Monday, October 19, 2020

Household Income Data - Did you fill out your form?


Action Required: Submit Household Income Data by Oct. 23!

Note: If you completed your application after July 1, 2020, or you have already completed this form this year, you do not need to complete it again.

If you are a returning student or if you enrolled before July 1, we need your help!

The State of California requires all schools to collect Household Income Data from families each year. Visions uses this information to qualify for funding that is used for tutoring, field trips, bus passes, support for foster children, low income families, teen moms, families in transition, and more. This funding is very significant to our school. By submitting the electronic form, you ensure that Visions continues to provide the following resources and benefits:

• Student budgets

• Tutoring

• Curriculum

• Technology/computers

• Teacher support

• Field trips, field days and other academic enrichment activities

• College course reimbursements

To qualify for this funding, Visions needs to receive a completed electronic form by a parent/guardian for each student. Please know that this data is kept confidential and is only used to report data to the State for school funding purposes. We know that you want every resource possible available for your child’s education.

Please review the instructions by clicking the link below and complete the necessary steps by October 23rd, so that we can meet the State’s deadline of October 31st. You will also receive an email with this information.

Access the Household Income Collection Process HERE

Spelling Bee



Home School Spelling Bee is Dec. 15; Register by Oct. 30!

We are happy to announce that we will be hosting a virtual Spelling Bee on Tuesday, Dec. 15. 

Students in grades 2-8 who wish to participate must sign up by Friday, Oct. 30. Families will receive spelling study lists via email upon signing up.

Scripps mandates the format and rules of hosting a Spelling Bee and is still deciding the details of how the virtual format will work. Once that information is made available to us, we will let parents know.

Visions will hold one Bee in which all grades will participate. To be thoroughly prepared, students should study words from all grade level lists.

The declared winner of our school’s Bee will be eligible to compete in the Central Valley Spelling Bee, the champion of which will win an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C to participate in the National Scripps Spelling Bee in May 2021.

To register your student, please fill out the Spelling Bee Sign Up Form by 10/30. For more details, visit our Spelling Bee events page on the Wire.


This Week's Meeting Schedule

 LP3 Agenda - Standards Review and Spring Classes for High School

Monday 10/19
Teacher Meetings

Tuesday 
Virtual
11:00 - Willow H.
12:00 - Sterling & Allie
2:00 - Wyatt

Wednesday
Virtual
11:00 - Lucas & Elias
2:00 - Camryn

Thursday
Virtual
11:00 - Skyler
12:00 - Jacob
1:00 - Baruch & Ana

Friday
Office Day

Monday, October 12, 2020

Upcoming & Notable

Notable: 

Visions will continue to support VIRTUAL ONLY meetings and enrichment activities for the fall semester. The board will revisit this policy for the spring semester depending on the COVID-19 situation.


Add/Drop Deadline: Friday, October 16 (high school students only)
Household Data Collection Deadline: Friday, October 16
LP3 Begins: Monday, October 19




Daylight Saving Time Ends: 
Sunday, November 1st at 2am (turn your clocks back on Saturday night)
Veteran's Day - School Closed: Wednesday, November 11
LP4 Begins: Monday, November 16
Thanksgiving Break: Tuesday, November 24 - Friday, November 27



LP5 Begins: Monday, December 14
Winter Break: Monday, December 21 - Friday, January 1

iReady Pilot Students

 

Please make sure to complete your initial assessment before Friday, October 16! For planning purposes, please know that the assessment can take up to an hour per subject (math and Language Arts) to complete.

iReady goals:
  • Complete the initial assessment during LP1
  • Aim for 45 minutes per week of instruction
  • Complete another assessment in spring
If you have questions, or need help, just reach out!

