8th Grade Promotion - Updated Date for Jackson

From the WIRE...

Completion of 8th Grade signifies transition, a moving on from the elementary and middle school years to high school. At Visions we consider this educational achievement a milestone, worthy of recognition by Visions staff and the student’s family.

Attire & Important Info

• Casual but nice dress is the suggested attire. Please no formal attire.
• This is not a formal graduation ceremony, so please no activities suggesting anything more than transition to the next tier in a student’s educational journey.
• Refreshments will be served.
• All students will receive a Certificate of Promotion whether or not they attend a ceremony.

How to Enroll
For planning and for processing certificates, sign-up your student on the 8th Grade Promotion Participation Form. Be sure to include the site they wish to attend and number of guests attending.

Available Locations and Dates

• Benicia - Thurs., May 18, 6:00 - 7:00 pm - Northgate Christian Fellowship, 2201 Lake Herman Rd, Benicia 94510
• So. Lake Tahoe - Fri. May 19, 12:30 - 1:30 pm - Lake Tahoe Christian Fellowship. 3580 Blackwood Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
• Carmichael - Wed., May 24, 5:30 - 7:00 pm (Student check-in 5:30, Ceremony begins at 6:00) - Christ Community Church, 5025 Manzanita Ave, Carmichael, 95608
• Jackson (Amador County) - Wed. May 17, 12:30 - 1:30 pm - Grace Fellowship; 8040 So.Hwy 49, Jackson 95672

Upcoming & Notable

• Early Ordering - Monday April 10 - Wednesday, June 7
• LP8 Ends - Friday, April 21
• CAST Science Test - (5th & 8th Graders) Wednesday, April 26, from 10 to 12 @ Grace Church in Jackson.
• SBAC Make-Up Testing in Rescue & Carmichael - Tuesday, April 25 - Thursday, April 27

• LP9 Ends - Friday, May 19
• Field Day - Friday, May 26 - Detert Park in Jackson, 9:30 to 12:30
• 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony - Wednesday, May 17, 12:30 to 1:30
• Memorial Day - No School - Monday, May 29
• High School Graduation Ceremony - Wednesday, May 31st

• Last Day of School - Wednesday, June 7th
• Book Return - Thursday, June 15th - 9:00 to 11:30, Grace Church in Jackson

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 4/17
Office Day

Tuesday
Pollock Pines
Alex - 11:00
Somerset
Yarrow - 1:00

Wednesday
Ione
Zora - 11:00
Lilly - 12:05
Charles - 1:15
Ione - Clark's Corner
Wyatt - 2:30

Thursday

Jackson - Burger King
Billy - 11:20
Jackson Library
Emma - 12:30
Connor - 1:30
Grace B. - 2:30

Friday
Office Day

Spring Break Next Week!

April 10 through April 14.

Have Fun!

Upcoming & Notable

* Retention and Transfer fees have been eliminated *

* Carmichael Book Sale has been discontinued *

• Sibling Enrollment and Academy Transfer Deadline: Friday, April 7
• Spring Break - Monday, April 10 - Friday, April 14
• Early Ordering - Monday April 10 - Wednesday, June 7
• LP8 Ends - Friday, April 21
• CAST Science Test - (5th & 8th Graders) Wednesday, April 26, from 10 to 12 @ Grace Church in Jackson.
• SBAC Make-Up Testing in Rescue & Carmichael - Tuesday, April 25 - Thursday, April 27

• LP9 Ends - Friday, May 19
• Field Day - Friday, May 26 - Detert Park in Jackson, 9:30 to 12:30
• 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony - Friday, May 26, 12:30 to 1:30 - Details to follow
• Memorial Day - No School - Monday, May 29
• Graduation Ceremony - Wednesday, May 31st

• Last Day of School - Wednesday, June 7th
• Book Return - Thursday, June 15th - 9:00 to 11:30, Grace Church in Jackson

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 4/3
CT Professional Development in Carmichael

Tuesday
Ione
Austin & Dylan - 10:00
Alexis & Tyler - 12:05
Gage - 2:30

Wednesday
Jackson Library
Isabeau & McKenna - 11:00
Wyatt - 1:30
Emily - 2:30

Thursday
Ione (Clark's)
Jezreel - 12:00
Jaye - 1:00
Hunter - 2:05
Plymouth
David - 3:30

Friday

Office Day

Enrollment Deadlines

Sibling Enrollments
If you currently have a Visions student and are enrolling a sibling, the deadline is April 7th. Online application link.

Academy Transfers
If you would like to transfer to the Independent Study or EDGE academies (high school only) the deadline is also April 7th. (Let me know asap, so I can point you in the right direction.)

*Students who wish to continue homeschooling with Visions do not need to do anything. We will sign your Master Agreement during our LP8 or LP9 meeting.

