Starting Monday, July 31st, the Arete office and campus will be open from 8-4:30. Please start returning curriculum and materials that were checked out for the summer. Before we order any new curriculum, all enrollment paperwork must be complete including the required proof of residency, birth certificates for new students and all contracts signed. Also, families must have all items turned in to the office or lost/damaged items paid for before we purchase anything new. If you checked out something for the summer and want to keep it for use during the 23/24 school year, please email Mary at [email protected] to extend your due dates. Have a lovely week!

So excited to have the Resource Center back up and running! Next week we will add the library to the weekly routine. Also, Lori Long is excited to be offering two Parent Garden Workshops next week. She would love to see any parents who are interested in helping classes in the garden.

*September 7- 9:15 Garden Parent Training

*September 8- 9:15 Garden Parent Training

August 16 is the first day of instruction for the 2022-2023 school year and Arete is so excited to offer a Family Orientation with a variety of educational and fun options on that day. Read carefully through the descriptions and sign up for the ones that best fit your families’ needs. Children are invited and we will have staff to supervise school aged children in a classroom or on the playground when they are not needed in a training. Children under four should be kept with you. 

We are asking that all new families attend one of these orientations and many of you came last week. Thanks for that! The last one is…

August 16 from 8-8:30 Coffee Talk with Director (Zoom and In Person in the Arete Library)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://prsd-us.zoom.us/j/4817950151?pwd=U2JJY29rZlRQblczTmozV1cwZmp3dz09

Meeting ID: 481 795 0151

Passcode: GoAreteGo

We are hoping all families will attend Education Through Music (ETM) training from 10:25-11:25. Several of our staff have gone through these training sessions and we implement these practices in Resource Center Classes weekly. ETM trains teachers all around the United States to bring music to the classroom and PRSD is paying them to come to Arete!  At Education Through Music, we believe that every child, at every school, deserves access to high-quality music education. It is part of a well-rounded education, essential for students’ social and emotional well-being, and a critical tool for establishing equity and access.   

9:00-10:00 Middle School Families

*Parent Orientation for Bright Thinker Room 9 Any parent whose child uses Bright Thinker (whether they are in the Blended Middle School (BMS) or not) should attend this useful training. Amy Ford is such an experienced teacher that we can't list all of the things here).

*New Student Orientation to Bright Thinker Room 8  Any child who uses Bright Thinker (whether they are in the Blended Middle School or not) should attend this useful training. Aaron Codiga is an experienced classroom and homeschool teacher.

*Returning BMS Student Activity- Room 10 All BMS students who are returning to Arete this year will do some fun school projects. Amanda Tamo is an experienced classroom and homeschool teacher and homeschool parent.

9-9:30 Session #1

*Forms 101- Arete Library How to complete and turn in all Forms- budgets and ordering, reimbursement, etc. How and who to turn them in Email/in person). Timelines for turning them in. How to use funds toward approved vendors. How to access Arete resources- library/Parent Resource Center, how to correctly complete a 20 day binder. Sarah is the founding Director at Arete and Andrea is the secretary who handles funding, vendors, enrichments, and reimbursements.

*Homeschool Best Practices Workshop- Room 6 This is the place for new or struggling homeschool families. You will learn how to prioritize what your children need and learn how to not feel overwhelmed by the homeschool process. Everyone will go home with a helpful handbook. Marina Codiga is an experienced classroom teacher who has worked at two homeschools. Leah Veblen is an experienced homeschool teacher and has been a homeschool parent.

*Strategies for Students Who Struggle With Motivation, Attention, and Focus. Room1  This helpful training will include examples of different kinds of schedules to try, tips for motivating students, and strategies on how to build and retain focus.  Cassie Main is an experienced Special Education and homeschool teacher. Meredith Doerr is an experienced home school teacher who loves a challenge!

9:35-9:45 Break

9:45-10:15 Session #2

*Forms 101- Arete Library How to complete and turn in all Forms- budgets and ordering, reimbursement, etc. How and who to turn them in Email/in person). Timelines for turning them in. How to use funds toward approved vendors. How to access Arete resources- library/Parent Resource Center, how to correctly complete a 20 day binder. Sarah is the founding Director at Arete and Andrea is the secretary who handles funding, vendors, enrichments, and reimbursements.

*Stride (formerly PEAK) Training- Room 6  This training is a fabulous option for new and experienced families both as Peak has been retired and Stride has an updated platform and all new materials. Come learn how to use the new platform including modifying the calendar, monitoring progress and modifying curriculum. Please bring your child’s Arete issued Chromebook and password sheets. Leah Veblen is an experienced homeschool teacher and has been a homeschool parent. Cassie Main is an experienced Special Education and homeschool teacher. 

*How to Make Homeschool Science/Social Studies Engaging- Room 2 Fun and free resources-This is the best place to learn how to take your child’s interests and bring them into their education in a fun and hands on way! Meredith Doerr is an experienced home school teacher who loves interactive learning!

*How to Read/Analyze California State Standards to Ensure Your Teaching is Addressing Those Benchmarks- Room 6 Arete has created check lists with the state reading, writing, and math standards by grade level for K-5 students. Learn how to integrate the standards into your day and ensure your children are making appropriate progress. Cassie MacAlister is a veteran homeschool teacher of two schools. Marina Codiga is an experienced classroom teacher who has worked at two homeschools.

10:15-10:25 Break
10:25-11:25 Session #3

*Social Emotional Learning- ETM   Arete MPR Education Through Music (ETM) partners with schools to provide music as a core subject for all children, and utilizes music education as a catalyst to improve overall achievement, motivation for school, and self-confidence. Arete has been implementing this program weekly in classrooms for the past two years and are so excited to be hosting the ETM trainers at our little ole school!  We are hoping that new and experienced families of children of all grade levels attend. Let’s pack the house! Children should attend with their parents for the first 15 minutes or so and then school staff will watch school aged children on the playground.

11:30 (Bring your picnic lunch if you want)

Parent Meet Up- White picnic table near the swings for new parents to meet and connect with returning parents. Lori, Ashley, and Kalea are experienced homeschool moms who love Arete and welcoming new people to our school!