Tag Archives: ilead antelope valley

Studio

Announcing FREE Breakfast & Lunch for All Learners + Multipurpose Family Income Form

USDA breakfastWe are thrilled to announce that we will be serving breakfast this year AND through the Summer Seamless Program, we will serve both breakfast and lunch for FREE to every iLEAD AV learner throughout the 2021-22 school year!

We also want to remind you to fill out the Multipurpose Income Form. Please read below to understand why we ask each family to do so.

Reminders: Multipurpose Family Income Form

The start of school means getting to know new friends, facilitators, and routines, adjusting to a new way of learning, and, of course, filling out lots of paperwork!

One form that is especially important for schools to receive from families is called the Multipurpose Family Income Form. This form needs to be filled out for every  learner and submitted each year by October 1. It can be submitted in a variety of ways. You can fill it out via a fillable PDF (attached) and email it to betty.lara@ileadav.org, fill out a paper form (attached in English and Spanish) and drop it off at the front office by appointment only, or — in our newest, completely digital way — you can complete it via the My MealTime online platform. This  option ensures the confidentiality of your form and can be done from home. Please email all forms (by October 1) and any questions to betty.lara@ileadav.org.

Some people have heard that it is only necessary to fill out this form if you want your child to qualify for free or reduced-price school breakfast and/or lunch. The truth is that it is important for EVERY family to fill out this form because doing so helps bring much-needed additional money and services directly to our school!

Our school receives funding from the state and federal governments to support the needs of low-income learners. For every learner who qualifies for free or reduced-price breakfast/lunch, our school receives thousands of additional dollars in funding.  Studies show that many eligible students, in particular middle school and high school students, do not complete this form each year, leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding for our school on the table. Even a small increase in eligible forms collected results in significantly more money to support our learners and school.

What is the Multipurpose Family Income Form?

This form collects basic information about your learner so our school can determine their eligibility for free or reduced-price breakfast/lunch, and also so that our school can qualify to receive extra money and programs. You may have heard this form referred to in the past as the School Meal Application Form or School Lunch Form. The name has changed because it is really about more than school breakfast/lunch.

What if my child doesn’t want to eat school breakfast/lunch? Why should I fill out the form?

Even if your child chooses to bring their own breakfast/lunch or snack or if they eat lunch at home, filling out the form is very important! It ensures that our school gets all the funding and benefits available to support facilitators and learners.

How does filling out the Multipurpose Family Income Form help our school?

Schools get more money in their budgets to support learners. Our school qualifies to receive more money per learner from the state and federal government, which they can pass on to our school.

Help! The form is confusing!

Income information: Some parents have asked whether they need to provide this information if they know they are not eligible for free or reduced-price meals. The form does require that families enter income. This information is not shared and is required for those seeking free or reduced-price meal eligibility. However, a family that does not wish to be considered for eligibility may fill out a form, complete learner information in step 1, write “do not qualify” in the first box in step 3, and then complete the name, signature, and date lines in step 4.

Last 4 digits of Social Security Number: If you don’t have a Social Security Number or don’t want to submit the last 4 digits of your social, you can check the box that says “don’t have one” and still be eligible for free or reduced-price breakfast/lunch.

Is the Information I submit confidential?

The information you submit on the Multipurpose Family Income Form cannot be shared by our school.

Personal information submitted on the form is not shared with the state or federal government; only the number of learners who qualify for free or reduced breakfast/lunch is shared.

Facilitators are not told which learners qualify for free or reduced breakfast/lunch benefits.

Our school does not share information with other organizations that provide benefits. But if your child does qualify for free or reduced-price breakfast/lunch, you may use the eligibility form provided by our school to qualify for other benefits through providers.

If your child qualifies and chooses to eat breakfast/lunch at school, the process is the same as it is for a learner who is paying full price.

How do I access the payment/application system?

Our school allows families to deposit funds and fill out applications online via My MealTime. If you don’t already have an account, please visit https://ileadav.org/school-lunch-program for directions, or see attached for instructions to set up your My MealTime account today.

What if I still have questions?

