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VERSE  OF THE WEEK

In This Issue:

• Current News
• Student Club & Specific Class Announcements
• Parent Resources
• Spiritual Life & Service
• College & Academic Counseling
• Visual & Performing Arts
• Athletics

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KEY CALENDAR DATES  

2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR

 

COHORT ROTATION

• November 16-19 - GOLD COHORT on campus
• Nov. 30-Dec. 3 - BLUE COHORT on campus

• December 7-10 - GOLD COHORT on campus

• December 14-17- Finals Week - No students on campus

November 13-14 - (F-Sa) - Virtual Performances of  the Jr. High Musical, The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley. Register Here!

November 23-27 - NO SCHOOL, Thanksgiving Break

December 4-5 (F-Sa) - Virtual Performances of the High School Play, The Merchant of Venice

December 5 (Sa) - Virtual Open House #2 for Prospective Families, 11:00 a.m.

December 11 (F) - Photo Retakes, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., W Bldg, no appointment necessary

December 15-17 (Tu-Th) - Semester 1 Final Exams

December 18-January 3 - NO SCHOOL,  Christmas Break

January 4 (M) - School Resumes, Semester 2

January 14 (Th) - 8th Grade Transition to High School & Academic Planning, Via Zoom, 7:00 p.m.

January 18 (M) - NO SCHOOL, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

January 22 (F) - Parent Forum

January 28 (Th) - 9th Grade College Night

 

TKA 2020-2021 School Year-at-a-Glance

*All school events subject to change due to public health orders to prevent the spread of COVID19.  Please check here and the Family Portal for all correct dates.

CURRENT NEWS   

Attention! Important Information for Cohort Attendance Reporting: Email Attendance@tka.org. In attendance reporting, include the following information: 

• STUDENT'S COHORT 
• STUDENT'S LAST NAME, as student last names can be different from parent last names. 
• STUDENT'S GRADE, as there are multiple students with the same name.
• If your student is supposed to be in a cohort on campus but is temporarily at home and online instead.  
• A brief reason your student is at home and not on campus in the cohort (illness, medical or dental appointment, parent's work situation, etc.).

The King's Subjects NEW Blog Post: "A Parent's Perspective: How TKA Helps Maximize Each Student's Potential" by Steve Velasquez. Mr. Velasquez delivered this message at TKA's Virtual Open House.

NOVEMBER 16-19: GOLD COHORT ON CAMPUS

 

STUDENTS: BRING TO CAMPUS EACH DAY

• Electronic Device - All junior high students must bring an iPad to school and all high school students must bring a MacBook.
• Lunch - and any snacks for the day, but students cannot share
• Water bottle - filled upon arrival, which can be refilled on campus
• Face covering - must be worn over face and nose upon arrival to campus
• Backup face covering
• Power cord/charger - TKA will not have backups, and students cannot share
• Headphones - these will still be needed for breakout groups
• New Campus Map - download here!

 

STUDENTS:  PRE-ARRIVAL ON CAMPUS

• Complete self-check COVID-19 Response Form daily in Family Portal --> Web Forms--> COVID Response Form. BOTH PARENTS & STUDENTS NOW HAVE ACCESS TO FORM TO ALLOW FAMILIES FLEXIBILITY ON WHO COMPLETES IT.
• Stay home if sick or temperature above 100.0°F within past 3 days.
• Stay home if experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms within past 3 days.
• Bring your own lunch, snacks, and filled personal water bottle.

ARRIVAL ON CAMPUS

• Students arrive wearing a mask.
• Students maintain 6' spacing when waiting for classes to begin.
• Parents remain in cars.
• Parents drop-off after 7:30 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday (9:15 a.m. on Wednesday).

STUDENTS:  ATTENTION WHILE ON-CAMPUS

• No sharing of books, devices, food.
• Keep 6' spacing ALL DAY even during breaks.
• Masks on unless eating, drinking, or engaging in physical activity.
• Wash hands often.
• Adhere to signs for occupancy limits.
• Student Drivers: You may not use your cars as lockers. Please bring all the things you need onto campus at the beginning of the school day.

DEPARTING CAMPUS

• Students maintain 6' spacing while waiting for pick-up.
• Parents ensure students are picked up by 3:30 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, and by 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. 

