As we bring this quarter to a close, I would like to recap the incredible things I have seen in our community. The resilience and the outpouring of love. We began school online August 7^th. Families and faculty were asked to learn and navigate Google Classroom and Zoom. Logging into multiple platforms, navigating the block schedule, and selecting from the multitude of links was a learning experience for everyone. Just as faculty and families became comfortable with synchronous online learning, we began to prepare for those students that would be returning in person. Families made decisions around risk and access for their children. With the transition of 64% of our students onto campus we changed our schedule again, rolled out safety procedures, and welcomed all in person learners September 4^th. Hearing laughter in the halls again made these struggles worthwhile.

This transition, especially in 10^th, 11^th and 12^th grade, highlighted access issues for our students who are zoomed into class. Because our faculty is teaching to two audiences, we have struggled with technology, space for our online learners to feel heard and participate, and the pacing of our courses. Our 6^th through 9^th grade sections had enough families stay online that we were able to provide an all distance learning section. While this has helped in some regards, families still experienced technology issues and the size of the classes presented their own problems.

Our in person students have been asked to adapt to different challenges, one-way hallways, bottom lockers and no microwaves. But even with longer walks and cold lunches, the joy and community is palpable in the courtyard at lunch or when entering a classroom. Every morning the Charger News Team leads the student body in a schoolwide "Go Chargers!" cheer, yearbook is collecting memories, and our sports teams are competing! Our mentors have worked tirelessly in person, over the phone, and with Zoom to welcome our new students and help them become integrated into our community.   

The teachers of Archway Arete and Arete Prep have been working hard to provide instruction to both online and in-person learners in the first quarter, and we have identified a few changes to hybrid learning to make the work-load more manageable in the second quarter. While there are several initiatives happening behind the scenes, the one that will directly impact our students and families is we are adding three remote learning days in the second quarter:  Friday, October 23; Friday, November 6, and December 11, the first two dates were originally scheduled as half days. These are still official school days and students will have work to complete remotely, but there will not be any in-person classes. If your child does not have a place to go on these days, we can provide a supervised space reserved on campus for students to access their assignment via computer during the hours originally published (half days - Friday, October 23; Friday, November 6). Please note that there will be no live instruction or tutoring will be available.   

This year conferences will be by invitation only. We will hold them on Wednesday October 21 and Thursday October 22. If you and your student are being invited, you will be sent a conference time and date. Expect this email no later than Friday, October 2.

6th through 9th Grade Zoom Coffee Shop recording: CLICK HERE

PowerPoint presentation: CLICK HERE

10th – 12th grade Coffee Shop recording: CLICK HERE

PowerPoint presentation: CLICK HERE

GCU is offering free, for Arete Prep, access to their student Learning Lab. Sign up for a 40min session for free with a college student. Click here for more information.

The October PSAT has been RESCHEDULED. All 9^th, 10^th and 11^th grade students will take the PSAT in January 2021. Information regarding practice testing and the actual test in January will be sent to families in the second quarter from College Counseling.

If you are attending in-person and borrowed an Arete Prep Laptop/Device, please hold onto the laptop until further notice. 

If your username or password does not work, please visit the Great Hearts Password/Login Help at https://theveeya.com/GreatHeartsFamilyHelp/

The Front Office: The new policy will be that only one person or one family per school will be allowed in the office. Please have a mask for each family member that enters the building and follow social distancing guidelines.

Lunch Drop Off: There will be a cart OUTSIDE the front office doors from 10:20 am - 11:20 am for lunches, the cart will be moved to the courtyard at 11:20 for students to pick up lunches - PLEASE NOTE: there will be no supervision of the lunch cart and we will not be responsible for lost lunches. Door Dash/Uber Eats will need to be delivered onto the cart as we will not accept them in the front office. They can be delivered between 10:20 am - 11:20 am.

Tardy Students: Students that are late for school will be allowed in the Front Office to sign in one person or one family. They must have on masks and their temperature will be taken at that time. Students will need to wait their turn to come into the school outside and please practice social distancing guidelines.

Great Hearts has changed the volunteer fingerprint process effective with the 2020-21 school year. The application is entirely online and available now. All volunteers must be approved through this new online procedure, including those with previously issued/non-expired Great Hearts badges, there will be no exceptions. Please note, when selecting the school, it will not differentiate between Arete Prep and Archway Arete, it will simply state Great Hearts Arete. The system will approve you for both schools.

Click here to apply. The cost is $5.00 per application per school year.

Arete Prep has an online parent payment system, Configio, that is used to avoid handling checks and cash at the school. Use this link to view what’s in the Online Parent Payment system. Payments such as clubs, sports, parking permits, etc. can be made here.  

Please be aware that our preferred method of communication is via email, so it is vital that we have up-to-date email addresses on file so that we can keep you informed. Please email Beth Melvin with any updates to email addresses.