No Images? Click here UDA Weekly UpdateMarch 19, 2017Importance of AttendanceWith project-based learning, classroom experiences for teachers and students are extremely valuable; student learning depends heavily on the group experience and on coaching from teachers, who create meaningful learning experiences that cannot be replicated outside of the classroom. In addition, student absences have huge financial implications. From the start of this school year until now, UDA has lost over $103,000 due to student absences. As a charter school, our funding is heavily dependent on attendance. With the present budget challenges we face, combined with our collaborative project-based nature, we need your support and our students present. Make your child’s attendance a priority by avoiding unexcused absences and arranging an independent study contract with the classroom teacher for absences planned in advance. Book Fair ProceedsThank you to the entire UDA community for supporting our Book Fair and fundraising efforts. Through your generosity, we are able to purchase the software that will propel the library into the future and bring our community even closer together by incorporating Follett Destiny. However, the work is just beginning as we will need to start anew in cataloguing (volunteer opportunities will be available). We would also like to give special recognition to those who supported our Donor's Choose campaign to raise the funds for the Adesso 5100 scanners, which allow us to get started as soon as the software arrives. Carson Scholarship AwardeeCongratulations to Coco B. in the 7th grade for being selected as an awardee of the $1,000 Carson College Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to students who excel academically and are dedicated to serving their community. We are so proud of Coco! CATE Creative Writing AwardsChloë S. in fifth grade recently seized the opportunity to read her award-winning essay during the CATE (California Association of Teachers of English) Creative Writing Awards Ceremony at the San Diego County Office of Education. A big congratulations to Chloë for her hard work and dedication as a writer! Fourth GradeAesop once said, "no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." Fourth grade just completed the Great American Kindness Challenge. The students engaged in three weeks of showing kindness to each other, the school, and the community. They wrote thank you notes to staff members, made kindness posters, cleaned up trash, made a new friend, and so much more. Their goal was to complete all 50 acts of kindness on their checklist. They learned that little acts of kindness can brighten a person's day and make a positive impact in our classroom and community. Fifth Grade5th grade is exploring hydroponics, which is the art of growing plants without soil. The students recently grew their own "garden" using beans, paper towels, baggies, and sunlight. A Message from Our Network ParentsJoin us at the March For Science-April 22nd, 2017 We are passionate for our children's future, as they will inherit what we leave behind. We must care for them, love them, and perhaps most of all, educate them. We have an obligation to support our country's efforts in advancing science, and in turn, we will show our children how to make their voices heard. In lieu of an Earth Day event at our campus this year, the Network will be organizing a group to participate in the March for Science. On Saturday, April 22, the faculty/staff, family, and friends of UDA will join other San Diego citizens in supporting our scientific community. We will be united with those across the country who share the same ideals. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for updates. We hope you are as excited as we are, and we can't wait to see you there. Nominations Needed for Network Officers Please consider joining our team next year to help support UDA and our wonderful community! We are looking for people that are eager to be an active part of making UDA a great place for our kids. Both positions are two year appointments. -The Vice President shall assist the President in all matters and work in collaboration with Urban Discovery Academy, Ideate High Academy, and The UDA Foundation. -The Secretary shall create agendas, minutes, and other necessary documentation for The Network in accordance with guidelines set forth by the school administration. Please follow this link and nominate yourself or someone you know (please talk with them before nominating them). We look forward to hearing from you! If you have any questions about serving on the Executive Board, please email Jen Jeffress at jenjeffress@gmail.com. K-5 You and Me DanceJoin Girl Scout Troop 4159 (13 amazing UDA 5th graders) as they host UDA’s first You and Me Dance on Friday, April 14 from 5:30-8pm. We encourage all elementary students (k-5) to get dressed up and bring a guardian for a date night to dance the night away. It can be Father/Daughter, Mother/Son, Daughter/Mom, Father/Son, Uncle/Nephew, Grandma/Grandchild… any combination is awesome. The more the merrier! Tickets are $5 per person ($10 per couple), and can be purchased here. All students must be accompanied by a guardian, and the guardian can accompany multiple children if needed. Tickets include snacks, photo booth, and dancing with friends. All proceeds will go to support Troop 4159's upcoming San Francisco trip where they participate in a ceremony in which they cross the Golden Gate Bridge, as well as their Bronze service project to help local homeless children. San Diego Architectural Foundation’s Open House Visits UDAWe are excited to share that UDA was selected to participate in San Diego Architectural Foundation's upcoming Open House (OH!) event on Saturday, March 25. It is an incredible honor to welcome visitors to view our beautiful school building. We have representative Student Ambassadors scheduled to lead tours for visitors and an interactive art activity on this day. We are also looking for parent volunteers to help represent our school (you are welcome to come with your children!). Please email jowen@urbandiscoveryacademy.com if you are interested in participating as a volunteer; we can use volunteers throughout the day from 9:00 am-4:00 pm. Online Uniform OrdersUniforms purchased from UDA’s online store will be delivered two more times before the end of the school year. Order by March 17 to receive your items on April 28 (from the front office), or order by April 14 to receive your items by May 31. Camp Urban SolPlease visit the Foundation website for course descriptions, registration, and payment. If you have any questions, please contact Megan Buie at mbuie@urbandiscoveryacademy.com. Upcoming Dates
View the school calendar here. |