It’s a new year!!!

If you are new to QCVA, welcome!

If you are a returning student, welcome back!

It’s now week 2 so I trust that most of you have your classes and getting the hang of your school routine.  Bye bye holidays, hello work days 😁

Important:

Check your core classes- English, Math, Science, and Social Studies.  Make sure that you are on the right ones.  Click on this document to view the credits you have completed, the credits you are currently working on, and the credits you will be needing.  

Check your elective courses. By that I mean, go over the units and the requirements. I’ll say that again- check the REQUIREMENTS.  Are there tons of quizzes, unit tests, and projects? If you feel that you are setting yourself up to fail, please reach out to any QCVA staff to have that class replaced.  You have until January 19.  Click here to view the course description so you can make an informed decision as to what to replace your current class with.

Check your grades! Yep, your semester 1 grades should now reflect in your StudentVue Gradebook. Review each grade.  If you think or feel that you received the wrong grade, please reach out to your subject and elective facilitator This document tells you how to, click here. 

QCVA Student Council is looking for officers and members! Finally! We still have semester 2, so what do you say, huh? You can add this club to your work, college, and scholarship application.  Your name will also be included in the Commencement/Graduation Program and may have the opportunity to address your fellow graduates.  I promise, the club won’t require a lot of your time and most of our meetings will be virtual except for occasional in persons if needed.  StuCo is also a great outlet to start initiatives and projects to improve the student experience and better our school.  Please consider joining Student Council. Application ends on January 19 at 3 PM https://forms.gle/3meJmPCu3HPQtzwM9  

SENIORS- make sure that you have ordered your cap and gown.  https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/3109175/Queen-Creek-Virtual-Academy/    

Check out these videos, click here for helpful information.   Also, if you are college-bound or going to trade school, https://www.fastweb.com/    Just be patient and sift through all the scholarships.  There are a lot that do not require grades! Some scholarships are based on heritage, interests, and trade/degree.  There is soooo much out there so go on and search!

Let us start the new semester strong! As always, keep your head down and keep working.  A couple of hours working a day is a lot better than not working at all!

FROM THE DESK OF MRS. ROGERS:

QCVA Vipers, we turn the page to another chapter of our lives.  To mark this occasion, some people make resolutions while others goals.  Some people carry over unfinished tasks from last year.  Others may give up or abandon theirs for whatever reason.  You may have also marked this new year with something- a celebration, a realization, some rekindling, maybe a renewed spirit.  Whatever it is, cheers! Whether you are starting, continuing, or abandoning- cheers! I know it sounds cliche “a new day, a new beginning.” I happen to believe that.  So… if you haven’t marked this new quarter/semester/year, mark it and make it a good one.

Remember, facilitators are here for you.  No issue is too small nor too great, we are on your team so reach out!  Click here to view emails, phone numbers, live sessions and tutoring schedules.

Here is QCVA Newsletter from last week https://www.smore.com/q3a8rz There's a Poster competition from the Department of Education, I heard the prizes were significant so join now 😁

Have a great week, everyone!

Thank you to everyone who came in for in-person testing, It was a great success! I hope that you are satisfied with your grades 😁 If not, please reach out to your facilitators to see if anything can be done. You can also check your credits to see what other classes you may need, please click here to view instructions and links.

Please read QCVA’s recent newsletter https://www.smore.com/q32gu

Congratulations to Dan L. who won QCVA’s Movie Tickets Raffle! Have fun at the theater.

Here are some silly Jib Jabs from the QCVA staff for your entertainment 🤣 CLICK to View:

Feliz Navidad

Spruce the House

I just want to wish y’all a Happy Holidays! Season’s Greetings! Enjoy your break and I will see you next year.  Hello, 2024! 

WEEK 3 & 4 ANNOUNCEMENT:

We still have students transferring to QCVA at this time! So if you are new, welcome!

It is now mid-quarter and I’m sure that some students are feeling the tension LOL.  No worries, we still have a few more weeks and weekends left so keep working!

