Happy Mother's Day

Yes, I do know it was yesterday, but I'm one of those people who believes in belated wishes for those special days. It makes them last longer :)

For all the mothers, and aunts, and otherwise motherly adults, a special wish for a happy "Day After Mother's Day" in recognition of all that you do!

Upcoming Important Dates

May
May 21, 22, & 23: Graduate Check Out
May 26: Memorial Day - No School
May 28: Graduation Ceremony for Seniors
May 30: Last Day of School

Check Your Grades

It is getting close to the end of the year. There are only 14 school days left!

Students: Make sure to go to Engrade often and check your grades as the year comes to a close. Have you set a realistic goal as to what grades you want to earn at the end of the semester? Have you made a plan to get there?

Parents and guardians: Please make sure you are aware of your student's progress and contact me if you have any questions! We don't want any surprises at report card time. If you can't log in to Engrade, drop me an email and I will provide you more detailed instructions.

Please note: Your grades are most current directly after our meetings.

www.engrade.com

Use your launchpad user name for BOTH your Engrade user name and password.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Student and Parent Surveys

Thank you to everyone who has completed the surveys. It is tremendously helpful in planning how I can improve as a teacher for next year, as well as knowing what is working :)

If you haven't yet had time to leave feedback, please consider doing so now.

I promise to thoughtfully review all of the feedback to see where I can improve as a teacher for next year.

There are separate surveys for students and parents. Surveys are completely anonymous, however, if you want me to know who you are, put your name in the last box. Thanks!

Student Feedback:

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Parent/Guardian Feedback:

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 5/12
Professional Development - Ms. Bryon in Carmichael

Tuesday
Sacramento
Tupelo Coffee House - Elvas Ave.
Hope - 10:30
Manuel - 11:30

Wednesday
Antioch
Starbucks - Balfour Road
Rey - 12:30
Starbucks - Lone Tree Way
Michelle - 2:00
Allante - 3:00

Thursday
Pleasant Hill Library
Jude - 12:00
Alona - 1:00
Nick - 2:00
Kaylee - 3:30

Friday
Office Day
Alana - Phone - 10:00

2014/2015 Learning Period Calendar

Are you trying to plan for next year? If so, here is a copy of the 2014/2015 Learning Period Calendar.

This calendar and others can also be found on the ehandbook on Launchpad.

First Day of School: Wednesday, August 20

This Week's Meeting Schedule

If you have trouble signing in to Skype at your meeting time, call me :)

Monday 5/5
Office Day

Tuesday
Skype
Kissa - 11:00

Jeremiah - 12:30
Alex - 1:30

Wednesday
Skype
Levi - 2:00

Thursday
Skype
Alana - 11:30
Donovan - 12:30
Sophia - 2:00
Halie - 3:00

Friday
Office Day

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 4/28
Skype - Reschedules due to Test Proctoring
Nick - 11:00
Michelle - 2:30
Allante - 3:30

Tuesday
Skype
Hope - 10:30
Manuel - 11:30
Visions Offices - Carmichael
Xayla - 2:15

Wednesday
Ms. Bryon Proctoring SBAC

Thursday
Ms. Bryon Proctoring SBAC

Friday - Last Day of LP 9!
Skype - Reschedules due to Test Proctoring
Jude - 12:00
Alona - 1:00
Alana - 2:30 (Math)
Kaylee - 3:30

Rey - 4:30

Independent Study to begin using Gradpoint curriculum

copied from the Visions "Staff Connection...

Visions In Education is launching a new curriculum for Independent Study that will start during the 2014-2015 school year. Currently Visions students in the University Prep (EDGE) Academy use Gradpoint as the chosen curriculum because the blended learning model has proven to work effectively and fits in with 21st century learning. The school has chosen to move forward with this excellent, engaging and challenging curriculum for Independent Study to enhance what students already receive at Visions, one-on-one teacher interaction and a flexible schedule. Along with the new curriculum, Visions Independent Study High School students will receive a Chromebook to be used during their time at the charter school.

Gradpoint is a product of Pearson, the world’s leading education company. Gradpoint curriculum aligns with the new Common Core State Standards and helps prepare students for a successful life after high school. It increases student engagement with courses that incorporate video, interactive activities, immediate feedback and intuitive navigation.

This exciting change at Visions In Education will make getting materials to students a much easier process, since it will be at their fingertips 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Students will still interact with their teachers one-on-one, in person and are still expected to do a certain amount of hands-on, off-computer work. To learn more about Gradpoint, watch this video. To explore Gradpoint from a student’s perspective, click here.

Have You Chosen Your Classes?

It is time for Fall Master Agreements! Have you chosen your electives yet?
Switching to Gradpoint provides you with a few new elective courses next year. Please visit this link and look over the list of electives and their descriptions. Please be ready with your choices for our next meeting, thanks!

*Please note: The Medical Terminology course has been cancelled. It is not being offered Fall semester.

Arrange to Pick Up Your Chromebook!

You should be able to call for your appointment now! 
Continuing students will get their new Chromebooks BEFORE the end of this year! (If you currently have a Visions computer you will be trading that in for the new Chromebook.) SkyQ is setting up appointments for May. Please view the schedule and instructions here.

Important Information for Continuing Students

First...

At our next meeting we will be creating your Fall master agreement. Switching to Gradpoint provides you with a few new elective courses next year. Please visit this link and look over the list of electives and their descriptions. Choose one or two that interest you so we can decide your classes for next year.

Second...
Continuing students will get their new Chromebooks BEFORE the end of this year! (If you currently have a Visions computer you will be trading that in for the new Chromebook.) SkyQ is setting up appointments beginning in May. Please view the schedule and instructions here.
UPDATE: You should be able to call for your appointment after April 1st. 

