Posts

Academic Enrichment Class- 1st-6th Grades for 2024-2025

Arete Charter Academy Blended Middle School (5-8th Grades)24/25

Want to join Arete’s Private Family Group on Facebook- do so here. Arete Charter Academy Family Group

A week’s worth of dates will be posted at the bottom and a list of Important Dates (along with other important sign ups) is on arete.prsd.us.

Dates for the 2024-2025 School Year

*September 3, Cookie Science TK-3rd 12:15-1:30

*September 3- Cross Country Practice 2:10-3pm

*September 4- Cross Country Meet at Weimar 3:30pm

*September 5- Cross Country Practice 2:10-3pm

*September 6, 9,10 Session 1 20 day meetings- Come to the font office for your very own Arete Water Bottle

*September 9 - Science Adventures in STEAM 4-8th 12:15-1:30

*September 10 - Science Adventures in STEAM TK-3rd 12:15-1:30

"Cookies and Classics" Reading Night

Our Dear Families! We are excited for our annual Reading Night held in the MPR, Thursday, September 26 at 5:30 pm. This year we will be diving into the children's classics, accompanied by another classic, cookies and milk. We are encouraging students to come in costume dressed as their favorite children's classic character, or some comfy pajamas. Don't forget to bring a cozy blanket and pillow for our reading time.

The schedule is as follows:

5:30- 6:00- Students will visit crafting booths and a book exchange table.

6:00- 6:15- Cookies and milk will be provided.

6:15- 7:00- Families will pile in the middle of the MPR with pillows,

and blankets for reading time.

Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!

If you would like to sign up to provide alternative allergy free cookies and dairy free milk, there will be slots to do so.

Date

09/26/2024 (Thu.)

Time

5:30PM - 7:00PM PDT

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4DABA623A4F4C16-51002761-cookies#/"Cookies and Classics" Reading Night

Sunday, August 25 Update

Another great week at Arete! We are loving having many of the 5th graders on campus more and then are mixing in so week with the rest of our sweet Blended Middle School. We opened up a new four classroom and one office wing and it is light, airy and beautiful! Music has been kicking off to an awesome start and we are looking forward to bringing more kids into music this week with the opening of the Resource Center. Mr. Horton has been an incredible addition to our Arete team. We are also excited to be starting three academic enrichment classes this week. If you signed up for any of these, you should have received an email welcoming you and giving you details. (We have a pretty deep waiting list for Trimester One piano classes). If kiddos are signed up and not attending regularly, we will communicate with you and might need to pull kids off the waiting list to make sure all pianos are being utilized. Email [email protected] with questions!

*Our amazing garden parents are looking for more parents to help support the garden with completing projects or working with classes. Lori Long is our Garden Coordinator and would love a partner. Email l[email protected] if interested!

*Please email Sheila at [email protected] if you would like to order free/reduced breakfast or lunch this year.

We are a NUT FREE campus. Please save nut snacks for while at home. Also, we have some other class specific allergies, so please email Sarah and the classroom teacher BEFORE bringing in birthday treats. We are also working towards a healthier campus and encourage snacks/treats that align with that. Low and zero waste items are preferred.

Important Sign Ups:

2nd-8th Grade Fall NWEA Math and AR Reading Assessments 2024-2025

Academic Enrichment Class- 1st-6th Grades for 2024-2025

Arete Charter Academy Blended Middle School (5-8th Grades)24/25

Want to join Arete’s Private Family Group on Facebook- do so here. Arete Charter Academy Family Group

A week’s worth of dates will be posted at the bottom and a list of Important Dates (along with other important sign ups) is on arete.prsd.us.

*NWEA/AR Testing-

-August 26- 9-12

-August 26- 9-12 Make Up Testing

*Resource Center Starts Monday, August 26 for Hybrid 4-8th

*Resource Center Starts Tuesday, August 27 for Hybrid TK-3rd

-August 28- Cross Country Practice 2:10-3pm

-August 30- Cross Country Practice 2:10-3pm

*September 2- Labor Day- No School

Attention 8th graders and parents - There will be an informational meeting for all who are interested in the Washington DC/New York City trip in June 2025. The meeting is on Wednesday, September 4th at 7PM in Room 25 (Kindergarten room) at Cottage Hill School. If you have questions, please email Mrs. Toft at [email protected].

