Arcadia This Week 4/11/2022

Hello, Arcadia families, students, and friends,

Welcome back to our regularly scheduled newsletter! While I typically send this on Monday mornings, if the schedule is interrupted, I try to send things when they are occurring, or put a lot of information into one message in a mid-week or Friday update so that I’m not sending too many emails. We’ll be back to Mondays for a few weeks here!

Overview of topics: COVID Update, Arcadia Rubric, Strategic Planning, Student Intent to Return, Volunteer Opportunities, MCA Testing, Gertens Fundraising Total, Upcoming Events

Monday, 4/11: Day 3

–MCA testing: 10th Grade Reading, 8:15am in Tubman

Tuesday, 4/12: Day 4

–MCA testing: 11th Grade Math, 8:15am in Tubman

Wednesday, 4/13: Day 5

–Washington D.C./New York trip

Thursday, 4/14: Day 6

–Chris Koza Residency: Please bring instruments!

–Washington D.C./New York trip

Friday, 4/15: Day 1

–Washington D.C./New York trip

COVID Update

We have reached 14 days at a CDC-determined “Low” COVID Community Level with an Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) rate below 5% at Arcadia! 

Based on the criteria we established, this means masks are optional at Arcadia starting today, Monday, 4/11. Keep in mind that, if the level moves up at any point, we shift to the masking expectations at that level (recommended or required), and don’t shift back until 14 days at low.

The case rate has increased in the past few days, from below 50/100,000 in a one week period (around 43) to above 50/100,000 in a one week period (around 56 on Saturday, 4/9), so if you or your family have medical reasons to take extra precautions, you may want to take that into consideration when deciding on masking. The CDC does not recommend that institutions make decisions based on the case rate, but I know that’s something that families have monitored in the past.

We continue to offer at-home tests (BinaxNow and BD Veritor), and tests at school (CUE). 

 

Arcadia Rubric

Here is the newly minted Arcadia Rubric!

This is meant to be a living document, so while we will use it in its current form at this time, as we test it out, we may continue to improve on it. Feedback is always welcome!

 

Strategic Planning

The Board identified its strategic priorities for the next three to five years! They are:

  • Financial sustainability and growth

    • Create a development plan

    • Continue fundraising while considering alternative revenue sources

  • Staff sustainability and development 

    • Achieve adequate staffing levels 

    • Support staff growth and fulfillment 

  • Communications 

    • Develop internal communications plan 

    • Updating marketing and educational materials for the public

If you have ideas for supporting Arcadia in working toward these priorities, please contact our Board Chair, Melanie Cashin, or Executive Director, Laura Stelter. 

 

Student Intent to Return

We are starting to accumulate waiting lists for next year–exciting!! To help us determine how many of those students may have a spot next year, we’d like you to let us know if you are planning to return or not. We hope you will all be coming back! :)

Notify us here: Student Intent to Return Form

 

Volunteer Opportunities

We would appreciate help with lunch every day, if you are available! Here is a signup for that: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084da5ad2da7f58-daily

On April 23rd, Arcadia is hosting a booth at the Home, Garden, and Consumer Show at the Dundas Dome. It would be wonderful to have some help covering the booth! Here is a link to signup for that: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084da5ad2da7f58-home

 

MCA Testing

MCA testing starts today with 10th grade reading. All tests will start at 8:15am in the Tubman classroom and end by 11:00am. (Typically, they will end earlier–most of the tests do not last that long, though they are not timed.) We will offer one test section per day.

Here is an overview of the schedule:

4/11 10th Grade Reading

4/12 11th Grade Math

4/18 HS Science

4/19 7th Grade Reading

4/20 7th Grade Math

4/21 6th Grade Reading

4/22 6th Grade Math

4/25 8th Grade Reading

4/26 8th Grade Math

4/27 8th Grade Science

4/28 MCA Make Up Day

4/29 MCA Make Up Day

 

Gertens Fundraising Total

Thank you to all who participated in the Gertens fundraiser! We raised nearly $2700. That will go toward May Term and other experiential learning opportunities for students, like field trips and independent project funding.

 

Upcoming Events

Apr. 11-29: MCA Testing

Apr. 13-17: Washington D.C./New York Trip

Apr. 14: Chris Koza Residency (during school)–bring instruments!

Apr. 19, 6:30-8:30pm: Arcadia School Board Meeting, in person or online at: https://meet.google.com/wpo-dsqd-ahr

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 650-466-6043‬ PIN: ‪232 545 378‬# 

Apr. 21: Chris Koza Residency (during school)–bring instruments!

Apr. 22, 7:00pm: CHRIS KOZA FINAL PERFORMANCE! (Bring instruments…and yourselves!)

 

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,