Virtual Book Sale

From the WIRE...

NEW VIRTUAL BOOK SALE!

Visions will be holding a Virtual Book Sale next month on June 23, in order to provide an equal opportunity for all continuing Home School families to obtain various returned items at discounted prices. In the past, this event was hosted at our Carmichael Resource Center and therefore it was limited to those families who resided nearby or wanted to make the drive. This new “virtual” format will allow everyone in our nine-county region to participate online via a Google spreadsheet and Google form!

Details:
Items for sale

• Miscellaneous used items in only good to very good condition.
• Readers, novels, manipulatives, kits, supplies, resource materials, etc.
• All items are “as is” and not returnable

Previewing items

• A Google spreadsheet will be populated with the ISBN # or SKU #, title, description, and price, as well as a link to the item currently sold online.
• Families will have access to this spreadsheet at least two days prior to the sale.

Day of the sale

• A Google form will be shared with families via a Wire post, allowing them to enter the information of the items they want to purchase on the day of the sale. Each submission will have a time and date stamp verifying who “claimed” the items.
• The quantities in the Google spreadsheet will update in real time, so families can see what items are left when they are submitting their claim requests.
• Parents will be able to select “pick up” or “ship to” for the items they claimed.

After the sale

• Staff will process the orders in Launchpad with the amounts charged to the student’s 2017/18 budget.
• “Visions Book Sale 2017” will be listed as the vendor.
• Staff will sort, box and mail items to families.

Timeline

• June 21 – Google spreadsheet shared via Wire post for families to view
• June 23 – Date of the Virtual Book Sale
• June 23 & 26 – Orders posted and processed in Launchpad
• Orders will be mailed out as soon as possible

Early Ordering Extension

Early Ordering has been extended to June 29th.

Upcoming & Notable

• 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
• Virtual Book Sale - Friday, June 23rd (Spreadsheet to be shared via WIRE post June 21st)
• Early Ordering Ends - Thursday, June 29th

Tuesday, August 29th - CTs will begin contacting returning students on Friday, 8/18

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 5/29
Memorial Day - No School

Tuesday
Placerville Library
Gage - 1:00
Alex - 2:00

Wednesday
High School Graduation Ceremony in Sacramento

Thursday
Ione
Justin - 2:30
Plymouth
David - 3:45

Friday

Office Day

Curriculum Ideas

What have been your favorite curriculum choices? What has worked well for you? If you know of something that you'd like to share with other home school families, just shoot me an email with the info and I will add it to the new "Curriculum Ideas" page that you can access from the link above.

How about local field trip recommendations? Local co-ops or activities? Books your child/children love? I'd love to create a page for those, too.

Thanks to Shelly Zabawa for the first idea!

Field Day Information - This Friday!

If we are counting the field day as our LP10 meeting, please bring work samples and your filled out draft report cards (K-5). I will have a black crate of folders with student names on them near the sign-in area. Attendance forms will be inside. Please initial the attendance form(s) and place your work samples and draft report cards inside. Grades 6-12, please update your progress tab (grades) and PE log on your semester plan prior to the field day. Remember, you can update grades until the last day of school, just notify me if that is the case so I record them correctly. Thanks!

Field Day in Jackson

Date: May 26, 2017

Time: 9:30 to 12:30

Where: Detert Park

(Information copied from the WIRE)
One of the highlights of Visions’ annual events is Field Days, a fun day of field games and activities organized by Visions staff and held at a variety of parks throughout our service area. This is a great opportunity for students and families to get to know and network with other home school families. And for kids to expend some energy!

Games are supervised by Visions CTs and staff, and the day ends with a family barbecue of hot dogs, chips, and lemonade.

You won’t want to miss this day of fun and activities!

Important Details
Come Prepared to Play

• WEAR ATHLETIC SHOES! Students will compete in a variety of field games, so it’s important they come prepared to play. All participating children must wear closed-toe, sports shoes.
• Adults are also asked to wear athletic shoes for a planned child-parent activity.
• Visions will provide water and snacks for participating students.

Networking & Family Barbecue

• While your kids are playing, take advantage of the opportunity to network with CTs, Administrators and other Visions home school families.
• A family barbecue will be offered from 12-12:30. Vegetarian option is available. Please RSVP your food choice in Registration Form below.

Home School Curriculum Preview

• Visit with a Visions curriculum expert and preview some of the newest Home School curriculum for 2017-18.

How to Enroll

• Field Days are FREE for all students, siblings, and family members to attend.
• So that we may appropriately plan for food and staffing, please register your student(s) by filling out the Field Day Registration Form.
• To save time on the day of the event, bring a completed permission slip (one per household).