Sunday, August 18 Updates

Hello families,

We had a great first day of testing. We had a little tech issue, but it is worked out for future days. Reminder to send your child a water bottle, with some work to complete if they finish early or a book to read. We have snacks or if they want a special snack, they can bring that.

If you have a 2-8th Grader who is NOT in the Blended Middle School, please click on the link and read the directions carefully if you have not signed up for testing yet. 2nd-8th Grade Fall NWEA Math and AR Reading Assessments 2024-2025

This will be the first sign-up for enrichments for the 2024-2025 School Year. There will be some classes that are single-week sign-ups and then some classes that are a series of classes with multiple sessions. If you sign up for a series of classes, please DO NOT sign up for additional classes that overlap. If you do so, the sign-up for the individual class will be deleted. There can be no overlap of classes, as Arete cannot pay for services that your child does not receive.

For ALL classes, please check your calendar to see if your kiddo is REALLY available on the days you select. For classes canceled by families with less than one week's notice, student funds will be charged, and a "to go" kit will be waiting for you in the school office. (Instructors have to buy materials in advance, and other kids could attend). If a class is full and you want to be added to the waiting list, please email Sarah at [email protected]. Please sign up for classes at least 48 hours in advance so we can check to make sure you have enough funds and that the instructor has enough supplies. We will try to add more sessions of the same classes if possible. If classes do not meet the minimum number of students, they will be canceled with a week's notice, and funds will be returned to the student's account.

***If your child is out of funds, Arete will delete them from the class sign-up and Sign Up Genius will send you an email notifying you. Then you may refer back to the Sign Up for the Instructor's email address to make private arrangements for signing up for the class and for private payment.

If school is canceled due to weather, enrichment classes will be rescheduled to the same day of the week if possible, but at the end of the trimester.

California law requires all students who receive classroom instruction through a school to be up to date on vaccinations or have a valid medical waiver registered with the CAIR Me website. Blended Middle School Students use all of their funds for that program, so please email instructors to sign up and pay privately. Thanks!

We will be sending out information later this week about Regular Resource Center and Academic Enrichment Classes which both start next week.

*Please email Sheila at [email protected] if you would like to order free/reduced breakfast or lunch this year.

We are a NUT FREE campus. Please save nut snacks for while at home. Also, we have some other class specific allergies, so please email Sarah and the classroom teacher BEFORE bringing in birthday treats. We are also working towards a healthier campus and encourage snacks/treats that align with that. Low and zero waste items are preferred.

*If you checked out items for the summer, please return them to the front office this week from 8am-4pm. We need to inventory them before the school year starts and then you can re-check out the items if you still need them.

*Our amazing garden parents are looking for more parents to help support the garden with completing projects or working with classes. Lori Long is our Garden Coordinator and would love a partner. Email l[email protected] if interested!

We are so excited to offer a new round of field trips. Starting August 26, you may sign up for as many as you would like. Until then, please choose one per family. Please pay attention to age restrictions. All field trips meet at the location and parents drive/carpool with their children. An Arete teacher will meet you there. Please watch dates closely and make note of the field trips that require prepayment for adult chaperones. Please pay 2 weeks early in the Arete office with exact cash, check made to PRSD, or at Mealtime https://www.mymealtime.com/($20 minimum). We pre-pay for all Arete students so if you need to cancel with less than a week's notice, you will need to reimburse Arete for the field trip fee for your child. All field trips will start at the field trip location with check in 15 minutes before the start time. Families are responsible for making transportation arrangements for their children. Families typically join the field trip. Please email at [email protected] if you need to drop off and pick up your child.

