ARVA Elementary Family Newsletter

Happy November!

It is hard to believe we are nearing the end of the semester! However--we have LOTS to do! I hope you students are finding joy and peace with their learning this year!

ARVA Absolutes:

Arkansas Virtual Academy strives to improve our school year after year. We have created what we call, “ARVA Absolutes” for our district. Absolutes are the absolute musts for each student at ARVA to meet state requirements.

Every student at ARVA Elementary is Absolutely expected to:

• Master grade level high-priority skills with a 2 or higher.
• Earn level 2 or higher on the ATLAS assessments (ATLAS interims/Progress Monitoring/Summative)
• Attend required classes with their teachers/interventionists/Stride Tutors

Students who are not meeting these Absolutes will be reviewed prior to promotion to the next grade level. Any student who reaches 20 absences, per ARVA handbook, will be reviewed for credit loss and/or promotion.

Please note: these absolutes are for review only. Special Programs and extenuating circumstances will be taken into consideration upon the review.

Standards Mastery:

You will know if your student is meeting grade level expectations if they can perform those skills and standards the teachers have for them at a 2, 3, or 4.

A 2 is grade level-but not full mastery. It means your student can do the skill, but maybe not consistently.

A 3 is grade level expectation!

A 4 is means they know it so well they can teach it!

Help us with knowing exactly where your student is with mastery!

Thanksgiving Break-NO SCHOOL

There will be no school on 11/23-11/27 for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Enjoy!

Feel free to scroll down this newsletter to keep up with any and all school information.

ARVA Learning Coach Network | NWA (North West): www.facebook.com/groups/arvalcnetworknwa/

ARVA Learning Coach Network | North: www.facebook.com/groups/arvalcnetworknorth/

ARVA Learning Coach Network | East:

www.facebook.com/groups/arvalcnetworkeast/

ARVA Learning Coach Network | Central:

www.facebook.com/groups/arvalcnetworkcentral/

ARVA Learning Coach Network | West:

www.facebook.com/groups/arvalcnetworkwest/

ARVA Learning Coach Network | West Central:

www.facebook.com/groups/arvalcnetworkwestcentral/

ARVA Learning Coach Network | South: www.facebook.com/groups/arvalcnetworksouth/

We are focusing on what it looks like to be a good student/learner at ARVA. These are our learner dispositions. You will hear your teacher talk about this and encourage your student to exhibit these qualities. We ask that you help influence your student as well so we can all SHINE!

If you are interested in knowing the level your student should be able to perform a skill for their grade level, please read this ALD's! This will tell you exactly what your student needs to be doing in order to achieve a 3 (which is our goal for mastery).

Please click the link below understand more about the 3rd grade Promotion Law in AR. Your child must have a 2, 3 or 4 on the ATLAS test in April in order to promote to the 4th grade. (There are few good cause exemptions you can read about if they apply).

ARVA teachers are doing all we can to communicate, progress monitor, and make sure your students are getting the quality interventions they need in order to succeed!

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support. I want to share a brief update about our curriculum: our current K–6 reading curriculum is not yet approved by the Arkansas Department of Education, but we are actively working through the approval process. The Right to Read Act and the DESE rules state that we must have an approved curriculum.

Please know that although our curriculum is not yet approved, the materials we use do align with the Arkansas State Standards that all Arkansas schools are required to teach. ARVA does utilize UFLI as a supplemental phonics program to ensure the best possible outcomes for students. We remain committed to ensuring students at ARVA receive the best possible instruction.

Thank you for your understanding and continued trust in our school. If you have questions or would like more information, please reach out to Lindsey Marrs, limarrs@arva.org.

Please click below to see the ARVA events around our state!

Each month we will focus on a character word with our students. We will discuss what it means, model what it looks like, and encourage our students to do the same. This builds character and life-long skills for our students. Below are the character words we will focus on this school year:

Below is a reminder of the attendance policy. An absence is an absence, but it can be made up, see below.

Excused absences (only if you let the teacher or RCC know):

• Student illness
• Quarantine
• A serious illness or death in a student’s immediate family
• A court order or an order by a governmental agency, including pre-induction physical examinations for service in the armed forces, mandating absence from school.
• Religious holidays (24 hr. advance request only)
• Educational tour/trip (24 hr. advance request only)
• 4-H events

What if you have an absence and need to make it up, you're in luck!!!! When you log in on the weekend or a holiday and complete OLS lessons you are able to clear out these absences. Just another perk of being at ARVA