December 2011 Newsletter

November 2011 Newsletter

October 2011 Newsletter

September 2011 Newsletter

Reading List

August 2011 Newsletter

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Download ALL 2011 – 2012 Student Learning Logs below:

All 2011- 2012 Student Learning Logs

…or download individual Student Learning Logs below:

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Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to prepare their children fo the S T A R test and to the students who did their best. I was so impressed with the effort and we anticipate great scores in August. If you have suggestions that could help improve how testing goes next year, please email me at laura.vanacker [at] newdayacademy.net. I’d love to hear from you.

We have a couple field trips left this year and are looking forward to graduation ceremonies in June.  We hope to see smiling faces at all of those activities.

As the year slides to an end your assigned teacher will be talking to you about curriculum for next year and we need to collect all materials that you do not need for the 11-12 school year. The bookmobile will be in Redding the following dates to facilitate curriculum and material returns: May 19, May 26, June 2, June 9, and possibly June 16. We appreciate your cooperation so that we can check everything back in and start pulling curriculum for the 11-12 year.  Our goal is to have curriculum in your hands in August so you have time to prepare for the new year.

If you have a student that will be in the 7th through 12th grade next year, please remember that they have to get the Dtap vaccination before school starts.

Hoping you have time to enjoy the spring flowers …

Laura VanAcker

June Graduation Information !

May Field Trip Information

• This is a free field trip aside from transportation, parking, and lunch costs.

• If you’ve forgotten to sign up, you are more than welcome to still join us! SEE YOU THERE!

Returning Library Materials

It’s that time of year again. Please begin to return your library materials to either the library or the bookmobile so that we can replenish the library for the new year.  This includes returning all games, videos, DVDs, and CDs that have been checked out. If you have materials that you intend to use next year you can keep them through the summer. Please let your teacher know so they can be renewed in the library system.

Tony will be available to pick up your materials in Redding, CA at the Sports Authority Parking Lot from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, the following dates: May 19 May 26 June 2 June 9

The faster we get items back to the library, the faster we can start pulling curriculum for the 11-12 year.

Earth Day Art Projects

Last month we celebrated Earth Day. The Alturas Art class did some great Earth Day art projects using recyclable materials, and they would like to share one of those projects with you!

Spring Lantern:

Recyclable Material:
A left over glass jar (try an old jelly or pickle jar)

• Step 1: Rinse your jar.
• Step 2: Paint a thin coat of paper mache paste (1 part flour, 2 parts water, thoroughly mixed—add some cinnamon to improve the smell!) onto the sides of the jar.
• Step3: Apply tissue paper squares onto the sides of the jar. (If you have old left over tissue paper from Christmas or a birthday, you can recycle that too!) Try making a    pattern!
• Step 4: Apply another thin coat of the paste over the tissue paper. Do so delicately as to not tear the tissue.
• Step 5: Once dry, place a tealight candle inside the jar, light it, and watch your lantern glow with colors!

Immunization Requirement for Enrollment

California law requires all incoming 7th graders through 12th graders to receive a Tdap booster shot, which protects against whooping cough.

In order to Enroll or Re Enroll with New Day Academy for the 2011-2012 school year, families MUST show proof of immunization, including this new booster requirement, or a special waiver form if you choose not to give your child the booster based on personal beliefs.

Contact your county public health services for information on free shot clinics, as well as to obtain the necessary forms.

• Lassen County Public Health: 530-251-8183 Shasta County Public Health: 430-225-5591

• Modoc County Public Health: 530-233-6311

• Immunization records can be faxed to NDA @ : 530-233- 3864

• Forms must be submitted to NDA by August NO LATER THAN Friday August 25th, or your child will not be enrolled.

Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you.

- Aldous Huxley

WASC Parent Survey

Parents are encouraged to help us know how we are doing at New Day Academy by filling out a survey at : http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NDAparentsurvey

We also have hard copies of the survey if you don’t have access to the internet. Results will be used in the self review process for our accreditation to chart our course in the next school year.We really do listen and care about your opin- ion and would love suggestions for improvement..

Give us a call if you need a survey or would like the web address emailed to you.

Interested in serving on our Board of Directors?

New Day Academy has a five person governing board that oversees school plans, operations, and budget while providing guidance to the Director. It is an important position and a wonderful opportunity to influence where our school is headed.

We anticipate an opening this fall. We would like to have a candidate with an accounting or financial back- ground. The board meets one day per month and the members do receive a travel stipend and $50 per meeting to cover expenses incurred by attending the meeting.

Our next board meeting is in Alturas on May 23rd at 1:00. A great way to decide if you are interested is to attend a meeting.

If you would like to know more about this opportunity please call Laura Van Acker at 233-3861.

Download this Newsletter

Thanks to everyone who participated with our STAR writing test and the High School Exit Exam in March. Attendance for all state tests is critical to the success of our school. We appreciate that you took the time to address those requirements.