*Below is an Update to Cell Phone/Smart Watch Policy…

Arete Charter Academy and the Pleasant Ridge School District recognize the use of smartphones and other mobile communication devices on campus may be beneficial to students and their well-being but could be a distraction to learning and a disruption of the instructional program. To minimize such disruptions students in the grade TK- 8h grades may not use cell phones, smartphones, smartwatches, or other mobile communication devices once they have entered campus for the instructional day. Devices must be turned off and secured in backpacks or phone lockers during the school day. (BP 5131.8) Students may resume the use of their mobile communication device after the end of of the school day

If the school rule is violated, students will be held accountable based on the progressive discipline outlined below. Electronic devices on campus/in class Board Policy 5131.8. Handbooks and EC48900 (k).

1st Offense- Teacher confiscates the object and sends it to the office. Students can retrieve it at the end of the day and the parent is contacted.

2nd Offense- Teacher confiscates the object and sends it to the office. Parents can retrieve it at the end of the day.

3rd Offense- Teacher confiscates the object and sends it to the office. Parents can retrieve it at the end of the day. Students must check in at the office when entering the campus.

4th Offense- Teacher confiscates the object and sends it to the office. Parents can retrieve it at the end of the day. Studentmay not bring the object on campus any longer.

Important Sign Ups:

2nd-8th Grade Fall NWEA Math and AR Reading Assessments 2024-2025

Academic Enrichment Class- 1st-6th Grades for 2024-2025

Arete Charter Academy Blended Middle School (5-8th Grades)24/25

Want to join Arete’s Private Family Group on Facebook- do so here. Arete Charter Academy Family Group

A week’s worth of dates will be posted at the bottom and a list of Important Dates (along with other important sign ups) is on arete.prsd.us.

*NWEA/AR Testing-

-August 19- 9-12

-August 20- Cross Country Practice 2:10-3pm

-August 22- 9-12

-August 22- Cross Country Practice 2:10-3pm

-August 26- 9-12

*Resource Center Starts Monday, August 26 for Hybrid 4-8th

*Resource Center Starts Tuesday, August 27 for Hybrid TK-3rd

-August 28- Cross Country Practice 2:10-3pm

-August 30- Cross Country Practice 2:10-3pm

*September 2- Labor Day- No School

Fall Enrichments 2024

This will be the first sign-up for enrichments for the 2024-2025 School Year. There will be some classes that are single-week sign-ups and then some classes that are a series of classes with multiple sessions. If you sign up for a series of classes, please DO NOT sign up for additional classes that overlap. If you do so, the sign-up for the individual class will be deleted. There can be no overlap of classes, as Arete cannot pay for services that your child does not receive.

For ALL classes, please check your calendar to see if your kiddo is REALLY available on the days you select. For classes canceled by families with less than one week's notice, student funds will be charged, and a "to go" kit will be waiting for you in the school office. (Instructors have to buy materials in advance, and other kids could attend). If a class is full and you want to be added to the waiting list, please email Sarah at [email protected]. Please sign up for classes at least 48 hours in advance so we can check to make sure you have enough funds and that the instructor has enough supplies. We will try to add more sessions of the same classes if possible. If classes do not meet the minimum number of students, they will be canceled with a week's notice, and funds will be returned to the student's account.

***If your child is out of funds, Arete will delete them from the class sign-up and Sign Up Genius will send you an email notifying you. Then you may refer back to the Sign Up for the Instructor's email address to make private arrangements for signing up for the class and for private payment.

If school is cancelled due to weather, enrichment classes will be rescheduled to the same day of the week if possible, but at the end of the trimester.

California law requires all students who receive classroom instruction through a school to be up to date on vaccinations or have a valid medical waiver registered with the CAIR Me website. Blended Middle School Students use all of their funds for that program, so please email instructors to sign up and pay privately. Thanks!

Enrichments will run from September 9 - November 8 (no school on November 1 or 11), with makeups from November 11-15.Fall Enrichments 2024

Cross Country Sign Ups

Help- We need one more kiddo to make this team a go!! We really need to know by tomorrow if we will have enough for a team. If your kiddo wants to participate- please let me know ASAP!

Cross Country is coming! 4th-8th grade are invited to participate. The cost is $150 out of Enrichment Funds and is included in the price of the Blended Middle School. Coach Tamo will hold practice at Arete at 2pm-3pm Tuesdays and Thursdays. (Coach Sarah will hold practices August 20-29 while Coach Tamo is completing a Bi-Athalon in Australia. The first meet is September 3rd. Please email [email protected] if interested. We need a minimum of 8 runners. State vaccinations regulations apply. (If you are a runner, I would love coaching help August 20-29. Please let me know!)

