BLUE RIDGE ACADEMY
WELCOME TO THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR!
Dear Blue Ridge Families,
We are excited to have you join the Blue Ridge Academy family! We take great pride in being able to offer our students flexible, personalized learning experiences through our many unique and dynamic programs. We love homeschool families and are passionate about providing and offering relevant resources, community events, and local supports to you and your family.
We created this newsletter to help you get started on your journey with us. As you have questions, please reach out to your Homeschool Teacher (HST) or our family liaisons with any questions:
Anna Aguilar - anna.aguilar@theblueridgeacademy.com
Shannon Eaves - shannon.eaves@theblueridgeacademy.com
Please note that all HSTs are off for the summer from June 10th - August 8th, with the exception of five working days that are noted in their "out of office" message.
In the meantime, please review your Successful Enrollment email, which outlines a variety of resources, including info sessions and office hours to help get your general questions answered.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Samantha Haynes
Executive Director, Blue Ridge Academy
Check out our new Parent Info Center!
Gaining access is quick and simple by following these instructions.
Student IDs
Blue Ridge Academy offers all students a free digital student ID card via the ID123 app. Email invitations will be sent to each student’s Blue Ridge issued email account in August. Follow the instructions to upload a headshot photo and begin using the ID card. For additional questions, contact student.id@theblueridgeacademy.com
Blue Ridge Spirit Wear
Blue Ridge Academy has partnered with 1st Place Spiritwear to offer all sorts of Blue Ridge branded swag, including apparel, accessories, gifts and more. Check it out: Spiritwear Store. Students can use the code BLUERIDGE25 at checkout for $25 off your first order.
ENROLLMENT CONTRACT
Welcome Blue Ridge Academy Family!
Before you begin the new school year, you will need to complete your Master Agreement.
The Master Agreement outlines the roles and responsibilities for the student, parent, teacher, and school. It is important to understand what it means to participate in Independent Study at Blue Ridge Academy. This document demonstrates that students and parents know and agree to the expectations of the school, and is the last piece needed to finalize your enrollment.
To further explain each aspect of the Master Agreement, please review this informative video that breaks down the key aspects of the Master Agreement.
Your teacher will be sending you the Master Agreement during the next few weeks. Please be advised teachers only work for a designated five days in July. Your specific teacher's availability will be in their email away message.
REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH LEARNING PERIOD
Meeting
Student Work
Student work samples are required for each learning period to represent what your child has been working on and to verify monthly attendance.
TK-8th Grade: Your HST will select work samples from Math, Language Arts, Science, and/or Social Studies each Learning Period.
High School: Your HST will collect work samples from each course the student is currently enrolled in, including electives.
Attendance
Final attendance with signature and date is due on the last day of the learning period. Thank you for making every effort to complete your attendance on time! Your HST will be sending your Parent Portal login information.
Learning Coach Commitments
The parent/learning coach is responsible to:
Provide daily instruction in the homeschool setting
Meet with your HST, submit attendance, provide work samples, and other necessary paperwork
Read and respond to emails within 24 hours
Student Commitments
The student is responsible to:
Complete daily assignments
Provide neat work samples with full name and date
Come prepared to discuss and share assignments at monthly meetings
Take part in yearly assessments (Star 360 and state testing)
The Blue Ridge Family Liaisons are dedicated to helping meet the needs of families. Connect with them at their online events or via email.
Find all the information about events for parents on the Family Liaison page of the Parent Info Center.
Blue Ridge Bulletin Board Newsletter
Are you receiving the Blue Ridge Bulletin Board Newsletters on the 1st of each month? These are sent directly to all BR families. If you are not receiving them, please let your HST or the family liaisons know at familyliaisons@theblueridgeacademy.com.
If you are new to homeschool curricula, we are happy to help navigate the vast choices available and filter resources that would best fit the unique learning style of your student. Your HST is your #1 resource, but the flyers below provide a starting point for researching options ordered through our Curriculum Department. You will note the flyers offer information on subscriptions our school provides to students upon enrollment.
