October Newsletter

Dear Parents,

As we welcome October, we’re looking forward to a wonderful month at FCA! We’re hoping for a few cooler days ahead too!. October also brings Fall Break, the close of our first quarter, and our first Parent-Teacher Conferences. Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work together to help our students grow academically, spiritually, and personally. We’re excited for all that God has in store for our FCA family this month!

Within this newsletter you will find:

• A shout out to the recipients of the September "I CAN" Excellence Award
• Information about the 10/6 Lark Ranch Field Trip
• Reminder about Fall Break from 10/12-10/16
• Information about the FREE Vision Screening on 10/21
• Reminder that Progress Reports will be sent via email on 10/19
• Information about the Parent Conference Weeks from 10/26-11/6
• A family guide to state testing (grades 3-9)
• Information about helping your child to read (IREAD information)
• Short list of upcoming events

Serving you joyfully in Christ,

Kimberly Russ

We are excited to celebrate our September I CAN Excellence Award recipients! This month, our students learned about the Character of Joy, one of the fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22. True joy is more than a happy feeling. It comes from knowing Jesus, and it stays strong even on hard days. As Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us, "the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Our recipients were nominated by their teachers for showing joy through cheerful attitudes, kind and encouraging words, a willingness to serve others, and a positive spirit when things did not go their way.

Congratulations to these students! We are so proud of the way they are letting the joy of Christ shine in our school community.

Get ready for a fun-filled fall day at Lark Ranch in Loogootee! Our students will have the opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of fall on the farm, including the corn maze, train ride, hayride, farm animals, rides, slides, bounce areas, and more. It will be a great opportunity for our students to enjoy some fall fun together outside the classroom!

📅 Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
🕗 School Drop-Off: 8:00 AM
🚌 Departing for Lark Ranch: 8:30 AM
🏫 School Pick-Up: 3:00 PM
📍 Destination: Lark Ranch Loogootee - 3145 Killion Ml Rd, Loogootee, IN 47553
👕 Student Attire: Blue FCA shirt
💵 Cost: $13 per student

• $10 Lark Ranch admission
• $3 transportation

🥪 Lunch: Students and adults should bring a sack lunch and drink.

💻 LINK: Online Permission Slip

Please have students arrive at school by 8:00 AM so we can prepare for departure. We are looking forward to a wonderful day of fall fun and making memories together at Lark Ranch!

We are excited to once again offer a free eyesight screening for our students on Wednesday, October 21, provided by Ridgway Eye Care on Green River Road.

The screening is a quick, non-invasive check to help identify any potential vision concerns. Please note that this is a screening, not a comprehensive eye exam. Parents will be notified if the screening indicates that further evaluation may be recommended.

📅 Date: Wednesday, October 21
👓 Provided by: Ridgway Eye Care — Green River Road

During the required first-quarter parent conferences, we will review your child’s progress so far, discuss their performance in class and on assessments, and share recommendations to support continued growth and success throughout the school year.

Conferences will be held October 26–November 6. Please select the time that works best for you. Meetings typically last 15–25 minutes.

💻 LINK: Online Conference Sign Up Form

Helping Your Child Learn to Read

Reading by the end of third grade is a key milestone, because it opens the door to all future learning. At FaithWay Christian Academy, we want to partner with you to help every child get there. One of the most powerful things you can do at home is read with your child for 30 minutes each day. Library visits and a home full of books make a real difference too!

How FCA Supports Young Readers

• Universal Screener: Students in K-2 take a reading screener so we can identify strengths and areas needing extra support early. Results will be shared with families.
• IREAD in Second Grade: Students take the state IREAD assessment in second grade, with a summer retest option. Students who pass will not need to test again. Those who don't will receive additional support and can retest in third grade, both in the spring and summer.
• Free Summer Reading Course: Students who need more support after spring IREAD in second or third grade may attend a free summer course taught with science of reading practices.

What Indiana Law RequiresIf a student is still not reading proficiently by the end of third grade after significant support, state law requires retention in third grade as a last resort. Students who qualify for a Good Cause Exemption are not subject to this requirement. These include a student who:

• Has previously been retained in third grade
• Has an intellectual disability, or has an IEP stating retention is not appropriate, and whose case conference committee has determined promotion is appropriate
• Is an identified English learner who has received services for fewer than two years and whose Individual Learning Plan (ILP) committee determines promotion is appropriate
• Scored "Proficient" or "Above Proficient" on the third grade ILEARN Math assessment
• Has received two or more years of intensive reading intervention aligned to the science of reading and was retained more than once in kindergarten, first, or second grade

Any student who has not passed IREAD, whether retained or promoted, will continue to receive reading support and retest until they pass or complete sixth grade.

ILEARN is Indiana's statewide assessment of the Indiana Academic Standards. Students in grades 3-8 take ILEARN in math and English/Language Arts, with science tested in grades 4 and 6 and social studies in grade 5.

This year ILEARN includes three Checkpoints in math and ELA, given in the fall, winter, and spring. The Checkpoints are not pass/fail. They help teachers see where each student stands on grade-level skills well before spring, so a lower score is simply an early signal for where to give extra support. The tests are computer-adaptive, meaning questions adjust based on how your child answers. The statewide windows are:

Checkpoint 1: November 6, 2026
Checkpoint 2: January 29, 2027
Checkpoint 3: March 12, 2027

The end-of-year ILEARN Summative for grades 3-8 runs from May 4 to May 5, and is shorter than in past years since the Checkpoints now carry part of the load.

High school students will take the state Biology End-of-Course Assessment on February 18.

Families will be able to view their child's results through IDOE's Family Portal. We will send information soon on how to log in.

On testing days, help your student get a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast, and remind them to simply do their best. No single score defines your child! Questions? Reach out to your child's teacher or the office anytime.

October 6 - 🍁 Lark Ranch Field Trip

October 9 - 📝 First Quarter Ends

October 12-16 - 🍁 Fall Break

October 19 - 📎 Progress Reports Emailed

October 21 - 👓 Vision Screening

October 26 - November 6 - 🤝🏽 Parent Conference Weeks

October 28 - 🏅"I Can" Excellence Awards in Chapel

🔗 LINK to the FCA Events Calendar

Partnering with parents to reinforce Christian values taught in Scripture, at church and in the Christian home.

As a ministry of FaithWay Baptist Church, FaithWay Christian Academy disciples students biblically through academic integrity, spiritual excellence, and leadership development to love truth and serve faithfully in their local church.