Arcadia This Week 2/14/2024

Hello, everyone!

Happy Valentine’s Day! There is a LOT of information in this update, and some of the information has been difficult to round up, so I apologize that it is coming late. I may send some things separately, too!

Today’s newsletter includes:

  1. Asynchronous Days and Conferences

  2. Arcadia Gear Store

  3. Gertens Fundraiser

  4. Social Worker, Secure Base, and CloseGap

  5. All School Field Trip to Northrop Auditorium

  6. Upcoming Arcadia Information Nights (2/23/24, 3/14/24, 3/21/24)

  7. Announcements from Outside Organizations

    1. Model UN (YMCA)

    2. Child Tax Credit and K-12 Education Credit (State of MN)

  8. Upcoming Events

Asynchronous Days and Conferences

Just a reminder that Thursday and Friday are asynchronous days! Students, don’t forget to log in and complete your classes before 2:30pm. Paras will be available online, and teachers will be available via email–and can meet with you online if you request it. I (Laura) will send more information and the links for the paras in the morning!

Thursday and Friday are also conference days! Families, if you haven’t signed up, there is still time! Email your child’s advisor, and they can send you the link. We try to get 100% participation in conferences, so even if you can’t attend in the next two days, please reach out to your child’s advisor to schedule a conference!

Conference Snow Day?

In the event that Northfield calls a snow day for tomorrow (Thursday), we will assume that the roads are dangerous for travel, and advisors will email you to either move to an online conference on Thursday, or reschedule for an in-person conference. (We still have plenty of time on Friday, so we could likely just shift you to Friday.) I will notify everyone via JMC if this occurs.

Arcadia Gear Online Store

We have a new vendor providing us with Arcadia gear! It has taken us a while to get everything set up, but the store will now be available on an ongoing basis, instead of only for brief, occasional windows of time, and Arcadia will get a small amount of money back on orders (a dollar or two).

Here is a link to the new Arcadia Online Store:

https://arcadiaschool2023.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Check out all of the fun things available, and let Laura know if there’s anything else you’d like (items, colors) added to the store! 

Orders can be shipped to you or you can pick them up at Star Sports and Apparel in Faribault. 

Gertens Fundraiser

Back by popular demand, we are participating in the Gertens Spring Bedding Plants and Perennials fundraiser! You will be able to order plants between now and April 1st. Arcadia receives 30% from all plant sales, and 15% of gift card sales.

There are two ways to access our Gertens site.

The classic way is to:

  1. Go to www.gertensfundraising.com

  2. Enter the Store ID code (43) provided into the text field and click ‘Enter ID to Continue’.

Store ID code for Arcadia Charter School: 43

Or you can go to it directly via QR Code:

Plant pickup will take place on May 15th from 3:00-5:00pm in the backyard at Arcadia. 

Social Worker, Secure Base, and CloseGap

If you look at the school board minutes, you may know that we have been trying to find a social worker since last June. We have, at long last, hired a new person to help out with social work at school! However, she will only be able to be here for an hour in the morning 3-4 days/week. 

We continue to offer students mental health support through Secure Base Counseling; you can contact Secure Base directly, or contact Laura to make the connection if you would like your child to access these services at school.

We are also working on additional ways to support students’ mental health as a community. Laura is working on providing all students with access to a tool called CloseGap. This would allow students to alert us discreetly that they are in need of support, and for Laura or an advisor to check in with them. Laura will send a separate email requesting permission for your child to use this tool. 

All School Field Trip to Northrop Auditorium, 2/29/2024

We are taking the whole school on a Leap Day field trip to see a very unique show at Northrop Auditorium! Performed by a group called Manual Cinema, the show combines shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and live music performed on the Northrop Auditorium pipe organ, which, according to the UMN website, is one of the few remaining concert hall pipe organs (it has 7,000 pipes and is nearly 40 feet tall). Here is a link if you’d like to read more about this event: https://www.northrop.umn.edu/events/student-matinee-manual-cinema-ada-ava-2024

The cost will be $10/student to cover the buses and admission fees (the buses are partially reimbursed by Northrop). Please send in a check, cash, or pay via PayPal on the school's website. With whichever form of payment you choose to send, please note your child's name and that the money is for the all school field trip.

