NEW FAMILIES START HERE
No need to be overwhelmed! Everything will be smooth sailing in no time! You just need to remember August 1st is when your funds will be available to begin placing product and service orders (once you have signed your Master Agreement). You will receive your login for Homeschool Hub at this time as well. When reading through this page, anything underlined is usually linked out to another resource.
I am so excited to be your homeschool teacher this year, and we will be embarking on a wonderful journey of growth together!
Your first step will be to sign the Master Agreement that will be emailed to you. This will come in the first week after receiving confirmation of your enrollment. Please have your kids sign as well, no matter how small (a mark is totally ok!). Both parent and student will sign in two places. Signing on the computer is often awkward, but do your best! You can't use those funds without doing this!
I have included LOTS of information for you below for you to look over. Together we will make this a wonderful year! The beginning of the year is very busy, but working together we can make it a smooth process, and know that I am here every step of the way!
If you are a brand new homeschool family, you probably didn't digest a single word of this - instead thinking, "but what am I going to TEACH??!!"
Not to worry! At Pacific Coast Academy, you are welcome to personalize your own curriculum using textbooks, online programs, and other resources. There are so many curricula to choose from. Please know that I am here to help you find the perfect curriculum choice for your child. You can begin your journey by taking a learning style quiz.
You may also opt to choose Pacific Coast Academy Adopted Curriculum for High School, Middle School, or TK-5th grade (I order most of this for you). Most of these programs have an online self-paced learning environment where your job is to ensure your children log on, keep up with their work, and keep track of any gaps in knowledge where they need extra help.
YOUR MONTHLY RESPONSIBILITIES
Submitting Attendance on the Parent Portal
Submitting your student attendance is very easy here at Pacific Coast Academy! All attendance will be logged through the Parent Portal and archived each learning period. The Learning Periods (LPs) will be about every 20 school days. Final attendance with signature and date is due by NOON on the last day of the learning period, and I always send reminder emails. Please note for the summer you do not have any students enrolled yet. You will see them in your portal when school starts.
Parent-Teacher-Student Meetings
I will be meeting with you and your student(s) every Learning Period. These meetings are a time to get to know each other and share the work and progress your student has made. We will be reviewing goals we selected for that Learning Period, and setting goals for the upcoming Learning Period. I will also be there to answer questions, address concerns, and offer support.
Monthly Work Sample Requirement
For TK-8th grade, parents will provide one sample each from Math, Science, History, and Language Arts Writing. These samples should demonstrate their best work and should be work connected to one of the goals we set for your student for that Learning Period.
High school students submit one work sample from each course on the master agreement.
Work Sample Requirements:
All samples need to be labeled as follows in the upper left-hand corner.
Please label with the student's first and last name written or attempted by the student (parent can also write if illegible). If your child has multiple last names, they must be included for the work submitted as a work sample.
Please have the date completed (needs to be a date listed on the attendance log for the current Learning Period).
Please include proof that you graded the work (letter grade, checkmark, remark, percentage correct...).
**For TK-8th grade, work samples are due on Work Sample Wednesdays... one subject per week. Students will submit samples to the TK-8 Google Classroom.**
***High School students using courses with a PCA teacher attached do not need to submit those samples. For all electives and courses without a PCA teacher, students will submit those samples and logs to the Google Classroom, as assigned, by the week prior to the end of the Learning Period.***
PCA has a thriving high school department. We give you and your students many options including online and textbook options, as well as the ability to create your own curriculum or use the curriculum of your choice. Please reach out for more information on our high school program.
NEED TO KNOW INFO
Planning Amounts can be used to purchase curriculum, educational supplies, and pay for educational activities and enrichment activities to expand student knowledge and experiences.
Any unused funds from the previous year will not roll over into your account.
Planning Amounts are allocated so that you can provide enrichment opportunities for your child. Enrichment services and products serve to expand student knowledge and experiences.