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 3/27
Office Day

Tuesday
Ione
Justin - 11:00
Joseph - 12:05
Tiffany & Madison - 1:10

Wednesday
Ione
Grace D. - 11:00
Bonnie - 12:10
Charlotte - 1:30
Khloe & Sadie - 2:35

Thursday
Ione - Clark's
Leila - 11:00
Lucas - 12:05
Ione
Jasmine & Roxie - 1:30

Friday
Office Day

Upcoming & Notable

* Retention and Transfer fees have been eliminated *

* Carmichael Book Sale has been discontinued *

• First Day of Spring - Monday, March 20
• SBAC Testing in Rescue - Tuesday, March 21 - Friday, March 24 - (1:00 - 4:00)
• Parent Meet-up in Galt - Wednesday, March 22, Real Life Church - 9:30 to 11:00 am
• LP 7 Ends - Friday, March 24
• Last day to order curriculum, computers and vouchers - Friday, March 31
• For other ordering deadlines click here

• Spring Break - Monday, April 10 - Friday, April 14
• Early Ordering - Monday April 10 - Wednesday, June 7
• LP8 Ends - Friday, April 21
• SBAC Make-Up Testing in Rescue & Carmichael - Tuesday, April 25 - Thursday, April 27

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 3/20
Office Day

Tuesday
Pollock Pines
Alex - 11:00
Somerset
Yarrow - 1:00

Wednesday
Office Day

Thursday

Ione - Clark's Corner
Zora - 11:00
Madelynn - 12:30
Gage 1:30
Billy - 2:30

Friday
Office Day

Student Budget Increase Information

From the Wire...

Visions is pleased to share with our Home School Academy families that for the 2017-2018 school year we plan to add the following enhancements for our students:

• Annual budgets for each student will be increased to $2,000
• For the 2017-2018 school year we are offering a parent educator bonus of $200 per household, for completion of a Visions’ sponsored parent training to augment student budgets
• For the 2017-2018 school year, for completion of approved student assessments, to prepare for testing administered in the spring, we are offering a student assessment bonus of up to $100 per student to augment student budgets
• Continued free dual enrollment for students taking courses at a community college, students may receive a reimbursement of up to $500 per year of additional funds for approved expenses
• Parents may be reimbursed from student budget(s) for attending approved conferences, up to $250 per year per student
• No Retention or Transfer fees for curriculum items families wish to retain over the summer after the school year ends
• Purchasing Matrix has been simplified to provide greater purchasing options
• Expansion of our enrichment/service vendor providers (est. of 1,200-1,300 vendors for next year) to include driver’s training and gym memberships
• Extension of our purchasing deadlines to later in the school year

We will continue to offer great teachers, seamless ordering systems, enrichment activities, vendor fairs, field days and other extracurricular opportunities for our students and families.

We know our partnership with you is one of the most important decisions you make as a parent educator. Please know that we will continue to work hard to make available the best programs and opportunities that we can for your student(s). Please look for more detailed information to follow around these exciting new enhancements for the 2017-2018 school year. Thank you for the confidence you have in Visions.

Upcoming & Notable

• SBAC Testing in Jackson - Monday, March 13 - Wednesday, March 15 - (9:00 - 12:00)
• SBAC Testing in Rescue - Tuesday, March 21 - Friday, March 24 - (1:00 - 4:00)
• LP 7 Ends - Friday, March 24
• Last day to order curriculum, computers and vouchers - Friday, March 31
• For other ordering deadlines click here

• Spring Break - Monday, April 10 - Friday, April 14
• LP8 Ends - Friday, April 21
• SBAC Make-Up Testing in Rescue & Carmichael - Tuesday, April 25 - Thursday, April 27

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 3/13
Testing - Grace Church

Tuesday
Testing - Grace Church
Emily - 12:00

Wednesday
Testing - Grace Church
Charles - 1:15

Thursday

Jackson - Burger King
Billy - 11:15
Jackson Library
Emma - 12:30
Connor - 1:30
Grace B. - 2:30

Friday
Office Day

New Vendors for 2017-18

Here is the list of the new and deleted vendors for next school year.

New Vendors:

• Adventure to Fitness (Grades K  -6+)
• Art for Kids Hub (Ages 4 - 8+)
• Brainy Box (Ages 4 - 9)
• Center for Lit (Grades 5-12)
• Craftsy (K-12, although I think this looks better for older kids)
• Family Literacy (Grades TK-5)
• Freedom Driving School (Teens)
• Great Courses Plus (Courses look appropriate for High School, maybe middle school)
• Groovy Lab in a Box (Ages 8+)
• Interact Simulations (Grades 3 - 12)
• Jason Learning (Grades K - 12)
• Know Yourself (Ages 7 - 12)
• Logic of English (Grades Pre-K +)
• New Path Learning (Grades Pre-K - 12)
• Reading Eggs (Ages 3 - 13)
• Scribe Tutorials (Grades 5 - High School)
• Squilt (All Ages)
• Stanford Gifted & Talented (Grades K - 12)
• Tablet Class (Middle & High School Math)
• Touch-Type Read and Spell (Grades K - 3+)

Here is a link to the  Vision's document with descriptions of the services and plan prices.