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 5/22
Ms. Bryon at Professional Development in Carmichael

Tuesday
End of Year Prep

Wednesday
CT Meetings

Thursday
End of Year Prep

Friday
Field Day in Jackson

Student Budget Update

From the WIRE...
Posted by Jody Graf

Over the last few weeks we have received great feedback regarding what our families value in support of their homeschooling journey. Overwhelmingly, our parents shared that they value their teacher and they want the maximum amount of funding and flexibility available to support their child’s education. In addition, we heard that our families wanted more control in how they manage their student budgets within a family budget.

As a result of this feedback and fine tuning of our budget, we are excited to share that we will be making the following enhancements to support our Home School families:

• TK-8 students will receive $2,600
• 9-12 students will receive $2,800
• A Family Budget (ability to move money between students with no limits)
• Ability to use your student budgets to cover costs for approved conferences you may want to attend (up to $350)

Previously announced enhancements that will remain the same:

• 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 want to let you know we are doing our best to listen to the needs of our families. We also heard that our families wanted these funds with fewer strings attached, as a result, these new funding amounts will replace the Parent Educator Bonus, Student Assessment Bonus and free community college which was discussed earlier this spring.

Thank you for allowing us to serve your family.

Upcoming & Notable

• LP9 Ends - Friday, May 19
• Field Day - Friday, May 26 - Detert Park in Jackson, 9:30 to 12:30 (See information below)
• 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony - Wednesday, May 17, 12:30 to 1:30 - Grace Church in Jackson
• 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 5/15
Office Day

Tuesday
Ione
Joseph - 12:05
Tiffany & Madison - 1:10
Justin - 3:00

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

• LP9 Ends - Friday, May 19
• Field Day - Friday, May 26 - Detert Park in Jackson, 9:30 to 12:30 (See information below)
• 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony - Wednesday, May 17, 12:30 to 1:30 - Grace Church in Jackson
• 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 5/8
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

Standards Check (K-8)

Now is a great time of year to be checking for mastery of grade level standards.

Checking the standards now gives you enough time to plan how to cover and/or review standards that your student may not have mastered yet.

Please let me know if you need any help or ideas on how to help your student(s) master any of your standards :)

Here is a link to the Visions folder with the K-8 grade level standards.

I'll be bringing a rough draft copy of your report cards (K-5) to our LP9 meeting for you to fill out for LP10. This is another way to check for areas you want to focus on before the end of the year.

Contact Information Check

Since we are moving to a new Student Information System (SIS) next year, it is super important that Visions has current contact information for you.

All CTs have been asked by the office to verify contact information for their families.

Please sign in to Launchpad and check your address, your phone numbers, and your emails for changes or corrections.

I'm asking everyone to please fill out this form so I can keep track of who I have verified.

Thank you so much for helping me with this!

This Week's Meeting Schedule

Monday 5/1
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

Changes for Next Year

New Student Information System (SIS) - Visions is implementing a new SIS. We will still have Launchpad to place your orders through, but all of the rest of the student information will be moving over to a new system. This is a good thing. Attendance and most other forms will be a thing of the past as we will be able to do them all online. YAY! Also, you will have increased access to student records (assignments, transcripts, grades, progress, etc.) Please double check all of your contact info on Launchpad. Especially your email address, as that is how Visions will provide your new sign-in information to the new SIS. Please email me any updates so I can get them taken care of. Thanks!

Reduction of Visions Sponsored Enrichment Activities - Visions will only be holding sponsored activities in Carmichael, Fairfield, Concord and Galt next year. These activities are scheduled to end altogether at the end of the 2017/18 school year. Since such a low overall % of Visions students was able to participate, the decision was made to increase the budget instead so all students could find vendors and activities that were local.

Increase in Budget - Each Visions student will receive $2,000 for curriculum, supplies and vendor sponsored activities next year (+$200). There will also be opportunities to earn extra funds by taking parent educator courses (+$200 per family) and having students participate in interim assessments ($100 per student).  (Details TBD - will keep you posted on the particulars as they come.)

Early Ordering

Early ordering has begun! This means that you can order curriculum and supplies for next year to get ahead of the crowd.

Things to keep in mind:

• There is a new purchasing matrix. Please refer to it while ordering. Thanks!
• Make sure to fully describe the items you are ordering, I am finding that I need to add or clarify descriptions in the notes box pretty often :)
• Please double check your order before you submit.
• Let me know if you have any questions, or if you need some curriculum suggestions.

Happy curriculum hunting!

Early ordering ends June 7th.

This Week's Meeting Schedule

This week I will be proctoring the CAASPP and CAST make-up testing in Rescue. All meetings usually scheduled for this week have been rescheduled for the last week of the LP.

Monday 4/24
Office Day
Somerset
Grace - 11:00

Tuesday
Proctoring Testing in Rescue

Wednesday
Proctoring Testing in Rescue

Thursday

Proctoring Testing in Rescue

Friday

Office Day

Pine Grove

Billy - 1:00

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