September 7, 2018
ACADEMY'S FIRST COMMUNITY MEETING OF THE YEAR!

The Academy prioritizes relationships as essential to a supportive learning environment. In addition to building a positive classroom culture , we set aside time, once a month to celebrate the learning that is happening at the Academy, as a community.

Students and teachers take turns highlighting the thinking and learning taking place in their classrooms and embrace the authentic platform to develop their presentation skills . Students develop their voice, and are given the opportunity to listen to the diverse perspectives of their classmates.

Community meetings follow the Developmental Designs advisory protocol and include a greeting, a share, a group activity, and announcements. We also take time to celebrate community members who are engaging and demonstrating in at least one of our Master Virtues during our Virtues Ceremony. Teachers spotlight a student and read a authentic narrative pointing to examples of exemplary character.
ACADEMY'S NUTRITION PROGRAM

We appreciate your patience in helping us iron out the kinks in our new lunch program. Please review the bulletpoints below to help answer any questions about the lunch program. When in doubt, feel free to call or text your questions to the office at 562.283.4456. We are here to help.

  • Pricing is as follows:
Breakfast: Paid ($2.25), Reduced ($0.30), Free ($0)
Lunch: Paid ($3.75), Reduced ($0.30), Free ($0)

  • Payments can be made in the following ways:
  • Cash or check (made out to Intellectual Virtues Academy) submitted before school starts, during break, or after school. No payments will be taken during lunch. You can add up to $200 to your child's account for breakfast and lunch.

  • Credit Card through your Titan account will be available in October. Thank you for your patience while we set-up online payments.

  • Free and Reduced eligibility can be determined by completing a meal application here. You must complete an application each year to determine eligibility.


  • If you have a balance on your child's nutrition account, please submit payment to the front office by cash or check. We will be emailing families reminders soon.

Consideration 
Please keep in mind that this is a new program and we're working out all the details in order to bring our students a good service. Your patience is much appreciated.
 
Sincerely,
 
The Academy Administrative Team
TRITON BASKETBALL
Basketball started this week! Practices occur T, W, Th 3:45 p.m.- 5 p.m. Our team is still seeking tenacious players. Contact Mr. Garcia if you are interested.
CROSS COUNTRY CLUB
w/ Mr. Rodriquez will meet for the first time, after school this Friday (today!)

We’ll get baseline information about each runner’s current state of fitness, learn about the sport of cross country running, and set up our training schedule for fall semester.

Starting next week , the regular club sessions are 3:45 to 5 P.M. on Monday and Friday. Our training will start by establishing effective running form along with core conditioning. Any student interested in healthier living could benefit from this whole-body conditioning. We will participate in community running events, but our main goal is improving personal fitness and reaching health goals .

"When the Academy Directors asked for a volunteer to step in as coach this year, the student inside of me raised my hand.

I was taken back to the time in 9th grade when I earned a spot in the 100 Mile club for running at least that far in a school year. Of course, in my competitive style, I continued to run alone until I set the a school record of 452 laps.

Who knows if anyone will run that much this year? Whatever a student’s goal is, the Cross Country Club may help you achieve it through your improved tenacity."

-Mr. Rodriguez
CURRICULUM USING REAL-WORLD SCENARIOS
Case Studies in Environmental Science

In Environmental Science, students are working on understanding the world they live in and the impact they have on their environment. To make this more relevant to their lives, Mr. Garcia is using case studies on various environmental issues. 

For example, to start Chapter 1, students read a case study on the discovery that CFCs were creating a hole in the ozone layer. After reading the case study, students engaged in a thinking routine called Sentence, Phrase, Word and shared their thoughts to help derive meaning from the case study and connect it to the material they were learning in class. 

The purpose of these case studies is to bring home how decisions that they make can have a big impact, both positive and negative, on the environment.
ACADEMIC ADVISORY
This school year, we have created an opportunity for our learners to stretch and explore their understanding of the curriculum through the offering of Academic Advisory . Each Tuesday afternoon, learners have the chance to connect and engage with their content facilitators from 3:00-3:30PM.

During the week prior, students can voice which content area they want to explore further and sign-up with their advisor based on what they would like support in or where they want to stretch and explore for further understanding.