Fill out the permission slip here: https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/e/BbWZ4i5R4vjAwivMfojnuJ/

We plan to depart from Arcadia between 8:45am and 9:00am and to return to school between 1:00pm and 1:15pm. Students should bring a bag lunch, or purchase a bag lunch from the school ($3.25). Students who typically eat the school lunch will have time to pick one up prior to departure.

Upcoming Arcadia Information Nights

We are working on building up our enrollment for next year–please spread the word about our upcoming information nights! We want everyone in town to know about Arcadia, our unique approach to education, and the great things happening here!

  • Friday, 2/23/2024, 6:30-8:00pm (Prairie Creek Community School-focused)

    • We’ve invited all Prairie Creek 4th and 5th grade students to join us for pizza and to talk about what the transition to Arcadia might look like!

  • Thursday, 3/14/2024, 6:30-8:00pm (8th Grade Night for Arcadia 8th Graders)

    • This night is for Arcadia 8th graders to learn about the high school program! 

  • Thursday, 3/21/2024, 6:30-7:30pm (General Information Night)

COVID Numbers and Courtesy Masking

We have had a few people out with COVID at any given time over the course of the past couple of weeks. We have not hit an influenza-like illness (ILI) rate high enough to warrant any official change to what we are doing at school, but it would be very helpful if students who are not feeling 100% or who have been exposed to a COVID case would please wear a mask to prevent spreading any illnesses. This is not a requirement, but if it’s possible, it would really help us out! Thank you!

Announcements from Outside Organizations

Model UN (YMCA)

The Model United Nations group came to visit Arcadia, and a number of students were interested in participating! This is a YMCA program. Registration goes through February 27th.

To register for the Model UN, please go to this link: https://www.ymcanorth.org/locations/center_for_youth_voice/programs/model_united_nations/register

There is also a place on this page to apply for a scholarship, since the program is not inexpensive ($399). They encourage everyone to participate, and I’m told they will work with families to meet their needs. 

One of the leaders suggested that interested students could also drop into their first two meetings on 2/15 and 2/26, held from 7:00-8:00pm, in H102 at the Northfield High School. 

Child Tax Credit (State of Minnesota)

Minnesotans can now claim the Child Tax Credit, with no limit on the number of children claimed. You must file a 2023 individual income tax return in order to claim the credit. Most taxpayers who are eligible to claim the new Child Tax Credit are also eligible for free tax preparation assistance. Learn more about income requirements and qualifications on the Child Tax Credit webpage. 

The tax credit of up to $1750 per child is estimated to cut child poverty by up to one third in Minnesota. Nearly 300,000 households including 513,000 children are estimated to qualify for the credit.

Save Receipts for School Supplies (State of Minnesota)

The Minnesota Department of Revenue offers two valuable tax benefits for parents who purchase school supplies for their K-12 students: the K-12 Education Credit and Subtraction. These benefits can reduce parents’ taxes to increase their refund, but is only available for those who keep their receipts. Purchases for most school supplies, field trips, and musical instruments for school band are eligible.

Most Minnesota parents qualify for the K-12 subtraction, which reduces their taxable income. Parents under certain income limits may also qualify for the K-12 credit, which can refund up to 75% of their costs – even for parents who do not owe any taxes. Visit Revenue's website for details.

Upcoming Events

2/15 and 2/16: Winter Conferences and Asynchronous Days

2/15, 4:00pm: Arcadia Finance Committee (online): https://meet.google.com/vsb-nrqc-zuj

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 502-373-0319‬ PIN: ‪351 249 136‬#

2/19: No School (Staff Development Day)

2/20, 6:30pm: Arcadia School Board Meeting (in person or online): https://meet.google.com/hyf-amke-zsx

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 470-205-9841‬ PIN: ‪722 962 113‬#

2/23, 6:30-8:00pm: Arcadia Information Night, focused on Prairie Creek Community School

2/29: All School Field Trip to Northrop Auditorium

Sincerely,