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Weekly Parent Update
Tiger Academy 4-5-2024
Memos
Happy Friday Tiger Academy Family Members!
Safety Advisory for Parents
On the afternoon of Monday, April 8, 2024, a partial solar eclipse will occur. A partial eclipse is when the moon moves between the Earth and the sun. The partial solar eclipse will begin at 1:47 p.m. and last until 4:19 p.m., with a maximum coverage being reached at 3:04 p.m. Information on the solar eclipse for Jacksonville can be found here: https://eclipse2024.org/eclipse-cities/city/9651.html .
Observing the sun can be dangerous to the eyes if proper precautions are not taken. To minimize the likelihood that students will look directly at the sun and risk damaging their eyes:
- Tiger Academy has purchased the following glasses for all scholars and staff to be able to view the eclipse safely: Medical king Solar Eclipse Glasses AAS Approved 2024 (50/100/1000 Pack) CE and ISO Certified Safe for Direct Sun Viewing
- Typical outdoor activities between the hours of 1:00 and 4:30 p.m. (i.e., physical education classes, recess, aftercare program, etc.) will be moved indoors. Outdoor activities can resume after 4:30 p.m.
- Before Monday, April 8, 2024, we ask ALL PARENTS/GUARDIANS to speak with their student(s) about the eclipse, the dangers of looking directly at the sun, and the potential damage this can cause to their eyes. We are also asking parents to use an abundance of caution while driving during the time of the eclipse and to be especially careful in the parent pickup area at school.
- There should be a heightened awareness to avoid distracted drivers, students, and pedestrians.
- Regular dismissal will not be affected.
Here is a link to a Scientific American informational article “Science Says Why We Can’t Look at the Sun” by Rachael Rettner (Copyright 2017 Live Science) on the risks of looking directly at the sun
(https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/science-says-why-we-cant-look-at-the-sun/ ). For more eclipse safety information, visit NASA at https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/.
Upcoming Events
Summer Camp Registration is now open!
Please pickup and return Registration forms from/to the Main office. Registration forms MUST be filled out in its entirety, or it will not be processed.
We are accepting rising K (must be 5yrs and 9months at time of registration) - rising 5th grade only. For rising 6th graders, please stop by the Johnson Family Y 5700 Cleveland Rd, for their Inner Prize Summer Application - seats are limited and they fill fast!!!
Camp dates: June 17th - July 26th.
Closed June 19th and July 4th
Camp time: Doors will open from 8am - 5pm
Cost: FREE!!!
Summer Camp Parent Meeting: TBA
For all questions please EMAIL: YMCATEAMUP@FCYMCA.ORG - subject line: "Tiger Summer Camp"
Wednesday, April 17, 2024: Quarter 3 Honors Assemblies
PK, K, & 1st grades- 8:30am
2nd & 3rd grades- 9:30am
4th & 5th grades- 1:30pm
Saturday April 20, 2024: Grounds Beautification Day
Grounds Beautification Day is one of the quickest ways to rack up Volunteer Hours! You do NOT need to be a cleared volunteer and every adult who signs-in will receive 3 hours of volunteer time. The more volunteers we have the quicker the morning goes! Plus we help the Earth near Earth day and beautify our school! It is a win-win-win for EVERYONE!
To RSVP, please email jdidier@fcymca.org
Monday, April 22, 2024: Earth Day
Planet vs. Plastics
For Earth Day 2024 on April 22nd, EARTHDAY.ORG is unwavering in their commitment to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040. To learn more or find out how your family can help to reduce plastic consumption visit: https://www.earthday.org/planet-vs-plastics/
Wednesday, April 24, 2024: Early Release Day
Dismissal at 1:30pm
Thursday, April 25, 2024: Career Day
More information to come!
Friday, April 26, 2024: Festival of Nations Day
We will culminate the month long learning about other countries and cultures on April 26, 2024 (time, tba.) This will take the form of a flag parade, brief program and a sampling of food, drink, snacks and artifacts from the countries chosen by each classroom teachers.
Please let your scholar's teacher know of your interest and availability to volunteer on April 26. We will also need help in getting samples of food and drink. Everything has to be store bought or gotten from a restaurant for such the event.