If you run into any problems, you can always contact the staff at our school for individual assistance. You can reach them by calling (661) 494-7442 or emailing betty.lara@ileadav.org.

We thank you for your continued support of iLEAD Antelope Valley!

Please Read:
Letter to Households – English
Letter to Households – Spanish
Printable Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application – English
Printable Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application – Spanish
Fillable Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application – English
My MealTime Online Application Instructions

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.  

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 

  1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 
  2. fax: (202) 690-7442; or 
  3. email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Culture and Curriculum, Studio

iLEAD Antelope Valley Culture: Components of Social-Emotional Learning — Grit

What does it take to really succeed? Some might call it drive or determination. At iLEAD Antelope Valley, we like to call it grit, and it is a crucial component of social-emotional learning.

We define grit as “having courage and resolve, and strength of character.” Someone with grit works hard and passionately, sets goals, and follows through. Why is grit important? Because to truly accomplish goals and thrive, we need the ability to persevere. Without grit, talent may be nothing more than unmet potential. That is why we believe it is so valuable to instill an understanding of grit early on in kids.

But how does one assess “grittiness”? A simple way is to see if you identify with some of these statements:

  • I enjoy projects that take time to complete.
  • I am working toward a long-term goal.
  • What I do each day is connected to my deepest personal values.
  • There is at least one subject or activity I never get bored thinking about.
  • Setbacks don’t discourage me for long.
  • I am a hard worker.
  • I finish whatever I begin.
  • I never stop working to improve.

Our approach to SEL has been deeply influenced by Angela Lee Duckworth, who has done extensive research in the area of grit. She suggests that one way to think about grit is to consider what it isn’t.

Grit isn’t talent. Grit isn’t luck. Grit isn’t how intensely, for the moment, you want something.

Instead, grit is about having a goal you care about so much that it organizes and gives meaning to almost everything you do. Further, grit means holding fast to that goal, no matter what.

There are many practical ways to foster grit in learners:

  • Help them see how their efforts can contribute to the well-being of others.
  • Nurture a growth mindset; a belief that the ability to learn is not fixed.
  • Ask them to set their own long-term goals.
  • Focus discussions on effort, tenacity, and learning from failures.

We believe as part of a curriculum that’s rich in project-based and social-emotional learning, when kids learn to model grit in their academic pursuits, their mindset will positively affect every area of their lives.

Watch This: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

Studio

Introducing Brightspace: Your New Learning Management System

iLEAD AV is pleased to announce the launch of its new learning management system, Brightspace. Over the past year, a team of dedicated educators have researched, adopted and customized this platform. Brightspace is an award-winning leader in learning software and aligns with iLEAD’s core values. This platform replaces Echo, Powerschool and Google Classroom that you may have used last year. Our facilitators and staff are working together to make the transition and help support your learner in navigating the platform. Parents and families also receive a parent dashboard account for Brightspace, an easy way to have a virtual seat in your child’s classroom and stay up to date on important announcements, upcoming work, and samples of your child’s projects and beautiful work. 

Click HERE for a getting started guide to Brightspace, and reach out to your child’s facilitator if you have questions or need support. The Parent Dashboard login details are enclosed in the linked getting started guide.

Campus, Studio

The Valet Process

In an effort to keep learners and staff safe, please remember to follow these valet procedures:

  • Learners must be dropped off in the valet line in the back parking lot. They may not be dropped off in the front parking lot.
  • Pull up your vehicle as far forward as possible in the valet line.
  • Drop off at cones only and wait for a staff member to assist.
  • Learners should exit vehicles from the right side of the vehicle.
  • Drivers must remain in the vehicle.
  • Be patient and courteous.
  • Drive slowly and with caution.

Thank you for helping create a safe drop-off and pick-up experience for our learning community!

Studio

Stay Connected

iLEAD AV Hybrid and Exploration families, here’s how you can stay connected with us throughout the school year.

iSUPPORT

We have an amazing community of family volunteers who support our school in many ways. We hope you will attend our iSUPPORT meetings. You will gain valuable information regarding how you can get involved, whether you volunteer in the classroom, assist on field trips, or join special event committees. iSUPPORT also helps keep families updated on what’s happening on campus, and it’s a great way to connect with each other. We value our volunteers! For the latest information on events and activities, follow the iLEAD AV iSUPPORT team on Instagram at @isupportileadav.

