Community Crew News # 20

It was an EPIC start to this year. Our 4th grade family day at lunch brought families and students together and enjoyed a special lunch together. This is a wonderful time to connect and experience the life of school. Thank you to all our families that joined us.

Save the date for future family days at lunch:

TK - February 21

3rd - March 14

2nd - April 25

All - May 2 (Better World Day)

6th - May 30

It was also evident that learners were ready to jump right back into learning including our staff crew as they grappled, collaborated, and problem solved a building challenge during this week's staff meeting. As we begin the second half of our academic year, we are keenly focused on personalizing learning for all our scholars. Our teachers proactively plan instruction to capitalize on students' varied assets and meet student's varied needs. Teachers plan for flexible groupings and design respectful tasks that allow for different approaches to the same goals. Our staff is committed to our vision for learning and regularly put on the student hat in order to best plan meaningful instruction and can see from the pictures, they were seriously engaged.

Every month one grade level recognizes students that create projects that exemplify the attributes of high quality work. This include exceptional detail to craftsmanship, authenticity, and complexity. In December the following fifth grade students were recognized during our Thursday Crew Celebration.

Isaac Maqueda, Tobin Stephans, Alejandro Martinez, and George Quintero for informational essays and literary analysis of a character's reactions to Human Rights in Esperanza Rising. They provided evidence and elaborated to compare character reactions to a situation.

Nico Salazar for his Canva Poster on Human Rights advocate. He created their own unique poster by researching and note-taking a historical figure who dedicated part of his/her life to advocating for human rights.

Students work will be uploaded to the Models of Excellence on EL Education to be shared and used by students and educators nationally.

Congratulations EPIC scholars!

I am grateful for the opportunity to inspire students to discover their unlimited potential through Excellence, Perseverance, Integrity, and Compassion. Together we are creating an EPIC school.

We are in this together and believe, We Are Crew, not passengers.

In crew,

Tina Meglich

Principal

Conway's Got Talent Show. Unleash your incredible talent! Auditions take place on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm in room 4. Students MUST have a permission slip to attend auditions. For more information, contact Mrs Ellsworth (mellsworth@eusd.org) or Ms Provataris (aprovataris@eusd.org).

Twice a year we stop to recognize the growth our EPIC scholars and citizens are making. We host the EPIC awards midyear and at the end of the year to honor individual accomplishments. Teachers will be sending a special invitation home for those learners that have earned this honor.

EPIC Award Ceremonies in the MPR

Thursday, January 16, 2025

2nd Grade - 10:30 am

Friday, January 17, 2025

5th Grade - 8:15 am

3rd Grade - 9:15 am

1st Grade - 10:30 am

4th Grade - 12:30 pm

6th Grade - 1:30 pm

Here is a preview of the spring class offerings. The survey interest form will be released this week.

Classes begin February 10 - April 4

Teacher Led Classes

Monday 2:45 pm - 3:45 pm

News Crew 4th - 6th

Ceramics 4th - 6th

Tuesday 2:45 pm n- 3:45 pm

Crafty Cougars 1st - 3rd

No Place for Hate 4th -6th

Girls on the Run 4th - 6th (starts Feb 25 - May 14) 2:45 pm - 4:15 pm

Wednesday 2:45 pm - 3:45 pm

WHO CREW 2nd - 6th

Beautiful Spaces 3rd - 6th

Girls on the Run 4th - 6th (starts Feb 25 - May 14) 2:45 pm - 4:15 pm

Vendor Led Classes

Monday 2:45 pm - 3:45 pm

STEM Little scientist (Mon & Wed) k-1st

STEM We CARE about Wildlife (Mon & Wed) 3rd - 6th

Dance: Hip Hop (Mon & Wed) 1st - 3rd

Sports: Soccer 2nd - 4th (Mon & Wed)

Tuesday 2:45 pm n- 3:45 pm

Sports: Flag Rugby (Tues & Fri) 4th - 6th

Art: (Tue & Fri) 4th - 6th

Theatre (Tues & Fri) 3rd - 6th 2:45 - 4:15 pm

Wednesday 2:45 pm - 3:45 pm

STEM Little scientist (Mon & Wed) k-1st

STEM We CARE about Wildlife (Mon & Wed) 3rd - 6th

Dance: Hip Hop (Mon & Wed) 1st - 3rd

Sports: Soccer (Mon & Wed) 2nd - 4th

Friday 2:45 pm - 3:45 pm

Sports: Flag Rugby (Tues & Fri) 4th - 6th

Art: (Tue & Fri) 4th - 6th

Theatre (Tues & Fri) 3rd - 6th 2:45 - 4:15 pm

QR, Interest form to be released this week. Start planning now!

If you wish to apply to have your child attend a school other than the school of residence for the 2025-2026 school year, we highly encourage you submit a School of Choice Application no later than January 31, 2025.