This opportunity to embrace autonomy will help our learners develop the metacognitive skills they will need in college, career, and life. 
THANKS, AND PRAISE
Thank you to all of the families (and students!) who were able to attend our Family Work Day at the end of August. You helped us prepare for the new school year, and we appreciate your effort!

A very special "thank you" goes to the Angheven family for helping us paint walls, install blinds, build furniture and more. Thank you for your drive, skill, and dedication to helping our community!
ATTENDANCE REMINDERS

Because the Academy aims to promote deep thinking and understanding through collaborative learning, your  student’s presence and participation is critical  to his/her educational and intellectual character growth. 

We would like to take a moment to review some school practices related to our Attendance Policy and request your participation in communicating with the Academy  about your student’s attendance.

As a reminder:
  • If your child is absent or tardy, please notify the school [email protected] or by calling/texting at 562.283.4456. Please remember to send your child into school with a note when tardy or absent.

  • CA law states that only certain absences shall be considered excused (e.g., illness, medical appointment, funeral). Unexcused absences (no note or absences related to personal reasons) count toward truancy.

  • If a student is absent for three or more consecutive days, a doctor’s note is required.

  • If a student is absent for 10 or more days in an academic year, a doctor’s note is required.

  • The Academy is here to help problem-solve. Let us know if you need help with carpool or other obstacles. Your child's education is important to us.

Please know that we intend to support our students and families whenever and however possible. We are happy to connect families to help create carpool arrangements or assist in creating a public transportation plan. If your family is interested in either of these two options, please contact Crystal Day .
CURIOSITY
A disposition to wonder, ponder, and ask why. A thirst for understanding and a desire to explore.

Slogan: Ask questions!

ACADEMY ENROLLMENT
The Academy is continuing to enroll students in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade for the 2018-2019 school year! If you are interested in enrolling, please complete this online application .

Open enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year will begin at the end of this month. Stay tuned for more information on applying for next year!
UPCOMING EVENTS 

Sept. 10, 3:45-5 p.m.
Cross Country Club meets

Sept. 11, 3:45-5 p.m.
Basketball Practice

Sept. 12, 3:45-5 p.m.
Basketball Practice

Sept. 13, 3:45-5 p.m.
Basketball Practice

Sept. 13, 7-8 p.m.

Sept. 14, 3:45-5 p.m.
Cross Country Club meets

Sept. 15, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Student Ambassador Training

Sept. 19 at 8:15 a.m.

Sept. 19 and Sept. 20
Picture Day! Stay tuned for more information

Sept. 21- No School
Faculty Academy
GOT WATER?

Think green! Please remember to bring a re-useable water bottle to school, especially on those hot days!

Click here to view some options via Amazon.com
FAMILY ALLIANCE

As a small, community-based school, we thrive on parent participation. Please join our next Family Alliance meeting at drop-off on Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 8:15 a.m. If you are unable to make the meeting but interested in learning more, please email the Family Alliance Coordinator, Lorraine Capps .

Participation includes but not limited to:

  • Family Alliance Association Leaders
  • Chaperones
  • Event Helpers
  • Creative Makers and Thinkers
  • Parent/Guardians To Be Included On Our Hiring Panel
  • Athletic Groupies for Carpooling
  • Landscaping 
  • ...and More!
MASTER VIRTUES
CREATIVE VIRTUES
  • Curiosity
  • Ask questions!
  • Open-mindedness
  • Think outside the box! 
  • Intellectual Courage
  • Take risks! 

CRITICAL THINKING VIRTUES
  • Intellectual 
  • Attentiveness
  • Look and listen!
  • Intellectual Carefulness
  • Avoid errors!
  • Intellectual Thoroughness
  • Go deep! 

VIRTUES OF SELF-GROWTH
  • Intellectual Autonomy
  • Think for yourself!
  • Intellectual Humility
  • Admit what you don't know! 
  • Intellectual Tenacity
  • Embrace struggle!
Intellectual Virtues Academy, A Long Beach Public High School 
1637 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, California 90813
562.283.4456 | www.academylongbeach.org
The Intellectual Virtues Academy is a public Long Beach high school, open to all students, authorized by Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE).