Diamond Gazette
November 2016 ~ Thankful for ARVA families!
Take a Peek at What's in November's Edition...
- School Resources and Information, including students we're honoring this month for their Perfect Attendance and/or Honor Roll Achievement!
- Booster Club and Outing Information
- ARVA Diamonds (students) Shining Across Arkansas (pictures of YOU!)
- Community Resources, including Special Needs Activities in Your Community
- K12 Resources and Information
With November being a time that Americans reflect on what we're thankful for, the ARVA administration, teachers, and staff wish to take a moment to say THANK YOU for choosing to school with us! You are dedicated parents choosing to take an active role in your precious children's education. Your most important job is raising and educating your children and we're grateful that you chose to partner with ARVA in making a lifelong difference in OUR students lives.
Announcing ARVA's Honor Roll and Perfect Attendance Students for the 1st Quarter:
We are so excited to share the lists of students who have worked hard to achieve Honor Roll and/or Perfect Attendance for the 1st Quarter! Teachers have shared their lists and students are listed by first initial and last name in alphabetical order, starting with our list of Honor Roll recipients.
You are true ARVA DIAMONDS!
School Resources and Information
HS Counselors' Corner
We have three colleges coming to present to our seniors during the homeroom time. I am so excited. November 4th – University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 11th – Arkansas State and 18th – North Arkansas College.
Central Baptist College and Williams Baptist College are both checking dates and Baptist Health is sending us a video to share with our students about all that they have to offer.
Attention High School Seniors!
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.
Lastly, we have three colleges coming to present to our seniors during homeroom time.
- Nov. 4th – University of Arkansas at Little Rock
- Nov. 11th – Arkansas State
- Nov. 18th – North Arkansas College
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Dec. 2nd - Central Baptist College
Dec. 9th – Williams Baptist College
High School Counselor Office Hours
An office hour for Counselors will be available weekly for students from 8-9 am on Wednesdays. If you have questions regarding credits, colleges, scholarships, etc, come on in and talk with your Counselors! The link to attend is:
https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.5D5C056791CC9C331D0D65DA50B626&sid=559
Attention High School Juniors: 2017 Arkansas Governor's School
Ms. Carol Heavin wanted to remind Juniors about the 2017 Arkansas Governor’s School (AGS). AGS is a six-week summer residential program that will be held from June 11-July 22, 2017, at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. Gifted and talented students who will be seniors in 2017-2018 may be nominated for the program. The link to the general information and 2017 online nomination forms can be found at the following link: www.hendrix.edu/ags/nominationpacket/.
Please let Ms. Carol Heavin know by Jan. 5, 2017 if you apply so that she can complete her part. Also, Ms. Karen Sanders is available to assist you with your essay if you are interested.
Good luck!
Middle School Students - Come see FAST for OMS Platform Training!
Prefer to view a recording that you can pause and rewind as needed? Click here.
Active links from Science Olympiad flyer above:
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.
ARVA's Parent Lending Library
ARVA's Parent Lending Library has books and games to loan to parents and learning coaches. It includes book titles such as How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk (shown here) and non-book selections and games. To find out more information about the ARVA’s Parent’s Lending Library or to check out a book, click here.
*Note that you can also request titles at most Arkansas libraries. They will often request the book from another library or order it for you to check out. Find your local library here.
FEATURED SELECTION for November: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk
This bestselling classic includes fresh insights and suggestions as well as the author’s time-tested methods to solve common problems and build foundations for lasting relationships, including innovative ways to: · Cope with your child's negative feelings, such as frustration, anger, and disappointment · Express your strong feelings without being hurtful · Engage your child's willing cooperation · Set firm limits and maintain goodwill · Use alternatives to punishment that promote self-discipline · Understand the difference between helpful and unhelpful praise · Resolve family conflicts peacefully Enthusiastically praised by parents and professionals around the world, the down-to-earth, respectful approach of Faber and Mazlish makes relationships with children of all ages less stressful and more rewarding.
Need Ideas to Motivate Your Student?
