ALA Fall 2015 Back to School Newsletter

Armenta Learning Academy Achieving Excellence Through Education Armenta Learning Academy 27665 Forbes Road, Suite #201 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

(949) 367-WISE (9473) phone (949)433-0898 cell www.armentalearningacademy.com

Back to School Newsletter Fall 2015 Volume 2, Issue 2

Welcome Back To Armenta School!

ARMENTA AT ITS BEST

We Offer Amazing Educational Programs for All Ages and All Needs!

♦6:1 Ratio Schooling/1:1 Opportunities ♦Early High School Graduation/Gifted and Accelerated Studies

♦Grade Levels Raised 2-3 Years in one School Every child has an opportunity to succeed with a curriculum customized and tailored to each students’ needs, interests, talents and learning styles. We tailor hours, instructional tools, and curriculum to meet each student and their abilities and tap into each student ‘s maximum potential through individualized attention.

Students of various backgrounds, strength and challenges from Pre K to Adult benefit from our small class sizes and approach. 98% of families show our curriculum and teaching has improved their child’s learning experience to a successful outcome and are completely satisfied with our programs and the results!

Our graduates have been accepted in top ranking universities in all states and achieve the highest test scores on SATs, ACTs and all standardized and content based tests. We build a solid foundation for students to be happy and confident for the real world, not only with academics, but also life!

We ENRICH ~EMPOWER ~EDUCATE and engage in excellence! Armenta offers instructional programs for all levels; from special needs to gifted and talented students!

Year

♦Individualized Program to Meet Child’s Needs, whether Gifted or Special

♦Multisensory Approaches to Learning Including LINDAMOOD-BELL

♦Highly Qualified Staff-Credentialed or 20+

Years Experience Working with Children: Pre K-Adult Ed.

♦Student Evaluation/Assessments, Weekly Updates/Quarterly Progress Reports

♦Experience with A.D.D, A.D.H.D., Development Delay Asperger's, Autism and more and we offer family support and classes

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Calendar of Events ........ 2

♦Small Group or 1:1 Tutoring ♦At Home/Offsite Tutoring ♦Correspondence with Student’s Teachers &

Back to School Safety .... 3

♦Comfortable Environment Where Kids Can

Standout Students ......... 6

Parents

Learn & Take Risks

♦Daily Communication with Parents ♦Classes for Credit to Get Ahead or Catch Up ♦Year-Round Prep for Students for a Successful School Year.

♦Study, Time Management and Test Taking Skills Classes Available

♦Workshops: SAT, SAT II subject tests, CHSPE, ACT, GED.

♦ESL/Foreign Language/Sign Language ♦Counseling/Mentoring for All Ages ♦Volunteer/Internship Programs ♦Armenta Angels Outreach Program

Enrich * Empower * Educate

Staff Biographies .......... 4 Kinder Readiness .......... 5 Social Skills Classes ....... 7 Armenta Pet Academy .. 8 ARMENTA HIGHLIGHTS • Armenta Events • Success Stories • Summer Fun Photos • Armenta Flashback

ARMENTA EVENTS Costume/ Pumpkin Carving Contest On October 29th, join us with your carved pumpkins and costumes. The best pumpkin and costume will be given a prize!

Creative Turkey Contest On November 19th, students will have a chance to win a prize for the most creatively created turkey!

Canned Food Drive During the month of November students and staff will work at putting as many cans of food together as possible to be donated to local food banks to help the less fortunate.

Clothing/Toy Drive During the month of December students and staff will work at putting as many Toys and clothes together to donate to Operation Christmas Child!

Please bring un wrapped toys and clothes to ALA and make a difference.!

Book Drive During the month of December we will help The “I Am Foundation” with their goal to provide 1,000,000 books in 2015.

Please bring any books you have that are new or slightly used, to ALA!