For those who have submitted their Quarterly Summative Review, thank you for thoughtfully completing them.  I love reading your responses and I do take the time to make a heartfelt comment. I’d go on forever but I only have so many characters and time.  Again, thank you for your submissions!

I will make this brief as I’m falling behind on so many things.

IMPORTANT:

> Tutoring sessions for English are alive and well. I’ve extended several invites for students, when you get one, please take the time to attend. I’m here to help you get a better score on your submission. You don’t even have to turn the camera on but you do have to talk to me.

>Mr. Parrish, Social Studies teacher, has invited several students to take the Civics Exam.  If you are a Senior, you must pass the Civics Test as a graduation requirement.  Again, do not ignore Mr. Parrish when he reaches out to you via district email.

> Mrs. Bayles, QCVA director, has also been reaching out to students about their credit deficiency. In layman’s terms, when a student fails a required core class in English, math, science, or social studies, they will retake that class in the form of a Credit Recovery class. The time requirement is shorter and the coursework is less. You must work with Mrs. Bayles on your schedule so you can earn all your credits to pass high school. Again, please do not ignore Mrs. Bayles when she reaches out to you.

> If you came for picture day last September, your envelope has arrived.  Mrs. Mariani, QCVA Admin Assistant, has sent emails to all students. Please don’t ignore her as she has given instructions about them.  You can get your envelope at the front office of Newell Barney Junior High during office hours (8 AM-4 PM). 24937 S Sossaman Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142 

As you can see, I have a theme here LOL.  EMAIL is our school’s mode of communication. As overwhelming as it is to be inundated with tons of them, please don’t ignore them and check each one! There is information that is being shared and it’s important.

EDGENUITY SPOTLIGHT:

A trend has emerged from all the plagiarism checking that I’ve been doing.  After much discussion from Edgenuity’s peeps and our students, a few things have been established.

1. Edgenuity’s plagiarism and AI-generated checker is top 5% of all learning platforms, which means that it’s pretty good and effective.  However, it does come with limitations, see number 2.

2. When a student uses a service or app to rephrase their own original written responses, Edgenuity flags it as AI-generated. Sad.  But the computer/AI/service/app uses a syntax or computer speak/language that’s why it’s being flagged.

3. In order to get around this, just submit your original work LOL.  It may not be as eloquent when rephrased but it won’t get flagged by Edgenuity.

FROM THE DESK OF MRS. ROGERS

May I admit something? Quarter 2 did not start as I had planned it to be. I’m a bit behind on work and feel that I’ve been trying to keep myself afloat. It’s rough but nothing that hasn’t happened before. With this, I’d like to thank all of you for your patience as I thoughtfully go through your QSRs and give feedback.  As you have taken the time to complete those, I also take the time to jot notes and send well wishes 😁 Take care, everyone!

WEEK 1 & 2 ANNOUNCEMENT:

Howdy, folks? I hope that all is well.  Are you back to your routine yet? How was Halloween? Did you notice the weather change? Have you thought about Thanksgiving or the Holidays yet?  I can’t believe that we only have 2 months left and the calendar year is over!  Where did time go?

Can I just say that I miss you guys & gals? I did.  A lot has happened since Fall Break.  

Feel free to skip to the next section of this announcement if you don’t need a recap 😅

Here’s a summary of what happened then and the first two weeks of school.  I’ll try to post pictures and videos soon:

>  My 70-year-old mom got sick for a month, she got me worried there for a while, but she is recovering so yay!

>  Our family canceled our vacation and decided to stay local in AZ during the break, my kids were not very happy but enjoyed playing video games all day long… sometimes all night… ugh

>  I have a friend group and we’ve been hosting an annual Filipino get-together with neighboring towns in the Pines, Tucson, Sedona, and all the places in between. This year, we had over 300 people come! I was the emcee again and got to know more people. It was fun!

>  For the first two weeks of Quarter 2, I was swamped with grading and getting Best Buddies and QCVA’s National Honor Society off the ground.  I still have a lot to do, but I promise you that we will have those clubs running soon.