Updates
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
The Tiger Academy staff would like your help in congratulating both Principal Jackson and Principal in Residence Brown on obtaining their Doctorates in Education this month!!! We have enjoyed calling them Dr. Jackson and Dr. Brown as they have worked hard to earn those titles! Congratulations, ladies! Please enjoy your newfound freedom from coursework/dissertation defense.
The scholars have been talking about it around the school and it is such a joy to hear them being inspired by two women leaders in the month of our nation's celebration of Women's History. Thanks for being positive history makers!
3rd-5th Grade Seats Available in Team Up
We have a couple spots open for the Team Up program for 3-5th grades ONLY. Please apply using the application in the front office. The spots will be filled on a first come, first served basis. If you have any questions please email ymcateamup@fcymca.org. Please do not respond to this email with questions.
School Fees Reminder Letter to Parents
Greetings Parents/Guardians,
The success of Tiger Academy hinges upon the commitment of families to make education and involvement a priority. Our school strives to support families in areas of need, to include child care on our campus. Tiger Academy relies upon timely payments to continue to provide educational programs and services at a nominal fee.
Tiger Academy understands that unexpected situations can and do arise and the school strives to work with families. If unforeseen financial circumstances arise, families are responsible for contacting the school manager and/or principal, as soon as possible, to review the financial hardship and seek a mutually agreeable payment plan. When payments are not made in accordance with tuition agreements, payment arrangements, and daily operational expectations, the resulting delinquent balances negatively impact the student’s participation and enrollment status.
Please review the following policies regarding delinquent Tiger Academy balances on your YMCA account:
- · Parents/Guardians are not permitted to attend field trips or participate in activities with a chaperone/volunteer fees associated
- · Students may not attend a field trip or participate in activities with student fees associated
- · Students are not eligible for re-enrollment for the next school year
As a reminder, there are several upcoming end of year activities and field trips. If the activity or field trip requires payment, your delinquent balance must be paid prior to participation. Additionally, our school re-enrollment and lottery enrollment process is scheduled to take place in April 2024. Student accounts must be in good standing and remain so through the end of the summer to be eligible for re-enrollment and maintain their seat with Tiger Academy.
Every Tiger Academy family has an associated YMCA account used for PE uniform purchases, child care fees, event and field trip payments, late pick up fees, etc. Tiger Academy encourages all parents and/or guardians to maintain awareness of account standing by logging into your YMCA account weekly, at fcymca.org (for first time access select My Account – Forgot Password). Please also check emails frequently for delinquent balance notifications.
Our mission at Tiger Academy is to provide children with a structured and nurturing learning environment that is focused on rigorous academic standards, character development, self-discipline, personal and social responsibility and family involvement. By working together, we can accomplish this goal.
Principal Stephanie Jackson
YMCA Tiger Academy
Ribault Full Service Schools
Our friends at Ribault First Service Schools are looking for hangers for their clothes closet. If you have any hangers you are able to donate please drop them off at Ribault Full Service School building or in the Tiger Academy front office for Ms. Didier to take over. Thank you!
Uniform Donations Needed
February 16, 2024 Update:
THANK YOU to those families who have been donating clothes items. We appreciate them! Families, please continue to bring in your outgrown uniforms!
Original Posting:
What do you do with uniforms your scholar grows out of? Please consider donating them to the clinic. On occasion we have scholars who spill milk, have accidents, slip in mud, and various other things kids do to make a mess on their clothes! Instead of calling families to leave work and bring new uniforms we are able to give them a temporary uniform.The immediate sizes needed are large, x-large, xx-large khaki pants, gym shorts and sweat pants. There is also need for the orange gym T-shirts as well, S-M-L sizes. Even though these are the sizes we currently need, we will accept additional sizes for future needs.
Reminder: Uniform Requirements
Please see the uniform requirements of scholars in the flyer as well as the website. Please pay close attention to the shoe requirements. All scholars need to wear black or brown closed-toed shoes.
We hope you have a wonderful weekend!
REMINDER! Late Fees for Late Pick-Ups
We understand that sometimes things happen that we cannot predict. However, to help ensure proper supervision of every scholar and ensure that our staff can go home to their families on time, please read the policy for late fees:
Tiger Academy’s dismissal begins at 3:30p.m. and ends at 3:45p.m. A late fee of $10.00 will be assessed if a car rider or walker is still on campus at 3:50p.m. An additional fee of $10.00 will be assessed for every additional 15 minutes the child is still in attendance.