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CALENDAR 2015-2016 LABOR DAY (Legal Holiday) Monday, Sept. 7, 2015 OPENING DAY OF SCHOOL Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015 End of First Progress Reporting Period (High School) Friday, Oct. 2, 2015 End of First Quarter (Middle School) Friday, Oct. 30, 2015 End of First Reporting Period (Elementary) Friday, Oct. 30, 2015 VETERANS DAY (Legal Holiday) Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015 End of Second Progress Reporting Period (High School) Friday, Nov. 13, 2015 THANKSGIVING RECESS Mon.-Wed., Nov. 23-25, 2015 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS (Legal Holiday) Thurs.-Fri., Nov. 26-27, 2015 SCHOOL RESUMES Monday, Nov. 30, 2015 WINTER RECESS Mon.-Fri., Dec. 21, 2015-Jan. 1, 2016 CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS (Local/Legal Holiday) Thurs.-Fri., Dec. 24-25, 2015 NEW YEAR’S DAY (Legal Holiday) Friday, Jan. 1, 2016 SCHOOL RESUMES Monday, Jan. 4, 2016 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY (Legal Holiday) Monday, Jan. 18, 2016 Final Exam Days, High School Tues.-Thurs., Jan. 19-21, 2016 End of First Semester (Middle & High School) Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016 First Semester Wrap-up Activities (Middle & High School) Friday, Jan. 22, 2016 Second Semester Begins Monday, Jan. 25, 2016 LINCOLN DAY (Legal Holiday) Friday, Feb. 12, 2016 WASHINGTON DAY (Legal Holiday) Monday, Feb. 15, 2016 End of First Progress Reporting Period (High School) Friday, Mar. 4, 2016 End of Second Progress Reporting Period (Elementary) Friday, Mar. 4, 2016 End of Third Quarter (Middle School) Friday, Mar. 25, 2016 SPRING HOLIDAY (Local Holiday) Monday, Apr. 4, 2016 SPRING RECESS Tues.-Fri., Apr. 5-8, 2016 SCHOOL RESUMES Monday, Apr. 11, 2016 End of Second Progress Reporting Period (High School) Friday, Apr. 22, 2016 MEMORIAL DAY (Legal Holiday) Monday, May 30, 2016 Final Exam Days, High School Tues.-Thurs., June 7-9, 2016 End of Second Semester (Secondary) Thursday, June 9, 2016 End of Third Progress Reporting Period (Elementary) Thursday, June 9, 2016 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL Friday, June 17, 2016 FIRST DAY OF SUMMER SCHOOL Monday, June 20, 2016

BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY Keeping kids safe with the new school year is a number one priority.

Here are some important safety tips to remember with the new school year. ♦

Make sure that your child has some way to contact you. A cell phone for use after school or a trusted neighbor who can allow your child to make a call are good things to have in place

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If your child walks to school, both you and your child should plan and know the regular route your child will take. Make sure you plan the most direct route keeping in mind intersections that use crossing guards. Advise your children to stay away from vacant lots, fields or parks.

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Teach your kids to obey all traffic signals, signs, and traffic officers. Remind them to take extra precaution when the weather is foggy.

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Make sure they walk to and from school with other kids; a friend, neighbor, brother or sister.

♦

When carpooling, drop off and pick up children as close to the school as possible. Make sure you are pulled to the curb and stopped before children exit the vehicle. Don’t leave until they have entered the school.

♦

Teach your child never to talk to strangers or accept gifts or rides.

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Avoid putting your child’s name on anything that is visible to others. This would allow someone to call your child by name.

♦

Use the crosswalk. Remember the rule to look left, then right, then left again before crossing if there is no crossing guard.

AFTER SCHOOL TIPS ♦

Set up rules for locking doors and windows, answering the door or telephone.

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Talk to your children about strangers and not to give the impression that they are home alone after school.

♦

Make sure he/she checks in with you after school.

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Agree on rules for inviting friends over and for going to a friend’s house when no adult is home.

♦

Take time to listen carefully to children’s fears and feelings about people or places that make them feel uneasy. Trust their instincts.

Most important is to communicate these tips with your children and make sure it’s clear you are both on the ‘same page’ as you start off the school year in a safe manner. Communication and setting guidelines are the first step in prevention.

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MEET OUR STAFF JULIE M. ARMENTA, M.A. EDUCATIONAL & FAMILY SPECIALIST I am the Founder, Educational and Family Specialist at Armenta Learning Academy. Since the age of 5, I have had the dream of having my own school and impacting the lives of children. After 10 years in public and private schools I saw a need to make a place for students who don’t fit into the “normal” school system.

