DESTINATIONS CAREER ACADEMY

Welcome to Destinations Career Academy (DCA)! DCA utilizes every opportunity to allow students to learn from peer collaboration, work-based learning, career and technical student organizations, project-based learning, industry-recognized certifications, internships, job shadowing, and much more. These experiences combined with course content within our six career pathways allows for a differentiated high school experience leading to college/university enrollment, career placement and/or military enlistment.

We are thrilled to have you enrolled with us at Destinations Career Academy and cannot wait to experience this year with you!

Each month, you will receive a DCA newsletter that will contain important information such as: upcoming events, exciting news to share, reminders, and helpful tips.

You will soon receive in the mail both a parent packet and a student packet filled with great information and documents that can help with student success. Be sure to keep some of those documents close at hand.

You are required to carefully review and acknowledge the DCA Student/Parent Handbook. The handbook is accessible via the following link.

Furthermore, your confirmation of having thoroughly reviewed the document independently and with your student is mandatory. The acknowledgement form can be found here.

In the event that you have multiple students, kindly ensure completion of a separate form for each student. Should your children attend schools other than DCA, please complete the form for each child in their respective school.

New Learning Coach Orientation

New Learning Coach Orientation is a mandatory class to attend once. Orientations are offered every week:

• Tuesday afternoon 12:00 pm -1:00 pm. You can join this session by clicking here
• Tuesday evening 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm. You can join this session by clicking here

New to Destinations Career Academy of WI? Start your school year off strong with Welcome to DCA Smore Newsletters. Also, please see the week of welcome for new HS students. The Week of Welcome is required for ALL new students.

It is imperative that students engage with their coursework and communicate with teachers. When students start to get behind, work begins to pile up and can become very stressful for the student. We understand that life happens and sometimes a missed day is just necessary!

Students will access their coursework in the "OLS," our Online Learning System. Their live Class Connects (live classes) will happen in Engagli. It's important for students to stay involved in their coursework and participate in live classes. If a student can't make it to a live class, they should watch the recording to keep up with the material.

To report an absence for the current day, when missing 50% or more of the scheduled school day (3 or more hours), contact the Attendance Line by 9:00 am. You can reach us at 1-608-838-9482, Option 0.

For student safety, after 1 pm, we'll send courtesy engagement notifications to the Learning Coaches of students who haven't been actively participating in school without contacting the Attendance Line first.

Your courses and Class Connect schedule will appear in the OLS on the first day of school, September 3rd. If you would like to access your schedule in advance, please follow the directions below.

DCA, a charter school of the McFarland School District, uses a web-based computer program called Infinite Campus to manage student/class data. This portal allows students instant access to accurate, current, and confidential information about school report cards and transcripts, also your schedule.

Please follow these instructions to set up your account:

• Go to https://mcfarlandwi.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/mcfarland.jsp
• Click on 'Campus Student'
• Enter your username which will be your full wivcs.org student email address
• Your temporary password will be the first letter of your first name + the first letter of your last name + your birthdate in MMDDYY format (For example: if you name is John Smith and your birthdate is January 19, 2005 then your password will be js011905)
• Once you login, it will ask you to set a new password of your choice
  
  

It is very important that the student sets up their Infinite Campus Portal!

**Please note that counselors will be reviewing schedules beginning in early August. Your students schedule may not be finalized until the first week of September.

After the first two weeks, below is what you can expect for a typical school week schedule. Students are expected to school each day of the week.

Here is what our daily schedule looks like.

*Note: Homeroom takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays and is an important time for all students to attend. However, additional homerooms may take place on additional days throughout the year.

If you haven't received a Stride computer, please email dcawi@wivcs.org.

We recommend all students request a Stride computer as many of our courses and certifications require specific software that is only available on Stride computers.

*Note: IT students who received a Stride computer will get a more powerful one due to the software used. IT students without a Stride computer are encouraged to request one for the upgrade.

STAR reading and math tests are administered three times a year--beginning, middle, and end of year. This allows our instructional staff to determine the baseline readiness for classes and what areas may need additional instructional support from the teachers. Our goal is that students grow at least one full academic year during the course of a school year. STAR testing will be administered in homeroom on Thursday, September 5th.

One of the best ways to socialize, make friends, and show off your leadership skills is to join a club or organization. More information coming soon! https://secure.smore.com/a9pbc

Does your family need access to the internet for schooling?

2024-2025 MOBILE HOTSPOT REQUEST FORM

PLEASE COMPLETE A SEPARATE FORM FOR EACH STUDENT. REMEMBER TO REVIEW YOUR RESPONSES CAREFULLY before submitting the form. Your mobile hotspot order will be placed within 2 business days after this form is submitted.* Hotspot devices are shipped directly from Verizon via UPS or Fed Ex and require a signature at the time of delivery. If you have any questions, please contact Rianna Kubly, rkubly@wivcs.org. Orders will resume normal schedule on August 12th, 2024.

**IF YOU HAVE A DEVICE ALREADY BUT ARE EXPERIENCING ISSUES, PLEASE CONTACT RIANNA KUBLY, rkubly@wivcs.org

Student and LC Tech Support:

For issues or questions related to computers, logins, or books/supplies, call K12 Customer Service Support: 1-866-512-2273

Learning Coaches and students should have received a packet in the mail with helpful information and materials to start the school year off right! If you have not yet received yours, but were just recently approved to attend DCA, your packet is likely in the mail.

Below are some of the FUN items you received...

Friday, November 1st: End of Quarter One

Friday, November 27-29: No School

Notification of Language Assistance Services: Any parent who is limited in speaking, writing, or reading English may request the school to provide access to services such as interpreters and/or translated documents. To request services please email Miriam Mueller-Owens at mmowens@wivcs.org. Prompt access to the appropriate services and/or translator will be coordinated.

Asistencia de idioma: Cualquier padre que se limita al hablar, escribir o leer Inglés podrá solicitar a la escuela para proporcionar acceso a servicios tales como intérprete y / o documentos traducidos. Para solicitar los servicios envíe un correo electrónico o llamar al Coordinador de ELL. Se coordinará el pronto acceso a los servicios apropiados y / o al traductor.