Can you believe it’s already holiday season? I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for here at the New Academy Charter School. Classes are going well, students are achieving and teachers and staff are getting into the Holiday Spirit! We had an Honor Roll Celebration with certificates and goodies, we had an awesome Thanksgiving Lunch prepared by the cafeteria team and we hosted our 1st (annual?!?!) Turkey Bowl Student Football Game. What a blast we had! As students continue to show up in their grades, their behavior and their attendance, we hope to plan even more intramural activities as the year progresses.
I want to remind everyone, who I am sure has their sights set on Winter Break, that we do have Keystone Testing and Benchmarking coming up before the break. By now you should have received a letter in the mail with more information, but Keystone Testing begins on Monday, December 5th and runs through Friday, December 16th. We will have 3 testing only days from Tuesday, December 6th through Thursday, December 8th. All students are expected to attend. If they are not taking a Keystone Exam, they will be completing their Benchmark Assessment.
As the winter weather starts to rear its ugly head please keep your eyes set to your local news stations and/or to our mass message phone calls letting you know if there are any delays or closures.
Last but not least, as this is my last message to you before the new year, I hope you have a wonderful Holiday and let’s get ready for 2023!
Talk Soon,
Jamie Hopkins
Parent Access
Please email Cherisha Thomas at Thomasc@theacademyschools.com to register for your PowerSchool Parent Login information. When you have a PowerSchool Parent account you will be able to access your students grades, schedule, attendance and their teachers!
Special Education
There is always something to be thankful for in life and the Special Education Department is thankful for the support of all the families we have serviced this school year. Our students have been working really hard and making great academic strides. In the Academic English class students have been working very hard on their slam poems and have created great poems for the poetry unit. The Special Education Department loves to collaborate with student’s guardians. Bridging the gap between school and home is a vital element in improving academically, behaviorally, and socially. If you would like to talk with a member from the Special Education Department please contact the school and request a phone call from one of our team members.
We hope your family had a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving break and took the time to enjoy each other.
Math
The Math Department started focusing on strengthening students’ math fluency by starting Math Facts Friday. Students see how many math facts they can complete correctly in 5 minutes or less. The students’ response has been mostly positive. They are also being challenged to remember and strengthen basic skills and concepts. Miss Mervosh and Mr. McCullough are still continuing to teach them the concepts they need to learn moving forward from the curriculum for their classes. Stay tuned for more exciting things happening in The Math Department as this academic year progresses.
Science
8th grade science is starting to work with energy and motion which will bring a lot of hands-on fun, working with simple machines to learn how they make work easier. 9th grade Biology has started learning about how chemistry plays a big role in living systems. 10th grade chemistry is working on radioactive isotopes and carbon dating. Anatomy has started to work on learning the 206 bones that make up the human adult skeleton. Psychology is learning about abstract thinking.
Physical Education & Health
At the New Academy Charter School, we believe your health is the greatest wealth. for the month of November the Health and Physical Education department focused on the prevention of the spread of communicable diseases like the common cold, flu and COVID-19. Also, the Physical Education department has focused on improving muscular endurance and muscular strength. we will accomplish this task by performing exercises that address muscular health like push-ups, exercise band activities and circuit weight training activities during fitness club and Workout Wednesdays throughout the next two months.
English
English 4-Using graphic organizers to conduct a novel study focusing on foreshadowing, characterization, and plot development. This unit will end with a critical essay in the form of a book review.
English 3-Studying the Salem witch trials and reading The Crucible.
English 2-Reading Harrison Bergeron, Tell Tale Heart, and focusing on character perspective and POV.
English 1-Completing a graphic novel study.
Social Studies
It has been a very busy month for the Social Studies department. First, Mr. Parkinson’s U.S. History class is finishing up Colonial and Revolutionary America. There have been many good discussions about taxes and natural rights relating to current issues. The U.S. History class will keep the momentum rolling into December, as Mr. P. has some pretty cool things planned, STAY TUNED! In Mr. Shamitko’s Geography class, students are starting to explore the United States and all that it has to offer. The energy has been high and the students are excelling with the states. Finally, Mr. Zarko’s class is still exploring the Roman culture. Students seem to be enjoying this unit very much. One student stated, “The films we’ve been watching are so cool, I can’t believe they fought like that!” and another student said that, their favorite thing was designing their own Roman wardrobe with accessories. The Social Studies dept. wishes everyone a Happy Holiday Season!!
Our senior class is exploring their options as they attended a tour at Chatham University. Chatham University is a private University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Fun fact about Chatham, it began as a women’s college, but began enrolling men in 2015. Some of the majors of study that the senior class were interested in include Psychology and Business. The next date for the SATs is March 11, 2023 and registration for that date closes on February 10, 2023. As a reminder, all New Academy Charter School students get two free SAT tests! Feel free to reach out to Mrs. Keener or Mrs. Hopkins if you would like to sign up.
At the New Academy Charter School our goal is to establish a school culture that reinforces positive behavior and academic success. In other words, "Catch a student doing something right" is the motto of our school. To promote that motto we have established a reward system of positive incentives. This month we celebrated Thanksgiving early with our annual Thanksgiving Day Holiday Celebration. We had Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings and afterwards the students participated in our annual New Academy Charter School Turkey Bowl Flag Football Game.
Vision Care
Blind and Vision Rehabilitative Services are committed to ensuring ALL patients have access to the highest quality vision care. Everyone should have an annual eye exam. Please call 412-368-4080 to schedule your appointment today. We look forward to meeting all of your eye care needs. Through a collaboration with the Pennsylvania Vision Foundation, we are introducing the Vision Benefits Program to offer free exams and free eye glasses to anyone who is eligible. Click here to learn more about this program
Reading is Fundamental (RIF)
Reading Is Fundamental Pittsburgh addresses this critical need by providing children with access to self-selected books, creating positive environments that motivate children to develop a lifelong love of reading, and engaging families in literacy practices in the home. RIF Pittsburgh is dedicated to reducing the literacy gap in our community and fostering a lifelong love of reading in the children we serve.
CONTACT:READING IS FUNDAMENTAL
(412) 321 - 8022
Helping Hands
Allegheny Link can help connect your family to resources with housing needs. They will assess your eligibility and find the right fit for you. This includes rental assistance, utility assistance and housing transition services.
Contact the Allegheny Link: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm
By phone
1-866-730-2368
(Callers between 7:00 pm and 8:00 am will be directed to appropriate supports by an automated message.)
In person
Human Services Building
One Smithfield Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
By email
Contact Allegheny Link
New Academy Charter School
Homeless Liaison: Ms. Melissa Miller
412 515-2280
Local Resources
We recognize families have a variety of needs as they navigate life. Below are resources that address needs such as technology, school options, parenting resources and more.
The New Academy Charter School recognizes the importance of regular attendance in school as a means of helping students achieve academic success. We know your student may have a valid reason for being absent.
Some reasons for an excused absence are: doctor or dental appointments that cannot be scheduled outside of school hours, death of a family member, student illness, religious holidays, or required court attendance.
- Please provide a medical note or written explanation for all absences upon their return to school.
- Submit medical notes/or written excuses within 3 days of the absence to Ms. Melissa Miller email millerm@theacademyschools.com, fax: 412 515-2299
- Phone calls to the school will NOT excuse your child.
- Only 10 parental notes can be accepted each school year. All others must be formal excuses.
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