This Week's Meeting Schedule

 LP2 Agenda - Fall Work Samples

Monday 10/12
Office Day/Teacher Meetings

Tuesday
Office Day/Teacher Meetings

Wednesday
Virtual
11:00 - Tiffany, Madison & Logan
2:00 - Camryn

ThursdayVirtual
11:00 - Jaxon, Sarah & Paul
2:00 - Savannah
3:00 - Akira

Friday
Office Day/Teacher Meetings

Monday, October 5, 2020

This Week's Meeting Schedule

 LP2 Agenda - Fall Work Samples

Monday 10/5
Office Day/Teacher Meetings

Tuesday
Virtual
12:00 - Uriah
3:00 - Billy & Ari

Wednesday
Virtual
11:00 - Hailee & Lyla
1:00 - Hunter
2:00 - McKenna

Thursday
Virtual
11:00 - Elijah & Hazel
1:00 - Akira
2:00 - Jonah
4:00 - Jette

Friday
Office Day/Teacher Meetings

Monday, September 28, 2020

Free School Meals

From the WIRE:

Many locations throughout our service area are offering free meal services for students. These locations offer pick up and drive through options. These services will be offered through December 31, 2020.

https://wire.viedu.org/free-school-meal-information/

Virtual Community Partner (Vendor) Fair



From the WIRE:

This year, due to COVID-19, our Community Partner (Vendor) Fair is virtual! Select partners have provided Visions with fun and exciting videos showcasing their virtual enrichment services! 

  • Enjoy learning more about the services our Community Partners offer virtually on your time with an On-Demand viewing experience. 
  • Pick and choose the partners you are interested in learning more about! 
  • Gain special access to exclusive promo codes and discounts 

This resource features select partners who provided Visions with an informative video experience. To view a complete list of over 600+ partners providing virtual services available for eVouchers during this time, please visit our Community Partnerships (vendors) webpage.


This Week's Meeting Schedule

 LP2 Agenda - Fall Work Samples Due

Monday 9/28
Teacher Work Day

Tuesday
Virtual
11:00 - Tiffany, Madison & Logan
2:00 - Jasmine, Roxie & Fiona

Wednesday
Virtual
11:00 - Charlotte
2:00 - Savannah
3:00 - Ella

Thursday
Virtual
11:00 - Jaxon, Sarah & Paul
3:30 - Jezzy

Friday
Office Day/Teacher Meetings

Monday, September 21, 2020

Something Cool for LP2


Illustory Book Making Kits

Have you seen these on Amazon?

These book making kits:

  • feature a writing guide
  • earned the 2017 Mom's Choice Gold Award
  • include ready-to-use cover template pages, story and illustration template pages, guide book & instructions, a set of color markers and a postage-paid envelope and order form

Not into writing? How about making your own game board?

Or maybe making your own game pieces using Sculpey?

Did You Know?




Are you interested in how your student(s) are progressing? Since the standardized testing was canceled this past year, you can administer the Smarter Balanced Interim Assessments by yourself! (You will need to let me know that you would like to do this, as I will need to approve access.)

How students can take CAASPP Interim Assessments at Home

Work Samples - Repost

Just in case you haven't submitted already...


What and Why...
Twice per school year, (once each semester) Visions collects official work samples from students. These samples are intended to show our auditors that our enrolled students are actually enrolled, and that they are engaging in the academic activities on their master agreement and semester plan. They are also used to demonstrate that there is a responsible adult who is reviewing and or grading their work.

When..
Due at our LP2 Meeting


How...
Samples must be work from LP1. You may submit samples from your own curriculum, use the provided samples (grades K-8), or any combination of the two. (9th - 12th grade courses are so variable that it is impossible to create packets.)

Please provide one written sample from each subject.

Instructions for using provided samples (K-8th grades): 

  • Download and print the work sample packet or individual pages you intend to use.
  • Have your student complete the worksheet(s).
  • Grade and or comment on each sample in a different color than the student worked.
  • Please do not put dates or LP#s on worksheets.
  • Please leave upper right corner blank for the school's generated label.
  • Match the standard code on your semester plan drop-downs for LP1 to the one on the sample. (Change the code if you need to, or we can do it together at the meeting.)
  • Either scan and email the samples to me or take a clear, level picture of the entire sample with your phone and text it to me. I will confirm that I received them and let you know if I need anything else. If you choose to do a work sample via Google Docs, just share the document with me allowing me to edit it.