>  Last weekend, I worked with the USA Artistic Swimming during the 2023 Masters Championship where I was the person live-streaming the event. It was nerve-racking and exhilarating at the same time using the video camera and following the swimmers in the pool. Our synchronized swimming team Arizona AquaStars placed 2nd overall for high points. I’m so proud of my team

>  Halloween was so fun! I gave away 4 Costco bags of candy, 3 lbs of AirHeads, 3 lbs of assorted Jolly Rancher gummies & treats, 90 glow stick necklaces, and 250 Stranger Things stickers, PLUS 3 more bags of candy that our dinner guests gave.  There were tons of kids, teens, and adults that visited our neighborhood. My decor also received a "2023 Spooktacular Nominee" Pumpkin from our HOA. I was so proud of myself 😂  

IMPORTANT STUFF FROM QCVA

Please, please, please take the time to view the flyers, there is a lot of useful information here

The week of October 30’s newsletter can be found here https://www.smore.com/s9q0r  

The week of November 6’s newsletter can be found here https://www.smore.com/j5ec3m 

Picture Retake on November 8- if you missed the last one OR do not like your picture

QCUSD Newsletter is here https://www.smore.com/tmxvfd  

FROM THE DESK OF MRS. ROGERS

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activities and a rollercoaster of emotions.  I’m thankful for the opportunity to have talked to my mom and see her perspective on life being that she’s at the end stage of it. (No, she’s not dying, she’s advanced in years). I’m also grateful to be a part of and have witnessed the artistic swimming competition in Tucson. I truly adore seeing women in their 60s, 70s, and 80s still enjoying their sport and pushing themselves to their limits.  I often get disheartened when it takes time to be good at something. After seeing these women and men in their later years, I felt invigorated. For the last few months, I wanted to quit synchronized swimming for many reasons, mostly because I’m not good at it and I feel that I would never be like my teammates or coaches.  But you know what, I made the decision to press on. I may not be a rockstar at swimming but I can work towards getting better at it. My coaches undoubtedly had to work hard for years to reach their current skill level, so it will also take me years to come close to theirs. Fact, some people are born artists; others must develop their skills.  Since I'm not naturally talented at anything, I have to put in even more effort 😅

So, dear QCVA friends, don't give up on things that are essential to you or that will better your quality of life... like finishing high school. "Working hard pays off if you have the perseverance to see it through." (Charles Michael) 

Take care!

We have made it to the end of the quarter!  Yay!  A round of applause to everyone.

Five things to remember as we enjoy FALL BREAK:

1. There is no coursework due over fall break, which means this is the best time to catch up on late coursework.  Also, there is no penalty or deductions for coursework submitted after the due dates.  This means that you can still get a score of 100% on quality work. Yay!

2.  Students can also work ahead. Correspondingly, there is no penalty for working ahead of schedule.  Want to be school-free for Halloween or Thanksgiving Week? Yes, you can!

3.  Important dates, please click on the links to view the details.  October 2 and 12 for ACT prep. October 12 to register for the QC Police Cadet Program and October 17 for the informational meeting. October 17 is College Fair at Queen Creek High.

4.  Best Buddies International is recruiting! This will be the first club for QCVA. Just a few positives about this club: (a) it’s a national and international club which means there are many chapters around  Arizona, the US, and the world, (b) you get the opportunity to make friends not only in QCVA but surrounding districts, (c) you are involving yourself in an organization that values awareness and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), (d) you can be member/advocate for the rest of your life if you want to and be a buddy with someone who has IDD.  Join us! I’ve been a part of Best Buddies for four years and I love it.  Come join us!

5.  From Mrs. Rogers’ desk- I was thinking a lot this week about what I wanted to share. You all know that I’m an advocate of self-care and inner strength. Along those lines, I’m a big fanatic of self-improvement a.k.a. loving the different versions of oneself.  I’d like to think that as I level up in age, I’ve also leveled up as a person.  I came across this story on a friend’s post.  I believe it because I think my self-improvement journey was accelerated because of this.  **"Years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what Mead considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Mead to talk about fishhooks or clay pots or grinding stones.

