to Engineering it includes several additional events such as astronomy and oceanography. The current ARVA team has 10 students signed up and has room for up to five more students in grades six through nine. In addition to oceanography and astronomy, other open categories include green generation, wind power, building a launcher and food science.
If you are interested in any of these, please send an email to arvascienc@gmail.com (note the missing final e) or call the parent organizers Jason or Jennifer Green at 501-766-6122 or 6123.
MINECRAFT Hour of Code ~ grades 2-5!
Join 15 minutes before the session: tinyurl.com/LearningCircles
Note: When signing into the session, please use the sign in convention of (ARVA_grade_first name_last name initial), ex: ARVA_5_John_S
Special Needs Families ~ Check out the resources below!
Community Connections in Central AR
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, etc. Most programs are FREE!
I CAN! of Arkansas in Central AR
JumpZone Special Needs Night in Bentonville
Do you know of more opportunities for children with special needs in your area?
Let us know so that we can share it with the rest of our ARVA community!
Wish there were MORE OUTINGS near you?
YOU are important and needed!
Click here for information to access recordings.
Have any Box Tops?
Testing! Testing! Read all about it!
- Add "DoNotReply@testingnirvana.com to your email contacts.
- Look in your Junk and SPAM folders to make sure it was not automatically sent there.
Once you receive the email you will need to do the following:
- Read the email in its entirety.
- Follow the LINK to confirm your testing assignment.
- Upon entering the LINK, follow the directions.
RoCk that Test!!
It's Spring and what does that mean? It means flowers and trees. It means bunnies and eggs. It means warmer weather and.... TESTING!! It's here and what better time than right now to start preparing for the 1st day of testing? Here are some helpful tips to get you SPRINGING into action!
- Make sure your student has a daily routine.
- Set a bedtime, yep, even for those older kiddos. Sleep=brain power!
- Breakfast is like the gas in your car. They got to have it to run well.
- Turn the volume down in your household. Start your days peacefully.
- Think POSITIVE thoughts.
- Make sure your teacher has your correct Address and Email.
Here are some more helpful tips for Spring Testing. Also, check out the LCU: State Testing Strategies, Monday March 14th @ 3pm, hosted by ARVA's own Beth Moore (see below for more information).
Be on the lookout for more Testing Prep Help in the April newsletter edition!
A note to future 9th graders ~ from Amy Smith, High School Counselor
Good Morning Future 9th Graders,
My name is Amy Smith and I am the high school counselor for ARVA. I am excited to work with each of you throughout your high school career. You will notice 3 new sessions in your ClassConnect Schedule.
- Friday, March 4th at 9am- 9th grade Orientation (attend one)
- Wednesday, March 9th at 9am- 9th grade Orientation (attend one)
- Everyone should attend one orientation.
- Weekly on Mondays at 8am- 9th grade Counseling Office Hours Q&A (Optional)
- This is an opportunity to ask any questions regarding your high school career.
I look forward to seeing each of you in an Orientation over the next week. Thank you!
To a Bright Future,
Amy Smith
ARVA HS Counselor
There's an APP for that!
The Puffin App allows you to access the Online Learning School on ipads and tablets. Blackboard Collaborate is not accessible with this app. This app was recommended by a learning coach. Do you have a strategy or app to share with others? Check out this cool app on iTunes. We are grateful for this recommendation from a learning coach. Do you have a strategy or app to share with others?
Dear Gem Diamond,
Our 1st question is from an 8th grade student; we'll call her "J', and she asks, "I want to know who writes the Diamond Gazette?"
Great question, J! There are two of us who write and edit the Diamond Gazette, Gina Moore and Amanda Lloyd. However, teachers, other staff, and families (like YOU) also send in information that they would like included in the newsletter. If you would like to submit something to the newsletter, please send it to gmoore@arva.org. We want to hear from you!
LCU: Learning Coach Math Help- Tuesday, March 8th & 22nd @11:30am
Graphing Equations of Lines and Graphing Inequalities
This workshop will help you guide your students to the correct answer by taking you through the steps to problems-solving success. A supportive and friendly workshop taught by a K12 parent, for parents who want to brush up their own math skills.
