LEAD Academy

Good Afternoon Lead Families, I hope everyone has enjoyed a restful weekend. Please see the updates and information for the coming week. This week in Crew, students will be preparing for student-led conferences (SLC's) happening this Friday, February 18th. Please be sure to sign up, as we are excited to welcome many of you to the building for the first time in a long time. Our students have been working hard to share their learning with someone they care about. Thanks for your support in our fundraiser sales. Order forms and money are due this Wednesday, February 16th. Students should turn them into their classroom teacher on Wednesday morning. Monday, February 21st, is a school holiday. There will be no school for students. Thank you for not sending your children to school when they are sick. Covid-19 in our county is widespread, ongoing, and not contained. We strongly encouraged the continued use of masks every day. Please see the link for the Updated School and Childcare Exclusion List from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. https://scdhec.gov/health/child-teen-health/school-exclusion https://scdhec.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2021.2022-School-Guidance-Booklet-1.15.2.pdf To listen, learn, & collaborate, any stakeholder wishing to snag some time with Mr. Baker can sign up for open office hours on any platform of your choosing by clicking the link. https://calendly.com/cubaker/meet Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I hope everyone has a great week!

Parents, we need your help to reach our goal! Please make sure you REGISTER your student TONIGHT and enter 7 TEXTS and 7 EMAILS AT FundShoppe.com, so that they can WIN their first HEDGEHOG 🦔 Keychain TOMORROW! We need your help to reach our School Goal of 2,000 Texts/Emails. We would love your support in our fundraising efforts! The money we raise will be used to support important goals and programs that benefit our students and teachers! Your child will even have an opportunity to earn some great prizes in the process!

Hello Again Lead Families, I forgot to mention this in my Sunday newsletter that we are having fun Friday this Friday, February 11th. Fun Friday is an opportunity for students to live out our EPIC habits of leadership through original, Lead created games. Much like DRESS DOWN DAY, all attire worn on Fun Fridays must be school-appropriate. Also, please save the date for our Student-led conferences (SLCs) for Feb 18th. Please look for communication from your students' teacher.

Good Morning Lead Families, Today is the deadline to complete the intent to return form for the 2022-2023 school year. Please click the link below if you have not done so. Have a great day! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqxcNKvz25wvS002g_uQruv2HxLWj3t588-WQBl5ZuyeQEHA/viewform

Hey Lead Families, I hope everyone is doing well. Please see the updates and information for the coming week. This week, Crew will be a continuation of last week's conversations. Grades K and 4th will discuss seeking first to understand. Grades 1st and 3rd will discuss think win-win. 2nd grade students will discuss putting first things first. 5th grade students will discuss conflict resolution. 6th and 7th grade students will discuss physical courage and moral courage. 8th grade students will discuss what it means to be a leader. Crew begins each day at 7:45, so it is vital that your student is at school on time. Congrats to our January students of the month! Ryker Moss - K5 Ryker is an all-around EPIC Leader! He is a friend to everyone and makes sure everyone in our class feels included. He tries his best to be a leader for his peers in kindergarten. You can always count on Ryker to be doing the right thing, even if no one is watching. He is firm in his values and never waivers from what he believes in! Emma Richard - 4th Where do I even start with Emma?! She is patient and kind to anyone in our class. She is the first to try and talk to someone who may be struggling. If a friend isn't ready to talk she doesn't mind just being present and being a kind presence. In class, she challenges herself and if she finishes work early-- she always finds ways to make it better. Watching her make connections with her crew mates no matter who they are is an honor. Emma models what it means to be E.P.I.C. Jeremiah Gipson - 8th Jeremiah is a curious, passionate and kind student. He demonstrates leadership through his participation in class and hyping of his friends and peers to achieve their own success. Jeremiah is also an exemplary student. He checks in with his own understanding, deeply reads to find and analyze meaning and responds to feedback from his teachers. This student is almost constantly smiling and bringing joy to their classroom community and school. Please visit our website and check out our students of the month highlight at www.myleadacademy.com. Parents, please complete the intent to return form for the 2022-2023 school year. Complete this form no later than Tuesday, February 8, 2022. Please click the link below. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqxcNKvz25wvS002g_uQruv2HxLWj3t588-WQBl5ZuyeQEHA/viewform We need your help! We just kicked off our exciting Friends and Family Fundraiser! The money we raise will be used to fund important student programs and activities. Our fundraiser features a popular variety of exciting items including: Cookies, Cakes, Chocolates, Cups, Kitchen Gadgets, Support Our Troops, Wrapping Paper and much more! Out of town family and friends can also participate by shopping at our online store with more than 600 items available for ship to home and ship to school. Your child should have brought home a Fundraiser Packet with all the information about our fundraiser this past week. If you can't seem to find it, please ask the front office or your child's teacher for another one.  Thank you for not sending your children to school when they are sick. Covid-19 in our county is widespread, ongoing, and not contained. We strongly encouraged the continued use of masks every day. Please see the link for the Updated School and Childcare Exclusion List from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. https://scdhec.gov/health/child-teen-health/school-exclusion https://scdhec.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2021.2022-School-Guidance-Booklet-1.15.2.pdf To listen, learn, & collaborate, any stakeholder wishing to snag some time with Mr. Baker can sign up for open office hours on any platform of your choosing by clicking the link. https://calendly.com/cubaker/meet Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I hope everyone has a great week!

