• the value of charter schools for DCSD,
• the importance and obligation of the District to financially support its charter schools (beyond just state funding) as beneficiaries of any successful bond and mill levy override elections, and
• the expectation of parental choice in DCSD.

As I read these survey questions within the context of information and questions presented at District meetings, I believe that the Superintendent and Board of Education are very much wanting feedback from the parent community to provide them a sense of the community’s desire to have all District schools on a traditional (or same) calendar. However, they also know that to do so would require voter support for and success of a sizable bond issue to build more schools and a mill levy override to operate them.

Again, I cannot stress enough the importance of the charter school communities to “chime in” on these discussions to ensure that we are not forgotten. As a public charter school in Douglas County we also have funding needs for capital and operational costs. Accordingly, I believe that charter schools deserve a fair share of any additional dollars the District raises by going to the electorate (you included) to build and adequately maintain its facilities and to provide a world-class education for the students that receive a public education in Douglas County. Yes, we are a publically supported and funded school.

This feedback to the Superintendent and Board of Education will ensure that we are heard. Many voices will almost guarantee it. Many other charter schools in Douglas County are also responding to this survey! In advance, thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback.

Sincerely
Yvette Brown
Academy Charter School Dean
browny@academycharter.org

Important Dates to Remember
January 18 Teacher In-service Day-no students
January 21 No School
February 1 Progress Reports go home

Dear Families and Friends of ACS,

There are some important dates to keep in mind as we approach the upcoming months as well as reminders:

CSAP Testing window dates:

• Third grade CSAP reading tests will be given on Tuesday, February 5th, and Wednesday, February 6th, from 9-10 a.m. each day. It is imperative you have your student here on time as there are many things teachers are going over from 8:30-9:00 prior to the actual starting of the test. Please refrain from scheduling appointments on these testing dates.
• 3-8 CSAP testing window is from March 4-14; March 24-April 4th. Although this seems like a lot of time, we are trying our best to condense our actual testing days down so that we can be done with regular testing before leaving for Spring Break. This will enable us to conduct any make-up tests when we return and provide plenty of time in which to process all the books. We hope to have our final schedule to all of our parents by the end of the month.
• I did want to at least give you an idea of when the possible testing weeks may occur to you can avoid scheduling appointments during these timeframes. It is very important to have all students here on testing days. I hope this advance notice will assist you in scheduling appointments and extending vacation plans around these times, especially the first two weeks of March. We would greatly appreciate this!

Changes to the Middle School Discipline Policy:
As you know, the middle school teachers, along with Dean Brown made some changes regarding our current middle school policy. I included this information right before break. As a reminder:

• We will continue to run detentions after school on Tuesday and Thursdays.
• Teachers may assign this if a student’s behavior results in them going to Level 2.
• Please click on the link to access the new ACS Behavior Management Policy.
• This only applies to our middle school students and teachers who teach students in grades 6-8.
• If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or any of the middle school teachers.

Changes to Homework and Late and Missing Work Policies:
Dean Brown and I discussed the ideas from our meeting with the middle school and elementary teachers last week regarding the homework, late and missing work policies. We brought this information to the governing board at their recent meeting, Monday, January 14th. After discussing these ideas with the board as well as receiving some suggestions for clarification from them, we met again with the staff and we will be making the final changes to the homework late policy. We will have these changes for you in next week’s newsletter.

ILP Review: If your student is on an ILP (Individual Literacy Plan), your student’s teacher will be calling you to set up a time to review the ILP. These reviews will be taking place in January.

IC News:
Thank you to all the parents who have stopped by and received their GUID number so they can access IC. Please remember: We are expecting parents to check their student’s progress on IC so they can be a part of knowing their student’s status in a course. We, of course, will notify parents if a student’s grade falls below a C- in the quarter.

