Greetings NPA Families. This style of school-to-home communication will accompany each new assignment sheet/period. This week all students are completing assignment sheet #1 and will be receiving assignment sheet #2. These assignment sheets typically represent 4 weeks or a month of school work. Completion of the sheet at the last meeting of the assignment sheet is considered positive attendance. Average Daily Attendance (ADA) at an independent study = work completion. How did your student do in this first round?

Assignment sheet #2 given this week has 20 days of ADA. The sample shown below is a Wednesday student. Please ask to see your student's new assignment sheet after the teacher meeting this week.

During ADA Week students and families will know if the student's progress is satisfactory, or

unsatisfactory, or if an evaluation of placement is required.

ADA % for Satisfactory -- 80-100%

ADA % for Unsatisfactory Tiered Re-Engagement - 60-79%

ADA % for Unsatisfactory - immediate evaluation of placement - below 60%

Click here to see the NPA student handbook pages 7-8 for more information

As usual, NPA parents/guardians/caregivers are welcome at any student meeting. We hope this year is off to a strong academic start for your student. Let us know if you need any assistance.

Your Partner in Education,

Karla Aaron

NPA Principal and School Counselor

In this Edition:

• Understanding the Assignment Sheet Video
• Apex online learning "tips and tricks" video
• Minimum Day 9/11 and 9/15 - campus will close at 1:00 PM on those days
• NPA Class of 2024 families - "Keeping up with your Senior"
• Sierra College Preview Day RSVP information
• Student Center Tutoring Hours and Days
• NPA's Reading Assessment Week - Fast ForWord
• NPA's Social Emotional Learning Focus for September - Self-Management
• Mental Health Matters - Resources for Suicide Awareness Month

Minimum days have been calendared by NJUHSD for 9/11 and 9/15. The NPA campus will be closed at 1:00 each of those days. For students with Monday or Friday appointments, your teacher has already reached out to confirm your time. The hourly meeting schedule can also be viewed in this image or on the NPA website.

This video was shared with NPA students in the Fall 2023 orientation. The information shared was rated "valuable" which let us know we should share with families too. Now that we are in assignment sheet #2, this video will help make more sense of the Apex learning platform.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) are undergoing a complete remake this fall. The traditional October 1st application opening has been moved to "some time" in December. The good news is the applications are simplified - for example from over 140 questions to 48! All seniors and senior families will have a team to help with the process and much more communication will come your way.

All NPA seniors will be receiving a one-unit assignment titled "NPA 104 - Post Secondary Unit" within assignment sheet #3 just before October Break. Topics include the NJUHSD Scholarship Application, Planning for Post Secondary Education, and Paying for Post Secondary Education. These assignments and resources will be shared with families in partnership.

And... Mark your Calendars for the NPA class of 2024 graduation on the evening of June 4, 2024. More details will be shared on the NPA website as they become available.

This week all NPA students will be participating in a reading assessment. From the results, some students will be engaging with evidence-based individualized reading lessons. This may include an additional independent study course titled Academic Literacy or an in-person English support course (Tuesdays 9:30-10:30). Your NPA educator, along with the NPA Intervention team, will review the results and share findings with all students and families within this month.

Self-management: The ability to manage one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations. This includes the capacities to delay gratification, manage stress, and feel motivation and agency to accomplish personal and collective goals.

Such as:

• Managing one’s emotions
• Identifying and using stress management strategies
• Exhibiting self-discipline and self-motivation
• Setting personal and collective goals
• Using planning and organizational skills
• Showing the courage to take initiative
• Demonstrating personal and collective agency

September is suicide prevention month. All month, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness. Below are some resources we'd like to share including the #bethe1 campaign and the national awareness # 988.

#BeThe1To is the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s message for National Suicide Prevention Month and beyond, which helps spread the word about actions we can all take to prevent suicide. The Lifeline network and its partners are working to change the conversation from suicide to suicide prevention, to actions that can promote healing, help and give hope.