Sunday, February 23 Update

Hello families,

So many new and exciting events keep on coming. Remember that anything posted new each Sunday is in bold text. Happy sunny Sunday!

Thank you so much for being part of our eighth year at Arete. This year has been an amazing journey and we are so glad your family has been on it with us. We also know that homeschool is not for everyone, and want parents to make the best decision for their families. We are excited to announce that we will be adding a high school next year for 9th-12th grades. We are making arrangements for next year for all classes and need to know what your plans are. Thank you for completing one form for each child who attends our school. Please complete for TK-8th grade. If your child is in 8th grade, please let us know what high school they will be attending if it will not be at Arete as we will need to transfer their permanent records to their new school. This form is due by March 13, 2025 and will guarantee your child's enrollment at Arete for the 2025-2026 school year. If you do not respond, we will follow up ONE time, and then will consider your answer to be that your child is NOT returning to Arete. If you decide to come back later, there may be openings and if not, you will get priority in the lottery. The lottery will be held by the end of the 2025 school year if needed.

Arete Charter Academy 2025-2026 School Year- Intent to Return

20 Day Meetings are February 26-28. If you turn EVERYTHING in during your meeting, you can head to the front office for mini chocolate chip cookies or a healthy alternative. TK-5th grade students will complete a Dibel’s Screening. Your student will also receive an amazing Opinion Writing packet created by Mrs. Codiga. Please take the time to look through the packet and use the step by step instructions to teach your child how to do this genre of writing.

Tuesday, March 25 and Wednesday, March 26 students at the Arete Resource Center will be participating in a Guest Chef cooking experience. Families of students who do not attend that are invited for a cooking night on Tuesday, March 25 from 5:30-6:30 with Chef Susan. We will be working together to make Spring Tacos + Salsa Primavera.

Parents! Please sign up for ONE spot for EVERY Arete student and parent attending. Please note only one parent will be able to attend! Please email me at [email protected] to be on the waiting list. Please do not sign up if you think you are going to cancel at the last minute as that will take a spot from someone who can attend. Thank you! Guest Chef

This is the final sign-up for enrichments for the 2024-2025 School Year.

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 and 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.

By signing up, you agree to have your email shared with the instructor for notification purposes only. They will notify you of when “to go” kits or completed projects are ready to be picked up in the front office. Emails will not be used for any other reason.

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!

Spring Enrichments run from March 3- May 22.There is no school April 14-19 for Spring Break.

Arete On Campus Spring Enrichments 2024-2025

Third Trimester Academic Enrichment Class- Grades 1st-6th

There are now three different options. State vaccination regulations apply. Funds are removed from curriculum first, and then enrichments. Work samples will be sent home. The first two programs utilize student's 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. 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/5th/6th 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. Literacy Launch (1st-3rd grades) has a focus that is perfect for emerging readers.

1. Hello Arete Tuesday 4th-6th Enrichment Families! I am excited that your kiddos will be joining in this opportunity during the third trimester! Students are expected to line up on the wall outside room 2 at 9am. Class time will include continuing with our writing practice and creative-writing studies, where students will begin to develop a collaborative "Choose Your Own Adventure" story; daily chicken checks; whole group activities/games in math; and a short unit in PE games and activities (wear comfortable shoes!). Ms. Doerr

2. The second option is Wednesday's 2nd/3rd grade Academic Enrichment. In science we will continue biology by looking at animal life cycles. In Writer’s Workshop, students will focus on persuasive writing, and poetry. Students will also build on their concept of multiplication; reinforcing multiples of 0-6, and 10, and begin 7, 8, and 9. Students will practice cursive writing, and begin typing. New students are welcome! -Mrs. Baker

3. The third program is Literacy Launch on Wednesdays. During the third trimester of the school year, our astronaut literacy team will continue to 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 finish up our alphabet exploration, doing fun and engaging read-alouds, book studies, spelling/phonics, and writing connected to our learning. We will also incorporate art and hands-on activities as part of our reading and writing adventures and continue to work on improving penmanship. I look forward to rounding out the school year with an amazing Arete literacy team! This class would be appropriate for 1st-3rd graders who are not yet fluent readers. Mrs. McGough

By completing this form, families are committing for one trimester from 9am-12pm, for a total of $165 out of Curriculum/Enrichment Funds. (Yes, that breaks down to $5 an hour for high quality instruction). Tuesday classes will run from March 4- (No Class April 15.) Wednesday classes will run from March 5- March 21 (no class April 16.) All students should come prepared with a water bottle and a healthy snack that does not contain nuts.

