Antioch Charter Academy II�Middle School

Parent Orientation

A Brief Overview of Our Program

Live Question and Answer Session on Wednesday, August 26 from 7 - 7:30

Welcome to Middle School!

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Miss Jill – Middle School Aide aca2middle@antiochcharteracademy.org

Mr. Hagan – Language Arts/History mhagan@antiochcharteracademy.org

Mrs. McCutcheon – Math & Science emccutcheon@antiochcharteracademy.org

Website: http://antiochcharteracademy.org

Office email: aca2office@antiochcharteracademy.com

Our Communication Tools

*School Status Connect

-School newsletter

-Middle School newsletter

-Text/chat capabilities

*Google Classroom daily/weekly missing lists

*You can check in anytime to Gradelink

(although generally Monday mornings are most accurate)

Teacher

The best place to begin with subject specific questions

Level Team

The team of teachers at each level

School Representatives

One teacher from each level (Primary, Elementary, Intermediate, Middle)

Co-administrators

Team of 6 co-administrators, including 3 teachers from ACA, 3 teachers from ACAII, and our financial director

Charter Council Governing board of

The Learner Centered Schools

Communication Flow Chart

Ms Jill

The best place to begin with general middle school questions

Monday to Thursday schedule

8:15 - 8:45 Whole class meeting

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Between 8:50 - 12 students will have:

• English/History class with Mr. Hagan
• Math with Mrs. McCutcheon
• time for independent study in both classrooms

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12 - 12:45 Recess and Lunch

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12: 50 - 2 SSR, Science

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2 - 2:50 Electives (1 day Science, Thursday is SPA)

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Friday schedule

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Between 8:30 and 12:30 they will have:

• Music
• Art in the Garden (In conjunction with “Growing Healthy Kids” https://www.ghkids.org/)
• Personal Safety
• Art & Pottery
• PE

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12:30-1:15 Lunch/Recess

1:15-2:00 Classroom Check in/PAT

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Friday

Shirt

Gradelink

• Students and parents have their own logins

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• If you haven’t yet, sign in and click “Re-enroll” to update all important info and school papers

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• All assignments and grades for middle school will be here, updated Monday morning

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• https://youtu.be/IBC7nWwQR4E

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Google Classroom

• Students have a student account @antiochcharteracademy.org

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• Most assignments will be here for students to access.

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• Electronic assignments are to be turned in here.

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• Google Classroom app makes it easy to use a phone to take pictures of work and submit to google classroom

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• Parent settings to receive daily or weekly missing work report

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUAp4QsP3QU&list=PL5eLo7APm7q0HGWRZQAh9w2mEzBOtu-Wj&index=8

Grading System

• 4-3-2-1 Middle School %:

4 = Strong, outstanding (90 – 100%)

3 = Competent, meets expectations (70 – 89%)

2 = Developing, beginning to grasp concepts (60 – 69%)

1 = Needs Developing, needs support (< 60%)

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• Graduate goal grading

+ = exceeds expectations

 = appropriate

Δ = needs support

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Classwork/Homework Policy

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• Fix-its
• Late work will be marked down
• Late work has a cut off: only accepted for 6 week cycles

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Math & Science

• Math Program
• 7th grade math, 8th grade math, Algebra, Geometry

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• Pattern, Practice, Perform Grading Policies
• 20% Classwork (full credit for full effort)
• 20% Homework (full credit for 30 minutes or finishing ON TIME)
• 60% Assessments (actual score, but students may improve the score with retakes)

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• 30 minutes homework daily Monday - Thursday

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• Math Facts practice weekly

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• Concept Quizzes check what students know or need more practice with

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• Science (one 2 hour afternoon, plus 30 minutes weekly)

Language Arts/History

• Reading Program
• 750 pages minimum (15 pages each day Monday-Friday suggested pace)
• Book Talks/Reviews (After each book)
• AOW (Article of the Week)
• Writing
• Writing by Design (structured, 6 traits)
• Language Practice (Quill.org)
• Social Studies
• A Young People’s History of the United States
• Assigned Reading
• Notes/Projects

Language Arts/History

• Reading Program
• 750 pages minimum (15 pages each day Monday-Friday suggested pace)
• Book Talks/Reviews (After each book)
• AOW (Article of the Week)
• Writing
• Writing by Design (structured, 6 traits)
• Language Practice (Quill.org)
• Social Studies
• World History From early CE/AD to the Renaissance and beyond
• Assigned Reading
• Notes/Tests

Behavior Plan

• Friendly reminder
• Reflection
• Referral (Our way of communicating with you. We require confirmation from you that you have received it.)
• Suspension (In school/at home)

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Smart Device Free Campus

Allowed

Flip phones (no internet connection, no apps)

-Must be in backpack at all times, on silent mode or off.