ParentSquare

Please be sure you have signed up for ParentSquare. Important reminders and information regarding school emergencies and events will be relayed through this system. ParentSquare sends notifications via email and text if you download the app at parentsquare.com.

Monday Message and School Website

The Monday Message is sent out each week to all our families with articles, upcoming events, pictures of learners, updates and other pertinent information regarding school activities. You can also find all our Monday Messages and other important information archived on our website at ileadav.org.

Social Media

iLEAD AV’s Facebook page is updated frequently with pictures of our learners and descriptions of the learning process. Please check it out!

Staff Spotlight, Studio

iLEAD AV Begins New School Year With New Director

Each new school year brings changes and new experiences. There are new learners, new technology, new programs, new experiences and often new staff. This year, iLEAD AV is starting with a brand new director as well. Meet Talaya Coleman. Coleman recently shared some of her background, experience and thoughts on joining the iLEAD AV Team:

Hobbies / Personal Interests:

Shopping
Decorating
Being outside, relaxing and/or playing with grandkids.
Spending time with family and friends.

Educational Background:

University of LaVerne – Bachelor of Arts/Liberal Studies
National University – Master of Science in Special Education
Education Specialist Credential: Mild/Moderate and Moderate/Severe
Administrative Credential

Professional Background:

Has worked with and supported diverse groups of learners.
Has facilitated professional development and workshops in the Interdisciplinary Approach to Project-Based Learning and Social-Emotional Learning throughout the country.
Experienced with Turnaround Programs and Initiatives.
Has served on WASC Visiting Teams.
Has served as a Mentor in the Learn and Earn Program.
Experienced in Collaboration, Educational Ethics and Responsive Education.

Why iLEAD? Why did you take on this new role?

“It was the right place at the right time. Originally, I was in banking for 18 years. Once I decided to make a career change and pursue education, I thought I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. I ended up working with the Los Angeles County Office of Education where I primarily served the high school population. Although I loved that experience, I was ready to start working with and serving the TK-8 learners of the amazing AV community. I’m also excited about my new seven-minute commute.”

How have you been welcomed or received thus far?

“It’s always a bit overwhelming to be new. However, everyone has been so kind, helpful and supportive.”

What are your thoughts about Project-Based Learning?

“As a Special Day Class teacher, I have been able to learn about and teach PBL in my classroom. I loved bringing the curriculum to life by incorporating meaningful projects that engaged the students. As a Program Specialist, I coached others on how to create authentic projects aligned to the standards. I look forward to bringing my PBL experience to iLEAD AV!”

Culture and Curriculum, Studio

iLEAD Antelope Valley Culture: Components of Social-Emotional Learning — Growth Mindset

At iLEAD Antelope Valley, we believe when kids learn how to face challenges, they grow into leaders. As part of our emphasis on social-emotional learning (SEL), we believe it’s important to develop what we call a growth mindset.

Let’s do a quick test. Do you tend to agree or disagree with the following statements?

  • My intelligence is something I can’t change very much.
  • I’m a certain kind of person, and there isn’t much I can do to change that.
  • I often get frustrated when I get feedback on my performance.
  • Trying new things is stressful, and I avoid it.

How we respond to these statements reveals whether we have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. Many children are raised and exposed to situations that create a fixed mindset, which may seem harmless on the surface, but actually creates long-term challenges for them in school and in life, when they fear failure and tend to avoid challenges.

Conversely, children who have a growth mindset are more likely to learn from their mistakes, tackle challenges head-on, and be motivated to succeed. 

Some contrasting statements may be helpful for bringing this into focus:

  • A fixed mindset says: “Failure is the limit of my abilities.”
  • A growth mindset says: “Failure is an opportunity to grow.”

 

  • A fixed mindset says: “I’m either good at it or I’m not.”
  • A growth mindset says: “I can learn to do anything I want.”

 

  • A fixed mindset says: “My abilities are unchanging.”
  • A growth mindset says: “Challenges help me grow.”

