Student Success Meetings: Booking Now!

Let’s start with the most important dates coming up. Our Student Success Meetings—your chance to connect one-on-one with your student’s teachers—are scheduled for Wednesday, October 23rd, and Thursday, October 24th.

Meetings will take place from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on both days. Your student’s teachers will be sending out links very soon, so please watch your email for instructions on how to book a 15-minute time slot with them. If your student is currently struggling or would benefit from some extra support or goal-setting, please take this opportunity to book an appointment. It's a critical step in our home-school partnership!

Minimum Day Schedule & Logistics

Please note that both October 23rd and 24th will be minimum days for students. We will be releasing students right after lunch at 12:40 PM.

For our families who utilize the program, ELOP services will be available after the early release time.

The students will follow a modified schedule:

• On the 23rd, students will attend Blocks 1 through 4.
• On the 24th, they will attend Blocks 7 through 10.
• Lunch and Advisory will still take place on both days.

Family Fun Friday is Back!

In addition to our Student Success Meetings, we have a fun community event that evening! Our next Family Fun Friday is on October 24th from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM—right after our Student Success Meetings wrap up.

We’ll have food vendors, pizza, games, music, and much more! It's a perfect chance to unwind, come hang out, and spend some quality time with other families within the AeroStem community. We can't wait to see you all there!

Staff Development Day & Office Shout-Out

A final calendar note: Thursday, October 31st, is a non-student staff professional development day. There is no school for students, so please plan accordingly and enjoy the three-day weekend!

And finally, a well-deserved shout-out to our fantastic Front Office Staff! Both Ms. Lucy and Ms. Val are new to us this year, but they have jumped in and quickly made the front office a warm and welcoming environment for our students and families. They are the friendly first faces you see every day, and they do so much to keep our school running smoothly. If you get a chance, please tell them thank you!

Thanks again for tuning in to the AeroStem Connection. We'll be back next week with more updates!

Attendance Matters

We’ve talked about attendance before, but as the semester gets busier, it’s vital to reinforce why being in class every day makes such a difference. Here are a couple of quick facts:

• Missing just two days a month—that's about 10% of the school year—can negatively affect a student's academic performance, whether the absences are excused or unexcused.
• Attendance is a powerful early indicator of future success. Research shows that poor attendance in the early grades can lead to difficulties with reading proficiency by the third grade.

Simply put, when students are here, they don't miss out on those foundational lessons and important social interactions that build success.

Nutrition Service Shout-Out

Now, I want to take a moment to shine a spotlight on someone who is vital to our students' energy and focus: our Nutrition Service Coordinator, Ms. Cyndee Lou! Ms. Cyndee Lou and her team are absolutely fantastic, making sure every student gets what they need, every day, for both breakfast and lunch. They go above and beyond to provide healthy, quality meals, and their dedication ensures our students are fueled up and ready to learn. Thank you, Ms. Cyndee Lou, for all you do!

Important Dates & Scheduling

Please mark your calendars for some key dates coming up in October:

• Our Student Success Meetings—which are our parent-teacher conferences—will be held on Thursday, October 23rd, and Friday, October 24th. Please note that both of these days will be minimum days for students. The link for parents to schedule their individual meeting times with teachers will be coming out very soon, so be on the lookout for that email.
• Also, on Friday, October 31st, we have a non-student staff development day, meaning students will not have school that day.
• A crucial reminder for all parents: While YCUSD may be closed, AeroStem Academy does have school on October 3rd and October 6th. Please make sure your students are in attendance on those days.

A Note for High School Parents

For our high school parents, if your student’s grades are not where you want them to be, the first question to ask them is this: "How much are you working during the day?" As long as students are giving us good effort for most of the school day, they will be successful here. Those students who are struggling academically, it is typically due to a lack of work effort. It's about engagement and commitment in the classroom.

Stay Connected

Finally, a quick communication check: we communicate all these important updates primarily through the ParentSquare app, either via text, email, or within the app itself. If you are not receiving our information, please contact the front office immediately to let us know. We want to make sure you are getting every update and staying fully connected to the school.

Thanks again for all you do to support our students and our school. Have a great week!

Welcome back to the AeroStem Connection, your weekly podcast for all things AeroStem Academy. This is our fifth episode, and we have some important updates and a few special acknowledgments to share.

Progress Reports & Expectations

First, a quick but very important update: Progress Reports went out this morning! We want you to use these not just as a report card but as a conversation starter. Use them as a tool to sit down with your student and discuss their progress, celebrate their successes, and identify areas where they might need a little extra support.

