Dear Parents and Guardians:

These last couple of weeks have been a great opening to the new school year. We would like to give you information to make your family’s experience at East Academy the best learning experience possible.

ATTENDANCE:

We still are having a lot of tardy students in the morning and early pick-ups.

BREAKFAST: We serve breakfast from 7:30-8:00 a.m. daily.

INSTRUCTION: Teaching begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. Students are marked tardy after 8:05 a.m.

DISMISSAL: We start dismissal at 3:25 for students who walk and take the bus. Dismissal for others is at 3:30 pm.

MEAL PICK-UP

Hybrid: Tuesdays- Scholars will bring home breakfast and lunch for Wednesday.

Thursdays- Scholars will bring food home for meals for Fridays and Mondays.

Virtual: Orders must be placed by Friday mornings by 9:00 a.m. to be picked up in your child’s building on Mondays between 1:15-2:00 pm. * If you have given your order to be renewed weekly, you do not need to call in your order. If you want to be on a weekly renewal, please let Ms. Monique know for future weeks.

DRESS CODE: The Dress Code is part of the Student Handbook. Wearing the Dress Code is NOT an OPTION. There are certain exceptions that will be approved by Dr. Sherman, Principal and Superintendent.

The student dress code is as follows:

Girls • Any solid colored polo shirt (long or short sleeve); undergarments must also be solid colored (e.g., t-shirts); • Black, navy, or khaki skirts, skorts, jumpers, or slacks. NO COLORED DENIM may be worn. Skirts, skorts, and jumpers must be knee length. No floor length dresses, jeans, sweatpants, overalls, leggings or jeggings. Uniform shorts may be worn during the months of April through September only; Uniform shorts are black, navy, or khaki and must be knee length. Dress shoes or plain black or white tennis shoes may be worn.

Boys • Any solid colored polo shirt (long or short sleeve); undergarments must also be solid colored (e.g., t-shirts); • Black, navy, or khaki slacks. NO COLORED DENIM may be worn. No jeans or sweatpants. Uniform shorts may be worn during the months of April through September only; • Black or brown belts must be worn around the waist (no “sagging”); • Dress shoes or plain white or black tennis shoes may be worn.

Hair-The expectation for all scholars is that you come groomed ready for school; head raps, scarfs, or “do-rags” are not acceptable for school. When scholars leave for the day, they are free to wear them but not at school. We are preparing scholars for the next phase of life.

LANGUAGE-There is the expectation that both staff and scholars will speak to each other in a respectful manner. As part of the learning process we connect with scholars where they are but we are trying to move towards ‘academic language’ when in the classroom or school environment. Language and communication will look different depending on the audience or to whom the conversation is with. It is the academic language that will help students increase their language fluency and will help them perform better academically.

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to call us at (216) 383-1214.

Warm regards,
Dr. Sheila L. Sherman
Principal
East Academy

Patrick O’Donnell, correspondent at The 74, visited East Academy on the second day of school and spoke with staff and parents about the school reopening which include three learning options for families: Traditional (5 days at school), Online (5 days at home), and Hybrid (mixed).

Dr. Sheila L. Sherman is quoted, “We know we have diverse needs among our families…by offering these three modalities, we put the decision in the parents’ hands.”

The article features photos and focuses on the Traditional option which about one-third of students have selected so far this school year. Parents are quoted about the reasons they have chosen this option–a preference for in-person learning and the need to work outside the home.

Read the full article: Giving Parents Choices as Pandemic Continues

Internet Service Provider reimbursement is available to students enrolled for the 20-21 school year. Eligibility for reimbursement is dependent on the family qualifying for the National School Lunch Program and other requirements outlined below.

• Amount: $25 per month, per household (not per student)
• Payment: Twice per year (February 2021 & August 2021)
• Eligibility & Requirements:
  • Family must qualify for the National School Lunch Program
  • Student must be enrolled in the Online or Hybrid learning model for the 20-21 school year
  • Student & family must be in good standing with the school (verified home address on record, active enrollment, regular attendance, participation in state and local testing requirements, etc)
  • Reimbursement is per household (not per student). Families with students residing in multiple households are not eligible for multiple reimbursements. In this situation, families must determine a primary household and submit receipts accordingly.
• Process:
  • Families will be required to submit receipts from their Internet Service Provider to the school office:
    • No later than January 15^th in order to receive a reimbursement check in February for the months of August-December 2020.
    • No later than July 15^th in order to receive a reimbursement check in August for the months of January-June 2020.
  • Families will be asked to verify their mailing address with Proof of Residence documentation prior to the distribution of the reimbursement check.
• Exceptions:
  • Reimbursement will be pro-rated for any partial months the student is actively enrolled. For example, if the student is actively enrolled fewer than 15 calendar days, the reimbursement amount will be process at $12.50 for the month.
  • Students enrolled in the Traditional model who meet the eligibility requirements will be eligible for reimbursement if the school is required to suspend face-to-face learning for a period of time based on public health guidance and in coordination with ACCEL Schools and local public health officials.
• To read the full policy, click here.

