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Middle Years Program Grades 6-8
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CALENDAR
11/13 Science Fair
11/14 School Pictures Retake Day
11/15-16 Concordia Language Village Field Trip (Optional)
11/17 - 10:00am-4:00pm Math & Science Family day at UofM
11/19-11/21 Online Days
11/21 End of Tri 1
11/22-23 Thanksgiving Break
NO SCHOOL
11/26 - 1st Day of Trimester 2
11/27 - 4:30-6:00pm School Board Meeting
12/6 - Chili Potluck/Ice Skating Party 9:00-1:00pm
12/18 - 4:30-6:00pm School Board Meeting
12/19 - 1/1 Winter Break
1/2/13 - School starts again
1/8 - 6:30 Open House
1/21 NO SCHOOL MLK Day
1/24-25 Book Fair & Parent/Teachers meetings - ONLINE Days
1/29 - 4:30-6:00pm School Board Meeting
1/31 - Movie Night 6:00-8:00pm
2/7 - 9:00am-3:00pm Afton Alps Ski Trip
2/13 - 8:45 am Spelling Bee
2/18 - President's Day NO SCHOOL
2/26 History Day
2/26 - 4:30-6:00pm School Board Meeting
3/1 - End of Tri 2
3/4 - 1st Day of Tri 3
3/11 - MCA Math testing begins
3/14 - Pi Day
3/18 - MCA online Science, Reading and Modified Testing begins
3/19 - 4:30-6:00pm School Board Meeting
3/25-29 Spring Break
4/15 - MCA paper reading & math testing begins
4/18 - School Musical
4/24-27 Washington DC trip
4/30 - 4:30-6:00 School Board Meeting
5/1 - Decade Day/IB Field Day
5/6-8 - 8th grade Eagle Bluff Field Trip
5/10 - Staff Planning Retreat
5/16 - Talent Show
5/27 - Memorial Day NO SCHOOL
5/28 - 4:30-6:00 School Board Meeting
5/30 - ON Campus Day - Community and Service Fair
5/30 - 4:00 Family Picnic
5/31- Last Day of School ON CAMPUS day
5/31 - Graduation
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| Greetings!
At the beginning of the day, the bell rings and all the workers file into the factory. Conveyor belts move predictably from one station to the next. The pieces are all identical and fit in predictable ways into the whole (thank you, Henry Ford!). Ultimately, a train of identical finished products, each one exactly like the one before it, falls into a box. All the boxes look alike. Periodic bells divide the day into different work periods and break periods.
Most schools still function on this same model with a strict bell system and a rigid grade-promotion conveyor belt, at the end of which all students are supposed to fit into the same box. Every day I appreciate CVA's greater flexibility, increased individualization, and ongoing efforts to honor and appreciate each student's uniqueness. Dear Henry, interchangeable parts may be great for cars, but for kids, never!
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Attendance
Our unique schedule requires a unique approach to attendance. For on-campus days, attendance is done traditionally, based on physical presence in the classroom. For online days, intellectual presence rather than physical presence is required. That means students must show significant progress towards learning or work completion to be marked "present" in each class. There must be evidence of engagement and progress. It's not enough to just log in, nor does a mere physical presence in Study Center count during online days. This approach is intended to help motivate students to complete their work and to move towards learning-based attendance rather than seat-time based attendance. For a more detailed explanation, please click here.
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Give to the Max Day
Minnesota's Give to the Max Day is November 15. This is a statewide event involving hundreds of non-profits and provides the opportunity for grant matching. The minimum donation is just $10, and you can schedule your donation now for the big day. Go to GiveMN.org and search for "Cyber Village Academy" or click on this link. Thanks!
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Science Fair!
Science Fair is on TUESDAY!
All student materials are due on MONDAY.
Students are required to stay by their board from 3 - 4 pm (during the open house).
All are invited to come and see the students' spectacular projects!
We still need about 4 more judges. Contact Kelly Mann if you are interested.
