PLA Virtual News
Phalen Virtual Leadership Academy
"Bytes" From Your School Leader
February 25 , 2022
Greetings Phalen Virtual Leadership Academy Families,
Happy Friday! Is it just me, or does it seem like the 4-day weeks are more hectic than a full week? A special thank you to every family who was able to join us this Wednesday for Parents in Touch. It was great to connect with you and discuss our partnership towards your scholars success. Also a special shout-out to our seniors who showed up to complete their ISTEP testing in preparation for their big day in May!
Were you able to listen in today on our networks Black History Month Speaker Series? If not, you missed out and it was our last week. . This week the Grades K-6 group heard from Television producer, Ms. Tsadiqwah Scarville and our Grades 7 -12 Group heard from New England Patriots player, Mr. Jonathan Jones. Our PLA Virtual scholars never cease to amaze me as they always ask amazing, high level, engaging questions during the presentations and represent PLA Virtual in the highest light. I attended the session with Mr. Jones and he shared some great tips with our scholars and highlighted that he maintained a 3.8 GPA during high school, as academics was first in his household in order for him to be out on the field, and we can see that it has led him to great success.
It is time to re-enroll and secure your scholars virtual seat for the 2022-2023 school year. We ask that you please take the time to complete the QUICK 5 minute survey to share with us your intent to return. I have included a link below. The sooner, the better! Don't delay!
I would like to extend a special thank you to all families who have completed the "Intent to Return" form and referred a family to Phalen Virtual Leadership Academy. We are excited that over 30 families have referred another family to us. Our enrollment coordinator, Danon Noga, will be reaching out to them soon. In the meantime, we are holding live, virtual tours for prospective families for the upcoming year, so if you would share with your referred families the upcoming schedule and this wonderful opportunity to see our school in action, we would greatly appreciate it. The flier and links are below in the newsletter.
What are your summer plans? We hope you will consider joining us for an amazing summer learning opportunity through Summer Advantage! This is the FIRST year that this will be offered FULLY virtual exclusively for our scholars! Our K-8 scholars will have an opportunity to learn, have fun, participate in virtual field trips and be provided with a meal over the summer for 5 weeks at NO COST to you! Please see below and scan to QR code to learn more and register for this FREE Summer Learning opportunity. Seats are VERY limited, so be sure to register today!
This week we experienced, 60 degree sunshine, snow, freezing rain, and nearly negative temperatures all in one week, so I have no idea what the weekend holds. Please be careful and make it great!
With Gratitude,
Dr. Townsend
We love having your scholar at Phalen Virtual Leadership Academy, and hope you choose to return for the 2022-2023 school year. Our enrollment is limited ( waiting lists are applicable for select grade levels), and we want to make sure that your scholar's spot is secured for the upcoming school year. Please complete this form no later than Friday, February 25, 2022.
PLA Virtual Campus Tours for Prospective Families!
Elementary Scholars of the Week--February 25th
IREAD-3 Assessment Window Begins March 7, 2022
This assessment will be administered in several locations to support the needs of our scholars. Specific details regarding dates and times will be shared with families by our State Testing Coordinator, Mrs. Sepaniak, csepaniak@phalenacademies.org
Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 9:00am
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
JRP Campus
4352 N. Mitthoeffer Road
Indianapolis, IN 46235
More Information will be shared directly by Mrs. Sepaniak, State Testing Coordinator
URGENT UPDATES: Scholar Technology Device and Help Desk Support
ALL DEVICE and HELP DESK SUPPORT IS VIRTUAL ONLY.
- We no longer offer On-Site device pick-up.
- Families may not drop off or pick up devices.
- We do not have a building location.
If your scholar is experiencing technical difficulties with their device, Learning Coaches (parents) MUST call the Phalen Virtual Leadership Academic Main Line at 317-939-3787 and press "4" to be connected to the PLA Virtual Help Desk. A Help Desk Specialist will access the device and determine next steps.
If a replacement or repair is needed, materials will be shipped to the families home to return the device with specific instructions based on the need (it is a case by case basis).
All new families who qualify to borrow a device for the school year will be mailed a device and a signature will be required to confirm receipt with full liability of the receiving family.
Mark Your Calendars
College Board SAT Assessment Day (ALL Juniors, 11th Grade Scholars)
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
JRP Campus
4352 N. Mitthoeffer Road
Indianapolis, IN 46235
More Information will be shared directly by Mrs. Sepaniak, State Testing Coordinator
Teacher Professional Development (Alternate LIVE Schedule)
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Please see your Grade Level Newsletter for detailed schedule with times
IREAD-3
Week of March 7, 2022
All families with scholars required to participate in grades 3-5 have been notified of specific test locations and dates.
