Heron Herald
Cyber Academy of South Carolina
March 24, 2016
This Edition
Spring Break
Testing Resources
Enrollment (Information sessions for 2016-2017)
Teacher and Support Staff of the Year
Bowl To Enroll
Imagine Upstate- April 2nd
Charleston Riverdogs’ Education Day
Capitol Day- April 19th
Learning Labs
Shout Outs
Announcements
Counselor's Corner
Learning Coach University
Dates to write down
Mar 25-April 1 Spring Break
April 2nd Imagine Upstate Steam Fest (Greenville)
April 16th Prom
April 19th Capitol Day- HUGE event in Columbia!!! Save the date!
April 26-28 SC Ready (3rd -8th grade students)
May 10-12 EOCs (HS students- Alg 1, Eng 1, Bio, US History)
May 11-12 Science, Social Studies (4th-8th grade students)
May 18th DRA Kindergarten Assessment (K students)
Spring Break
Testing
State testing is right around the corner for third through eighth graders in South Carolina. Our 3rd through 8th grade Herons will be traveling to 10 locations around the state to take these state mandated standardized tests. As a reminder these tests will be administered in person but will be taken on a computer.
Specific testing locations will be sent to students by the end of the day Thursday, March 24th, 2016. You will need to confirm that you will be at your testing location on the days assigned.
Please see the links below for more information about upcoming testing for CASC students. These links contain information as well as sample questions for students to familiarize themselves with the format.
Sample Test Questions: (Please access through Chrome)
Re-Registration
Important Information Regarding School Year 2016-2017
Administration will be holding informational sessions for all students the week following Spring Break. They will be discussing the new enhancements and updates for next year.
Learning Coaches are invited to attend through class connect session.
- K-4th grade - April 5th @5:30pm
- 5-7th grade- April 6th @ 5:30pm
- 8-11th grade- April 7th @ 5:30pm
Have you completed your steps for Re-Registration? Check out the video below for more support.
Would you like some help with the Re-Registration Process? Check out the video below!
Enrollment for 2016-2017
Teacher and Support Staff of the Year
Teacher of the Year- Mrs. Batson
Mrs. Batson! She exemplifies what it means to be a virtual teacher and always goes above and beyond to help her students and fellow staff.
From the Desk of Mrs. Batson:
I want to take this chance to say “Thank you!” for the honor of being chosen Teacher of the Year for CASC. I am so grateful for this privilege. I consider myself very blessed to be a part of this group of educators who represent the best that the state of South Carolina has to offer! Each day our school strives to challenge, inspire, and support our students and I am so proud to be a part of that.
I know that we couldn’t do this without the support of our families. You have been willing to try something new, something different and I am thankful to be a part of your student’s journey. Thank you for trusting us to nurture and develop those who matter the most to you.
Most importantly, I want to thank our students. Each day, I work with students who have a passion to be great, a desire to succeed. I am inspired by each of you and I cannot imagine a better life, a more fulfilling career than spending each day working with you. I am so proud to be an educator and a part of the Heron family. Thank you!
Mrs. Nicki Batson
Support Staff of the Year- Courtney Kountz- School Counselor
Congratulations to our own Mrs. Kountz the school counselor at Cyber Academy! She's such a wonderful asset to Cyber Academy. She has such enthusiasm for supporting students and families.
I would like to extend my deep appreciation for the nomination as the CASC Support Staff of the Year! I must say that I am humbled, honored, and at the same time excited, to have this recognition. The Cyber Academy of South Carolina has a remarkable and distinguished faculty and staff and I am privileged to work with each of them! These dedicated faculty, staff, and administrators deserve our recognition and acknowledgement for the countless hours and boundless energy they invest in you, their students. Thank you all for the encouragement you have given me on a daily basis! I have grown so much, both personally and professionally, and couldn’t do what I do on a daily basis without their support!
For our families, thank you for the continual support you give to your students-from taking a step into the unknown to explore the world of virtual learning and knowing the decision you made was the best one for your student and family, to learning a new platform to educate your students, to continuing to encourage them to give their absolute best effort. We are proud to partner with you throughout your child’s school experiences.
To each of the CASC students, thank you for your enthusiasm for learning, being willing to dream, and put the effort into seeing those dreams through to reality! I appreciate your willingness to trust yourselves, your teachers, and me to test the limits and do more than you ever thought was possible! Your successes help all of us to strive to do and be more.
What an amazing year we have had together! I look forward to continuing to learn and grow with everyone as we have a successful end to this school year! Thank you again!
Mrs. Courtney Kountz
Bowl To Enroll
On April 2nd STEAM Fest will shut down Downtown with activities for people of all ages. From 11am-5pm the streets will be lined with activities and fun for the whole family.
The STEAM festival will be held in the West End of downtown Greenville running from South Main Street to Markley Street. The festival will also include Fluor Field! The street will be lined with tented STEAM-centered experiences for students of all ages. In addition to the street experience, the festival features 6 unforgettable track experiences that you and your family won’t want to miss.
Calling all Low Country Families
Cyber Academy has been fortunate to secure some seats to giveaway for the upcoming Charleston Riverdogs’ Education day on April 13th. Please see the survey below for more information and to sign up for a chance to get FREE tickets to the 11:05 am game!