Sunday, August 11 Update

Hello families,

Look at my fancy new color blocking! Thanks to the Codiga’s for teaching this ol’ gal a new trick. As always, most current items will be on top and new items in BOLD. A week’s worth of dates will be posted at the bottom and a list of Important Dates (along with other important sign ups) is on arete.prsd.us. It was so fun meeting new families last week and seeing our sweet kiddos back on campus.

Monday, August 12 at 5:30pm is our Annual Back-to-School Ice Cream Social. Come enjoy a sweet treat, chat with some of the teachers, and meet a new friend! Meet us at the picnic tables outside room 4. Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Codiga will be there slinging scoops. Ms. T will be there to meet incoming TK/K friends. Mrs. Tamo can give BMS kiddos a peek at our new AMAZING NEW Middle School wing and Mr. Horton will be there to meet you and show you the awesome new music classrooms. Thanks to Mrs. Mary for getting the ice cream donated and Holiday Market for treating our families to a sweet treat! See you there!

All families! Please plan on attending our All Family Orientation on August 13. (This will also serve as Back-to-School Night for the Blended Middle School). We have some interesting new options this year. Arete Family Orientation We will have an opening session from 9-9:30am called Forms 101. This is great for new and returning families who want to learn all about making the year work smoothly for you with budgeting, ordering, using vendors and subscriptions, reimbursements, etc. This will be run by Mary and Andrea from the office, and Sarah. Next up, Mr. Horton, our music teacher, will be offering a family friendly music experience for parents, teachers, and kids to all enjoy some music together. Then we will have a short break and then two different sessions run by our amazing teachers. Then we will have a quick parent meet up for new parents to meet and connect with returning parents. Children are invited all morning.

Cross Country is coming! 4th-8th grade are invited to participate. The cost is $150 out of Enrichment Funds and is included in the price of the Blended Middle School. Coach Tamo will hold practice at Arete at 2pm-3pm Tuesdays and Thursdays. (Coach Sarah will hold practices August 20-29 while Coach Tamo is completing a Bi-Athalon in Australia. The first meet is September 3rd. Please email [email protected] if interested. We need a minimum of 8 runners. State vaccinations regulations apply. (If you are a runner, I would love coaching help August 20-29. Please let me know!

*Please email Sheila at [email protected] if you would like to order free/reduced breakfast or lunch this year.

If you have a 2-8th Grader who is NOT in the Blended Middle School, please click on the link and read the directions carefully if you have not signed up for testing yet. 2nd-8th Grade Fall NWEA Math and AR Reading Assessments 2024-2025

*If you checked out items for the summer, please return them to the front office this week from 8am-4pm. We need to inventory them before the school year starts and then you can re-check out the items if you still need them.

*Our amazing garden parents are looking for more parents to help support the garden with completing projects or working with classes. Lori Long is our Garden Coordinator and would love a partner. Email l[email protected] if interested!

*PEAK fees changed this week. They are now $130 for books. The good news is they are non-returnable now. Please let us know if you have any questions about this.

We are so excited to offer a new round of field trips. Starting August 26, you may sign up for as many as you would like. Until then, please choose one per family. Please pay attention to age restrictions. All field trips meet at the location and parents drive/carpool with their children. An Arete teacher will meet you there. Please watch dates closely and make note of the field trips that require prepayment for adult chaperones. Please pay 2 weeks early in the Arete office with exact cash, check made to PRSD, or at Mealtime https://www.mymealtime.com/($20 minimum). We pre-pay for all Arete students so if you need to cancel with less than a week's notice, you will need to reimburse Arete for the field trip fee for your child. All field trips will start at the field trip location with check in 15 minutes before the start time. Families are responsible for making transportation arrangements for their children. Families typically join the field trip. Please email at [email protected] if you need to drop off and pick up your child.