Every parent finds themselves struggling to motivate their student at some point, whether they are an ARVA parent or a 'brick and mortar' parent. Check out these fun, inspiring videos, shared by Kristy Munroe, an Engagement Coach on the FASTeam.
Which Student are You?
http://viewpure.com/6hDdVLxdKok?start=0&end=0
What’s Stopping You From Achieving Your Goals?
http://viewpure.com/XZRw91uNMq0?start=0&end=0
A Letter to the Future from Kid President
http://viewpure.com/j393lNECNGw?start=0&end=0
Kid President’s 20 Things We Should Say More Often
http://viewpure.com/m5yCOSHeYn4?start=0&end=0
The Science of Happiness – An Experiment in Gratitude
http://viewpure.com/oHv6vTKD6lg?start=0&end=0
Learning to Fail
http://viewpure.com/X0ZtPqG7t-A?start=0&end=0
Breaking down the unknown
http://viewpure.com/_pBLPrWle7g?start=0&end=02016-2017 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 and Outing Information
ARVA's Booster Club is Hosting a Chuck E. Cheese Fundraiser Night in LR - this Friday, Nov. 4, 3-9pm
Wish there were MORE OUTINGS near you?
YOU are important and needed!
Click here for information and to access recordings.
ARVA’s next outings of this school year
Booster Meeting Recording
Our next meeting is Nov. 17.
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.
Look at all the ways ARVA Diamonds SHINE across our state!
Henkle Family in North AR Hosts Halloween Party of Awesomeness for ARVA Families
The Wheat Family Hosted an Online Pumpkin Decorating Contest
K-2nd Grade Winner (to the right) - Talia (owl)
3rd-5th Grade Winner - Bradlynn (Pinnochio)
6th-8th Grade Winner - Levi (BB8)
9th-12th Grade Winner - Sidney (cat)
The Wheat Family Also Organized a Petting Zoo Booster Outing
Community Resources in your area
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!!
Home Educators Resource Directory
Know of other community resources in your area?
Share them with us so that we can share them with the ARVA community.
Special Needs Families ~ Click the pictures below to read more!
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, golf, ceramics, etc. Most programs are FREE!
I CAN! of Arkansas in Central AR
2 Special Needs Programs in NW AR
- Children with Special Needs and their families are invited to come to Jump!Zone in Bentonville on the 1st Wednesday of every month from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. FREE! What an exciting Booster outing this would be! Click here to see how to set up a Booster outing.
- The Special Needs Athletic Program, Inc. (SNAP, Inc.) states that their mission is to expand the quality of life for individuals with disabilities through athletics and activities, to provide positive and encouraging leadership for the development of these individuals/athletes, and to support and enrich their lives through social interactions. Contact Mark Stave: supernaturals1416@gmail.com for more information.
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!
K12 Resources and Offerings
Savor the Season Pinterest Sweepstakes
Learning Liftoff
To stay connected with educational parenting articles, subscribe to our Learning Liftoff newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
K12 Student Clubs
K12 offers a variety of student clubs where like-minded students can share their areas of interest. These clubs are offered typically two times a month, and last one hour. Browse our 2016–2017 club listings by clicking here, and register for your favorite clubs today!
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 will be hosting 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.
Motivate 2 Activate
Also, visit the ARVA Strong Start site to find all of the available links to recordings that will help you with everything from behavior strategies to managing multiples.
UPCOMING SESSIONS IN THE SERIES
November 15th @ 6:30pm
What Motivates Your Student?
We all seek achievement through various means. Motivation for most students resides along a continuum which has at its ends, compliance and control. Understanding where your student lies along that continuum allows you to discover techniques that will help motivate your student in ways that feel better to the student.
December 6th @ 6:30pm
Your Role As A Learning Coach
As a learning coach it is important to understand what we are able to provide and what we should provide to help our student be successful. “When I understand what I am responsible for I have a better chance of working effectively with my student using the things I can control. I stop wasting time trying to control things that the student has control over.”
ARVA's Family Academic Support Team (FAST) and the Strong Start Site
- Jennifer Shelby for grades K-8: jshelby@arva.org
- Alyssa Gordon for grades 9-12: agordon@arva.org
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
Amanda Lloyd, assistant editor