Scholar Academy 928 North 100 East, Tooele, Utah 84074 • 435.566.6957 * www.scholarcharter.org
Issue: 25 Achieving Excellence Together November 8, 2017
Message from Director Shepard The Importance of School Attendance:
Scholar Academy has a three year history of outstanding student attendance. Less than 3% OF STUDENTS referred for attendance issues. After a review of the research on attendance this week and knowing the impact it has on a student’s future educational success, I believe your efforts and our policy support the belief that school attendance is crucial. Mrs. Gailey will be conducting the administrative reviews and attendance plans this year. Scholar has averaged between 93% and ^Click on icon above to 95% since opening in the fall of 2014. This week I attended the first of five full day download the calendar meetings on “Schools to Watch” in Utah with Mrs. Gailey. This organization reviews and acknowledges top performing middle and junior high schools in Utah each year. We will be visiting five schools and are excited to see other junior high sites as we November 9th prepare for the opening of 7th grade. 5th & 6th grade parent meeting In this first meeting we discussed the characteristics of adolescents from age 10-15 about junior high at 7PM in gym and factors that contribute to their success in a school setting. A major factor that impacts future educational success in junior high and high school is strong school November 10th attendance. Students missing more than 10 days of school are less likely to do well in Students may wear girl/boy junior high and if paired with just one failing core class, may be a strong indicator of scouts uniforms or jeans and school top future academic problems and as the number of day’s increase, likelihood of not completing high school raises. November 14th Scholar Board Meeting An administrative review occurs when students have 10 or more absences and an 5PM attendance meeting may need to be held and an attendance plan completed. When th a student has 15 absences a referral to the school Case Management Team occurs. November 15 Super Star Activity When a student reaches 25 absences, a CMT review is conducted and retention may (Accepting Differences) be considered. Students with a long term illness or reoccurring health issued that because excessive absences may need to consider a Health care or 504 Plan. November 16th Choir Performance at U of U A provision in our procedure allows parents to notify the school of vacations or Basket Ball Game 5-8 PM planned absences of three of more days. Realizing that the daily instruction, group November 17th work and class participation cannot be “sent” home as make-up work, teachers strive Dads & Donuts to provide assignments for extended absences. A form to arrange extended leave 7:45-8:30 in Gym may be picked up in the office November 21st We realize children get sick and we appreciate parents not sending ill students to Casual Dress Day school. The Scholar staff encourage students to be here every day on time, unless November 22nd-24th they are ill. Our high attendance rate is a tribute to the dedicated families we have at No School Scholar! Last year we had less than 3% OF STUDENTS referred for attendance Thanksgiving Break issues. After a review of the research on attendance this week and knowing the impact it has on a student’s future educational success, I believe your efforts and our November 27th policy support the belief that school attendance is crucial. Mrs. Gailey will be Choir Performance at Benson Grist Mill conducting the administrative reviews and attendance plans this year. November 28th & 29th Early Out Am Kinder 10:30 Am Full Day Kinder-6th Grade 12:45
November 28th & 29th Parent Teacher Conferences
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Scholar Academy 7th grade will open Fall 2018. 8th grade open fall 2019. The state legislature and Utah State Board of Education have made changes towards “choice” in middle level education. It is a great time to be opening the 7th and 8th grade program at Scholar. ^Click on icon above to 5th and 6th grade parents are invited to join Mrs. Shepard in a discussion about download the calendar the new middle level grades on Nov. 9th at 7:00 p.m. in the gym. Site plans will be shared, registration discussed and parent committee finalized. Your Scholar
Milk: $.35
Board heard YOUR VOICE Come discuss elective classes and hear Breakfast: $1.65 Reduced: $0.30 about the middle grade plan. Lunch: $2.00 Reduced: $0.40
Night of the Arts Keep working on your Night of the Arts projects! Remember, this year’s theme is “Once Upon a Time.” We would love you to submit your entries online using Google Forms (link coming soon). If you enter a project in at least five categories, you will be entered into the Iron Man drawing. Please click here to enter online. To enter: 1. Create your art project (only 1 per category please) 2. Fill out the online form. 3. Turn in your project by January 26, 2018. 4. Come to the awards ceremony on March 1st, 2018.
The nine categories are: ^Click on icon above to 1. Dance Composition download the calendar 2. Digital Media Grades K-6 3. Film 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM 4. Literature 5. Music Composition Half Day Kindergarten 6. Photography 8:30 AM- 12:00 PM 7. Theater 8. 3-D art 9. Visual Arts Regular pick- up time is NO later than 3:15 PM
The lost and found is over flowing in the gym. Items not claimed by Friday, November 10th will be donated.