Here are a few of the activities that are scheduled for January and the next few months:

• Parents of 8th graders: I met with each 8th grade student and went over their freshman registration form and signed off on math and Spanish classes if it was required. The registration forms will be turned into the appropriate schools this week. Please note that the recommendations for math and Spanish classes were already determined by Mrs. Amen and Mrs. Greer prior to their departure. My task is to be the representative from ACS who signs-off on the student’s forms.
• Movie Night: Student Council is having a movie night for January 25th. There is more information regarding this event as well as information for the next middle school dance which will be held in February in this week’s newsletter.
• Virtue Assembly: Our next virtue assembly will be on Friday, January 25th, for middle school students at 2:50 in the cafeteria. This month’s virtue is “Courage.”

Thank you for all your support of ACS, our staff and our students!

Kendra Peters
Assistant Dean of Academy Charter School
email: petersk@academycharter.org

Kindergarten Siblings Wanted

It is that time of year that I need to get the names of your Kindergarten students for next year (siblings). Please call the school office and let me know your student’s name and what Kindergarten class you prefer for next year as soon as possible.

Thanks for your help!

Anne Belfrage
Registrar
belfragea@academycharter.org

Schedule Items

• January 23 – PTO General Mtg. - CANCELLED
• January 25 – Teacher Breakfast – See Social, below, for details
• January 26 – Tae Kwon Do Orientation – See Enrichment, below, for details
• February 5 – Science Matters begins – See Enrichment, below, for details

PTO General Meeting

The PTO Board will not be holding its next General Meeting on January 23rd as it has been CANCELLED. The PTO Board will hold its next General Meeting in March.

Special Announcements
The PTO Board is now accepting nominations for 2008-2009 school-year. Elections for next year’s Board will be held at our April General Meeting. Please email Kassie Smith at Kassie-ACSPTO@comcast.net to learn more about what the PTO does and the responsibilities of a particular position. All Board positions are open for nomination and election. To learn more about the overall functions of the ACS PTO Board, we encourage you to attend the PTO’s March General Meeting.

Social
The next teacher breakfast will be January 25th. Look for sign up sheets on the PTO board or contact Allyson- allyson4d@hotmail.com or Gina- momofboyzzz@comcast.net

Enrichment

THE PTO will be sponsoring several enrichment opportunities in the second semester of the 2007-08 school year.
Taekwondo: Watch for Grand Master Lee to teach your PE class!!!!! You can also register your child to join him at Han Lee Taekwondo Center (formally U.S. Taekwondo Center). Classes begin the week of 01/28. The price is $40 per person and all of the money goes to Academy Charter School. Classes will be held at the Taekwondo Center (across from Target). Watch your Friday Folder for registration forms!!!!
Science Matters –Don't miss out on Pop,Bang,Fizz! Make a slushie treat, create a fizzy bath bomb and design your own bubblearium! Classes will be Tuesdays from 4:00-5:00 beginning 2/05. The price is $83. Register BEFORE 01/18 and the price is $76 !!! Register online at www.sciencematters.tv .
Golf - We are looking into Golf Enrichment to take place around mid-April through May, and should have the details in February.
For more information on these programs, please contact Julie Harkin: toddpaco@aol.com or Emily Ragan: ceragan1@msn.com.

The following families have completed 20 or more hours: Amaya, Anderson, Beh, Benzel, Bottin, Bowersox, Butera, Cal, Damerow, Dirks, Douglas, Dortch, Eddy, Essegian, Farmer, Ford, Gould, Grue, Hannigan, Justus, Kaylor, Krum, Landrey, Lemon, Meyer, Moore, Myers, Gary and Erin Smith, Tyler Smith & Tonya Ball, Saviers, Schaffer, Searle, Thiessen, Trost, Unruh and Wilkins. Thanks for meeting the minimum hours this year! Please keep logging your hours as they all count for grant purposes for our school.

These families have reached the 50 hours or more level: Arnell, Buckley, Gillespie, Gray, Harkin, Hazlehurst, Mitchell, Nicholaides, Osgood, O’Leary, Scott and Kassie Smith, Wenaas, and Whittemore. You folks have really invested in our school and we all appreciate it! Congratulations!

We have two families who have reached the outstanding level of 100 or more hours—the Colander family and the Watson family. Thank you for making ACS such a huge priority in your life; this is truly a special achievement!

I would like to encourage all of our families to continue to volunteer and make a difference at ACS!

Anne Belfrage
Volunteer Coordinator
belfragea@academycharter.org