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MN ZOO FIELD TRIP!!!
Place: Minnesota Zoo
13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, 5124 Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Cost:
- $7.00 (admission to zoo)
- FREE for those with a ZOO MEMBERSHIP (must include zoo membership number on permission slip)
- FREE for those with a MN Zoo Museum pass from a library. MUSEUM PASS/LIBRARY RECEIPT MUST BE BROUGHT ALONG ON THE DAY OF THE TRIP AND GIVEN TO ROBYN.
- OPTIONAL: If you would like to see the IMAX show (Mystery of the Nile): $5 additional (Groups will be organized by who has signed up for the show.)
Drop off: 9:00am -
Parents drop off students at the IMAX entrance.
Pick Up: 2:45pm
Parents pick up students at the IMAX entrance.
- The signed permission slip and payment need to be returned to the Melissa no later than Monday, November 26, 2012.
- Students will need to bring a bag lunch OR money to purchase a lunch at the zoo food court. Each group will also have time to look in the zoo stores during the day.
- Students should wear comfortable walking shoes and dress in layers and for the weather. Exhibits are both inside and outside.
- We encourage families to car pool for this field trip. If you have a child that cannot attend the field trip due to cost or transportation, please contact Dave Glick.
- Please contact Robyn or your child's advisor with any questions that you may have.
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Grant Voting
This fundraiser costs you nothing! The Clorox grant has been delayed a week due to Sandy, so voting now starts this Monday, November 12. Get ready to vote every day via text and online until December 19 to support CVA's bid for up to $50,000. Look for a special edition of NFTV on Monday with the voting instructions.
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December Lunch Orders
Lunch orders for December are due in the office by Tuesday, November 27th. Order forms will be placed in your student's boxes next week. Click here for a copy of the form.
All Monday and Tuesday hot lunches must be pre-ordered and pre-paid! Please do not send money with your child in the morning to purchase a lunch for that same day.
Pizza Wednesdays will continue offering cheese and pepperoni pizza for $3 per slice or 2 slices for $5. However, students are requested to pay in advance into a lunch account using the attached order form rather than bring cash each week.
Milk is also available daily at a cost of $0.05 to students. Students can sign up for milk in advance, or purchase it daily.
If you have questions, please contact Kelly.
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Thanksgiving Week
Monday through Wednesday of Thanksgiving Week (November 19-21) are online days to allow families flexibility for the holiday. There will be Study Center on those days as usual, 8:30-3:30.
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Handbells
Two weekly Handbell Ensembles will be starting up after the Thanksgiving break as an extra-curricular activity for CVA students. There is no fee for participation, but regular weekly attendance is part of the commitment. If you can only commit for a trimester that is an option, either for 2nd or 3rd trimesters. Third trimester groups will perform in the Talent show and at 8th grade graduation.
Rehearsals for a mixed level group are on Monday afternoons from 3:30-4:30 and start on Monday, Nov 26.
An advanced only group (already read music and play another instrument or have my permission) will rehearse on Thursdays from 12:30-1:30, starting on Thursday, November 29, 2012. This group will add a community performance for a local nursing home to the Talent Show and Graduation ceremony performances.
Please email Lauren Odle if you are interested in participating and let her know which group you are interested in. Both groups are also open to High School and PASCAL students.
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CVA Picture Retakes Nov. 14
If you missed picture day, or your pictures weren't quite what you were expecting, never fear- retake day is here! On Wednesday, November 14th, we will have school picture retake day. The photographer will be at school first thing in the morning.
If you ordered pictures from the first picture day that you don't like, simply bring them back to turn in to the photographer. You will not need to complete a new order form, and there is no cost to exchange the photos.
If you were absent on the first picture day and would like to order pictures, you can do so in advance online. Go to www.mylifetouch.com and enter the picture day ID code MI192031Y1 to get started. If you prefer a paper order form, please see Melissa in the office to pick one up.