But no. Mead said that the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur (thigh bone) that had been broken and then healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, get to the river for a drink or hunt for food. You are meat for prowling beasts. No animal survives a broken leg long enough for the bone to heal.

‘A broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery.  Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts’, Mead said.  We are at our best when we serve others. Be civilized.”

As we enjoy Fall Break, hopefully, free from the cares of school, I hope that you take the time to be civilized by serving others.  Although the chances of serving someone with a broken femur are highly unlikely, the opportunities to serve are vast and varied 😁

Take care, QCVA friend.  "See" you next quarter!

--Disclaimer--

**Of course, the internet circulates a lot of stories and this may have been one of them BUT Margaret Mead is a real anthropologist who had contributed a lot in this field.  Read more about her from the Library of Congress, click here. 

What’s up QCVA friends?! Has anyone had the chance to see the newly discovered Comet Nishimura? I tried to view the night and early morning skies last weekend when it was closest to the Earth but didn’t have any luck.  Poor me! I hope that some of you were lucky and got to enjoy the green-tailed comet.

Well, next week is going to be busy. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS:

QCVA has it’s first club in the works! BEST BUDDIES is an international and national club that promotes awareness and friendships for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  It fosters an environment of volunteerism and compassion.  Come join the Best Buddies Club, this is the first chapter in QCUSD! Sign up now, Mrs. Bass and Rogers are the club sponsors. Please view the flyer for more information.

Today, September 22, is the last day to cast your votes for our QCVA Mascott- be a part of QCVA history, vote now! The VOTING LINK is in this poster, click here. 

Picture Day is on September 27, please come so you can get your photo taken for your ID. Seniors, please read the memo for your outfit, it’s not mandatory but encouraged.  The location and times for each grade level are in this poster, click here.

ACT Mock Test On October 2 and 12.  Grades 10 and 11 please take advantage.  More information can be found here. 

Queen Creek Police Cadet Program, register by October 12. The cadet program is designed for high school students (ages 14-19 years old) to build character, learn the responsibilities of citizenship, and experience both mental and physical well being, while learning and practicing police work.  Join us for an informational meeting on Oct. 17, 6 p.m. at the Community Chambers (20727 E. Civic Parkway). Learn more at QueenCreekAZ.gov/QCPDCadet 

No Edgenuity Spotlight this week… Yay? Nay?

FROM THE DESK OF MRS. ROGERS: 

I have to admit that life has been so busy lately. As you know, Leyani is off to college at ASU.  She’s not far at all but we’re still getting the hang of not having another child in the house.  Milas just turned 16 and got his license this week. He got to play hero and saved me when my car wouldn’t start. He picked me up from work and brought me to my leadership meeting at the district office.  I was so proud of him for driving by himself without any GPS and finding his way.  

QCVA friends, I know that all of you are in different stages of your life. Some of you may be loving where you are right now and some of you may wish that things could be different.  Wherever you are and in whatever condition you may be, please know that someone is always rooting for you and wanting to see you succeed. I hope you can feel your inner strength and let that fuel you when you need to take a leap or when you feel you’re about to give up. I’m proud of you and all that you have done in QCVA so far.  The school year journey is not over yet so keep on going.  My niece sent me a text and said, “I know that I will get through difficult times, but I’m just so tired of going through ‘em.” I feel her sentiment and if you are in the same boat, I get it. Can life just be easy? Oh, how I wish.  Just as seasons pass by, so shall life be.  The next thing you know, you will finally be done with high school, c’est la vie! You will adulting and will be driving the road of life by your “lonesome”.  So count on yourself, avoid negative self-talk, focus on self-care, and discover YOU through art, hobbies, music, and wandering… yep… just walking about.  I heard that inspiration comes anywhere in the universe so what better way to receive it than by wandering?

