Newsletter

Anser Charter School Flight Plan

January 7th, 2021

Welcome to the Anser Flight Plan. If you have Anser related submissions, please email them to Maua Romano at mromano@ansercharterschool.org by Monday 4:00 PM for inclusion in that week's Flight Plan.

Anser Website

Communications Regarding School Preparation for increased Covid Rates:

On Wednesday the Anser Board of Directors and Anser’s Co-Directors sent out communications regarding the school’s preparations to endure a spike in cases due to the Omicron variant. Those communications are linked below. We ask parents to please carefully read these letters, in order to be informed about what the school’s leadership anticipates may be challenges, and the work that is being done to face these challenges.

Letter from the Anser Board

Letter from the Directors

Important Dates to Remember

Covid Response Team Q and A Wednesday January 12^th, 6:00pm-7:00pm

January 13th Early Release

January 14th No School

January 17th No School MLK Day

Board Meeting Tuesday January 18^th 6:00pm

Anser Covid Update

Anser Specific Covid Data:

Week of 11/27-1/2: Number of confirmed cases in students or staff: 12

Week of 11/27-1/2: Number of staff/students in quarantine: NA (NA- Winter Break)

Week of 1/3-1/9 as of today : Number of confirmed cases in students or staff: 1

Week of 11/29-12/5 as of today : Number of staff/students in quarantine: 19

Staffing impacts due to Covid: minimal

Anser’s weekly cases are included in the Anser Covid Tracker on the website, which is Linked here.

Wider Community Data

Cases of Covid in Ada county: 301.71 cases per / 100,000 up from 139.17 cases per /100,00 prior to Winter Break.)

A rapid increase in Covid cases is beginning in Idaho. If parents or children in your family are not yet fully vaccinated, or need a Covid booster, resources are linked below. High levels of immunization, proper masking and social distancing continue to be our best tools to keep people safe and to keep school operating in person five days per week.

For more information or to find a vaccine provider click here.

Link to Responsive Return Plan

Important Communications for Families

Covid Response Team Q and A:

Members of the Covid Response Team will be holding a Q and A session on Wednesday January 12^th to discuss the most recent Board and Co-Director communications and to answer questions parents may have about them. If you have questions, please use this link to send them to the committee to allow them to make the best use of the time. You can join the Q and A session using the Zoom link below.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9767696717?pwd=VXg1L0VpdzJHYTJMRWdhem1pU1dpZz09

Meeting ID: 976 769 6717

Passcode: 857152

Information Needed from Families

During the pandemic, meals have been free for all families and a Free and Reduced Meals application has not been available. This creates a challenge for Anser because our Title 1, and a portion of the Special Education funding based is on the number of students that qualify for free or reduced price meals. We are asking ALL families to please fill out the Income Survey linked here. The survey does not ask for specific income information, but rather for parents to certify a range of income. No personally identifiable information will be shared. Please help us get all of the funding that Anser is entitled to in order to provide the most comprehensive supports to our students, by filling this survey right away.

Rental Assistance Funds Available

If you or someone you know is in need of rental assistance due to the impact of the pandemic, you can learn more here:

Flyer 1

Flyer 2

Anser is Hiring!

The school has open positions for Classroom Assistants, Lunch staff and we are hoping to hire additional Substitutes. Having additional staff as we face Omicron would be a tremendous help and support as we try to continue 5 day a week in-person learning. If you or anyone you know would be interested in learning more about any of these positions, Please contact Heather Dennis at hdennis@ansercharterschool.org

Survey for Kindergarten Students

Dear Anser Kindergarten Families,

Last year, Anser and many other charters in Idaho received a grant from the John & Kathryn Albertson Foundation for all-day Kindergarten. In the prior years to this grant, we only had half-day Kindergarten for all enrolled Kinders and offered a fee-based afternoon program to some. Now we can provide the same morning and afternoon programs for all students enrolled!!

Part of receiving the grant is to survey parents regarding their child's social/emotional and educational experiences with a full-day Kindergarten program.

We are grateful for a partnership with JKAF as we navigate this challenging moment to ensure equitable education for all students.

Thank you for participating in this quick survey! Have a wonderful holiday season!

In Crew,

Michelle

Recommitment Forms: Required for All Enrolled Students

Parents/guardians are required to complete and return a recommitment form by January 21st, indicating their intent to continue their child's enrollment at Anser. Students currently enrolled at Anser automatically qualify for readmission for the next academic year. Click here to complete the form online.

Any student who chooses not to re-enroll or who does not submit a recommitment form by the deadline will lose his/her spot. They are always welcome to re-apply later as part of the regular lottery process.

If you have children not currently enrolled at Anser and are interested in attending next year (such as incoming Kindergartners), complete one lottery form per student via our website https:// ansercharterschool.schoolmint. net/

Announcing our Classroom Coordinator Team!

Thank you to these wonderful parents who have volunteered their time and energy to support Anser families, especially our newer families and also our amazing crew leaders.

Kindergarten:

JJ - Amy Holmes and Hannah Newbill
Morgan - Erik Moncada

1st grade:

Jess - Darcy Maupin
Marissa - Erin Vranas and Mary Ann Barber

2/3:

Jessie - Stacey Nolan
Laura - Natalie Keffer
Kelly - Angie Wood and Shelly Henrickson
Julie - Amy Holmes

4/5:

Nancy - Stacey Nolan
Nicole - Emily Nielsen
Katie - Alissa Lauer
Heather K - Jillian Schults

6th grade:

Kylie - Christi Phillips
Alex - Eddy Udry

Junior High:

Becky - Mishi Stirling
Sarah - Denise Ruhoff and Tina Ascencio
Pete - Sarah Clayton
Heather B - Tenneal Lujan
Abby - Julia Wood

Feel free to reach out to your classroom coordinators for support as needed. We are all here to help you with questions and concerns as we move through this school year. You can expect to get an introduction letter from your classroom coordinators with their contact information within the next week. You can also reach out to Stacey Nolan at staceymnolan@gmail.com with any concerns or questions too!

The Anser Lottery is Now Open!

Did you know Anser is the first school in the state to run a weighted lottery? Your friends and family members might benefit from this new opportunity! Learn more about how a weighted lottery works, and see the positive impact it is already having on our school community in this article about Anser!

Part of Anser’s expansion planning has included working hard to reach into and enroll students from communities that have historically faced barriers to charter school enrollment. We’ve lengthened our lottery application period, have attended many local events to inform people about the school, partnered with Head Start and the Agency for New Americans and the Boys and Girls Club and are planning more events before our lottery is held in February. We need help from our Anser families to get the word out to their friends and families about the opportunities expansion brings to so many families in the Garden City/Boise community. You can help us out by sharing our social media posts, or forwarding the flight plan info about upcoming opportunities for families to learn more about Anser.

1. We have two Anser Information Nights planned at the school on December 2nd and February 3rd . You can send folks this link to learn more!

2. We are offering limited group size enrollment tours! You can find out more here.

3. People can apply for next year now! This next year will be a great opportunity for folks to get in as we expand! Share this link to apply!

Looking for Fast Covid Test Results?

Boise State has testing available to students and the turn around on results is often same day! They are offering both PCR and Rapid testing so you can get answers about your child’s illness! Anser is still offering PCR saliva testing, but the turnaround is 36-48 hours for results.

Lunch Calendar

Reminder that lunch and breakfast are free to all students this year! However, you may add money to their student account though Infinite Campus if they would like to purchase a la cart items such as extra milk, or PBJ.