Last week, as some of you know, we made the difficult decision to cancel Fun Friday. This was a tough call, but we felt that the level of kindness and respect was not where we expect it to be. I went to each class and had a direct conversation with our students, reinforcing that our expectations for kind words and kind actions will not be lowered. Our students are amazing, and we believe in them completely. We want to continue supporting not only their academic growth but their social-emotional development as well. We are confident that this week we will be back on track, and the hard work of our students will be reflected in their actions.

Paraeducator Shout-Out

On that note, I want to take a moment to give a very special shout-out to our paraeducators. We have four amazing paraeducators on campus, and they deserve so much praise. They work tirelessly every single day, supporting our students in the classroom and helping them achieve their goals. They are a huge part of our school's success, and we are incredibly grateful for their dedication. Thank you to each and every one of you!

Our Growing Community

Finally, we want to be clear that no school is perfect. But we do strive to get better, individually and as an organization, every single day—just as we ask our students to. We truly believe this is a special place, and if you feel the same way, we'd be so grateful if you would share about us with your friends, neighbors, and on social media. Your kind words and support mean the world to us and help our community grow.

Thanks again for tuning in to the AeroStem Connection. We'll be back next week with more updates. Until then, have a great week!

Now, with all this success, a key part of the equation is the partnership between school and home. We can’t overstate the importance of parents having a conversation with their students about their grades. It doesn't have to be a formal meeting; just a simple check-in to ask how they're doing in a certain class or what they're proud of. This simple act can make a huge difference in keeping students motivated and on track.

To help with these conversations, remember that Progress Reports go home every Monday. This provides a consistent, weekly snapshot of your student's performance, giving you all the information you need to have those important check-ins.

Looking ahead to the end of October, we have a very important event on the calendar. We'll be hosting our Student Success Meetings. Think of these as our version of parent-teacher conferences. This is a crucial opportunity to meet with teachers and discuss your students'progress and goals. We'll be sending out more information on scheduling soon, so please keep an eye on your emails.

And for something a little more fun, don't forget our next Family Fun Friday is scheduled for October 24th! It's a fantastic chance for our entire community to come together, unwind, and enjoy some time with friends and family. Mark your calendars now so you don't miss out on the fun!

As we wrap up this episode, I want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude. We see everything you do—from getting your students to school on time, to helping with homework, to simply asking them about their day. We know that so much of our students' success is because of the incredible support they receive at home. So, thank you, parents. Your dedication and partnership are what make our school community so special.

That's all for this episode of the AeroStem Connection. We'll be back soon with more news and updates. Until next time!

First, let's talk about something vital to every student's success: attendance. We're seeing some students fall behind, and we want to remind everyone that every day of school counts. Being present and on time sets your student up for success, not just academically but in building positive habits. Arriving on time ensures they don't miss crucial instructions and helps them feel more settled and ready to learn. If your student is going to be absent, please remember to notify the school as soon as possible.

Now for some key announcements for our parents. Tonight, Monday, September 8th, at 4:30 PM, we're holding our first Charter Council meeting. This is a great opportunity for you to get involved and provide valuable input. We hope to see many of you there as we work together to support our school's mission.

Let's also clarify some information regarding our meal programs. While AeroStem Academy is part of the Universal Meal Program, which means all students can receive a free breakfast and lunch, the Free and Reduced Lunch Application is still very important. This application determines our school's eligibility for additional state and federal funding for programs like technology, academic support, and resources. Filling out this form, even if your student already gets free meals, directly helps the school.

A quick but important plea: students, please take better care of your Chromebooks. These devices are essential for your learning, and treating them with care ensures they last and function properly. Remember to handle them gently, keep them in their cases, and avoid eating or drinking near them.

On a much brighter note, we want to give a huge shout-out to our incredible student body. We've been so impressed by the hard work and dedication we've seen across all grade levels. So many of you are excelling, both in and out of the classroom, and it's something to celebrate. To all the students who have put in the effort and are doing so well, we are incredibly proud of you! Keep up the great work!

We want to address a health concern. We've been seeing an increase in illness on campus, with a particularly nasty flu or virus going around. Please, if your student is showing symptoms of sickness, keep them home to rest and recover. This helps protect the health of all our students and staff.

That's all for this episode of the AeroStem Connection. We hope to see you at the Charter Council meeting tonight, and please remember the importance of attendance, taking care of your Chromebooks, and staying healthy. Thank you for tuning in and for your continued partnership. Until next time!