Monday, June 29, 2009

Fundraising Committee Meeting

Hello NCA Parents,

Our Meeting is tomorrow.....

We will be having a Fundraiser Committee Meeting on June 30th at 6:30pm. at Moxie Java in Nampa by the Edwards Theater. This is for anyone who would like to help with fundraising for the the Academy this school year. I look forward to seeing you there.

Please drop me an e-mail if you'd like to join us.


Christine Plummer

plum83607@gmail.com
337-2037

Proceeds & Shout Outs

Hello NCA Parents,

Our Rummage Sale helped us raise $188.35 toward our Academy's Scholarship Fund. We are waiting for a few more donations to come in, along with proceeds from some party sales. I will send out an updated amount as soon as we have have it.

I wanted to give a big THANK YOU for all the hard work everyone put into the sale. From the individual sales, donations, volunteer time, and shoppers you all did a great job.

Thank You to:

Volunteers
Romania Wallace 8-3pm
Piper Skoglund 10-1:30

Individual Sales-For donating 10% of your proceeds
Jody Luke
Molly Acosta
Tonya & Cory Freeman-Scentsy Products
Cindy & Scott Nash
Emily Berriochoa
Tammy CreswellThanks for listing our add on Craigslist!
Andrea Egan
Sabrina Orihuela-Treasure Valley Signs & Cookie Lee
Amber Gunnell
Shawna Schneiderman-Pampered Chef
JoLynn Morriss
Holle McRae
Alma & Mike Rowell
Chris & Mirrell Harris and Dan & Gina Nuzume-MonaVie Products


Donations
Sabrina Orihuela-Treasure Valley Signs: Thanks for donating the banner and signs
Janet Dodge
Pam Kruck & Sharon Miller
Isaac Moffett
Val Bush
Adria Jurhs
Sharon Miller
Jen Parish
Holle McRae-Tables, signs and organization
Karcher Nazarene Church- for donating the space to have the Rummage Sale

To all the future students of NCA and their siblings that helped with holding signs, set up and clean up. THANK YOU!

If there is anyone else that I forgot please know that you are very appreciated. With out this effort from all of you we could not have pulled this off.

Thanks, Christine Plummer

2009-2010 Activity Planning & Elections

Soon we'll be having our meeting to plan the activities for the upcoming school year. The PFA Council will meet and decide those. We would love your input and ideas. Please email any fun or educational ideas you would really like to see. If you would like to participate on these committees, to give input, please let us know.

This next PFA meeting and our upcoming meetings will be very important. First we'll be having elections to officially elect our PFA leadership. We also need a few more committee leaders, since there have been some changes. All leadership positions are up for election, so be thinking of nominations;

President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Parent Representative (sits on exectutive committee with the board)

Be thinking about what you might be able to do in regards to our committees, too. I will post those openings soon (as soon as I hear back from a few people).

Our status as an official non-profit organization is awaiting the Secretary of State of Idaho. As soon as we hear back, we'll be "official." When that is complete, we'll be having a membership drive. We'll collect dues of $5 per person. This makes you an official member of the PFA with voting rights.

Our official votes will start with elections, then we'll vote on our budget for the school year. Your input is very imporant. If you would like a say in how PFA dollars are spent, then please particiapte! We'd love to have you!

Rummage Sale Update

I am healing from a sunburn from the Rummage Sale, and I'm sure some of the other helpers, are too. But, despite that, it was a fun day getting to know everyone, and be out for a good cause.

I will let Christine announce the profits from the sale, but wanted to send a big thanks to her (Christine Plummer, our Fundraising Coordinator) for all her hard work and efforts toward this. I also wanted to thank Holle for her efforts, along with Ramona and Piper for the volunteering. We couldn't have done this without you!

We had multpile other families who pitched and I'm sorry for mentioning everyone, but especially wanted to thank those who donated 10% of their own personal sales.

Thank you everyone!

Friday, June 26, 2009

Idaho Press Tribune Commission

I just signed up for the Idaho Press Tribune, and got the extra Sunday papers for the coupons. I had the commission check credited to the Academy. Every time we do this the Academy earns $15/$20! If you haven't yet signed up for this, consider doing so before school begins. Every dollar helps!

Call Greg 870-2784 (at the Idaho Press Tribune)
he will make sure the commission check is sent to NCA

Rummage Sale Tomorrow!

Come One...Come All!!!

PFA Rummage Sale is TOMORROW!
At Karcher Nazarene Church
8am to 3pm

All the money raised will go towards the Academy's Uniform Scholarship Fund
There will be lost of stuff to buy! We will look forward to seeing you all there!

PS: If you have plastic Walmart type bags you have extra of that we could use to place items purchased in please bring them by. Thanks!


Christine Plummer
337-2031
plum83607@gmail.com

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Typo and Reminder

Denise found a typo in my unifrom picture post. It's brown and black shoes, not blue. Sorry, if this confused anyone else.

Just print out the policy and take it with you when you shop. Plus, Terri at TS Embroidery has really tried hard to know what we need, and she can help.

Just remember, cardigans and polos need the logo, and blazers need the crest. If you haven't gotten this done yet, you may want to get these now. The end of July is the cut-off for Terri to guarentee orders by the start of school.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Rummage Sale Saturday!

Attention ALL: Come to our PFA Rummage Sale!

The PFA will have their own sale as well as parents with individual sales. We will have lots of items to choose from. From Cookie Lee, Scentsy, and Pampered Chef booths to clothing, small furniture, baby items, household items, trampoline and much much more there will be plenty for everyone. Lemonade stand and other treats will help keep you refreshed while you shop. Please come out to help our PFA raise money for our Achedemy's Uniform Scholarship Fund.


When- Saturday, June 27th, from 8:00- 3:00. (7am set up and drop off time)

Where- Karcher Church of the Nazarene on the corner of Middleton and Karcher Rd


PS: If you are interested in donating items we are still excepting donations. If you have not signed up for a individual sale but are interested you can still sign up. Please shoot me an e-mail with your contact info and I will back to you.


Thank You for making this a great success!

Christine Plummer

337-2031

plum83607@gmail.com

Monday, June 22, 2009

Agenda for Thursday

Hello there!
It's time again for our monthly PFA Meeting. Are there any Council leaders who need time to give a report? Or, if there are any parents who would like a time slot to speak. Please let me know asap so I can add you to the agenda. Thank you!

Andrea Egan
Secretary
Parent Faculty Association
Nampa Classical Academy

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Uniform Pictures

I had my kids model some of the styles we can wear with the uniforms. Long or short knee socks are ok, and brown or black shoes or belts are ok, too. I got the polos from TS Embroidery, the pants from JC Penney, shorts from Lands End, Peter Pan blouses from TS Emb, navy jumper from Lands End.

The Peter Pan Blouse and Khaki skirt, white knee socks and Mary Jane shoes


Peter Pan blouse and navy jumper, white knee socks, Mary Jane Shoes (this outfit is the dress day outfit for elementary girls)


Burgundy polo, navy pants, black shoes and belt


Powder blue polo, navy shorts, black socks, shoes and belt
Posted by Picasa

Friday, June 19, 2009

Andrew Kern Tonight!

Today is the day!

National author and speaker Andrew Kern will be speaking to NCA parents and students on what is classical education and why you should choose classical education for your child(ren).
This is a must attend event. Bring your children and friends.

Location: Cross Roads Community Church, 4170 E. Amity
Date: Today the 19th
Time: 7 pm sharp

Q & A afterward

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

From the CICSF on the Anti Charter article by the Idaho Press Tribune

Hi everyone -

PLEASE FORWARD THIS to more public charter school parents.

The Nampa Press-Tribune has published an anti-charter school editorial in today's paper:

Now’s not the time to create charter schools

Idaho's Department of Education commissioned a group based in Portland to conduct a study about expanding charter schools in the Gem State. According to a story by The Associated Press, the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory's survey recommends "Idaho lawmakers and education policy makers consider to what extent public charter schools can be expanded to meet a large demand."
For the record, the study was paid for by federal funds from the Charter School Program grant, so it didn't cost Idaho state taxpayers anything and it didn't take money away from the existing schools budget. And given Idaho Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna's support of expanding charter schools across the state and raising the cap on how many can be created, it's not a surprise such a study would be commissioned.
Nonetheless, the idea of aggressively expanding charter schools at the same time some school districts are giving their teachers pay cuts and eliminating positions is not good public relations. Charter schools are still public schools, after all, so the money needed to create them would have to come from the same public education budget that has already been slashed.
As a general rule, school choice is a good thing. Some students thrive better in nontraditional environments, and charter schools may be just the answer for some students who struggle in traditional schools.
But establishing them creates additional expense, and any such additional expense in an economy that's struggling as much as ours is right now should be held off. It just looks bad to be talking about new schools at a time when existing schools are cutting budgets for such basic things as books and building maintenance.
Idaho Sen. Dick Sagness, D-Pocatello, proposed a temporary moratorium on new charter schools for this very reason in this past session of the Idaho Legislature. The bill didn't make it very far.
The powers that be in Idaho education would be wise to take a deep breath and let the economy get back to solid ground again before raising the limit for new charter schools.
I think it's our duty to react to this so other children can enjoy the benefits our children now enjoy. Never forget: there are 10,000 kids in charter schools in Idaho and 7,000 kids on waiting lists. That's wrong and a moratorium on creating new schools would be counterproductive, to say the least.

No doubt some of you are fired up and know EXACTLY what you want to write about. If you need some ideas however, here are some things you can talk about in a Letter to the Editor or a posting to the Press-Trib's website:

  • Tell your personal story. Mention you know there are parents and students out there searching for better schools - perhaps a charter school will help them, too.
  • There is strong bipartisan agreement that success should not have limits. The federal Department of Education and Congress have set aside $5 billion in competitive grant money exclusively for states that are pushing education reform. President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan have said repeatedly reform includes the lifting "of caps on the number of allowable charter schools, wherever such caps are in place." (The President said this on March 10 of this year - Google it.) Why is Senator Sagness so far outside the mainstream of his party?
  • Republicans get this, too. Governor Bobby Jindal of Lousiana signed a bill last year lifting his state's charter cap, and Utah lifted their cap as well. (Scroll to Recent State Highlights)
  • Idaho charter school parents have a 97% satisfaction rate with their children's charter schools. (Google "Idaho department education Wang" and click on the first thing that comes up to see the study yourself.) Is there another institution that can claim a percentage like that?
  • 7,000 Idaho children are waiting to get in a charter school. Parents want, demand, and are overwhelmingly satisfied with charter schools.
  • The Legislature-created funding formula can be fixed by the Legislature. It's time to fix it to give parents and students what they want: more charter schools.
  • Get other great writing ideas from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools website.

Here are the submission guidelines:

  • Letters to the Editor must be under 300 words and signed with your name, address, e-mail and phone number.
  • Shorter is better. They want to get in as many letters as possible and they're cramped for space since all newspapers are printing fewer pages these days.
  • Submit the letter to op-ed@idahopress.com
  • Please do it NOW while the editorial is timely.

Also feel free to go to the website and submit a comment in addition to your letter.

PLEASE e-mail me back or call me with any questions. Send me a copy of your letter. Thanks so much!

Briana LeClaire
, President
Coalition of Idaho Charter School Families
208.724.6311

Fundraising Meeting

Hello NCA Parents,

We will be having a Fundraiser Committee Meeting on June 30th at 6:30pm. at Moxie Java in Nampa by the Edwards Theater. This for anyone who would like to be a part of helping with fundraising for the the Academy this school year. I look forward to seeing you there. Please drop me an e-mail if you'd like to join us.

Christine Plummer

plum83607@gmail.com
337-2037

Monday, June 15, 2009

Board Meeting

Don't forget the Board Meeting tonight at 6:30pm at the temporary office (info on ncacharter.org). Lot's more updates and the transfer to a governing board happens tonight!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Budget FYI

There is a Board budget hearing on June 22nd. You can view the NCA Board budget on the Chairman's google site in preparation for it. Please see the PFA site for a link to the Chairman's site. www.ncapfa.org (you can also find the link on the blog home page)

Friday, June 12, 2009

Rummage Sale

Hello There Everyone,
We still have room for more Individual Yard Sales and General
Rummage Sales items. Please see below for details. If you are not able
to actually summit items for the sale but have some time that day to
help we could use your assistance even if it's only for a few hours.

PFA Rummage Sale!
What- A general rummage sale and individual yard sales to benefit the
uniform fund, and give parents an opportunity to sell items for their own children’s
uniforms.
(More explanation on this below)
When- Saturday, June 27th, from 8:00- 3:00. (7am set up and drop off
time)
Where- Karcher Church of the Nazarene on the corner of Middleton and
Karcher Rd.

Individual Yard Sales- This will be for anyone interested in conducting
their own yard sale to earn money for their children’s uniforms. You
can sell traditional yard sale items, cookies, lemonade, gift baskets,
crafts, ect. Be creative! The goal of this is to provide parents with
an opportunity to be self sufficient in paying for their children’s
uniforms. There will be restrooms available in the church’s picnic
pavilion. Everyone will have a designated area that will probably be
determined by drawing numbers. The PFA will in exchange ask that you
donate 10% of your profit, or some nice items to the general sale, to
benefit the uniform scholarship fund. You will be responsible for
running your yard sale, and bringing any chairs or tables you may need.
You can reserve your spot by calling Christine Plummer at 208-337-2031
or e-mail at plum83607@gmail.com Please include your name, contact
information, and a general idea of what you will be selling.

General Rummage Sale- This will be a sale of donated items, run by
volunteers, to raise money for the uniform scholarship fund. If you
don’t plan on participating in the individual sales, you may drop off
your donated items at the Karcher Church of the Nazarene on the day of
the Rummage Sale at 7am. For any questions you can speak with Christine
Plummer at 208-337-2031 or e-mail at plum83607@gmail.com. Please
include your name and contact information.