LCU: Learning Coach Writing Help- Tuesday, March 1st & 15th @11:30am
Even if you don’t feel confident in your own writing, you can still work with your child. You’ll enjoy our step-by-step approach to grammar and writing in the K12 curriculum. A supportive and friendly workshop, taught by a K12 parent, for parents who want to brush up their own skills.
Using Verbs and Pronouns
LCU: State Testing Strategies, Monday March 14th @ 3pm
Find out how to prepare your children for state tests. Learn new strategies for addressing stress and test anxiety and help your child approach test day with confidence.
Presented by ARVA's own Beth Moore, K-2 teacher
National Parent Training:Beyond Intelligence: Raising Happy, Productive Kids- March 16th @ 11:45AM
National Parent Training Recording: Making Education Entertaining
National Parent Training Recording: Overexcitability and the Gifted
STEM Contest for K-12th grades
Is there a STEM creation that you think could change the world? Solve a Problem? Or, would just be CrAzY fUn?
Incorporate a STEM concept- such as energy and the environment, health and nutrition, aerospace and aviation, or technology and robotics- and let us see your innovative powers build a LEGO sensation!9-12
A panel of judges will review entries by grade group: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
- 1st Place finalists will receive a $100 LEGO gift card and a trophy.
- 2nd place finalists will receive a trophy.
- 3rd place finalists will receive a trophy.
- The OVERALL Winner will receive up to $1000 grand prize which can include a LEGO gift card, a STEM class/workshop subscription, or a combination of the two and a trophy.
Start constructing your creation TODAY! Click here- Go STEM Bricks!!
Contest ends March 30th, 2016
Arkansas Anti-Drug Abuse Logo and Slogan Student Contest
Calling all 9-12th graders!!
The Arkansas Alcohol and Drug Abuse Coordinating Council, in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Education, the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office, and the Division of Behavioral Health Services of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, is sponsoring a logo and slogan contest for a drug abuse prevention campaign. The logo will be used online and in print.
Objectives
- To promote awareness of students to the potential harm of drug abuse
- To encourage students to stay drug-free
- To support the Arkansas Alcohol and Drug Abuse Coordinating Council’s drug abuse prevention campaign
Prize
The winner will receive the following:
- A $500 scholarship provided by the Thea Foundation.
- Recognition by the governor, state drug director, commissioner of education, attorney general, and the director of the Division of Behavioral Health Services, at a ceremony in Little Rock to take place on a date to be determined following spring break 2016.
- The right to be named the logo and slogan designer.
Participants may enter individually or in teams of two. Only one entry is allowed per individual or team. Individual entrants may not also enter as a member of a team, and team members cannot be members of more than one team. Each entry must include both a logo and a complementary slogan. Submissions should be sent by e-mail to ADE.Logo.Contest@arkansas.gov no later than 6 p.m. March 4, 2016.
For Contest Details, Click Here.
ARVA's Parent Lending Library has been busy this month!
ARVA's Parent Lending Library has books and games to loan to parents and learning coaches. It includes titles such as Basic Social Skills for Youth, Doing Math in Morning Meeting, Overachieving Underachieving, among other fun titles. To find out more information about the ARVA’s Parent’s Lending Library or to check out a book, click here.
Spring Break on the Island
Spring Break is approaching and boy does it always seem to come just in time! Students and Learning Coaches all enjoy the time away from the everyday routine of schooling.
- Enjoy your Spring Break but... Stay on the Island!
- Schedule 20 minutes each day to have your student work in Study Island.
- Make it fun! Wear a silly sun hat! Make an island snack!
Study Island helps students practice and master grade-level academic standards. Teachers will also place assignments in Study Island. Be sure to check your grade-level and teachers' assignments & requirements for Study Island.
Students log into Study Island using their student ID number in this convention: 12345@arva and using the password: arva.
Super Heroes Study Smarter, Not Harder! Monday, March 28th @ 1pm
It's like a SUPER POWER! Learning different ways to study will empower your student for the rest of their life. As well as attending this session you can also check out this link to find ways you can teach your student the SUPER POWERS of Study Skills.
ARVA's Family Academic Support Team (FAST) and the Strong Start Site
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
Amanda Lloyd, assistant editor