We hope everyone took some time during our spring break to breathe and rest. I’d say we hope you had time to smell the flowers but we don’t have any of those yet in Alturas. Today we have snow.

Word of mouth is a wonderful thing… Thanks to those of you sharing your New Day experience with friends. We are taking applications for next year and are hearing from some wonderful families interested in joining us. Our enrollment for this year is
closed at this time but we are taking applications for next year.

STAR testing is creeping up on us and I hope you have materials you can use to prepare your children for the tests. Our testing schedule is found on page 3 of this newsletter. Our hope is that students feel comfortable with the material and that the testing experience is as stress free as possible. Our test scores determine our viability with the state and continued score improvement is essential to our sustainability for funding and for our accreditation process. We are in the second year of our five year charter and one element for renewal is related to how our students perform on the tests. Please know that we are available and prepared to spend extra time with your children to help them with state standard proficiency. In addition to our assigned teachers we have tutors that can assist you as needed.

Enough about testing for now. . . We have some wonderful field trip opportunities this spring that we hope you can take advantage of. These trips will be fun and a great way to meet other families and learn by doing.

Best Wishes, Laura VanAcker

What is WASC?

New Day Academy is proud to be an accredited school through the Western Accrediting Com- mission for Schools. Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met. If standards are met, accredited status is granted by the agency. Colleges review student transcripts and it is critical that our school has the WASC stamp of approval.

We are in the 5th year of our 6 year accreditation and are working on our self study process that will culminate in a report and a visit by the commission in April of 2012.

A major component of our study involves participation from parents and students as we assess our strengths and identify our areas in need of improvement. We will be seeking information, ideas, and committee participation starting in April 2011. We are excited to dig in and find out how we are doing.

Postcard Contest Winners

Congratulations to the winners of our Postcard Design Contest. Our office staff, Alturas teachers, and the Alturas Art Classes helped judge the contest.

For the age group 5 to 8, first place winner was 3rd grader, Abigail Bratcher. Our second place winner was 1st grader, Lauren Wang. Our third place winner was Kindergartner, Rebekka Brooke. Fourth place went to 3rd grader, Ramey Reuck. Honorable mention awards went to Karlee Reuck, Corrin Nelson, and Paden Nelson.

For the age group 9 to 16, 6th grader, Eric VanAcker, won first place. 4th grader, Natalie Wang, won 2nd place. Third place went to 11th grader, Nate McHugh, W e had a 3 way tie for fourth place between 10th grader Corena Shepperd, 8th grader Anna Colbert, and 6th grader Jacob McHugh. Honorable mentions go out to Anna Estill, Bri Wilkinson and Joshua Bratcher.

Thank you everyone for participating!

Upcoming Field Trips

The Sound of Music

Sign Ups Closed April 9th, Saturday 3:00 PM The Cascade Theatre 1731 Market St Redding, CA 96001-1933 (530) 243-8877

Meet Kelly (will have nametag) out front to pick up tickets.

Wild Horse and Burro Program

April 15th, Friday 10:00 AM
Located 21 miles east of Susanville, CA on US Highway 395.

Sign Ups Open!

Enter at main entrance, look for Kelly (will have nametag)

Driscoll Strawberry Ranch

In Red Bluff, CA May 14th, Saturday 9-11 Bring Lunch 22000 Bend Ferry Rd

Burney Falls Hike & Picnic

Friday, May 20th, we will be organizing a trip to the McArthur-Burney Falls Memo- rial State Park. There is a short hike down to the falls, as well as a 1.3 mile trail that circlesthefalls. Thenwecan picnic at the Lake Britain Marina.

There is also a General Store and Gift Store there with grocery items if you’d prefer to purchase a lunch versus bringing a picnic.

There are nice picnic tables at the lake, which is a short drive fromthefalls. Therewillbea small parking fee.

Don’t forget your camera!

STAR Testing Tips

• Come up with the answer in your head before looking at the possible answers, this way the choices given on the test won’t throw you off or trick you.

• Read the question before you look at the answer

• Read all the choices before choosing your answer

• Eliminate answers you know aren’t right.

• If there is no guessing penalty, always take an educated guess and select an answer.

• Don’t keep changing your answer; usually your first choice is the right one, unless you misread the question.

• If you are certain one of the statements is true don’t choose “None of the above” or if one of the statements is false don’t choose “All of the above”.

• If you see that at least two correct statements, then “All of the above” is probably the answer.

• Usually the correct answer is the choice with the most information.