Air tags

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Not Allowed

Smartphones

Smart watches

Tablets with Internet Access

• Communication about pick-up, or changes in a students schedule MUST go through the office and/or teacher and aide emails.
• Students will put their smart device into a locked box during the day and may have it back when they go home.
• Students using their device at any point during the day, without teacher permission, will result in the confiscation of the device. Their guardian will be required to come to the office to pick up the device.
• School devices/emails are monitored by Securly software

Instrumental Music

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Presentation from Mrs. Vela

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COVID - 19 Prevention Strategies

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• Masking (Masks now optional, but may be required in certain circumstances.)
• Ventilation
• Handwashing, Covering Coughs, Covering Sneezes
• Regular Cleaning
• Stay Home When Sick With Symptoms (24 hours for fever/vomit)
• Students with symptoms at school will be sent home
• People exposed to COVID may come to school as long as they are symptom free. Testing after 3 -5 days is recommended. The school has free COVID testing for students.
• Students positive for COVID can return after 5 days if symptoms have improved and no fever
• Please use at home tests (which county provides to send home) to test your child the night before returning from a school break.

Absent Procedure

• Parent needs to call the office or email THAT morning
• Students MUST make up the work missed. (INCLUDING FRIDAYS for independent study)
• Check with teachers/peers

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• Independent Study blank forms will be emailed to you soon.

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The office will be sending home letters when your student reaches 5, 10, and over 15 absences for any reason.

Electives

• Monday, Tues, Wed, 2:00 – 2:50
• We always need volunteers to facilitate electives (New Mandated Reporter Requirement)
• For 2026-2027, new instrumental music teacher Ms Whitfield

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Dress Code

Family Handbook has the complete dress code.

A few Highlights:

• Breasts, genitals, and buttocks must be covered by opaque fabric. You should be able to draw a line from one armpit to the other and have anything below those points be covered by fabric. Clothing must have two straps.

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• Closed toed shoes with straps are required for recess. Athletic shoes are required for PE (no Crocs).

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The following types of clothing are considered inappropriate for school and not considered acceptable attire for a school/work atmosphere:

• Bare midriff apparel
• Sagging pants that impede walking
• Exposed undergarments between top and bottom clothing

Link to Family Handbook on antiochcharteracademy.org https://docs.google.com/document/d/18fBaIwidchnXJRuI9ro4FZGW8cBdns0ilogIiHh8mTw/edit

AUSD INTRAMURAL SPORTS TIMELINE

SOCCER

VOLLEYBALL

FLAG FOOTBALL

CHEER

November - April

BASKETBALL

What are the requirements?

*Try out for the team

*Students must have a GPA of at least 2.5 based on academic classes.

*Students and parents must complete an athletic packet including sports physical

*The school will not require $$$$ to participation or uniforms, but we will request donations to help cover costs.

How can parents help support students?

• Ask your student about progress; encourage students to redo poor grades on large assignments and work to improve grades on tests
• Encourage them to ask for help
• Quiet space for work
• Let us know about eyeglasses
• Supplies supplied (esp. pencils & kleenex)
• Bedtime & Electronic Devices don’t mix
• Reinforce the importance of putting EFFORT into completing work
• Let your kids know what is on the breakfast/lunch menu
• Let us know if your student does not have a device for homework online
• Ask open ended questions about their day/ car ride time is great
• Have family meals at least once a week to encourage communication
• Let us know if something is not working for your student

Questions

Ms. Jill – Middle School Aide aca2middle@antiochcharteracademy.org

Mr. Hagan – Language Arts/History mhagan@antiochcharteracademy.org

Mrs. McCutcheon – Math & Science emccutcheon@antiochcharteracademy.org

We will request a conference with you if we feel it would be beneficial for your student.

You can request a conference with you and your student for any reason/issues/questions you have.

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Live Question and Answer Session on Wednesday, August 26

from 7 - 7:30

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