New to online learning? Worried about preparing for fall? Want to make sure your child can stay on track?  Don’t worry, we have you covered!

We have created a plan that is simple to follow no matter what grade your student is in!

• Every day, make sure your student is logged in by 8:00am
• Every day, your student will meet online with their teachers. You will be provided with a schedule the first week of school.
• Not all learning will happen online. There will be time every day to students to practice what they have learned independently offline.
• Your school will give you a schedule to help keep you on track and prepped for success.

You and your student have a login. You have a schedule. You have great teachers.

We just need a couple of things from you to help make this a great year.

• Set up a work area for your student that is quiet and free of distractions.
• Log in to Canvas every day with your observer account to help your student stay on track.
• Take the parent orientation course to teach you about all the great tools that Canvas has to keep you and your student on track.

Get school updates, learning resources, tech support, and more in the tabs on our dedicated COVID-19 page.

Ready for the school year? You’ve got this!

Thank you for attending our 20-21 Reopening Meeting online earlier this week. In case you missed it, below are the links to next steps & to view important information online.

Select your student’s learning option for Fall 2020

20-21 Learning Options FAQ’s

20-21 Reopening Meeting Recording:

 

We are happy to announce that our students will have multiple learning options for the 20-21 school year:

• Traditional  In-person learning at the school building with added safety protocols and procedures.
• Online At-home learning supported by teachers, technology, and curriculum specifically built for online learning.
• Hybrid A mix of Traditional and Online learning with in-person and at-home components.

Over the coming weeks we will be releasing more detailed information. Please:

1. Check your email, school website & Facebook page the Week of July 13 for further description of these models including logistical details like safety protocols, technology, and transportation.
2. Plan to attend our upcoming Online 20-21 School Year Information Session—date and time will be announced soon!
3. After attending the info session, please select the option for your student(s) by Friday, July 31^st. Your student will be enrolled in the Traditional Cohort unless we hear a different selection from you by 7/31. To select your options, visit: www.accelschools.com/Fall2020

Thank you. We look forward to educating your student this school year!

We offer free breakfast and lunch to students through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), a federally-assisted meal program that provides nutritionally balanced, USDA-compliant meals to students each school day.

Dear ACCEL Staff & Community,

The horrific death of George Floyd coupled with other events that recently occurred in this country are heartbreaking. The video of his death is one of the most horrifying things we have seen in our lives. We grieve. We also acknowledge that many of our employees and students have experienced racism firsthand. This tragedy serves as a grim reminder that as a society, we still have a long way to go to stomp out racism. We want to make it clear that we are committed to fighting against racism and discrimination, and want to assure you that it has no place in our company or at our schools, and it will not be tolerated. We must strive to be inclusive in every way, and we will be planning professional development programs on this topic which will be delivered this summer to our entire school and corporate staff.

We also believe we have an obligation beyond what most companies have. We have consciously chosen to manage schools in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country and the world. While many school operators avoid these areas, we seek them out. To our surprise and dismay, we are often asked why. The answer is simple. We want to help the children who need it most. Maria and I set out to do this when we founded the company and we have never wavered. If our company does not provide our most vulnerable students with a quality education, they may not have a chance at economic success. A society that does not give every child this chance is, by definition, unjust. The opportunity to succeed must exist regardless of a child’s skin color or economic situation. Unfortunately, far too many children do not have this opportunity.

As we all mourn the death of Mr. Floyd, let us look inward and outward to make sure we are inclusive in our work environments and in our schools. Let us also do our part to end the senseless racism that exists in our society, empower all our students with the belief that they can succeed in the world, and give our students the knowledge and skills they need. Most of all, let us hope and pray they will experience a society in their lifetime where these tragedies no longer occur, and human beings are judged as Dr. King hoped they would be judged someday: “by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.”
Sincerely,

Ron Packard

All teachers meet the educator qualification requirements outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Ohio Revised Code: Bachelor’s degree, grade-level teaching license/certificate & ability to demonstrate subject area expertise.

Our school is accredited by Cognia™ for meeting the highest standards of education in ongoing, third-party review.