STAR Testing Information…

• DATES
  • April 26th thru April 28th – Redding high school students (Grades 9—11), as well as Burney-Fall River students will test this week.
  • May 3rd thru May 5th – All Alturas and Susanville students test this week, as well as Redding Students grades 2—8

• TIMES
  • Redding Testing starts at 9:00 am
  • Alturas Testing starts at 9:00 am
  • Susanville Testing starts at 9:00 am for grades 2-8 and 1:00 pm for grades 9-11

• LOCATIONS
  • Alturas Faith Baptist Church
  • Susanville Learning Center
  • Burney Word of Life Assembly
  • Redding Bonneyview Baptist

2011-2012 Curriculum Orders

Put your thinking caps on…Its time to start looking ahead to curriculum needs for the 11-12 school year. Your assigned teacher will be working with you to put together a list of your needs so we can have curriculum in your hands in August 2011 for the next year.

GRADUATION Update

School ends June 3rd and graduation is on the horizon! We are including 8th graders in our ceremony as they are promoted to highschool. Any students attending will be honored with a certificate of advancement.

This year we have equal numbers of graduates in Lassen, Modoc, and Shasta Counties. To ensure that all graduates can attend a ceremony we will be celebrating this important accomplishment in Susanville, Redding, and Alturas. We are forming committees in each area to plan the events and we hope all interested participants jump in and give us a hand preparing for this important day.

Redding – Barb Writer is leading the Redding Grad committee and will be contacting families with seniors and 8th graders. Please call 530-275-4454.

Alturas – Lorraine Colbert is the committee leader for the Alturas Grad ceremony. Please call 530-640-0193 with questions.

Susanville – Ann Weaver is the committee leader for the Susanville Grad ceremony. Please call 530-257-7400 with questions.

SENIORS – Please check out Graduation Source online to pick out your cap and gown color and sizes. GraduationSource

• Seniors be sure to get your FASFA filed before end of May. Go to fasfa.ed.gov

New Library Media!

• BOOKS ON CD

Going on a road trip? Look for these CD’s on our online library and at the bookmobile.

Download this Newsletter

Tighten your seatbelts because the end of the year is headed our way. It seems that the second half of the year flies by as we prepare for the STAR writing test for 4th and 7th graders March 1-2, the 10th grade Cahsee test March 8-9, and STAR testing between April 26- May 5th. Testing is critical to our school’s success and funding so our commitment is to support you and your children the best that we can so that all our students feel confident and prepared. Your teachers have prep packets with released test ques ions to help with that process. We have tutors and teachers experienced with the subject areas ready to help. Just let us know what we can do to assist.

Our spring break is March 14-18th this year. Easter is April 24th, the week before testing and late in the semester so we didn’t want to put it off that long. We will have the Friday before and the Monday after Easter off as well.

I had a great time skiing with some of our students at Mt. ShastaonJanuary28th. The Friday Home school program is a fun program and lessons are available until March 11. NDA is covering the cost for our students to have two lessons, rentals, and the lift ticket. Ask your teacher for more information or give us a call at the office.

Western Accrediting Commission for Schools Self Study Begins…

New Day Academy is in the 5th year of a 6 year accreditation through the Western Accrediting Commission for Schools. This year we are starting the self study process that culminates in a report and a visit from the commission in April of 2012.

Accreditation is important to schools as it impacts students’ access to colleges and universities and career opportunities in a variety of ways. An effective WASC self-study review is a powerful tool for schools to improve the quality of education and more effectively serve staff and students.

New Day Academy will be forming working groups to evaluate and discuss our school’s governance, culture, curriculum, assessments, and student achievement. We are  looking forward to evaluating how we are doing, hearing from our families, and working on a plan of improvement. Participation from all of our stakeholders is critical and we will be asking for help with the following:

• Completion of a parent and student questionnaire,
• Participation from students and parents with the study groups
• Pictures of our students enjoying activities.that will be included in our self study report.
• Samples of work for the commit- tee report and visit.

Call 530-233-3861

NOW to get on the list for the Spring Tour for the College of Agriculture at CSU, Chico on March 26th, 2011. The tours will consist of a campus and farm tour along with admissions information. Even if you aren’t interested in the Ag. Department, this is still a great opportunity to see a working farm as well as one of the most beautiful campuses in Northern California.

Spring Break March 14-18th!

Sound of Music Field Trip

Hello! Last call for New Day Academy families wanting to attend the Sound of Music Field Trip at the Cascade Theatre in Redding, CA on Saturday, April 9th. We will be attending the matinee showing at 3:00.

New Day Academy is purchasing tickets for any New Day Academy student, as well as one adult chaperone per family. If you would like to purchase additional tickets for non-NDA children or additional chaperones, let us know and we will purchase the tickets all together. Reimbursement checks can be mailed to New Day Academy at 214 W. 1st Street, Alturas, CA 96101 or be given to Kelly McGarva at the Cascade Theatre when you arrive to pick up your tickets.

The price for additional children will be $10, and the price for additional adults will be $19. Last day to request tick-

ets is February 21st. Last day to cancel ticket requests is also February21st. Anyrequested tickets that go unused, whether they are for NDA students or not must be fully reimbursed by the family who requestedthem. This is to prevent wasted tickets.