*Below is an Update to Cell Phone/Smart Watch Policy…

Arete Charter Academy and the Pleasant Ridge School District recognize the use of smartphones and other mobile communication devices on campus may be beneficial to students and their well-being but could be a distraction to learning and a disruption of the instructional program. To minimize such disruptions students in the grade TK- 8h grades may not use cell phones, smartphones, smartwatches, or other mobile communication devices once they have entered campus for the instructional day. Devices must be turned off and secured in backpacks or phone lockers during the school day. (BP 5131.8) Students may resume the use of their mobile communication device after the end of of the school day

If the school rule is violated, students will be held accountable based on the progressive discipline outlined below. Electronic devices on campus/in class Board Policy 5131.8. Handbooks and EC48900 (k).

1st Offense- Teacher confiscates the object and sends it to the office. Students can retrieve it at the end of the day and the parent is contacted.

2nd Offense- Teacher confiscates the object and sends it to the office. Parents can retrieve it at the end of the day.

3rd Offense- Teacher confiscates the object and sends it to the office. Parents can retrieve it at the end of the day. Students must check in at the office when entering the campus.

4th Offense- Teacher confiscates the object and sends it to the office. Parents can retrieve it at the end of the day. Studentmay not bring the object on campus any longer.

Important Sign Ups:

2nd-8th Grade Fall NWEA Math and AR Reading Assessments 2024-2025

Academic Enrichment Class- 1st-6th Grades for 2024-2025

Arete Charter Academy Blended Middle School (5-8th Grades)24/25

Academic Enrichment Class- 2nd-4th Grades for 2024-2025

Want to join Arete’s Private Family Group on Facebook- do so here. Arete Charter Academy Family Group

Dates for the 2024-2025 School Year

*Ice Cream Social- Monday, August 12- 5:30pm

*Family Training- August 13- 9am

*Start Blended Middle School- August 13- 9am (All other students work at home).

*Office Hours- August 14-23

*NWEA/AR Testing-

-August 15- 9-12

-August 19- 9-12

-August 22- 9-12

-August 26- 9-12

*Resource Center Starts Monday, August 26 for Hybrid 4-8th

*Resource Center Starts Tuesday, August 27 for Hybrid TK-3rd

*September 2- Labor Day- No School

Cross Country Sign Ups

Cross Country is coming! 4th-8th grade are invited to participate. The cost is $150 out of Enrichment Funds and is included in the price of the Blended Middle School. Coach Tamo will hold practice at Arete at 2pm-3pm Tuesdays and Thursdays. (Coach Sarah will hold practices August 120-29 while Coach Tamo is completing a Bi-Athalon in Australia. The first meet is September 3rd. Please email [email protected] if interested. We need a minimum of 8 runners. State vaccinations regulations apply.

Thursday, August 8 Update

Cross Country is coming! 4th-8th grade are invited to participate. The cost is $150 our of Enrichment Funds and is included in the price of the Blended Middle School. Coach Tamo will hold practice at Arete at 2pm-3pm T/W/Th starting soon. Please email [email protected] if interested. We need a minimum of 8 runners. State vaccinations regulations apply.

If you have not already completed the form for planning for the school year. Please do so here. Arete Planning for the 2024-2025 School Year

We have an update to this class, because instructors will be teaching to the four core subjects of Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies- Curriculum Funds may be used!

There are now two different options. State vaccination regulations apply. Work samples will be sent home.

1. The first proposed program would utilize student's enrichment funds to add a day of on campus instructional time for families who are desiring more higher level academic instruction from credentialed teachers with more advanced projects and more time with other students. Families would need to commit for one 12 week trimester from 9am-12pm, for a total of $180 out of enrichment funds. (Yes, that breaks down to $5 an hour for high quality instruction). We have a nine student minimum. Classes would be broken up into two multi-age groups of 2nd and 3rd grade (Wednesday Class) and 4th and 5th grade (Tuesday Class). Students at the lower grade level (2nd and 4th grades) should be reading at grade level to be able to have success at the multiage learning model. Students could also attend only this class if they wanted to.