Photo Retakes: If you need to take or retake your school photos, please make plans to come to campus on Friday, December 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., W Building. No appointment will be necessary, but self-assessment COVID screening will be required on site. Any student that purchased a picture package, needs to return the pictures on make up day. The photography company will then produce a new package with the new picture.

 

Main Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

SAO Office Hours:  Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m. until 30 minutes after school.

 

Library Hours: Library hours during hybrid learning are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; Wednesday  9:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m..; and Friday (for book checkout/returns only) 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Library capacity is limited so plan ahead! We can't wait to see you!

 

Student Course Surveys Take Place Monday November 9-Thursday November 18.

• Monday, November 16: Math
• Tuesday, November 17: Social Studies
• Wed-Thurs., November 18-19: World Languages and VPA

The process is different this year. Students will not receive an automated email with the survey link as they have in years past. Teachers will share the student course survey link in class and students are expected to complete the survey in class.

 

Progress Report & Google Classroom Notifications:  Parents, just a reminder that you can set up a preference in the FACTS Family Portal to receive progress reports for your students. Also, you can receive email summaries about your student's activity in Google classroom about missing work, upcoming work, class activities. Details here.

 

TKA Employment for 2020-2021: If you are interested in employment at The King's Academy, please complete the Employment Application, including the Statement of Faith, and email to Tonya.Pegram@tka.org. Please pass this information along to friends and family!

• Accounting Manager Job Description
• Substitute Teacher Job Description

The Yearbook Staff is Seeking These Photos!

• Do you love to read?! Yearbook wants you to send in photos of yourself holding a favorite book! It would be great if you could include a one sentence "commercial" for your book!  It can be something you recently read, a book you LOVE for all time or a book you are currently reading.
• Have you recently done a service project or activity? Please send yearbook pictures of your service outreach!
• Do you have a favorite mask? Yearbook is looking for pictures of you wearing your favorite mask!
• Do you like to cook or bake? Take photos of you holding up your latest creation and send to yearbook!
• Please send all photos to Chrissy.mata@tka.org

STUDENT CLUBS & CLASS SPECIFIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

THIS AFTERNOON!  Don't Miss Cook-a-Long French Club Cooking Class and Trivia TODAY at 3:10-4:10 p.m. on Webex (https://tka.webex.com/join/kirsten.tasker) From your own kitchen, watch, learn, and bake step-by-step. Make a traditional French Quiche Lorraine by following Madame Tasker and Madame Denis's instructions.  Or, simply watch and enjoy. Please get all your ingredients ready BEFORE we start at 3.10 pm. See slide 4 of this presentation. Once our quiches are in the oven, we will also play some French trivia with many prizes up for grabs! COME JOIN US  - EVERYONE WELCOME! 

Last Date to Charter a Club is Friday, November 20: Complete a Club Charter Application or Club Renewal Application, also located in the Student Portal under "Resources." You can see a list of clubs that formed last school year at www.tka.org/clubs.  Questions? Contact Tonya.Pegram@tka.org.

• Clubs formed to date

8th Grade & 12th Grade Yearbook Celebration Ads: This is one way you can commemorate this special occasion for them. These ads have come to be a much-cherished tradition here at TKA and fill the final pages of each yearbook. Graduating students, the student body, and the faculty and staff all look forward to perusing these pages. We hope you will take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate your student.  Details here!  Orders accepted until November 30.

 

Class of 2021 - Orders for Graduation Announcements and Cap & Gown: Orders due by Friday, December 18. Our vendor is Herff Jones. You may order on the paper form linked below or online.

• Digital Packet and Paper Order Form
• Herff Jones Info Video for Parents
• Order Online Here

ACHIEVEMENTS

Send student achievements to Director of Marketing & Communications, kriss.hayward@tka.org.

Students Inducted into French and Spanish Honor Societies:  Congratulations to the following students who were inducted into TKA honor societies on November 10th.

