Sunday Howl 12.13.20 with Newsletter Volume 8

Newsletter Volume 8 here

Explorers Taking Electives Term 4 or Term 5 

If you are a student currently taking an art music seminar, or will be taking an art or music seminar or PE 204 for term 5, plan to stop by the school this Thursday, December 17th to drop off and/or pick up supplies. All transactions will be managed curbside. Be on the lookout for an email from your teacher with specific instructions for your class.

Holiday Food Drive

As many of you may know, all the local food banks are in need as more and more people are seeking assistance due to economic hardships related to the pandemic.   We are asking for any non-perishable food items to be dropped off to school Monday - Thursday between the hours of 8:00-3:00 or during picture day, photo pick-up days, etc.   

Term 4 and Winter Break

Winter break will take place starting Monday,  December 21 through Tuesday,  January 5.  Term 5 for HS and Quarter 3 for MS starts on Wednesday,  January 6th.  For the school academic calendar, click here.

Exit Exams - Exit Exams for all grades  will be held on December 17 and 18.  All students will have exams in all their core classes and in some of the electives.  It is very important that your student(s) attend classes on these days.  Please notify the school as soon as possible if you know that your  student will be absent. In this way we can work with the teachers to provide make-up times for the exams. 

No Club Schedule for Friday, December 18

We want to remind parents that the Normal Monday - Thursday schedule will be implemented for Friday, December 18 to allow for longer class time for Exit Exams (Core Assessments).  In addition, there will not be any clubs on that day. 

Interim / IMSSA  Testing 

We will be having interim testing in January for all 6, 7 , and 8th graders.  This testing is to provide data on progress based on the testing done in October. 

• 6th and 7th graders: on January 7 and January 8  all 6th and 7th graders will report to their first period, including flex for testing.    

• 8th graders: On January 7 - 13 all 8th graders will report to their non-lunch flex times for testing. 

• Make up days will be January 14th and 15th. 

Attention Parents of Seniors

All items (including senior t-shirts and senior picture proofs)  will need to be picked up or dropped off (cap & gown orders) in the front office. Please be sure to complete the Dr Owl Health check before entering the school.  The Jostens online ordering system is also working now if you prefer not to wait to place your graduation order. https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/2993917/Explore-Academy/

School Lunches

The National School Lunch Program is being extended into the fall for all public schools.  This means that school lunches are free at this time. Check the Howl each week for the link that provides the weekly lunch menu.  These menus are posted a week in advance. 

1. Place your order by Thursday of each week for the following week using this link:  https://forms.gle/Kmxttpk15Dye5edGA

2. Pick up weekly lunch order on Mondays at the Explore Academy Masthead location. 

If you live too far from Explore we are told that APS and RRPS are also offering seamless meals as long as your child is between 1 and 18 years of age.  Parents/guardians can contact the school closest to them. 

Click here for the School lunch link:  https://forms.gle/Kmxttpk15Dye5edGA

Lunch Order over Winter break

In an attempt to provide lunches over Winter break (December 21 - January 5) We will open up the lunch link on Friday,  December 11.   There will be up to  10 meal options to order which will cover the two week span.  Five of those meals will be fresh and five meals will be frozen in order to keep for the second week.  Pick up for these meals will be from 10:00AM -1 2:00 PM on Monday,  December 21.