Welcome to October, CSA!
It doesn’t take long for the school routine to be in full swing. In fact, we have some major events occurring in the next few weeks supporting the fact that school is, indeed, in full swing!
MAP Assessments
A few learners need additional time to complete the MAP assessments in math, reading, or language usage (or science in grade 8). Mr. Rau, Assistant School Director, will be scheduling time this week to complete the assessment(s).
Online Zoom Conferences Wednesday, October 7, and Thursday, October 8 – No Learners at School
On Wednesday, October 7, and Thursday, October 8, from 1:00-7:00 PM, 10-minute online Zoom conferences will occur instead of our normal school day. (Please refer to earlier Monday Messages for the change in the online conference dates.) Have your learner log into their CSA email to access the facilitator links and have them attend with you. (Note: The links are accessible only to the CSA community.) The Zoom links are the same ones learners used to get into our virtual classes. Please sign up using SignUp Genius at this link:
A few notes:
- You do not need to meet with every facilitator.
- Please focus on the content areas. We are not scheduling for Tech Apps, Study Hall, or Advisory classes. We are not scheduling any conferences for 6th grade math at this time due to the change in teachers. Direct updates with all 6th grade families will be communicated this coming week.
- Spanish interpreters: Spanish interpreters will be available from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7.
- If you need more than the 10-minute time slot, please feel free to email the facilitator with any questions you may have that were not covered in the conference.
Normally, this conference is where learners, families, and facilitators review progress on Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) goals and make adjustments as needed. Please note that ILP goals are based on the results of the MAP assessments. Your learner will be sharing his/her ILP goals with you between Fall Break and Thanksgiving Break.
Parent Input on Individualized Learning Plan (ILP)
Hopefully, your learner brought home the Parent Input on ILP (on blue paper) document this past Friday to share with you. This document becomes part of each learner’s ILP, and your learner’s goals should also include input from you via this document.
Full-Day Friday, October 9: Makeup Time for Moving on September 10-11
Remember that Friday, October 9 (Black Skies Friday Schedule) will be a full day, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to make up for the two days CSA was not in session so we could move into our new building. The other two full-day Fridays are November 6 (Blue Skies Friday Schedule) and December 11 (Blue Skies Friday Schedule).
Still In Process: October Count!
Please remember that the October Count window is still in process; the window is between September 24 and October 8. Your support of your school of choice, Colorado SKIES Academy, is vital! Our funding comes directly from the number of learners who attend and are verified in the October count window. This is how all public schools, including public charter schools like Colorado SKIES Academy, are funded. Please make sure that if your learner is well (passes the COVID Symptom Checker) that s/he is in attendance during this count window.
Monday, October 5: Message Sent Using Blackboard Connect. Check your email.
CSA is using a new messaging system, Blackboard Connect, that allows us to send messages — some urgent, such as school closures/delays and other items, and some not urgent, such as notifications of events. A message is being sent on Monday, October 5, via email from Blackboard Connect. Please check and make sure you receive an email (please check your spam email, too), as this is how we will relay urgent messages and some routine information to you.
If you want a text/email about school delays, school closures, and other school notifications, please make sure you receive Monday’s Blackboard Connect email. If you do not receive it, contact the Main Office and we can send you information on how to make sure all of your information is in PowerSchool; this is where the notification list is generated.
Note: Parent University — Schoology 101 on Friday, October 9, at 6:30 p.m. Zoom link will be sent out via Blackboard Connect to ensure only CSA families have access.
Please note: CSA school delays and closures are also reported via the following:
- Banner on the CSA website Main Page.
- School closure/delay lists on Channels 2, 4, 7, 9 and Fox31.
Fall Break: Monday, October 12, through Friday, October 16
For the convenience of our families with younger/older siblings, CSA’s calendar follows CCSD school district for many of the holiday breaks. School will not be in session during this week. The Main Office will also be closed during this time.
Key Quarter 1 Dates
- Monday, October 19: Any remaining assignments from Quarter 1 that learners were not able to submit during the times they were off (October 7, October 8, and Fall Break week) are due to facilitators by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, October 19. CSA facilitators are giving an extension to all learners since we have all been working hard to get used to in-person learning again. This allows facilitators time to grade the assignments so they can properly calculate a learner’s grade and record it on Friday, October 23. (Study hall time was built in for moments like these!)
- Friday, October 23: Presentation of Learning Quarter 1. Learners will be presenting what they learned over the course of Quarter 1. Normally, we would invite CSA families to participate in this event. However, in light of COVID, we are looking at alternative ways to share these presentations with you. Stay tuned for more information to come!
Quarter 2 Projects
- Grade 6: Aviation — A Community of Care
- Grades 7-8: Drones in Modern Society
Thank you all for your continued support as we diligently work to provide in-person learning for our CSA learners. We are doing well so far and need to continue to review, revise, and adjust our protocols to make sure we can remain in person. Your diligence in completing the daily COVID Symptom Checker, along with other protocols, is helping CSA hold school each day. I believe it is essential for us to do everything we can to be sure CSA is open every day. The emotional, mental, and social health of our CSA learners is so important! Together, we can be the model for providing a learning atmosphere that supports the whole child academically, socially, and emotionally.
Warm regards,
Suzanne Acheson
School Director
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