Okay QCVA friends! I will see you next week.  As always, I’m your English facilitator and QCVA human being rooting for your success.  I can’t read your mind so reach out when you need assistance.  I'm here for you.  Take care!

Hello QCVA Students! How has life been? I hope that all is well.

Have you noticed that the weather is starting to change or is it just me?  Maybe I’m looking forward to autumn that I’m manifesting it in my own brain 😅 I bet I’ll be seeing leaves change color even when they are not LOL.

At this point of the quarter, I hope that you are finding yourself in a good spot and feel confident with online school. I hope that you have found the tools and quirks to Edgenuity and consider yourself a master of the online platform!  But, if not, it’s okay, you still have the rest of the semester to get there.

IMPORTANT STUFF:

Do you need the document for the Quarterly Summative Review? Click here- https://sites.google.com/qcusd.org/laelrogers/quarterly-summative-review

IN-PERSON TUTORING started this week, September 11! 

From 5:00 to 6:00 pm, Ms. Reid will be able to assist you live in person   

Location:

Newell Barney Junior High

24937 South Sossaman Road

Queen Creek, AZ 85142

Our in-person tutoring sessions are designed to provide personalized assistance, address specific challenges, and reinforce key concepts. Whether you need help with math, science, language arts, or any other subject, we have an experienced teacher here to guide you.

QCVA In-Person Tutoring Sign Up  

In-Person S1 Tutoring Calendar 

1. September 22- deadline to cast your vote for the new QCVA Mascot!  Be a part of QCVA history and identity, vote for your favorite, click here.   Shout-out to Pierce, QCVA senior, for creating these logos.  

2. September 27- PICTURE DAY.  The location will be at Newell Barney Junior High.  Time and details are listed here.  SENIORS- please read the instructions on what you need to wear and what time. 

3. October 2 and 12- Calling all Sophomores and Juniors, prepare for the ACT by taking a FREE mock test! You will get your individualized ACT score report AND tips about ACT prep.  Do you have burning questions? Don’t worry, you will find your answers there.  Come and prepare! Sign up here 

4. October 17- Queen Creek Police Cadet Program- The cadet program is designed for high school students (ages 14-19 years old) to build character, learn responsibilities of citizenship, and experience both mental and physical well being, while learning and practicing police work.  Join us for an informational meeting on Oct. 17, 6 p.m. at the Community Chambers (20727 E. Civic Parkway). Learn more at QueenCreekAZ.gov/QCPDCadet 

EDGENUITY SPOTLIGHT:

Do your parents or significant adults know that they can support you through the Family Portal? Yes, they can! This treasure trove of links will help them navigate through the portal and understand progress reports- from grades to pacing to attendance, this page has it all!  As always, if you need assistance, reach out to your subject QCVA Facilitator, we’re here to help, click here to join our virtual tutoring and live sessions.

FROM THE DESK OF MRS. ROGERS

I know this is late, but this week marks the twenty-second year of the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  If you haven’t had the chance to revisit what had happened that day two decades ago, Britannica provides information about it https://www.britannica.com/topic/Patriot-Day .  I also curated some stories, podcasts, and videos of that fateful day.  Some are uplifting, others inspiring, some somber, click here to view all.  May we never forget this day and honor the lives that were lost by “living” the best version of our lives and by making the world a better place.

Take care everyone! “See” you next week!

I just noticed that week 5 announcement is not complete… oh my! That is not good 😅

Anyhu, our week 6 is over and we have a long weekend ahead of us.  For those who are a bit behind, please take this break to catch up with your work.  You may not be able to complete all your overdue tasks but at least you can close the gap and feel good about crossing activities off your list.  For those who are on track, yay! Enjoy this break, work ahead if you feel bored, or do something creative.  Make the most out of this break 🙂

EDGENUITY SPOTLIGHT:

Did you know that you can find out how many assignments, quizzes, unit tests, projects, and essays you have in your English class?  Yep, you can! This report shows you how https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fcpki0wyGN7cNUdl1kwpf7IhM7uu68re/view?usp=drive_link