If you would rather submit samples from your own curriculum (all 9-12th graders):

  • Samples cannot be from a religious publisher (handouts, worksheets with publisher’s name on them). Handwritten work on blank or lined paper that is from religious curriculum, but is not addressing religious themes, is fine.
  • Match the standard drop-downs on your semester plan for LP1 to the samples. You can make your best guess here, and I will help you when I collect the samples.
  • Samples cannot be a test or multiple choice, they must show student work. (Samples where student just matches, underlines, or circles items are not sufficient, there must be some written work on the page
  • Grade and or comment on each sample in a different color than the student worked.
  • Please do not put dates or LP#s on worksheets.
  • When possible, please leave upper right corner blank for label.
  • Either scan and email the samples to me or take a clear, level picture of the entire sample with your phone and text it to me. I will confirm that I received them and let you know if I need anything else. If you choose to do a work sample via Google Docs, just share the document with me allowing me to edit it.

Please don't hesitate to call, text, or email with questions about work samples.

This Week's Meeting Schedule

 LP2 Agenda - Fall Work Samples
Monday 9/21
Teacher Meetings

Tuesday 
Virtual
11:00 - Willow H.
12:00 - Sterling & Allie
2:00 - Wyatt

Wednesday
Virtual
11:00 - Lucas & Elias
2:00 - Camryn

Thursday
Virtual
11:00 - Skyler
12:00 - Jacob
1:00 - Baruch & Ana

Friday
Office Day

Monday, September 14, 2020

Upcoming & Notable

Notable: 
From the ordering center: "Due to the ongoing effects of COVID-19 and the extreme demand for distance learning materials, curriculum and technology orders may take 4 weeks or longer after the processed date (see “Completed On” date shown on Order Details page) to arrive. Please know that if an item has a processed status then the partner is filling the order as quickly as possible."

LP2 Begins: Monday, September 21


Add/Drop Deadline: Friday, October 16 (high school students only)
LP3 Begins: Monday, October 19

Free Brain Pop!

From the WIRE...

BrainPOP, BrainPOP Jr., and BrainPOP ELL (ELL is for students who are learning English) are now available for free to Visions students. BrainPOP is an online learning program that creates animated resources to support educators and engage K-8 students.

Available content includes movies, quizzes, games, mobileapps, activity pages, and much more covering hundreds of topics within Math, Science, Social Studies, English, Technology, Arts & Music, and Health.

BrainPOP accounts can be created using these instructions.

Visions iReady Pilot Program - Repost

 I need 5 students (grades K-8) to volunteer for Visions's iReady pilot program.

 

What is iReady?

Actionable Insights. Engaging Instruction. Meaningful Growth.

i‑Ready is a comprehensive assessment and instruction program that empowers educators with the resources they need to help all students succeed. By connecting Diagnostic data and Personalized Instruction, i‑Ready reduces complexity, saves educators time, and makes differentiated instruction achievable in every classroom. i‑Ready:

  • Provides user-friendly dashboards and clear reports with actionable data that give teachers a foundational understanding of students’ strengths and areas of need.
  • Enables educators to confidently determine each student’s on-grade level proficiency based on state and national standards.
  • Delivers online lessons that provide tailored instruction and practice for each student to accelerate growth.
  • Supports teachers with in-the-moment resources for remediation and reteaching at individualized, small group, and whole class levels of instruction.
  • Is research-based and proven to work—students who use i‑Ready Personalized Instruction make remarkable learning gains.
  • Includes dedicated service and support at every step of the implementation journey through i‑Ready Partners.
  • Supports teachers and leaders during the 2020-2021 school year wherever they are learning. Learn how.