Tiger Academy’s dismissal begins at 1:30p.m. and ends at 1:45p.m. on Early Release Wednesdays. A late fee of $10.00 will be assessed if a car rider or walker is still on campus at 1:50p.m. An additional fee of $10.00 will be assessed for every additional 15 minutes the child is still in attendance.
The afterschool program ends at 6:00p.m. daily. A late fee of $10.00 will be assessed if your child is not picked up by 6:05p.m. An additional fee of $10.00 will be assessed for every additional 15 minutes the child is still in attendance.
Tribute Video for Mr. Moore
We need your help in creating the tribute video for Mr. Moore that will be shared at the event honoring him on June 6, 2024. Please share any photos you have of him impacting the community, teaching, or fun photos of him. He loved photos, so I KNOW we will have a ton.
Here is the google folder for you to place your photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DgZcpubfIfZupelH9mZH6IE0rDA9iLJe?usp=sharing
Please let Ms. Didier know if you have any questions or aren’t able to access the link. Please share the link with anyone you know Mr. Moore impacted and would like to share!
Families in Transition
https://ymcatigeracademy.org/wp-content/uploads/Families-in-Transition-Homeless.pdf
If you prefer to find assistance on your own, the link below is a complied list of various community resources ranging from homelessness to meals on wheels, to uninsured medical clinics and more:
School Day Hours
The instructional school day begins at 8:00. Breakfast is served from 7:30 - 7:50
To ensure safety and security, students should not arrive to campus before 7:30 unless enrolled in YMCA Before Care.
Students who arrive at 7:30 and before 7:50 will be sent to cafeteria for breakfast or the media center until they are dismissed to their classrooms.
Dismissal time is 3:30pm. No early check out after 2:45.
Early release dismissal is 1:30pm. No early check out after 12:45.
Parent/guardians must use the car loops for student pick up. Parents cannot walk up to Building to pick up students. The designated location for backgate pick-up will be off Francis Street. Front gate is off Bagley Road. All parents MUST have a pick-up tag to retrieve students.
Helpful Links
New Volunteer Process
We will begin to process volunteer applications. Please follow the steps below in order to apply to be a volunteer today!
1. Click this link: https://fcymca.org/give/volunteer/
2. Scroll to the bottom and click Search Volunteer Opportunities
3. Click the dropdown menu All Jobs Type and click on "Volunteer"
4. Find: Volunteer- Tiger Academy and click "Apply"
5. Create a New Account (or use an existing account if you have one)
6. Complete the application (When you get to the "Upload a Resume" part, please just upload something, a blank page, etc. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A RESUME.)
Once the above is done, Ms. Didier and Ms. Wesley are supposed to receive a notification that your application has been input. They will create an account for you in SKILLSURVEY:
A. SKILLSURVEY will send you an email to input your references.
B. Input your references
C. References complete their portion
D. Ms. Didier or Ms. Wesley will send the reference report and application to the YMCA HR staff.
E. YMCA HR staff (Heidi or Leslie) will send you an email with the next items that need to be complete.
F. Once all of those items are complete HR will send you, Ms. Didier, and Ms. Wesley a notification that you are cleared to volunteer.
Visual for Step 2 Above
Visual for Step 3 Above
Visual for Step 4 Above
Fortify FL App
If you have knowledge of or evidence of any threat being made to a Tiger Academy scholar or staff member, you can also contact the Safety Chair- Ms. Didier by email (jdidier@fcymca.org) or the new safety email address that will go to Ms. Didier and administration (Tigersafety@fcymca.org) with factual details of who, what, where, along with any screenshots as evidence to help in the investigation.
TIGERS TODAY, LEADERS TOMORROW
At YMCA Tiger Academy, a free public school, we believe school should be more than a place to learn reading, writing and arithmetic. We approach the education of each child with a commitment to helping him or her grow in spirit, mind and body.
Email: tigerparent@fcymca.org
Website: https://ymcatigeracademy.org/
Location: 6079 Bagley Road, Jacksonville, FL, USA
Phone: (904) 309-6840
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YMCATigerAcademy