Feb. 5, 2022
It’s “Friendly February!”
This month, let's focus on reaching out to connect with others and doing our best to be a good friend. Our acts of kindness and connection ripple out and impact so many more people than we realize - and they also boost our own mood too! In stressful times, people around us may be feeling the strain, so let's try to keep calm, take time to listen, and show compassion.
This Calendar has some quick and easy ways we can be kind to ourselves and others this month!
"Small Daily Improvements Over Time Lead to Stunning Results"

All schools want their students to succeed. But schools can only make a lasting difference when they focus on specific goals and strategies for change. School improvement planning is a process through which schools set goals for improvement, and make decisions about how and when these goals will be achieved.
What is a School Improvement Plan, (SIT)?
Quite simply it is a roadmap that sets out the changes a school needs to make to improve the level of student achievement and shows how and when these changes will be made. In North Carolina, schools are required to have SIT Plans.
Learn more about LLCA's SIT Plan and who, and how our plan is carried out.
Help Save a Life - Give Blood
On February 25th we will have a Red Cross Blood Drive in the Raptor Center from 8 am to 1:30 pm.
This will be a public event as well. Please consider donating. Blood is at a critical low at this time.
Wednesday, Feb.16th - School Improvement Team meeting
Thursday, Feb.17th - LLCA Board of Directors meeting 
Thursday, Feb. 17th - 10 am - 2 pm Open House & School Tours for Prospective New Students & Families
Friday, Feb. 18th - Teacher Workday, no school for students
Monday, Feb. 21st - Presidents’ Day Holiday, No school
Wednesday, Feb. 23rd - PTO Meeting, 5:30 pm (On-Campus & Virtual)
Friday, Feb. 25th - Blood Drive in the Raptor Center (Open to the Public), 8 am - 1:30 pm
Friday, Feb. 25th - Middle School Dance, 3:15 pm-6 pm. Raptor Center
Tuesday, March 1st - Deadline for Intent to Return Forms for 2022-2023 School Year
National School Counselors Week, Feb 7-11
 The week ahead, Feb. 7th-11th, we want to focus on the unique contribution of our school counselors. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.
LLCA is fortunate to have three school counselors, one for each grade-level division. Ms. Collette is in her fourth year with LLCA, making a tremendous impact on the lives of students. Mrs. Sias is in her second year with LLCA, and works directly with our middle school students. Mrs. Powell is our newest school counselor. She is instrumental in getting our high school on track for college and careers. Please take a moment to send them a message of gratitude this week! We appreciate your support of our school counselors. You can send them a message or even a small token of appreciation through their email addresses:
Kristin Collette - kcollette@llcharter.org
Corrie Sias - csias@llcharter.org
Jennifer Powell - jpowell@llcharter.org 
THIS WEEK:
Jennifer Bradley
A member of our LIttle Raptors Kindergarten Faculty, this is Jennifer Bradley's second year of teaching at LLCA. She studied Psychology and Elementary Education at UNCA. She is a mom to two grown children.
Of her role as teacher, she said, "I believe that being a mom to two grown kids and starting my teaching career later in life has helped to shape what kind of teacher I strive to be.
I absolutely love the age of students I work with and can't imagine teaching any other grades. They are the best!"
Making New Music with the Ukulele!
Our 4th Grade students love tapping and strumming the chords in Mrs. Hill’s music class.
 Through a generous donation of new instruments from the Paul Powell family, we are able to add the Ukulele class to our elementary music program! 
Students in grades 3 - 5 are making connections from their keyboard skills, to the playing of ukuleles! 
Thank you, Powell family!
Making some Energy!
Mrs. Warner's Middle School Science Class - This week, 8th grade is learning about Cellular Respiration or the way our cells make energy. One of the ways is a type of fermentation.
In this reaction, our cells produce lactic acid, which is why our muscles “burn” when we exercise. Students really “felt the burn” during a lab with clothespins. In 20 seconds, some students opened and closed their clothespins over 100 times! We repeated this six times on each hand and compared the data.

Parents, Please Save These Dates:

Mr. Smith and Mrs. Powell want to meet with parents before course registration takes place for the 2022-2023 school year. These meetings are scheduled for the following dates at 5:30 pm on the school campus.

Parents of Rising Seniors: Thursday, February 24th
Parents of Rising Juniors & Sophomores: Thursday, March 3rd 
Parents of Rising Freshmen: Thursday, March 10th 

These meetings will provide an overview of the registration process and offer some recommendations for how parents can help their students prepare for the upcoming academic year as well as for life after high school. 
For questions, please email
High School Principal, Michael Smith at msmith@llcharter.org
High School Counselor, Jennifer Powel at jpowell@llcharter.org
PTO News & Events
The next meeting of the LLCA-PTO is Wednesday, Feb. 23rd at 5:30 pm., in the high school lab. You may also join by video at

Or by phone:
‪+1 304-518-4063‬
PIN: ‪937 052 941#‬

The PTO is also organizing a Middle School Dance for Feb. 25th. Click the graphic for all the details and to sign up to help!
Basketball Playoffs on the Road
The basketball playoffs continue this week with three teams playing on the road on Monday, Feb. 7th. The JV boys travel to CFA at 4 pm. The Varsity girls travel to Pinnacle at 5:30 pm and the Varsity boys travel to Veritas at 7 pm. The tournament will continue at CFA on Thursday with all winners playing, as well as the JV girls who open the tournament at 10 am.
Remember, if you're interested in Spring sports - baseball, softball, girls soccer, and co-ed golf - please remember to get your physicals into Coach Ozzie as soon as possible. Any questions: omcfarland@llcharter.org 
Our Mission:
To provide an educational community with high academic and character expectations, creating life-long learners. 

Our Vision: 
To partner with community resources supporting a culture of mutual respect and academic excellence that reflects high quality and relevant instruction and produces college and/or career-ready graduates.
Visit us online at llcharter.org