 

  • A fixed mindset says: “My potential is predetermined.”
  • A growth mindset says: “My effort and attitude determine my abilities.”

 

  • A fixed mindset says: “Feedback and criticism are personal.”
  • A growth mindset says: “Feedback is constructive.”

 

  • A fixed mindset: “I stick to what I know.”
  • A growth mindset says: “I like to try new things.”

 

The development of a healthy growth mindset is all about helping kids realize and embrace their potential and equipping them to be empowered and fueled by challenges, rather than hindered by them.

A growth mindset will intrinsically motivate children to improve, learn, and grow in school and all other areas of their lives.

Writing in Scientific American, psychologist Carol S. Dweck unpacked “The Secret to Raising Smart Kids” and the importance of fostering a growth mindset, stressing the importance of seeing success as the result of hard work instead of simply inborn talent.

“When we gave everyone hard problems anyway, those praised for being smart became discouraged, doubting their ability,” she wrote. “In contrast, students praised for their hard work did not lose confidence when faced with the harder questions, and their performance improved markedly on the easier problems that followed” (emphasis ours).

Make no mistake, it is good to praise our children for their strengths and talents, but it is crucial to encourage them to see challenges as opportunities and to value their efforts. If they can learn and embrace this at school age, there’s no telling what they may achieve. 

Watch: On Growth Mindset

Culture and Curriculum, Studio

iLEAD Antelope Valley Culture: Whole-Child Development

Last week we introduced the importance of social-emotional learning at iLEAD Antelope Valley. Social-emotional learning is integral to our whole-child educational approach. 

A whole-child mind-set means that we are focused on far more than teaching to tests or holding up state standards as the be-all, end-all of education. We believe in focusing on the whole child and promoting social-emotional learning, because education is about more than test scores.

Whole-child development empowers kids to be creative, engaged citizens. With that in mind, we believe it’s our responsibility to nurture learners’ creative abilities to express themselves, understand others, and navigate complex information so they can confidently solve the problems of an ever-changing world.

So when we say we focus on “whole child” development, what do we mean? We’re talking about an approach to project-based learning that emphasizes the following deeper-learning approaches:

Mastery of Core Academic Content: Learners lay their academic foundation in subjects such as reading, writing, arts, math, and science, understanding essential principles and procedures, recalling facts, and drawing on their knowledge to complete tasks.

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Our learners understand how to construct effective arguments using their critical, analytical, and creative skills. They develop the know-how to come up with solutions to complex problems.

Collaboration: Learners embrace teamwork and consider multiple viewpoints to cooperate and achieve shared goals.

Effective Communication: Learners communicate effectively in writing and oral presentations. They structure information in meaningful ways, listen to and give feedback, and construct messages for particular audiences.

Self-Directed Learning: Learners develop the ability to set goals, monitor their own progress, and reflect on their strengths and areas for improvement. They learn to see setbacks as opportunities to grow and be more adaptive.

Growth Mind-set: Learners with a growth mind-set believe in themselves. They trust their abilities and believe their hard work will pay off; they persist to overcome obstacles. In the process, they also learn from and support each other and see the relevance of their schoolwork to the real world and their own future success.

Coupled with vibrant project-based education and social-emotional learning, all these elements work together to empower kids to overcome any challenge that comes their way academically; but more than that, they build the character to succeed in the 21st century.

Studio

Announcing FREE Breakfast & Lunch for All Learners + Multipurpose Family Income Form

USDA breakfastWe are thrilled to announce that we will be serving breakfast this year AND through the Summer Seamless Program, we will serve both breakfast and lunch for FREE to every iLEAD AV learner throughout the 2021-22 school year!

We also want to remind you to fill out the Multipurpose Income Form. Please read below to understand why we ask each family to do so.

Reminders: Multipurpose Family Income Form

The start of school means getting to know new friends, facilitators, and routines, adjusting to a new way of learning, and, of course, filling out lots of paperwork!