Hey Lead Families, I hope everyone is doing well. Please see the updates and information for the coming week. This week, Crew will be a continuation of last week's conversations. Grades K and 4th will discuss seeking first to understand. Grades 1st and 3rd will discuss think win-win. 2nd grade students will discuss putting first things first. 5th grade students will discuss conflict resolution. 6th and 7th grade students will discuss physical courage and moral courage. 8th grade students will discuss what it means to be a leader. Crew begins each day at 7:45, so it is vital that your student is at school on time. Congrats to our January students of the month! Ryker Moss - K5 Ryker is an all-around EPIC Leader! He is a friend to everyone and makes sure everyone in our class feels included. He tries his best to be a leader for his peers in kindergarten. You can always count on Ryker to be doing the right thing, even if no one is watching. He is firm in his values and never waivers from what he believes in! Emma Richard - 4th Where do I even start with Emma?! She is patient and kind to anyone in our class. She is the first to try and talk to someone who may be struggling. If a friend isn't ready to talk she doesn't mind just being present and being a kind presence. In class, she challenges herself and if she finishes work early-- she always finds ways to make it better. Watching her make connections with her crew mates no matter who they are is an honor. Emma models what it means to be E.P.I.C. Jeremiah Gipson - 8th Jeremiah is a curious, passionate and kind student. He demonstrates leadership through his participation in class and hyping of his friends and peers to achieve their own success. Jeremiah is also an exemplary student. He checks in with his own understanding, deeply reads to find and analyze meaning and responds to feedback from his teachers. This student is almost constantly smiling and bringing joy to their classroom community and school. Please visit our website and check out our students of the month highlight at www.myleadacademy.com. Parents, please complete the intent to return form for the 2022-2023 school year. Complete this form no later than Tuesday, February 8, 2022. Please click the link below. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqxcNKvz25wvS002g_uQruv2HxLWj3t588-WQBl5ZuyeQEHA/viewform We need your help! We just kicked off our exciting Friends and Family Fundraiser! The money we raise will be used to fund important student programs and activities. Our fundraiser features a popular variety of exciting items including: Cookies, Cakes, Chocolates, Cups, Kitchen Gadgets, Support Our Troops, Wrapping Paper and much more! Out of town family and friends can also participate by shopping at our online store with more than 600 items available for ship to home and ship to school. Your child should have brought home a Fundraiser Packet with all the information about our fundraiser this past week. If you can't seem to find it, please ask the front office or your child's teacher for another one.  Thank you for not sending your children to school when they are sick. Covid-19 in our county is widespread, ongoing, and not contained. We strongly encouraged the continued use of masks every day. Please see the link for the Updated School and Childcare Exclusion List from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. https://scdhec.gov/health/child-teen-health/school-exclusion https://scdhec.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2021.2022-School-Guidance-Booklet-1.15.2.pdf To listen, learn, & collaborate, any stakeholder wishing to snag some time with Mr. Baker can sign up for open office hours on any platform of your choosing by clicking the link. https://calendly.com/cubaker/meet Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I hope everyone has a great week!

Parents, we need your help! We just kicked off our exciting Friends and Family Fundraiser! The money we raise will be used to fund important student programs and activities. Our fundraiser features a popular variety of exciting items including: Cookies, Cakes, Chocolates, Cups, Kitchen Gadgets, Support Our Troops, Wrapping Paper and much more! Out of town family and friends can also participate by shopping at our online store with more than 600 items available for ship to home and ship to school. Today, your child is bringing home a Fundraiser Packet with all the information about our fundraiser. If you can’t seem to find it, please ask your child’s teacher for another one. Don’t forget to register online tonight and send 7 texts and 7 emails at FundShoppe.com. Your child will even have an opportunity to earn some incredible prizes in the process! Thank you in advance for asking your Friends, Family and Co-Workers to support our school as we strive to make this the best fundraiser for our school!