Ticket requests: 530-233-3861

Wild Horse and Burro Field Trip Rescheduled

Unfortunately, our trip to the Wild Horse and Burro Field Trip had to be canceled due to weather.  We still believe this would be a great educational field trip, so we’ve decided to reschedule for a warmer date in Spring.

Our tentative date so far is April 15th, which is a Friday. The Wild Horse and Burro Program is located in Litchfield, CA, outside of Susanville.

There will be several activity stations during the field trip, and all ages are invited to go. This is a free field trip, it will only cost you gas to get there.

Come learn about the history of our wild horses, as well as their future. The best kind of learning is first hand experience!

Bring a bag lunch so that we can picnic on hay bales in the presence of these amazing animals after the tour!

The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears.
~Arabian Proverb

Cal Grants Time!

Would your high school student like to be eligible for a Cal Grant for higher education after graduation? Cal Grants are great because it is financial aide that does not have to be paid back. But before being able to quality, New Day Academy needs the following information for your child:

• Prospective Graduation Date
• And Social Security Number.
• Without the SSN, a student can not sign up to be eligible for cal grants.

The Test Corner.

Up Ahead: STAR Writing Test Grades 4 and 7

Tuesday March 1, 2011 all 4th and 7th grade students will be taking the state writing test. Each year the students are given a prompt and asked to complete a document. The test is not timed. The state department of education has information and preparation materials on their website at:

California Department of Education

Your teacher will be giving you examples of previous test prompts and answers so that students can see what to expect.

Testing Sites:

• Alturas Office 10-12
• Redding, National University 10-12
• Susanville Learning Center 10-12
• Burney Word of Life Assembly 4-6: 00

Exit Exam for 10th Graders March 7-8

All high school 10th graders must take the high school exit exam March 7th and 8th. This is a census test so it affects our state scores. Your teachers have preparation packets that give the students a step up and a good look at what they can expect on the exam. On Tuesday, March 7 they will take the Language Arts test. This includes reading comprehension, spelling, grammar, and an essay.

On Wednesday March 8th they take the math portion of the test. Questions range from pre algebra concepts to basic Algebra.

Testing Sites:

• Alturas Office 10-1:00
• Redding National University 10-1:00
• Susanville Learning Center 10-1:00
• Fall River Library 3:30 pm

Board Goal Setting Session Highlights

The NDA Board of Directors had a Goal SettingSessionJanuary8th. The following summarizes what they hope for our school.

WE WANT TO BE/BE KNOWN AS:

• A school of high integrity: Following charter school law/regulations; with accountability to state, WASC, parents, and our community
• A school that focuses on traditional home school families who are available and supportive of student achievement
• A school willing to support students who need an extra hand in completing their education as long as student/ family motivation to work hard and to succeed is evident

WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR DIRECTOR, TEACHERS AND STAFF BY:

• Providing professional development beyond what is necessary while encouraging staff to grow and achieve personal goals as they    relate to NDA
• Offering competitive salaries and compensation

WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS/ FAMILIES BY:

• Providing highly qualified, motivated teachers who believe in our non-site based independent study education model
• Encouraging parental input and recognizing the uniqueness of each child and family
• Continuing to provide a wide variety of
• Providing varied methods of education: online, textbooks, community college classes, etc.
• Providing tutoring, as needed/ requested, in all core subject areas Offering classes in core subjects and electives as desired by students/ parents
• Providing tutoring for students struggling with CAHSEE, STAR, and other tests Offering quality assessment tools for student placement and determining gaps in learning
• Providing quality academic counsel- ing for all high school students

Driscoll Strawberries Field Trip

We are planning a field trip to the Driscoll Strawberries ranch in Red Bluff, CA, as well as the ranch in McArthur. As long as we get enough interest, we will do both field trips in May, most likely on a Friday.

Come follow the life of a California strawberry from the fields to the consumer. Fun for all ages. This field trip is free, so don’t hesitate to bring the whole family.

Fun Facts About Valentine’s Day

• Physicians of the 1800′s commonly advised their patients to eat chocolate to calm their pining for lost love.
• Richard Cadbury produced the first box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day in the late 1800′s.
• More than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold for Valentine’s Day.
• The red rose was the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love.
• Teachers will receive the most Valentine’s Day cards, followed by children, mothers, wives, sweethearts and pets.
• About 3% of pet owners will give Valentine’s Day gifts to their pets.
• Popular belief states that the origin of Valentine’s Day is from the time of the Roman Empire, when Bishop Valentine was executed on February 14th for secretly wedding soldiers and their loves during wartime, which was forbidden by the emperor, Claudius II. Before the execution, he wrote a love note to the jailor’s daughter signed “From Your Valentine.”