French Honor Society

• Joy Chang
• Krystal Curtiss
• Natalee Philbrick

Spanish Honor Society

• Valeria Alejandro Meza
• Phoebe Awender
• Abigail Chang
• James Hsu
• Harrison Kim
• Serena Nam
• Aiden Pahuamba
• Nina Wang
• Grace Wong
• April Fangiing Zhang

PARENT RESOURCES

Note: These resources and organizations do not necessarily represent the views or values of TKA. Our hope is they may be helpful or informative for parents. Send resources to Director of Marketing & Communications, Kriss.Hayward@tka.org

Public Service Announcement - Free Flu Shots at Santa Clara Country Fairgrounds Expo Hall: Saturdays Through December 12, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Details here and more locations.  No health insurance is needed. This year, people with flu symptoms will likely have to get a COVID-19 test, stay home from work, and isolate away from their families while awaiting results. Symptoms of the flu can be similar to early symptoms of COVID-19. Protect your family, friends, and community. Reduce your chance of ending up in the hospital with severe flu by getting a flu shot today. Santa Clara County Public Health Dispatch 11/7/20

 

Parent Resources:

• Video Gaming "Among Us" Advice, Screenagers 11/10/20
• The Developmental Relationships Framework: Search Institute has identified five elements—expressed in 20 specific actions—that make relationships powerful in young people's lives.
• Let Love Lead, Screenagers 11/2/20
• Meet the TikTok Generation of Televangelists (#MakeJesusViral) Christianity Today, 10/20/20
• The Next Mission Field Is a Game, Christianity Today, 9/21/20
• How Things Have Changed: Reflections of a Millennial Pastor in a Gen Z World, The Gospel Coalition, 9/30/20

SPIRITUAL LIFE & SERVICE

This Week in Chapel: The 6th - 11th grade students heard from our very own High School Principal, Mr. Jeff Williamson. Mr. Williamson spoke on Joshua 24:15 and challenged the students to Refocus on what it means to serve the Lord. We had another edition of the ToKnight Show with the Student Council featuring the VPA department this week. The Seniors had their own chapel today with a virtual time of worship led by their peers and a talk by Mr. Jim Black, TKA Board Member and parent. Everyone enjoyed time in the homegroups discussing chapels immediately following both broadcasts.

Home Group Chapel Discussion Questions:

• What are some creative ways you can serve others during this Thanksgiving season?
• Try to come up with three tangible ways you could serve your parents, siblings, family members and/or neighbors.
• Who do you know that has served in the military? Have you/will you thank them this week for their service?
• If you lived in a country that was ruled by a King, how do you think your life would be different?
• Have you intentionally chosen to serve God? Why or why not?
• Why do you think Jesus tells us we cannot serve both God and money

2020-2021 Service: Service is a critical component of TKA's educational experience, and all high school students at The King's Academy are required to complete service hours annually as part of their graduation requirements. Details found at www.tka.org/service2020.Please send photos of your service activities to the yearbook staff--email to chrissy.mata@tka.org

• Local In-Person and Online Service Opportunities (Updated regularly)
• MobileServe: If you can not find your activation email, please download the MobileServe app on your phone or access on your computer browser, click login, and then click forgot password. This will generate another email invitation to join. You must log in with your TKA email address.

COLLEGE & ACADEMIC COUNSELING

The College Connection Newsletter: November 2020

 

Video & Slides From "Navigating College Admissions Tests" Presentation on November 5.  Access here.

 

8th Grade Family Event:  Please mark your calendars for Thursday, January 14, 7:00 p.m. for the virtual "8th Grade Transition to High School & Academic Planning."

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

Like Drama? Improv? Children? Consider Joining The King's Jesters! The King's Academy has a 9-person troupe that performs for local children.  If you love children and love drama, this may be the perfect place for you. All current 6th-11th grade students are welcome to audition.  Please contact Mrs. Burnside for more information at: Joanie.Burnside@tka.org. This YouTube link  shows the group in action!

ATHLETICS

Current Prospects for Sports - A Letter From TKA Athletic Director, Joe Maemone:

 

A very big thank you to all of our TKA families who signed up their children for high school sports, as we have over 450 students interested in competing this year for TKA!

While we are preparing for Season 1 to begin for us on December 17th (after final exams), we await an update from Governor Newsom regarding the state of youth/high school athletics. If (and when) the announcement is made, it will fall on The Santa Clara County Health Department to allow athletics (with guidelines) to open. While we remain optimistic, recent increases in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations do concern us. The state of junior high sports is similar. Junior high sports sign-ups are postponed until we have clarity from the government entities. 

As soon as we receive this information, we will immediately disseminate it to you. In the meantime, please continue to pray for a healthy and viable school sports experience for our community. 

The King's Academy is a Christ-centered school that inspires academic excellence, servant leadership, and enduring relationships.

The King's Academy

562 N. Britton Avenue • Sunnyvale, CA • 94085-3841

408.481.9900   www.tka.org
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