Please make sure all items you bring for the general sale is priced. If you would like to donate items for the general sale and can not make it on Saturday, June 27th at 7 am, you can contact me to set up a time for you to drop off items at my home.

Thank You,
Christine Plummer

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Groundbreaking, Sports, & Music

From the Chairman

You and your family are invited to our official ground breaking.

Date: June 16th
Time: 8:30am
Place: 1720 Smith Avenue

Agenda

Opening Remarks: Mr. Kyle Borger, Chairman
Charter History: Mr. Isaac Moffet, Founder
Staff Remarks: Mr. Val Bush, Headmaster
Building Plans: Mr. Kyle Borger, Chairman
ISDE Remarks: Mr. Tom Luna, Superintendent
Ceremony:
Board of Directors, Administration, and Dignitaries will break ground then the remainder of the audience will be invited to participate
Music Survey
As you know, music is part of classical education. Its benefits in deepening a student’s intellectual development is well documented, but it also develops the aesthetic sensibility and character. As we work to develop our music program, it will be helpful to know the existing music interests and backgrounds of our students. The range of music activities will fit the age levels of the students. We are exploring starting an instrumental ensemble in the 5th or 6th grades. A vocal program is also planned for the Logic/Rhetoric levels, within our scheduling parameters.

Please complete the Music Survey by June 17. Please keep in mind that we are still forming our music program, which will be designed to best meet the needs of our students Thanks so much for your help in this information gathering process so that we can make the best decisions for our staff and scheduling.

You may find the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=rBqhQ_2b1swSNLZV4Dp3gt9Q_3d_3d


Sports Survey Results

Basketball - 20%
Soccer - 16%
Football - 13%
Track - 13%
Swimming - 13%
Cross Country - 7%
Wrestling - 5%
Rugby - .001% - It wasn't on the list but the chairman thinks it would be really cool.



Thank You,

Kyle Borger
Chairman
NCA Board of Directors

Monday, June 8, 2009

Andrew Kern is coming!!!!!!!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THIS IMPORTANT EVENT

National speaker and author of Classical Education: The Movement Sweeping America (2001), Andrew Kern will be here to speak to Nampa Classical Academy parents on “why you should choose classical education.” Andrew spoke to parents last October and those in attendance thoroughly found his information very exciting. This is be the only time he will be here so do not miss this opportunity. Please bring you children and your friends who might be considering NCA.

“Why You Should Choose Classical Education?” by Andrew Kern

Date: June 19th

Time: 7 pm sharp

Location: Cross Roads Community Church

4170 E. Amity (West of Happy Valley Rd.)

Andrew Kern’s BIO

Andrew Kern is director of the CIRCE, (a consulting and research service to classical schools and to those who want to start one) and co-author of Classical Education: The Movement Sweeping America (2001). He helped establish two classical schools, Providence Academy in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Foundations Academy in Boise, Idaho, and has taught in nearly every grade from theirs through twelfth on almost every subject. A sought-after teacher/trainer, Kern is a popular speaker at classical education conferences and workshops. He is a graduate of Concordia University. He is married with two daughters and lives in North Carolina.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Albertsons Card

Good Morning,

Here is the link to be able to add NCA onto your Albertsons card so that the school can get cash back from each purchase we make.

http://www.albertsons.com/psc/default2.asp?cp=True&StoreNo=103&OnlineShop=False&MarketID=0&division=10

Here are the steps to get the academy attached to your card.

1. Copy and past the above link.

2. Enter your Albertsons card number and matching phone number.

3. Click on the "Find Partner"

4. Enter in Nampa Classical, Idaho

5. Check the box for NCA and click "Add Partner"

6. If you have more then 1 organization on your card, you can designate what percentage will be shared.

7. You can have up to 4 organizations on your card.

If you have any questions please let me know. Thanks and have a great day.
JoLynn Morriss

Friday, June 5, 2009

Charter Conference (Monday)

If anyone is going to the Charter Conference on Monday, please email us. We could carpool and try and sit together as a school. (see old blog posts for details of the conference)
ncapfa@gmail.com
ncapfa.blogspot.com

Rummage Sale POSTPONED

With an 80% chance of rain and thunderstorms likely, especially in the morning, we are pushing the Rummage Sale back to the 27th (same times, same place).

All of you who had a booth, please email us ASAP so we know who will be participating, and that you got word of the change. Thank you!! ncapfa@gmail.com

PFA Calendar

Which would you prefer regarding the moderation of the google group? PFA blog posts will still be posted on the google group either way, but it's up to parents how much involvment you'd like the PFA to have in moderating.

What would you like our Art Program to be named?