2. The second proposed program would be Literacy Launch. Our little astronaut literacy team will explore new places each week (incorporating social studies learning) and also investigate different creatures and aspects of nature each week (incorporating science learning). We will start with the letter "A" and blast off to places such as Africa, Australia, and the Amazon and explore "A" creatures and nature topics such as alligators, ants, and algae. Our expeditions will take us through the alphabet. We will do fun and engaging read-alouds, book studies, spelling/phonics, and writing surrounding these explorations. We will also incorporate art projects and hands-on activities as part of our literacy adventures! Our time will be very integrated and thematic. Let’s launch into literacy! This class would be appropriate for 1st-3rd graders who are not yet fluent readers.

Families would need to commit for one 12 week trimester from 9am-12pm, for a total of $180 out of Curriculum Funds.

2nd-8th Grade Fall NWEA Math and AR Reading Assessments 2024-2025

Welcome to the first district assessment schedule for the 2024-2025 school year. Our 2nd-8th grade students will be taking the NWEA Math and Acelerated Reader Testing. The directions are a little lengthy, but please read all the way through them and follow them carefully. We REALLY appreciate the people who sign up early and do not need reminders to sign up. That helps our office save a lot of time. Thank you!

Feel free to ignore this if you only have TK/K/1 or Blended Middle School kiddos.

2nd-8th Grade Fall NWEA Math and AR Reading Assessments 2024-2025

Sunday, August 14 Update

Hello families,

It was so wonderful to visit and/or meet with so many of you this week! We are so excited for the amazing year that is awaiting us!

*Please email Sheila at [email protected] id you would like to order free/reduced breakfast or lunch this year.

*If you checked out items for the summer, please return them to the front office this week from 8am-4pm. There is no appointment needed until school starts. We need to inventory them before the school year starts and then you can re-check out the items if you still need them.

*Our amazing garden parents are looking for more parents to help support the garden with completing projects or working with classes. Lori Long is our Garden Coordinator and would love a partner. Email l[email protected] if interested!

All families! Please plan on attending our All Family Orientation on August 13. (This will also serve as Back-to-School Night for the Blended Middle School). We have some interesting new options this year. Arete Family Orientation We will have an opening session from 9-9:30am called Forms 101. This is great for new and returning families who want to learn all about making the year work smoothly for you with budgeting, ordering, using vendors and subscriptions, reimbursements, etc. This will be run by Mary and Andrea from the office, and Sarah. Next up, Mr. Horton, our music teacher, will be offering a family friendly music experience for parents, teachers, and kids to all enjoy some music together. Then we will have a short break and then two different sessions run by our amazing teachers. Then we will have a quick parent meet up for new parents to meet and connect with returning parents. Children are invited all morning.

*Below is an Update to Cell Phone/Smart Watch Policy…

Arete Charter Academy and the Pleasant Ridge School District recognize the use of smartphones and other mobile communication devices on campus may be beneficial to students and their well-being but could be a distraction to learning and a disruption of the instructional program. To minimize such disruptions students in the grade TK- 8h grades may not use cell phones, smartphones, smartwatches, or other mobile communication devices once they have entered campus for the instructional day. Devices must be turned off and secured in backpacks or phone lockers during the school day. (BP 5131.8) Students may resume the use of their mobile communication device after the end of of the school day

If the school rule is violated, students will be held accountable based on the progressive discipline outlined below. Electronic devices on campus/in class Board Policy 5131.8. Handbooks and EC48900 (k).

1st Offense- Teacher confiscates the object and sends it to the office. Students can retrieve it at the end of the day and the parent is contacted.

2nd Offense- Teacher confiscates the object and sends it to the office. Parents can retrieve it at the end of the day.

3rd Offense- Teacher confiscates the object and sends it to the office. Parents can retrieve it at the end of the day. Students must check in at the office when entering the campus.

4th Offense- Teacher confiscates the object and sends it to the office. Parents can retrieve it at the end of the day. Studentmay not bring the object on campus any longer.

2nd-8th Grade Fall NWEA Math and AR Reading Assessments 2024-2025

Academic Enrichment Classes- 1-5th Grade

Arete Charter Academy Blended Middle School (5-8th Grades)24/25