One form that is especially important for schools to receive from families is called the Multipurpose Family Income Form. This form needs to be filled out for every  learner and submitted each year by October 1. It can be submitted in a variety of ways. You can fill it out via a fillable PDF (attached) and email it to betty.lara@ileadav.org, fill out a paper form (attached in English and Spanish) and drop it off at the front office by appointment only, or — in our newest, completely digital way — you can complete it via the My MealTime online platform. This  option ensures the confidentiality of your form and can be done from home. Please email all forms (by October 1) and any questions to betty.lara@ileadav.org.

Some people have heard that it is only necessary to fill out this form if you want your child to qualify for free or reduced-price school breakfast and/or lunch. The truth is that it is important for EVERY family to fill out this form because doing so helps bring much-needed additional money and services directly to our school!

Our school receives funding from the state and federal governments to support the needs of low-income learners. For every learner who qualifies for free or reduced-price breakfast/lunch, our school receives thousands of additional dollars in funding.  Studies show that many eligible students, in particular middle school and high school students, do not complete this form each year, leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding for our school on the table. Even a small increase in eligible forms collected results in significantly more money to support our learners and school.

What is the Multipurpose Family Income Form?

This form collects basic information about your learner so our school can determine their eligibility for free or reduced-price breakfast/lunch, and also so that our school can qualify to receive extra money and programs. You may have heard this form referred to in the past as the School Meal Application Form or School Lunch Form. The name has changed because it is really about more than school breakfast/lunch.

What if my child doesn’t want to eat school breakfast/lunch? Why should I fill out the form?

Even if your child chooses to bring their own breakfast/lunch or snack or if they eat lunch at home, filling out the form is very important! It ensures that our school gets all the funding and benefits available to support facilitators and learners.

How does filling out the Multipurpose Family Income Form help our school?

Schools get more money in their budgets to support learners. Our school qualifies to receive more money per learner from the state and federal government, which they can pass on to our school.

Help! The form is confusing!

Income information: Some parents have asked whether they need to provide this information if they know they are not eligible for free or reduced-price meals. The form does require that families enter income. This information is not shared and is required for those seeking free or reduced-price meal eligibility. However, a family that does not wish to be considered for eligibility may fill out a form, complete learner information in step 1, write “do not qualify” in the first box in step 3, and then complete the name, signature, and date lines in step 4.

Last 4 digits of Social Security Number: If you don’t have a Social Security Number or don’t want to submit the last 4 digits of your social, you can check the box that says “don’t have one” and still be eligible for free or reduced-price breakfast/lunch.

Is the Information I submit confidential?

The information you submit on the Multipurpose Family Income Form cannot be shared by our school.

Personal information submitted on the form is not shared with the state or federal government; only the number of learners who qualify for free or reduced breakfast/lunch is shared.

Facilitators are not told which learners qualify for free or reduced breakfast/lunch benefits.

Our school does not share information with other organizations that provide benefits. But if your child does qualify for free or reduced-price breakfast/lunch, you may use the eligibility form provided by our school to qualify for other benefits through providers.

If your child qualifies and chooses to eat breakfast/lunch at school, the process is the same as it is for a learner who is paying full price.

How do I access the payment/application system?

Our school allows families to deposit funds and fill out applications online via My MealTime. If you don’t already have an account, please visit https://ileadav.org/school-lunch-program for directions, or see attached for instructions to set up your My MealTime account today.

What if I still have questions?

If you run into any problems, you can always contact the staff at our school for individual assistance. You can reach them by calling (661) 494-7442 or emailing betty.lara@ileadav.org.

We thank you for your continued support of iLEAD Antelope Valley!

Please Read:
Letter to Households – English
Letter to Households – Spanish
Printable Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application – English
Printable Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application – Spanish
Fillable Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application – English
My MealTime Online Application Instructions

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.  

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 

  1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 
  2. fax: (202) 690-7442; or 
  3. email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Studio

Mental Health Support

Did you know that if you text “HOME” to 741741 when you are feeling depressed or suicidal or just needing someone to talk to, a crisis counselor will text you? It is a free service. It is okay not to be okay. Don’t hesitate to reach out.

In order to initiate access to available pupil mental health services, you may contact the following mental health provider: Masada Homes at 661-726-5500.

Please click here for additional resources.

suicide prevention poster