Deleted Vendors:

• Britannica School - VIE is purchasing a Britannica School license
• California Driver Ed Course - Replaced with Freedom Driving School
• Family Time Fitness - Replaced with Adventure to Fitness
• Homeschool Programming - Products have become obsolete

Upcoming & Notable

• Rescue Project Fair - Wednesday, March 8 (Flyer)
• SBAC Testing in Jackson - Monday, March 13 - Wednesday, March 15 - (9:00 - 12:00
• SBAC Testing in Rescue - Tuesday, March 21 - Friday, March 24 - (1:00 - 4:00)
• LP 7 Ends - Friday, March 24
• Last day to order curriculum, computers and vouchers - Friday, March 31
• For other ordering deadlines click here

• Spring Break - Monday, April 10 - Friday, April 14
• LP8 Ends - Friday, April 21
• SBAC Make-Up Testing in Rescue & Carmichael - Tuesday, April 25 - Thursday, April 27

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 3/6
CT Professional Development in Carmichael

Tuesday
Ione
Austin & Dylan - 10:00
Alexis & Tyler - 12:05
Gage - 2:30

Wednesday
Jackson Library
Isabeau & McKenna - 11:00

Project Fair in Rescue from 3 - 5

Thursday
Ione (Clark's)
Jezreel - 12:00
Jaye - 1:00
Hunter - 2:05
Plymouth
David - 3:30

Friday

Office Day

Testing Update

Where and When am I testing?
All students should be getting a letter in the mail from Visions this week with testing days, locations, times and particular tests. If you do not receive a letter by Friday, please let me know. If we have not already spoken about testing location, you are assigned to Grace Church in Jackson (3/13 - 3/15). Testing at Grace is in the morning from 9 to 12. If you need a change of location, please contact me immediately. The school is planning for equipment and staffing and needs to get assignments set asap. Thank you.

What Tests am I Taking?
All 3 - 8th and 11th graders are taking the SBAC/caaspp test. There is a Language Arts portion and a mathematics portion. Some students complete the testing in two days, often completing one subject per day. The tests are not timed, however, so many return for the third day to finish up. All 5th, 8th and 12th graders will also take the Science test. This test is scheduled for the third day of testing.

SBAC Information

• Grades 3 - 8 & 11
• What Parents and Students Should Know
• SBAC Practice Tests
• SBAC Practice Test Score Guides (Answer Keys)
• Testing in Jackson -  Grace Church, March 13 - 15 (All but 2 of my students)
• Testing in Rescue - Foothills United Methodist Church) March 21 - 24 (1 student)
• Testing in Carmichael - Christ Community Church) March 21 - 24 (1 student)
• Makeups in Rescue and Carmichael - April 25 - 27

California Science Pilot Test CAST - (Replaces the CST)

• Grades 5, 8, and 12 (might be different high school grade next year) will test this year
• The test is computer-based (no longer paper-pencil like the CST was)
• Because this year, and more than likely next year, is a test of the test, no scores will be reported
• Scores are not reported, but the CAST will be counted in our participation reports

Upcoming & Notable

• Last Day to Add/Drop (High School Only) - Friday, March 3
• Curriculum Vendor Fair - Monday, March 6 - (Wire page with vendor list)
• Rescue Project Fair - Wednesday, March 8 (Flyer)
• SBAC Testing in Jackson - Monday, March 13 - Wednesday, March 15 - (9:00 - 12:00
• SBAC Testing in Rescue - Tuesday, March 21 - Friday, March 24 - (1:00 - 4:00)
• LP 7 Ends - Friday, March 24
• Last day to order curriculum, computers and vouchers - Friday, March 31
• For other ordering deadlines click here

• Spring Break - Monday, April 10 - Friday, April 14
• LP8 Ends - Friday, April 21
• SBAC Make-Up Testing in Rescue & Carmichael - Tuesday, April 25 - Thursday, April 27

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 2/27
Office Day

Tuesday
Ione
Justin - 11:00
Joseph - 12:05
Tiffany & Madison - 1:10

Wednesday
Ione
Grace D. - 11:00
Bonnie - 12:10
Charlotte - 1:30
Khloe & Sadie - 2:35

Thursday
Ione - Clark's
Leila - 11:00
Lucas - 12:05
Ione
Jasmine & Roxie - 1:30

Friday
Office Day

A Bit of Weather & History

Well that was quite a night! I, for one, am tired of this wind and rain and will be super happy to see some sun.

But did you know that in the winter of 1861-62 California was hit with a 43 day storm that put parts of it under water for 6 months?

These two photos are of Sacramento during that flood.

Scientific American has an article about it here. And just Googling "California flood 1861" will bring you lots more information.