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GCA's Family Engagement Newsletter: October 2018 Edition
In this Edition:
- A Message from Champ!
- Upcoming District Town Hall, Parent and Parent University meetings
- Upcoming Board Meeting
- Learning Coach Corner: Resources
- Counseling NEWS: Cyber-bullying Month
- ... and more
Hello GCA Champions!
I hope that you all enjoyed yourselves at the Outings and Innings last month. I know we did. It was nice meeting and taking pictures with all the Champions that attended our Stone Mountain event.
If you took any pictures your outing day experience and you are a Facebook member, please tag your pictures to my page. Just search for Champ GCA.
On another note, did you know that this month is Stand Up Against Bullying; Cyberbullying Month 2018? The GCA Counseling Department and community wants you to stand up against bullying. Make sure you read the Counseling Department section of this newsletter to know how you can stand up to bullying.
If you have any questions, please contact your school's Family Engagement Coordinator:
Kristy Howard, khoward@gacyber.org Elementary School
Veronica Okpani, vokpani@gacyber.org Middle School
Maria Blencowe, mblencowe@gacyber.org High School
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
October 2018 Annual Title I Meeting
Please join us for our Annual Title I Meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to provide our Parents, Learning Coaches, and stakeholders with information about our Title I Program and your right to be involved in your child's education.
October 2018 Annual Title I Meeting
Thursday, October 18, 2018
7:00 pm
Click here to join the session on 10/18/18 @ 7:00pm
Recordings will be posted on the GCA Events Calendar if you are unable to attend live. We hope to see you there!
Thursday, Oct 18, 2018, 07:00 PM
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English Learners Family Night
- attain English proficiency
- achieve at high levels within a well-rounded education
- meet the challenging State academic standards expected of all students
We will also discuss ACCESS scores and the ESOL program.
October 2018 English Learners Family Night
Thursday, October 25, 2018
7:00 pm
Click here to join the session on 10/25/18 @ 7:00pm
Recordings will be posted on the GCA Events Calendar if you are unable to attend live. We hope to see you there!
Thursday, Oct 25, 2018, 07:00 PM
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Upcoming District Town Hall and Parent Meetings
District Town Hall Meetings:
Hosted by GCA School Leaders and community partners
sharing district-wide information.
September 20th, 2018 @ 7:00pm (Recording)
January 17th, 2019 @ 7:00pm (Click here to join live)
May 16th, 2019 @ 7:00pm (Click here to join live)
Parent Meetings:
Hosted by GCA Family Engagement Team sharing Learning
Coach desired topics.
November 15th, 2018 @ 7:00pm (Click here to join live)
December 13th, 2018 @ 7:00pm (Click here to join live)
February 21st, 2019 @ 7:00pm (Click here to join live)
March 21st, 2019 @ 7:00pm (Click here to join live)
Title I Annual and Input Meetings:
October 18th, 2018 @ 7:00pm (Click here to join live)
April 18th, 2019 @ 7:00pm (Click here to join live)
EL Family Night:
Upcoming Parent University Sessions
November 15th, 2018 @ 7:30pm
December 13th, 2018 @ 7:30pm
February 21st, 2019 @ 7:30pm
March 21st. 2019 @ 7:30pm
Topics to be announced soon!
Next Georgia Cyber Academy Board of Directors Meeting
Board Meetings are open to the public and held on the third Wednesday of each month as listed, unless otherwise noted. Agendas are posted to the website and in the GCA office prior to the scheduled meeting.
2018-2019 Board of Directors Meeting Schedule [PDF]
DATE: Wednesday, October 17, 2018
TIME: 6:00 – 7:30 PM
LOCATION: Georgia Charter Schools Association
211 Perimeter Center Pkwy
Suite 1000
Atlanta, GA 30346
Conference Line to Join Meeting: 1.515.739.1469, Access Code: 675050#
To view Board meeting recordings, budgets, polices and procedures; visit https://gca.k12.com/about-us/board.html
Learning Coach Corner - Questions and Resources
Technology Tuesdays
Do you sometimes struggle with supporting your student in a virtual environment? Do you want to feel more comfortable working with various applications and the online school so that you feel confident in supporting your students' success at GCA?
Your Family Engagement Team will host Technology Tuesday sessions, so you can have the opportunity to increase your computer skills. Join us here or visit the GCA Events Calendar
We will cover a variety of topics:
October 9, 2018 @ 7:00 pm
Infinite Campus
November 6, 2018 @ 7:00 pm
Internet Safety: Protecting our children on electronics
January 8, 2019 @ 7:00 pm
Computer Maintenance
February 5, 2019 @ 7:00 pm
Google Drive
March 5, 2019 @ 7:00 pm
Adobe Acrobat PDFs
April 9, 2019 @ 7:00 pm
Milestones Testing - Navigation the online testing platform
Do You Have Questions? WELL, WE'VE GOT ANSWERS!