Products must be secular (not religious-based). They do not need to come from an approved vendor. Please click here for more information on how planning amounts work.
Services are only authorized through Pacific Coast Academy-approved vendors.
Curriculum Options
We will go over the curriculum options together to make sure it is the best fit for you and your student. There is a lot to choose from!
Our Homeschool Hub is available for placing your orders beginning August 1st. A link with instructions on how to place orders is on the homepage of this site.
You can place product and service orders beginning August 1st, using this login page. You should receive a welcome email (the main email you used for registration) with login info. Please check your spam folder if you do not believe you have received it. If you still cannot locate it, please use the "forgot password –reset password" link. You will want to check your email and spam following your reset.
Anything ordered can remain with you for the duration of your time at Pacific Coast Academy. When withdrawing, we will request all Pacific Coast Academy (PCA) items be returned, as they are purchased using funds from the state. It is OK if they are in used condition. We place all returned items in our Lending Library. We can also offer inventories to you upon request, or you may get them yourself on the Homeschool Hub.
Technology Orders
Tech Center requests are made/accepted year-round. Laptops, desktops, tablets, and printers can be ordered through the Homeschool Hub.
Students in Grades 3-8 may request a Chromebook for FREE (no funds needed).
Please be aware that all non-consumable items are the property of Pacific Coast Academy. If you decide to withdraw from PCA for any reason, items are due upon the commencement of the checkout process.
STAR 360 is a quick 20-minute online assessment that is completed the first month of the school year or within 2 weeks for new enrollments, mid-year, and once again the last month of the school year. You will receive an email with all the needed information once the assessment window is open. This is a very rich assessment and provides valuable feedback in terms of the next steps for instruction and grade level equivalencies.
TK-8th Grade I Can Statement Checklists
Pacific Coast Academy's TK-8th grade I CAN checklists are a great way to check off standards as students progress throughout the school year. We will be using these I CAN checklists to select areas of focus for each Learning Period (LP). We will be referencing these for LP work samples.
TK-8th grade I CAN checklists have all been added HERE for your reference. Your student's personal interactive I CAN grade level checklist (Google Doc that you can check off online without printing) can be found in your Family Google Folder.
PACIFIC COAST ACADEMY EXTRAS
Pacific Coast Academy has a Lending Library that will be making regular trips around the county. You can go to the location to browse, or you can check online for something specific you would like - all without using any funds!
Keep an eye out for activities and events in our area. You are also free to partner with outside field trip vendors. We will also offer opportunities (activities, events, and celebrations) for your students to connect with other homeschoolers.
PCA offers reading intervention and math intervention programs totally free to you. These are available if your child scores in the blue, yellow, or red on the Star 360 assessments. You are eligible once your children take those tests and demonstrate a need for support.
PCA OFFERS SCHOOL ID SERVICES TO ALL OF OUR FAMILIES. (ID Card Ordering Info HERE)
Student discounts are well known, but many require the student to have an ID to prove that they are eligible. The Simple Dollar and Gift Card Granny have a list of retailers that offer student discounts. The student ID card from KDKC Photography & Design is $5 each.
Did you know that homeschool families, parents, and caregivers are considered to be teachers by many retailers? All you need is the teacher ID card to prove it. The Rather Be Shopping Blog, Gift Card Granny, and Brad's Deals websites have lists of places that offer teacher discounts. Teacher ID cards for parents and caregivers are $5 each.
Pacific Coast Academy Facebook Page
This page is for families currently enrolled with Pacific Coast Academy.
Individuals in this group include parents, vendors, teachers, and other staff members with Inspire Charter Services and Pacific Coast Academy in San Diego County and Imperial County.
Please join, and feel free to comment, ask for suggestions, help answer questions, and provide resources to our homeschool community.
Our goal is to provide the best Homeschool Program in San Diego... so we want to hear from you! If you have any suggestions, comments, or concerns, please let us know!
Make sure to check out the