I realized my dream in 1989 when I opened Armenta Learning Academy and we’ve been in business for 25 years. I have my Bachelor’s in Psychology, my multiple subject teaching credential, a Master’s in Education, and I’m also completing my Doctorate in Education. I am also a certified counselor for both students and families. I started a shelter for abused and abandoned teens in Chula Vista which still exists today. I am a public speaker and reach out to parents and the community to instill values, techniques, and approaches for more success with their children and within their families to impact generations to come. I am also finishing my book “Success for Every Child,” (the parent manual we have all been waiting for) which helps parents with the social,

academic, behavioral and general life issues within the family unit. I am involved with several organizations: Council for Exceptional Children, Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders, Council for Special Education Administrators, the Council of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners, and Association for Dyslexia and Autism.

I am involved in the community with volunteer work to help and support less fortunate children with organizations such as Families Forward, Olive Crest, Kids Connected, and The Joyful Child Foundation. I am available at ALA for specialized assistance for students and parents, private counseling, consultations, educational and family workshops and support. My passion is to educate, motivate, inspire, and empower all families and children I come in contact with.

Thank you for allowing me the honor and opportunity to work with you and your precious children. It is truly a privilege and honor! Contact me at: (949) 4330898

“My passion is to educate, motivate, inspire, and empower all families and children I come in contact with.”

BRUCE SMITH, LEAD TEACHER

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Mr. Smith is our Lead Teacher at ALA. He has been with ALA for 10 years. He has a credential in Education. Mr. Smith is fantastic with all subjects, but his specialties are Math and History. Mr. Smith engages his students’ interest in every subject with his personable and humorous approach to teaching. His mother is a professional story teller and teacher and he is a 4th generation teacher. Mr. Smith’s main focus and passion, is to work with the students at ALA with lifeimpacting issues that need the skills and strategies to become responsible men & women. in society. He is an excellent Life Skills coach both on and off campus. He impacts the lives of all the students by always presenting a good role model of a responsible, caring, and aware adult. He is a proud father of two boys, and has 15 years experience working with youth. He looks forward to the opportunity of

working with your children. We at ALA, feel that it is important for our ALA students to have a positive role model as well as a safe place to turn in the process of their maturing and development at ALA. Mr. Smith provides that positive role model with his unending encouragement and support of all our students at ALA. While Mr. Smith is our Lead Teacher by day, he is also our best after school tutor. As well as teaching and tutoring the students, Mr. Smith is available for counseling for both the students and their parents. He is a fabulous Social Skills, Life Skills, Job Skills and Parenting Skills coach. Mr. Smith is also an enthusiastic leader for many of our school clubs such as the Fishing Club and Pet Education Club. He is also an encouraging physical trainer for the Armenta Olympics & Games.

SUCCESS STORIES

KINDER READINESS Armenta Learning Academy is a great school for parents who want a nontraditional school system, there is a lesser known curriculum at this school that seems to be overlooked. Armenta Learning Academy also hosts a Kinder Readiness Program. Armenta Learning Academy helps children overcome the separation anxiety that most parents face when the first days of school. Armenta Learning Academy is a safe and stimulating environment, great for social and physical development necessary for children, as well as the cognitive and emotional development that is expected by kindergarten.

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Trace basic shapes

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Begin to share with others

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Start to follow rules

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Be able to recognize authority

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Manage bathroom needs

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Button shirts, pants, coats, and zip up zippers

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Begin to control oneself

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Separate from parents without being upset

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Speak understandably

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Talk in complete sentences of five to six words

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Look at pictures and then tell stories

While many parents today are unsure of what to look for when deciding if their child is ready for kindergarten, Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts, Educational Specialists, have shard a basic checklist that could be a great help.

This checklist covers the very basics of what will be expected of a child starting kindergarten:

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Identify rhyming words

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Identify the beginning sound of some words

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Identify some alphabet letters

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Recognize some common sight words like “stop”

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Sort similar objects by color, size, and shape

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Recognize groups of one, two, three, four, and five objects

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Listen to stories without interrupting

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Count to ten

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Recognize rhyming sounds

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Bounce a ball

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Pay attention for short periods of time to adult-directed tasks

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Understand actions have both causes and effects

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Show understanding of general times of day

Armenta Learning Academy works with the children so that when the time comes, they are ready for seat work with skill set to be successful in the classroom.