If you missed the first picture day for any reason, or if you are a new student to Cyber Village Academy, please plan to have your picture taken on retake day. Even if you do not plan on purchasing any pictures, your school photo is used to make your school ID badge and is listed in class photos and the yearbook.
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Dogs on the Fields
If you exercise your dogs on the school's grounds and fields, please clean up after them. Recess and PE classes (both CVA and TTSP) have encountered - and brought into the school on the bottoms of shoes - evidence of the need for improvement in this area. TTSP is working with the city to have signs installed reminding people of this civic responsibility.
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Washington D.C. is on and there is room for YOU!
Have you ever wondered what they actually DO in our nation's capital?! Well now is your chance to find out! Sign up to go with CVA to Washington D.C. in April. We will be touring many different sites and exploring where all the action happens. Washington Monument? You got it! Lincoln Memorial? Of course! Mount Vernon? Uhhh, YEAH!
The trip is open to all 7th and 8th grade students and all high school students. Financial aid is available through WorldStrides. They offer a need-based scholarship for participants travelling on the DC Trip. Please contact WorldStrides Customer Service department at 1-800-468-5899 and ask for information about the FLAG Scholarship. The scholarships range in value of $50-$400. The scholarships are offered on a first come first served basis so don't delay!
If you have any questions contact Robyn or Justin. Act fast so you don't miss a great opportunity!
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Student Success
Jane Hall-Dayle Title 1 Coordinator How can we all work together to help your student be more successful at Cyber Village Academy? The News From The Village will begin to include helpful tips and suggestions. Today's dilemma is how to help students turn in completed work. Here are two ideas: 1. Some students paper clip completed work for each teacher together and place in one folder entitled "completed work." Then the student can take the folder to each class and quickly find the clipped work to turn in to the teacher. 2. We have placed folders in the study center so that students can place completed work in the appropriate teacher's folder. The work will be delivered to each teacher. |
MYP@CVA
You know that the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program at CVA is a rigorous course of study. It is designed to prepare students to live and work in an ever-changing and increasingly interrelated world. Since before school started, we've been looking at MYP by the numbers: 3 Fundamental Concepts, 8 subject areas, and 10 attributes that describe IB learners in the Learner Profile. This week we'll look at the 5 Areas of Interaction.
The 5 Areas of Interaction are the same for each subject. When teachers plan MYP units, they think about how they want to focus and present the unit using one or more of the Areas of Interaction:
Approaches to Learning - ATL skills help students become more successful learners and range from coming to class prepared with pencil and notebooks to finding and analyzing primary sources for research projects. Teachers include ATL skills in each unit.
Community and Service - develops community awareness and a sense of responsibility towards the community so that students become engaged with the community and respond to the needs of others. All CVA students are expected to be involved in their communities during the year and will present their activities at a Community and Service Fair at the end of the year.
Health and Social Education - looks at how humanity is affected by social issues and is concerned with physical, social, emotional health and intelligence leading to a complete and balanced lifestyle.
Environments - considers environments to mean all the conditions surrounding us: natural, built, and virtual and encourages students to question and develop responsible attitudes, motivation, and skills to contribute to their environments.
Human Ingenuity - looks at human contributions in the world across place, time, and cultures; examines how humans initiate change; and examines the consequences.
When teachers work together to develop interdisciplinary units, they make sure their units share the same Areas of Interaction to establish connections across disciplines.
Ask your children what they can tell you about any of these Areas of Interaction and talk to your child's teachers about how they use the Areas of Interaction in their curriculum.
For more information about MYP and IB programs, go to http://www.ibo.org or contact Cherie Neima.
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Pajama Pants and Robe Day
Enjoy a "comfy" day in school while wearing
your pajama pants and robe.
Tuesday, November 27th
Rules - No sleeping in class :-)
and you must still follow other CVA dress code rules.
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Energy Saving Tip of the Week
brought to you by the CVA Student Council/Eco Team
Replace Light Bulbs - Replace standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and save 75% off lighting costs.
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Yours for the kids, 
The Team at
Cyber Village Academy
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