• December 23-January 3: Winter Break
• December 25: Christmas
• December 25 to January 2:Hanukkah
• December 26 to January 1

Dear CONA Community:

We hope everyone is enjoyed a well-deserved and restful fall break! As we look ahead to the final three weeks before winter break, we are excited about all the possibilities we can make happen together.

Let’s stay focused, inspired, and continue to push forward as we finish this semester strong.

Looking forward to the amazing things we’ll accomplish in the next few weeks!

Warm regards,

Principal Bobby Caughey

Dear Connect Academy Families,

We hope you all had a restful break and are ready to dive back into an exciting term! We have lots of engaging activities and important information to share with you in this newsletter.

Important Dates

• December 2: School Resumes (regular schedule)

• December 6: P.E. Log #7 is due

• December 20: 20 Day Apportionment Window #4 closes

• December 23-January 3: Winter Break

Stained-Glass Art Project

As part of our 7th-grade exploration of medieval times, students will be creating faux stained-glass art inspired by the beautiful designs of medieval churches. This hands-on activity is open to all students who attend in-person, regardless of grade level. We will provide all materials for those who are able to attend in-person. Students learning online will be provided with a digital version if they cannot gather the materials at home.

To participate at home, we kindly ask families to provide the following materials:

• An inexpensive picture frame (5x7 or 8x10 works best)

• A black Sharpie or other permanent marker

• Any type of colored paints

• Clear school glue

• Aluminum foil

Thank you for supporting this creative learning experience! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Upcoming Novel Study Information

We are excited to share that our upcoming Novel Study unit in your child’s English Language Arts (ELA) class is just around the corner! We have carefully selected engaging and thought-provoking books tailored to each grade level. These novels aim to enhance students’ reading comprehension, critical thinking, and discussion skills.

Here are the books chosen for each grade:

• 6th Grade: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

• 7th Grade: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

• 8th Grade: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

All three selections are approved readings and have been chosen for their literary value and age-appropriateness. To support your understanding of the content, you can find reviews for each book on Common Sense Media’s website at the following links:

• Hatchet

• The Outsiders

• And Then There Were None

We encourage you to review these summaries and discuss the themes of the novels with your child as we delve into this enriching unit. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the selected readings, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your support as we embark on this exciting literary journey!

Friendly Reminders

• Please ensure that your child is completing their work! Students missing more than 5 assignments across all content areas are in violation of the Written Agreement.
  
  

• Remember to check the school website for any updates or changes to the schedule.
  
  

• IT Support is available Tuesdays from 9-12. Please call the front office for help with requesting an IT appointment outside of these hours. You can also check the FAQ for information that may help you with some common tech issues
  
  

• In-Person Days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays and are wonderful opportunities for students to work together on projects and hands-on learning opportunities such as art and science labs. We encourage all students to join us for our In-Person learning days as much as possible!

Upcoming Field Trips

As we plan our exciting field trips for the year, we would like to remind you about the clearance requirements for chaperoning. Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students is our top priority, and these clearance levels are an essential part of that process.

• Level 1 Clearance: Required to chaperone any field trips.

• Level 2 Clearance: Required specifically for our Disneyland field trip due to the extended nature and unique requirements of this outing.

If you are interested in chaperoning, please check with Ms. Marlene in the school office to confirm your clearance status or to begin the process. We appreciate your support and cooperation in meeting these requirements to help us provide a safe and memorable experience for all students.

At this time, our first field trip is planned for mid-January, please keep an eye out for more information to come!

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. We are looking forward to a fantastic term ahead!

Warm regards,

Mr. Gizzo and Mrs. Matos

Respectfully,

Mr. Gizzo & Mrs. Matos

Mr. Bibby's Tip of the Week: Planning for the Next Three Weeks

The next three weeks before winter break offer a great opportunity to set yourself up for success in both the short term and for the coming year. Here are a few tips to make the most of this time:

1. Prioritize and Plan

• Set clear goals: Identify the most important tasks to complete before winter break. Whether it's finishing a project, studying for exams, or making progress on long-term goals, write them down and break them into manageable chunks.
• Create a calendar: Plot out deadlines, study sessions, and personal activities so that you're not caught off-guard by any upcoming obligations. With limited time, it's key to stay organized and keep your schedule clear.

2. Review and Reflect

• Check your progress: Take a moment to assess how the semester or term has gone so far. Are you happy with your progress? If there’s room for improvement in certain areas, now is the time to tweak your approach before the break begins.
• Evaluate goals: Reflect on your larger goals for the year. Are you on track? If you haven’t made as much progress as you'd like, consider what you can realistically do in the next few weeks to move the needle.

3. Consolidate Learning

• Start wrapping up key subjects: Take time to review key concepts, even if exams aren’t right around the corner. Consolidating knowledge now can prevent stress later.
• Use active learning: Active recall, spaced repetition, and teaching others can be powerful ways to strengthen your retention and understanding.

4. Manage Stress

• Prioritize self-care: With busy schedules, it’s easy to burn out. Take time to recharge by incorporating short breaks, stretching, or a bit of exercise. This will help you stay energized and mentally clear.
• Sleep is non-negotiable: Adequate rest is crucial for performance, so try to maintain a healthy sleep routine. Over the next three weeks, even small improvements to your sleep hygiene can yield big results.

5. Plan for the Break

• Give yourself time to unwind: Winter break should be a chance to relax, reset, and recharge. Plan for some downtime, whether that’s catching up on hobbies, watching shows, or spending time with family and friends.
• Set a light goal for the break: If you're someone who enjoys keeping momentum during the break, consider setting a smaller, enjoyable goal for your time off (reading a book, learning a new skill, etc.) to avoid feeling aimless.

6. Finish Strong

• Stay focused until the end: It's easy to lose momentum as the end of the semester draws near, but finishing strong in these final weeks can boost your confidence and set you up for success. Keep tackling tasks even when motivation wanes.
• Celebrate the small wins: Recognize and reward yourself for accomplishing tasks, even the smaller ones. This will help keep your motivation up during the home stretch.

By staying organized, being proactive, and managing your time wisely, you can finish this semester with a sense of accomplishment and set yourself up for a restful, fulfilling winter break.

Connect Academy FAQ Link

Recording of Back-to-School Zoom Meeting

PUSD Substitutes Needed: With flu, cold, and COVID season upon us, we are once again in need of qualified substitutes to support PUSD and our campus in the event of an LED absence.

If you or someone you know are interested in applying to become a substitute teacher with Poway Unified School District, please click here.

Food and Nutrition Updates and Reminders: School breakfast and school lunch are FREE for all enrolled students, every school day. Meals must still be entered into the cafeteria computer by individual student account.

• Even though meals are free, families are still highly encouraged to complete the application for free and reduced-price meal eligibility. School site funding depends in part on the number of students eligible for free/reduced-price meals. Families that qualify for free/reduced-price meals may qualify for other benefits, as well. The meal application is available online at MySchoolApps.com.

• Printer-friendly PDF menus are available on the PUSD Food and Nutrition webpage. At the top of the page, click or hover over School Menus + and then Printable PDF Menus.

• Interactive, web-based menus containing nutrient and allergen details are available at MySchoolMenus.com, as well as via links from the F&N webpage.