PLA Virtual News
Phalen Virtual Leadership Academy
"Bytes" From Your School Leader
November 28, 2021
Greetings Phalen Virtual Leadership Academy Families,
Happy Sunday! It is my hope that you enjoyed a safe and happy extended Thanksgiving Holiday Break. We are geared up and excited to welcome you back to school tomorrow morning bright and early to begin the week with a strong start. It is hard to believe, but we are nearing the end of quarter 2, which also means that it is even more important to stay connected to end the semester strong. Your scholars daily attendance and participation are critical for their optimal success along with us staying connected as partners in their education.
If you have specific questions about your scholars progress of grades, please always connect with your scholars teachers. Yes, we have Infinite Campus, but our teacher are always accessible to answer individual questions to help guide and support you. We understand that simply looking at a grade in an app does not tell a complete story, and we appreciate you wanting to stay connected. Our teachers have Planning/Office Hours. so please do not hesitate to schedule a mini meeting to connect and ensure you know where your scholar stands in any class. We are always here for you.
Please be sure to read the urgent updates regarding scholar technology Help Desk and Device Support below. We have some urgent news to share with you regarding a wonderful shift we have made based on Learning Coach feedback and our need to better support you. Please take time to thoroughly read the changes we have made to our Technology and Help Desk Support effective immediately. We are certain you will be pleased, and we appreciate your feedback.
We are very excited to welcome some additional teachers and support staff to our team this semester! As a result, we are making a few minor schedule modifications at the middle and high school level beginning Thursday, December 2, 2021. The changes will be introduced to scholars on Monday and Tuesday with a Professional Development day on Wednesday to ensure everyone is aware and receives the ,minor adjustments prior to making the change. There will also be minor ELA schedule adaptations to allow for additional time in English Language Arts for all K-8 scholars.
We look forward to an awesome week!
With Gratitude,
Dr. Townsend
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
Teacher Professional Development Day (Alternate LIVE Schedule)
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Please check your Grade Level Newsletter for a Detailed Schedule with Times
Finals Week for High School Scholars ONLY
Monday, December 13- Thursday, December 16, 2021
End of Semester (Early Release Day for Scholars)
Friday, December 17, 2021
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.
Learning Coaches/Parents, please remember that you must log in to count your scholar as present by 9:00am EST daily. In addition, teachers will take attendance during all live sessions, and scholars are expected to remain in class the entire time to ensure they receive the full lesson.
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