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Students & Families

Students & Families

Our Achieve Community: Students & Families

BELONG to and actively participate in the Achieve community and serve to better our neighborhood, city and society

Parent/Guardian participation is encouraged and expected. Through involvement, parents can gain a deeper understanding of his/her child and the school program. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to visit Achieve, spend time in the classrooms, attend field trips, and volunteer in the school.

Be sure to check if your child has homework, needs their planner signed, or brings projects home. Watch for the monthly newsletter and weekly classroom notes that come home in backpacks. Don’t forget to check our website at achievemn.org for important information.

Conferences

Parent-Teacher conferences are held in August, before school starts, as well as November and March. Achieve conferences are attended by almost 100% of families.

Events

Parent/child events and other family events are held throughout the school year. We encourage you and your family to attend as many as these as possible. It is through this kind of involvement that children develop a sense of community and a connection to their school. It is also a great opportunity for family fun and interactions with Achieve staff in an informal environment.

Communication

Each teacher will let parents know the best ways to contact them throughout the school year.

  • Teachers check their email regularly and generally find it convenient to correspond that way.
  • You are also welcome to leave notes in the teacher’s mailbox in the school office or leave a voicemail message. (Office staff will only forward calls to the teacher’s voicemail during the school day.) Please be aware that the teachers’ primary focus during the school day is on the students.
  • Teachers are receptive to parent communications, but it may take a day or two before they can return your message.
  • Morning drop-off time is generally a time for teachers to prepare for their day and greet and settle students; this is not a great time to try and engage a teacher in a conversation about an important matter.
  • Check that backpack! Important notes, forms and other materials are often sent home in your child’s backpack. Please check your child’s backpack regularly to ensure that you are getting all the latest information. You may wish to develop an early routine at home for where children should leave their backpack contents. This can help ensure that nothing gets overlooked in all the coming and going!
  • Families with more than one child at Achieve, please note that most all-school notifications are sent home only with the youngest child to avoid duplication.
  • Students in grades K-1 have Friday folders (please check and return) and students in grades 2-8 have school planners that should be checked regularly.

Extended Care

Achieve Care is our onsite fee for service school age childcare program. Childcare is offered on site before school for students attending Achieve. The hours are 6:55 a.m. until school starts. Please call Mai at (651) 738-4875 for more information. (Note: Ramsey County will provide childcare assistance to qualifying families who complete the appropriate forms). After school care is offered in partnership with Conway Kids Time and is a free program offered until 6:00 p.m. at the Conway Rec Center. 

Emergency School Closing Announcements

Announcements of school closings, delayed opening or early closing of Achieve Language Academy due to snow, or hazardous weather conditions are made on our school website and the following stations: radio station WCCO 830 AM, television channels 4 (WCCO), 5 (KSTP), 9 (FOX) and 11 (KARE) beginning at 6:30 am. Listen for Achieve Language Academy.

If snow or bad weather begins after school is in session, school may be closed early to permit bused students to be driven home before the roads become dangerous. Again, please tune to WCCO 830 or KARE 11 for closing announcements (Achieve Language Academy), so that phones at the school can remain open for emergency calls only. Note: If the school is closed, the before and after childcare program will also be closed.

We will also send out an email to all individuals that register for Parent Portal in Skyward.

Lockdown Drills

In accordance with state policy requrements, Achieve Language Academy practices lockdown drills with students and staff multiple times throughout the year. Students and staff are made aware of the drills in advance to prevent any confusion or unnecessary stress. We will post the dates and times on our website prior to the drills:

  • Friday, September 15 at 8:05 AM

New Minnesota law allows parents to opt their children out of these practice drills if they choose. If you would like to opt your student out, please contact our school social worker, Kathy Oelze at koelze@achievemn.org.

Fundraising

At Achieve, there are a number of fundraising initiatives throughout the school year for different initiatives. These are designed to raise money for the school to use for a variety of needs that would otherwise go unfunded from the school budget. We value your participation in any way, whether you are donating time, talent, or money – and whether you choose to participate in one or all fundraisers.

You can also support Achieve through Box Tops For Education.Collect box tops from General Mills products; they are worth 10 cents each to Achieve. Collection box is located near office.

Volunteer

Volunteer

When students see parents, grandparents, and guardians assisting in the school, they feel special and they see first-hand the value your family places on education. Achieve welcomes families and community members to work with our students and staff.

  • All volunteers and visitors must register at the school office and pick up a badge to wear.
  • Volunteers are expected to follow school policies and the guidelines set by individual teachers and staff members, and also to respect the right of confidentiality.
  • There are many opportunities and many different ways to volunteer, such as assisting in the classroom or media center, chaperoning field trips; helping with Picture Day; or working on an event.
  • Consider volunteering in a classroom other than your child’s; it can provide needed support for other teachers and give you a glimpse of what’s going on in other grades.
  • In whatever way you choose to help, your participation will lead to increased student achievement. Call Kathy Oelze, the School Social Worker for more information.

Upcoming Events

April 1

Academic Committee

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

April 2

Governance Committee

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

April 2

Finance Committee

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM

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