Volume 4 No. 5
February is Heart Awareness month and the students at Vista Charter Academy are doing their part to encourage healthy living. During a 3-week campaign, students participated in the Vista Kids Heart challenge and raised nearly $ 1,499 for the American Heart Association. 


Students learned the importance of heart health and different ways to keep their hearts happy and healthy by exercising 30 minutes a day, adding fruits and vegetables to their diet, avoiding vaping and tobacco, and helping others. During the campaign, students participated in fun activities during their P.E. classes - like jump rope - that would increase their heart rate and improve their overall heart health.
 
"We believe it is important to not only help our community through the Kids Heart Challenge, but also to educate ourselves and our students about ways to keep their own heart happy and healthy for a lifetime," said Stefanie Gillett, P.E. Instructor at Vista Charter Academy.


 
"Teaching students to help others, show kindness, eat their fruits and vegetables, and get exercise daily is important for a happy and healthy heart."
 
Reading is an important skill for students to learn and making reading fun and accessible is widely practiced throughout Vista Charter Academy. Students are able to experience an approach to reading that provides them with a variety of genres - from informational text to published works of fiction. This approach to literacy for their students aids in creating a lifelong love of reading.


 
"We help students learn to read, so they can read to learn."
 
Vista Charter students practice reading in all subject areas such as math, science, and social studies. Incorporating english language arts (ELA) in subjects outside of nonfiction literature has been proven to close learning gaps by providing essential background knowledge, especially for upper-elementary and middle schools.
 
At Vista Charter Academy, students are provided with a healthy balance of opportunities to practice fluency, collaborate with others, participate in writing workshops, and work alongside teachers in small groups to develop ELA skills. Students are given opportunities to practice their independent reading skills as well with books they choose personally from a variety of published works. 

 
Located in Grand Rapids, Vista Charter Academy opened in 1996 and is home to over 700 students grades Y5-8. Vista Charter provides students with a balance of challenges and support to give students the tools they need to succeed now and in the future. With a well-rounded curriculum, college-prep academics and a focus on moral character, students leave Vista Charter Academy with skills and knowledge that will aid them in all of their future endeavours.
 
To learn more about Vista Charter Academy, visit their website at: 


Interested in gaining educational experience? Or are you looking to add to your resume? Consider becoming a charter school board member for a public school academy authorized by Bay Mills Community College Charter Schools Office!
 
At Bay Mills Community College, we support a quality education to urban, minority and/or poor children.
 
Bay Mills will provide all of our academy boards with pertinent training so that they are able to make choices that are in the best interest of the students that attend their academies .
 
Our public school academies are always looking for new members that bring a range of skills, experiences and desire to help the Academy students to excel academically, as well as having the goal of advancing the mission of Bay Mills.
 
Some requirements of the position:
  • Engagement with the goals of the Academy
  • Enthusiasm to be an ambassador for the Academy
  • Willingness to fulfill the obligation of a board member, as well as continue to uphold the standards of being a board member
           
Board Member Qualifications:
  • Citizen of the United States
  • Resident of the State of Michigan
  • Submit materials requested by the College Charter Schools Office such as:
    • Public School Academy Board Member Appointment Questionnaire
      • Must include authorization to process a background check of the nominee
      • Submit annual disclosure of conflicts of interest
Members of the Board of Directors shall include:
  • At least one parent or guardian of a child attending the school
  • One professional educator; preferably a person with school administrative experience
Members of the Board of Directors shall NOT include:
  • Any member appointed or controlled by another profit or non-profit corporation
  • Academy employees or independent contractors performing services for the Academy
  • Any current or former director, officer, or employee of a management company that contracts with the academy
  • College officials or employees 
All Academy Board members shall serve in their individual capacity, and not as a designee of any other person or entity. If it is found that a person is serving as a representative or designee of another person or entity, they shall be deemed ineligible to serve as a Director of the Academy Board. They shall be removed from office in accordance with provisions found in the Resolution or Schedule 2: Bylaws.
 
Note that a Director serves at the pleasure of the College Board, and may be removed with or without cause by the College Board at any time.
           
Working with an Academy is the perfect opportunity to advance your career interests, expand your knowledge on education and help children receive a quality education that will last a lifetime. Apply to become a board member today!

For more information or to receive an application, please contact Megan Ringuette, Bay Mills Community College Charter Schools Office Compliance Coordinator at 906-248-8419 or [email protected].
About Bay Mills Community College Charter Schools
Bay Mills Community College began authorizing charter schools in the year 2000 and now authorizes 46 schools serving approximately 22,000 students. Fall 2015: 22,729 and Spring 2016: 22,257
 
Our Mission: To ensure a quality education for urban, minority, and/or poor children by improving and expanding educational opportunities through innovative oversight methods. To provide academy boards with the necessary support and training so that they may make educated decisions that are in the best interest of the students that attend their academies.