Arcadia This Week 10/11/2020

Hello, everyone!

Here’s what’s up at Arcadia this week!

MS students are in-building for the hybrid. HS is distance learning.

Monday: Day 6

Tuesday: Day 1

Wednesday: Day 2

Thursday: Day 3 

Friday: Day 4

 

Mission Spotlight

It is the mission of Arcadia Charter School to prepare our students to transition intellectually, emotionally, and ethically to higher education, future employment, and engaged citizenship.

Arcadia Charter School envisions a supportive learning community that, through collaboration and student-driven, project-based learning, encourages and assists students to:

  • Express themselves creatively through the visual, literary, and performing arts.

  • Use technology with innovation, imagination, and responsibility.

  • Develop critical thinking and creative problem solving skills.

  • Construct knowledge and meaning for themselves.

  • Value, advocate, and strive for the wellness of the whole person.

  • Be empowered to act as local citizens within a rapidly changing global community.

Every Friday, I attend a meeting with Rice County Public Health (RCPH) to discuss the latest COVID information and how it may impact schools. COVID numbers are on the rise in Rice County--our latest preliminary case rate, as calculated by the County, was 22.20 per 10,000 people for Sept. 27-Oct. 10. Luckily, that does not require us to move to a distance learning only model (that occurs at a case rate of 30 or more per 10,000 people in a two week period). However, we have decided to postpone some things we were hoping to do (like an outdoor middle school field trip to a nearby location) until the combination of weather and case rate make it possible to more safely and comfortably hold large outdoor gatherings. We had first started talking about the idea when our case rate was below 10 per 10,000 in a two week period, but as things change, we adapt, and we make decisions based on what is the best for the well-being of our community. Our mission and vision remind us that caring for ourselves and our community is an integral part of what we do. 

Based on the current rise in numbers, I do not anticipate a change toward an all in-person model in the near future. Our plan at this time is to continue with the hybrid model for the 2nd Quarter, unless case rates would continue to rise and we were forced to move to distance learning only. We’re hoping that won’t happen! So far, things are going well at Arcadia. Keep wearing masks, distancing, and taking care of you! Thank you for everything you are doing to keep yourself and your community safer!

At the RCPH meeting, they did ask us to consider our plans for breaks, since people were more likely to gather over holidays. We are looking at the possibility of doing distance learning for one week after both the Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks, and for the two days leading up to each of those breaks. I will be discussing this with RCPH before finalizing the plan.

 

Announcements

Attendance Form

Just a reminder that attendance can be reported through our website! Go to “Current Families” and then “ Report an Absence.” You can fill out as much as is relevant. If your child is staying home ill, please make sure to report symptoms, as we are required to track a lot of information on illness this year! If you’d rather just save a link to the form somewhere accessible to you, here is a link to the form.

Grades Updated on Mondays

The staff has committed to keeping gradebooks updated weekly, with grades updated by Monday of each week. 

A quick refresher on how to find and log into the parent portal:

Start at our website (www.arcadiacharterschool.org), and go to “Current Families.” Under the “Current Families” menu, click on “Log in to JMC.” It will take you to the portal for all types of JMC accounts. Click on “Parents.” 

Your username is your last name. If you have forgotten (or don’t know) your password, click “Forgot Password,” and it will take you through a series of prompts to reset it.

Asynchronous Learning Days (next one coming up on Oct. 30th)

The feedback regarding asynchronous learning days was overwhelmingly positive! Thank you for your responses. We are planning another on October 30th. If this also goes well, we will create 

Picture Days: November 2nd (MS) and November 12 (HS)

We will have school pictures this year! The dates we settled on with Lifetouch are November 2nd for middle school students, and November 12th for high school students. You are not required to have your picture taken. We will send out a sign-up with times closer to the date.

 

Upcoming Events

Oct. 20: School Board Meeting (Online: https://meet.google.com/tmk-nfcx-szi, or to join by phone, dial +1 513-796-6467 and enter this PIN: 493 475 105#)

Oct. 30: Asynchronous Learning Day

Nov. 2: MS Picture Day

Nov. 12: HS Picture Day

 

Sincerely,