News from the Village - Cyber Village Academy's Weekly e-Newsletter

1/31 - Movie Night 6:00-8:00pm
2/7 - 9:00am-3:00pm Afton Alps Ski Trip
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

Greetings!

For all of our students, there has always been a national holiday called Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. I lived in Illinois for the first 22 years of my life, where MLK Day has been celebrated since 1973. (Illinois was the first state to adopt it; I was in 6th grade.) I was surprised to learn that it wasn't observed as a national holiday until 1986 and wasn't observed in all 50 states until the year 2000!

While you're enjoying the three-day weekend, I invite you to take a few moments and reflect on the holiday. Why is this person so important to the country that he is the only non-elected individual to have a holiday named after him (or isn't he)? Why did it take so long for it to become a holiday? How would the country be different if MLK hadn't lived? Hadn't been assassinated? Would someone else have been able to fill the same role? Have we made progress or regressed since the 1960s? In what ways? Most importantly, what can each of us do to help move the country forward on this particular journey? Good fodder for a family discussion!

Have a great weekend!

Dave Glick

After School Pick-up

Please pick up your students at the end of the day by 3:45. If students have not been picked up by 4:00, we will ask them to go to the after-school program until a parent/guardian arrives. The after-school program is fee-based, and the daily rate is $10. Thank you for your cooperation!

We Quirky Kids

Bumper Stickers!

You asked for it; we got it! We now have bumper stickers for sale with the Cyber Village logo and the phrase "We [heart] quirky kids!" You can get one or many for you, your friends and your relatives for $5 each. This fundraiser will help support our positive school climate efforts. See Melissa or Dave to purchase yours!

Love to ski? Never tried it?

This is the field trip for you!

WHO: All CVA Students (Parents are welcome as well.)

WHAT: An optional field trip to Afton Alps

WHEN: Thursday, February 7th from 8:45 am - 3:00pm (They will not let us start until everyone is there, so please, please be on time!)

WHERE: Afton Alps Ski, 6600 Peller Ave. S, Hastings, MN 55033 (Families will need to provide their own transportation.)

WHY: To HAVE FUN and enjoy one of winter's best outdoor activities with our families, friends and teachers!

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

· COST: $19 per person which includes ski rental, lift ticket, helmet (optional) and lesson.

Please Note: The cost is still $19 if you have your own skis or snowboard. Parents cost $19 as well! All participants will be allowed to test out of the lessons right away based on their skill level.

· Make checks payable to CVA.

· Green permission slips were placed in student mailboxes on Wednesday.

· Permission slips and payment are due to Melissa in her office before Monday, February 4th at 3:30 pm!!

· Students may bring their own lunch from home or buy food from the cafeteria there.

· Parents, we will be in need of chaperones so if you are interested please note that on your child's permission slip.

Spelling Bee Champion

Seamus F.

There was no schadenfreude during this year's spelling bee. All the students were rocking like umlauts at a Motely Crue concert with much vivace. Some were even dancing a German schottische! We would have served babka but weren't sure of the salmonella issues. The segue into the final round was ephemeral, and Seamus F. became our school champion with a correct spelling of "mercerize". Wish him well as he attempts to qualify for our Minnesota Seven County Metro Area Regional Spelling Bee.

Student Pickup

on Thursdays and Fridays

In an attempt to improve student safety, families will be required to come in to the building and sign out their students from the study center or other student activities on Thursdays and Fridays. Students will remain in the study center or classroom under the supervision of school staff until their parent or ride arrives. The front office will call the study center or classroom to let them know which student can come down to meet their ride.

Book Fair

The book fair will be open during conferences on Thursday and Friday of next week. Please support CVA and purchase books from the fair. If you are able to volunteer to work the fair please contact Amanda.

Winter Conferences

It is winter conference time! Parent/teacher conferences will be held Thursday and Friday, January 24th and 25th. Conference times will be scheduled in one hour blocks between noon and 8:00 pm on Thursday and 7:30 am and 2:30 pm on Friday. As usual, students will be working online at home on these days and there will be Study Center available on Thursday and Friday.

We will be e-mailing out letters to parents in order to schedule conferences. If staff have any concerns with your student's progress in their classes or would simply like some mid-year face time with your family, they will request that you schedule a conference with teachers. If staff do not request to see you, you will receive an e-mail stating that you are not required to attend conferences unless you choose to do so. All families are welcome to request a conference time. Contact Melissa in the office to schedule a conference time. Please check your student's grade book in PowerSchool to see how they are progressing in all of their classes.

Staff Snacks for Conferences

Interested in showing your appreciation for Cyber Village Academy teachers and staff? We are seeking finger-foods and snacks to have available for staff during parent teacher conferences, January 24th and 25th. Baked goods, dips and chips or crackers, fruits and veggies, or anything else you can think of would be greatly appreciated! If you would like to set up a crock-pot with a warm item, we can do that as well. If you have a Tupperware container or crock pot that you would like returned, please label the item with your name so that we can return it to you. Thank you!!!