Hey Lead Families, A couple of reminders: Tomorrow is dress-down day. Students can pay $1 to come out of uniform. Parents, please be mindful that dress-down day is a fundraising effort. Students should not be out of uniform if they choose not to participate in the fundraiser. All students must still be in school-appropriate attire. This means there should be NO HOLES in pants, there are to be NO CROCS or SLIDES, and that any message communicated on their clothing, either through explicit language or artwork or through suggested humor, should be school appropriate. The money will be collected at the front door as students enter. Parents if you haven't done so, please complete the intent to return form for the 2022-2023 school year. Complete this form no later than Tuesday, February 8, 2022. Please click the link below. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqxcNKvz25wvS002g_uQruv2HxLWj3t588-WQBl5ZuyeQEHA/viewform Thanks and have a great evening.

Good Afternoon Lead Families, I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend. Please see the news and updates for the coming week. Crew This week marks a new series in Crew discussions. Grades K and 4th will discuss seeking first to understand. Students will talk about why it is essential to do more listening than talking. Grades 1st and 3rd will discuss think win-win. Finding a compromise is an agreement that lets everyone get something they like, even if they don't get everything they want. 2nd grade students will discuss putting first things first, prioritizing time, and putting the most important things first. 5th grade students will discuss conflict resolution. Students will have conversations about what healthy conflict looks like. 6th and 7th grade students will discuss physical courage and moral courage. 8th grade students will discuss what it means to be a leader. Crew begins each day at 7:45, so it is vital that your student is at school on time. This Wednesday, February 2, will be dress-down day. Students can pay $1 to come out of uniform. Parents, please be mindful that dress-down day is a fundraising effort. Students should not be out of uniform if they choose not to participate in the fundraiser. All students must still be in school-appropriate attire. This means there should be NO HOLES in pants, there are to be NO CROCS or SLIDES, and that any message communicated on their clothing, either through explicit language or artwork or through suggested humor, should be school appropriate. The money will be collected at the front door as students enter. Student-led conferences (SLCs) Parents, please save the date. Student-led conferences (SLCs) are currently scheduled for Feb 18th. Please look for communication from your students' teacher. Parents, please complete the intent to return form for the 2022-2023 school year. Complete this form no later than Tuesday, February 8, 2022. Please click the link below. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfqxcNKvz25wvS002g_uQruv2HxLWj3t588-WQBl5ZuyeQEHA/viewform Parents be reminded that students who have 5 or more unexcused absences or 3 consecutive days of unexcused absences are considered truant according to SC state truancy law. If your child misses school, please be sure you provide an excuse within 3 days of the absence. If students are out due to quarantine or eLearning, students must complete and submit the work to their teacher to be counted as present for those days. Covid-19 in our county is widespread, ongoing, and not contained. Parents, thank you for not sending your children to school when they are sick. We strongly encouraged the continued use of masks every day. Please see the link for the Updated School and Childcare Exclusion List from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. https://scdhec.gov/health/child-teen-health/school-exclusion https://scdhec.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2021.2022-School-Guidance-Booklet-1.15.2.pdf To listen, learn, & collaborate, any stakeholder wishing to snag some time with Mr. Baker can sign up for open office hours on any platform of your choosing by clicking the link. https://calendly.com/cubaker/meet Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I hope everyone has a great week!

Hey Lead Families, I want to share some information with you about our upcoming student-led conferences (SLCs). At Lead Academy, we believe that students should be fully engaged in the learning process. An element of that engagement is communicating their learning and the steps they want to take to reach their academic and character goals. Student-led conferences (SLCs)are when students take this leadership role and own their learning and the habits that they demonstrate that help or hinder their growth. Unlike traditional parent-teacher conferences, the students are charged with preparing, owning, and presenting their progress. SLCs are currently scheduled for Feb 18th. Each student will have a 20-minute time slot to present their learning to family members or other meaningful adults in their lives. Students do not attend school as usual on SLC Day. Their attendance is based on completing their SLC at their scheduled time. You will receive a signup link from your student's Crew leader. From Kindergarten to 4th grade, this will be your student's classroom teacher. In grades 5th-8th, this will be your student's specific Crew leader. To keep students at the center of these conferences, any parents or guardians wishing to have more conversations with their student's teacher(s) will be asked to schedule those meetings for another date. Crew leaders will be present, but they are there to support the student in presenting their work and learning. We are still concerned about the rise in COVID cases and want to ensure that SLCs are both informative and safe. Because of this, we have limited the number of SLCs that are taking place in a single classroom to 2. This means that it is possible for two students to present their learning in a classroom simultaneously. We will ensure that the maximum spacing is provided. It will also be a requirement that all guests ages 5 and up entering the building wear a mask properly (covering the nose and mouth) for the duration of their time in the building. We look forward to being able to bring this Lead tradition back for this year and hope that you are impressed and inspired by the work that our students engage in daily.