Join us for Learning Coach Live Help: http://bit.ly/LChelp
Tues, Wed, Thu, at 2:00 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.
Question of the Month
Thank you, Penny D. for your answer to our last question: Why did you choose GCA?
We chose GCA to provide a more personal, one-on-one learning environment for our special needs children in a more nurturing and comfortable surrounding. Having no teaching background, GCA provides the curriculum and teacher while I can assist and provide support for my children.
Counseling Corner
Don’t Stand By, Stand Up Against Bullying Cyberbullying Month 2018
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying takes place electronically. Electronic technology includes devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers and tablets as well as communication tools including social media, text messages, chat and websites.
Join the GCA Counseling Department and Community as we stand against bullying! Here is how you can take your stance:
- Cyberbullying Guidance: Oct. 4th @ 10am
- Cyberbullying Parent Night: Oct. 16th @ 7pm
- Virtual Theme Photo Contest: Oct. 15th Show us how you stand up against bullying by: Submit-ting a picture standing in your favorite pose with a an-tibullying sign or sign that you see in your community that represents anti-bullying to you! This is a contest so show your confidence, be creative and have fun standing up against bullying! Sumbit pictures to Mrs. Tameka McCrae-Edgecombe at taedgecombe@gacyber.org by October 31st to be featured in our newsletter, web-site and social media!
- Pledge to Stop Cyberbullying : Oct. 27th
- Weekly Cyberbullying Facts : all month
Class Engagement Policy
Georgia Cyber Academy provides students the opportunity for a more flexible and individualized educational environment. The amount of flexibility that a student has in charting their own educational path is in part dependent upon their individual performance. Most students are required to attend all of Live Class Connect Sessions.
Please check with your teachers and Family Success Liaison on where your student(s) individual performance falls on the Class Engagement Requirements.
GCA Outings are not an excused absence if attending class live is a requirement.
- If a student fails to participate in a live class connect session, then Parents/guardians of students can expect to be contacted by their child’s teacher, a FAST team member, a counselor, the school’s administration, and/or a social worker.
- If a student has earned flexibility and attends an event, the Learning Coach can log the student’s time spent at the event in the appropriate content area for their attendance that day. (Science, Math, PE, etc.)All missed coursework for that time must be completed by the student.
GCA State-Wide Outings
Join us for our state-wide outings!
October 4th 10:00 Steeds Dairy Farm Tour Grovetown, GA
October 11th 11:00 Cagles Farm Corn Maze and Tour Ballground, GA
October 12th 9:00 Farm Tour and Hay ride with Poppell Farms Odum, GA (Savannah Coastal area)
October 12th 1:00 Rock City Blowing Springs Farm, Flintstone, GA
and much more...
Check the GCA Events Calendar for event offerings: www.bit.ly/gcaeventscalendar
Registration for outings: https://goo.gl/forms/AkqTtL4iWMmNL2Q23
GCA PTSO Fall Fundraiser
GCA Resource Room
The GCA Resource Room on Pinterest provides families with useful, interesting, inspiring and engaging supplemental educational content.
Get Connected with Fellow Learning Coaches
The Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) Parent–Teacher–Student Organization (PTSO) FACEBOOK GROUPS are closed groups. These groups are not sponsored or monitored by GCA/K12 staff but by parent volunteers through our PTSO. They are used as a support resource for GCA families.
If you are interested in volunteer opportunities with our school, please fill out our volunteer survey and someone will contact you with further details.
GCA PTSO Facebook Region Groups
GCA PTSO Facebook Statewide Groups
Archived Newsletter
Have A Great October
-Your Family Engagement Team:
Kristy Howard
Elementary School Family Engagement Coordinator
404.334.4790 Ext. 1098
Email: khoward@gacyber.org
Website: https://gca.k12.com/curriculum/elementary-home.html
Location: 1745 Phoenix Boulevard, College Park, GA, USA
Phone: 404.334.4790
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KristyHoward.gca?fref=ts
Twitter: @GCA_FEC
Veronica Okpani
Middle School Family Engagement Coordinator
404.334.4790 Ext. 663
Email: vokpani@gacyber.org
Website: https://gca.k12.com/curriculum/middle-school-home.html
Location: 1745 Phoenix Boulevard, College Park, GA, USA
Phone: 404.334.4790
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gcaveronica.rfec
Maria Blencowe
High School Family Engagement Coordinator
404.334.4790 Ext. 799
Email: mblencowe@gacyber.org
Website: https://gca.k12.com/curriculum/high-school-home.html
Location: 1745 Phoenix Boulevard, College Park, GA, USA
Phone: 404.334.4790
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mblencowe.gca
Twitter: @GCA_HS
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