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Returning students will need to declare their intent starting December 1st. Watch for this important email. This is also the time to add incoming siblings in order for them to be on the sibling priority list. The Lottery for new students will open on January 2, 2018.
There will be NO SCHOOL on November 22nd, 23rd and 24th.
Scholar Academy’s “Night at the Roxberry” When: December 5th, 2017 Time: 6:00 PM-8:00 PM Where: 1485 North 30 West, Tooele, UT Who: ANYONE *** Roxberry of Tooele has generously offered to donate 10% off all profits made during the hours of 6-8 PM on the 1st Tuesday of every month! *** This will be a wonderful way to earn money for all our fun event this year. We hope you can join us!
If you signed up for a school directory, they will be completed and handed out in the next couple of weeks.
Parent Teacher Conferences Parent Teacher conferences will be on November 28th from 4:00-7:00 PM and November 29th from 1:30-5:00 PM. Sign-ups will start on November 13th. Please watch for an email.
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Click here for your entry ticket. You may print or show your ticket electronically.
PTO News
The PTO would like to thank all those who helped with the Fall Boutique last Saturday. It was one of our most successful events so far! Please remember to log your volunteer hours for anything you have done to help out with our great school! Each family needs 30 hours, so start getting the hours in! There are lots of ways to get hours, just keep your eye out!
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Hurricane Relief Thank You
Thank you Scholar Academy families for helping collect 1,342 items for the hurricane relief donation drive! Here is a picture of all the supplies that were donated.
3rd Term Tuesday after School Hello Scholar Parents! We are currently seeking volunteers for our Tuesday after School program during THIRD term! TAS is a fun 6 week program that runs from 3:00 - 4:00 pm on Tuesday’s. You don't have to be crafty and you don't have to have a specific talent. If you are interested in volunteering to teach, being a parent helper in a class, or curious and have questions about it in general, please contact Marissa Barney. Her email is [email protected] (NOT Gmail). If you are interested in teaching but don't know what to teach, here are some fun ideas that have been successful in past years:
Holiday Themed Art Maypole Dancing Chess Volleyball Yoga 3D printing and Tech Hand Sewing Coding and Web Design Wood working Service Club Card Making Little kid games (board games) Basketball
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New and Used Coats Scholar is collecting new and used child sized coats through Friday, November 10th. These can be your coats from last year that no longer fit, but are in good condition or a new coat. Coats will be donated to people right here in Tooele.
Coats can be turned into Mr. Woolf's Class for a treat.
On November 11th if anyone in need of a coat can come to New Life Christian Fellowship, 411 E Utah Avenue from 11 am to 1pm.
Spanish Department Important Update Students in grades 4th - 6th will be able to participate in the Spanish Spelling Bee competition this year. There are two areas in which to compete: Spelling Bee and impromptu role play. Students interested in participating will practice with Señora A for 30 minutes on their rotation day. Students participating will need to keep all their grades in good standards. At the end of the term, students will compete to determine in which of the two areas of competition they will be representing the school in the state-wide contest at Weber State University next spring. We will select three students for the Spelling Bee portion and three groups of up-to three students for the impromptu role play.
Homework is now available to students through Quizlet. Students in grades 4th - 6th have created usernames and passwords using their Office 365 information to obtain access to the vocabulary study sets and activities. Each study set has 4 activities, 2 games and 1 test, they must complete before the end of each month. This month there are 4 study sets that have already been assigned. For students who don’t have access to computers and/or internet, the computer lab a will be available on Wednesdays from 3- 4pm, if your student needs a paper copy, it will be available upon request. Thank You Thank you to all the parents that helped out with the Halloween Parties. It was a success and all the students had a blast!
Page 8 Get to Know Scholar’s “Owl “some Staff Mr. Woolf
1. What would the students be surprised to find out about you? I have been to Hawaii and Samoa.
2. What is your dream vacation?
Disney world and Epcot center.
3. How do you spend summer breaks?
Sleeping and Exploring
4. What is your favorite dish from the cafeteria?
Chicken sandwich
5. What inspires you?
Learning new things
6. If you could pass on any wisdom to your students, what would you share?
Try new things. Life is about experiences. Those experiences make you who you will become.
7. How do you remember all of your students’ names?
Practice, practice, practice
8. What’s a school sport or activity you enjoy watching?
Anything with my students participating.
9. If you could take the students on a field trip to anywhere in the world, where would you take them?
Sea world to the behind the scenes exhibit.
10. What is your first memory of school?
Kindergarten watching my mom cry as I left.
11. If you could grow up in any decade, which would you choose?
Back with the beach boys surfing all day 12. Is there a quote or saying that you live your life by?
Go big or go home. Life is short go all out and do your best.
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