This report is helpful because it shows how the activities in your class are weighted.  When you want to improve your grade, select the activities that are weighted more.  For example, redoing one Unit Test will impact your grade more than resubmitting ten assignments. Correspondingly, resubmitting one essay is worth more than redoing two Unit Tests.  If you would like to find out how to improve your grade, please contact me lrogers@qcusd.org so we can go over your scores and select the activities that will impact your grade the most.  Getting a high grade in your English class is very doable! Please reach out to see what you can do to improve your grade before the semester ends 😂

UPDATES ABOUT QCVA:

Clubs are in the works! We have three proposed clubs that are just awaiting paperwork.  QCVA will have either an (1) Academic Society or a National Honors Society, (2) Best Buddies program, and (3) a Creative Team.  Please be on the lookout for communication coming from us! These clubs are great avenues to meet QCVA peers, bring in volunteer hours, and pad your resume 😄  But seriously, clubs are great to get you out of your comfort zone and explore your hidden talents or showcase your mad skills.  More information about clubs coming soon.

Next on the docket, please click here to view what’s the LATEST from our QCVA director: https://www.smore.com/4snqjh

FROM THE DESK OF MRS. ROGERS

Last week, I posted the slides for your Quarterly Summative Review.  One of the slides there asked students to come up with three goals.  I know we do this every school year and it does get repetitive BUT it’s also very important. Goals are crucial because they give you direction and force you to find pathways to complete it.  Think of yourself as a vessel, like a ship, in the ocean.  If you do not have a bearing or a location where you want to go, you will just stay adrift.  “What if I don’t want to go anywhere?” That’s a great question and a valid thought. Do you need some time to just figure things out? Do you need a break? How about a sabbatical? If you do, then drift. A wise wizard once said, “Not all those who wander are lost” (Dumbledore) 😁 Once you are ready, make haste … or start slow… and sail to your destination!

I hope you all have a great weekend.  Take care! 

We are now in week 4! Yay! To those of you who just recently transferred to QCVA- Welcome 😁 

FROM THE DESK OF MRS. ROGERS:

I hope that you all had a great weekend.  If it was eventful- yay you.  If it was uneventful- yay life.  Last Sunday, my husband and I sent our eldest daughter off to college. She is only 30 minutes away, staying at the ASU Barrett dorm 😂.  It was tougher on her than it was for us, parents, but the move-in day was a great reminder that growing up has its pains and change is a constant in life.  The campus was littered with people of all ages and familial relationships.  If I could make a movie reel with one scene moving on to the next of people saying goodbye, boxes of stuff being carried to and fro, the Arizona sun bearing down, and fuzzy images of people talking in the background, I would.  The move-in day was truly an experience- happy for some, excited for others, and uneasy for many. If you ever find yourself in a situation similar to this, may I suggest that you just soak the moment in… because that moment can’t be recreated.  Savor the moment!  In psychology, savoring the moment refers to intentionally focusing your attention on the positive aspects of the experience.  When you do this, you notice the sensations, perceptions, emotions, actions, and thoughts that are linked to a particular moment, event, or experience.  Attached below is an article by Elizabeth Scott, PhD on some ways to savor the moment via cherishing the past, looking forward to the future, and focusing on the now, click here.

EDGENUITY SPOTLIGHT:

The platform offers several tools for students to assist in recalling information.  Being able to take e-notes, use the glossary, or open the dictionary are just a few.  There are also several subject-related tools for Math, English, and Science.  The STUDENT GUIDE below, pages 5-6, goes over where to find these tools. Please take the time to view them. For ENGLISH- a valuable tool for students is Grammar Handbook: this is your comprehensive guide to all things grammar-related located at the bottom of the toolbar. Also, here’s a short video on Youtube about some of the tools, click here. 