Capitol Day - April 19th
We will be starting off at the old Sheraton Columbia Downtown hotel bank. There will be free tee shirts given away starting at 9:30am during check in. They will also have materials for kids to make signs, but feel free to bring your own. The rally at the capitol will begin around 11:30 am on the South Steps of the state house. Lunch will be served. Once you RSVP more information will be sent.
Our learning labs around the state are filling up. Facilitators are offering support for students who have non mastered lessons and assignments that they are struggling with. Have you set up your appointment yet? The end of the year will be here before we know it. Now is the time to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.
There are still spots left for a few of our learning labs around the state.
*Please note that Learning Labs will be closed on April 19th, the week of April 25th, May 2nd, and the week of May 10th to accommodate Capitol Day as well as State testing.
Heron Shout Outs!
First Grade Shout outs- Thank you to Amari B., Micah B., Aiden B., Cameron B., Ethan C., Mary Grace C., Maria D., Raley E., Abby M., Orin S., and Leah T. for attending class connect sessions with Mrs. Johnson almost all the time! Keep up the great work!
Kinzley M has been working really hard in LL for several weeks. She has really taken advantage of the help that the LL provides. Her grades in ELA are improving weekly as a result of coming to the LL.
Shout out to James R: He asks for clarification when needed, actively participates in class, comes to help sessions, and stays on pace in our math course. He always strives to do his best work!
Shout out to those who have completed their i-Ready GM's. Your teachers are thankful for your hard work and efforts. We appreciate that when we ask something of you, you always step up to the plate!
Announcements
High School
Testing Dates
April 16th Prom
May 10-12 EOCs (HS students- Alg 1, Eng 1, Bio, US History, Possibly Eng. 2 and Geometry)
Looking for tips and tricks for the Online High School? Check out our HS Online Guide!
Prom- A Night Under The Stars- April 16th- Columbia, SC
Prom invitations have been sent out! Have you sent in your RSVP for A Night Under The Stars? It is sure to be a wonderful event for all High School students!
We are excited about Prom 2016!
Middle School
Next Week is Spring Break
Be sure you are using that week to get caught up if needed.
i-Ready Growth Measurement for Reading and Math needs to be finished before you leave for Spring Break.
Next Study Island assignment is due April 11
Tips and fun stuff for the week-
Math-
Ask a family member to quiz you on your basic math facts over dinner. Times tables and common factors especially!
Fractions practice: http://www.mathplayground.com/index_fractions.html
English--
Word Games - Vocabulary - Writing / Spelling - Grammar Games
It is easy to be a poet with this online magnetic word board.
Build your vocabulary muscles with these online quizzes.
History--
Drawing the Western Frontier: http://anthropology.si.edu/naa/index.htm
The Cyber Toaster Museum: http://www.toaster.org/museum.html
Science--
WebQuest Projects, Math Practice
Test Prep...
Open the online testing tools in Google Chrome and practice using these tools for SCReady and SCPASS! You'll love the highlighter and sticky notes!! https://wbte.drcedirect.com/SC/portals/sc
Check out the video below for some tips and tricks about Study Island
K8 OLS Support Video for Learning Coaches
Testing
Testing locations will be sent to students March 24th. All students will need to confirm that they will be attending testing.
Testing Dates:
SC Ready (3rd -8th grade students)
- April 26th ELA Writing
- April 27th ELA Reading
- April 28th Math
SC PASS (4th-8th grade students)
- May 11 Science
- May 12 Social Studies
Elementary School
K8 OLS Learning Coach Support
The link below provides support for students and learning coaches with Study Island
Testing
Locations will be sent to students on March 23rd. All students will need to confirm that they will be attending testing.
Testing Dates:
SC Ready (3rd -8th grade students)
- April 26th ELA Writing
- April 27th ELA Reading
- April 28th Math
SC PASS (4th-8th grade students)
- May 11 Science
- May 12 Social Studies
DRA Kindergarten Assessment (K students)
- May 18th
Family Academic Support Team (FAST)
Resource Corner
Family Resource Coordinator
Aisha Lake: 864-236-4006 X4028
Resource Corner…
Counselor's Corner
We hope you have a wonderful Spring Break! Here are a few suggestions of some free things you can do as a family. See you on April 4!
Fun Spring Activities Checklist
The Great Outdoors
Plant something green
See the cherry blossoms
Have a picnic at the park
Jog outside
Take a hike
Ride a bike
Sit outside
Visit a farm
Walk on the beach
Nostalgic
Fly a kite
Jump in puddles
Get dirt under your fingernails
Blow bubbles
Climb a tree
Play on a playground
Feed ducks at a pond
Skip stones
Draw pictures with sidewalk chalk
Just Because
Listen to the rain
Spot a rainbow
Go barefoot
Feel the sun on your face
Learning Coach University
- How to Help Your Student Study Smarter, Not Harder
- March 28th 2pm
CASC is on Pinterest
Cyber Academy of South Carolina
The Cyber Academy of South Carlina is a full-time, tuition-free, online public charter school for South Carolina students in grades K-11. Learn more at casc.k12.com/
Email: help@cyberacademysc.org
Website: casc.k12.com
Phone: 864-236-4006
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CyberAcademyofSouthCarolina?fref=ts