• *A separate application must be submitted for each student(sibling).
• *A student who has a sibling(s) who is already attending a school of choice must also apply for School Choice and be approved in order to have the siblings attend the same choice school.
• *Submitting an application for School Choice does not guarantee enrollment in the desired school(s).
• *Your child’s application either will be approved or placed on a waiting list following the School Choice lottery.
• *School Choice Intradistrict transfers are valid only while conditions of the transfer are maintained. The transfer may be revoked by the granting district for failure to comply with expectations of attendance and positive behavior (e.g. chronic absenteeism, disciplinary events).

For more information and to submit a School of Choice application please click on the link provided below

https://www.eusd.org/page/registration-enrollment-school-choice-transfers

Did you know that Conway Academy uses Kelso's Choice Wheel to empower kids to solve small conflicts?

As an Expeditionary Learning School we focus on educating students to use strategies that enable them to be leaders of their own learning as a scholar and active citizen.

Kelso's Choice Wheel teaches students how to solve “small” problems on their own(conflicts that cause “small” feelings of annoyance, embarrassment, boredom, etc).

When faced with a challenging situation, students are encouraged to make one of 9 Kelso choices ...

• Go to another game
• Talk it out
• Share and take turns
• Ignore it
• Walk away
• Tell them to stop
• Apologize
• Make a deal
• Wait and cool off

“BIG problems” always need to be taken to an adult (situations that are scary, dangerous etc).

Students in 4th grade and up are encouraged to use the following...

Verbal Choices:

• Make a Deal
• Tell them to stop
• Apologize
• Talk it out

Nonverbal Choices:

• Wait and cool off
• Walk away
• Go to another game
• Ignore it

Students in upper grades have already established relationships with different trusted staff members and they know to seek assistance in resolving “BIG problems” .

We encourage families to implement these strategies at home and witness the magic for yourself in difficult situations.

If you would like additional resources please feel free to contact our Xochitl Maldonado in our site family liaison in person in room 5 or via email at xmaldonado@eusd.org

Showing up matters for R.E.A.L. as it offers students and families the opportunity to

• Build Routines

• Increase Engagement

• Provide Access to Resources

• Support Learning

Research has shown that many absences-excused or unexcused can keep impacts a students social, emotional and academic progress and development.

Help us help your student build these habits that will help prepare their future for success!

Together we can get smart to do good in the world!

Remember... ATTEND TODAY AND ACHIEVE TOMORROW!!!

Join us for our next coffee with the principal

Donuts with Grown Ups on

Thursday, January 16, 2025 in the MPR.

Make sure to make your way to the MPR after our Crew assembly and experience interactive activities in Crew and learn about Dens!

Families of middle school students are invited to take part in our upcoming Latino Literacy program where we will read El Sueño de Graciela. This course is focused on college preparedness and will guide families on how to support thier student in the process.

Meetings will be held virtually via Google Meets every

Tuesdays, starting January 14 through February 18

9 am - 10:30 am

and

6 pm - 7:30 pm.

Part 2 of this series will start on February 25th where participants will read La Historia de Carlitos, which is focused on identifying and supporting challenges our youth face.

To register to take part in these programs, please click on the link provided below.

https://forms.gle/PrXtQGX7aiQXx91T6

For more information, contact Xochitl Maldonado at xmaldonado@eusd.org or stopy by room 5.

Calling all online shoppers!

Help our school earn funds by simply shopping online using our unique school link!

Yep, as simple as that.

SchoolStore is helping many schools earn funds for their school and its as easy as clicking on the link provided below to make your purchases. Participating merchants will then donate a percentage of purchases made through our school link.

https://www.schoolstore.com/cgi/index.cgi?asdnumber=0000146965

(Make sure you scroll all the way down 😉)

Feel free to share the link with your friends and family!

We invite our Conway community to our Conway PTA association meeting on

Thursday January 30 via Google Meet.

Topics of discussion include leadership opportunities, upcoming events and more!

Attendees will be entered to an opportunity drawing.

We hope to see you

Thursday January 30

at 5pm

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/cpf-sqru-dyo

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 657-845-2552‬

PIN: ‪292 713 388‬#

Happy New Year

Wednesday, January 15 - Conway's Got Talent Auditions 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Tuesday, January 16 - El Sueño de Graciela Workshop Series begins 9 am & 6 pm via Google Meet (Spanish)

Thursday, January 16 - Crew Celebration 8:00am, Donuts with Grown-ups 8:30 am, Early Release

Thursday, January 16 - EPIC Awards 2nd 10:30 am

Friday, January 17 - EPIC Awards 5th Grade - 8:15 am; 3rd Grade - 9:15 am ; 1st Grade - 10:30 am;

4th Grade - 12:30 pm; 6th Grade - 1:30 pm

Monday, January 20 - Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, No School

Monday, January 27 - Deadline to submit interest survey for After School Enrichment Classes

Monday, January 27 - 6th Grade Application OPEN - QR posted to website

Thursday, January 30 - PTA Association Meeting Via Google Meet 5pm

Monday, February 3 - Enrichment Rosters Released

Week of February 3rd- 7th Mid-year Student Led Conferences

Monday, February 10 - Enrichment classes begin

Friday, February 14 & Monday, February 17th - No Classes President Holiday Weekend

Friday, February 21 - TK Family Day at lunch 11:35 am - 12:15 pm