IMPORTANT STUFF:

Since we are nearing the halfway point of Quarter 1, our Quarterly Summative Review will be coming.  What is it? The Quarterly Summative Review is a check-in to see where you are academic-wise and soul-wise. You will be asked to complete a QSR document which will be located on my teacher's website, click here.  This page is blank right now but the QSR will be housed here.  I also have a plan B if that doesn’t work.  I’ll post the QSR document in our grade-level Google Classroom. Depending on your grade and/or progress, you may have to virtually meet with me.  The QSR counts for 5% of your grade, so it’s important that you complete it. Your Edgenuity English class will have a lesson entitled Quarterly Summative Review so you will definitely know when it's time to complete it LOL. 

SCHOOL STUFF:

I’m going to be reaching out to students and their families who are unable to maintain their progress.  Please don’t ignore me.  If you are on track or ahead, hat tip to you! Keep on rocking!

That’s it for this week.  Please attend tutoring if you need assistance.  Have a smashing week, QCVA friends! 

Did we just make it to week 3? Oh yes, we did!

How are you with pacing? Are you on track? Do you have your routine down?

If your answer is YES, pat yourself on the back and take this win. CELEBRATE! Evaluate and identify what you are doing. Is there anything more you can do to accelerate your momentum or make you more efficient? If you are feeling that fire, keep going! No one is stopping you from completing your classes ahead of schedule 😁

If your answer is NO, sit down and evaluate. Keep a record of your day and how you attack school work. Do you pause too often, idle too much, freeze, and not do anything? What are your distractions? Is your job taking up too much of your study time? After you have identified the causes, now create your action plan. It is overwhelming trying to catch all your coursework up in a couple of days.  Since Edgenuity does not deduct points for late submissions, take advantage! Increase your study minutes every day, including the weekends, until you are on track.  Once there, try to stay there 😁  You got this!  

This week, students will be working on their narrative writing. Resources will be added to your grade-level GC so keep an eye out. If you need a refresher, watch the video!

IMPORTANT STUFF:

1.  The deadline to complete the district School City testing is on August 11. Click here to get instructions on how to. 

2.  Our Tutoring Hours are open. If you can’t make it at those times, reach out via email or Edgenuity email for your questions and concerns. Click here to join via Google Meets  The Grade level Live Sessions are by invite only. If you click without being invited, no one will be there.

EDGENUITY SPOTLIGHT:

Did you know that Edgenuity can detect artificial intelligence-generated content? Oh yes, it can.  Check out the Avoiding Plagiarism Resource folder that was just added in your GC.  It goes over how accurate Edgenuity is in identifying AI-made submissions for short writing and essays.  Included are simple ways to avoid plagiarism such as summarizing, paraphrasing, quoting, and using in-text citations.  There are also citation generator links for APA, MLA, and Chicago.

FROM THE DESK OF MRS. ROGERS:

So, what happens when a student plagiarizes? The submission gets a score of zero. The student must reach out to the facilitator to get a second attempt or to resubmit.  Repeat offenders will be “sent” to the principal’s office.  Mr. Aikins, QCVA principal, will have a virtual “chat” with the student and parent/guardian.  In short, do not plagiarize and submit original work even if it’s not your best.  I, Mrs. Rogers will leave feedback on your submission so you can improve your score.  The feedback will look like a dialogue bubble beside your score, see image.  You can always ask to resubmit for a better grade!

As you begin this week, I’d like to challenge you to be consistent- “unchanging in nature, standard, or effect over time.” Be consistent in your efforts whether it’s for school, yourself, your job, or your hobby.  If you are learning something new or trying to master a craft, be consistent.  Your body is wired for it and so is your mind. Nature in itself is consistent and cyclical.

Make this week a meaningful one.  Take care! 

Hooray! You all made it to week 2! Five days down and one hundred seventy-five more days to go LOL.

I hope at this time, you have gotten the hang of:

1. your classes in Edgenuity

2. time trackers in ParentVue 

3. routine throughout the day

4. contacting the QCVA facilitators

For those students who experienced some issues and hiccups last week, we are so sorry about that. Ms. Bayles, QCVA director, has been working tirelessly and has been collaborating with Edgenuity to debug and untangle these issues.  Thank you for your patience as we roll into this new week.