TK-5 Curriculum Options Flyer 2024-25
Middle School 6-8 Curriculum Options Flyer 2024-25
High School Curriculum Options Flyer 2024-25
We also offer our teacher-created slides, which illustrate a number of curriculum options presented in the homeschool tradition. These items are ordered through our Enrichment Department.
Blue Ridge also offers Academic Pentathlon and Decathlon for middle and high school students:
Curriculum Department Office Hours
Open Office Hours for Families June 10th-14th
With your HST, you will discuss the use of your Planning Amount for curricula, educational supplies, and for educational activities and enrichment to expand student knowledge and experiences. Orders are placed in Procurify.
Planning Amounts are allocated so that you can provide academic and enrichment opportunities for your child. Enrichment services and products serve to expand student knowledge and experience.
Products include but are not limited to...curricula to support core classes, educational supplemental curricula, books that support student educational learning, technology, field trips, educational games, and other materials necessary to support student learning.
***Please be aware that all non-consumable items are the property of Blue Ridge Academy. If you decide to withdraw from Blue Ridge for any reason, items are due upon the commencement of the checkout process.
Services include but are not limited to...fine arts classes, academic extension courses, physical education classes, tutoring from an established business, driver's education, dance lessons, music lessons, or any other service that requires instructor-to-student interaction in an in-person or virtual setting.
Services are only authorized through Blue Ridge-approved vendors found on the Blue Ridge Approved Vendor List. Please refer to the Enrichment Guidelines for a description of approved products and services.
Planning Amounts for the 2024-2025 School Year
For students enrolling and starting in the Fall semester, the total planning amount for the year is listed below.
TK- 6: $3600
7th-12th: $4000
*Planning amounts for all students' products and service orders need to align with the student’s academic and growth plan, which for high school are the courses listed on the Master Agreement.
For students enrolling and starting on January 21, 2025, or later, the total planning amount is listed below.
TK- 6: $2,600
7th-12th: $3,000
Blue Ridge Academy is a public charter school and by law must remain non-sectarian in all aspects of its operation. State funds may not be used to order religious material.
**Please note Blue Ridge Academy does all it can to provide accurate and timely information, but we must adhere to any additional requirements or changes the state may make to its educational budgeting.
TK Timberdoodle Kits
All TK Students will be provided a Basic Non-religious Pre-K Curriculum Kit from Timberdoodle. Kits will begin to ship out and will continue within the month of August.
Kits provide students a jump start to their elementary education by providing core curriculum basics. These are automatically shipped out; no HST or parent action is required, and planning amounts are not used for this kit. Families with TK students will receive an email on August 1st to let them know of the curriculum delivery.
Get ordering and tech support and learn how to order in the 2024 Summer Procurify Parent Office Hours! The office hours are available for families to attend July 8 - August 6 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm for login and tech support. Learn how to place orders in the Parent Ordering Training, every Wednesday in office hours from 1:00 - 1:30 through August 6, 2024.
Watch these videos to get acquainted with Procurify:
Here are some Parent Tips and Guidelines for placing orders:
Once your student is enrolled, the primary parent email address will be added to Procurify within 5-7 days. To log in:
Click the link above (the "Procurify" blue button)
Click "Forgot Your Password"
Enter your email address
You will then be sent an email where you will be prompted to create a new password. Your email address will always be your username and the password you create will be the one you use moving forward. It's always helpful to save that information somewhere so you don't forget it!
If you have questions, please email enrichment@theblueridgeacademy.com. A member of the team will be able to assist you.
We believe the community makes homeschooling that much better. Field trips are one of the avenues to get there. Field trips are a great way to use your student's Planning Amount to further student learning outside the classroom. Our wonderful field trip team is busy planning amazing field trip opportunities for our families.