End of Quarter 3 (Progress Reports)
Friday, March 11, 2022
Teacher Professional Development (Alternate LIVE Schedule)
Friday, March 25, 2022
Spring Break (No School)
Monday, March 28, 2022 - Friday, April 1, 2022
Scholar attendance is critical for academic success and we must partner together to ensure it is completed daily.
You should have received an email from Dr. Townsend with your Infinite Campus Student Portal Log-in Information, a video tutorial, a written guide to logging daily attendance and our school attendance policy. If you have not received the email or are experiencing difficulties logging in, please contact us and we will support you.
If you need to report an absence, please call our school at 317-939-3787 and press “2.” All excused absence documentation should be e-mailed directly to our Office Administrator Mrs. Jones, email: tijones@phalenacademies.org.
Please review the PLA Virtual attendance policy for more specific details.
Setting up your Family Infinite Campus Student Portal Access Letter Emailed to ALL Families September 2021
Hello Parent/Guardian of PLA Virtual Scholar,
You now have a Campus Student account! The following are your login credentials:
• Navigate to the following link or Download the PLA App on your Phone:
https://incloud1.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/students/phalen.jsp
• Your new username is : Your Scholar’s 9 Digit STN (this is the same number they use to login daily to Blackboard)
• Your Password is : Your Scholar’s 9 Digit STN (this is the same number they use to login daily to Blackboard)
Please note, you will be prompted to reset your password on your first attempt. Please use your scholar’s date of birth as a new password. i.e. 01/02/2008
Look at the tools that you will have available in Campus Student.
• Calendar
• Attendance Check-In
• Assignments
• Grades
• Schedule
• Fees
• Reports
• Message Center
If you have any questions, please email operations@phalenacademies.org or Dr. Townsend at ttownsend@phalenacademies.org
Thank you!
Tora H. Townsend, PhD
Principal
Phalen Virtual Leadership Academy
(317) 939-3787
PLA University Announces Its 2021 Training Start Dates, Expanding Free Job Training in Health and Information Technology
Indianapolis, IN - Phalen Leadership Academies is honored to announce the official launch of the upcoming 2021 cohort of PLA University, a tuition-free job training program for the adult family members of current PLA scholars.
Last year’s cohort launched with Health & Life Sciences training. The new cohort, beginning August 23rd, expands training to include Information Technology (IT). PLA families can now apply for training to become: IT support professionals, Forklift Operators, Certified Nursing Assistants, Veterinary Assistants, Pharmacy Technicians, Medical Billers and Coders, or Medical Assistants.
“We are excited to expand the offerings of PLA University to bring more training options and training partners for PLA families,” said PLA University Executive Director, James Swift. “We have been bolstered by the support of local businesses and institutions such as the Launch Hope Foundation, the Hardon Educational Institute and Penn Foster College. These partners are helping us to lay a strong foundation as we work to help our families secure jobs with competitive salaries and long range potential.”
Created in the wake of the murder of George Floyd to foster self-sufficiency and economic parity, PLA University is among the first career training institutions of its kind as it seeks to improve the outcomes of both PLA scholars and families. The program works to teach families life skills, provides certification training and job placement. The program is located at James and Rosemary Phalen Leadership Academy on Indianapolis's Far Eastside.
The next PLA University cohort begins August 23rd. For more information or to apply to join this PLA Universitycohort, please visit PLAUniversity.org and apply or contact info@plauniversity.org.
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The latest news and information from schools in the Phalen Leadership Academies Network are now available on smartphones and mobile devices with a new mobile app launching today. PLA is working to expand its communications outreach with a mobile app that is now available in the online iTunes® and Google Play® app stores for free.
The mobile app will offer a constantly updated feed of school and network news and events with photos and links to PLA school websites. The app can also be customized by the user by selecting the schools they are most interested in for news and updates. Users can also choose to receive push notifications to get breaking news, updates about school closures, calendar changes, or even sports updates.
Have Questions? Contact Us Today!
Phalen Virtual Leadership Academy (PLA Virtual) is a tuition-free online learning academy for Indiana families in grades K-12. We are backed by an accredited university to help empower our scholars and families to accelerate academic success with high-quality curriculum taught in their own environment. We use technology to provide interactive and rigorous online classes that allow our scholars to learn and thrive. Our scholars excel not just in academics, but also socially and emotionally with a blend of online coursework and options to engage in sports and enrichment at a local PLA campus.
Email: ttownsend@phalenacademies.org
Website: PLAVirtual.org
Location: Indiana, USA
Phone: 317.939.3787
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhalenLeadershipAcademies
Twitter: @AcademiesPhalen