FOR EDGENUITY- I would like to highlight some of the tools that students can use in Edgenuity. These include glossaries, text-to-speech, video captions & transcripts, highlighters, calculators, and interactive reference materials.  Please click here to know more- USER STUDENT GUIDE. 

FOR QCVA- I would to emphasize the RETAKE POLICY. This school year, students must score 70% and above in assessments (quizzes and unit tests) in order to move forward to their next activity.  Students who score less than 70% must submit notes and/or virtually meet with the subject facilitator for tutoring.  Notes may come in many forms- guided notes, e-notes, paper notes, visual notes, mind maps, etc.  If you are unsure how to take notes, here are some strategies, click on the links.

> Guided notes 

> Taking notes from Textbooks or Video Materials

> Taking notes from audio and online Materials

> Taking Notes for Math and English courses

QCVA ANNOUNCEMENTS- Very important, the District Pre-testing is now open.  This is a NON-GRADED activity that is required by QCUSD.  Kindergarten to 12th grade students will be taking the tests at home by logging into School City.  Testing Window ends on August 11th.  Instructions on how to complete the tests are located in the QCVA Family Instructions document, click here. 

As we start the school year I'd like to make a statement, and skip the "new school year, new beginning, start fresh" quotes.  Rather, I'd like to share this truth... "Time will pass anyway."  This is part of a quote from Earl Nightingale who made the statement that people give up on their dreams because of the time commitment it will take to complete them.  He ends the quote by saying time passes anyway to explain that whether one decides to act on a dream or not, time will continue to move on. Nightingale implores people to toil away and disregard the time it will take to complete a task. As an adult in her mid-life, I can say that this statement is true.  Whether one uses their time wisely or wastes it, time does not care and will continue to move on. So if you are wanting to do something, do it! It may take years to master or accomplish but you are inching towards your finish line a little more every day. There are many videos, reels, and explanations for "Time will pass anyway" and I encourage you to find the best one that is most meaningful to you.  When you find it, come back to this announcement and post it in the comments (Google Classroom) for everyone to see. TIA for sharing 😁

So my QCVA friends, like Nightingale, I implore you to set your goal and achieve it. Self-improvement and self-love should be at the top of that list.  Invest in yourself!

I'll "see" you next week.  If you need me holler via email lrogers@qcusd.org, leave a voicemail 480-655-6209, or attend tutoring.  Let us make SY 23-24 another great year!

Welcome, QCVA Friends and Families!

I hope that summer was kind to you and you were able to get your much needed rest and rejuvenation.

I'm Mrs. Lael Rogers, the English Facilitator for Grades 9-12.  Linked is a slide about me and my professional background.

Last week, QCVA hosted its Meet The Teacher virtual sessions.  If you missed it, no worries. You can view the recordings for the sessions here, same topics were covered on both: 

Morning Session, click here. 

Afternoon Session, click here. 

Please view the Meet The Teacher slides/presentation here.    Topics include new QCVA Admin, submitting Time Trackers (time logs) in ParentVue, Edgenuity overview,  QCVA rules for retakes, athletic participation, QCVA changes, and more. 

This week, please settle into your school day routine and classes. I would suggest that you peruse your lessons in each class to see what you will be covering. Public Service Announcement: The deadline to request for schedule/class change is AUGUST 4. Check your classes and your lessons!

Next week, July 31 to August 4, we start our Tutoring Sessions. If you have questions and you would like to meet with me, drop in on Mondays 1:45 to 2:30 PM and Wednesdays 8:15 to 9:00 AM. Please click on the links to join via Google Meets.  For the Tutoring Sessions, please come prepared with the documents you need.  The Live Sessions are invite only- these are grade-level specific and are for reteaching lessons that students may need practice or clarification on.  

I look forward to joining you in this year academic journey in English class. I wish you all a wonderful first week of school. "See" you next week 😁