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Cut with scissors

“Mr. Smith, thank you so much for everything. I got one of the best grades on my final out of everyone in the class!” ~ Hailey

“Mrs. Armenta, you are a great teacher and we are glad to be your students!”

- Jacob and Isabella “Mr. Smith, thank you for helping me with Algebra

II and Trigonometry this year. You really helped me with all of my learn-

Ms. Pegram (right) is a Sign language teacher and has been with Armenta Learning Academy for 5 years. She is a star teacher and is loved by all!

ing and tests. Thank for your history lessons and keeping me up to date with the news.” ~Jack

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STANDOUT STUDENTS JULY STUDENT OF THE MONTH Tanner Samuelian

Tanner is a college student and has the best attitude and effort while working on his college courses. He is very athletic and loves to work out, swim and play basketball.

AUGUST STUDENT OF THE MONTH Gitano Calentino

“Tano� is starting 2nd grade this year. He loves science class and experiments. He has raised his academics a grade level with his hard work this summer. We are so proud of him!

MOST IMPROVED STUDENT Zayne Patel

Zayne is a gifted and brilliant 5 year old kindergartner who loves to learn and reads above is grade level. He has improved immensely on his writing and mathematics.

BUBBLEGUM AND PLAY DOUGH CONTEST WINNER, SEPTEMBER STUDENT OF THE MONTH Anastasia Fayette

Anastasia is the winner of both of our summer contests!

She is brilliant and creative and she reads and writes above grade level and she has improved her math ability and skill this summer. She is ready for the 3rd grade!

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SOCIAL SKILLS CLASSES

ARMENTA FISHING

BY JULIE M. ARMENTA M.A. EDUCATION & FAMILY SPECIALIST

CLUB SUMMER 2015

Basic Manners & Etiquette Workshops / Social Skills Classes Classes can be individualized and specialized to your child’s needs ♦ Appropriate Dress for various settings ♦ Personal grooming ♦ Handshaking - The Ultimate Greeting ♦ Introducing yourself and others - The Ultimate First Impression ♦ Responding to introductions ♦ Name tag etiquette ♦ Conversation skills ♦ How to remember names ♦ Body Language & Eye signals

♦ Thank you notes ♦ Netiquette - Cell phone and electronic etiquette ♦ Telephone manners ♦ Respecting cultural differences ♦ Being a thoughtful traveler Travel etiquette ♦ General manners and common courtesies ♦ The Job interview ♦ Study, Time Management, and Test Taking Skills

SUMMER SCHOOL FUN!

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ARMENTA PET ACADEMY MEET THE ARMENTA MASCOTS HANNAH & BRODY Hannah Armenta & her son Brody are available for all your children’s & pet needs. They have lots of love for all of you! We use them for pet therapy, for both animals and humans.

At Armenta Pet Academy we believe in establishing a rapport with you and your pet to build trust and respect for a great experience with your pet. Training that should be stimulating and fun as well as enriching for your pet. We use positive reinforcement methods to get quick results. We will train in your home or you can have your pet stay with us short term for day school or long term for a new, improved pet for day school or boarding while you are away for great results.

Contact us at (949)433-0898 we accept emergency calls!

Custom Care & Training for Your Canine Family Member Get quick results with house breaking, chewing, barking, jumping, digging, mouthing & more!! ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

Private or group/In home or At Site Problem Solving Behavior Meditation Obedience Training On & Off Leash Training Personal & Family Protection Trauma Support/ Esteem Building Separation Anxiety, Pet Therapy Tricks & Performance Training Puppy Basic Skills Training Socialization/Field Trips

Armenta Learning Academy 27665 Forbes Road, Suite #201 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 Phone: (949)367-WISE (9473) Cell: (949)433-0898 academicsuccessnow@yahoo.com www.armentalearningacademy.com

FLASHBACK WITH ARMENTA! Pictured on the left is Mrs. Armenta at the age of 8 years old. By this age, she already knew she wanted to work with kids and be a teacher!

The photo on the right is Mrs. Armenta’s beautiful mother, Shari, with one of our Armenta Pet Academy mascots, Hannah, when she was a puppy. This is one of our favorite photos!

Shari Armenta