This week we celebrate National School Choice Week! School choice allows parents to choose the educational model that works best for them. We want to thank our Lead Academy families for trusting us with your student's education. We strive every day to achieve our mission and vision through your support. #SchoolChoiceWeek

Hey Lead Families, Welcome back from our winter weather. We are super excited to see everyone tomorrow! Here are a few announcements for the coming week. Crew Our teachers and Crew leaders are thrilled to see students back this week. Our Crew topics are a little off schedule due to our off week. Please ask your students about crew conversations that are happening. Crew begins each day at 7:45, so it is vital that your student is at school on time. Fun Friday is rescheduled for this Friday, January 28th. Fun Friday is an opportunity for students to live out our EPIC habits of leadership through original, Lead created games. Much like DRESS DOWN DAY, all attire worn on Fun Fridays must be school-appropriate. Report Cards will be sent home tomorrow, January 24th. At Lead Academy, we assess and give feedback on student work through Mastery Based Grading. In Mastery Based Grading, grades are viewed as a tool for communicating student progress towards a standard. Instead of a traditional 0-100 scale, we use a 1-4 scale to communicate where a student is in relation to a standard. Our grading system aims to help students understand that growth and mastery of the skill is what matters, more than just a grade in a gradebook. Student-led conferences (SLCs) Parents, please save the date. Student-led conferences (SLCs) are currently scheduled for Feb 18th. I will be sending a separate communication that outlines more specifics for this day and you will also hear from teachers and Crew leaders. Covid-19 in our county is widespread, ongoing, and not contained. Parents, thank you for not sending your children to school when they are sick. We strongly encouraged the continued use of masks every day. Please see the link for the Updated School and Childcare Exclusion List from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. https://scdhec.gov/health/child-teen-health/school-exclusion https://scdhec.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2021.2022-School-Guidance-Booklet-1.15.2.pdf To listen, learn, & collaborate, any stakeholder wishing to snag some time with Mr. Baker can sign up for open office hours on any platform of your choosing by clicking the link. https://calendly.com/cubaker/meet Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I hope everyone has a great week!

Hey Lead Families, Thank you for your patience and understand around our recent school closings. We understand the stress that surround these sudden changes and we appreciate your support during this time. Also, thank you for your diligence in completing eLearning assignments with your children. The safety of our students and families are our top priority and during times of inclement weather, we follow Greenville County as we do not have the resources to adequately assess road conditions. With that being said, Lead Academy will be closed on tomorrow, January 21. Students will complete e-learning assignments at home. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school next Monday. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Hey Lead Families, Out of an abundance of caution, Lead Academy will be closed tomorrow, January 20. Students will complete e-learning assignments at home. Since Lead is an approved e-learning school, we will not have to make-up snow days because we are able to provide instruction when school is closed. Please look for communication from your teachers for e-learning assignments. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Hey Lead Families, Out of an abundance of caution, Lead Academy will be closed tomorrow, January 19. Students will complete e-learning assignments at home. Since Lead is an approved e-learning school, we will not have to make-up snow days because we are able to provide instruction when school is closed. Please look for communication from your teachers for e-learning assignments. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Hey Lead Families, Out of an abundance of caution, Lead Academy will be closed tomorrow, January 18. Students will complete e-learning assignments at home. Since Lead is an approved e-learning school, we will not have to make-up snow days because we are able to provide instruction when school is closed. Please look for communication from your teachers for e-learning assignments. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Hey Lead Families, This is a reminder that we do not have school tomorrow January 14, or the following Monday, January 17th. We will return to school on Tuesday, January 18th. Thanks and have a great weekend.