Families will be able to view the field trips in the Ultimate Field Trip Calendar bi-monthly in the Blue Ridge Bulletin and the Parent Information Center. Field trips will be available to request in the mid-month issue of the Blue Ridge Bulletin for the following month. Instructions for placing field trip requests will be included in the Parent's Guide to School-Led Field Trips.
Please reach out to fieldtrips@theblueridgeacademy.com for any questions and additional support.
Your student's Planning Amount may be used to support student learning through approved service vendors' services. Please see all tabs on our Blue Ridge Approved Vendor List to see approved service vendors, suggested product vendors, enrichment daily admission tickets, and membership passes.
Can families request a new vendor? YES!
Please fill out the 2024 -2025 Vendor Request Survey
Requests for new vendors should be submitted by families and teachers only.
Families can order student technology with their Planning Amounts through Procurify. All approvable items can be added to an order in Procurify from the catalog. You may also view all items on the Blue Ridge Academy Tech Store flyer. Technology requests can be submitted during the ordering period from July 8th, 2024 through April 25th, 2025.
The following limits have been placed for tech devices assigned to students:
1 computer per student
1 tablet per student
1 printer per student
Please be aware that all non-consumable items are the property of Blue Ridge Academy. If you decide to withdraw from Blue Ridge for any reason, items are due upon the commencement of the checkout
Community Connections strives to promote community among our families, students, and staff by providing in-person events, virtual sessions, and unique enrichment experiences. We would love to have you join us for our events! All event information will be found on the CC Website and information will come from your HST in their email updates.
Virtual Sessions: We offer enriching virtual activities providing our students an opportunity to connect with one another while exploring new interests. Take a look at our clubs to see what you are interested in! Each of our clubs meets weekly at a consistent day and time via Zoom.
In-Person Events: We are excited to offer themed monthly events in 15 areas across Blue Ridge, to enable our families to connect with other Blue Ridge families and students.
Are you interested in saving funds in your planning amount? The Blue Ridge Academy Lending Library gives families access to additional hands-on learning resources for free. Similar to the public library system, families can check out items from our Lending Library.
Star 360
Star 360 is a short online assessment that is completed at the beginning of the school year or within two weeks for new enrollments, and at the end of the school year. Families receive an email with all needed information once the assessment window is open.
Beginning in the 24-25 school year, fall and spring participation in the STAR360 benchmark assessment will be required of all students TK-11. Your child’s teacher will continue to provide an assessment schedule that is mutually agreed upon, to ensure continued collaboration. Regular benchmark testing is essential for understanding a student’s learning process and needs. Not participating in benchmark testing during the assigned assessment window will trigger non-compliance.
CAASPP/State Testing
As a public charter school, Blue Ridge is required by the state to have 95% of our students in grades 3-8, 11, and 12 participate in CAASPP yearly. We appreciate your participation in state testing in the spring as it has a big impact on charter renewal. Blue Ridge wants to continue to provide amazing programs and resources to our homeschool families and this is one way you can help us do that!
It is essential for the school’s and the student’s success that all students participate in school-wide testing. Students who do not participate in either the CAASPP and CAST assessments or the alternative assessment will not be allowed to re-enroll for the following school year. If your child is not enrolled in the identified grades, participation in this testing is not applicable.
Visit our Testing Resource Center for more information on state and benchmark assessment requirements.
PFT
ELPAC
The English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) is the mandated state test for determining English language proficiency (ELP). It is administered as an initial assessment to newly enrolled students whose primary language is not English, as indicated on a home language survey; and annually as a summative assessment to students who have been previously identified as EL students. The ELPAC is aligned with the 2012 California English Language Development Standards (PDF).
The ELPAC is delivered via a computer-based test delivery platform. The four domains (Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing) will be administered on the computer except for the Writing domain for kindergarten through grade two, which will remain as a paper-based test.
Please visit the Testing Resource Center for more information on testing assessments and our school’s approach to testing. We look forward to partnering with you on your child’s learning journey in the 2024-25 school year!