For more info about iReady: https://www.curriculumassociates.com/products/i-ready/tour

Visions will pay for the cost of the subscription for students participating in the pilot program. During the pilot program students will be expected to:

  • Complete the initial assessment during LP1
  • Aim for 45 minutes per week of instruction
  • Complete another assessment in spring

Please email me asap if you are interested. Program begins September 8th.

This Week's Meeting Schedule

LP1 Agenda - Fall Semester Plans & Fall Work Samples

Monday 9/14
Office Day/Teacher Meetings

Tuesday
Virtual
11:00 - Camryn

Wednesday
Office Day/Teacher Meetings

Thursday
Office Day/Teacher Meetings

Friday
Office Day/Teacher Meetings

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

This Week's Meeting Schedule

LP1 Agenda - Fall Semester Plans & Fall Work Samples

Monday 9/7
Labor Day - No School

Tuesday - Cancelled due to power outage
Virtual
1:00 - Camryn
2:30 - Billy & Ari

Wednesday
Virtual
11:00 - Hailee & Lyla
1:00 - Hunter
2:00 - Uriah*
3:00 - McKenna

Thursday
Virtual
11:00 - Elijah & Hazel
1:00 - Akira
2:00 - Jonah
4:00 - Jette

Friday
Office Day/Teacher Meetings

Monday, August 31, 2020

Work Samples

Let's try to get Semester 1 work samples done for our first meeting. Why? because you will be doing some schoolwork anyway, so why not get these out of the way early? If we can get them done for our first meeting, we will have time to troubleshoot any issues that arise. 



What and Why...
Twice per school year, (once each semester) Visions collects official work samples from students. These samples are intended to show our auditors that our enrolled students are actually enrolled, and that they are engaging in the academic activities on their master agreement and semester plan. They are also used to demonstrate that there is a responsible adult who is reviewing and or grading their work.

When..
Let's try to get them done at our LP1 meeting!

How...
Samples must be work from LP1. You may submit samples from your own curriculum, use the provided samples (grades K-8), or any combination of the two. (9th - 12th grade courses are so variable that it is impossible to create packets.)

Please provide one written sample from each subject.

Instructions for using provided samples (K-8th grades): 

  • Download and print the work sample packet or individual pages you intend to use.
  • Have your student complete the worksheet(s).
  • Grade and or comment on each sample in a different color than the student worked.
  • Please do not put dates or LP#s on worksheets.
  • Please leave upper right corner blank for the school's generated label.
  • Match the standard code on your semester plan drop-downs for LP1 to the one on the sample. (Change the code if you need to, or we can do it together at the meeting.)
  • Either scan and email the samples to me or take a clear, level picture of the entire sample with your phone and text it to me. I will confirm that I received them and let you know if I need anything else. If you choose to do a work sample via Google Docs, just share the document with me allowing me to edit it.

If you would rather submit samples from your own curriculum (all 9-12th graders):

  • Samples cannot be from a religious publisher (handouts, worksheets with publisher’s name on them). Handwritten work on blank or lined paper that is from religious curriculum, but is not addressing religious themes, is fine.
  • Match the standard drop-downs on your semester plan for LP1 to the samples. You can make your best guess here, and I will help you when I collect the samples.
  • Samples cannot be a test or multiple choice, they must show student work. (Samples where student just matches, underlines, or circles items are not sufficient, there must be some written work on the page
  • Grade and or comment on each sample in a different color than the student worked.
  • Please do not put dates or LP#s on worksheets.
  • When possible, please leave upper right corner blank for label.
  • Either scan and email the samples to me or take a clear, level picture of the entire sample with your phone and text it to me. I will confirm that I received them and let you know if I need anything else. If you choose to do a work sample via Google Docs, just share the document with me allowing me to edit it.

Please don't hesitate to call, text, or email with questions about work samples.