Advantage Academy 
Grand Prairie West  Newsletter
  November 2016


IN THIS ISSUE
Attendance
Saturday School
After School Tutorials
Campus Calendar
Sudent/Staff Highlights
Important Reminders
Parent Universty
Clubs
Parent Portal
Child Nutrition
Athletics
Contact our Teachers
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District News 

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) recently released the final 2015-16 school financial accountability ratings and Advantage Academy received the highest possible rating with a Superior (A) Rating.

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Created by the 77th Texas Legislature in 2001, the School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) is designed to encourage public schools to better manage their financial resources to provide the maximum allocation possible for direct instructional purposes.

"Building Champions with a Future and a Hope"
Administrator's Area

Education is the most powerful weapon 
which you can use to change the world.
~Nelson Mandela
            
Greetings Parents and Guardians!
We have just completed the first nine weeks of the 2016-2017 school year. Report cards were distributed on Friday, October 28, 2016. After review, we have several scholars who have started the school year off strong and others who need to put in more effort. How can you help you scholar do well in these next nine week quarter?
  • Make sure your scholar attends school every day on time and all day
  • Have your scholar attend after school tutorials on Mondays and Thursdays 3:45pm-4:50pm
  • Email your child's teacher every two weeks 
  • When your scholar does not have homework, have them log into Think Thru Math and/or I- Station to get some additional practice. All student know their user name and password.
Education first,
D. White - Principal  

"Building Champions with a Future and a Hope"
Attendance in school is Essential!
  • Scholars may arrive to school as early as 7:30am for Breakfast
  • Scholars leave the gymnasium at 7:45am to head to class.
  • 8:00am is when students are late to school.  
  • Ten minutes late to any period is considered an ABSENCE.
Beginning October 3, 2016, students will report immediately to their 1st period and sign a tardy slip inside their classroom.

Please try to schedule appointments for students after school to ensure students receive maximum instructional time.

Dismissal is at 3:20pm for K-4 and Grades 5-8 at 3:45pm
Parents will not be allowed to pick up students after 3pm.  It is too difficult for staff to gather scholars while preparing for dismissal.
We appreciate your assistance in this matter.
Saturday School Boot Camp

4th and 7th Grade

8am to 12pm

November 12th
December 3rd

These Saturday sessions are for the purpose of focusing on scholar's writing skills.  Fourth and seventh grade scholars will take the STARR Writing assessment.

Sessions are from 8:00am - 12 noon. Student attendance has declined and it may jeopardize continued sessions. Please make the sacrifice and get your scholar to Saturday School.Permission slips are in the office.
After School Tutorials

Every Monday and Thursday from 3:45pm-4:50pm. ALL teachers are on campus to provide tutorials for areas that students need assistance.
* Homework assistance
* Complete missing assignments
* Assistance with misunderstanding of a skill or concept
Failure is not an option. Take advantage of this FREE opportunity to get support!
Mark Your Calendars

11/1 - Parent/Teacher Conference Night: 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
   Meet your child's teacher and pick up report cards.
11/2 - Award Ceremony 6th to 8th grade @ 9:am
11/3 - Award Ceremony Pre-k to 5th grade @ 9:am
11/11 - Veterans Day Ceremony @ 1:pm 
11/17 - Thanksgiving Luncheon (see below for hours)
11/21 to 11/25 - Thanksgiving Break: No school!

*Please  note that all dates and times are subject to change. Check with the front office for confirmation of information.

Check out the full website calendar of events here: 
Thanksgiving Luncheon
Thanksgiving luncheon is scheduled for November 17, 2016.  The lunch schedule has been adjusted to accommodate all of our guests.
  • Pre-K- 1 10:00am- 10:40am
  • Grades 2nd -3rd 10:50am- 11:30pm
  • Grades 4th - 6th 11:40pm- 12:20pm
  • Grades 7th and 8th 12:30pm-1:10pm
This is a special day so the times for lunch have been adjusted. If you have more than one student, we would like them to eat together, as a family, at the younger siblings lunch time.
A A G P  West Soaring Eagles
Student/Staff Highlights from October

Character Book  Parade!
Our Middle School Flag Football Team won
4th Place in their TCSAAL district.

Our Middle School Volleyball Team won
2nd Place in their TCSAAL district.

Fall Fitness Night!
Former WWE Wrestling Champion, Marc Mero, presented Champion of Choices, one of the nation's top anti-drug and anti-bullying programs 

Grand Prairie Fire Department visits our Pre- K to 2nd graders for Fire Safety Week.
Important Reminders

Nov. Professional Learning Community (PLC) Days:
11/2
11/9
11/16
11/30

Students are released 1 hour & 15 minutes earlier than their normal times on PLC days.

PLC Release Times:
PreK-5th @ 2:05 pm   
6th-8th  @ 2:25 pm 
College/Spirit Shirts 
and Jean Days

College Shirt Mondays! Students may wear college t-shirts every Monday with standard uniform bottoms.

Spirit Shirts are required on Fridays and may be purchased for       $8.00 in the Main Office.

Jeans are optional on Fridays for $1.00 fee. Jean passes are $15 per semester or $25 per year.  Buy Jean Pass now at our online shopping cart
Parent University

Classes just for parents are coming to the GPW campus.
November 1st, 2016 at 4:30pm-5:20pm for Pre-K to 4th Grade.  
November 10th, 2016 at 5:30pm to 6:20pm 5th -8th  grade.
We need ALL GPW parents to attend. There will be refreshments and prizes for those who attend. The session will be held in the school cafeteria. 
Clubs at GPW

Encourage your students in grades 3-8 to participate in a club.  The meetings  will be held after school from 3:30pm- 4:30pm.

It is  important for scholars to be well rounded in all
areas -academics, extra-curricular, and social /community involvement.
View Your Child's Grades Online!
Parent Portal is Available to You! 

Advantage Academy wants to help you access your student's grades. Sign up now for access to the Parent Portal and you  can monitor your child's grades and attendance from your computer! 

I f you need assistance with this technology, please call the front office at 214-276-5800 option 2 and schedule a time to meet with our Instructional Technology Specialist and he will help you set up your free Parent Portal access and an free email account (if you need one).

 
Child Nutrition

Please make sure you have completed a lunch application for your student. Forms must be completed each school year.  Students will receive an alternate meal if they do not have a completed application or monies to purchase lunch.

Check out our Breakfast/Lunch Menu
          
Here at AAGP West, we are dedicated to providing a healthy, well-rounded breakfast and lunch. For a glimpse at this month's breakfast and lunch menu click  the link below.

Athletics Department
          
We are off to a great start in athletics this year and we are excited to  see what this year has in store for us as an athletic department. If  you need an athletic packet, please stop by and see one of the  coaches in the gym. We want to continue to show our Eagle pride  by coming out to the games to show our support of our athletes.  The most up to date schedule can be found on our website: GPWest events/athletic calendar
GO EAGLES!
How Can We Contact You?

Parents and Guardians,

It is very important that we have updated and accurate contact information in case there were an emergency or a situation that involved your child. Please be sure to keep us updated as we need your correct phone number(s), address, and email information.

Thank you for your assistance in helping us keep the lines of communic ation between school and home connected!
Faculty Contacts:

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