February Lunch Orders

Lunch orders for February are due in the office by Wednesday, January 23rd. Forms will be in your student's mailboxes 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 bringing 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.

History Day Memo

This is just a reminder that there is a Hullabaloo at Wilson Library (University of Minnesota) this Saturday from 1-5 p.m. The library is located on the West Bank Campus of the University of Minnesota. For a map, click here.

Students who attend will receive 10 extra credit points. The state History Day Helpers (look for people in blue bowling shirts) will have proof of participation slips to give to the students that they can bring back to CVA. They can be a huge help to students who need sources and ideas about putting together their projects. For even more information about this exciting event click here!

History Day exhibit boards have arrived! Students who have signed up to purchase an exhibit board should pay Melissa at the front office $10.00 ASAP!

History Day at CVA will be held on February 28 from 2:45-4:00 in the gym. We are looking for judges who will work in teams to judge approximately 5 projects each. Judges will meet in Mrs. Koenen's classroom at 2:00. She will provide judging sheets and walk through the judging process prior to the start of the event. Judges should be prepared to enjoy the student presentations! Judges will then meet with Mrs. Koenen after the end of the fair at 4:00 in her classroom to discuss findings as a group. These findings are critical to determine which students will go on to regionals.

If you are interested in volunteering to be a History Day Judge, please contact Mrs. Koenen.

Energy Tip of the Week

brought to you by the CVA Student Council/Eco Team

Use ceiling fans for air circulation. In hot weather, set the ceiling fan direction to blow air down. The air moving across your skin creates a cooling effect, allowing you to raise the temperature on your thermostat and still feel cool. In cold weather, set the fan to blow toward the ceiling. This pushes warm air away from the ceiling and evenly distributes heat in the room.

MYP @ CVA

CVA teachers continue to be busy developing and teaching Middle Years Program units in their 6th -8th grade classes. Here are examples of some of the activity that is just completed, currently taking place, or coming up. Note the levels, titles, and unit questions. Next week's conferences are a great time to talk to your 6th-8th grade child's teachers about the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program at CVA.

Technology - Patty McDonald

Level 1: Website - How can you creatively and safely present yourself on the Internet?

Levels 2-3+: Movies: Can I transfer my ideas from paper to film?

Mathematics - Robyn Mesenbring

Level 1: Lost in Space - How would you change if you lived on a different planet?

Geometry: Triangle Properties - Why is the power of 3 so important?

Language A (English) - Amanda Reding

Level 3+: Elie Wiesel's Night - What is the relationship between our stories and our identity? To what extent are we all witnesses of history and messengers to humanity?

Language B (Spanish) - Lauren Odle

Level 3+: The Life and Art of Frida Kahlo - How do I express what is important to me?

Arts - Jennifer Naglak

Levels 1-3: How do they DO that? What would the world be like if no one was really good at anything?

Humanities - Allissa Koenen

Level 1: Mandate of Heaven (Ancient China) - How is the past present today?

Levels 2-3+: What Changed? (History Day) - Who or what creates change?

For more information about MYP and IB programs, go to

http://www.ibo.org or contact Cherie Neima.

Concordia Language Villages

Optional Overnight Field Trip

Our 2nd trip to The Forest is coming up on March 14th and 15th. This optional field trip is open to all students who are studying Spanish from level 1 through high school. We will experience two days of Spanish immersion while participating in crafts, games, sports, song and dance, cooking, authentic meals and many other exciting activities. Permission slips have been placed in student boxes. A current health form is also necessary, even if your student has gone before this year. The total cost of the program, room and board for the 2 days is $70 per student. If your family has financial need but would still like to participate, please contact Lauren Odle about scholarships. Permission slips need to be returned to her with payment by February 13th.

For an info sheet, click here or contact Lauren Odle. To visit the CLV website for more information about the camps, click here.

Update Your Tech

This is just a reminder to make sure your computer systems are up to date so you can use the resources you need to do your work.

Gerry, our tech coordinator, has created a resource with a list of the programs that students should have on their computers. It is on our website under Resources: Student Tech Information and Tech "How To's".

Food Drive

Hello. I am Asa A-P, and I am organizing a food shelf drive school-wide. The food shelf I am organizing donations for is the Little Kitchen Foodshelf, a no boundaries, no restrictions (which means that they serve everyone) foodshelf. You can find the box where I am collecting donations at the entryway of the school. You can donate canned goods, boxed items, or checks. They take all of those kinds of donations. Thank you.

Yours for the kids, CVA - International Baccalaureate World School

The Team at
Cyber Village Academy