Third Trimester Academic Enrichment Class- Grades 1st-6th

On February 25 our school nurse will be conducting Hearing and Vision Screening for Grades TK/K, 2, 5, and 8 or other concerned parents- 8-3:30. If your students are in those grade bands and at the Resource Center or Blended Middle Schools those days, we will pull them in for screening. If you are on campus and want to opt your child out, please complete this form. If you are off campus and want you kiddo screened, pop into the front office. Copy of Mandatory Vision and Hearing Opt Out Form

We are at 20 orders and need a minimum of 25. We have extended the due date through the end of the next 20 Day Meeting Session.

Arete Spirit Gear! Campaign runs January 23- February 28. Paper order forms are in the front office. You can also order here. Arete Sprit Wear Shirts and sweatshirts take about three weeks to arrive. We must sell 25 items to place the order.

3-8th Grade ONLY- TK-2nd Grade and Blended Middle School families can ignore this email!

CAASPP testing will begin in April. Please sign up early to get spots that work with your schedule. PRSD will be conducting in person testing only. These assessments help us monitor what our students have learned throughout the year. They also help us to see if there are areas in our curriculum or program that we need to improve upon. The state of California uses these assessments to make sure our students are working toward grade level standards. All third through eighth grade students are required to take four assessments- two each in Math and Language Arts. Also, fifth and eighth graders need to take a Science assessment. Monday, April 28 the Arete Resource Center will be open for testing only. Monday, April 7, Room 1 will be for CAASP Testing and Room 2 will be for the Hybrid 4-8th grade students. The Blended Middle School will test during their time on campus, so please DO NOT sign them up for any slots. The Resource Center will run as normal all of the other days. Some students may not complete their testing in this allotted amount of time so we will have some make up times at the end of testing.

Please sign up for the following slots on different days. You must sign up for at least TWO testing spots!!! Students will take their first test from 9:00-10:30. They will be encouraged to take their time, try their best and work out their problems on paper before they enter them into the computer. If they finish before the 10:30 snack break, they may read a book they brought from home or work on lessons they brought from home. At 10:30, students will have a 20 minute snack/recess break. When they return from the break, they may work on the first test if they need to or may start on the second test. They will be encouraged to take their time and try their best. If they finish early, they may read a book they brought from home or work on lessons they brought from home. At 12pm, all students will head out to the front of the school to be picked up by parents. This will give students the opportunity to show all they have learned and to not feel rushed or disrupted by students moving into and out of the classroom.

*3rd grade- 2 different time slots

*4th grade- 2 different time slots

*5th grade- 3 different time slots

*6th grade- 2 different time slots

*7th grade- 2 different time slots

*8th grade- 3 different time slots

If your student needs to check out a chromebook, please add this in the comment section next to their name. Students should plan on staying from 9am-12pm and should bring their charged Chromebooks that Arete has loaned them. Only if you do not have an Arete Chromebook, will we check one out to you. Computers from home will not work on the secure server. We have extra chromebooks on site for students who do not have an Arete Chromebook (Those are the only kind that have a password for our internet). Please come at 8:50 to check out a Chromebook if needed. Also, bring any books/supplies needed to complete lessons when they are done testing for the day. PLEASE have kiddos bring in their OWN water bottles and snacks. This testing is required by the state as mentioned in your Master Agreement. Please email me with questions.

5th & 7th Grade Physical Fitness Testing

The state of California requires 5th and 7th graders to complete Physical Fitness Testing each year. This year we have scheduled two testing days for Monday, April 7 and Friday, April 25 from 9am-12pm. Students will participate in five activities. We have two sign up times, so please choose the time that works best for your schedule.

"The Physical Fitness Test (PFT) is a comprehensive battery of health-related physical fitness tests for students in California. The test has five parts that show a level of fitness that offer a degree of defense against diseases that are caused by inactivity. The test results can be used by students, teachers, and parents.

The five fitness areas of the PFT are: Aerobic Capacity, Abdominal Strength and Endurance, Upper Body Strength and Endurance, Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility, and Flexibility.

The results are one piece of information students and their families can use, along with other information, to monitor overall fitness.

The results also are useful for schools to monitor their physical education programs.

The PFT is given to all students enrolled in a California public school in grades five, seven, and grade nine. Students with disabilities should be given as much of the test as each student’s physical condition permits.

If you have questions about the PFT, please contact the Physical Fitness Testing Office by email at [email protected].

3-8th Grade CAASPP & 5th & 7th Grade Physical Fitness Testing 2025

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:

Guest Chef

3-8th Grade CAASPP & 5th & 7th Grade Physical Fitness Testing 2025

Arete Charter Academy 2025-2026 School Year- Intent to Return

Arete On Campus Spring Enrichments 2024-2025

We Are Arete: A Family Heritage Festival

Arete On Campus Spring Enrichments 2024-2025

Math Night at Arete: Where Math Meets Movement!

Go to www.treering.com/validate, enter school passcode 101636661669265

Arete Sprit Wear by Feb 28

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

Arete Field Trips 2024-2025