Good Afternoon Lead Families, I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. Please see updates and information for the coming week. Please be aware that students do not have school this Friday, January 14th, or the following Monday, January 17th. We will return to school on Tuesday, January 18th. CREW This week in Crew, students will discuss: Grades K,2,4: Be Proactive by showing responsibility that you are a leader. Grades 1,3: Begin with the end in mind by setting goals and making a plan. Grade 5: Put first things first by prioritizing our time with the most important things. Grades 6-8: Trust Crew begins each day at 7:45, so it is vital that your student is at school on time. We encourage these Crew conversations to continue at home, so please ask your students about these Crew topics. We have an abundance of jackets in our lost and found. Please stop by to check and see if your student's missing jackets are there. We will be donating all non-lead jackets to Goodwill at the end of the day on Monday, January 10th. Report Cards Please look for report cards to be sent home on January 20th. At Lead Academy, we assess and give feedback on student work through Mastery Based Grading. In Mastery Based Grading, grades are viewed as a tool for communicating student progress towards a standard. Instead of a traditional 0-100 scale, we use a 1-4 scale to communicate where a student is in relation to a standard. Our grading system aims to help students understand that growth and mastery of the skill is what matters, more than just a grade in a gradebook. COVID Updates The spread of COVID 19 in our state and county is substantial, ongoing, and not contained. We strongly encouraged the continued use of masks every day. Please see the link for the Updated School and Childcare Exclusion List from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. https://scdhec.gov/health/child-teen-health/school-exclusion To listen, learn, & collaborate, any stakeholder wishing to snag some time with Mr. Baker can sign up for open office hours on any platform of your choosing by clicking the link. https://calendly.com/cubaker/meet Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I hope everyone has a great week!

Hey Lead Families, We have an abundance of jackets in our lost and found. If you could please stop by to check and see if your student's missing jackets are there. We will be donating all non-lead jackets to the Goodwill on Monday, January 10th. Thanks and I hope you have a great evening.

Good Afternoon Lead Families, Happy New Year Everyone!! Please see the updates and information for the coming week. Crew This week in Crew, students will discuss: Grades K,2,4: Be Proactive by showing responsibility that you are a leader. Grades 1,3: Begin with the end in mind by setting goals and making a plan. Grade 5: Put first things first by prioritizing our time with most important things. Grade 6: Trust and Responsibility Grade 7: Think win-win. Think Win-Win is a frame of mind and heart that seeks mutual benefit and mutual respect. Grade 8: How can we be upstanders instead of bystanders. Crew begins each day at 7:45, so it is vital that your student is at school on time. We encourage these Crew conversations to continue at home, so please ask your students about these Crew topics. Congratulations to our Students of the Month Mareli Pascual-8th When I think of our school's motto, Be Nice, Work Hard, Serve Well, Have Fun, I think of Mareli. Mareli is always kind and friendly. She is one of the hardest workers--never misses a homework assignment! If someone needs help, Mareli is always willing to lend a hand. Ealiyah Jones - K5 Ealiyah is a leader in the classroom. She is always willing to help and sets an example for the other students in our class. We recently got a new student in our class, and she was the first to welcome them to our classroom and help them understand how we do things. She reminds students to be a problem solver and to try their best. Ealiyah is kind, helpful, and caring. Brayden Franco - 5th Grade Brayden is awesome! Caring, fun, kind, hard-working, curious...the list goes on and on. He comes to class everyday 100% dedicated to doing his work, learning as much as he can, and finding the fun in everything. He is a great role-model for his peers and an even better friend! Dress Down Day This Wednesday, Jan 5, will be dress-down day. Students can pay $1 to come out of uniform. Parents, please be mindful that dress-down day is a fundraising effort. Students should not be out of uniform if they choose not to participate in the fundraiser. All students must still be in school-appropriate attire. This means there should be NO HOLES in pants, there are to be NO CROCS or SLIDES, and that any message communicated on their clothing, either through explicit language or artwork or through suggested humor, should be school appropriate. The money will be collected at the front door as students enter. Report Cards Please look for report cards to be sent home on January 20th. At Lead Academy, we assess and give feedback on student work through Mastery Based Grading. In Mastery Based Grading, grades are viewed as a tool for communicating student progress towards a standard. Instead of a traditional 0-100 scale, we use a 1-4 scale to communicate where a student is in relation to a standard. Our grading system aims to help students understand that growth and mastery of the skill is what matters, more than just a grade in a gradebook. COVID Updates The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has updated its School and Childcare Exclusion List to reflect the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance regarding isolation and quarantine timelines. The link to the School and Childcare Exclusion List on the DHEC website can be found here - https://scdhec.gov/health/child-teen-health/school-exclusion. COVID-19 is ongoing, widespread, and not contained. In an effort to keep students in person and mitigate the spread of the virus, I strongly encourage all students to wear a mask to school each day. To listen, learn, & collaborate, any stakeholder wishing to snag some time with Mr. Baker can sign up for open office hours on any platform of your choosing by clicking the link. https://calendly.com/cubaker/meet As always, please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. We appreciate all of the continued support.