For Graduating Seniors

Congratulations!! Well, soon to come anyway.

If you are graduating this year you will soon receive a letter in the mail with information about the graduation ceremony and all the important steps you need to take before then. Here is a copy of the letter that was sent out.

Here are the highlights:

Graduation Checkout Dates are:
May 21, 22, and 23, 8:00 to 4:00.

You will purchase your cap and gown and pick up your graduation tickets (6 tickets per student) when you check out. 

You must return computers to SkyQ, books, and materials to the resource center in Carmichael, and pay any fines from Visions or previous schools before you checkout.

The Graduation Ceremony is on Wednesday, May 28th. There is a mandatory rehearsal starting at 1:00 p.m. The ceremony will begin promptly at 3:00 p.m.

Please read through the letter you were sent carefully and email me if you have any questions!

Junior/Senior Enchanted Ball Invitation – May 3, 2014

VIE Juniors and Seniors
you are invited to the
Enchanted Ball

Who: Juniors and Seniors
When: May 3, 2014
Where: La Sierra Community Center (5325 Engle Rd. Carmichael Ca)
Time: 7pm – 11pm
Cost:  Single (student)  $25 Double (student w/guest)  $40

Prepare to be transported into the world of fairy tales, where dreams come true. Dance among royal guests and create your own happily ever after. Photography session included in the price of the ticket. Drinks and desserts will be provided.

Interested juniors and seniors need to purchase tickets before May 3, 2014. Dance tickets cannot be purchased at the door on the day of the dance. Please use the Dance Ticket Order Form link to purchase tickets.

Visions In Education students are allowed to bring a guest if they wish. Guests cannot be over the age of 18 and must submit a completed Guest Dance Bid Form to the Visions office  before 4 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2014.

This is a formal dance, therefore students are required to dress in formal attire. For more information, call (916) 971-5518 or email cmckinnis@viedu.org.

STAR Testing

Do you need to take STAR tests this year?

In high school, ONLY 10th graders are required to take the STAR test, and they will ONLY be taking the science grade level test.

The STAR science test will be held on Tuesday, April 1 from 8:45 am to 12:00.

If you are supposed to take the STAR test, I will send you an email later today confirming your testing site.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 2/10
Ms. Bryon at Professional Development

Tuesday
Tupelo Coffee House - Elvas Ave.
Hope - 10:30
Manuel - 11:30
Cedar - 1:00
Carly - 2:00
Xayla - 3:00


Wednesday
Starbucks - Balfour Road
Rey - 12:30
Starbucks - Lone Tree Way
Jeremiah & Kissa - 1:00
Michelle - 2:00
Allante - 3:30

Thursday
Pleasant Hill Library
Nick - 11:00
Jude - 12:00
Alona - 1:00
Charis - 2:30
Kaylee - 3:30

Friday
Office Day

CAHSEE Tomorrow and Wednesday

March CAHSEE (11th and 12th Grade Only)

English: Tuesday, March 18

Math: Wednesday, March 19

Test begins at 9:30a.m.

The test is not a timed test. Most students will be done in 2 to 3 hours.

Please make sure to bring a picture ID or have your parent/guardian sign you in. Find for your initials below to check your testing location.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

M.B. (Wed. Only), N.K. (Both Days), A.S. (Both Days) :
New Life Christian Church

3525 Chestnut Street, Concord, CA

H.B. (Both Days)
SDA 6045 Camelia Ave., Sacramento, CA

C.B. (Wed. Only)
Bethany Presbyterian Church
5625 24th Street, Sacramento, CA

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Good Luck!
And remember:
Do the easy ones first.
Relax and take your time.
Use process of elimination for the questions you don't know.
If you don't know the answer, guess. You will have at least a 25% chance of getting it right!

LP 6 Grades

LP7 Progress grades have been posted on Launchpad. Please check your progress grades and let me know if you have ANY questions!


Just a reminder about my online gradebook...

You can check your grades at anytime on Engrade.

To do this, go to www.engrade.com (the link is also to the right of this post in the "Links" column)

Use your launchpad user name for BOTH your user name and password. You should be able to sign in and see your current grades, also any missing assignment and your scores for recorded assignments.

These grades are most current right after your meetings.

Parents: If you can't access Engrade for any reason, feel free to email me and I will walk you through it :)

Let me know if you have any questions!

PE Test for all 9th Graders - UPDATE

The Visions Home School Academy is holding the Physical Fitness test in Martinez and in San Ramon!

Martinez on Wednesday, April 2 from 10 to 12

San Ramon on Friday, March 28 from 10 to 12

I will get the exact location soon. However, if you are a 9th grader, please arrange to attend one of these sessions. (All 9th graders must take this test :)

I will contact you individually to find out which session would be more convenient for you.

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Remember, all meetings this week are on Skype. If you don't already have a Skype account, get one before your meeting here. Then, add me as a contact. My Skype ID is: tamsen.bryon

If you have trouble signing in to Skype at your meeting time, call me at 925-337-1972.

Monday 3/10
Office Day

Tuesday
Skype
Morgan - 11:30
Makayla - 1:00
Karolina - 7:00

Wednesday
Skype
Rey - 12:30
Michelle - 2:00
Allante - 3:30

Thursday
Skype
Nick - 11:00
Jude - 12:00
Alona - 1:00
Charis - 2:30
Kaylee - 3:30

Friday
Office Day
Skype Tutoring
Allante - 10:00
Makayla - 11:00
Alana - 12:00